[center][h1][color=red][u]Yoliyachicoztl Week[/u][/color][/h1] [h2][i]Keepers of the Flame[/i][/h2] [/center] [hr] “Hold it steady. Hold. Almost… Just a little longer.” “My arms are growing tired and my back aches.” “Shhhsh! It’s good for you, builds strength in those scrawny arms!” “I don’t need strength when I have the flame. None of us do.” “Then shall I have someone fetch you an arm rest?” “I don’t nee-” “Stop! We are done!” They hovered around the smoldering pit, with sweat upon their brows and exhaustion coming in deep breaths but they still had smiles on their dirty faces. With a wooden tool they uncovered the kindled logs, now blackened and charred, to reveal clay balls the size of their palms. Carefully they removed the now fired clay and broke them apart to reveal a metallic glint. Fragments of reddish brown stared back up at them. There were cheers and pats on the back, for their work had been successful! All of the fragments were then carefully collected, as if the Mother Spirit herself had given them, and placed into a large clay pot, for ease of travel. They still needed to be cleaned in the water for any lingering impurities before being further worked upon. "Take this copper to the Firecharmer after you have cleaned it, Shysie." Shysie, a newcomer learning their ways, nodded. "It will be done, Keeper Alona." She wandered off with two other acolytes, past the discarded rock piles and the mounds of sticks kept for burning. Then they vanished down the wooded path that led to the river. Alona turned back to her pit and said a prayer to the Great Spirit of Fire, Yoli. She was joined by the other Keepers and their voices became gospel. "We thank the gift of fire, for its wisdom and strength. We thank the great Goddess of the flame and her kindled daughter. For without them we are nothing. For without them we are those who would let the flame burn out in our apathy. Never again. The flame shall burn eternal, even when we are ash." Once the Keeper's were done with their prayer, they went their separate ways. The metal bringing was over for now until more of the green stone was brought back. The sun still lingered lazily in the sky, for it was still young and not yet tired enough to dip. That meant there was much to do at the Sight of the First Sin still, for their charge and home was always growing. [hr] Two twisting lines of orange fire collided with one another followed by a bright burst and the roar of dying flames. When the air cleared, two Keepers, wearing nothing but a cloth around their waists, stared at one another. One had her auburn hair in two braids, while the other’s black hair hung loose down her back. Their stances were opposed and then the fire came. They dueled one another as a crowd of acolytes and passerbys stopped to watch. Moving and feeling the fire they conjured, whipping and throwing it at their opponent. To strengthen one’s flame was the highest of goals, to burn the brightest, strongest and longest. Such was the mark of a Firecharmer to be, when she had no more equals or betters. So dueling was encouraged, a mock fight to showcase one's durability in battle. One could only win when the other, either too exhausted or beaten, yielded. Neither had done so yet, but the signs were beginning. Keeper Alona, tired from her morning of work, wore her hair up as she watched her sister’s spar. The Sacred Flame’s gifts were on full display. Where one fire leaped forth the opponent would cancel it out with their own. They moved like water but fought like a raging fire. Determined, strong and fierce. When it became evident that neither would yield but both were slowing, Alona stepped forth and ended it in a draw. “You fought well and were worthy of the spirits but more practice is needed to overcome another. Keep at it and may the Flame protect.” She said in a more regal voice. As an original Keeper, she had more perks then the others and more control of her flame. “The rest of you, get back to training!” In a flurry, the acolytes grabbed their spears and found partners, while Keepers watched them practice. They had grown large and still were growing as more and more displaced women came back to the flame. It was no large band by any means but it was a tribe. Shysie, looking quite distraught, came walking by and Alona followed. “Shysie?” She called her but she gave no answer. “Shysie!” She said again, grabbing the girl’s forearm. Shysie wrenched away and Alona felt a painful tug on her arm before she let go. “Keeper A-Alona!” she stammered. “Please forgive me, I do not know my own strength.” her expression, once distraught, became mortified. Despite the pain, Alona shrugged it off and did a circle with her arm to show she was alright. “The Guiding Spirit’s gift is one some need to still get used to, do not worry. Now, where is your mind?” “Keeper, my mind is here. I was just lost in thought.” She admitted with a frown. Alona nodded and put a hand on her shoulder. “How does it fair?” “It… It still sleeps. I am worried it will not wake. The Firecharmer says it will but… I do not wish to offend any spirit or sacred being. I must atone at the Sacred Flame before… Before it wakes.” Shysie confided. Alona gave her a squeeze and smile. “Do not worry. Mistakes happen, even the Spirit’s know this. Now go speak to the flame and may you be untouched. Besides… If you did do true harm to it, then wouldn’t something bad have already happened?” She smirked. Shysie’s eyes went wide and she began to turn away but stopped, “Keeper.” She hastily said before running off. Alona laughed, what a silly girl. [hr] The Firecharmer brandished her long knife. Against the blue flame of the Sacred Fire, the metal danced as if it were alive in the dark. It had not been so long ago that such a tool had been unknown. You could not find it now as it was, in the wild. Couldn't just pluck it from a bush or a stream. No… Only by the fire could it be forged from rock to metal to tool. She gave a quiet prayer to Yoli for the knowledge of such a gift. "Chilali?" Came the voice of Alona. The woman blinked and looked up. Several pairs of eyes were still on her. She had gotten lost in the flame. "I…" She straightened herself and put the knife away. "Sorry. The flame took me for a time. Now where were we? Discussing the sky dances again?" Alona and some of the others nodded. "The topic will not die, Firecharmer. Many moons have passed and the sky, as Wapeka prophesied, has not danced. More and more of our people become disgruntled." Chilali sighed. "And will they do anything about it? None can know if the sky will ever dance save for the Spirits and as much as we have asked for guidance on the matter, we hear nothing. This is not in our power to make happen. The Childan will have to learn to deal with it until there comes a time where either the sky dances or the women give in." "Well…" Alona started. "Many of the women are giving in. Not because the men are forcing them but because they want to. I have seen… Small ones, children as they are called. Babies with tiny fingers and little laughs." She seemed to go distant with a smile on her face. "Alona… You know we can't." Chilali frowned. They had all taken an oath to never lay again with a man. To have no small ones. No children. It was better that way. "I know." Alona said quietly. "Some try to hide them from us, others are open about it. What is one to do? It is only becoming frowned upon around the lakes and plains. Others are holding out stronger. What are we to do?" "We are to do nothing. Let it be as it is, if they want to restart the union between man and woman, so be it. Our task will always remain even with division and divides. A vast majority of our people still clutch on to the day of Lansa’s death. It will not be forgotten so easily, or forgiven. Only time will bloom open hearts. Now tell me of our findings." Chilali spoke and as Firecharmer, her words were heard and obeyed. As Yoli commanded it. “Some nisshiniek were seen down by the bijjiork clan of Lowpine. I talked with a local shaman and he said they were preventing the young bijjiork there from drowning. The funny thing is, they are born natural swimmers and there was no danger at all.” Came a woman’s voice from down the fire. This received warm smiles and small laughs. The Nisshi were good spirits and were playful as they were mischievous. “Trade between the local tribes and the bijjiork is also going well. I have seen fine pebbles, and shells traded for nice sticks and other trinkets.” She then nodded. "Tala, chosen of the Spirit Father, is rising in name. It is said she carries an axe of ice and is stronger than even our Father's gift was to all the other women. One man told me he saw her wrestle a bear and another said she fended off a wolf attack with only one hand, a babe swaddled in another." Beamed another Keeper. "I would like to meet her, I think." Chilali smiled. Than another Keeper spoke. “A spirit Guardian wandered through Tionda’s band, they fancy to call themselves the Tiondara Tribe now, but the Guardian began to teach them how to chisel stone. Perhaps we should send some acolytes to gather this sacred knowledge?” “An apt suggestion.” Chilali mused. “Let it be done.” “Yes Firecharmer.” the woman nodded. “ I must also say that the blood takers are on the rise again. We need to be careful, there are rumors that they might even be walking amongst us, wearing our skin.” “Quite alarming. We shall tell our spearwomen and passing bands to be on the lookout. Perhaps we can come up with a way to prevent this, if the rumors are true? Either way, very disturbing.” Chilali looked around the fire and her eyes fell on Alona, who spoke next. “The Dwami enclave at the foot of the Fern hills would like to meet you Firecharmer. When we showed them our knives, they seemed full of mirth. I wonder what we can learn from the people that live under the hill?” Alona beamed. “Much I hope. If they have more copper we could keep forging. In the morning I shall go to them with a few Acolytes and Keeper Alona.” She looked up at the sky. “The moon rises, is there anything else?” she asked, looking back down. “Firecharmer.” Everyone turned to the speaker, it was Tayen. Her face was lit up by the blue flame and she wore a mask of fear. She had just returned from the far northern tribes and her news was eagerly waited for. “Speak Tayen.” Chilali gestured to her. “Wapeka the Brave insists that her band be given exclusive rights to a hotspring she found. She does not wish to share with any other bands or the men’s bands. She said it was her gift from the Spirit Father and that any would have to take it from her. I tried reason but to no avail. She is not as afraid of the fire as others and her defiance turns them away from what we are trying to do. What do we do?” she asked timidly. “Wapeka oversteps, she claims something that any could have. She must be reminded of our power!” “No! Wapeka speaks for many, we could risk everything we have been striving for. Think of the flame, think of Lansa! Let her have her spring.” “We cannot let this spring become an object of fixation. Open it for all or destroy it.” “We cannot upset the Father Spirit by destroying his land over petty disputes!” The talk quickly became a shouting match as the Keeper’s debated on what to do. Before anything else could be hastily said, Chilali raised a hand and they quieted down. They looked to her for guidance. “Alona.” She took out her copper knife and held it to the smaller Keeper. “Take my knife and offer it to the Dwami leader in good faith. I shall go north and settle this dispute before it causes unneeded violence. I shall leave tomorrow with the acolytes ready for their final trial. Is there anything else we should know, Tayen?” Alona took the dagger and clutched it to her chest. The woman nodded slow, her eyes enraptured by the blue flames. “There were whispers in the quiet of the night. They said it could smell the coming death, that it was hungry. That a wehniek had come. You must be careful Firecharmer. Women have been going missing, they say those without the strength are most likely to vanish. Something wicked is afoot.” Chilali nodded. There was no worse enemy than the dread wehniek. Not even the likes of the men-who-stole-women could compare to such a creature. They had fought one before and it took nearly four Keepers to bring it down. Fire was it’s weakness but they were still dangerous. “Go rest now Tayen, you have done well. Let us not speak of anything else this night. Let us be thankful to Yoli and our flame, that Tayen has returned unharmed and well. Let us rejoice for another day passed and a new dawn tomorrow. Our flame is eternal, sisters, always remember that.” Chilali stood and bid them all farewell. She lit a small flame in her hand as she walked in the dark to her fur tent. [hr] Out of all the places to learn how to hunt, the most unlikely had been from the bijjiork shamans. They learned much from them and put their teachings to good work. Bone could be used on their spears, leather could be made from the skin and fur of animals and meat provided more food to fill their hungry bellies. Some women had even left their own bands to become one with the wilds and the Masked Spirit. And because the bijjiork built their own homes, the Childan had began to emulate what they saw. Perhaps some weren't the best but they provided shelter and all was good. As always, the bijjiork were a gift from the Great Spirits. Chilali's tent was made from the hides of the wandering buffalo, stag, and furred ox. It was a simple thing but it was home, easily moveable and warm. Held up by long straight sticks and other woven branches. She passed a smoker on her way and grabbed a bit of drying meat before finally arriving at her hovel. Opening the flap, she spoke, “I hope you are hungry little one." There in the darkness two blue eyes stared back at her. She lifted her flame higher to find something she had not been expecting. Earlier that day an acolyte, Shysie, had managed to grab hold of a small bird. Unlike others of its kind, this one had white feathers and blue eyes. Eyes the same color as their Eternal Flame. Was it Lansa come to inspect them? A guide from the Spirit Father? Or something else entirely? It was brought to the Firecharmer when it was found out that the Acolyte had squeezed just a bit too hard. The poor bird had been knocked out cold and so, to prevent making any spirits unhappy, Chilali had decided it was best to care for the creature and ensure it would make it. She had homed it in her tent ever since. Throughout the day she had made it comfortable but it had not awoken. Night had approached and the Keeper's gathered to discuss the newest sightings of the land. Now there was a small pale child staring back at her. The girl clutched her right arm as she pressed herself into a corner besides Chilali’s furs. Her face was a mix of fear and anger and the poor thing wore nothing at all. “Oh…” She managed. “By the flame…” [hider=Summary] Our post opens with an excerpt on ancient copper melting with a twist. We are introduced (in a way) to the Flamekeepers, now a holy order formed by the Spirit of Heat, Yoli. We see a little bit into their lives and learn how things have gone since the First Sin, through a meeting of the Keepers that recount events and explain their current situation. Lots of interesting tidbits and some cameos as the teachings of the gods and bjork mingle and expand with one another. Chilali, the leader of the Keepers, decided to go North to talk to Wapeka and settle a dispute over a hot springs. The post ends upon Chilali going back to her tent, where a certain bird was recuperating over almost being crushed, (which is explained in the post) only to find a frightened, very small pale kid. [/hider] [hider=Vigor] Yoli starting 14 -3 Holy Order; The Flamekeepers, an all woman order of Fire wielders, who keep the sacred and eternal flame of Lansa alight for all time. Besides their main goal of keeping the flame, they will also act as officials, leaders, guides, and voices of reason in the brimming lands of the Childan. -1 (discounted to 0 through Heat) Lansa’s Flame, the Sacred Fire, the Eternal Blaze. A monument to the first sin, now evermore a part of the land. These flames burn bright blue, cold or hot depending upon the weight of one's innocence. -1 (discounted to 0 through Heat) to teach the Flamekeepers the way of ancient copper forging Ending = 11 [/hider] [hider=Prestige] The Flamekeepers Starting = 0 +1 For significant role +1 For length Ending = 2 [/hider] [hider=Spirit] Mair Starting = 5 +1 for playing a role Ending = 6 [/hider]