Setting
Strange place to live. Dangerous too!
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
Alkeemia is a part of 
Alkeemia.
3 Characters Here
Carlile "Drauger" Rezdan [71] Mauler pilot in Chimera's 147th division AKA The Suicide Squad
Atma [70] Formerly a soldier of Seraphin and skilled combat mage, Atma has grown tired of his own people and their ignorance, so he travels Alkeemia, seeking a way to unify the three kingdoms against the threat that will one day consume him.
Tahi [69] Tahi is a warrior princess from Rakta, one of the many tribes of Ent. She feels that her tribe has never done anything wrong. Despite her father's wishes, she goes off in search of the enemy. Anyone who is against Ent.
Start Character Here »
- 75 posts here • Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Carlile looked at Meisha & back at the lake "I don't know where I'd dump the sludge without polluting anything". He stairs at the lake quietly for a moment still processing the new information "Stetsner would haunt me to my grave if I did that". Carlile stood & walked over to Meisha opening the hatch & grabbing his canteen. He reached into his pocket & pulled out a liter flicking it open & touching the flame to the mouth of the canteen. The sludge caught fire like gasoline blowing a hole through the canteen "Well that failed miserably". Carlile seemed different in this response maybe due to the lack of the word fuck but possibly also in something else.
He shrugged and stood, trying not to think about being stabbed by little girls. "You'd be surprised how strong one can be when there's someone to help them stand." Something was terribly wrong with this place, but he couldn't quite put his finger to it. When they reached the sick tent and found no one in it, the oddity of this place struck him again. Even in Seraphin there was always SOMEONE sick, even if it were just a child with a cold. Pushing the thought aside, he put his pack down next to one of the mats, but kept his swords. "Not a single sick person. I find that odd." He followed the Ent woman until they found the Pilot. When the pilot put the flame to the canteen and blew a hole in it, Atma walked up and inspected the canteen. "You sure this stuff isn't dangerous? Because, to me, that looked like weaponized motor oil." When the pilot failed to swear like he'd come to know he did in the past hour, he raised an eyebrow quizzically. "You alright Mr.Pilot?"
Tahi looked at the chimeran and waited for an answer. She didn't have anything to say at this time. A wave of children ran passed them and into the water to swim. They swam towards the deeper end, but not too far from shore.
Carlile looked at the Seraphin and took a long blank pause holding a blank slightly confused expression "Quite the opposite. I'm overjoyed...I think...It's been so long since I've had this feeling. I don't even know how to process it anymore". He tossed the steel canteen to Atma no longer having use of it "Places like this are considered less than myth in Chimera. Talk of them is often charged with sedition. My late friend Stetsner spoke of them often before he was captured by secret police. Not that any of that is of any consequence to you...". He continued to stare at the lake but didn't speak further. He simply walked back to the edge without closing Meisha & sat on the shore staring at the water. He removed his sweater & boots revealing bruised & bloody feet as well as pail heavily scarred bloodstained arms. He began pouring the water over his head trying to expel the grease from his body so that he may enter the water without polluting it.
He watched awkwardly, holding the destroyed canteen. Was Chimera really in such a bad state that clean water cannot be found? He gingerly sniffed the canteen, and dropped it as his face went a deep green. He hugged his stomach and sat down, shaking. "Y-You drink tha-" He couldn't finish the sentence, as he gagged and had to cover his mouth to keep from vomiting.
Tahi picked up the canteen and gave it a cautious sniff. After she did, she shrugged, "I do not know why you are reacting so violently. It is no worse than the gāyī' waste." she motioned to the large gila monster-like lizards that were used for hauling carts, "You Ṭōḷa are too ..." she couldn't seem to find the word she wanted in English, "Nivārāēḍa." she pretended to hold a baby in her arms to help them know what she said. A large horn blared. Tahi looked in its direction, "It is time to start preparing the food. If you would like, you may come and help. Anyone who did not help to kill or gather the food must help cook. But since you two are guests, you are welcomed to explore further. I, myself, enjoy cooking. It is much fun."
Carlile finished his bird bath & stood to face Atma & Tahi "You two go ahead I'm going to..." he looked at the water with confusion (swimming is unheard of in Chimera). He made an awkward paddling motion to better communicate his intentions "I'll go & help in a bit". He turned & waded into the water all the way up to his neck & stopped "okay now how how the fuck do I do this?". He stared with confusion at the water. As Carlile was grasping the concept of swimming some of the Rakta children had taken an interest in Meisha some were even bold enough to touch her.
He coughed once or twice until his normal color returned. "Perhaps just the concept that a living person is forced to drink such a thing... It sickens me." He rubbed the smell out of his nose and scowled at the Ent woman. He was pretty sure she'd just called him a child. As for helping prepare food, he honestly had only ever cooked for himself, usually on wild game and roots. "You go on ahead. I'd better stay here and make sure Mr.Pilot doesn't drown." He crossed his legs as he sat down and tossed flat rocks across the lake to amuse himself. It was a little strange, but a very peaceful place. No hustle and bustle of the city he was used to. A few children joined him in tossing stones, and they made it a game to see who's went further.
Tahi soon left to help prepare tonight's feast.
The children of the Rakta tribe, while they are expected to handle their minor injuries as adults, were very much protected and have never seen a Seriphin or a Chimeran before. Most people of the Rakta tribe never do until they are sent to fight. But since the Rakta tribe is nomadic, the children often see new things are are very open-minded. Since none of the children spoke English, it was hard to understand what they were saying. "Ēka gēlō kī kitī pahā!" one of the elder boys exclaimed, pointing at the rock Atma just threw. It seemed that population was a bit controlled and all the kids were roughly in the same age group of 4-7.
One of the children swimming swam up to Carlile (being short, he still had to swim where Carlile was able to stand) "Āpalē bāhū halavā. Yā pramāṇē." he moved his arms in the proper swimming motion, "Āṇi āpalē pāya lātha mārā." then the child kicked his feet and swam a bit before stopping to watch the Chimeran.
While Atma and Carlile were busy with the children, one of the children touching Meisha climbed inside on a dare. As intimidating as she was, the children couldn't help but take an interest in her. The child, about 6, poked her head out and held up a gun, "Hē kāya āhē?" she asked the eldest kid, about 7. He shrugged. The gun was cumbersome and the little girl had to hold it with two hands. Luckily, it was too heavy for her to hold both the handle and the trigger and she instead held the handle with one hand and the muzzle in the other. "Malā tē dyā" said the older boy and he took the gun from her. She seemed upset, but she decided to look for something else to play with. The boy, unlike the girl, was big enough to somewhat properly hold the gun and began inspecting it. It wasn't long until he became curious of the trigger.
The children of the Rakta tribe, while they are expected to handle their minor injuries as adults, were very much protected and have never seen a Seriphin or a Chimeran before. Most people of the Rakta tribe never do until they are sent to fight. But since the Rakta tribe is nomadic, the children often see new things are are very open-minded. Since none of the children spoke English, it was hard to understand what they were saying. "Ēka gēlō kī kitī pahā!" one of the elder boys exclaimed, pointing at the rock Atma just threw. It seemed that population was a bit controlled and all the kids were roughly in the same age group of 4-7.
One of the children swimming swam up to Carlile (being short, he still had to swim where Carlile was able to stand) "Āpalē bāhū halavā. Yā pramāṇē." he moved his arms in the proper swimming motion, "Āṇi āpalē pāya lātha mārā." then the child kicked his feet and swam a bit before stopping to watch the Chimeran.
While Atma and Carlile were busy with the children, one of the children touching Meisha climbed inside on a dare. As intimidating as she was, the children couldn't help but take an interest in her. The child, about 6, poked her head out and held up a gun, "Hē kāya āhē?" she asked the eldest kid, about 7. He shrugged. The gun was cumbersome and the little girl had to hold it with two hands. Luckily, it was too heavy for her to hold both the handle and the trigger and she instead held the handle with one hand and the muzzle in the other. "Malā tē dyā" said the older boy and he took the gun from her. She seemed upset, but she decided to look for something else to play with. The boy, unlike the girl, was big enough to somewhat properly hold the gun and began inspecting it. It wasn't long until he became curious of the trigger.
Carlile assumed that the child in front of him was trying to teach him this technique so he followed the example presented but fails miserably. Instantly sinking he flails & splashes frantically & somehow claws his way back to where he can stand. He emerges from the water with his hair stuck to his face inhaling heavily. He exhales with relief & moves the hair from his face only to see one of the Rakta boys fiddling with his .357 machine pistol. He immediately panics & rushes for shore slipping & tripping the whole way. Once he reaches shore he sprints toward the boy "Put that the fuck down before you hurt someone you fucking retard!!!!". He covers the whole 20 meters in under 4 seconds. He reaches the child & in one move pushed down the clip release & pulling back the slide releasing the clip & clearing the chamber. The clip was full & there was a round in the chamber. Carlile sat down & sighed with relief & began panting heavily "Fucking...kids man!".
He sighed heavily at this little struggle with the firearm. It was precisely the reason he disliked them so much, even children could do a great deal of harm with just one, not knowing what they were doing. He tossed a few more pebbles across the lake, losing interest. "You can't blame them entirely. They're just curious." He frowned and scratched his chin. "Though, curiosity tends to kill more than just cats."
The children were constantly pulling Carlile and Atma every which way right up until the feast had been set out. There were no tables. Instead, large cloths had been laid out in a circle around a large bond fire. The food and drinks were laid out in such a way that no matter where you sat, nothing that you might want would be out of reach. Pillows were set up in place of chairs and everyone began taking seats. There was a large, heavily decorated pillow set out (meant for the Chief) and to the right, a smaller, equally decorated pillow (for Tahi) as well as two normal pillows next to that one that no one sat in (reserved for Atma and Carlile). Tahi lead the two over, "No one here besides my father, his advisers and myself speak English. Do not expect everything you hear or that is said to you to be translated." The advisers' pillows were off to the Chief's left. Tahi took her seat and waited patiently for everyone to be ready. The food consisted of things such as boar brains with deer tongue and stuffed fish eyes. There were large containers which held the drinks.
Carlile sat down on his assigned rug still a little damp from earlier he examined the food and the gathering. The food despite itself was still looked far more appetizing than his usual diet. Not knowing how to act he waited for instruction while observing the people around him in order to get some sense of what the acceptable level of conduct would be. Seeing as he often pushed that level even in the most casual of occasions.
Atma finally sat down at his cushion next to his new... companions, having covered his cursed arm with a thick leather glove from his bag and managing to get away from the children. They had been quite tenacious in getting him to play games with no explanations of the rules, at least not in English, and then laughing when he failed. He was then told that very little of the conversation would be in English, but he had expected that. "I'm quite fine with that, so long as we're not expected to speak." He then took a look at the food laid out before them. All rather... interesting parts of the animal, though he'd eaten most of them before. "Thank you for the meal."
Two people carried a large, thick pole. Skewered on the pole was a large heart, the size of a small child. The heart was still dripping with blood and looked so stuffed that it could burst at any moment. The two people set up the pole so that the heart could roast inside the fire. Tahi couldn't help but smile and leaned towards Carlile and Atma, "See that? That is from our largest adult Ḍukkara." she pointed to the pen with large boars about three times the size of an average man, "And those are her offspring born just thirty moons ago."
Carlile looked at the boars with in disbelief and spoke in the distracted tone of one who had just realized a great lie [Chimeran livestock are often skinny, sickly, violent, miserable creatures cared for by petty criminals sentenced to work on state farms to avoid the fate of highly ranked offenders sentenced to "shield fodder":Being strapped to the shields of the heavily armored Chimeran soldiers on the front line]. He looked out on the wealth of resources and quality of living this small tribe had created in comparison to his industrialized state and was disgusted at the failures of his system. His proud people in all there numbers and power could not even match the standard of living of a small tribe in the woods. These thoughts not only hurt his pride but infuriated him "How is this possible? Only the highest ranking Chimeran officials can afford to live in such excess...". He became lost in thought once more still trying to piece all of these new thoughts together.
Atma nearly gagged. Those massive beasts were only a month old!? Well, it was a magical forest after all, strange things like... giant boars were bound to happen. However, Carlile's outburst caught him quite off guard. He was always under the impression that the people of Chimera were at least somewhat well off, but apparently this was considered "excess" in his eyes. "I suppose it is quite alot of food, but when everyone in the village contributes to the well being of the village, well, one would only expect them to be quite well off."
The food really was quite different than a standard Seraphin meal, which typically consisted of bread, aged cheese, boiled meats and steamed vegetables. At least, that's what they were supposed to be. Most of the food in his kingdom was made artificially with magic, and while most can't tell the difference, it always left an... odd taste in Atma's mouth. He was looking forward to some actual food for once.
The food really was quite different than a standard Seraphin meal, which typically consisted of bread, aged cheese, boiled meats and steamed vegetables. At least, that's what they were supposed to be. Most of the food in his kingdom was made artificially with magic, and while most can't tell the difference, it always left an... odd taste in Atma's mouth. He was looking forward to some actual food for once.
Tahi instructed the boys to bow their heads as a small prayer was given by her father. Once it was finished, everyone began eating. Everyone shared the drinks from the large cups (one contained water, another contained juice and the last was some sort of wine) and it seemed that no one cared about the concept of germs.
Carlile looking for a bit of escapism drank from the wine cup. He only spoke when spoken too but didn't speak much. He was more of the type to drink alone and he did a poor job of hiding it. He didn't drink more than what he was given but what he did get he drank quickly. The wine was weak in comparison to the Chimaran whisky he was used too.
Atma pulled bits of food from wherever he could get a hold of it in the mass of swarming hands that hovered over the meal. It was a nearly euphoric experience, the flavor of real meats flooding his palette. But more importantly, he had to gather information while everyone was in such an agreeable mood. "What else can you tell us of this sister tribe of the ocean? Until today, there hadn't been any confirmed sightings of Salamangka besides myself that we were aware of." Atma frowned and scratched his chin, the other hand plucking a rather succulent looking piece of brain from the banquet before them. "I wonder why they hold him in such high regard. Could he actually be encouraging them to worship him? Some ploy to free himself more quickly perhaps?"
The chief looked at Atma, "I'm not sure as to why they worship him, much like they're unsure as to why we worship the spirits." He said and took a drink of wine, "But the ocean tribe is not our sister tribe. The tribe to the north is. The ocean tribe is full of cannibals who wish for nothing more than death to our people. We have kept peace throughout the years with a treaty. They don't step onto our land, we don't step onto theirs.".
Carlile knew all he wanted to about there objective and wasn't listening as he returned to the cup he was drinking from. He found himself out of wine and only slightly buzzed so he decided to indulge himself in what food was left. He was sick of comparing this tribes resources to Chimera as Chimera was no longer his home anyways so he allowed himself to enjoy the meal on its own without comparison. He had not realized how hungry he was and ate quickly. His body not used to this amount of food tried to expel but Carlile held it down and allowed it to settle and be digested. He laid back drowsy from eating so much he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small cardboard box. He opened it to reveal to himself that it was empty. Not knowing what else to do he asked allowed "Does anyone here have something I can smoke? I'm out of fags".
Atma sighed heavily and hung his head, having expected such an answer. "Right. Forget I asked." He chewed on his piece of brain and mulled over this new information, or perhaps the lack of, while stuffing some tabbac into a heavy wooden pipe. Then Carlile spoke up about needing a smoke, and Atma sighed as he passed the wooden pipe the the man. "Just don't break the thing." he muttered while reaching for his cup and taking a long drink.
Carlile took the pipe with thanks to Atma for accommodating his self destructive habit and made a joke in that context a little more lightheartedly than would often be socially acceptable. He pulled out his lighter and flipped it open putting the flame to the contents of the pipe and taking a long smooth drag. He even held it in before sharply exhaling "Nothing like the taste of soot and cancer to take the edge off". He took three more drags in the same fashion. Each time holding his breath and filling his lungs. He seemed more relaxed and less down on himself as he handed back the used pipe that was now empty of tobacco.
Tahi quietly ate for a while. the night was full of merriment and drinking. Once everyone's bellies were filled and cups were empty, the two who put the stuffed heart into the fire came and pulled it out. they passed it around and everyone, one by one, took a huge bite out of it while it was still sizzling. The outside had been blackened and burnt and was now crispy. It started with the chief, then Tahi and it continued around the circle until it reached Atma. Carlile will be next. The heart appeared to be stuffed with various peppers from the area. All known to be extremely spicy.
"This is the traditional ending to our feasts." Tahi explained.
"This is the traditional ending to our feasts." Tahi explained.
- 75 posts here • Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3