RP:Meeting in Old Memories

Part of the The Prophet of Vakmatharas Arc

This is a Devout's Guild RP.

Synopsis: After failing to convince Macon to even consider what Cyris would offer to the people of Larket, Zahrani walks to the cemetery to clear her mind. She meets with a stranger named Hikoro, who has been away from Hollow for some time.

Larket Cemetery

Hikoro | Time had passed far more than the Spiritualist had expected, the Peace Keepers tree having changed over the passing years. Her remnants of garb had been worn through time and the remainder of supplies had been used to gather more suitable attire. Though, one could look at her and see that her clothing did not exactly fit her. Most if not all but the Tunic and greaves were torn and worn down by the season changes. And oh did they smell like death and rot that was far from present with the womans form. She was..mostly human aside from her felines legs, tail, and ears. A more blended form than past had remembered her. "Ym.. It's been a long time old friend." She smiled at the grave of her forgotten friend. Worn with age and lacking any sign of flowers. With her gone, who would have cared to the old stone? Reaching out, a hand brushed over the surface of the dirty marker. Rubbing away the age of time to show the scriblings of memories. "How long has passed.. I wonder... Things are so different these days."

Zahrani quietly walks the forest path, the feline's armored form glowing a faint amber yellow. She bears her more humanoid form, save for the black fur on her elven ears and her black tail. Her cyan eyes seem to glow in the night, surrounded by dark, warm brown skin. The familiar stench of rot permeates her keen nose. She stops; there's something different. To the panther's own spirit, the presence that she smells still feels...alive. At least mostly. She takes a path not often traveled, walking past neglected memorials, tombstones and crypts. Hikoro would likely sense her coming, the paladin's warm aura calm and inviting, with a hint of weariness after her recent...exchange with Larket's current despot.

Hikoro arched a brow at the holy approaching presence, a nostalgic sensation sweeping over her. How strange it felt, warm and welcoming. It reminded her of the Apostles of Peace and yet it was not familiar in that sense. "Few cross the graveyards path at such an hour. Do you come as friend or foe?" She was tired and though her weapons adorn her form, they were old and in dire need of work and repair. With the Paladin's aura so warm and wecloming, Hikoro's own was not so much. It wasn't as one would say, menacing. But it definitely raised the hackles of any approaching creature with concern or worry. A predators presence well and clear. "I have no fight this day, stranger." None at all. With a tired sigh, she turned to lower herself into a seat next to the grave. Leaning her pale form against it. What once use to be thick rich black hair, was growing silvery gray. Her skin was pale and ghostly. She wasn't undead though, just..not fully alive.

Zahrani looks down at the being with mild curiosity. There was that animalistic voice in the back of her mind, warning her to stay away from danger. A serene smile forms on her face, "You're in luck. I'm not interested in fighting today either. I've spent my evening beating my head against a wall, figuratively speaking." She closes her eyes, inhaling the stale dead air and stretching her trained, athletic form, "And now, apparently I'm seeking respite amongst the departed."

Hikoro smiled in amusement at the choice of words. "Returned. My body is still waking from it's slumber. The dust has settled and the blood is flowing. Do not confuse me with what one might thing as a vampire or lich. Or even, undead." Though sometimes she did wonder... "If you will sit, I have many questions for you. Perhaps I can steer your mind from your troubles and drive you into an intellectual spin of reality. I'm not exactly sure what our present year is. Or, more importantly. Do you know what the Seals are?"

Zahrani’s eyes shoot open, then back at Hikoro with an apologetic smile, "I wasn't talking about you. I meant those around us." She smiles sheepishly, not intending to cause offense. Accepting the spirit feline's invitation to sit, the panther leans against a headstone and looks to Hikoro. She thinks to herself that the spiritwalker has an interesting, almost-charming look about her, but her mind is focused on Hikoro's questions. She gives the present year, but she is uncertain if the point of reference is familiar to the other woman. "I haven't heard any talk of seals in...oh, I don't remember how long it's been. I've been a paladin for 20 years, and I started when I was an 8-year-old urchin in Cenril."

Hikoro closed her eyes in thought. The ones bold crimson hues had dulled in time. They hadn't fogged, but that had an otherworldly pink hue these days. Albino esk almost with her pale skin. "I see. Our kinds memory is usually rather good. Could mean it's been a decade. Less. More. Hard to tell." Her hand raised as though to study it for a moment, turning her palm upright and tensing to let the blade slide out of it's hidden sheath. Rusted sound screeching in the air before she slide it back in. Nearly jamming it. "Rust is rather detailed. Perhaps ten years isn't far off.. Fascinating." Time had changed her far too much, she felt it. Syrus would have been proud to see this side of her. "A paladin... Tell me, what sort of evil is in the land now. If the Seals are unspoken, that must mean the Dark Bretherhood and the Dark Mother failed in their task. Otherwise..things would be far different now. Not as many graves as I expected.."

Zahrani looks down at the blade, tensing at the sound of screeching rusty metal before relaxing again. At the the spirit cat's last question, the panther looks up at the night sky, before turning blue eyes back to Hikoro, "It's another big bad one. Goes by the name of Kahran. He commands a lot of dangerous forces, and they're striking from a Plane of Shadows that mirrors our own. Khitti, our Guild leader could likely tell you more. Another thing that people are dealing with is a curse on almost every city. It affects each city differently. Larket's children have been aging faster than they should, and the King blames the witches who used to live there. Most of them have left. But Larket's King is also a champion of Vakmatharas, and he's started a propaganda campaign to turn people to the God of Death in exchange for an end to the curse."

Hikoro listened intently, her faux tufted ears swiveling here and there. "I see. So, even now some form of darkness lurks in the Hollow. Interesting.. Plane of Shadows. There was a time that assassins would lurk between a plan of shadows and this plane of existence. But.. a king that worships a god of Death? It's..concerning. We don't need a chaos king ruling Larket. Let alone one that thinks it will fix a curse. God's don't just give, more importantly. They don't care about mortals. We are pawns and tools. They don't need us, but we need them. Sad but true." Hikoro turned to look at the grave for a moement, reaching out to tap the inscribing. "My name is Hikoro, a pleasure to meet you. Unfamiliar as this world may seem now, I still imagine I can make friends in dark places."

Zahrani remains seated next to Hikoro, turning to listen to her jaded words with a weary smile, The panther offers a warm and steady hand in greeting. "Nice to meet you Hikoro. I am Zahrani, a paladin of Cyris." The panther looks out into the woods, responding, "The king claims all Vakmatharas is asking for is unwavering faith from the parents of afflicted children. But how long before he decides that's not enough. The God of Death has an insatiable bloodlust; how long before he demands they sacrifice the children he supposedly saved?"

Hikoro looked as though she wasn't sure how she felt about the theory. "At least it's not the Dark Mother." She knew little about this God of Death, but the name was self explanatory. "It won't demand the death of the children. But since it's giving life, it will expect life in return. Lives of criminals, lives of enemies of Larket. Sacrifices, but not the children. It would make since for the God to cater to the children to appease it's worshipers. Social manipulation. Corruption at it's core. Blind patronage leadership." Hikoro started to lean back into the grass. Letting the weight of the world lift off of her soul. "You stand to dethrone this king, don't you? The way you talk, you aren't fond of them. You fear that his words will create war and death.."

Zahrani shrugs, "My main concern is the compulsory worship, under pain of losing your children. No one should have to be forced to worship a deity just so their child can have a normal. And the King knows that; he just has no reason to trust me, and he believes he has the answer he needs." She leans back as well, before adding, "If I were a Chaotic God of Death, I'd be playing both sides against each other. My instincts tell me Vakmatharas is counting on resistance, if not outright inspiring it."

Hikoro perked at the thought. "Smart. Insight war and chaos until the people turn on eachother. Perhaps that theory isn't far off. If you want people to see truth, you could always dig up the history of this god or find a better solution to help the children." She started to rise, her features a bit paler than before. "I should return to my post. Come see me sometime on the Hill of Peace. It's in the Xalious mountains. Just north east of the main road. You can't miss it. That or you can find me here once a week. I, tend to visit the graves and pay my respect to the dead long forgotten."

Zahrani nods, standing up and deciding she should also return to the Chapel. The King will have likely sent someone to monitor them, and she wants to make sure they haven't tried anything rash. "It was nice to meet you Hikoro. I looks forward to seeing you again." The panther smiles warmly, before quietly making her way back to civilization.