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Contents
- 1 II.1 First evening
- 2 II.2 Arrival in Yrkanis
- 3 II.3 Animi Limina
- 4 II.4 The alliances
- 5 II.5 The calm before the storm
- 6 II.6 My encounter with Shen
- 7 II.7 Atys Fleur
- 8 II.8 Miss & Mister Atys
- 9 II.9 Miss & Mister Atys (continued)
- 10 II.10 The Fairs
- 11 II.11 The temples and Elias
- 12 II.12 The temples and Elias (continued)
- 13 II.13 The temples and Elias (end)
- 14 II.14 The outposts
- 15 II.15 The markets
- 16 II.16 Get gear
- 17 II.17 Atys Games
- 18 II.18 A page is turning
- 19 II.19 A page is turning (continued)
II.1 First evening
Elea did not know how to take up the first vigil. But with a resolute step, she made her way to the fire in the back of the camp. She immediately recognized the voice of the guard which had become so familiar to her :
"Hey! The seamstress! Come and sit here to tell us one of your stories."
And then, it all began. She no longer had to mull over. You had to get going.
"Hello, I am Eleanide.
— Blah blah… don't worry, all of them know you. They see you come and go in the camp and beware your pickax.
— OK! So, what you want to know?"
Elea kept a diary, of which she had reread some pages the day before.
"Well, the beginning, when you arrived. How was it going without Chiang?
— Whoa! Not from yersterday, all that stuff.
— Which year was it?
— Uh… let's see…. *opens her diary, reads the date* in Germinally, 2526. My mother left me on the Matis island thinking that I would better integrate considering the whiteness of my skin. During this first winter on Atys, I walked the Bark with great curiosity and discovered a territory where I was free. There I met Glorfindel and Ephemede, two young refugees with whom I hunted.
— A Matis and a Fyros girl?
— Fail! At that time on this island, Matis only were accepted at the reception, the other races were relegated on other islands with those of their race. Even guards and merchants were all Matis. And so we had access only to matis crafts.
— Oh? No thong skirt? Nor shorts?
— Hu! Nay, only nun's gowns... sober, I mean. And Chiang was not there to tell us that it existed, nor to guide, help, us. Luckily, there was the beautiful Sithi in her violet outfit and some previous, older refugees to watch over us, newbs as we were then. I stayed on the island to discover drilling that I did not know at all. From where I came from a child could not access it. I discovered new techniques of magic and combat too. I watched out for the merchant's pretty outfits while Ephemede, more pragmatic, watched out for the most effective weapons. *laughs* One day she bought a pistol that was of no use to her, as no merchant nor any on the island could craft ammunition.
— Oh! No launchers?
— Whoa, nay! Only old-school fights, as Glorfindel liked: with swords and magic. One day Glorfindel and then Ephemede, more seasoned than I, set out for the continent, leaving me alone to my apprenticeship. I then concentrated on the thorough discovery of the territory.
— Yeah… you farted around, that's it! Were you afraid to follow them?
— Pfff…. I did not feel ready to join a bigger land and I was hoping my mother would come back. Then, at spring, I was called out: ‘Are you Eleanide?’ I answered ‘Yes’ and the guard gave me a fold that I opened with haste, hoping it was from my mother, but I did not recognize the writing: ‘Eleanide, bring your bottom to the mainland, stop daydreaming. It is not on the island that you will learn much. Join me in Yrkanis tomorrow, I'm waiting for you!’ And it was signed ‘Moonblades, your brother.’ Ah! Here is the half-brother my mother had spoken me of and whom I had to join. I obeyed, and the next day, bundle on my back, I set out for the mainland. And that's how I got here. That will be all for tonight, a long day awaits us tomorrow. Night all."
Elea stood up leaving them to their barrels and chatting. On her way, she heard some "Night" and "Banrund".
II.2 Arrival in Yrkanis
Elea arrived near the fire where young people were already waiting for her.
"Hey, the seamstress, how was your brother? Did he launch pickaxes as you do?
— My half-brother? Well he was red-headed, Matis and he loved the desert. Well, yes, it's in the genes. *smiles* Uh, for throwing pickaxes… *laughs* Nay, he hated foraging, so yes maybe he was throwing picks to get rid of them. Here we are? Everyone settled? *passing the basket of cookies* So, let's resume my arrival in Yrkanis.
— Why did you get to Yrkanis and not Zora?
— Ah, at that time, we were left with no choice: the Fyros came from their island through the desert, the Matis through the forest, and so on.
— What?
— Well, yes, the guards on the island were stricter than they are now. When I arrived in town, I hoped to find Moonblades or my friends of the island. But no one I knew lived there. I looked for my brother's apartment, whose address he had written on the fold I had received. Arrived at the bottom of his tree, his caretaker said to me: ‘Sorry, young homina, your brother is not here. But he left this for you.’ He handed me a purse and a fold which I hastened to read: ‘Eleanide, I went on a hunt with Damaa, my homina.’
— What! He did not welcome you?
— Hey, he's my half-brother, not my mother! I go on: ‘You should meet Tregian and Dantes in town, I leave you a dapper purse for your expenses. See you tonight. Moonblades’ Then I thanked the caretaker and went visiting the town. Suddenly a towhead appeared in front of me: ‘Are you Eleanide?’ I thought it was Tregian or Dantes, I answered yes and at once he proposed to marry me and to give me a mount, saying the mount was beautiful and brave. Young I was… I ran as fast as I could, thinking he was insane. I learned later that Tregian and Damaa, to get rid of this young Matis named Kaanor, had send him on my way telling him I was worth marrying.
— Roohh... the smart ones!
— Running straight in front of me I bump in the stall of the tattooists and hairdressers. The hairdresser seeing me all ruffled, gently did my hair and offered me a hat.
— Oh, a hat? Are you meaning the Tryker hat?
— Yes, at that time, we could have everything. I chose the macaroons with pretty violet ribbons that were cheaper. I continued my visit. I discovered the palace, the officials, I noted everything on a map to get my bearings. In the evening I returned to the entrance of the town. I found a redhead who presented himself as my brother, a pretty Matis homina with green hair, Damaa, a great Matis homina with an axe, Tregian and a grumpy Tryker. We spend the evening at the bar, where I related my meeting with the tawhead. All of them laughed. We soon all dozed off on the bar…. And we stop there for tonight! Night all!
— Banrund the seamstress."
II.3 Animi Limina
"Come on, let's set up around the fire, I brought cookies.
— And I brought beer!
— Uh yes…. Bah slowly, eh! We are here to teach you. So where were we?
— You met your brother and his friends.
— Ah yes. Dantes, the Tryker, watched over me while I was training my sword. The girls, as for them, made me visit the region in search of small yellow dots.
— Small yellow dots?
— Yes. *laughs* We listened to know where we were needed. As soon as we heard screaming ‘Oucchhh!’ or ‘I'll slaughter you!’, we would go to heal the homin alone, often wounded. The more cute he was, the more points we got.
— What! You were giving grades?
— Uh, yes: the homin got a grade between 1 and 10.
— Rhoo, you imps!
— That's how I learned to heal.*coughs*
— And your brother?
— Moon, he was behind me every moment, he taught me how to heal while staying safe, observing the mobs' rounds and sometimes rushing into the pile with my shield. We were a fine team. At fall we created Animi Limina, ‘The Gates of Mind’. Moon left the Ombres Atysiennes and his desert, Damaa and Tregian left Aegura.
— Who was the chief?
— Bah, there was none, we were all adults, all agreeing to be together, to help and to progress. Moon was with Damaa. They were cute, sometimes they bickered about who would do the dishes. They often ended up in Thesos under the waterfall to do the dishes together. *blushes* Tregian was with Dantes. They preferred taking refuge in the Lakes, to discover the islands.
— Yeah… not only the islands they discovered, I guess.*a guard laughs*
— They were preparing for their wedding, yes. As for me, I visited the forest, drilled at Towerbridge. The guild grew bigger with the arrival of friends: Ravenak, our pet, a nice Fyros of the Ombres Atysiennes, who always signed his letters with ‘Kind regards’ and who, poor homin, tailored all my purple light armors, in homage to Sithi. Khouffou, chief of Aegura, a great friend of Moon, joined us too; he was a crazy Matis: when he saw a herd of mobs, he would jump on it and shout ‘Banzaiiii!’. Hence we nicknamed him the ‘mad puller’. Following this, others of Aegura joined us: Xoian, Atom…. It was the time of big powerful guilds in the forest, as everywhere. I was comfortable in Animi, far from the ‘12 Houses’.
— What was that?
— The 12 Houses were 12 powerful, ancient guilds that lived in Yrkanis. Haughty, disdainful Matis, sometimes imbued with their person, who didn't care about the little ones not following their ideas, like Animi. But we did not care, we grew up, we had fun, we learned and our melting-pot of races disturbed but was recognized a bit at a time, not always for good *laughs*, I confess. Especially after the temples when everyone had to choose. But this is another tale, related to the temples and to Elias. For now it's time for me to go dreaming about all those little yellow dots I've known. Night, the guard!
— Banrund Elea.
— Banrund, the seamstress.
— …"
II.4 The alliances
The circle was again formed around the fire and all were quietly chatting. Elea arrived, settled down and the question fell immediatly:
"Say, seamstress, the 12 Houses still exist?
— Nay, they don't since long ago. Together, they advanced, together they disappeared. They were powerful. Like the assembly of the Lakes with our friends the "Lames d'Aeden" with grampy Fei and his diapers and Nepherkan the most flattering, womanizing of the Trykers I have known but not as perverse as Ulukyn who was watching under the petticoats. Oh, those imps, they were emptying the barrels of beer at FH's bar as fast as the bartender received them.
— What! At that time already the bar of FH was squatted?
— Well, yes, *smiles* first-class boasters they were, they had to show the example to the newcomers and to perpetuate the tradition. *thinks of Kaon* In the desert there was a pool, too, it was the Fyros alliance including extremists like the Rôdeurs d'Atys. Well! Kalbatcha was not an extremist, when one approached him. *thinks of a Fyros looking like him who walks the Bark these days and smiles* There were also the Ombres des Kamis…. Ah, and others, more posed, like the Ombres Atysiennes whose Moonblades has been member. Besides, it was at that time that I met Req, who crafted my medium armors against a lot of small materials that I could drill. Bah, yeah, I was not quite seasoned. So, I also met Misugi, the second mad puller of Animi team.
— Why mad puller?
— Oh! *smiles as she remembers the scene*. The Animi often went hunting to the bridge at Thesos. Khouffou the go-getter would pull two occyx and Misugi pulled them too. So, they were enchaining. But so, the heal couln't follow. Sometimes the healer forgot to care for them the time to recharge everyone. *laughs*
— The Champions were your friends? They were kamists, nay?
— Oh, that's for sure, Meteer, their leader, was training them like kamists. *laughs* I still remember hearing him shouting: "What did you do? Run around the lake twice with your heavy armor on the back!" At that time, we did not care of the cults but Animi was not always well-judged, as I told you. Thanks to Animi I was free to choose my craftsters like Req or Caska and their medium armors, or Meteer and his heavy armors and before her Molitor, or Misugi for his axes, and Tinigliath and Gemma for their jewelry, but even more so Omira and Mallo for their light armors.
— Old people who no more exist, so?
— Yes, elders who have given way to youngs like you. Besides, how far along are you with your crafts? *seeing that some dropped their heads* OK, I won't bother you with that. There was also a Zoraï alliance with the "Compagnons des Kamis", the Graines des Kamis and the Ordre des Questeurs, but I was not dragging along with these blue ones, I sometimes crossed path with Questeurs including Schetana. They were hunting at the Void and I rather hunted at the Grove of Confusion.
— They were powerful?
— Yes. At that time on the outposts, the battles were tough and the fighters numerous. On the other hand there were only ‘tin cans’ and mages on the fields.
— Tin cans?
— Yes, that's the nickname for the tanks, the warriors in heavy armor. *laughs* There was no shooter. We had not yet taken too much interest in this tactic. Those were fair, or almost fair *winks* battles, fights of honor, of peoples.
— Roohh? No low blow? No surprise blows? Bah, it was crap, they had to get bored, the tin cans.
— All I can tell you is that I was already healing with bombs *rit* and I was not yet used to throw pickaxes *sourit* . But I was watching and I know that there were yet agreements between guilds, dubious a bit sometimes. We'll stop there for tonight. Night all!"
Elea went to rest, thinking of all the negotiations she had heard when she lived in Yrkanis. In her wake she did not even hear the ‘Banrund’ anymore.
II.5 The calm before the storm
"Let's go! We settle down and get back.*smiles*
— Where?
— In the past. So let's see… we were… err…. *reads his diary* Ah yes! In 2528, before the outposts.
— Bha… you did not say alliances were on OPs?
— Yes, but that was much later, after the construction of the temples in 2530. Here we are in 2528, everything was calm, joy and laughter. There were parties here and there. As the first major raffle, organized by a famous villain, Holkan.
— Ah? How villain?
— There was a rumor that he was killing those drilling in Primes Roots. But I confess that I never suffered his wrath. He had sold 20k dappers the ticket. The lots came from different crafters and drillers. On the day of the raffle, in the Agora, each had two dice and the biggest number won the prize. Animi got many sympathetic lots, especially weapons. In fact, this raffle gave Animi Limina the idea of making an auction of drilled materials. We all began to drill intensively, each in her/his preferred region and each according to her/his level. Moon and Damaa foraged at the Magic Source.
— Magic Source?
— Oh yes, that's true: this source no longer gives as much as before. It is located near Yrkanis, below, where you can validate a drilling rite. It was then possible to drill there excellent Beng of quality 200.
— All year long?
— Yes all year long, whatever the weather. *smiles* Dantes drilled in Lakes and Ravenak in Desert. And me ? Well, little forager as I was, I contributed with my forest drilling in the Bog, next to Wyac and its lickings. *laughs* We picked up a lot of materials to help the crafters to improve themselves. Everything was ready for our auction in 2530. Alas, the temples had just been built. We had to go on the OPs. *laughs* I still remember this cloud of homins on the back of mount rushing to the OPs to own them.
— What do you mean? Didn't you have to fight?
— The first time, no. But, thereafter, we had a long period of battles before the balance was reached and the instincts subsided. *laughs more loudly*
— Were the battles so funny for you still laughing?
— No. In fact, I was thinking about another auction that marked my mind.
— Ah?
— Yes, a Kara Matis named Beathnic put himself up for auction. Besides, many Matis hominas appreciated him, like Tregian, an Animi; and I think Beathnic loved to look at her. But it was Nikkou, a pretty Zoraï homina of Harmonie, a neutral guild, who won the pot with 9,302 dappers. *rit*
— Uh…. Most likely the dishes." *smiles*
II.6 My encounter with Shen
"Hey, seamstress! We wanted to know. Did not you participate in the auction? Beathnic was yet not devoid of charm.
— Me? Nay, I only had eyes for Shenshantag at the time.
— Oh, who is he?
— He was a tenebrous Matis of the Cercle.
— How did you know him?
— Oh… *sigh* I met him in Davae's stables. At that time he was married to Eleanin, a beautiful and noble of Obsidienne. I met her one day, proud with his crossbow. This is how I discovered range weapons that then were not trendy. She looked like an amazon with this weapon, the gorgeous Eleanin. I think that then she already wanted to travel, to see something else, to see other horizons….
— And Shen-whatshisname, how was he?
— When I met him, he was very gloomy. He always had a Tryker with him, as Deed was once, whom he used as servant. He drank a lot of shooki liquor and sometimes stayed whole nights in his Yrkanis lab. He used to go out to hunt with his guild, his family, the Cercle des Profondeurs of Atys.
— Karas?
— Yes. *smiles* Their leader Shaarm was gentle and firm. She was inspiring respect. She was a leader. As Lilithe was when succeeding her. It was better because there were pigheaded ones among them including Bouigyssimo, Kresselack. There were also great crafters like Mearthis and her jewels, and later Abyssandra, always accompanied by her guynouille even when she crafted heavy armors *laughs* and Shen and his amps. At the time of the temples, their choice was to continue following Jena and especially her technology. They were solid, a genuine family.
— But Shen, if he was so glum, why were you with him?
— Ah, the heart has its reason that reason has not.*smiles* When one is in love, one is sometimes troubled or one accepts the other as he/she is.
— A bit like you and Oshi?
— Yes. *smiles* Except that Shen at my touch was opening himself to others, to other ideas. He was trying to understand what I was seeing. He respected my friends, even if they were his foes. Besides, he some day offered flowers to Req. *laughs* Bouille was to deliver them to him. What he did, but with great precautions.
— Ah? *does not understand her laugh*
— Yes, Bouille had to hold the flowers in heavy gloves so much thorns there were. *they all laugh* One day, Shen said to me:
- ‘Hey, I met your friend the Fyros on the OP…. You know, the one who always says “Kind regards” by saying goodbye.
- — Oh! Ravhoney?
- — Yes that's right, Ravenak.
- — Hope you didn't hit him too hard.
- — Uh…. No, no. He was healing Req, so she served as a target for me.’
"And he bursted laughing. Usually, I was asking Ravhoney or Misugi or Reqsweet to find out if Shen did not hit too hard and they answered me ‘Don't worry, he also took.’ or ‘Don't worry, li'l Elea, he just tickled me.’ We all laughed and I left reassured despite the bruises and bandages I was seeing.
— Say, were you so naive?
— No, my friends were nice. I just made sure they were all right and that everything was fair. And then, sometimes, I avenged them. *laughs* I sometimes took Shen in Primes to escort me on my drilling. He hated that. He was bored.
— He was not drilling?
— Oulla! Shen, drilling? *laughs* I made him drilling in Forest to finish his training in amp crafting, and I even helped him finish his apprenticeship in heavy armor crafting with materials I drilled in Primes. All I drilled there was for him. Then he discovered the autolauncher. And that has been the beginning the end. His love for Fangfang took over and I transferred love to Bipbip, which I had just received from Makita, one of my protégés. There I go, it is getting late, the wake was long this time. Sorry. Do not delay to go to rest, there is battle tomorrow.
— Banrund, seamstress!"
II.7 Atys Fleur
"Tonight, I'll talk a little more about Bouille and his friends.
— Ah yes! The one who brought the thorny flowers to Req.
— Yes *smiles* that's it. we are in 2527.
— Ouch! Holy bodoc, that's getting old.
— Sure, that's nothing new. Bouille and others created the guild of Les Tireurs Célestes , which aimed to deliver bouquets of flowers to bring some poetry to the Lakes. They then try to expand their business to all Atys. And it works. Volunteers propose to take over in other countries, so much orders were firing. Time passed and unfortunately came the construction of the temples.
— Ah yes! Tell us about that, tell!
— Another time, the temples. For now, we will stay on poetry *smiles*. You must not be so impatient. Well, we are in 2529, the temples built, the outposts created, we had time again for us. So that meant the love affairs resumed. And, in 2530, Interfloratys was reborn but changed its name to Atys Fleur, with an even more dynamic service than before. They had to rebuild their stock and that's then the flowers found on the outposts were going to have their role. And the deliveries of bouquets of flowers burst on the Bark.
— Flowers, you did receive a lot of them?
— Hu-ho yes! From my homins, my proteges, my wooers *blushes*. You know, the delivery homin did not only bring flowers, he sang odes and read poems aloud. Sometimes it was a bit daffy because the author was not always good… Or worse: I think sometimes the delivery homin forgot the lyrics. So that meant we were laughing well.
"But in 2532, Bouille wanted to harvest flowers much further and disappeared, leaving his business to Amano his second, which resumed deliveries with Ezkerra. Then, on a day of 2534, we heard about a sponsor for a fashion contest: it was Atys Fleur with Bouille. Then much later, in 2544, there was again talk about Bouille, who had become Batavia's husband, for another contest.
— But there are no more delivery services nowadays? There are plenty of florists, yet. I see them picking flowers everywhere.
— Well, yes *sigh*, reams of flowers to deliver…. Maybe someday, a daring one will revive this lovely business. In the meantime, I store the flowers in my greenhouse in Thesos. I even had to hire an apprentice to water these flowers, so many there are!"
II.8 Miss & Mister Atys
"Bankrut, teenies. *hears laughs*
— It's ‘bankun’, seamstress.
— Yes, yes, well…. Bless you! I could never remember these damn new languages. Go get a cookie, a beer, and get settled.
— You going at last to tell us about the temples?
— Nay, not yet this time. *smiles* I will tell you about the elections.
— Elections? *a young looking at her with surprise* Elections of what?
— Miss and Mister Atys. *smiles* At one time we loved to entertain ourselves other than by fighting. *teasing* It is summer 2529, the young Aularia embarks on a great organization for an election of the prettiest homina and the most beautiful homin. Everything was in camera. There was the selection period, during which you have only to send your autolucios. The goal being to retain 40 participants: 20 homins and 20 hominas, of any race, any horizon.
"The first ballot began shortly after with closed votes. We had to put ballot papers in the ballot boxes in town. Then everything was routed to Aularia so she could count the votes.
— Uh…. No convoy was attacked?
— Nay, *laughs* everything was under protection, under seal. There were about 160 voters.
— Oh?
— At that time, rumors ran slower than nowadays. Only the curious ones went to the noticeboard. So the first ballot passed: we had to choose two hominas and two homins in the selection. From 40 the number of participants fell to 16. Alas, Tregian, an Animi, and Beathnic were eliminated on that ballot.
— Ah, we know this one, the one who sold himself at auction. *says a young she-guard, blushing*
— Then, *smiles* at fall, came the semifinals. Then the finale. On homina side, there were Angia and Horion, two Fyras, Melowen, a Trykera, and Zortine, a Zoraïa. For the homin camp, there was Bloudi and Ufo, two Fyros and Berku, a Matis. And the votes went on in camera. Voting was ultimately more of popularity than beauty or value. But even so the lucky ones were a nice couple of winners : Horion and Bloudi ended at the top of the podium. There were nearly 160 voters in the beginning and 250 on the final ballot.
— Oh, no kidding!
— Yes. *smiles* For the next edition, Aularia was planning a little change in the rules, like hiding the names of the participants under their lucios for the popularity not to be taken into account. She would also have liked the election to be announced elsewhere than on the noticeboard because at that time, there was no town crier as we have today.
— Huh? No drum announcing important events?
— Nay! None of that, just the noticeboard.
— You had take part?
— Hu-ho! I was young, reserved, and Tregian already wanted to take part. An Animi was enough in the contest and I did not want to be in the spotlight. Some time later, in Yrkanis, there has been a parade of some of the participants and we discovered the fat *oops* the strong Matissa, a killjoy. The homins laughed a lot seeing her marching with so much zeal and nonchalance.
"Alas, we had to wait till 2534 to see a fashion contest organized by Miena and her friend Prysma. There occured even a complaint, then an invalidation of a Miss Atys for breaking the rules. And we had to wait 2551 to enjoy a new edition of Miss & Mister Atys.
— Waow! Nothing in the meantime?
— Nay! Nobody who had feel like organizing them again in the meantime. Let's go! To be continued tomorrow. Night all.
— Banrund the seamstress."
II.9 Miss & Mister Atys (continued)
"Kikoo, teenies! Come on, let's carry on with yesterday's story.
— Yeah, tell us about the following elections. There were sexy hominas? Some plots?
— In 2551, Anesia put in a revival of elections. She choosed five jurors (Kiwalie, Venosya, Oneirae, Malvogil and Shinygami) whom she asked to grade the originality of the outfit and its matching with the physique and tattoos of the candidate. Lokido was declared out of competition because he wore the new turquoise marauder attire.
— Pfffff….
— Ah! Nizyros was sexy in his pretty medium Fyros vest. And one of my protégés, Carishima, wore a pretty outfit she had named Burning Spring. But it was Manysama and Valandrine who were elected Miss and Mister Atys 2551.
"Then took place, in 2555, the election organized by Stcentor which had for jurors Kiwalie, Misugi, Armand and I. *laughs* We had to judge the outfit, of course, the presentations of the candidates and their speeches or actions during the parade. Valerof paraded with his casual demeanor in his pretty red shorts. *blushes* Among hominas, the average Zoraï vest was fashionable. I think that pleased the homins well.
— No? Really? *one youth winks to another*
— There has been a free part, too. There, Anesia reminded us that the real threat was the Kitins and not the battle for some little mattering materials. Zeynah gave us a lovely song…. Uh, wait till I remember…. *smiles* Oh yes! *starts humming in a fast rhythm* ‘You're so cute cute but big big!!! Cute cute cute but big big big!!! On summertime you create shade and when winter you keep us warm! And when you're finished guzzling you'll drop us a big fart!’"
All laugh when hearing Zeynah’s famous song.
"For sure, we were having nice times then. From this election followed a calendar for the year 2556, as nice as Playhomin, I confess.
— Roohh… what's this magazine?
— But that's another story…. *hides the old page in her diary while smiling* Come on! Night all!
— Banrund the seamstress!" *ogle on the diary containing the famous magazine*
II.10 The Fairs
"Bankun, seamstress! Say, was there any other cool stuff back then? Like Playhomin? *Elea smiles and sits in the circle around the fire*
— Kikoo, teenies! Yes, there were other good times. Let's see…. *takes over his diary and sees a green and blue tryker outfit* Here we are: the first Lakes Fair. It all began in 2526 with a meeting at the bar of Fairhaven, where Chrys began to sing the epics and legends of Trykoth while drinking liquor. Always said that Trykers don't hold their drink, oh my…. For example, the festival in Fairhaven and the Tryker fair in Avendale.
— I say, that's not so young!
— The Lakes have indeed always been animated. The Trykers weren't just squatting in the bar, they were trying to give life to the Lakes. There have even been Tryker-style poetry contests. *smiles* Then came the temples. But once those erected, the tradition resumed even more. There has been a party where a light outfit was created. It was a medium-finish green Tryker vest with a blue high-finish dress. At a Stcentor event, that is to say much later, for another party in the Lakes, I made it again from memory. The Lake Fairs became known throughout Atys. We saw other fairs being created, in the Jungle included. In 2528, the Zoraï Alliance organized the first fair. They were far away from Tryker binges. *smiles* Wongfeihung even ran a portrait booth while Origami ran a stand of dating between singles with a haïkus contest.
— Oh? That's definitely the Zorai, dark horses behind their mask! Were there other fairs elsewhere?
— The Matis were too focused on preparing for weddings and the Fyros were focused on tournaments preparation. But these are other stories. *smiles*' 'Night teenies.
— Banrund seamstress!"
II.11 The temples and Elias
"Let's go! Tonight, it's time for the exciting adventure of the temples.
— Ahhhh!!!! At last!
— It all started in the year 2481 with the Greaty Swarming…. *laughs at seeing their stunned looks* Naay, was joking! *laughs* I will start in 2528, when Elias Guild appeared to homins to tell them that Elias was not dead. It reminded them that he had saved the homins from certain death facing the kitins, during the Great Swarming, by giving them through the ‘Rainbow Gates’. It also foretold a great plague to come, a sacred war between the great powers….
"In 2529, we were going about our usual business. At that time we saw tournaments spring up here and there. One took place in Pyr to find the most valiant desert warriors, and another in Lakes organized by Licena. Everything was calm… when, in 2530, rumors were heard spreading on the Bark. There were calls for census everywhere*. Each leader called on the guilds of his country for them to choose whether or not they would follow them in their action without knowing what was cooking up for the next phase. The atmosphere became heavy….
"The troops were equipping themselves, litlle by little. Crafters and drillers worked day and night. We were all getting ready but we don't know for what. It was then that various meetings were held, of which one has been decisive for many homins. It took place in Fairhaven, where Nicho spoke up for Elias: neutral guilds should choose their way, either follow a camp or follow Elias' advice that was to hide in the ranks of each camp in order to balance strenghts.
"Appeals were heard from all sides. That's when OPUA appeared and called for a meeting in Windermeer to remind all that priority was the homin, not some deity…. *interrupts* I'm sorry kids, but I have a big order to complete tomorrow. I have to get up early. We'll stop here for tonight.
Elea heard a general "Ooooh!" of displeasure, but fatigue was taking its toll after this intense day of drilling, and, while yawning, added:
"Night, kids, more tomorrow!"
…………………
* Census of Matis, Zoraï, Tryker and Fyros guilds; Call to the disciples of Jena.
II.12 The temples and Elias (continued)
"So, come on, let's go back to Temple warfare.
— Yeah, you left us a bit hungry for more yesterday.
— The battles began in the Aelius Dunes. Desert drillers worked to harvest as much solid material as possible to build their temple while the warriors defended their camp. Unfortunately, as resources were running out, the materials had to be sought even further into the Old Lands.
"So we went to Olkern Lake. There, we were quite surprised because the foraging was still that of the desert. But after all, it was still sawdust that was under our feet. But, again, the resources were not abundant enough. We had to go even further, to Almati Wood. Here, once again, desert foragers were favored. Nothing was no use, the drillers were falling asleep on their pickaxes, the warriors got up to defend their plot of sawdust. Speeches of encouragement were even delivered.
"Day and night, battles were fought. There were even rolls of honor where you could read great names of crafters such as Keewi, Kyo, Tsoukasa, or drillers such as Iah, Silicia, Lost, Bratakk, or warriors such as Gemma, Matsu, Damakian, but also guilds that were then recognized, as Les Jardins d'Atys, Les Seigneurs de l'Aube, La Glorieuse Atys, the Fédération du Commerce, the Ballade d'Atys…. oh dear, all those guilds that fought day and night. How can one blame them today?
— Blame them? *amazed looks*
— Yep, because there were many who did not take part in these battles. I was one of them, as were the Amazons.
"But, young and curious, I visited both parties. In one, there were beautiful blue lights and there I have been chased and beaten up by warriors like Misugi, Meteer and Req. *laughs* In the other one, there were nice yellow lights. Here too, I was beaten by Lilithe, Dorcile, Belldandy, Mysticus and many other friends. On that day, I understood that their faith in their god was stronger than me. I then returned to the path of the Grove of Confusion to forage, far from this rage, of this hatred I was seeing everywhere…. Well, we'll stop here for the night. *smiles*
— Ohhhh! Already? Ah, yes 3am, still! Banrund seamstress.
— Night teenies."
II.13 The temples and Elias (end)
"Here we are again with the story of the temples. So, where were we?
— You were getting beaten up. *laughs*
— Oh, yes! The visit of both sides. So I visited these Old Lands but there were there only homins fighting. When enough resources had been collected to build the temples, the battles stopped. The temples were built near each capital and then came the construction of outposts, platforms rewarding our battles during the war. Only there wasn't enough for everyone. So, as I have already told you, there was a cloud of homins on mektouback flying faster than their shadow, to be the first on each outpost. It has even been said that some large houses have locked the areas down, such as the 12 houses of Yrkanis that have shared the Forest among themselves.
"Then there were also rumors that there were some trytonist meetings, and other rumors, in the desert as elsewhere, about the tracking down of trytonists hidden in the ranks of the kara and kami guilds.
— Is that when le Cercle protected you? Even though they had seen you on the opposing side during the war?
— Oh yes! *smiles* Shen and I were planning our wedding.
— What! You were beaten up by his folks and you married him nevertheless?
— Yes, le Cercle was faithful to Jena but they all granted that I was a ‘pick head’ they liked.
— So you're a trytonist?
— Me? *smiles* I am a homina, that's already quite much. So let's resume: during this famous Fairhaven meeting, Nicho advised the trytonists to stay hidden and indicated that the safest place was the Lakes, where homins are most open-minded. But the trytonists wanted more, they didn't want to stay hidden for a thousand years, they didn't want to be pacifists who don't equip outposts with drills, and who miss out on beautiful, precious materials. They decided for a next meeting, far from the cities, in Darkmoor, in the cave of lovers.
— Oh, ‘the cave of lovers’, that's a funny name.
— Yes, many couples were coming there to chat *smiles* or get married.
— Did you get married there with your Shen?
— Nope, we didn't like the Lakes and Shen was faithful to his forest. After all, we all had our memories there.
— Did they have OP, those trytonists?
— Yes, and other neutrals too. From memory, there was a neutral OP in each country: in the Desert, it was MVG who owned it, in the Lakes, the guild Harmonie. And thereafter they distributed their harvest in marketplaces open to all. We'll talk about it later. Going back to the trytonists, I heard that there have been other meetings and in 2532 a rumour was spreading that they were recruiting. But, after Still Wyler's death, they became more discreet and most certainly more distrustful. I think some homins still try to get in touch with them. But that's them who choose you."
…………………
Following are some documents giving the readers of these memoirs informations that, of course, Eleanide did not share with the young guards at the Marauder Camp:
Memoirs of Gibbaï Rusé, seeker of Elias (excerpts); Interview with Hiaoi, seeker of Elias; A presentation of the Guild of Elias.
II.14 The outposts
Elea had barely settled on the root that served as her seat, when already a question was being heard:
"Bankun, the seamstress. Look, yesterday you said Elias asked homins not to set up drillers on OPs. They listened to him?
— Well, I can only remember a few without a driller, but I don't remember which ones. *smiles to keep the names quiet* Eventually, the materials were far too sought after not to install them. And to balance the forces, it was wiser to set one up. In any case, even OPs without a driller were attacked. There were some famous battles where the guilds fought each other, though of the same side. I still remember this OP of the Bog. This was my last participation on the battlefield before long.
— Ah?
— Yes, the Cercle attacked a kara OP in the Bog… karas fought each other. Despite my ties to them, I couldn't accept it. Shen had hesitated to go, but it was his duty to follow his folks. In the distance, the Marcheurs d'Atys were watching. I joined them. Alkiane was facing the Cercle and all its allies… it was heartbreaking.
— But why such a rebellion?
— Well now…. *sighs* The thirst for power. Lilithe was willing an outpost in the Forest. She wanted a turnover of owners on OPs. But the owners of the OPs wanted to keep them preciously. In the end, each OP got its own driller. The so precious materials and the catalyzers rained.
— But catalyzers are useless!
— At that time, they allowed us to boost our memory and our actions to learn faster. Better than shooki, this stuff. I was addicted to it at one time, a true narcotic that has been of awful cost for me.
— Awful cost?
— Yes. There were distributions/sales of the OP drillers' harvest. The Ordre du Métal, for instance, organized one on its OP each week. Kress has been reliable as long as he could.
— He was giving to everyone?
— He was giving/selling to the karas and the so-called neutrals. And, after each OP battle, the attacked guild, saved, thanked the participants. Nowadays, guilds still redistribute, share or trade their harvest…. Come on! On this, I'm gonna go back to my apartment and redecorate it. Lutrykin just dropped me off some bric-a-brac. Night teenies.
— Banrund, the seamstress."
II.15 The markets
"Bankun Elea.
— Kikoo, teenies. As I told you, precious materials were pouring in so much that, over time, markets appeared. There was the second black market.
— Oh ! The second ?
— Yes, the first one was so secret I heard about it too late… So, for the next one, we saw this time posters displayed everywhere by the guild of the Œil des Bas-Fonds. There a little of everything was to be found. Then came up the market organized in Yrkanis by Les Jardins d'Atys.
— Oh! They were trading on black market, too?
— Nay. *laughs* This was the first official market in the forest, which took place once a week. Those of the Jardins were selling there the products of their OPs. Others followed, of course, sometimes violent or problematic to organize.
— Yep! I heard about a market held in Fairhaven.
— Yes, this one gathered several guilds, such as La Garde des Dragons Noirs, and crafters like Kiwalie, Djiper, me and later Stcentor. We took orders for armor and weapons of all kinds which we delivered within a week. I think it was the market that lasted the longest. I got a lot of light and medium armor orders from refugees but also for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings….
— Ah! Speaking about weddings, when did your own take place?
— We'll see about that some other time. *smiles* In the meantime, don't forget: the next black market is coming soon. Let your ears hang out. Night teenies.
— Banrund, the seamstress!"
II.16 Get gear
"To get back to markets, the young ones didn't need any guild, since you were equipping them through these markets?
— Houla! A guild isn't just here to equip you. It is a family, that passes on its knowledge to you, that teaches you how to place yourself to heal without taking aggro. And then, in the markets, our customers were also hunters who didn't like to drill.
— Ah! Well, I'm not the only one who doesn't like digging! *a young guard laughs*
— And there was no shortage of crafters: we didn't need to drill nor craft to equip ourselves. I gradually became a crafter so that I could myself equip my little protégés. But in 2529, the higher authorities told us that jewels could protect us more and that heavy armors would no longer allow to dodge…. Then, like many crafters, I had to revisit my recipes. The jewellers were the ones who had the most research work to do, poor ones… many gave up. Crafters left little by little following these changes, then in greater numbers during the building of the temples.
— Where were they going?
— Wherever their services would be better recognized. They went through the roots to some other barks. Mearthis, a great jeweler of the Cercle, was one of those who left this way, and Molitor, a great armor maker, as well as many other crafters. I had to rebuild a new network of crafters with whom I was bartering drilled materials to equip myself.
— You were bartering?
— Yeah, and I wasn't the only one. I was giving my harvest of drilled material to the crafters. Thus, they improved on another craft and I recovered armors and weapons for hunting.
— Oh, that's cool: you didn't need dappers, then!
— No. I exchanged everything against my drillng services. It has been only a lot later, in 2542, when the crafters came to miss, that I told myself ‘Come on, you gotta grow up li'l gal.’ Since then, I've become a true seamstress and I learned a little bit of this and that. But that's another story. Night teenies.
— Banrund Elea."
II.17 Atys Games
"Hey! The seamstress are you in the Atys Games?
— Kikoo, teenies! Yes, I'm discovering them.
— You've never participated in them before?
— Not that I recall, there was a fairly old project dating back to 2526. Some wanted this event to be open to all: hunters, wrestlers, drillers, runners, etc.
— Skirt runners? That, I'm good at! *says one guard, who receives at once a blow from a neighbouring homina*
— Then, there were various projects, sometimes completed as in 2560 with the Atysiades which proposed a Try-athlon around Fairhaven and F-yubo-al matches. I was told that the Yubo-ball of these Atysiades was a bit different, *smiles* a little less fairplay. There have been the four nations tournaments, too. But I will tell you about that at the same time as the tournaments, *smiles* another evening.
"For the current Atys games, on Silan, the new refugees are learning to cook and brew to prepare our festivities. They'll mull a rendor stew and brew beer. Intendant Yi Shi-Dashi is here to watch everything.
— Bha, as for me, I'm good at tasting beers…. May I go and help them? *a young guard who had just arrived says*
— Nay, no possible way back to Silan. But you can do all three races on the continent, if you want. There are: a foot race that connects Yrkanis to Pyr, a toub race starting near the exit of Zora, stables side (Misugi was a fan of this race on the back of toub), and the last race is a triathlon that departs from Windermeer's farm. Here, I advise you not to load your bag because you might swallow water, not shooki. There is also the famous Yubo-Ball, too. I'm with Bipbip often, *caresses her yubo* but as for this, I must admit Siela is much better at coaxing yubos. I'm sure he had some candies in his pockets, that big blue imp.
"Finally there came the Atys Fires, but nay, the guild MVG was not involved. *smiles* This event take place in the Matis Arena. It is necessary to hold lit a campfire in front of the assailants, whether they are homins or mobs. The Arena is magnificent during these games…. Well now I wish all of you good races. And remain honourable and respectful of your mount."
II.18 A page is turning
"Bankun the seamstress, *says a young guardess with a pout*
— Kikoo teenie. Bha, why such a face?
— Say, is it true you're packing your bags?
— Yes, I'm sorry, but my place is no longer here. Oshimaru must have left through the Roots, I think. I only came to the camp to be by his side. You know the so strict rules of yours: no one can hang out or hunt with a homin who is not a Marauder.
— Bha, what about us? *an other young gard says* We count for nothing?
— Yes teenies, you do count: I'm going to miss you, and these evenings, too.
— Bah yes. You didn't tell us about your weddings... nor about the coming of Bipbip *cuddles the yubo who ran up to him when hearing its name and gave him a lick*
— Yes, I see you have also adopted Bipbip. *smiles* But I'm not a Marauder, you know that. Did you see me hunting with you? Did I follow your guidelines? No, I remained myself. Oshi did not return from his journey and I promised him that I would not leave the Bark, that I would be there by his side. I guess I wasn't that valuable to him. Once again my heart played a trick on me.
— Will you come back and see us? Aarh! No, I'm stupid. *says a guard while banging his forehead* The old ones won't let you in.
— Bah, what about the evenings? Who's going to hold them for us?
— I'll come back to see you, don't worry. What I propose you…. *ponders*
— You are given a pass! Yes, that's it! *a young man says with conviction*
— No, silly you, the old ones will never want to. *a young guardess answers* She's not a Marauder, she doesn't pass.
— Oh, I know! I'm going to send you my stories as a newspaper… *looking at her yubo* and it's Beepbip who will bring them to you. Does that suit you?
— Wait, I'm going to see the old one! *a young guard runs toward the tent of the Camp's Sage.*
— You are you off to, seamstress?
— I'm staying in desert. *smiles* Pecus offered to rent me a room. I hope the tanned ones won't make a fuss when I get back. The tower guards know me well: I have a hall at their place.
— Bha, if it doesn't go well, you call us and we'll come and beat them up, these unshaven, *says a young man with rage*
— Hi hi. You nice, teenies, but don't get yourselves into trouble. Pecus will help me and I still have some special favors there. I buy there my gazette, I collect there my shooki barrels, and I have there my stocks. It's going to be okay…. *not very reassured, though, by her last visit, when a young Fyros had called her Matis* I'm gonna have to tame them again.
— Hey, the seamstress! *the young guard runs back* The Sage said okay for Bipbip but he wants to see you before you leave.
— I'm going straightaway, then, because Kalista and my packers are ready." *heads towards the tent of the Sage who greeted her every morning*
II.19 A page is turning (continued)
Elea stepped into the tent, bowed to the Sage and sat down in front of him.
"Bankun Eleanide. So, a little one has just confirmed me your departure. He wasn't very happy. I'm sorry you didn't find a friend here.
— Yes I did, I find some again and I met some. But Oshi didn't come back and even if he had, I don't belong here despite your young ones who are full of spirit, and open-minded. They know very well what they will have to do when grown up: defend their Camp fervently. They know that one should not be subject to Kara nor Kamis. In fact, they all want to be free.
— I don't understand, isn't that what you wanted too? *says the Sage with a smile*
— Yes, but I don't want to be isolated from everyone. I want to keep seeing my friends, whoever they are. I don't want to turn my back on Kiwalie because she's a Ranger, she who's surprised to see me staying so long at the Camp. I don't want to fight against the friends I met during my time in the kamist camps or even against some karavaneers who still accept me, however few they may be.
— Think about it, some people will never admit they're blinked. Freedom, that is not to follow the KKs or even a king. If you ever understand that, you'll come back and this time you'll try to integrate. In the meantime, you will be refused entry into the Camp. I'm going to have to find someone else for the little ones. *grumbles* They're gonna miss you, they liked your stories from the past.
— Yes, I will miss them too *lowers her head* but I can't stay here, I want to be able to go see my friends in the cities, buy some materials here and there. I know you have tolerated that I continue to help everyone. I know you were also disappointed that I did not come to support you on the outposts or in your fights. But these are not mine. I only fight against the kitins.
— You going where? No one will accept you after you've been here.
— Pecus will house me for a while, until I can get an apartment.
— That old fool? He's still alive?
— Yes, *smiles* faithful to his post. He's always provided me with shooki, the best of Atys. *hands him a flask*
— Oh yes! Still as good as ever his shooki! *drinks of this liquor that reminds him of the past and makes him understand why she is leaving* Greet him from me, this old bastard.
— Do you want me to pass on other messages?
— No, the past is the past. I have nothing to do with this anymore. They will understand one day. Go! Nip off with your toubs and leave your room key at the entrance. I'll give you an hour to leave, no more, considering how little stuff you have. And, as for Bipbip, you have my word that nothing will be done to him. Go and farewell!" *rises and leaves the tent*
Elea got up, she heard the Sage telling the young guards to go back to the barracks. She came out of the tent and didn't catch no one's eye. She saw her toubs were ready to go. She watched in case a young one was here. But no one was. She climbed on Kalista, greeted the guards at the entrance and gave her key back. The old guard ripped it out of his hands without giving her back his salute and slapped on the rump of the mount. Elea didn't turn around, heading for the Fyros desert.
