Alexander "I know how to people" the Great (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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thenearshore2018-11-13 09:31 pm
towards_okeanos) wrote in thenearshore2018-11-13 09:31 pm
Entry tags:
Too curious for his own good...
Who: Rider (Iskandar), Satya "Symmetra" Vaswani
When: February 15th
Where: Abandoned temples in Western District of the Far Shore
What: Iskandar is bored by JUST running around and sightseeing on his Tour de Far Shore. So he can check places while he's there. Also too curious for his own good. Mission #40
They turned away from the mountains as Iskandar finally decided that climbing the ever steeper ridges was ultimately not worth the effort. After time they spent in the wilderness of Western District he even started developing some kind of sense of direction. He could roughly estimate the general direction where one should be headed to reach more civilized areas. Nothing more. Not exactly earth-shakingly useful. At least not from map-making perspective. Not matter what he wrote to Cú Chullain, his notes from this journey may as well turn to be worthless. He could say where they are in any given moment, where they were before but still it was impossible to correctly gauge distance. Many times they arrived at places that seemed so far away much quicker that he would expect. Many times a clearing or bottom of a valley that looked reasonably close took almost eternity to reach. At least it felt so.
Iskandar also learned to rely more on the clock in his smartphone then his own sense of passing of time or the external conditions like lightning or position of the sun. The external signs were the most unreliable. The terrain indeed had played tricks on anyone traversing it. Sometimes it felt like they were walking there forever yet he knew perfectly well that in truth they were on the road just for couple of hours. Yet he had difficulty shaking the ambient aura of the land.
Still he intended to put in action the plan he revealed in his last letter. He wanted to investigate closer some of the abandoned shrines. To an extent it was simply his curiosity. He didn't want their trip to be just a lot of walking around with no clear objective. The mountains behind the volcano turned to be one, sad disappointment. Yet also, to add to the misery, he's already read all the books he took with him. He needed something to occupy his mind. A little of exploring might do just that.
When: February 15th
Where: Abandoned temples in Western District of the Far Shore
What: Iskandar is bored by JUST running around and sightseeing on his Tour de Far Shore. So he can check places while he's there. Also too curious for his own good. Mission #40
They turned away from the mountains as Iskandar finally decided that climbing the ever steeper ridges was ultimately not worth the effort. After time they spent in the wilderness of Western District he even started developing some kind of sense of direction. He could roughly estimate the general direction where one should be headed to reach more civilized areas. Nothing more. Not exactly earth-shakingly useful. At least not from map-making perspective. Not matter what he wrote to Cú Chullain, his notes from this journey may as well turn to be worthless. He could say where they are in any given moment, where they were before but still it was impossible to correctly gauge distance. Many times they arrived at places that seemed so far away much quicker that he would expect. Many times a clearing or bottom of a valley that looked reasonably close took almost eternity to reach. At least it felt so.
Iskandar also learned to rely more on the clock in his smartphone then his own sense of passing of time or the external conditions like lightning or position of the sun. The external signs were the most unreliable. The terrain indeed had played tricks on anyone traversing it. Sometimes it felt like they were walking there forever yet he knew perfectly well that in truth they were on the road just for couple of hours. Yet he had difficulty shaking the ambient aura of the land.
Still he intended to put in action the plan he revealed in his last letter. He wanted to investigate closer some of the abandoned shrines. To an extent it was simply his curiosity. He didn't want their trip to be just a lot of walking around with no clear objective. The mountains behind the volcano turned to be one, sad disappointment. Yet also, to add to the misery, he's already read all the books he took with him. He needed something to occupy his mind. A little of exploring might do just that.
That's surely a lot of foxes
The fact they were in the forest also meant that water lingers in the air even in those brief moments when it's not raining. What's worse there was not a single piece of wood to be found that wasn't drenched to the core. So they weren't able to start a fire on the previous evening.
It is still February. Even if the days are nice and warm the nights are still chilly. This is the moment when Iskandar is especially grateful that gods and shinki can't catch a cold. Because going to sleep in damp clothes would otherwise almost guarantee them one. Today they need to find a roof over their heads. He can always teleport them back to the temple. Yet it would be as good as to admit defeat.
Fortunately, as day comes to it's end, he notices a clearing in the forest flanked by what one must have been a brightly colored gate. There are only two broken pillars left, on both sides of the path. When they approach it they notice one thing more. Or two, to be more precise. In front of the gate there are two stone statues, overgrown with moss and vines.
When Iskandar clears the overgrowth they turn out to be foxes. Left one holding a scroll, the right one accompanied by a smaller fox. There are traces of paint on both sculptures but they have faded with time and it is impossible to decipher if they were special markings or just adding color to the statues.
The path behind the gate is steep and windy but it leads to what can only be a temple. And one surrounded by a lot of gates, similar to the first one. Some big, some small, in different stages of disrepair. Some looking ancient, some as if they were erected fairly recently. Between the gates there is more statues of foxes.
Two giant foxes flank the entrance to the temple. Iskandar stops on the stairs to get a better look.]
It looks we have a roof for tonight.
[Only the inside... it's a mess. By some actual miracle the roof is indeed intact. So he was right about this one thing at least. But that's it. There are leaves everywhere. Something resembling an animal nest in the corner of the first room they enter. In the middle there is a regular, round patch of withered grass with remains of some thoroughly rusted construction hanging over it. Iskandar looks around. This is not bad place. As long as the roof holds it can be made habitable again.]
That probably once was a fireplace. We could use it.
I'm finally here, sumanai
No wonder, as it is a temple. However who does the temple belong to? As they reach the top and find the building it becomes clear- it has been abandoned long time ago. ]
Oh, thanks the Heavens! And it's dry- it's dry! [ She exclaims as she puts down her own backpack and just for a moment basks in the dryness of the place. A tiny puddle of water forms where they are standing though, and, oh man this place is more than just a mess. A mess are few things and socks thrown around a room.
This is a disaster. ]
Perhaps something to fuel it can be found around the building. [ She says as she shrugs off the rainfoil and hangs it neatly by the door. The puddle of water is an annoyance, but something they can't really avoid. The mess, however, they can. And she starts rummaging and pushing ruined equipment away as she works her way to close the door on the other side of the hall. They don't need draught to make them even chiller. ]
no subject
Especially when his sad condition is his own fault anyway. Could have used the rainfoil as she did. But no! King of Conquerors needs no stupid rainfoil for such a silly light drizzle! Which stopped being light drizzle pretty quickly but then it was already too late.
That being the case he has no real choice but stay as he is. Considering that all of the clothes in his backpack are similarly wet as well. That was quite a downpour they got through.
Iskandar decides that clearing the fireplace takes absolute priority. The grass there can serve as good kindling too. When Satya declares she would go search for fuel he just nods.]
Do you want me to go with you?
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It's everywhere in how Satya's brows furrow, her nose wrinkles and there is a fidget to her movement. Sure she can do Nature, it's beautiful in how wild it is. She can deal with the travel on the road, organization of the camp, this kind of stuff. When she picks broken remains of a chair and throws it at the fireplace, it's less like she's trying to make it go away.
No, wrong. Should take care about it methodologically. She stops and scans the room. ]
Some things are damaged beyond repair and can be used, but I would prefer to not damage property more than it's necessary. [ The table might be missing a leg, but it could work for more time if fixed. The chest might contain important items and- don't burn the books, never burn the books. They're most likely in agreement with that. ]
Once we get the fire running, we can think of the next step. [ She figured the next step. Make less of a mess here. Make a space, a camp. Just in a room, or rather in a ruin. But that is after the first step that is--- ] First we have to warm you up.
[ Then she almost steps on something but manages to find a balance. She leans down to find- another fox. A wooden figurine. Huh. ]
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He can only be thankful that his warrior instincts didn't dull now that he's divine and not exactly in constant danger of dying horribly.]
I don't need...
[Here he wanted to complain that it's not like half and hour more in wet clothes can kill him. He's going to be fine. He's a warrior not a five year old! Fortunately even he can sometimes stop from doing, or saying, something stupid.
Iskandar takes a deep breath. She IS clearly distressed. He has never seen her like that before. So he stops. He watches and listens, and notices. Pure, visceral discomfort flows over their shared bond.
Grating, annoying, like the sound of thousand needles dragged over surface of glass.]
Satya. What's wrong?
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She wills herself to calm, focusing on the fox in her hand. ]
It lost its place. [ She says finally as she shows the fox to Iskandar. While at the same time, trying to analyze the source of her discomfort. ] Everything here did. I don't understand why it bothers me so much, but it does.
[ Satya walks to the wall where a shelf still stands, it's dusty and it's in poor state, but it is standing. She puts the figurine on her eye level. The dust is but an annoyance, dust can be cleaned, maybe ignored. But everything dragged on the floor randomly. That's more than just a mess. ]
I wonder where is the god of this temple. Who they were. [ But she will put it in some sort of order, just to give her mind a rest. ]
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[It looks he can never run far enough from cleaning someone's property. First, it was the onsen. Now, this. Not that he minds much. If only that would make her feel better.
It is just ... funny. He's more used to being on the wrecking side. Not the one restoring order to things. And here they are now. Restoring a deserted ruin to a more bearable state. Maybe even habitable. Who knows.]
God of foxes? I believe Heavens should have some record of past gods. Even the ones that disappeared.
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[ They shouldn't be doing this, they are supposed to rest and gather their energy and all. Or at least he shouldn't be- but it is no lie that with both of them they will find it finished even faster. Some furniture is not even broken, just knocked over, or in disrepair. ]
There is a library, true. Although the shinki involved in maintaining it seem to keep everyone at bay.
[ But that doesn't mean that accessing it should be impossible. Perseverance, authority, this kind of things should be enough. Basically, keep bugging them until they submit to you. ]
More foxes... [ She says as she rolls out a wall painting that almost fallen into the stash of what seems to be usable lumber. ]
no subject
Then we can always ask someone from the new gods who are here longer if they remember a time when this temple was inhabited. They should be more approachable. [He pauses] I think I may even know where to start.
[Iskandar goes back to clearing the fireplace discovering it's a square hole in the floor lined with stones. Shallow and filled with a thick deposit of ash. There is a stone rim decorated with small reliefs of foxes running around it. But it's missing one stone. The construction above it is also short of one, but crucial, element. There's a rod and a counter-weight - in shape of a fox, what else? - but there is no hook on the end of the rod. Which makes it useless. Though the hook may be buried somewhere in the ash. If the link connecting it to the rod rusted it might have fallen down.
He's just about to comment on it when Satya finds a scroll. And it's yet another fox. Someone here was clearly obsessed.]
A painting of a fox? Does it have a name on it?
no subject
Then Iskandar asks the question, and so she unrolls the painting further - it's a traditional wall scroll ]
It does! [ She exclaims with a hint of smile on her face, but it soon fades as she unrolls it further ] I spoke too fast
[ Satya sighs and walks towards Iskandar. With more ease, as with their combined effort the room starts to resemble more a room, and less a mess ]
Only upper half of the first kanji is visible, everything else has been damaged.
[ Rot doesn't happen in clean rooms, that are kept in order and attended to! What a shame this place fell into such disrepair. But then she gets an idea ]
Could you make a photo of it? With your phone. Scrolls like this are decoration for a large portion of year. Perhaps if we were to ask people, seeing painting like this could stir their memory.
no subject
[Iskandar takes the scroll from her. The intention is to take a picture. Which he does but then he notices something interesting.]
We may yet be able to salvage more.
[He carefully unfolds the scroll further. The crisscrossing lattice of fibres looks quite similar to a papyrus. He had a chance once to decipher almost unreadable text from a similar material. Though the thing that was obscuring the letters wasn't mould then. It was blood. If they are careful enough they may indeed glean more from the text.
Iskandar looks up from the text scanning the surroundings.]
That table there, the one with the leg missing. [He points to a small, overturned table near one of the shelves that are still standing upright.] I need a clean, flat surface, a bundle of this dry grass I just cleared from the fireplace and a little of ash, the finest one from the top without the pieces of charcoal.
[He looks at Satya with a smile. Sometimes all you need to keep the incessant march of chaos is even one person's will to make effort. Broken things can be fixed. Dirty made clean again. And again. As many times and as long as it's needed. This is a battle that never ends but it does not need strength. Just consistency.]
The mould hasn't eaten through the fibres yet. There's hope we may be able to read more from it.
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Naturally. [ Got it. She signals and walks to overturn the table. Lack of the leg would be a problem- but she just measures the length of the other legs, and reflexively builds a fourth one to match them. The hard light construct is coming to life with quick elegant moves of whole arm- one of the things to not think where they come from, really.
A short moment of furrowed brows when it doesn't fit the slot for the leg and-tap tap tap, to adjust the shape of leg so it does. Perfect. She flips the table and leans her whole weight with both of her hands against it to check the stability. ]
It's working, but it's not yet clean. [ She says as she grabs the rag, clean enough to get the dirt and ash from the surface. ]
Is the light here good enough? [ Satya asks as she goes to get the dry grass bundle ]
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Good.
[Iskandar puts the scroll on the table securing the already unfolded side with a piece of debris at each corner. The mould sticks to itself so separating the layers takes time, care and patience. But his initial observation holds true. The fibres haven't started to disintegrate yet so the scroll at least keeps its shape. It's just a little more fragile.
Decay starts roughly in the middle with only a few dark spots covering the upper half of the first kanji. The lower half is blackened but now that he unfolded it he can trace its shape. Judging from the length of the material and size of the first kanji, there is space for two more. Though he wouldn't hope they can get the third one. The lowest section of the scroll is one black mass of rot. So whatever was written there is lost.
Iskandar looks up hearing Satya's question.]
Now that you mentioned it. Indeed, it's quite dark here.
no subject
The technology looks incredibly advanced, so it's possible she wears and uses one of the prototypes. Means, it ever going public could uncover links to her previous identity. As much as she would want to follow science channels, she does stops herself from it occasionally.
One good thing is that, so far, it seems to not be running out of the juice, that makes all those things possible with just a snap of wrist.
Like now. Her first idea was to just make a simple construct illuminating the slowly, but surely falling darkness. But with time it's going to get darker, why not remedy that earlier. With precision she waves the light into a slightly cylindrical shape, it keeps growing taller, and taller, until it's nearly her height. Only then she stops ]
Does it work, or would you still prefer a pointed light source? [ Because that she can do too. She's going to be a bit proud about it too, and Iskandar can feel it on their link. ] Now that I think of- we could transport this scroll spread between two translucent panels.
[ Like glas, just- hard-light ]
It would shield it from elements and further decay. Or damage. [ It's supposed to be rolled, it's a scroll- but will it survive such continuous usage? Scroll between panels is more annoying to transport, though. ]
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[Her ability to conjure those shapes with light. The fact they are no mere apparitions but solid objects. That never ceases to amaze him.
Iskandar looks up.
It is not very often that he feels anything through their bond. So it always catches his a little unawares. Always a bit surprised as he feels it coming. A sense of pride in one's own work. Mellow like honey. Warm like well-worn stones on a path frequently travelled. It's a pity he cannot send anything back the same way. One thing more of all that don't work properly here. Still, he can acknowledge it by other means.]
You have all the right to feel proud of it, Satya. None can do what you do.
[But to take the scroll with them? That's actually ... ]
We could have someone examine it or maybe even do some proper restoration.
[Here they don't have the means and he's no expert in repairing ancient artefacts.]
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Precisely! [ She quietly claps her hands. ] The edges are unreadable now but perhaps with proper technology- or magic- even the text there could have been deciphered.
[ And thus the owner of the temple could be named. Would that bring them back? Would that give closure to those who might still be looking for them? Or is it just and only to satisfy their curiosity-- oh well. ]
A scholar in a library here, or in museum on the Near Shore-
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[Iskandar hesitates for a moment. There is a library on the Far Shore, aside from Elfnein's temple, that he knows of. The question is does he trust the librarians?]
Once we have it properly restored we can try with the scholars here.
[Because while he is able to communicate quite well in modern Japanese those are pretty archaic kanji and Iskandar is not even sure how to pronounce what's written there.]
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[ Maybe there's a rule about not getting into the abandoned temples, she should look into that. But from her point of view, that explanation is perfectly reasonable for the scholars of the Far Shore.
But then, she does trust librarians. She trusts a lot of professionals doing their job. Which might be a falling. ]
Speaking of which- that story will have a lot more credit if we finish cleaning this up before the night- I am going to see what I can make of the bathroom area.
[ No running water that's for sure, but there was a spring nearby. And while they only dried from the extreme rain, they also got dusty- she would prefer to get a bit cleaner before going to sleep. ]