I'm going interstate for a few days. I'll have my phone, but I'll have to raincheck my next post until next week at least.
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
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Bio
Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
Most Recent Posts
I'm flying interstate for about five days starting tomorrow. I'm bringing my phone, but I may not be available for more than one post a day during that time.
"Okay," Ariel started to settle. "A year is good. A year will work, I think. With the coin, it will work." Ariel lowered her eyes. "I just feel bad to throw this upon Rukee so suddenly. I have to help, but I cannot escape imposing in the process."
"I am sorry, Ariel," Sabine began, only for Ariel to lean forward and frantically wave her hand out.
"No, Sabine, do not apologise," Ariel said. "None of this is your fault. Nor you Meesei. It is just...unfortunate."
Gallus listened on, despite not being able to relate exactly. He reluctantly replied. "It certainly does sound beautiful."
After a pause looking to one side, Gallus frowned and looked sympathetic. "I do at least know the connection between parent and child. I do feel regret to have you choose between such things."
"I am sorry, Ariel," Sabine began, only for Ariel to lean forward and frantically wave her hand out.
"No, Sabine, do not apologise," Ariel said. "None of this is your fault. Nor you Meesei. It is just...unfortunate."
Gallus listened on, despite not being able to relate exactly. He reluctantly replied. "It certainly does sound beautiful."
After a pause looking to one side, Gallus frowned and looked sympathetic. "I do at least know the connection between parent and child. I do feel regret to have you choose between such things."
While trying to listen to Meesei, Ariel had her head between her hands and was looking more anxious by every passing moment. She responded first with a high-pitched groan before any words. "I could hardly convince Rukee to leave his inn. I don't even know whether the coin would help; that place is his love and livelihood. He's had it with his brother for years!"
Ariel's hands went over her face and ran over the top of her head, pulling back the loose strands of frizzy hair that had escaped her bun before they sprang forth at the end of their length again. "Maybe," she said flatly. "I do not know. It would have to involve sitting him down and telling him everything, especially the danger you are all in." Ariel cocked her head as her speculation changed her tone. "Now, he might be a little confronted. I'm not sure if he will like it -- leaving Thorn, that is -- but he knows how much you mean to me, Sabine. He might be receptive."
Ariel scrunched her face up and relaxed it with a sigh. "The thing is, Meesei, working out affairs with him my involve his brother as well. What do you think should be done about that? If Rukeewei ends up coming along, that is?"
Being solemn and respectful, Gallus clasped his hands together and walked outside behind Yizan and his family. When Yizan was placed on the root, he was standing nearby without knowing what was expected.
Gallus looked around unsurely when Yizan asked him a question. He wasn't sure whether anything new was gracing his senses. Gallus lightly shook his head. "I'm afraid I do not know what you are referring to. If it is the Hist, I am not sure that I share that sense."
It was Gallus' best guess. He had picked up a few finer details of Argonian culture from Cuts and the Hist was most likely what he was referring to with the context. Gallus looked on at the root and wondered if he should lay his head back on it like Yizan-Lei or whether he would have to drink some sap like Sabine did.
Ariel's hands went over her face and ran over the top of her head, pulling back the loose strands of frizzy hair that had escaped her bun before they sprang forth at the end of their length again. "Maybe," she said flatly. "I do not know. It would have to involve sitting him down and telling him everything, especially the danger you are all in." Ariel cocked her head as her speculation changed her tone. "Now, he might be a little confronted. I'm not sure if he will like it -- leaving Thorn, that is -- but he knows how much you mean to me, Sabine. He might be receptive."
Ariel scrunched her face up and relaxed it with a sigh. "The thing is, Meesei, working out affairs with him my involve his brother as well. What do you think should be done about that? If Rukeewei ends up coming along, that is?"
Being solemn and respectful, Gallus clasped his hands together and walked outside behind Yizan and his family. When Yizan was placed on the root, he was standing nearby without knowing what was expected.
Gallus looked around unsurely when Yizan asked him a question. He wasn't sure whether anything new was gracing his senses. Gallus lightly shook his head. "I'm afraid I do not know what you are referring to. If it is the Hist, I am not sure that I share that sense."
It was Gallus' best guess. He had picked up a few finer details of Argonian culture from Cuts and the Hist was most likely what he was referring to with the context. Gallus looked on at the root and wondered if he should lay his head back on it like Yizan-Lei or whether he would have to drink some sap like Sabine did.
That's alright, but I normally do my morning reply on the bus. I probably won't get a reply up for a few hours.
Ariel held some fingers to her forehead. She was having a hard time shaking the shop from her mind, even with Meesei's question. "Well, I would have to properly train them to make my wares. My formula books are not the most comprehensive things ever written. On top of that, I would have to make up some explanations for suddenly having strangers in the shop and...oh..." she held her eyes shut and took a slow breath through her nose.
"Rukeewei, I, um..." Ariel raised her eyes and her brow to speak to Meesei in a calmer voice. "He has asked about Sabine and the rest of you before. You are her foster family, so I had not changed that detail. As for why you travel, I believe I told him that Sabine has a condition that makes her unsuited for living within cities. I told him that I would rather not share the details without her permission. He has been respectfully quiet about it since then, though he may ask a few questions."
Ariel sighed and bowed her head. "I just hope his family doesn't think I'm running off from the marriage. On its own, I still don't know how I will explain this to him."
Gallus was made still and mildly surprised. He did not know what going out to the root entailed, but if it helped..."I'll do what ever you need me to do," he said with a nod.
"Rukeewei, I, um..." Ariel raised her eyes and her brow to speak to Meesei in a calmer voice. "He has asked about Sabine and the rest of you before. You are her foster family, so I had not changed that detail. As for why you travel, I believe I told him that Sabine has a condition that makes her unsuited for living within cities. I told him that I would rather not share the details without her permission. He has been respectfully quiet about it since then, though he may ask a few questions."
Ariel sighed and bowed her head. "I just hope his family doesn't think I'm running off from the marriage. On its own, I still don't know how I will explain this to him."
Gallus was made still and mildly surprised. He did not know what going out to the root entailed, but if it helped..."I'll do what ever you need me to do," he said with a nod.
@BBeast just let me know that Tauga wasn't actually leaving Xerxes yet. That was my bad for not reading that properly.
The droningbird is watching Tauga. I've made a quick edit to reflect that. Sorry if I caused any confusion.
The droningbird is watching Tauga. I've made a quick edit to reflect that. Sorry if I caused any confusion.
Meesei might have calmed Ariel if she had not laid down as much information at once as she had. Ariel was shocked to silence.
"All...of the debt? How?" She stammered.
Sabine chimed in again. "It can be a commission."
"If that happened, it would..." Ariel hovered a hand over her still open mouth. "It would turn my life around! Wait, keep it operating? You would staff my shop?"
Evidently, Ariel was trying to take these matters one at a time.
Gallus let Najan-Ja shout and carry on, looking as if listening, but not understanding a word. He was going to wait for Cut's translation, before Yizan-Lei's question effectively summarised the main concern for him.
Gallus sighed and cupped a hand over one eye, leaning over. He felt like kicking himself for forgetting that detail. Still, there was nothing else for it but to be honest.
"I am no scholar of such matters," Gallus said, lowering his hand and looking to Yizan-Lei. "From what I know, you still hear the Hist while you are alive in Black Marsh, but upon death, your soul will go to Hircine's hunting grounds to join his eternal hunt. It is the fate of all that take in a beast spirit. Including Dar-Tzesa."
To Najan-Ja, Gallus raised both his hands. "I promise that no such thing will happen against Yizan-Lei's will."
"All...of the debt? How?" She stammered.
Sabine chimed in again. "It can be a commission."
"If that happened, it would..." Ariel hovered a hand over her still open mouth. "It would turn my life around! Wait, keep it operating? You would staff my shop?"
Evidently, Ariel was trying to take these matters one at a time.
Gallus let Najan-Ja shout and carry on, looking as if listening, but not understanding a word. He was going to wait for Cut's translation, before Yizan-Lei's question effectively summarised the main concern for him.
Gallus sighed and cupped a hand over one eye, leaning over. He felt like kicking himself for forgetting that detail. Still, there was nothing else for it but to be honest.
"I am no scholar of such matters," Gallus said, lowering his hand and looking to Yizan-Lei. "From what I know, you still hear the Hist while you are alive in Black Marsh, but upon death, your soul will go to Hircine's hunting grounds to join his eternal hunt. It is the fate of all that take in a beast spirit. Including Dar-Tzesa."
To Najan-Ja, Gallus raised both his hands. "I promise that no such thing will happen against Yizan-Lei's will."
Ariel's face faded from a quiet smile to a saddened frown while listening.
"I see..." She turned her eyes down and wrung her wrist in her other hand. "I had hoped that the war would be over before such a thing could happen."
Ariel went silent for a short while. Sabine interrupted whatever was on Ariel's mind. "We need you to come to Skyrim with us, sister. We need your help again."
Ariel blinked and pursed her lips. "Did you bring any with you?" she asked, looking up.
Sabine shook her head. "We do not have much and it is too dangerous to carry this far."
"Right, of course." Ariel cleared her throat, but couldn't quite force herself into levity. She gave Meesei a pleading look. "I'm sorry, this is just a frightening prospect. If it means saving your lives, I would go in a heartbeat, but I..." She shook her head slowly and closed and opened her mouth. "I...I have so many things here that I would need to take care of, it is going to take a while to put everything in order. Oh, what-am-I-going-to-say-to-my-friends? Or-the-city-council?" Her nervous velocity of speech had apparently not changed since they last spoke. "What-do-I-say-to-Rukeewei?"
Gallus tried his best not to be affected by Yizan's tears. Najan gave him a task to focus on.
"Alright, alright, as you wish." Gallus lowered his tone to speak with Yizan-Lei directly again. "The reason that the cultists were after our certain souls is because there is..." Gallus wheeled his hand for moment. "...a beast within them. It makes our souls strong, but also grants us a physical edge. We are stronger, hardier, faster, we heal rapidly. Most notably for you, it renders us immune to diseases."
Gallus raise a palm. "However, I said it comes at a cost. Every so often, the beast emerges and takes over our body. We are rendered unable to think with more than the faculties of an animal unless given lengthy training and practice. You are driven by instincts to hunt, fight, and feed. If it takes you over, you may end up injuring or killing someone. That is why we live in groups, to help each other. And to protect ourselves and others from ourselves."
His tone had a slight turn for the uncertain. "Now, this is where the choice gets especially complex." Gallus gestured to Yizan's ribs. "I have never seen a sickness like yours before. I know that Argonians rarely if ever get illnesses in the first place, so it must be something strong or particular. I, personally, would have no idea whether putting a beast in your soul would cure you and I doubt any local healer would know either. That is why I was vague. I just don't know."
Gallus had a flash in his mind of Irenya's stern face. He wished she were here. She would have a better idea of Yizan-Lei's condition than him.
"If it does not cure you, I am afraid there is no way to remove the beast. I daresay it could make your remaining life worse. If it does cure you..." Gallus slowly gave Najan and his wife another look, before turning back. "I would have to teach you how to control yourself. You would have to come with me, out of the Marsh, for...a few years, at the very least, perhaps more. You would be away from your family, but it wouldn't just be me that helps you, it would be an entire community. There are many of us. It would not be easy, but it would be another chance at life."
Gallus angled his head and gave a look of sympathy. "Look, Yizan-Lei, I am not here to force you to accept my offer. I'm not here to force you to even believe me. If it were up to me, I would have brought your mother back, safe and sound, but it didn't work out that way. Instead, I promised I would help you if I could." Gallus clasped his hands together. "This is the best I can offer."
Gallus turned his eyes down and spoke with guilt. "Tell me to leave and I will go without another word. I'll give you time to think."
With that, Gallus slowly began to stand out of his seat, leaving the feather at Yizan-Lei's side.
"I see..." She turned her eyes down and wrung her wrist in her other hand. "I had hoped that the war would be over before such a thing could happen."
Ariel went silent for a short while. Sabine interrupted whatever was on Ariel's mind. "We need you to come to Skyrim with us, sister. We need your help again."
Ariel blinked and pursed her lips. "Did you bring any with you?" she asked, looking up.
Sabine shook her head. "We do not have much and it is too dangerous to carry this far."
"Right, of course." Ariel cleared her throat, but couldn't quite force herself into levity. She gave Meesei a pleading look. "I'm sorry, this is just a frightening prospect. If it means saving your lives, I would go in a heartbeat, but I..." She shook her head slowly and closed and opened her mouth. "I...I have so many things here that I would need to take care of, it is going to take a while to put everything in order. Oh, what-am-I-going-to-say-to-my-friends? Or-the-city-council?" Her nervous velocity of speech had apparently not changed since they last spoke. "What-do-I-say-to-Rukeewei?"
Gallus tried his best not to be affected by Yizan's tears. Najan gave him a task to focus on.
"Alright, alright, as you wish." Gallus lowered his tone to speak with Yizan-Lei directly again. "The reason that the cultists were after our certain souls is because there is..." Gallus wheeled his hand for moment. "...a beast within them. It makes our souls strong, but also grants us a physical edge. We are stronger, hardier, faster, we heal rapidly. Most notably for you, it renders us immune to diseases."
Gallus raise a palm. "However, I said it comes at a cost. Every so often, the beast emerges and takes over our body. We are rendered unable to think with more than the faculties of an animal unless given lengthy training and practice. You are driven by instincts to hunt, fight, and feed. If it takes you over, you may end up injuring or killing someone. That is why we live in groups, to help each other. And to protect ourselves and others from ourselves."
His tone had a slight turn for the uncertain. "Now, this is where the choice gets especially complex." Gallus gestured to Yizan's ribs. "I have never seen a sickness like yours before. I know that Argonians rarely if ever get illnesses in the first place, so it must be something strong or particular. I, personally, would have no idea whether putting a beast in your soul would cure you and I doubt any local healer would know either. That is why I was vague. I just don't know."
Gallus had a flash in his mind of Irenya's stern face. He wished she were here. She would have a better idea of Yizan-Lei's condition than him.
"If it does not cure you, I am afraid there is no way to remove the beast. I daresay it could make your remaining life worse. If it does cure you..." Gallus slowly gave Najan and his wife another look, before turning back. "I would have to teach you how to control yourself. You would have to come with me, out of the Marsh, for...a few years, at the very least, perhaps more. You would be away from your family, but it wouldn't just be me that helps you, it would be an entire community. There are many of us. It would not be easy, but it would be another chance at life."
Gallus angled his head and gave a look of sympathy. "Look, Yizan-Lei, I am not here to force you to accept my offer. I'm not here to force you to even believe me. If it were up to me, I would have brought your mother back, safe and sound, but it didn't work out that way. Instead, I promised I would help you if I could." Gallus clasped his hands together. "This is the best I can offer."
Gallus turned his eyes down and spoke with guilt. "Tell me to leave and I will go without another word. I'll give you time to think."
With that, Gallus slowly began to stand out of his seat, leaving the feather at Yizan-Lei's side.
Ariel finished her tea and placed her cup down, shaking her head. "No, that won't be an issue. I've never been one for pets and, even then, it's hard to source anything in Thorn short of a little bird." Ariel squinted one eye. "I had a customer who brought in a pet parrot once. Noisy creature, that."
While the excitement of catching up with her sister was still there, Sabine did not want to keep any more secrets than she had to. She looked to Meesei and mumbled. "Meesei, we should ask about the gas."
Gallus closed his eyes for a moment, and then turned to look at Najan. "It is not a simple matter, Najan-Ja. I'm afraid that the treatment requires the context of the events that happened. I would ask that you would bear with me."
Turning back to Yizan-Lei, Gallus continued. "We did stop them. Unfortunately, in the capture, Dar-Tzesa suffered a terrible wound. That wound killed her after several days." Gallus had his eyes turned away and blanked his expression at the memory of real events. He needed to spare Yizan those or else get thrown out on the spot. "I was the one who interrogated the cultists. Dar-Tzesa, in chains, had all but given up hope. I did not need to trick her or hurt her any further for her to tell me what happened. And about why she came. About you."
Gallus shifted to lean on one knee. "Now, I have sons of my own. I knew that the pain she was in was not just her wound. Before she died, I promised her that I would make sure you were looked after, that you wouldn't be alone and that I would help you in whatever way I could." Gallus looked down and up. "I was heartened to see that your family here has been caring for you. However, Dar-Tzesa may have unwittingly found something to help your condition."
Taking a breath and standing up straight, Gallus spoke to Najan-Ja and the female Argonian directly. "Najan-Ja. You and your...wife, you are Yizan-Lei's guardians? What Dar-Tzesa found is not something to take lightly, even in the state her son is in now. Unless you think I should tell Yizan-Lei here right now, I would like to speak to you two about it privately so that you might help Yizan-Lei's decision."
Gallus did not deliberately call it a cure at this point. He knew that Yizan-Lei would take anything, so convincing his aunt and uncle would take a different approach, if they deemed it necessary.
While the excitement of catching up with her sister was still there, Sabine did not want to keep any more secrets than she had to. She looked to Meesei and mumbled. "Meesei, we should ask about the gas."
Gallus closed his eyes for a moment, and then turned to look at Najan. "It is not a simple matter, Najan-Ja. I'm afraid that the treatment requires the context of the events that happened. I would ask that you would bear with me."
Turning back to Yizan-Lei, Gallus continued. "We did stop them. Unfortunately, in the capture, Dar-Tzesa suffered a terrible wound. That wound killed her after several days." Gallus had his eyes turned away and blanked his expression at the memory of real events. He needed to spare Yizan those or else get thrown out on the spot. "I was the one who interrogated the cultists. Dar-Tzesa, in chains, had all but given up hope. I did not need to trick her or hurt her any further for her to tell me what happened. And about why she came. About you."
Gallus shifted to lean on one knee. "Now, I have sons of my own. I knew that the pain she was in was not just her wound. Before she died, I promised her that I would make sure you were looked after, that you wouldn't be alone and that I would help you in whatever way I could." Gallus looked down and up. "I was heartened to see that your family here has been caring for you. However, Dar-Tzesa may have unwittingly found something to help your condition."
Taking a breath and standing up straight, Gallus spoke to Najan-Ja and the female Argonian directly. "Najan-Ja. You and your...wife, you are Yizan-Lei's guardians? What Dar-Tzesa found is not something to take lightly, even in the state her son is in now. Unless you think I should tell Yizan-Lei here right now, I would like to speak to you two about it privately so that you might help Yizan-Lei's decision."
Gallus did not deliberately call it a cure at this point. He knew that Yizan-Lei would take anything, so convincing his aunt and uncle would take a different approach, if they deemed it necessary.
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