| [IC] Intersection of Faiths |
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"Interesting indeed."
The Professor nodded at the Kri'ghal group. They seemed friendly enough and quite close. Some would have expected a more professional entourage to have been sent, but these were a different people. They wouldn't escape from Smith's prying curiosity. "Aunt Mirala? I see this festival has become a family trip. Perhaps something I would have done as well, were it not for the fact that my newborn is mere weeks old." Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"I brought Miraj under my wing, and into our faith, for twofold reasons; the first being that she deserves the fullest education and exposure to new ideas and faiths, of our people and those of other species. The second, if she permits..." The felinoid woman turned to her familial acolyte, who nodded softly as she stood next to the other attendant.
"The second reason is to try and push her out of her shell bit by bit. She's always been... a bit shy, growing up. What better way than to bring her to a cultural exchange with one of our newly discovered neighbors? Speaking of which, my order believed it prudent that we present unto you tokens of faith and hospitality." The older of the three Kri'ghal motioned elegantly to her niece and the other acolyte, who would in turn remove the silken shrouds covering the ceremonial velvet pillows to reveal a pendant for each of the assembled Terrans. Immaculately carved jade and aquamarine, coupled with delicately applied rivulets of gold and silver, came to form what could only be described as a sort of triskelion. A prayer stone, no doubt, if the surprising seriousness and reverence the woman approached them with, beginning with Smith himself.
The Stoinians were mesmerized by the Kri'ghal gifts. Attentively looking and caring at them, the Stoinians gave the utmost care to the pendants. After all it would be very unfortunate to let it be damaged. Though would this indeed be possible? The Professor was too curious and had to many answers that needed answering.
"Thank you for the kind gift. I must say Kri'ghal artisanship is most alluring. It's worthy craftmanship even to Paragonian standards! However, it eludes me as to what these stones exactly are? A sort of ritualistic element for prayer?" As the lead Kri'ghal handed over their gifts to the other members, she was met with curious faces. All complementing the fine artwork. Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
"Prayer pendants they are, indeed. My people consider them a way of remaining connected to the spirits found in all things. In the water that flows from the river to the sea, in the stones beneath our feet, the air we breathe, the beasts that dwell in the wilderness, in the cities that serve as the bulwark of civilization. Even within the weapons and machines we all build and maintain." Mirala's smile soon became one of utmost wonder and delight as she spoke.
"Most households in the Kri'ghal Commune have some manner of shrine that serve as a means of ensuring a connection between the realms physical and spiritual. But it is on our temples and monasteries in which connections grow strongest, through ritual and meditation."
Patriarch Abebe was most curious about these rituals. In fact he even had plans for it.
"Most curious indeed. I certainly will be looking forward to witnessing the rituals in the demonstrations in the coming days. Would it be appropriate to join in these rituals as well?" A loud trumpet could then be heard. It played a triumphant tune and soon from an alley a giant mass arrived. It was the Kontauri. "Ah, my friends here comes the Kontauri delegation. The only non-Terran race of our Star Kingdom that wished to participate in this festival. Sadly the Cheunh declined, but I'm sure the Kontauri will more than compensate for it." Professor Smith couldn't help but tease the Patriarch and added his own opinion of the Kontauri. "Compensate? I think you mentioned to say OVERcompensate." Despite Abebe's many attempts to convince them to join the Terran delegation from the beginning, the Kontauri wanted in fact to make a flamboyant entrance. It is what the Kontauri loved to do and everyone had to agree, that did it rather well. Four trumpetists, played on the Kontauri equivalent of a ceremonial trumpet, lead the group of twenty or so Kontauri. Approaching the large delegation of religious officials, the trumpetists split off revealing Kontauri religious delegation. There was a clear dimorphism. The females were shaved and only had long tail of hair coming from the back of their head. They were dressed in a similar fashion as Mirala, though their clothes were much more transparent bordering inappropriate standards. The males on the other hand wore robes filled with patterns similar to the giant hair crest on their heads. The lead Kontauri was a middle-aged Kontauri and grey stirpes were already appearing in his round crest. Though jolly he was as he spoke with the sharp Kontauri accent full of passion. "Ah my dear friends from other celestial worlds. I'm Priest Andilo Lotoru of the Kontauri Ascendancy. I'm pleased that our Terran friends have taken care of you so well. To greet each other proper, I insist that everyone drink of this fine bravari! What festival is this without a proper party! Let's loosen up!" The female Kontauri grabbed the glasses for the religious officials. Both Stoinians and Drakari were offered a small glass of a red-brown drink with a particular strong aromatic taste. Despite the insistence of the smiling Kontauri female, those prohibited of drinking alcohol by there religion were given an exception. Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
The Drakari priests would gladly accept the offered beverages from the scantily-clad priestesses, the glasses looking almost comically small in their talons. Agorix practically downed hers in a single breath, her grin wide with her usual bombastic approval.
Augurius took a few experimental whiffs before sipping at it. "Hmm... fruity base, strong earthy flavor. Nutty, almost. Aged in wooden cask?" Ever his analytical mind was buzzing. Venatius, Caecina, and Parrakas would take their time in enjoying the wine. The Revered Shepherd's smile practically screamed of his simple appreciation of good company and good drink. The Grand Judicator's appraising raise of her bony brow seemed to show her desire to learn of this bombastic new civilization. And the Ecclesiarch? He merely smiled as he intoned a brief blessing in his mother tongue. The Arch-Militant and the Shield-Father merely sipped in approving silence alongside Caretaker Nervan, the black-clad messenger of Morii smiling widely from beneath their concealing hood. The Kri'ghal delegation and Yapatha both seemed to enjoy it greatly, the latter stepping forward to embrace the Kontauri happily. As for the Sinthari, Ikoral almost seemed to smile. Genuinely, openly, BLATANTLY smile, much to the mild amusement of his Mansatzis guards. "Hmm... rather sweet for my tastes... yet I cannot help but ask for more."
Andilo couldn't help but notice the smile on the red skinned alien. As his tendrils twitched ever slightly, Andilo signed to his aides to get the man some more. He was clearly enjoying it and Kontauri customs required him to be satisfied. He approached him with a wide grin.
- "Ah my dear friend! I see you're quite enjoying our Brevari. Please enjoy yourself for one cannot be truly become with the Gods without loosening up a bit. Ha!" - "Please, Priest Lotoru. Let us not inhibit our conscience too much." Patriarch replied with a stern look, but the Kontauri priest was just as persistent as the rest of his species. - "Gah, nonsense. I thought this was a celebration of ALL religions, eh." - "Why yes indeed, but we shouldn't force our visitors to... How does your kind put it? Become one with one's innerself?" - "Ah, yes. I've been approved to host a small Celebration of Life during the festival." Lotoru turned to Irokal "I trust you shall participate in our celebration?" Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
Ikoral coughed, thoroughly flustered at the Kontauri's gregarious nature before he regained his composure and nodded. He wouldn't admit it publicly (indeed, he probably wouldn't even admit it privately beyond his wife), but he couldn't help but be charmed by the man's attitude. Reminded him of Agorix almost, her dislike of his almost obsessive seriousness aside.
"But of course! The Caretaker here," he gestured to the black-clad Moriian, "was hoping to see if I would provide an insight into my people's more... esoteric beliefs." One of the Yapatha, Illaran, would raise a hand, his nigh-eternally youthful expression a visual definition of innocent curiosity. "Esoteric? Do you suggest a kind of mysticism, Lord Ikoral?" The Sinthari priest's brow spurs lifted slightly at the question before ultimately nodding. "Indeed, young Lightbearer, but that can wait until later in the festival, once all are properly situated.
"Ah, mysticism you say? Quite an enjoyable aspect of religion is it not? Though I hope it isn't just some smoke within you church as is so often done in the gracious faith of our host, Patriarch Abede!"
Andilo was teasing the Patriarch as good as any Kontauri could, though the native Paragonian had a patience testament to his status. Though Stoinian Orthodoxy used many candles with incense as part of their liturgy, the Kontauri smell organs registered the smoke differently compared to Terrans. To them it was nothing more but smoke, though similar products existed in Kontauri culture, their smoke was deemed pleasant to the Kontauri and unpleasant to the Terran nose. "Come now Priest Lotoru, perhaps if you let the incense bring you closer to God, you wouldn't indulge too much in your Brevari?" The Stoinian Professor chuckled together with the Potestant Pastor to the Patriarch's remarks. - "Perhaps we should hold a religious competition with our red friend over here, eh? The consumable that brings him closest to his Gods becomes the only true way to shorten the distance between the insividual and its deities?" - "Perhaps, though as our differing smell suggests, each species has their own... Shortest way to the divine." - "Ah, to that I can agree good Patriarch. May our red friend find his own way to the divine!" Andilo raised another glass and chugged the remaining Brevari from it. Pacifica: Myria, Sallodesia, Stoinia • A1-0: Stoinian Star Kingdom • Aurora: Kingdom of Threnebor
Ikoral raised one of the spurs above his eyes in admittedly downplayed amusement at the banter between the Kontauri and the Stoinian representatives, and cracked a smile. The first full, GENUINE smile he had shown in the time he had arrived. The High Wanderer of Aari wheezed and stammered incoherently , as if she had just witnessed a sign of the End Times themselves, her gaze flicking between her fellow Drakari and Protectorate races, then to Singh. 'Is this... is this really happening?!' She blinked a few times. Surely her eyes were playing tricks on her... they were not. 'THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING! LORD IKORAL IS REALLY SMILING! In PUBLIC, no less!'
Shieldfather Attius couldn't help but snicker at his summer counterpart's confusion. He knew it was only a matter of time before either Vassenia or Ikoral threw each other for a loop, though he didn't expect it to happen on a foreign world. "Say, Mirala, how long do you think before those two finally form some kind of relationship beyond strained tolerance?" The Kri'ghal giggled as she watched the display, her smile roguish and playful. "I reckon before the festival is done, they'll have shared a drink or two. Don't count on him joining a hunt, though. He'd probably send one of his Mansatzis to represent him. He always seemed more a politician than a warrior." "I wouldn't say that. You should have seen the duel he had with Lord Sadow had a few years back. Over the latter's fascination with alchemy, no less!" |
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