Siteya's Descent

[Siteya]

This is an rp, I spawned, to challenge Siteya's spiritual beliefs, and develop new doctrine based on the duality of Xiosia (light) and Dakkru (dark) I hope int the future that Laanx can be involved, as a lost mother goddess, to create triple goddess doctrine in the realm, (Xiosia-maiden, Laanx-mother, Dakkru-crone) I also want to say, this is my first rp, with Siteya in the DR, it was her first IC visit to the underworld. I really wish that rp'ers would spend more time giving credence to a death realm visit, and take Dakkru's curse with more severity, if you do the reading, it is definitely more then a hangover, and the more you visit, the harder it should get, not easier. I think it a sham when people pop right back-up after an rp'd death and are hanging out at the bar like, "wasss-up"

Here is the story in parts:

Tea in the Garden

Etetie moves with grace, but there's also strength there. Her hips sway and her tail hovers tense and eager just off the ground as she approaches the tree, and Siteya. Dipping her head, the fenki touches her brow respectfully towards Xiosia's effigy and murmurs something in enkien, before saying in a low, almost sultry voice, "Hello, mmmpriestess Siteyah. It is a pleasure, an honor, to be meeting you here." Her accent is quite heavy.
Siteya startles and wipes a few tears from her eyes, looking up, she forces a smile, "Oh it’s okay, was just praying, having a bit of a rough day."

Etetie presses her paw over her heart and bows to the dermorian woman elegantly. "Mmmm. I am sorry to hear that, Siteyah. But perhaps you would treat with me for a while? There are things, of a religious nature, I wish to discuss with you." She takes a seat, cross-legged, spine straight. "Mmm. Would you like some tea, oh daughter of Xiosiaaah?"

Siteya turns and sits more presentable towards the Fenki, her eyes still red and wet, she wipes them again, she laughs off handed and a bit sarcastic, "I am not sure I am much of a good religious debate, my Goddess tests me each day, I feel as if a fledgling, I will do my best, tea you say?"

 Etetie nods. She begins to pull some things out of a bag that's stretched across her shoulders. A small, earthen teapot, and two tiny cups. She pours water from a pouch into the pot and then places her paws over it, letting a reddish haze flow out to warm the water till the teapot sings. "Mmm, that is alright, my Priestess. I am here only as an envoy. I wish you only good will, and the learning of knowledge." Her eyes sparkle a little. "Mmm. Tell me, Siteyah. What think you of the balance between life...and death?"

Siteya watches the fenki warm the water and leans on her right arm, relaxing into the pose and stretching out her legs, "In my devotion to Xiosia, I do see her as the creator, therefore she resides in all matter of death, she is a gate she, I know it might seem blasphemous, but I believe she has her hand in protecting those that would walk in the death realm, however would they return so unharmed?"

Etetie raises a furry brow. "Mmm. You may think that if it makes you feel better, Siteyah, but it is not so. Dakkru herself reigns supreme over her dominion. It is she who controls who passes into it, or into the great Crystal beyond. It is she who puts your bones back together when they have broken; it is she who molds your charred-black flesh when the fire has consumed you." She begins to pour the water in, and after she does, she sprinkles what looks to be thick tea leaves inside, swirling it around. "Dakkru honors strength and will of those who succeed in leaving her Realms, and gives a reminder to us when we leave them so that we might remember the gravity that is death. I worship Dakkru with my head held high, for it is as she has decreed."
Siteya raises her brow just slightly, and curls her legs in towards her , her shoulders stiffen noticeably, she glance to the fenki's eyes momentarily, "I am not so naive, I have come to some conclusions, Dakkru must hold her own gate within, but I do feel very clear that Xiosia is my protector, she will hold me through...the trials even in death, I will find my way back to her..." she grabs hold of the root of the tree by her right side and squeezes it.
Etetie finishes allowing the tea to steep, and then slides it towards Siteya. It is a ruddy color. "I mean no intention to the Great Goddess Xiosia, harbinger of life and light and birdsong. I have great respect, in fact, for this other side of my Dark Mother's coin." She again makes the gesture of pressing her fingertips to her brow, and then extending them to the effigy. "But you must understand, Siteyah. Dakkru's reach is limited to almost nothing here. So it is with the other gods in her Realm. The Death Realm is the place of Dakkru. It is hers alone."
Siteya lowers her head, scratching her cheek, she sighs with weary, "as I respect your devotion, I really don’t mean to offend," she frowns a half smile, "before looking up to the effigy above her and leaning harder on the root, into the base of the tree, "I have my faith, I would not leave her side, not ever not until my dea...true death, shall I be released from my vows."

Etetie makes a faint humming sound. She gestures at the tea, and then raises her own cup to her lips, sipping it in quiet thought for a moment. "Mmmperhaps. All things must die. I respect your devotion to your Great Goddess. Perhaps, one day, before the end of all things and the Great Unknowing that is beyond that, you will treat with my Dark Mother." She gives a kindly sort of smile. "I believe you would find the experience enlightening."
Siteya sees the fenki drink the tea and almost as a reminder that is was there, she grabs her own, and holds up, "To the Goddess," she raises her cup slightly and sips.

Etetie watches the woman drink. She swirls her own cup again, waiting for her to down a few good swallows. Then she speaks with quiet excitement. "Mmm. The great sleeproot. The sleeproot of the forever sleep. It is a clean death. A quiet death. A gentle death. It will be a good death, for a first time, for a Priestess of Life." Then she downs the rest of her cup in one fell swig. "And your eyes shall be opened. And you shall treat with She. And you shall see how the workings of life, and the workings in death, hang truly in balance."

Siteya finishes a gulp of the tea as the fenki's words register in her ears, she blinks, her head becoming groggy, she drops the cup in her hand, her eyes drooping as she slouches slight forward to the ground below the tree, she looks up at the effigy, her hand reaches up so slightly it is barely noticeable but a twitch, she goes to speak her tongue forms words of lead in her mouth, to a mumble of nonsense except one breathy word, "sleep' she manages to turn her head to the fenki, fear stricken eyes, held fixed and glassy, her chest still rising and falling, slower each pass.

Etetie smiles gently at Siteya, her eyes peering down at her as she herself sinks willingly into the grass. "Thine shall treat with She," the woman says. And then she's gone.

[Siteya]

Siteya’s journal while in Dakkrus Realm

[the ink is blotched and the handwriting frenzied and harder to decipher]

I have been some time now in this realm of darkness; my mind runs in a hundred directions. I am quite unsure of just how much time has passed, or if time exists, for this world is not of the world I knew and trusted and although linked somehow, it seems to be a negative mirror with its own rules. I am still unsure how I came to be a dweller of the Dakkrus realm, I do remember that before I awoke here there was a fenki in the garden, we were discussing Xiosia and she offered me tea, promised me an easy death…and I fell into a heavy sleep full of visions most euphoric and terrifying.

At first before the darkness, I awoke in a haze, as if nothing happened. It was a beautiful day under the sacred tree, and my Goddess, Xiosia was there with me, she was holding me in her arms and smiling, so motherly her care, as she placed her hand on my cheek, and I found myself smiling too. I felt so very peaceful, and I was contented and truly alive in the moment. But the day turned to night, as if covered in a dark cloud, the air seemed to feel like it was slowly leaking from the realm as it became harder to breathe, my lungs felt as if a weight was resting on my chest, a gloominess clung to my soul, and panic struck in my heart as I witnessed Xiosia stare up at the tree in a frantic state, now a withered and dying with rotten fruit. I went to scream but now sound escaped my mouth and then the tree split in two all at once with a loud crack, revealing a dark cavernous entry, with an eerie purple mist seeping out of it. This is when I caught my first and only glimpse of her, the dark lady; she stepped out from the split in the tree. She was a sight so breathless, my chest heaved and I gasped. I felt the embrace of my Mother Goddess tighten around me as we both bore witness as the lady of darkness emerged from the tree. To say she is dark, is to align her to the energy that emanates from her presence, for her skin is so pale she almost glowed with an iridescent quality. Her eyes, like fiery emeralds, were too frightful to directly gaze upon. she was shrouded in the dark mist as she walked towards us, huddled there on the ground, and then my Goddess looked upon me momentarily, with sadness and then stood up tall blocking my quivering body from the cloaked lady, as to make a stand of defiance. The two locked eyes and a wicked laughter rang out from the very air around us. In that moment I knew I was no longer under the care and protection of my blessed Xiosia, that somehow the higher laws of the Gods did not permit this. That we were no longer in the garden under the sacred tree and Xiosia had no power here. I was struck with a fear greater than any I had ever known before, as my Goddess, bowed her head to the lady in the dark mist and turned and disappeared into the shadow.

I held my eyes tightly closed, preparing for what pain or torture my happen next. I felt the heaviness as she drew closer and stood over me in silence. Eventually I slowly opened my eyes and she was gone, as was the split and decayed ruqua tree, although I could still feel her presence there was no physical sign of her in this new place I found myself alone in. I listened for any signs of others and only heard the dripping of water close by, the scampering of rats and every once in while an echoing clank or boom, that although startled me did not altogether alarm me. What did alarm me was that not only did I feel no pain, I felt revived somehow, almost euphoric, I decided that it could be worse and began to search for a way out. After several hours of stumbling around grated walkways, lost, the reality set in that I was dead, not a true death, but that of which I was very unknowledgeable of, death realm dead, and I sat down and sobbed at my fate when I heard a scampering close by me, not that of rat but something larger. I squinted my eyes to see, when a young girl of five, in a tattered antique dress, approaches me cautiously. I was in such a shock, I stared wide eyed at the young nolthrir, she seemed to belong to this realm and she quite confused, after gathering my wits, I said, “Hello.” And smiled with as much grace as I could muster. She did not respond with a greeting, but yet motioned me to follow her, as she dragged along almost resembling a gobble in using her front hands to crawl from time to time. After a few hours of walkways, stairs and high ledges we came to a corridor, with 2 rooms, and I felt the dark energy build in my chest as if magnetized I began to walk into one of the rooms, when she pulled me back and shook her head, with fearful eyes, muttering with a strange accent, “No in that room, this good for nicer elf.” She grabbed my hand with her own filthy one and dragged me away into a large room with expansive ceilings, shelf after shelf of books, I opened my eyes wide and gasped, “This is amazing little one.” I grazed the books on the shelf in front of me with my hand, and my mouth wide open, taking it all in. Out of the corner of my eye an older Yilan man in robes walked by rolling his eyes at the child, he quickly made for a spiral staircase, and made no further notice of the two of us. I yelled up to him to get his attention, but he acted as if I didn’t exist. The young girl ran after him and up the stairs leaving me alone with the books in this mysterious library.

[second entry, written even more illegible]

As I had mentioned above in my first entry, it has been several days, or at least I feel it has been, maybe longer, I do not manage to keep track of time here. I do not sleep nor eat, for the food the young girl offers, is still with a pulse and possibly a rodent, though I have never seen one so large. She has done me a great service in finding me ink and pen and parchment, and so I have come to write this journal, the books here are so vast and some so ancient I barely can read the dialect, Others are in languages I do not comprehend. I have been taking notes and scribing with all my time and energy, it has become quite an obsession.

[scratched out like a fourth grader after a box of cereal]

At last the magnetism for the room across the corridor, has me in its pull, it has been sometime since I sensed the child or the Yilan man around, I can stand the anticipation no longer. Upon entering the room, I was struck with the sight of a giant dark crystal. I have heard others speak of it, some say it is frightful and not for the faint of heart, others speak of its power and beauty, and I must say, I am in awe at the sight, the closer I brave to be near it, the more I succumb to the energy it emanates, like a humming deep within my spine, it holds some sort of rejuvenation, you can feel as if healing from all the evils and violence, almost as if in acceptance and letting go, one can find true inner peace. I sit with it for hours before the young girl, flies into the room in a panic, grabbing at my clothes, hysterically dragging me towards the door, she yells, “No crystal, home go, the way I show, home go, NO Crystal.” I nod and go along rather than upset her, I tell her I must rest some and continue my research, I was not ready to leave. She sighed and led me back to the library.

[Siteya]

Lillethe Emerges from the Death Realm

[back story- Lillethe is a nolthrir that died at the age of 4 and remained in the death realm for some 30 years, with her age and and her mental development slowed by the dark crystal and lack of socialization, she arrives above, in a body that has grown full adult in her ascent from the underworld]
 
Lillethe rolls over on her side and squints up at the sun, holding her hand above her eyes to block the blinding light; she looks around, and curls up on all fours and crawls rapidly to hide behind the barrel, before puking her guts, with loud horrendous yacking sounds.

Evirea pauses in walking towards the bulletin board and peers down at the nolthrir on the ground. She grimaces upon seeing her and does it again when she hears the vomiting. "Hey," she says her tone gentle. She steps closer slowly, crouching down. "Do you need help?"

Jirore says, “Good afternoon!”

Lillethe rapidly turns her head with an animal instinct, her eyes squinting to see, she holds herself awkwardly confusion in her glare, "Is Azure? the place?" she looks down at her hands and then her chest and shakes her head, gets up on all fours to crawl away like a frightened animal, before falling over and writhing some more, the parchments fall from her loosened grip.

Jirore backs away slowly

Allena rushes to the woman checking her for vitals

Evirea nods at Jirore, but quickly moves towards Lillethe. She stoops down again, not heeding the parchments yet. "You're beneath the Azure Sun," she tells her soothingly. She reaches out to try and lay a hand on her hair gingerly, eyes falling to the amulet around her neck. "Can you tell me what happened to you?"

Lillethe grabs the amulet around her neck protectively, while wiping her face she moves to get upright squatting in a guarded stature, she eyes the 2 close to her, sniffing the air, a gleam of curiosity to the elf and a recoil at the klyros wings, before she crawls over to be near the parchment, "she holds out the amulet, "Kin" she looks around with frantic squinting eyes, "much light" she shakes her head.

Evirea frowns. She reaches towards the amulet, but her hand merely remains between them. She doesn't try to snatch it from her. "Kin? I suppose so. We mean you no harm. Friend." Touching her chest with the opposite hand, she adds, "Evirea," and with a nod at the nolthrir beside her, "Allena." As if noticing where the woman's fear of her is coming from, the klyros folds her wings tightly against her back, to minimize their visibility.

Allena nod in confirmation and offers a smile "you are alright. Take your time and breath"

Lillethe nods her head slowly, a dazed look in her eyes, she grabs the parchment, sniffing the held out hand, she nervously places the papers in the klyros hands, and looks at her body then the elf’s, her eyes widen, "Lil", she points to herself, "No big, no big." she shakes her head and her breath becomes rushed and uneven, as she cries, "No big." shaking her head all the while.

Allena looks to Evirea "Maybe some running water will calm her?"

Evirea curls her fingers around the parchment, but for the moment she merely puts it aside in the pack hanging from her shoulders. "Shhhh," she murmurs. "You're alright, sweetheart." Her tone is maternal, as though addressing a small child. Giving Allena a nod, she says, "Yes. Get some. She's probably thirsty." Fishing around in her bag again, she pulls out a blanket and holds it out to Lillethe, an offering against the winter's cold.

Allena reaches to her glyph sack at the hip and summons a stream of water, moving it closer to Lillethe, concentrating on keeping it in motion

Lillethe looks sideways at the offering and then at the Klyros, she snatches the blanket and sniffs at it, she hugs it in her right arm tightly, as if to find some comfort, she jumps back at the flowing water with terror stricken eyes, but she comes back towards it slowly as curiosity takes over her fear, she puts her free hand out, and holds it close, a few fingers get wet and she jumps back and licks her wet fingers, her tears still wet on her face, as she sniffles and licks, squeezing the blanket.

Evirea frowns as she watches, but finally opens the book. Her eyes flick through the pages, faster and faster the further she reads. When she finishes she sits with it held in her lap, her eyes widening. "Oh gods," she mutters. "Siteya. Siteya's in the Realm. We have to get the Daughters. They should be notified." Her eyes rove back up to Lillethe. "...She must be some kind of messenger from there. What did she say? No big? How old are you, Lil?"

Allena speaks in a warm and reassuring voice "It is ok, dear. It is only wat--" Allena cuts off as Evirea speaks "Evirea, send me. I'll find her"

Lillethe shakes her head with wide eyes, her tears flowing again, "No big." she points to Allena before trying to count her fingers and shrugging she pushes her face into the blanket.

Evirea passes the parchment to Allena. "Read first. I don't think this is something you can do alone. Siteya's going to need two kinds of help, and the Daughters need to be informed." Her eyes never leave the woman in front of her, and she murmurs, "I've heard of this sort of thing before. She's a child in mind but a grown woman in body. She's been in the Realm for a long time. Judging by how she's talking, I'd say decades."

Allena looks to Evirea pleading "Evirea, I have been there before" and scans the parchment before her before thrusting it back. "At least let me look for her and wait for you. She shouldn't be alone like I was"

Evirea grimaces at Allena. "I've visited the Realm in my time. I'm no expert at traveling there, but Allena, neither are the daughters. If you go alone and cannot convince Siteya, in her state of mind, to come with us, we will have no guide to lead us to her." The klyros woman turns her head and says, "I need you. We'll go as soon as we've gathered the Daughters."

Lillethe coils in a new streak of pain, her muscles in her neck and arms seem to clench as she moans, she weeps and falls to her side in agony she moans, "no azure hurts"

Majhe takes a few steps towards the group seeming a bit cowardly as he approaches. He stands there, waiting for a moment to speak.

Evirea winces sympathetically. She reaches towards Lillethe and tries to gently work the blanket she holds over her skin and her head, so that it might cover her from the light. "Easy. There, there. You'll be alright." Flicking her eyes up, she watches Majhe. Though she nods in greeting, her posture is generally protective, likely of the cowering woman near her.

Allena looks at Evirea, paling "But... But.... Alright." and looks from Evirea and Lillethe "We should get her inside"
Lillethe writhes in pain and starts rocking under the blanket, she mutters in a moan, "No big, no azure"
Majhe scratches his arm as he looks around, not sure if he should leave or not.

Allena reaches to her glyph sack again and pulls out a darkness glyph and produces a bubble of darkness to offer a measure of protection "Sorry Evirea. I hope you can still see"

Evirea grumbles. Her eyes fall again to the clamed menki, not sure what to make of him. As Majhe turns away, she tries to reach out and help Lillethe to her feet. "We'll get her to a room. Siteya will be alright for one evening. We should see to her injuries and see that she gets something to eat before moving forward with this. I'll contact the Daughters as soon as possible."

Majhe looks back at the group as the magic is cast. He quickly scurries away.

Allena moves to help move Lillethe, keeping the darkness focused on herself "Right. one step at a time."

Lillethe seems to calm almost instantly with the casting of the spell, she peers out of the blanket, with just a bit of her face in view she eyes the dark bubble with familiarity, and turns her head to the mention of Siteya, "Kin? You? for nice elf?"

Evirea nods her head. "I'd say we're kin, yes. Siteya knows me. She's my friend. I want to help her, and I thank you for bringing these to me." She holds up the parchment. "Now I can gather her friends and we can go talk to her. You did a really good job, Lil. Good job."

Allena smiles to Lillethe "That is right. We are here to help, dear. Just stay with me and in the bubble and we'll take good care of everything"

Lillethe pulls the blanket around herself like a cloak covering her head, she stands up on her 2 feet, alarmed at her own size, she stumbles almost before grounding herself, tears and panic show in her gleam, she takes a deep breathe, "we go home see Sitaayaa?"?"

Evirea reaches out her hand again, trying to support the woman. "We will," she reassures her. "First, we get you some good food, mmmmm. And then you should get some sleep. You must be tired. We'll see Siteya soon, I promise."

Allena moves to try to catch the girl "We will and soon, but we need to get all of her kin before we go and look for her.”

Lillethe nods her head, tears well up, she sinks deeper into the shelter of the blanket, "I hurt my dress when azure grew me."

Evirea murmurs to Allena, "To the tavern." She nods at Lillethe. "Don't worry. We'll get you a new dress, and a bath. We'll make you clean and comfortable. How's that sound?"

Allena smiles "Would you like this one? I think you'll look much nicer in it"

Lillethe nods her head under the blanket and follows the Klyros and Nolthrir with an awkward walk, dragging her feet

Lillethe drags the blanket on the ground as she crawls her way up the stairs, she cautiously holds her head down, as she curiously looks around, her body still slightly tense with apparent pain.

Allena looks to the girl with a small and reassuring smile "Let’s just get you to bed and I'll make it a little better, ok?"

Lillethe looks around the room, taking in all the new sights, she eyes the bed as she drops the blanket to the ground, and grazes the mattress with her hand, "For me?"

Lillethe jumps up on the bed in a squat, she moves to a corner of the bed against the wall, chewing on her finger nervously, looking at her ripped ill fitted and ripped dress, "no big" she yawns big.

Allena pats the girl's head reassuringly "We'll get you a new dress in the morning. Would you like me to make it hurt less for you, dear?"

Lillethe eyes widen, "you do the magic like home." she nods her head and looks down with a sad and confused face.

Allena nods and keeps a hand on the girls shoulder "I sure do. I can make you hurt less, but only if you want me too"

Lillethe nods a few times, while she yawns and settles more comfortably into the bed, "Yes, azure bad, it hurts me"

Allena surrounds herself in a dark aura and reaches for Lillethe to surround her as well "Hold still, ok?" Lillethe, if she consents, will feel her pain flowing from herself and into a dark presence that is Allena

Lillethe shifts slightly with unease and then holds still, holding her breathe but then relaxes her eyes seem to become droopy with the ease of pain, she mumbles, "home." with a whimper under her breath.

Allena reaches for the blankets as she lets the aura fade to tuck Lillethe in snuggly "You did really well. I was lost just like Siteya is now, but I didn't have a little guardian like you." Allena gives the girl a warm smile. "We'll get her out, don't you worry" and watches over the girl as she slumbers, maintaining the darkness over her

[Siteya]

The Next Day

Evirea licks her lips. Speaking carefully and gently, she asks, "Lil. We're going to go and get Siteya now. Do you wish to come with us?" As she speaks, she pulls a key out and holds it towards Yenida, mouthing, "Lock the door."
Lillethe tucks herself into the corner holding a blanket tight in her grasp, she whimpers with tears and kicks with defensive instinct, bagging her head on the wall a few times, she stops, she crawls out a bit, sitting on the floor in the middle of the room and turns her eyes to Evirea, full with anxiety and fear, she nods her head slowly.
Yenida closes the door, and turns the key in the lock

Allena crouches down next to Lillethe and reaffirms the darkness around her and strokes her hair with a warm smile "It is ok, dear, we are here"

Evirea looks briefly pained at the woman's affirmation. "I thought so. You're going to have to help miss Allena lead us to Siteya. I think you'll be very good at that." She pauses for a moment more, glancing around. "We're all going to take a drink together, and then we'll be where Siteya is. Do you understand?" Though appearing to address Lillethe, it's clear she's also informing the other two what she intends.

Yenida swallows, then nods.

Allena maintains her smile and nods in agreement "And then you can show us your home, Lil, and the Azure Sun won't be around anymore"

Yenida says, "We have all been there before... ", she states it simply

Lillethe relaxes under the spell of darkness, looks at the dermorian and sees she has the same amulet, her eyes widen with excitement she speaks with a rushed curiosity and clasps the amulet around her own neck, "You are elf kin?" as she sits up a bit to show the amulet her dress falls off her shoulder, exposing half of her chest, Lil is quite oblivious.

Yenida squats down, nodding at Lillethe "Sita is my family, sort of, yes..."

Evirea winces as the woman reveals herself, though it's not entirely clear why, considering that she's a doctor. She turns around and wanders to the wardrobe, rifling around in it before finding a simple but sturdy little dress. Grasping it, she walks back to Lillethe and says, "Your clothes are all broken. Can I put this on you instead?"

Allena digs in her shoulder bag and pulls out the mauve dress she had been wearing and holds it out with an apologetic look "I know I said you could have it, but I got it dirty" It hold new stains oh dried blood.
 
[It is a mauve dress with a large flower on the chest. It balloons at the chest and is tighter along the hips]

Lillethe manages to smile at Yen in her distress and excitement. She carefully, removes the amulet and gives it to Yenida, before yanking off the ripped up child’s dress with no thought, throwing it on the ground. She nods to Allena with a momentary widened grin, nodding her head several times

Yenida takes the amulet from Lillethe "Thank you... " and puts it in her sack, she looks at the dress, the stains, and frowns some more.

Evirea quirks a brow at Allena and seems to find small amusement in the fact that they simultaneously pulled something out. She merely allows the child to choose, holding her option while rifling through her travel sack and searching for a vial.

Allena's eyes widen at Lillethe before stifling a laugh and looks down and away

Lillethe never turns her eyes from the mauve dress the Nolthrir holds, "I can be big in the dress?"

Allena smiles and nods "Yes you can." and turns to Evirea "Maybe I should drink mine now while it is closed"

Lillethe snatches the dress from Allena and grabs it close to sniff t it and investigate its texture

Allena returns her gaze to Lillethe with a warm smile "You will be so pretty"

Evirea places her dress on the table and looks towards Allena. She again grimaces, but she nods and holds out the vial. Her expression is grim. "It's hard to say where we'll fall in the Realm. If you find yourself lost and unable to contact the group, use these." She begins to pass out some small sticks, etched with red way runes. "Split it open and throw it. It'll make a tall spire of fire. Tall enough to draw attention, though don't try using it as a weapon. Doesn't do much for that."

Allena stands with a nod and accepts the vial, downing it without a second thought and sits down against the wall.

Lillethe starts to put on the dress with a questioning, raised brow, she first sticks her hand into the neckline with some frustration she manages to get the dress over head as she slips her arms into the sleeves clumsily she pulls it down and into place, starring at down herself with awe, oblivious to the discussion around her.

Evirea offers a stick and a vial to Yenida next, before kneeling down in front of Lillethe. She reaches out to try and take her hand gently. "You're going to come with me, alright?" She says softly. "Are you ready to go find Siteya?"
Allena gives Lillethe a sleepy smile "See, I told you it would be pretty on you..." as she drifts to death

Yenida takes her own vial from Evirea. She waits with drinking it, watching Lillethe and Evirea

Lillethe eyes meet Evirea's, the tears swell up before she nods

Evirea offers Lillethe a vial, uncorking it for her and smiling gently.

Yenida puts the vial to her lips, downs it in two drafts.

Lillethe takes the vial and sips it, make a bitter frown from the scent, she sticks a tongue out to taste it, then looks up to Evirea briefly, she then closes her eyes and drinks the vile.

Later, in the Death Realm…

Lillethe looks up and around, her eyes blinking to the adjustment, she looks down at her own body, with amazement, "I am big?

Lillethe she looks around and grabs Evirea’s hand, with more confidence in the dark realm, she tugs her along. [Lillethe pulls a little toddler god mod here ]

Evirea allows the woman to tug her along without protest.

Allena watches Evirea closely, trying to offer a reassuring smile

Lillethe sees the other 2 ahead and points, rushing along with more ease then previously in Yliakum.
Yenida says, "I hope the girl can show us the way..."

Evirea gestures at Allena and Yenida as the child pulls her along, muttering, "Let's hope so."

Yenida eyes Lillethe friendly. "Do you know where Sita is?"

Allena grins at Lillethe, pleased to see her moving, and falls in behind the dragged Klyros.

Lillethe nods her head, she runs with excitement down the corridor.

Lillethe points into the library with a giggle, then she runs away and jump down and out of sight, she scampers away, giggling echoes trail down the hallway as she slips out of sight.

[Siteya]

Siteya’s Found

Evirea shouts, “Siteya!”

Siteya lays flat out, asleep, her hands thick with ink, books and parchments lay strewn about her.
Lallid wanders into the library with a chunk of somewhat-cooked rat meat on a stick. She chews slowly while she watches the others.

Evirea nods at Allena, then pauses. "She is here," the klyros says, crouching down to check the dermorian's pulse.
Yenida rushes forward "Sita!", flinging her arms around Siteya's neck

Allena descends quickly keeping her distance to avoid crowding her

Yenida says, "Oh.. er.. " she quickly backs off

Evirea warns Yenida sharply, "Not too hard or tight. She's been down here for too long. She'll need food and tending. Let's see if we can revive her first."

Lallid says, “Revive her? Has the Lady claimed this Dermorian?”

Siteya startles with the embrace and recoils back in confusion, unable to speak she peers at the group in front of her, she rubs her eyes, she shakes her head, and in confused tone, "Uh, what are you doing here?"

Evirea stiffens and stands, whipping around. She stares at the diaboli in surprise, before replying hesitantly, "No. She lives. She's just unconscious. She's a Xiosian Priestess. She's not meant to be here."

Allena lets out a sigh of relief

Evirea says to Siteya without turning around again, "Lil. She came to get us. She had your amulet and your notes about the Realm. Apparently she had cause to be concerned."

Yenida takes the DoX amulet she got from Lillethe, and puts it around Siteya's neck, as if it is a talisman that may protect her.

Lallid says, “Mm. The Lady's sister-Goddess...what brings such a woman here?”

Evirea narrows her eyes. It doesn't seem so much a glare as a thoughtful look. "I believe a Dakkruist sent her here. Perhaps she believed there was something Siteya might learn by seeing the Realm. Possible, but it's still murder, and it was committed within Xiosia's garden. I'm not religious, but the mode seems to break certain rules in order to get to the means."

Lallid says, “Fascinating! I mean, unfortunate, but still fascinating. I never did get to see that Garden...
Siteya eyes widen, she looks over to the Diaboli and back to Yenida, with a sad and confused smile, she quickly gathers the mess of books and parchments, shaking her head, "This is a a dream...another test..." she looks up to Yenida, "You cannot be here."

Allena passes her gaze from Evirea to Lallid

Lallid shakes her head. "Would that it were a mere dream. I'm afraid this is all quite real, dear."

Allena offers siteya a smile "And now we can get you home"

Evirea says brightly, "This most certainly is not a dream, Siteya. But don't worry. I really am here to slap some sense back into you. I don't think you could even imagine up the amount of sass it takes to dream about me." She casts a look over her shoulder, eyes glittering a little.

Yenida shakes her head at Siteya "I'm real... and we are gonna take you back..."

Siteya looks down at her arms full with books and loose papers, she looks up to Evirea and shakes her head, her eyes showing pain, "I can't go back"

Lallid says, “So soon? I do so love having visitors. Especially when they're not trying to stab me.”

Evirea eyes Lallid again. She looks like she might say something, but instead replies, "You're welcome to come with us, ma'am." Turning to the dermorian, she speaks firmly. "You most certainly can. And will. You're not going to forget your duties just because some twit sent you here. There's a whole world waiting for you. I know your beliefs have likely been a little rattled, but really, you should have known all along. This is the other side of the coin. Dakkru isn't evil. She is death. She is a force of nature, just like Xiosia. This is the reality of your balance. Now that you know it, use it in how you move forward. But do it where you were born to tread. In the light."

Yenida extends her arms to take the books from Siteya. "Let me carry these for you."

Lallid says, “What, topside? You'd be accompanied by a pile of ashes...”

Allena watches Siteya with a concerned frown

Siteya pulls them tight to herself and yells subtlly, "No, just not yet!" she looks to Evirea, "The books, Evirea, I haven't even...touched but a few...there is so much I don't know yet."

Evirea curls her fingers into fists and sets them on her hips. "Yes, that's true. And they're all quite interesting, I can reassure you. But you're wasting away down here. You have to do it in doses, and you need a guide. I know some people who have trained Dark Way for cycles here who would be better at leading you around in safety. If that's what you want, it can be arranged, but don't go losing your head over it. That won't help anybody."

Lallid says, “A guide? I guide people from time to time!”

Yenida nods at Siteya "Evi is right, Sita... Rest first, and then come back... with a guide"

Allena smiles to Siteya "This place will always be here. It isn't going to go anywhere, dear"

Siteya turns her head to the last response, "Allena, surely you understand, I must stay just a bit longer, I have a few books here, I cannot let go of, I must understand." her eyes plead as she force a teary smile."

Yenida casts a surreptitious glance at Lallid, which she finds an odd one.

Yenida shrugs. "We take them with us, those books. We borrow them for a while"

Allena nods with a smile "I might understand. And we can talk about it back at the Daughter's house, but if I stay here too long I am going to die. And not come back. So why don't we head back and discuss a few thing? hmm?"

Lallid says, “I must warn your friends...trying to borrow those books is rumored to cause an even nastier curse than usual...”

Yenida frowns when she hears Allena

Evirea is distracted by Allena's words. Her eyes widen and she hisses, "You did not tell me that!" Glancing back at Siteya, she speaks urgently. "I know you are wiser than this. I realize this is important to you, but there is no reason you cannot come back here. This woman has already offered to guide you, and there will be others willing. Go up, eat, gain strength. What is there to win if you kill yourself studying this literature? How long since you've even eaten, Siteya?"

Siteya still holding the books tightly in her folded arms, her voice almost a stutter, her eyes unfocused and not making eye contact with Yen or any of the others, she looks down at the ground, "I am afraid...I can't leave, my Goddess of light has abandoned me here, I cannot face the garden."

Yenida shrugs "Ok.. borrowing is not a good idea." She keeps glancing at Allena, apparently troubled by what she just heard.

Lallid says, “What? I don't take Xiosia for the type to hold dying against people - unless she's grown more wrathful in the past century?”

Evirea lets out a quiet sigh. "Your goddess hasn't abandoned you, Siteya. If I'm honest, I think this was to show you something. Course, I'm not really versed in the way of spiritual things, but I will say this. Xiosia's domain is with the living. Life is sacred. But there is also a time to die. This is Dakkru's domain, not your goddess's. She didn't abandon you. She simply could not keep you there. What's more, perhaps you were sent to learn. To understand that while life is sacred, there is also a time to die."

Allena shakes her head "Oh, siteya. She didn't abandon you..." she blink at Siteya "Can I show you something?"
Lallid says, “Aye, death is only another part of life.”

Siteya looks up to Allena with a raised brow.

Allena nods behind her "Come."

Evirea peers at Allena uncertainly. She murmurs, "Don't do anything to aggravate that wound."

Yenida looks at Allena, takes a step too in her direction although uninvited, then stops, still more frowning.
Siteya shoves the books and papers into her left arm and uses her right to get up with some struggle, she drags past Yenida and Evirea.

Allena offers Evirea a wink and moves to leave the library

Allena falls against the wall, her arms crossed half blocking Siteya from completely entering "This is what you really don't want to leave, isn't it? it's not the books, but the crystal

Siteya steps a few small paces to view into the room, her eyes locked on the crystal, wildness grows in her eyes, she nods her head slowly, "I need to understand how it works, I need to understand that which my Goddess blinded me from my whole life."

Allena nods "And how couldn't you? you are a healer. The power to heal anything. That is pretty spectacular, isn't it? And so much more accessible then the Azure Sun. Yes, Siteya, I understand. You want to know how it works."

Siteya nods briefly, she turns to Allena, and frowns, "I am ready then, take me home?" she looks back, "Evirea would just drag me kicking anyhow." she the frown tilts upward slightly, "She looks back to Allena with a more serious glance, "I may need your help...to understand so much."

Allena nods with a smile "Of course. I will impart all that I know."

Siteya nods once and turns with a glance to library and shrugs before walking towards it.
Allena pats Siteya on the back "come on. Let’s get the others"

[Kaerli_Stronwylle]

[Fantastic!  BTW: Kaerli should have something useful to add here, believe it or not Siteya might just be reinventing a wheel...]