Post by Orianna Èirigh on Nov 16, 2023 18:39:44 GMT
The room is dark, the moon hidden because of the shadow Toril casts upon it. This allows the stars to truly sparkle and shine, their light a faint tinkling in cool, crisp night air. At her cloven feet are four objects, placed near enough together but not touching where Orianna thinks they would fit together. There are gaps though. Five to be exact. But despite the missing pieces, she has connected them with incense and ink, drawn directly on the attic floor.
This would be just like the rituals she used to do with the Seven Day Watch.
It is strange how the memories of Ashkha have slowly filtered back in. Every night she could, Orianna sat in this room and… prayed wasn’t the right word. Neither is meditated. Dreamed? Divined? Drifted off to sleep? She couldn’t say exactly what she did. There was a feeling of expanding, of floating up and becoming incorporeal, nebulous and vast. When she came back down, it was like a new (or rather old) piece came back with her. These pieces were sometimes memories or forgotten knowledge. Occasionally they would be faces. Her own at the age of five. Her fathers sharing a glance over a table spread with scrolls. Her cousin’s as she said goodbye under a tree. Her aunt’s inscrutable visage as she said, “It is time.”
Orianna breathes in.
She can do this. She has to.
Orianna exhales out.
Her gaze takes on a soft focus as the ritual she used to do with the Watch comes back to her, weaving step by step, and sliding movement by movement. Though she is alone Orianna moves as if she is surrounded by the others of her House, her people. The lost gems under the sand in a vast scorching desert. Perhaps hundreds of miles away they too perform this ritual as they try to See what impending dooms may come. No one ever sees the whole vision. It’s only ever in parts. That is why they needed seven days. To see the whole takes time, patience, and skill to reveal that which wishes to remain unseen.
But Orianna’s ritual is different. She is not trying to see, she is trying to be Seen. To connect to those powerful and ancient Archwyrms, most whom she has met, to get their help.
She hopes they answer.
As Orianna’s movements take her around the four metal objects that lie upon the floor she slowly begins to feel a presence fill the room. The stars themselves seem to fall from the sky, joining her in the dance of her ritual.
Flowing and moving around her like small rivers of light, they begin to float over to the crystal foci in the centre of this grouping. As they touch the foci it lights up bright as a star. Above it begins to form the draconic head of the Wyrm Queen herself, made from the small stars that had joined Orianna not a moment ago.
Glancing at the other pieces, Orianna sees small collections of starlight touching each piece, like branches of a nebulous tree that bears brassy fruit. In unison, the pieces take on a slight glow as if the corresponding Archwyrms are ready to answer but are seemingly waiting for permission to join.
“My Herald, it brings me joy to see you, are you well? I thought I might take this opportunity to talk to you myself before the allowing the others to come, and also to prepare you for having to deal with several strong personalities simultaneously.”
“I am well, Star Mother,” Orianna says, smiling. “You know then, why I am calling to you and the others.” She takes a deep breath. “It is time.”
“Ah I see Astaros has been in contact I assume then. Have they confirmed who of the Incarnates will be attending and of course a meeting place?”
“They have, indeed.” She shares the message near word for word Astaros had said earlier that day. She worries at her lip a little before adding. “I didn’t get a chance to suggest somewhere else but it should be relatively safe…”
“No, that is perfect. As one of the Prime Incarnates, Astaros commands much respect and fear amongst their kin. Meeting on their plane is where they hold the most authority.”
Stellarum nods to Orianna and then turns to the other three pieces, she then speaks in Draconic. “You may come forth.”
As the Wyrm Queen speaks the other pieces glow brighter. From one spews a thick dark cloud of ash and smoke as the head of Vulcanax takes shape. From the next comes a swirling column of azure blue water, thin threads of energy weaving through the water and forming the head of Kesserax. From the final piece comes a ruby red light filled with kaleidoscopic patterns that shift and change until the head of Throdrazz is formed.
Stellarum nods to each and then turns back to Orianna. “I shall let you explain why you have summoned us.”
She shifts on her cloven feet a little nervously. Even though the dragons were not physically present in the room, she was very aware of their presence. Their personalities as Stellarum put it. Each she has met though and each knows she is not a meek creature when it comes down to it. She has spoken to them each before, she can do so again. That alone straightens her spine and lets her voice come out with the support it needs to not to shake.
“Time is running out. Sides are being drawn. But not all of the Primordial Incarnates wish to follow Magdara’s plans. In fact, some are willing to meet to discuss an alliance. The First Star, Adai, the First Mineral, Meza, and the First Spark, Ceraun, will come to the City of Brass where I and the family will speak with the First Flame, Astaros.”
She takes a quick breath.
“I have seen the past.” She looks at Throdrazz. “I know there has been sacrifice, that you are all not as you once were.” Her starlight gaze sweeps across each of them. “The Realms are not the same either. As the final pieces come together I would see a new alliance formed.”
The Archwyrms listened intently to what Orianna says. Now, they turn to one other speaking in low hushed voices for a moment. Her heart beats thunderously in her chest, hoping she has said enough, wondering if she said too little. Then they turn their attention back to her.
It is Kesserax who is the first to speak. “With Glastor removed from the Court of Sorcery the pending threats to the Wellspring of Magic are considerably lessened and The Sovereign is more than capable of holding off an attack should something arise. I will be honoured to witness first hand this Alliance you speak of Herald.”
Orianna bows her head, in part to hide her intense relief, but mostly in gratitude.
Vulcanax is next to speak. “Unfortunately I will be unable to attend this summit. Magdara was seen travelling between the City of Dis and Gehenna. I am currently trying to track her down to figure out what she is up to.”
Orianna inclines her head again, but there’s a slight pinch to her brow. She was hoping Vulcanax would come though she could not say exactly why she hoped he would.
Then it is Throdrazz. “I too will be unable to attend unfortunately. It would appear that Astaros was correct in that it was only a matter of time before The First Brine, The First Dune and The First Ashes joined the other side against us. I am attempting to figure out what parts they will play in all this and what I potentially have uncovered is concerning to say the least.”
The pinch became a full on pucker as Orianna distractedly inclined her head in acceptance. So many gather to one side, already tipping the scales.
Stellarum looks between the other three and sighs. “Two of us in attendance is not enough, we must contact the others. Thalisdrasza and Eroshira are the most recent to awaken from their slumber and are still getting their affairs in order before they can fully commit to this, and Azharul is currently preoccupied in the Land Of The Dead by one I believe you know — the would be god Desathrax is causing a bit of a stir.”
Orianna goes stock still. Desathrax has returned? But how-
She puts that aside for the moment, but makes note to tell Lucky and the others in the morning. One problem at a time.
“That only leaves Meldrosa and Kestrasz,” Stellarum continues. “I shall summon them immediately.”
Stellarum turns her head to two positions in the circle Orianna had formed, to the places where other pieces would be. A similar flowing river of starlight comes from her mouth. As it touches the ground two other Archwryms appear.
From on point, a beautiful verdant green fire sprouts several vines that intertwine and thicken and take the shape of Meldrosa. From the second comes a column of pure radiant light sprinkled with metallic dust that swirls within. It clumps together in ever growing pieces until the head of Kestrasz is formed within.
It only takes but a moment for Orianna and Stellarum to bring these two up to speed to what the plan is.
With a nod Meldrosa responds first. “I will be happy to be part of such a momentous occasion. I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”
All eyes then turn to Kestrasz. “Yes I will attend as well. There are many things that must be discussed, and many recent actions that must be resolved before an alliance can be forged.”
With a slightly disgruntled look towards Kestrasz, Stellarum returns her gaze back to Orianna. “There you have it my Herald. Four Incarnates and Four Archwyrms. I think this is as fair as we can make it. How do you feel Orianna?”
“As prepared as I think we can be,” the tiefling says, looking into some middle distance. “It is not going to be easy, I know. And there will be many strong feelings on both sides.” Her gaze comes back from the distances she was seeing to focus on the faces in front of her. “I would have us hear it all, doing our best to reach an understanding that would see this conflict change course to a satisfactory resolution.”
All of the Archwyrms nod their heads in agreement with Orianna’s statement, some less enthusiastically than the others.
“I could not have put it better myself. Well done Orianna. We will be with you soon. Gather your friends as well, they are equally as important to this discussion as we are. I will see you all soon.”
The other Archwyrms each day bid their goodbyes, their spectral representations blinking out of existence until it is just Orianna and Stellarum once again.
“You always make me proud Orianna. I could not have asked for a better Herald. If anyone can orchestrate the ending of this conflict in a peaceful resolution I know it will be you. Goodbye for now, I shall see you soon.”
With that Stellarum bows her head to Orianna, who returns with her own small bow. The starlight that made up her temporary form begins to dissipate, returning back to the clear and serene night sky.
Not for the first time Orianna feels the burden of responsibility drag on her mind and heart. She gathers the three keys, not letting herself think too much about that weight, what it means for her, the others, and what may still yet need to be sacrificed. It is as she picks up the crystal foci and she sees her face — her new, older face — reflected back in multitudes and fractals, that Orianna realises that weight won’t ever go away.
She closes her eyes and leaves the cold, dark attic.
To be continued… 💫