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Post by Badger on Oct 12, 2023 14:18:20 GMT 1
OoC: Posting for all Badger, Juniper and Eryk in this one. ~*~ Badger bit her lip a little, as No-Sting asked if she was alright. There was a lot of suppressed memories from before that the wolfrider had hoped to lose in the Now of wolf thought, but they kept emerging, bubbling up, as the discussion of offspring went back and forth. ~**I will explain later, but I am fine, now.**~, she locksent in response to the tuft-eared maiden and settled close by to her, listening to the discussion. Esseltu used some foreign words, like 'sayyans' or 'sayyanteest', which meant nothing to the wolfrider. Maybe she would learn the meaning of the word later on. It did seem intriguing, not to mention the rest of the foreign words the spotted hybrid elf spoke. Maybe it was human language, Badger was not an expert. -- Juniper nodded to the sentiments of Choice and Crispin. Recognition COULD be a beautiful moment, but it was also frightening and at the same time new and ancient. He could not argue with the others about how it felt like -- he considered each and every moment was different, just as the people experiencing it. As the malicious use of the soul names was mentioned, his mouth corners twisted lightly at the thought. What kind of people had they known, people that could use the soul name to hurt. The treeshaper looked at people in the gathering and silently contemplated if any of them were capable of such cruelty -- not likely, he thought, or HOPED at least. -- Eryk was completely lost with the conversation, and for a brief while felt like maybe he was soul nameless AND soulless as well. He had been lacking spirit since he had been whisked to this world, so maybe being soulless was not that far off. He noted some of the others glancing toward him, but no words were spoken or sent, unless maybe in secret, but he did not really care. Another stake was taken and getting sharpened in his hands, as the conversation rolled around, and the carpenter mainly focused on the task at hand and the ebb and flow of the conversation. His folk had indeed given up on Recognition, but sometimes it happened. It made him think of his younger brother Danik, who was head over heels for his lovemate Swifteye... Maybe they had fawns at some point. The idea delighted and made him feel sorrowful at the same time. As Tambri mentioned liking his people, Eryk just shrugged. "Some of us are a mountain of secrets.", he mumbled -- he himself had had trouble voicing his feelings toward old flings and crushes in the past. |
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Post by Tambri on Oct 13, 2023 3:50:21 GMT 1
Tambri glanced at Eryk and shrugged. "All mountains can be climbed." She then turned her attention back to the conversation. She'd let him brood. She understood the need to. She was used to solitude, but he had come from a life where he was surrounded by friends and family. It had impacted him more than it had herself. She had her wolf. She had her life. That was all she had before, so she lost nothing.
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Post by FarSight on Oct 13, 2023 3:52:47 GMT 1
"I've only heard stories of soul names being used like that... but I suppose it could be done. I used to wonder what it would be like to recognize. Tried to figure out who it would be to. Had a few agemates and thought maybe one of them? But then it never happened. Then I stopped worrying about it. I figure it'll happen when it happens. If it happens."
He glanced over to the spotted elf and tried to understand the words. Some of them he had heard before, but on the whole he couldn't understand what she was talking about. He wondered a bit about where she came from, to speak the human language so fluently.
"You said your people are created?"
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Post by Choice on Oct 25, 2023 20:49:53 GMT 1
OOC: Sorry for the endless postponing of posting, y'all! My laptop died repeatedly last week, taking half-written posts with it each time, and then I got sick -_- IC:Choice waited in silence as the discussion gained speed and tore in different directions. He kept close to Milo , both to be a steady presence as the young one asked who wished to know his soul name, and to try and follow his translation of Spotfur's explanation of what a <scientist> was. But Choice lost track of all of that when Keleero and Tambri mentioned having actual experience with elves hurting each other with their soul names. Legends and horror stories you told to small cubs was one thing, but to have witnessed it! All Choice could do was stare in horror, his eyes fixating on Tambri as Keleero was still hidden in the darkness of the cave tunnel. He had no words but his expression spoke his terror loud and clear.
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Post by Mahrak on Oct 25, 2023 20:52:18 GMT 1
Mahrak was about to make a quip about already knowing Milo's soul name, when Keleero and Tambri shared their less than everyday news. Soul names, used as weapons, like something out of a horror tale. As much as he loved to learn new things, this was one thing Mahrak would have preferred to stay a legend. To Nightbird he lock-sent, half in shock: ~**Guess that explains why those two are so jumpy and aggressive.**~ He was still hung up on how Tambri had punched him, early in their acquaintance when she deemed him too risk-taking around human trails. ~**And here I thought Flint grew up in a mad place! Please tell me your people didn't do such heinous things to each other?!**~ He barely had the awareness to listen as FarSight asked about Esseltu's people being 'created', he'd been put too far off balance. |
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Post by No-Sting on Oct 25, 2023 20:56:22 GMT 1
At Milo's open question about sharing his soul name, No-Sting had to take a moment and weigh her options. All she'd ever learned about soul names told her "to say NO!" but clearly there were many things she didn't know fully, that were very different from elf to elf. So, the only thing to answer that made sense to her was: "If it's safe for you to share your hidden name, I won't be protest learning it. But only if it's sure no harm will come to you through this." No-Sting edged closer to Badger , acknowledging that they would talk later with a soft, hopefully comforting smile. She would have answered the sending too, but then the conversation steered toward soul names being used as weapons and all words escaped her. She could only seek Badger's eyes, try to read if the wolf-maiden was as shocked as her or if this was some nightmare Badger too had witnessed in her life. * In a heartbeat, Swift-Wind went from delighted at the exchange of knowledge to horrified. Clutching her hands over her mouth, she let out a whimper as if someone had punched her in the gut. "Why? Why would anyone do anything so cruel?" A naive question, maybe, but despite such unspeakable acts featuring in the odd scary story back home, it was always the twisted ones who did such things. Elves long lost to magic. Had the places Keleero and Tambri came from been like that? Surely it was Flint who came from a land overrun by twisted magic? |
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Post by Keleero on Oct 25, 2023 21:04:13 GMT 1
Crispin sending about her soul name being safe to share lit a fire of intense envy in Keleero. Not a rational envy, of course, but it burned bright all the same. **Then know that you, and those like you, are very, very lucky,** he sent for all to hear, but mostly directed at Crispin, his mind-voice cold as ice to prevent it from ringing with directionless rage. Swift-Wind's shouted question then caught his attention. It seemed such a nonsensical question at first. Wasn't the purpose of using soul names to maim obvious? **You truly cannot imagine why someone would do such a thing?** Keleero found himself sending, a sense of stunned disbelief leaking out between the pillars of his icy self-discipline. **Control. Dominance. Power. Same as with punching someone or stabbing them. It just runs you less risk of killing the person you want to control.** He sent this all in a mater of fact tone with no malice or threat behind it. That was just the world to him, how he'd come to see it through living in Steepside. Life was a struggle. Allies could any day turn to enemies if you showed weakness or if someone simply decided you were a liability or a threat. Or if someone powerful grew bored and wished to have their own kind of fun. Why would using all possible weapons to gain power be the least bit strange? Despicable, yes, but strange? That sent Keleero's mind for a loop, if only briefly. He had just enough focus to spare to register FarSight asking Esseltu a question. More madness it seems. You can't 'create' elves. Elves aren't statues or bowls.
OOC: Time to get some Recognitions going or do we want to keep the discussion up a little longer?
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Post by Milo on Oct 26, 2023 20:39:29 GMT 1
Milo listened closely to the explanation, thinking on how to put this into words the other elves would understand. “<Scientists> are... makers. Shapers. Ones to try and make new things. Or... or new kinds of people. And then control them.” It still reminded him too much of cattle to not be disturbed by it, but not everyone here would understand that analogy.
Given that the others now got to using soul names for bad, he gave a thankful nod to No-Sting, but choose to not reveal it right here. Not when the others were on edge and might react badly too. But it was a start that they knew, that no one told him outright 'no'. Small steps.
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Post by Flint on Oct 26, 2023 20:39:47 GMT 1
“The wind used to call us...” was all Flint could add to names being misused. But already quieter than before, keeping some more distance again. Too many people talking all at the same time and he'd never learned how to focus on what mattered to him, got overwhelmed trying to follow it all at the same time. It was exhausting. It made him miss the quiet understanding of Sapling.
After a moment of hesitation, he choose to resettle, slinking over to sit next to Mahrak instead. Focus on just the redhead, if he had to. ~**It's too... loud, with so many**~ Not that he was complaining, only used to a different culture. Or more a lack thereof.
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Post by Crispin on Oct 26, 2023 20:40:24 GMT 1
**I know. I'm sorry this happened to you.** Crispin replied calmly, not letting Keleeros tone affect hers. She'd not expected this gathering to reach any conclusion: it was an exchange of cultures and a safe space for Milo to share who he was. Or at least see that no one here meant him harm.
She glanced at Choice, still there for the kid, giving him comfort and space. He'd be a good father, even if he didn't believe it himself yet. And, somewhere in this moment, she felt like being home again – warmth and sun and gentle silks. It's a feeling she's experienced before twice in her life and not entirely an unwelcome one. Just new that it came with a different name, not just knowledge. ~**Hello, Ergah**~ Like meeting someone for the first time again. No need to make a big deal out of it right away.
(OOC: Time for some Recognition!)
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Post by SL2657F on Oct 28, 2023 3:17:35 GMT 1
OOC: I need a bit of time before I can properly post. Please skip me if needed you can play small interactions or simple responses... Yay for IRL kicking me in the shins!
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Post by Eryk on Oct 29, 2023 16:17:44 GMT 1
The turn in discussion was now totally different from before, and Eryk tilted his head lightly at the possibility of being soulless and soul nameless as a good thing. One less weapon for his enemies to use, but then again, the environment or troll kind did not seem to know people's soul names either. He pondered the folks at home and tried to think of anyone among his own kind that could have been able to be so cruel. Maybe some... But then again, they had their own rabbit holes to work with, and Eryk felt that the folks from other places had different power dynamics than his own tribe. He could not think of anyone who would want to actually GAIN power over their chieftess back at home, but maybe it was different in the homes of others. How ... barbaric. There was a shift in the mood of the gathering, then another shift, but Eryk did not notice that, as he was only concentrating on the spoken or sent words in the open, and if the sharpened pole he had in his hands was at least somewhat even and straight instead of wonky in all directions. He had noted how Tambri had mentioned about mountains being for climbing, but in his dull state of mind, he counted that as a joke of words. Considering Milo's soul name, the go-back had no opinion -- it was HIS name to keep or share, after all. Now as the lad explained the word sayyanteest to the group, Eryk frowned -- the explanation did not quite make any sense to him, because they had potters, builders and carpenters, such as himself... Maybe the sayyanteest was a different kind of maker? World was full of surprises. |
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Post by Badger on Oct 29, 2023 16:25:33 GMT 1
OoC: Juniper is kinda not talking to me and fading to the background, so skip him unless there is something that needs to be addressed by him directly.
~*~
There was a collective gasp of the mention of using the soul names to bend others, and Badger could not deny being grossed out by this very idea. She made a face, and sighed at the revelation about the fact. Her folk in her original home WOULD HAVE NEVER, never ever...!!
There was a little shudder from the wolfrider as she settled down on a seat, and tried to concentrate on the other parts of the discussion. She certainly hoped this was a safe space to be and not to worry that soon someone would be invading her soul and mind and use her most inner secret against her.
"Tch!", she scoffed under her breath. "Madness and cruelty."
The disgusting topic moved onward to other things, but very much like many others, the wolfrider maiden had lost her ability to concentrate on things. Now, her mind had abandoned the Now of Wolf Thought, and she had gone to bygones for a little moment, overlooking the fact that there was a shift in the mood, and there had been a chance to learn more about <scientists>.
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Post by Tambri on Oct 29, 2023 22:24:42 GMT 1
Tambri nodded at Badger's assessment of those who would misuse a soul name. "They were indeed mad and cruel. The Five-fingers were less-cruel. With them you knew they would kill you and sacrifice you to their... High One... Whatever they call it. With those who would use your soul name against you... Their motives were their own. They'd do it to torture you, to force you to do what they want... Because if you didn't, they could cause such pain... I haven't personally experienced it, but I have seen elves that have."
She glanced at Eryk and inclined her head. He seemed distant... as usual. Maybe more so.
"Your soul name, though... it's yours to do with as you choose. Share or keep. No one will know mine unless our souls meet. Even then, I think I'd be terrified..."
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Post by FarSight on Oct 29, 2023 22:51:05 GMT 1
FarSight shuddered visibly at the tales of what had happened. "Mine neither... But I really want to understand Spotfur's people... They're made? How? And why?" He glanced at Spotfur, unintentionally staring in curiosity. "I mean aside from being cat with fur and a tail and everything, isn't she just a normal elf? I mean you have a soul name, too, right?"
SL2657F shifted uncomfortably under the stare before she looked to Milo. She wasn't sure how else to explain it. "I.. they..." She had to think. How to make it... well, primitive. How would she explain the process to a child? A child who has never seen where she was from. "The take..." She motioned between herself and the males. "They <mix> with animal blood... Then make the child... <insert> to mother...and she carries and births..." She had a look on her features that said it was more complicated but that she was trying to make it so they would understand. "They want strong... smart... warriors."
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