Session 106: Animaesus and Tarrasques: Naive Sacrifices
General Summary
Eros, Nuvell, Stryke, Fraction, K'ash, and Kaitba teleport to the center of the City of Salt. The Central Keep. This will be their final arrival in the city, for the sole purpose is to find Birdman. The time is now, the wait has been long enough. However, they find the city mostly abandoned, broken, ruined, and dead. The smell of death permeates, and the building fall like worn flesh about them. However, the trail is obvious, and only a few days old. The tarrasque will be easy to follow, and thus Birdman, too.
However, when they get to the outer gate that leads from the Throat of the City, well what's left of it, they find an encounter already engaged. Three Animaesus, a Tortoise, a Badger, and a Rat, face off against a dozen or more gnolls who have mobbed over the gateway. They are a roving band, and they look for pillaging and scavenging forms. Stryke takes Kaitba to dive toward them, and Eros directs kash into a charge, and while they run, they both fire piercing shots, with K'ash destroying the gateway itself, and then most of the gnolls still atop, and Kaitba nearly pierces they leader to the ground below as it and three other gnolls charge near the three engaged Animaesus. Nuvell and Fraction ride along, and soon Nuvell jumps off on her own to engage as well, but by the time she is in range, she finds herself without a target, for the other Animaesus and their own attacks fell the gnolls easily enough.
They notice by this point, that the badger-kin, Bharme, shows himself to be someone they might already know. He is a 'friend' of Leandra, the adoptive daughter of Stryke. Although how Leandra's smell wafts off of him, they are both rather intimate. Nevertheless, they get Bharme, Aigous, and Krelmna to direct them to Leandra, whom is back at the grounds of the first house, one of the few areas of the City still alive, not destroyed.
However, above them, they sense a change in the air, and Eros sees silhouettes of giants. Two or maybe three. And she senses there intent is that of a test, to see can they scavenge and take from Eros and Stryke and Nuvell, to make their gear and primordials, K'ash and Kaitba, their own. From below, Eros and Stryke question this move, and the cloud giants retort and pause, and fortunately, for themselves, see that engaging with this primordials will lead to a pain, to injury, and possible death. The cloud giants disperse, and Eros wonders how this might all connect to Killian as they all make their way to the First House district.
Once there, they see a few hundre lupin, moustelin, squamata, and others who have joined with Hybearn and the First House, and with The Centaurs about that are seemingly guided by the Squamata warrior, Strass'eh Sick. Leandra is soon to sneak a hug too quickly, and the family joins in a hug, while the famous stone brothers, Pocket and Fraction, embrace as well. The hope is about the square, for these new warriors, these pilots of the primordials. The undeath of the city is rampant, and this group now tries to have Eros and Stryke and their entourage join them in not only fighting against and stopping this undead horde, but also moving to protect the wealth and resources that still remain within the City of Salt. However, Eros is quick to disagree, and she directs them to understand that their current goals are negligent to their own lives, to the ideals of these lands. Stryke echoes: this city is lost, gone. Let the death take hold and move on; this goal is not worth it. Some contention erupts, but most seem convinced to stop, to break away. Thus, four groups are formed. Hybearn and Killian lead Goc and some Lupin and Moustelin, with some remaining Walkers, to the west, to eventually join in the effort to stop the invasion of the dwarves. The Storm of Vengeance, was it successful? The Animaesus must still solve these woes, and Strass'eh will lead the centaurs in the fight against them.
Stryke also convinces Leandra to join them, to return to the family once they find Uncle Birdman. Her three Animaesus friends, Bharme, Krelnma and Aigous join them, too. Eros agrees to also meet with Mel in the Sage's Row, south in the city. She wants to know the aims, the livelihood of Mel and her undead horde. She sends to Mel, and they agree on a time.
Traveling there quickly, Eros and the others find Mel has quickly taken control of these parts of the City of Salt, undead wards, soldiers, even baristas as the new coffee shop they find Mel at drinking contentedly. She asks the others, Mel, to join her aims, but they disagree. Then they share quick stories about the fall of Ssech, future goals and aims, and final good byes. Eros and the othes may never return to the City of Salt again. As they leave, she sends to Birdman, so they can begin to gauge direction and time to reconvene. Revealing his connections with the Walker Leadership, Stryke shows how Ninui and the others have forgotten their loyalty to their people and allowed the Jourvians to come to these lands. They were sent to stop them from the South. They did not. The other walkers are shocked and aghast, and Bharme promises to prove the true duty of the Walkers of the Animaesus.
The Tarrasque thought for the second time in its life, really thought. THe first being when he asked Birdman a question about his name, but now, he understood the foreshadowing of the Sun each day, and how this action foretold the arrival of his sun. The Sun disappears, and with it, the moon reminds each night of her glory. The glory, that light, the Tarrasque set out to create and draw, if you will, within the landscape and soil. This takes him the better part of two days. After not sleeping, and really using his brain all too much, he falls asleep. The better part of two days he sleeps, when just before sun down, he is awoken by a beautiful song. His sun is here. He jolts up, and runs over, but, of course, she runs off. However, she quickly returns once she notices the quiet sobs of the beast. Hovering over his shoulder, she listens to his inner heart, his tone, the beast's language, and she sees there is more here, more than there ever was before. Of a spirt. Of a soul? (Eros and others arrive: gate scene) It is now her turn to startle the beast, and he does jolt, but this time, there is no running, just a quick turn-around into curiosity and poise. The dark of the new night hangs overhead, and Eember shines brighter than that of the waning moon or the twinkling stars. His love is renewed, and her curiosity has fuel added. For he attempts to speak, the beast, saying, in common, "I made this...," and he points at Eember. Thus, the next twelve hours turn into some odd form of pantomine and language acquisition, for Eember now sees a curiosity to look, and to know why? For her? No one ever. No. No one has ever given her anything of creation. She only ever created for them. He ends up falling asleep eventually, and she soars off, torn inside, for the curiosity has proved her worst fears. Her actions will cause a soul, perhaps naive and ignorant, to be lost. Gone. Turned into dust. She cries herself to sleep, and the weather, the lands, the skies, and the trees cry with her. The next morning, he waits, something akin to an obedient dog trying not to be what he is, learning he is more. He walks, strides, tries to show his command of himself and his nature. He greets with dark and dulcit tones, deep bass notes, a maturity seemingly reached over night. "You never told me what you thought of it." "It's beautiful. A measure not wholly given to me before," Eember responds. "A measure?" "How much, how far, how willing." "Like the sun each morning. Always." Eember can't help but wonder, and in so doing, highligt her being with an embarassed mist to hide her bashful look. She believes him. Yet, she knows still, what he does not. "I must tell you something, Beast." "What would you call me? What name? Beast is a thing. I am more." Baffled, but not derailed from her focus, she says, "We have met before, but from my understanding, we, well I more so, I think." She stares at the curiosity on the beast's face, the comfort, as he lays down next to her to intently listen. She feels his warmth. She hears his heartbeat. The loudest drum. "Um, yes, well maybe not me. You have changed much too." "How so? And, again, what name? Should I not have a name to show for this new me?" He rolls on his back, playfully. "Well, you can now speak your mind, and honor your heart. Your name, your title, as I understand it, was given by the gods, the primordials. Jacq and Valin, they made us to make this world what it is today. Then we were to sleep or to be locked away, for a time we may never get to see now." The Tarrasque is listening, yes, but he does not understand the grand spectrum of what she is saying. Eember continues, "When last we met, you could not do more than stomp and crash, and roar. And, I was thy conduit to those who might control you. I was what cast the shadow." "Birdman?" "Yes. He. He now is more than that, for he thought to touch your being, not to just control it, to understand it and make it something new. To really change, as our father intended. I was changed, and I am now this, something, but that could only be from your torture." Tears well in her eyes, but she continues without a break in her voice, and as they steam away into mist about her, "I am sorry." The tarrasque nods, understanding the intent, but not the full explanation, obviously. He speaks, finally. "We should walk. Follow the Sun, find our own. The sorries have passed. No more." His large claw goes to comfort her. She embraces it, almost without her own control. When she does, a spark ignites, like a static shock between them, and she erupts into a larger form, one of beauty and majesty, one fit to pair with the beast. She kisses him. And time stops. They travel. Through light, through space, through being. One lifetime? A thousand lifetimes before they lose count, before the dance stops. Joy. Bliss. Celestial reminders of the cosmic dust, the primordial space and time from whence they were born.
Birdman is traveling himself, at this time, leading the Walker leadership to the beast. He notices three things during these travels: 1) Cherthiz, like many Animaesus, sees Birdman as hope, as one born of these lands; he belives the ideals of many: he is the shadow of the beast, the Vestige of the Changeling. Many think a messiah. 2) Ninui tells a story of what he thinks to be the true messiah, that of Eros bringing Fraction in the world, and those who stopped the Jourvians in the Lapid Lands. 3) Aelizt does not believe this, and even sings an ancient song of the death of the former Shadow of the Beast. They travel onward.
Three days travel by upon their return. She back now in her normal form, but about his face, his shoulders, his tail and spines. Looking him over, following his feet, and the beat of his heart. She sings for him, and tells stories of the ages past when he slept and lost count. Told the story of his first awakening, of the death of the God, and the service to so many souls he served despite his pain and warnings, grumblings from the City of Salt. He travels onward, following the sun, and letting his sun finally be with him. She has dreamt every night. Her purpose has not waned. Her being. She is here for a reason, and those dreams turn to torment, to pain, to thoughts of nightmares only conceived by the divine. All done to him, her sweet beast and love. He can only be saved once. Now is that time. Your sacrifice, unfortunately has always been the cost. The change now was never foreseen. Yet, there is a chance. A small chance. Something of equal divinity could be sacrificed: many powerful beings: Eros, Stryke, Tenebris, Kaly, Pio, Goc, Dwarven Generals and leader/admiral. They could let it relent, but your time has already been spent, some would say wasted. Not I, of course, but others say, and will, and do. Take that to heart, Eember, my daughter. But from where do I go, father? From here? He is in all parts, innoscent, used by the many, you included! Why? Why do such souls? She pauses. Take me. Surely, you can! Take me, father! You being has always been part of the price. You are the ignition, not the candle. Both are here for the time they are meant to be. She awakes, on the ninth day, tired, diminished. She knows the beast's soul feeds on her with each passing day. After the last time, when Birman invited her to talk within his home, within this beast, her new friend. Her lover, her tied spirit through time and space. She cannot help but cry again. Him or you. They dance must end. The new age must begin to rise. "I cannot." The beast awakes, and before he can even say goodmorning, the smell of a familiar friend returns to the air. "Birdman is but a day away!" "Good." She attempts a compulsion towards happiness, but no more. "Then we must prepare for his arrival. I am sure he is not alone by what you explained, and maybe finally, the people will be with you instead of against you." Another day passes, on of bliss and time together. Each hour, each moment, though, Eember's energy and light wanes.
From the south, Birdman arrives with Aelizt, Flimn, and Ninui, and Cherthiz as well. Eros and Stryke, with their Primordials K'ash and Kaitba, Nuvell, Leandra, and the three other Animaesus--they arrive from the north.
The tarrasques screams in loss and pain--eember diminishes. Yet, this is not the time, not for Eros, and she prays again to Mystra, goddess of magic. Allow another sacrifice, another way. The firstborn, K'ash, he must be enough. Mustn't he be?
However, when they get to the outer gate that leads from the Throat of the City, well what's left of it, they find an encounter already engaged. Three Animaesus, a Tortoise, a Badger, and a Rat, face off against a dozen or more gnolls who have mobbed over the gateway. They are a roving band, and they look for pillaging and scavenging forms. Stryke takes Kaitba to dive toward them, and Eros directs kash into a charge, and while they run, they both fire piercing shots, with K'ash destroying the gateway itself, and then most of the gnolls still atop, and Kaitba nearly pierces they leader to the ground below as it and three other gnolls charge near the three engaged Animaesus. Nuvell and Fraction ride along, and soon Nuvell jumps off on her own to engage as well, but by the time she is in range, she finds herself without a target, for the other Animaesus and their own attacks fell the gnolls easily enough.
They notice by this point, that the badger-kin, Bharme, shows himself to be someone they might already know. He is a 'friend' of Leandra, the adoptive daughter of Stryke. Although how Leandra's smell wafts off of him, they are both rather intimate. Nevertheless, they get Bharme, Aigous, and Krelmna to direct them to Leandra, whom is back at the grounds of the first house, one of the few areas of the City still alive, not destroyed.
However, above them, they sense a change in the air, and Eros sees silhouettes of giants. Two or maybe three. And she senses there intent is that of a test, to see can they scavenge and take from Eros and Stryke and Nuvell, to make their gear and primordials, K'ash and Kaitba, their own. From below, Eros and Stryke question this move, and the cloud giants retort and pause, and fortunately, for themselves, see that engaging with this primordials will lead to a pain, to injury, and possible death. The cloud giants disperse, and Eros wonders how this might all connect to Killian as they all make their way to the First House district.
Once there, they see a few hundre lupin, moustelin, squamata, and others who have joined with Hybearn and the First House, and with The Centaurs about that are seemingly guided by the Squamata warrior, Strass'eh Sick. Leandra is soon to sneak a hug too quickly, and the family joins in a hug, while the famous stone brothers, Pocket and Fraction, embrace as well. The hope is about the square, for these new warriors, these pilots of the primordials. The undeath of the city is rampant, and this group now tries to have Eros and Stryke and their entourage join them in not only fighting against and stopping this undead horde, but also moving to protect the wealth and resources that still remain within the City of Salt. However, Eros is quick to disagree, and she directs them to understand that their current goals are negligent to their own lives, to the ideals of these lands. Stryke echoes: this city is lost, gone. Let the death take hold and move on; this goal is not worth it. Some contention erupts, but most seem convinced to stop, to break away. Thus, four groups are formed. Hybearn and Killian lead Goc and some Lupin and Moustelin, with some remaining Walkers, to the west, to eventually join in the effort to stop the invasion of the dwarves. The Storm of Vengeance, was it successful? The Animaesus must still solve these woes, and Strass'eh will lead the centaurs in the fight against them.
Stryke also convinces Leandra to join them, to return to the family once they find Uncle Birdman. Her three Animaesus friends, Bharme, Krelnma and Aigous join them, too. Eros agrees to also meet with Mel in the Sage's Row, south in the city. She wants to know the aims, the livelihood of Mel and her undead horde. She sends to Mel, and they agree on a time.
Traveling there quickly, Eros and the others find Mel has quickly taken control of these parts of the City of Salt, undead wards, soldiers, even baristas as the new coffee shop they find Mel at drinking contentedly. She asks the others, Mel, to join her aims, but they disagree. Then they share quick stories about the fall of Ssech, future goals and aims, and final good byes. Eros and the othes may never return to the City of Salt again. As they leave, she sends to Birdman, so they can begin to gauge direction and time to reconvene. Revealing his connections with the Walker Leadership, Stryke shows how Ninui and the others have forgotten their loyalty to their people and allowed the Jourvians to come to these lands. They were sent to stop them from the South. They did not. The other walkers are shocked and aghast, and Bharme promises to prove the true duty of the Walkers of the Animaesus.
The Tarrasque thought for the second time in its life, really thought. THe first being when he asked Birdman a question about his name, but now, he understood the foreshadowing of the Sun each day, and how this action foretold the arrival of his sun. The Sun disappears, and with it, the moon reminds each night of her glory. The glory, that light, the Tarrasque set out to create and draw, if you will, within the landscape and soil. This takes him the better part of two days. After not sleeping, and really using his brain all too much, he falls asleep. The better part of two days he sleeps, when just before sun down, he is awoken by a beautiful song. His sun is here. He jolts up, and runs over, but, of course, she runs off. However, she quickly returns once she notices the quiet sobs of the beast. Hovering over his shoulder, she listens to his inner heart, his tone, the beast's language, and she sees there is more here, more than there ever was before. Of a spirt. Of a soul? (Eros and others arrive: gate scene) It is now her turn to startle the beast, and he does jolt, but this time, there is no running, just a quick turn-around into curiosity and poise. The dark of the new night hangs overhead, and Eember shines brighter than that of the waning moon or the twinkling stars. His love is renewed, and her curiosity has fuel added. For he attempts to speak, the beast, saying, in common, "I made this...," and he points at Eember. Thus, the next twelve hours turn into some odd form of pantomine and language acquisition, for Eember now sees a curiosity to look, and to know why? For her? No one ever. No. No one has ever given her anything of creation. She only ever created for them. He ends up falling asleep eventually, and she soars off, torn inside, for the curiosity has proved her worst fears. Her actions will cause a soul, perhaps naive and ignorant, to be lost. Gone. Turned into dust. She cries herself to sleep, and the weather, the lands, the skies, and the trees cry with her. The next morning, he waits, something akin to an obedient dog trying not to be what he is, learning he is more. He walks, strides, tries to show his command of himself and his nature. He greets with dark and dulcit tones, deep bass notes, a maturity seemingly reached over night. "You never told me what you thought of it." "It's beautiful. A measure not wholly given to me before," Eember responds. "A measure?" "How much, how far, how willing." "Like the sun each morning. Always." Eember can't help but wonder, and in so doing, highligt her being with an embarassed mist to hide her bashful look. She believes him. Yet, she knows still, what he does not. "I must tell you something, Beast." "What would you call me? What name? Beast is a thing. I am more." Baffled, but not derailed from her focus, she says, "We have met before, but from my understanding, we, well I more so, I think." She stares at the curiosity on the beast's face, the comfort, as he lays down next to her to intently listen. She feels his warmth. She hears his heartbeat. The loudest drum. "Um, yes, well maybe not me. You have changed much too." "How so? And, again, what name? Should I not have a name to show for this new me?" He rolls on his back, playfully. "Well, you can now speak your mind, and honor your heart. Your name, your title, as I understand it, was given by the gods, the primordials. Jacq and Valin, they made us to make this world what it is today. Then we were to sleep or to be locked away, for a time we may never get to see now." The Tarrasque is listening, yes, but he does not understand the grand spectrum of what she is saying. Eember continues, "When last we met, you could not do more than stomp and crash, and roar. And, I was thy conduit to those who might control you. I was what cast the shadow." "Birdman?" "Yes. He. He now is more than that, for he thought to touch your being, not to just control it, to understand it and make it something new. To really change, as our father intended. I was changed, and I am now this, something, but that could only be from your torture." Tears well in her eyes, but she continues without a break in her voice, and as they steam away into mist about her, "I am sorry." The tarrasque nods, understanding the intent, but not the full explanation, obviously. He speaks, finally. "We should walk. Follow the Sun, find our own. The sorries have passed. No more." His large claw goes to comfort her. She embraces it, almost without her own control. When she does, a spark ignites, like a static shock between them, and she erupts into a larger form, one of beauty and majesty, one fit to pair with the beast. She kisses him. And time stops. They travel. Through light, through space, through being. One lifetime? A thousand lifetimes before they lose count, before the dance stops. Joy. Bliss. Celestial reminders of the cosmic dust, the primordial space and time from whence they were born.
Birdman is traveling himself, at this time, leading the Walker leadership to the beast. He notices three things during these travels: 1) Cherthiz, like many Animaesus, sees Birdman as hope, as one born of these lands; he belives the ideals of many: he is the shadow of the beast, the Vestige of the Changeling. Many think a messiah. 2) Ninui tells a story of what he thinks to be the true messiah, that of Eros bringing Fraction in the world, and those who stopped the Jourvians in the Lapid Lands. 3) Aelizt does not believe this, and even sings an ancient song of the death of the former Shadow of the Beast. They travel onward.
Three days travel by upon their return. She back now in her normal form, but about his face, his shoulders, his tail and spines. Looking him over, following his feet, and the beat of his heart. She sings for him, and tells stories of the ages past when he slept and lost count. Told the story of his first awakening, of the death of the God, and the service to so many souls he served despite his pain and warnings, grumblings from the City of Salt. He travels onward, following the sun, and letting his sun finally be with him. She has dreamt every night. Her purpose has not waned. Her being. She is here for a reason, and those dreams turn to torment, to pain, to thoughts of nightmares only conceived by the divine. All done to him, her sweet beast and love. He can only be saved once. Now is that time. Your sacrifice, unfortunately has always been the cost. The change now was never foreseen. Yet, there is a chance. A small chance. Something of equal divinity could be sacrificed: many powerful beings: Eros, Stryke, Tenebris, Kaly, Pio, Goc, Dwarven Generals and leader/admiral. They could let it relent, but your time has already been spent, some would say wasted. Not I, of course, but others say, and will, and do. Take that to heart, Eember, my daughter. But from where do I go, father? From here? He is in all parts, innoscent, used by the many, you included! Why? Why do such souls? She pauses. Take me. Surely, you can! Take me, father! You being has always been part of the price. You are the ignition, not the candle. Both are here for the time they are meant to be. She awakes, on the ninth day, tired, diminished. She knows the beast's soul feeds on her with each passing day. After the last time, when Birman invited her to talk within his home, within this beast, her new friend. Her lover, her tied spirit through time and space. She cannot help but cry again. Him or you. They dance must end. The new age must begin to rise. "I cannot." The beast awakes, and before he can even say goodmorning, the smell of a familiar friend returns to the air. "Birdman is but a day away!" "Good." She attempts a compulsion towards happiness, but no more. "Then we must prepare for his arrival. I am sure he is not alone by what you explained, and maybe finally, the people will be with you instead of against you." Another day passes, on of bliss and time together. Each hour, each moment, though, Eember's energy and light wanes.
From the south, Birdman arrives with Aelizt, Flimn, and Ninui, and Cherthiz as well. Eros and Stryke, with their Primordials K'ash and Kaitba, Nuvell, Leandra, and the three other Animaesus--they arrive from the north.
The tarrasques screams in loss and pain--eember diminishes. Yet, this is not the time, not for Eros, and she prays again to Mystra, goddess of magic. Allow another sacrifice, another way. The firstborn, K'ash, he must be enough. Mustn't he be?
Report Date
12 Jul 2025
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