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Post by Crispin on Sept 14, 2023 19:48:44 GMT 1
Year 1, Day 50 (~a month after the storm, a week after talking to Choice) late morning
As promised Crispin had set to organizing a big gathering, so they all could talk about soul names and the other differences between them. Try and find a consensus. She took her time: so Milo could settle from his recent bad encounter, Choice think on what she told him. Everyone will have been informed by her personally, in private sendings, of the time and date and general, careful hints at the topic of differences. This was not something to jump on people. For space, it'll be held just outside the cave entrance – close enough anyone could retreat there or grab something to eat. But there'll be more space her to form a circle, to have all the bonds around and the weather was nice enough, with no more snow, morning cool easily staved off with some furs or clothes. Taking a role mostly as mediator, she'd sat herself near the cave entrance, Tuft curled behind her for warmth, greeting them as they gathered. **Thank you for following my call. I've mentioned it to many of you before: there are differences between each one here, in body, culture and – soul names. And it's time to talk about them. Not to judge, but to better understand each other.** she started. |
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Post by SL2657F on Sept 15, 2023 19:03:31 GMT 1
SL2657F had not heard the send. Her mind was walled off as she still did not know how to open her mind after an entire life of blocking her ability to send. As she arrived, she looked at the otheres gathered. At least she was able to converse slowly with them.
She was completely unaware that the 'meeting' had begun as she didn't receive the send. She did notice faces turning toward Crispin. She was beginning to accept that there wasn't an elaborate trap waiting for her, that she was in fact in another world, somehow, and that the Empire wasn't watching her every move.
Tambri and FarSight both had arrived around the same time. FarSight was accompanied by his massive wolf, Frostbite and the two smaller unnamed cubs. The large wolf, along with Tambri's bond, were playing with the cubs just outside.
Both turned to Crispin at the send but otherwise remained quiet for the time.
Ooc: I will separate the other two into their own posts as we go along unless it is easier to have all 3 in one post.
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Post by Nightbird on Sept 15, 2023 20:59:00 GMT 1
The young wolfrider was curled up against her bond friend, soaking in the warmth from both him and the morning sun. Nightbird blinked, a little sleepy, having gone back to being nocturnal for the most part before the Beacon whisked her away. Her interest perked as Crispin mentioned getting to know more about each other, and then her expression turned bewildered. Difference in soul names? Did that happen? It had never occurred to her.
"Wait, differences in soul names? I thought everyone had soul names." Her question came out in a rush, as was her tendency.
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Post by Sunset on Sept 15, 2023 21:03:11 GMT 1
Sunset sat quietly with the cheetah cub in her lap, watching the elves gathered. She was still recovering mentally from the avalanche; her sleep had been broken, filled with nightmares of the wall of white consuming her new tribes mates and herself, and the sensation of being buried alive.
She only spoke aloud because she paid enough attention to know that Spotfur didn't hear their sends. Her voice was quiet, tired, far less enthusiastic than the wolfriders.
"Not everyone has them, no," she said softly. "Some of our longer lived cousins don't, and sometimes half elves don't, either."
It wasn't meant to be pointed at anyone, just her thinking back to her friend, Earth. "My tribe had some of both, those of us with and without. It didn't change that Recognition happened, but from what I understand, it simply meant a deeper understanding of the elf that didn't have one."
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Post by Reefshadow on Sept 15, 2023 23:44:17 GMT 1
Reefshadow padded out on bare feet, the chill in the air pleasant for him. He towered over the others, which was still so strange to him; his sister, with a glider for a father, was only an inch or two shorter than him, and so many of the other sea elves from his holt had been similarly long and lanky. Most of them had been shorter, admittedly, except those who shared similar bloodlines like his. But none were ever quite so small as some of these. The only one here that came close to his height was Milo, and there was something odd about that one he hadn't put his finger on yet.
A strange sadness hit him as he thought of his lost home, but it had been so long that he had mostly come to accept it, like the changing tides. Finding an unoccupied spot, the sea elf stretched out on the sun-warmed stone, basking in it.
For the moment, Reefshadow was content to be quiet, listening to the different perspectives. Crispin was an interesting elf, for certain, and he still was not sure what to make of the spotted one who spoke the human tongue.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 16, 2023 18:05:57 GMT 1
OoC: Writing all of mine in one post, and will separate when necessary.
~*~
Juniper and Badger had set to the group among others, listening to the discussion. They knew they were of different worlds, but not much different worlds at that. Unlike the spotted one, or Flint...
The treeshaper took a deep breath and eyed at the folks who had taken first turns to speak, not really knowing if he had anything to add to the conversation at this point yet. He knew he had a soul name, he knew that Greywing knew it, but also that the maiden, Rakte by the secret soul name, was gone. Not dead gone, but gone, and Juniper felt that he probably needed to add a new concept of 'gone' to his thoughts and ideas, considering how the Beacon was working or not working.
At the very least the disappearance had not made him any sicker, rather than feeling better. Maybe the Recognition had been put on ... pause of some sort when his soul's counterpart had been whisked away.
Eryk remained at the outskirts of the group. He did not have a soul name, and his origin tribe did not actually bother with Recognition that much. He knew only of her former chief Sonia, who had Recognised that wolfrider fella...
So, Eryk figured that since he had no soul name that he was aware of, he also did not have a turn to speak in this meeting. But he kept his ears open for any tidbit of information and trying to learn more about the folks here. He had some slender tree trunks with him, each one getting sharpened by him as he listened to the conversation flowing or not flowing. Some folks had remained silent, and some less of so.
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Post by Milo on Sept 17, 2023 12:26:09 GMT 1
Milo had purposely left the cave earlier already, so there'd be no chance of running into Keleero. If he even would join, out here. The topic worried him a bit, since this was so clearly brought forth by his name, the one others didn't want to use. Had him wonder if he should show up at all – but even if he didn't tell the ones who didn't knew, at least after today he might gauge better how they'd react. Sparing that discussion he had with Mahrak, everyone assuming they knew better because he was young.
So he came and seeing SL2657F, sat by her – she'd need translations, someone to help understand. A task he could do, that'd give him a reason to be there, without having to be too active himself. Just... quietly. Since there still were those who had bad experiences with humans and him not sure how to deal with it.
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Post by SL2657F on Sept 17, 2023 16:45:46 GMT 1
SL2657F nodded her head to Milo in greeting when he came and sat near her. She'd come to appreciate his company. He didn't judge her for who she was or how she was created, considering his own creation wasn't considered 'the norm' to other elves either. He was patient as she was learning their language, and helped her when she didn't know a word. She was grateful that some began speaking instead of their... sending... If it was to be a silent conversation, from her perspective, there was no need for her to be there. Yet she wanted to learn more. So much had been lost in her world when it came to Elves. While the elves here had no knowledge of her world, and their histories were likely vastly different, it was still lost information. She shook her head a moment to clear her thoughts and bring her back to the conversation at hand. She glanced to Milo before she began speaking, her mix of Elvish and Human. "We has them. Only we know." She was using her hands to also try and show what she was saying. It was something FarSight had begun doing with her when talking. It helped her to pick up the words, too. "<Secrets about> who we be. Not this. Here." She motioned to the embroidered collar still around her neck. Everyone knew by now that the human writing was her human 'name'. It was her serial number. She then motioned to her heart. It was the best way for her to 'sign' that she meant 'inside'.
OOC: Tagging to light up the dashboard
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Post by Tambri on Sept 17, 2023 16:55:44 GMT 1
Tambri nodded a greeting to Eryk. She was curious about him. She knew GoBacks from before, and she knew many of their customs. He was quiet and that was something she found intriguing about him. GoBacks, that she knew, were always loud and boisterous. Always telling exaggerated stories of hunts or adventures. She made her way over to where he was and leaned against the wall, folding her arms and just silently watched the others.
She nodded her head in agreement to what 'SpotFur' had said, understanding somewhat the meaning behind the slow speech. Even though there were human words mixed in, which she also understood a little bit of. So the spotted one had another name other than that Human nonsense she called herself. Essell-something.
She glanced to Eryk and arched a brow. "Full GoBack?" She spoke softly, directed only to him. She was confirming if he even had a soul name or not. It wasn't a judgemental question either. Purely inquisitive.
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Post by FarSight on Sept 17, 2023 17:00:22 GMT 1
"That's correct Ess-Ell-Too." FarSight at least tried to attempt the spotted elf's name. "As I understand it, only those with mixed blood have one. Us Wolfriders, it's the name of our inner wolf. Or at least where I am from, it is. I've heard stories that when you know a Wolfrider's soul name you can see their wolf in sending." He was clearly not speaking from experience. He was young, still. He'd never recognized another and neither had he shared his soul name with anyone.
One of the large wolf cubs stumble-ran its way towards Milo. The wolves enjoyed his company as well. Frostbite remained, getting tackled by the other cub, clearly letting the cub burn out her energy.
"I don't know if my mother gave me my soul name when she was carrying me, but she knew it. Father, too. I think because they were my parents."
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Post by Mahrak on Sept 17, 2023 21:22:37 GMT 1
Mahrak had been eager to join this gathering, bursting with curiosity to hear what there might be to discuss about soul names. The idea of even soul names being different between tribes of their kin fascinated him and he fought to hold his tongue to not overwhelm the others with questions. He'd learn more by listening first, as hard as that was for him. Taking in what Crispin , Nightbird , Sunset , FarSight and SL2657F (whose name Mahrak thought of as a far too long string of unknown words and usually shortened to himself as 'Essell') said with mounting interest, he did his best to not interrupt. Sunset and FarSight's descriptions interested him the most since they spoke of things he'd never imagined possible. Elves with no soul names, what a thought! Mahrak stole an unusually pensive glance at Milo. He had his suspicions where this discussion had its origin and he was almost as interested in seeing the youth's reaction to it as he was to finding out more about how everyone's soul names worked. But only almost. "Well, if some elves can breathe in water, why should some not have soul names," Mahrak commented at Sunset's sharing. "It makes as much sense as anything else." It had to be tricky, sharing your whole self with another when you lacked a focus point to start with, but it was likely not impossible. He briefly wondered how elves who could neither send nor had soul names shared themselves with others, then pushed that aside for later. The idea that elves without animal-bonds didn't have soul names drew his attention next. He stole a glance back at the cave entrance where he knew Keleero to be hovering. Based on the reaction he'd heard Keleero had had to Milo's sudden soul name sharing, he doubted Keleero's people lacked them. After all, Keleero had admitted to not meeting elves with 'animal-blood', as he put it, before coming here. Mahrak took note of Tambri speaking to Eryk but didn't try to eavesdrop - yet. Instead he shared: "My people also have soul names that we keep to ourselves." He very deliberately didn't look at Milo when he said this. "I've been told sharing mine is a thing I must do with utmost care or I risk giving someone a dangerous weapon against me if I pick a poor confidant; is that familiar to anyone else here? And of course, Recognition cares little for careful deliberation, at least in my experience." Not personal experience, but the Recognitions in his tribe had hit like skyfire from cloudless heavens, with little rhyme or reason. "No one knew my soul name when I was born," he added, mostly addressing FarSight. "Not even I did. Had to go look for it. Do all parents in your tribe know their children's soul names?" |
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Post by Choice on Sept 17, 2023 21:38:18 GMT 1
Choice listened to the discussion being held with trepidation. He'd felt an ever worse coward for each day that had passed since he and Crispin had spoken about his knowledge of Milo 's soul name. He had meant to speak to the lad about it, to try and understand him better and have his own fear and reluctance better understood in turn, but he'd not managed. He'd not avoided Milo - he'd never do that to anyone, especially not someone he cared for as his own child - but he'd just... avoided the topic.
And now here they were.
His previous discussion with Crispin had prepared him for the differences that likely would be revealed during this meeting, yet having others speak about it made it far more real. He took in what was said as if through a fog, but did his best to not show his distress outward. This was his problem and he needed to deal with it in his own mind.
Having sat down near Milo, with his longleg companions between them as a bit of a buffer (for Milo or for himself he couldn't say), he didn't look at Milo as he spoke, but neither did he look away from him. Mostly, Choice stared at the ground. Speaking in front of a crowd he'd had little practice with and not looking at anyone made it a little easier. Especially when speaking of such a painful topic as his previous home.
"My people too go searching for our soul names," he tacked on to the end of Mahrak's explanation. "When we've learned ours, we may shed our cub name and pick our first name as a fully recognized adult. We... we also keep our soul names to ourselves, for fear of them being misused. But sharing them can be beautiful." He tried not to give in and look at Milo as he spoke. He didn't want to censure or mock the youth. He just wanted this misunderstanding to be cleared up with as few hurt feelings as possible - as few more hurt feelings.
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Post by No-Sting on Sept 17, 2023 21:54:08 GMT 1
No-Sting and Swift-Wind had arrived at the gathering fairly early, Swift-Wind as always interested to learn as much as possible about their current tribemates. No-Sting hadn't exactly been reluctant to join, but thinking on their many differences sometimes made her uncomfortable. Back home, everything had always made sense. Here, you might disappear in a puff of smoke one day and elves could look like almost anything. It made life far less simple than it had been before. The fact that she usually slept at this time of day didn't help her mood. "Our people know our soul names from birth," Swift-Wind chimed in after Choice had fallen silent. "Our parents sometimes know our names too, sometimes not. I'm sad to say I don't know why exactly, but that's how it wa- is for us. And we also keep our soul names a close secret unless something very special, like Recognition, happens. I could share such horror stories our aunt Roseroot told us when we were kits of elves who'd gotten their soul names stolen." Swift-Wind's enthusiasm got a little dent in it as she spoke Roseroot's name. "She is a fantastic storyteller our aunt." Is. Was. Is. No-Sting listened to her sister with half an ear, the rest of her attention on trying to locate Badger . Since she and Swift-Wind had come to this gathering straight from a hunt - with a quick cleaning and detour to the holt's stores with the rabbits they'd caught - No-Sting hadn't had time to speak with Badger beforehand and now found herself keen to know what the wolf maiden thought of it all. If she'd even chosen to attend.
OOC: Playing Swift-Wind with Anna's permission. |
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Post by Keleero on Sept 17, 2023 22:00:08 GMT 1
Keleero had deliberately arrived last to this gathering, staying in the tunnel entrance rather than joining the other elves out in the open. He listened with great interest to what was being said, but chose to keep quiet for now. It was better to receive information before choosing if you should give any in return.
Learning that some elves utterly lacked soul names came with a surprising sting of jealousy. What would it have been like, being born without a soul name? Would it have kept him safer? Would that version of him never have had to experience the sensation of someone taking his innermost self and twisting it, bending it into shapes it never should have had to suffer? Or would he have utterly lacked protection from such an assault?
Keleero drew a hand's breadth deeper into the tunnel, making sure the shadows hid any distress that might have fought its way onto his face at that thought. He was here to learn. He could have feelings about what was said later.
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Post by FarSight on Sept 18, 2023 6:28:55 GMT 1
"I honestly don't know if they did." FarSight shrugged at the question. "I figured all parents knew the soul names of their cubs but it could just be that mine did... Maybe my soul spoke with theirs while I was developing? As for sharing our soul names? Absolutely not... at least not without reason. Recognition... a very close relationship... My father had actually shared his with my mother before they recognized. They had decided to lifemate and exchanged soul names. He once told me that when he recognized her, it was as if the world was struck by skyfire and as if he had never known it before.**
He was trying to be as open about the soul name details he knew, but was completely unaware that it could potentially be a sore subject for some. These were the questions cubs often asked. What's recognition like? How will you know? Do you have a soul brother? Things like that were common place.
"Our people were all Wolf-blooded. We didn't have anyone that wouldn't have had a soul name. It would be unheard of where I come from. I don't think there's an elf in the world without one where I come from... But then... I don't know if there are other tribes like the ones here. We came from a tribe of wolfriders that split, and then we split from the group that split and went north. We didn't have cat riders or... spotted elves, or elves with half-blood of any other tribe."
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