Edit 2
Act 1 Lore Tent.
I left the crafters behind and started walking towards the riding leadership of this clan. . . I looked around seeing their clan lands, and thought I shouldn't have compared them to a village as there closer to a post crisis earth hamlet, having more than 300 souls. . . most are adults and almost a hundred of them are children the oldest are in there 5th summer the equivalent of a 10 year old pre ascension-human. and around 50 elderly.
And most of them are females and only a few dozen are males, as there species seemed to have evolved to breed more females than males as a way to repopulate faster after disaster or conflicts. . . which might explain where their martial and possessive nature comes from.
Vivienne: "Hail Forest Lord, It is time! our ancestors and lore priests are ready to teach you of our people and gods! for the following days they would teach and in the end we would feast!" I felt her gate burn and become stronger as she spoke and those around her listened, I can feel that the whole of the clan and beyond can hear her pronouncement. and also that the circle and priests are extending a large projection coming from there gates.
I cupped my hand and gave them a bow. Lord Cloudy: "I thank the Honey Rose clan for your hospitality." They answered my greeting by unmounting and then copied my actions Vivienne: "And we are blessed to take on your benevolence, Lord cloudy."
They then mounted again and then rode as they did I was given a gesture to follow, they were moving at a pace of a quick Canter, barely keeping pace with my own simple walk. I am surprised that the land here can support my weight not even making footprints, It might be a type of magic the priests of the clan used to make there ground denser and easier to build upon.
Man, I have so many questions about there psionic tech, like come on! that girl over there is on a couple of stacked stone with a stick bell instrument with ribbons, and she's dancing, with small flames and stones dancing with her, the grass around her stacked stones, grow longer and started to spread farther covering the black dirt in deep colored aquamarine grass as she danced. . . and then a herd of there large fluffy furred long horned cow like goats gathered and started eating the grass, followed by three herder youths.
That there 'Magic' is better than any bio enhancing terra forming tech we had during are exploration with the dragonfyre, tells me the significance of this branch technology. The best we had was the terraformer Bacteria, a rapid reproducing bacteria that would fertilize and promote the creation of healthy soils, by breaking down minerals and any kind of biomass.
Even in the best circumstances, the TF-Bacteria, would take 2 to 3 days to regrow grass, depending on the soil quality. . . and available biomass. but this? the use of energy to create mass and reality manipulation, was basically generations away from humanity, the only thing we had were theories, and very rudimentary conceptual prototypes.
My thoughts stopped as we arrived at a large leather tent, maybe 7 metres tall, and almost 16 metres wide. Vivienne: "This is are ancestral lore tent, it has the lore of our people, from are very first ancestors, to what are clan did last season. . . alright I and some of the other circle members are needed elsewhere this" The chieftess while still on her mount, pointed to an older cottoring, she was wearing a simple purple robe with a hat with three golden emblems.
Vivienne: "Is Elder, Lore keeper, priestess, Heathia. She would be teaching you of our lore. now if you. . ." I did something that had made her cut her words, as I condensed my form relying on my gates and the replica of my inner flame, to force every cell of my flesh doll to become smaller and hug each other tighter, the energy needed was immense as steam came out of my skin, as blue flames burned and leapt from my reddening flesh.
I wasn't skilled enough with psionics, to shrink my clothes with my body. but I was atleast prepared and wrapped my soft lizard leather sleeveless and sideless tunic like a bathrobe on my new smaller form, that had become 5 metres tall, I was still bigger than the cottorings, but atleast I don't tower over them anymore.
"I'm ready to learn. good to meet you Lore keeper." I said as I reached for her partially gloved hand and shook it, she was colder than I had expected from a furred species.
Act 2 Lore Keeper:
It took almost an hour, before the chieftess and her circle had been able to get everyone back in order as they started doing. . .questionable things after my transformation, calling it a minor miracle, or a great use of magic and other such things, but in the end Vivienne had placed a stop on the chaos, and left with most of her clan circle leaders.
I was left with the elders and priests, and now being guided inside by Lore keeper Heathia the chieftess had told me that she is supposed to be an old Cottoring, yet the only difference I can see from her, compare to the younger female cottoring priests is that she's a little shorter, because of her small slouch, her grey fur, and lesser muscle mass. But she still looked beautiful like a human woman in her late 30s with bunny ears and fur.
Are they like that warrior race in that martial arts anime? Are they a species that quickly grow to their prime and live longer in their prime but once they reach their twilight years they would age quickly and then die? that might be it or being an elder in the Honey-rose clan, isn't based on age.
Heathia: "Lord Cloudy, This is are Lore tent, please ask as anything and we will answer to the best of our abilities." She said as I looked around as the leather and goat wool, flaps of the tent, came down behind me.
And what I saw, was unique, like I was in one of the stories of my dad when he told me about the house of his grandma with all the tapestry and hanging decorations. The tent was similar to those stories, as it was illuminated by a single a bonfire flame in the middle.
The slanting ceilings, hanged tapestry of stories, even the walls have these religious like murals of lore, and all was being attended by figures flames or spriests, I can see it the very first stitches, there creation myth. . . They're born from the sun? what an accurate creation myth.
Lord Cloudy: "Your people are born from the sun?" I asked the lore keeper but I did look around and saw that I was only with Lore keeper Heathia, The others seems to be doing a ceremony of sorts, and from what I see it's channeling magic through the flaming figues and they seem to be empowering the tents tapestries and paintings with psionics or in there terms magic.
The elder looked at what I was looking at, and smiled. Lore keeper Heathia: "Yes, that is the story of our creation Forest lord, that tells the story of how the dark chaotic world was turned bright and brought to order by the coming of the Eternal Sun, Empress Amarelm of the Radiant Empire, And Head of the Eternal-summer pantheon. . . she. . . was the one who had adopted our ancestors and made them part of the Radiant Empire. . ." I watched as the images on the tapestry moved as the elder introduced me to there early history. and as she continued to speak of there now Shattered empire.
I Saw a grand painting on a stone tablet hanging from the ceiling, it was the image of the now dead or sleeping, Eternal Sun. She was an Elephant like humanoid, that had a fiery Amber long flowing hair, and wore a majestic solar Tiara, Hers tusks gilded with solar and floral patterns and golden pieces.
Her dress was of the greatest silk as it flowed on imagined winds. They were designed with stars and even more floral Iconography in circular patterns. I sensed an old imprint of barely a whisper of a projection on the painting, and as I touched it and charged that faint projection, with my inner flame.
I felt a connection to a very dark, and cold place, of hopelessness and oblivion. . . of death. . . The sensation immediately disappeared. and as it did, I felt the hint of an old warmth, a warmth given long ago. my inner flame burned stronger as I fully experienced that warmth.
And by the time I came to my senses, Elder Lore keeper had stopped her story and looked at me fondly as she saw me looking at the now Dead sun Amarelm and stood next to me. Heathia: "Yes, she was beautiful and the most revered, but now we can only remember her and worship her, through her daughter." As she said that I asked her a question.
Lord Cloudy: "Does all the gods look different than you, cottorings?" My question shocked the elder and then made her give me one of those teasingly annoying laughs your mother or sister would gives you, as you did something dumb and they know it's dumb, but doesn't tell you why.
Act 3 Visit:
It's been a few days since I started studying within the Lore tent, with the scholarly priests, courteous ancestral spirits and wise elders. . .They were really kind and patient with me.
But they also become very pushy when it comes to learning what they refer to as sacred 'Secrets', as they believe that the knowledge of the gods, and they've included me, are sacred secretes, only shared with there bloodlines or mortals that they favor.
I gave them simple observational knowledge of the natural world, and some stories and they loved it! they told me it wasn't enough to make a ritual, which is a very powerful projection that needs all the participation of a clans priests and worshipers and sometimes the clans neighbors and allies.
There goal is to focus much of there psionic energy on an individual empowering them and then open a large gate into the Immaterial sea, or as they call it the "realm of the gods" and then they would support the individual they called the Actor, to play the role of a god in a myth or story about them, and once they finish the myth, they would be able to meet the god they have been acting as and be given a boon, for there efforts, of empowering them through the theatrics.
The problem was, they needed to know enough about the myth to even begin the story, because if they don't, the ritual would fail and the magic they used would become waste, and sometimes become a curse, to the actor usually killing them or the clan, usually having their crops blighted or herds or people sick.
My thoughts and conversation with the priests of the 'Giver of guidance' were interrupted, as one of Heathia's Apprentice came in from outside the tent, she looked rushed. and I think, I understand why.
I felt the essence of new people, I sent out a pulse of my psionics, letting it spread like heat around the whole of the Honey-rose's lands and then dissipate.
It was a new method I made while watching a prayer of a priest of the 'Guardian-sun' it was more accurate and wider in effect than forcing the expansion of my senses.
Basically comparing cans and string with the telephone, in its improvement. I then felt them, a party of 7, 2 seems to be comparable to the swords of the Honey Rose clan, and the rest where Bows, all female, 1 elder and the rest adults.
Atleast that was what there essence are telling me. As it echoed from my scanning projection. . . I should name it one of this days, I might even ask the girl that inspired me to name it when I see her again.
Those were my thoughts as the younger, Honey-rose clan youth, finished her message, and made the lore keeper think before she looked towards me and spoke evenly yet she felt anxious. Heathia: "Lord Cloudy, we have visitors to the clan and a few of those of the circle, had asked for you to come and meet them. . .It's your choice lord."
I wasn't sure why she was anxious? Does she want me to accept? Or does she want me to stay away from clan matters? Lord Cloudy: "I had felt them arrive in your clan lands, they are few and seemed to have come with good intent, I would meet them, it is my purpose to meet more of your people."
I said that as I stood, as the Lore keeper gave me a strained smile, as I felt turmoil within her. I guess I made the wrong choice in her wisdom, but I really do want meet this new folks.
Act 4 The wheels:
I walked out of the story tent, with the elder. And there outside was a pair of Raptors, they where to small for me to ride, and even if I was big enough for some reason a minor projection was involved in riding them, each cottorings adult seem to possess this passive projection.
Lord Cloudy: "Lead the way, Lore keeper, I would follow on foot." She gave me a nod as she made the raptor run at a gallop, with it's small wings flapping as it ran.
I followed suit, at a quick jog, the elder was barely able to lead with it's speed, but I did need to slow down from time to time, to not overtake her.
And then after a minute we've reached the watchtower gates of the clans border outposts. The chieftess wasn't among the group of what I recognized as some of the clan council, there was only three of them, and they were already speaking with the visitors.
The visitors seemed to be fellow cottorings, except they had a lighter shade of browns and reds and less whites on their fur. There tails were shorter and more soft looking, And there clothes where different unlike the Honey-rose clanswomen who commonly wears leathered furs over there woolen sleeved skirted tunics and trousers, with simple dyed robes for those that leaves the settlements.
But they're way of clothing was different, farther than the scythian dress of the Honey Rose clan, and closer to celtic and mayan designs and they barely wore any leather, only there pointed boots and belts was the exemption.
They whore almost the same inner clothing, but theirs were made of plant fibers something like flax. They're wore sleeved skirted tunics but they seemed to not wear any trousers but skin tight leggings of fur felt. And there outer clothes were a half chest covering thick toga like jackets, the toga fully covers there right arm up to their necks, and then leaves there left shoulder to there left arm expose, only starting to cover there tunic once again at there lower arm downwards.
It kinda reminds me of the uniform worn by the Japanese archery athletes, while they do there traditional archery games. . . I love how little Sayuri, used to jump around every time she hit her red circles, making me steam more sweet sauce sushi for her during snack times.
They stopped there talk, once they noticed us, me jogging towards them and the lore keeper on her mount, the councilors was on there own mounts, while two of the visitors were on a chariot pulled by two smaller raptors, and five other visitors were seated on large stones, there spears relaxed on their shoulders, and large rectangular shields on their back.
The clan councilors seemed to have noticed I was suppressing what they have been referring to as my "Divine Presence" but was actually just my replica's inner flame being very difficult to contain in a human like form. even as hard as I try, whenever I fuel it with psionic energy, it would radiat a kind of echo that anyone with a gate or sensitivity to psionics can sense. it's just feels and looks different from one psion to another.
As they introduced me as a guest instead of a wandering god. Councilor: "Guest Cloudy, Lore Keeper. It is a surprise to see you! it is not an unwelcomed surprise. These is our clans visitors, they are from a warcart clan that has just migrated here, from the lands of our mother clan. they bring great news!" The councilors started to talk with the elder lore keeper, as I moved and introduce myself to the clear leaders of this visiting group.
They looked arrogant as they tilted their heads and looked down at me, even though they were only a little taller than I was while they stood on there warcart. Visitor Leader: "Bask at my greatness, guest of the Honey-rose clan, for you approach I, Achycia! Chamber holder, Daughter of golden chains Samhel, A noble of the purest blood, of The Fire-wheat clan." The words and actions of the visitor party was arrogant and proud, but I can feel her inner essence, and she is terrified, hiding her fear of looking weak with false big arrogant words. . . What a wonderful new culture!
I showed sincere respect towards her and her warrior companion that was clutching her shield prepared if I do something violent after her master spoke of such things, it seems she does this alot. I was bowing my head towards her as I spoke in a soft, calming tone, spreading a psionic pulse of calm, warmth and loving care. . . strong enough that all those present and beyond can feel it. Lord Cloudy: "I respectfully greet thee, great noble of the Fire-wheat clan. and I welcome you all to the Emerald Sky Forest. I am Cloudy, a wandering soul, that had lived in this great forest for nearly ten summers before the Honey-rose clan found and adopted me as a guest."
I looked up and my actions seemed to have made the footman guarding the leader of this party to kneel, with there weapons in hand. and the leader to be shaken and taken aback, almost falling from her cart, the warrior behind her shaking but catching her leader from falling. her eyes frantic as she got a hold of herself and spoke in her commanding voice. C-Holder Achycia: "Good! that one, such as you can see my greatness! Ha ha ha!" She was giving a puffed laugh.
It made me smile, that she was actually happy from my actions. so I took something from my pouch and presented it to her with a gentle smile. it was a stone bead bracelet, with ornately carved symbols of the 'Guardian sun and her mother' I had 'Blessed' it with a simple yet powerful projection.
Lord Cloudy: "Let this gift be a symbol of the beginning of Cloudy the wanderer and the great chamber holder Achycia's, friendship and connection. Please, accept my gift, it would protect you even from the coldest winters."
She was looking at me, then my gift, that was giving of warmth and small pulses of flames, and then the councilors that had long ago stopped talking and watched my little play, they felt very jealous, pitying, fearful? and happy. . .I can't understand why, but still I felt them. and then she looked to her companion and footmen for advice they had none.
But I felt determination in her as the minutes passed, and her voice was more sincere and kinder as she answered me, but still arrogant and strong. C-Holder Achycia: "I accept your gift, wandering soul. may all know that I Achycia! of the Fire-wheat clan! would be known as a friend of Cloudy, guest of the Honey-rose clan!" she finished her pronouncement as she looked towards the main village of the clan behind the councilors.
Her warrior took the gift from my two open palms gently as she presented it to her Lady, and as she did I gave her party and her another bow.
Before I left and walked back towards the Lore-tent of the Honey-rose clan, I was already passed the burying of the Golden city of Nivoran. I was only a few centuries away from completely knowing there whole lore, up to there present day. . . the lore keeper was actually hoping for me to learn everything, because every time a member of there clan had done such a thing they are given a prophecy by their ancestors and sometimes there gods.
Act 5 Prophecy and Celebration:
I was in my smaller form as I look up at the beautiful night skies of this world, hot alcoholic milk and juice was inside a large bowl of wood, that I was holding.
The voices and fun of a celebration was around me as many drank and talk, others dancing naked or almost naked around a large bonfire, others where doing contests of skill, like the game I was winning in.
As I finished gulping my kumis, and looked around me to see naked or barely dressed, passed out drunk clanswomen, that had challenge me to a drinking tournament where losers would be stripped. . .I won clearly. so I left them after covering them in blankets, and went towards the feasting table where I saw the circle of councilors and there chieftess in deep conversation.
as I approached them, they almost stood to greet me, but I held up a hand to stop them and they complied, I was holding another drink in my other hand. Chieftess Vivienne: "Lord Cloudy, Are enjoying yourself? This celebration is dedicated in your honor afterall." I smiled at her, I have grown to understand the politics of this clan folks, as I have finished going through their lore and watching their work through my Inner Senses.
And understand that my fully learning of there lore tent was only one of their reasons for this celebration, the main one is actually for the circle to improve the general mood of the clan.
Because of the news they heard from the Fire-wheat clan, news of both the fate of their mother clan and the migration wave coming to this forest. They wanted to make sure there clan understood that the news is a good one and not a bad one.
Lord Cloudy: "Yes I am, the drink is heavy, the food meat filled, and your clanswomen are very friendly, but they seemed to have enjoyed themselves a bit to much. are there people that would help them get home later. . .or do your people just let them spend the night like that?" I didn't pointed out the drunkenly sleeping dozen or so female cottontails I left and the one rare dude I befriended and drank a little with me. . .it was weird how his almost buried under all those fur.
The circle laughed at what they thought was a joke. Councilor: "Of course they'll be spending the night in the cold! ha ha ha! serves them right for not being able to hold there milk!" One of the councilors heartily spoke as she pounded her heavy chest and her thick neck rolling.
The table had become lighter as the councilors had fun, I then spoke gently and started to tell of the vision I had during the drinking game where I just finished drinking my 20th bowl of hard kumis, and looked towards the skies but saw something else. Lord Cloudy: "I wish to tell you, of my vision." My words were for the chieftess but the whole table quieted down and listened.
Lord Cloudy: "I saw the suns and clouds ending there battles as they turn and allied to fight something greater, something older, something. . .more all ending." Elder: "Chaos." an elder that was with the circle spoke, everyone of them understood, and I myself have only read and told of their ancestors greatest enemy, but from what I can feel around me, my vision was not helpful advice but a grave warning.