jigokulogs | Storytime

[Ydris will sit and listen with attention and patience. They don't want to interject too often and ruin the flow of her story, but not ever speaking up wouldn't do. Given how blank their face can appear when they are focusing, it's best to speak up once in and while so she doesn't think she's talking to a brick wall...

Luckily, it's not a forced reply. They have a question when she takes a pause]

And each of these being upon the Convocation are like you? I'm not sure I full understand what manner of entity you are, Azem. Something of an immortal, but not fully a god being?

[ Azem bobs her head in a slow nod. ] Aside from the flora and fauna we've created we are the only other beings on the star. And to say we are not quite gods is a way to put it, yes.

[ She never had a reason to make any such comparison when everyone else was just like her. ]

I'm not sure when it started for our people but we strove toward perfection. Believing that individuality should be hidden and instead we should set our focus on creation or doing whatever we could to push the star toward the vision. So black robes and white masks were adopted by the population, while the members of the Convocation were marked by their red masks.

That's the world I was born and raised into.

So, you were born as one of these unique beings of the star, but not destined for a place among the Convocation? I take it that was an earned position.

[not like Ydris, who was created for their position of authority and power. They didn't really have a choice in the matter. They were the Fire Dragon, there was no escape or changing such a fact. They could earn respect in their position, but if they failed to be worthy of it... they would simply be gotten rid of.]

[ She nods once more. ] Exactly. How one ends up on the Convocation varies, but it's usually because the next in line caught the attention of a current Convocation member and were taken under their wing as a mentee.

Which is how it happened with Venat, the previous Azem. She saw something in me and took me under her wing. I began traveling the star with her shortly after I graduated from academia. Back in those days I was still called by my birth name, Dionysus.

[ There's a short pause as she finishes off her glass before leaning forward to refill it. ]

I suppose I should explain a bit more about the Convocation. Once one is sworn in they hold that position until the day they decide to retire or return to the star, as we often call it. As the position is one that is filled for the remainder of one's life. It is very rare that a Convocation member steps down and doesn't pass on peacefully after. It does happen, though. Venat is one such case.

[ She sighs. ] She chose to remain and continue her duties though no longer under the constraint of the Convocation. I'm not sure why. Perhaps she didn't fully trust her decision to pass the Seat onto me.

[ She'd asked a few times but always got a response akin to "I'm simply not done with this life". ]

That's the reason for her white robes. They signify someone who as an impartial advisor. Only those like her and the emissary wear such robes.

Edited 2022-06-26 21:30 (UTC)

You've mentioned some bits and pieces of this, I can recall. Ah-

[right, they kind of blurted out Azem's true name in desperation, back in the nightmare. Is that a taboo of sorts?]

Should I forget that name of yours? I can, should you wish me to. I wouldn't like to call you by something of a dead title.

[ She smiles and shakes her head. ] No, my true name is okay to use if you wish. Ha-- Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus used it all of the time. Though, mostly in private.

Truthfully, I'm technically no longer entitled to the title of Azem. But I haven't got there with this tale.

[ She closes her eyes and rolls her head back against the couch with a soft sigh. ]

Everything was perfect, you know? Most of my travels were simply to check in on the various villages and towns that dotted the landscape. Ensure everything was going well, that none of our creations were causing disturbances. Though that was a very rare occurrence as they all went through rigorous testing before release.

No... I've not really known a world of perfection before. Myddvai is a messy place. Not bad, nor all the unjust really, but... it has long tipped towards chaos.

[the previous Fire Dragon died some 700 years ago and for that time there was only one dragon of Order for the two dragons of Chaos. The truly neutral dragon backed her up on some occasion, and Majesty Ygrayne was certainly formidable, but Ydris could sense the relief in her to have another Orderly god appear... even if Ydris was young and malformed, they were somebody,

Not that Ydris wants to bring up their own history. That would reveal their age and they don't think anybody yet knows that about them. Best kept that way!]

What do you mean by your creations-?

I suppose perfect isn't the word for it, but it was comfortable. I knew what to do in almost any given situation and if I didn't I had my friends I could call upon.

[ Quite literally able to draw them to her side at a moment's notice. Unfortunately, she can't do that anymore. Even if she regains the ability the aether needed to for such a spell was probably more than could be managed here. ]

As I said before, we created the flora and fauna of our world. All life on our planet is someone's concept given life through coalesced aether. Which I'm sure I mentioned before, but the simple explanation for aether is the energy that makes up all life on Etheirys. It's so abundant that its found everywhere, even in the air we breathe.

[ She pause once more to wet her lips on a bit more wine. ]

A favorite concept for quite some time was various forms of shark. Hythlodaeus grew quite tired of shark concepts, that's how abundant they were. One time I turned in no less than ten shark concepts of varying ridiculous levels just to see if he'd pass any of them. [ She chuckles, though there's a touch of sadness to her features. ]

[...

... ... ...

... damnit, they'll bite, but they'll sigh at even considering that pun internally]

Why sharks-?

[ Azem shrugs. ]

We never could figure out why sharks were so popular. But people loved to creation all sorts of variations. Sharks with muscular bodies, arms and legs, sharks that could fly and produce electricity, sharks with tentacles... The list really did go on and on.

One of my favorites had butterfly wings.

[ She sighs dramatically. ] Hyth said it too impractical.

[ She's definitely beginning to stray from her story. ]

Creation is ability all your people have, not just the Convocation? How does that work?

[it might be straying, but Ydris wants more context on this world! How would that even function, everybody being able to make anything they desired? Myddvai was complicated enough with it's more limited magics of time and space, of which very few had any direct control over.]

Fairly simply. [ She says with a smile, though quickly realizes that explaining it probably won't be as simple. ]

Remember how I said aether was in everything where I'm from. Creation magic, as any other magic, uses that aether to make concept reality. Simply put, one imagines what they wish to create and then weaves the aether both within and around themselves to give it form.

It's a skill that even children are capable of. And yet, here the best I can do with my own aether is small objects.

[ To demonstrate she holds out her hand. A bit of light sparkles there, gathering into the form of an apple. ]

So any can create such things at will, but the Convocation is in place to approve of these creations?

[Are they following? They might have gotten very distracted with the shark thing, whoops]

[ Azem shakes her head. ] Not quite. That job is done by the Bureau of the Architect. The Convocation are lawmakers with each Seat being filled by who specializes in what is deemed important.

[ She takes another sip of wine before she begins to list off the seats. ]

Those that work closely with the Architect include; Lahabrea, the speaker and specialist in creation magicks. Loghrif oversees terrestrial lifeforms and husbandry while Mitron oversees aquatic lifeforms. And Halmarut oversees plant and fungal life.

Elidibus, the emissary. Their job is to give impartial judgement. They are one of the members of the Convocation that wears white robes.

Emet-Selch is keeper of the aetherial realm or the Underworld, in colloquial terms. It's their job to ensure souls return to the Lifestream as they're meant to and ensure the aether of our star flows as it should.

Pashtarot oversees discipline and order.

Fandaniel is the foremost authority on extant phenomena, which is a bit vague. I'll be honest when I say I'm not sure what they do exactly.

Altima oversees the arts.

Igeyorhm is a champion of enlighten and rhetoric.

Emmeroloth oversees medicine and healing.

I'm not exactly sure what Nabriales and Deudalphone do, they're just kind of around I guess? [ Please tell us devs! ]

And then there's Azem, the traveler and champion of the people.

[Ydris WILL try to remember all those names and titles! They like that kind of raw information, it's easy for their particular kind of memory to recall on. Mostly, they want to keep an ear out for if any of those names arrives, so they could dutifully inform Azem if so.]

Is it most of their duty to sit on high and make proclamation, while your duty is to walk among the mortal... or, at least, more common folk to understand and aid them directly?

[the other Dragons all like to walk among mortals, upon Myddvai, but some are better about it than others. When they cannot be everywhere, they often assign their children to the matter, as such Dragonkin are more capable than the average mortal.]

[ She'd be thankful if Ydris did happen to run into any of kin. Though they likely wouldn't be happy to see her.

Azem, having been toying with the created apple this entire time takes a bite and wrinkles her nose. No matter how hard she tries it never tastes like an apple. Oh well, she's not going to let it go to waste. ]

I suppose you would look at it like that. Though it's not as if they're just sitting around. If I need aid in the field they often answer the call. Emet-Selch especially. He joined me on many an adventure.

[ It helped that he had a keener eye than her and could manipulate aether far better than she could. ]

In any case, yes, I am the one that travels most beyond the capital.

I think I'm starting to put together the picture...

[so, the real question, the actual reason she wanted to sit and talk to them after that nightmare-]

... you have an important duty to uphold, but to them all and to your Star. You feel you failed in that?

Ah, right.

[ She looks a bit guilty as she got off track of what she'd been talking about. She sucks in a breath before she begins to speak of what she had only just come from before arriving here. ]

The Final Days. It started with what sounded like the star itself screaming, a great roaring sound that was soon followed by the skies turning red as fire began to rain from above. Flora and fauna began to wither and die. Water began to dry up. And our very magics that gave birth to magnificent creatures turned against us and created monsters that only desired to devour all in their path.

It started in places far from the capital but spread like an infection. The star was dying and I... I couldn't find the reason why.

All we knew for certain was that the aether in those area grew thin staring above and spreading to the ground. With no solution in sight the Convocation decided the only solution was to create a being of immeasurable power that could stop what was happening and then bring about new life at a pace faster than we possibly could.

[ Her expression turns to a frown as she takes a long draw from the wine glass. ]

[They just... hand her the whole bottle and take the glass away. That seems like what she should be drinking from]

A catastrophe of that magnitude... I understand your feeling responsible, in part, to find a solution. There's simply no way a single being could stop something like that, is there? Cause it, maybe, but not stop something so large and already in motion...

[Ydris knows a thing about starting catastrophic, world ending events... but they're only the aftermath of that. Their predecessor was more ambitious than they are. Something Ydris feels they have to maintain, never get too wrapped up in seeking power]

Did this manufactured God of theirs end up helping or harming? I feel I can guess. [their familiar, if all too dire tone, guesses harm]

[ Azem finishes off the glass before taking the bottle, though she doesn't drink from it just yet. ]

I don't know. [ She shakes her head with a shrug. ] All I know is that in order to summon a being of that magnitude it would require a great deal of living aether. Half remaining population was to sacrifice themselves to it.

Willingly, of course, but I couldn't stand by and just let that plan come to fruition. I tried to convince everyone that there was a better way. That if so much aether was required then how were to keep such a powerful being going? Half now, half of what is left later. Then what? What remains of that?

It all ended with me getting into a big argument with Emet-Selch over it and quitting the Convocation. Which, as you now know, isn't something one just does.

[ She pauses to drink from the bottle. ]

It wasn't just over Zodiark... Our friend had decided to give himself as a sacrifice. That... [ She pauses to suck in a breath, blinking as she fells her eyes get a little watery. ] That the two of us had a better chance at figuring it all out.

I couldn't... [ She trails off, shaking her head. ] We were supposed to return to the star together.

Half!? That's an absurd cost. Who would- [pay that? Ydris quiets, wondering if they would... if cutting the world in half to save it would be well worth...

Not for an unsure shot. Not to feed some being that might need to keep being fed.]

That's an unreasonable solution. There would have to be a better one, none should rush to that conclusion foolheartily. Your hesitation only makes sense.

People were willing to do what it took to save the star, even if meant their life. [ Her tone somber before takes a long draw from the bottle. ]

Time was against us. The spread was happening fast so we needed to act fast. I had hoped that I would have time to find the answer but... [ She trails off with a weak shrug. ] Here I am instead.

You were taken before this could resolve, then?

[no wonder she feels a weight of guilt and sadness. That's a lot to leave unresolved. Ydris can not grasp how torn up that would make them, it's unfathomable in scope. It makes them feel small, even as a god themself. Maybe that's their age talking...

Or maybe they just ache for Azem,]

... I'm sorry.

[ She nods and takes another long gulp from the bottle. When she pulls it back she blinks a couple of times. Seems the alcohol is finally getting to her a little.

She clears her throat before sighing. ]

I don't know what I'm returning to if I'm returning to anything when this is over.

It's... best to be hopeful!

[Ydris, why did you pick that expression. Maybe they didn't it just happened because they're lost in thought and it's easy for their emotions to read incorrectly between face and tone. Maybe Azem can take a little comfort in Ydris' being too caught up to care]

You'll make it back and fix it. I'm sure. Maybe coming here was apart of helping save your home! There could be an answer here- or- Where you offered a contract price? That seems like what they should have promised!

[ Azem does smile a little at that. ] You're right.

Still, even if I return with the answer and am able to fix everything I'm a traitor to the Convocation. I won't truly be able to return home.

A traitor! Even if you save the star-? Who needs the Convocation, then!? Bunch of fools if they don't fall on their knees at your feet for bailing them out.

[Ydris is the ideal friend for being passionately on your side, Azem.]

[ Azem laughs at that. Perhaps a bit inappropriate but they can just blame it on the wine. ]

Perhaps. At least two people on the Convocation might be on my side. And at least one holds more sway.

[ She's unsure, though. As she said before, one does not simply quit the Convocation. Especially when she hadn't even found anyone to fill her seat once it was left open. ]

[considering how alarmed and nervous Ydris gets with tears, the tipsy laugh from her sets them more at ease, right along with her. They reach out and pet a hand through her hair, a idle gesture of comfort.

They still sound hilariously mad, tho]

You'll find a way and you'll show them all up. If they want to dig in their heels about procedure, they're prideful fools and it's no wonder they couldn't find a decent solution themselves.

[ Azem leans into the touch with a soft hum. Even though they sound mad it's still comforting. ]

Pride is certainly an aspect my people hold.

[ The fact that they could deem it worthy to think of another way proved that much to her. ]

You have my fa- [no... Faith is a silly thing. Ydris shakes their own head, hands reaching to Azem's hair to undo it if it was already tied up in some way. They brush it out with their fingers, then begin to pull a delicate braid through it on the side close to them]

I trust in you. You'll succeed, even if you have to be here a while longer.

[ Azem almost always wears their hair up in a messy bun. So the sensation of having it taken down followed by Ydris running their fingers through their hair and begin to braid is met with a shiver and a soft sigh. They relax into the couch now, feeling warm and cozy thanks to both the wine and Ydris' attention. ]

Thank you.

Storytime

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