Chains of Crimson (Kaie, Vanari)

[Vanari]

She almost pulled out her Tamos right then and there as one of the robed females snapped to attention and darted at them. Morwen, it near gave her a heart attack. The look in the woman's eyes swam with what Ari could only deem to be madness, and a tone of deranged fervor echoed in her voice as she babbled on. Something about the woman's words, however, made the Vantha curious. This entire time, she had been under the impression that all of this robed devotees were following strict, unbendable orders. But if they had hurt Kaie against their superior's wishes, what did that mean? Did it mean they had some autonomy of their own? Identities, perhaps, even, to fuel a certain amount of individual will? There was no time to dwell on this though as their fanatic hostess turned toward the abominable creature and spoke once more. So much reverence and devotion. What was this alien monster to evoke such all consuming loyalty? Ari's ears pricked as the woman cooed at it. Lord...Ravarisk...suckling...as stark raving mad as this underling sounded, she was rambling about things that brought pure astonishment to the Vantha's mind. If the gods were involved, and if someone or something had managed to burn this Ravarisk, then...well, she doubted she could do much with just a pair of daggers. She'd forgotten about the child until it spoke. Qalaya's child? Quill's shadow? The ink that hatched the world? Vanari struggled to make sense of these names but failed miserably. She hadn't the faintest idea who Qalaya was, and what could have possibly given birth to such an enormous, otherworldly creature. It had been a long, long time since she had been in Morwen's domain, and that was the last, remote contact with the gods and goddesses that she had had. But this...this was downright terrifying. Gods above, what was this woman rattling about now? Help it? Strengthen it? Vanari wasn't even sure she could consider infinite knowledge a desirable reward, if it were true at all. It would change her for good. Or, make her head explode. Neither seemed pleasant, though they might be better than being at the mercy of Ravarisk and all its followers' wrath. All the same, it seemed the only course left to them. She wasn't eager to agree just yet, especially without some kind of way to gauge Kaie's reaction, but they needed to know more. "What do you mean, with perfect eyes?" Ari tried to inquire without trembling. She spoke with as much skepticism and vehemence as she could, not trusting anyone but, somewhat ironically, the Myrian within the spacious chamber. "And how exactly would we...heal it?"

[Kaie]

There was something deeply unsettling about the whole situation, disgusting globular creature and essential kidnapping aside. Sure it had seemed as though the woman in command of the operation appeared displeased by Kaie's obvious abuse, but it couldn't shake feelings of distrust from the Myrian. She'd been dragged from a petching cage and forced to lure her friend from Ravok after all. None of this would be forgotten. Not when they had stolen her freedom and made her feel trapped, powerless.

Amber hues widened in shock as the stranger gestured to the foul creature. Ravarisk, she called it. It was only in that moment that the jungle dweller understood they believed it a being to be worshiped. Something to align themselves with. A "Lord" to show loyalty to rather than a deity. And who even was this Qalaya, the one whose ink they claimed hatched the world? Kaie's face twisted in irritation, her lips parting speechlessly at the absurd revelation.

I was trapped in that petching room, in that cage, forced to bring Vanari here to endure all this shyke with me against both our wills, all to help that oozing worm? Petch. That.

Her mind was reeling with her internal outbursts, flames in her eyes revealing back the onslaught of restrained words she craved to shriek at the robed people. She could've been in Cyphrus by then. Riding off toward Endrykas or perhaps nearing Kenash. One step closer to home. But no, this woman found it so important to hold them in Nyka to preach insanity about strange beats and gods that weren't hers. Of course she didn't want to help it! The mere sight of it made her wish she had her gladius to finish what the flames had started. Whoever it was, they had burned it for a reason. What good could come from bringing it back to power?

"Infinite knowledge," their host's words echoed in her ears to shake her resolve for but a moment. The sound of it was enticing, even to a savage that preferred bloodshed over books. Yet how would such a service on their end be repaid? What kind of knowledge bestowed? Oh, how self-absorbed she had become so quickly. Already flickering her eyes between the Ravarisk and the woman, fiery eyes glittered with curiosity. Try as she may, there was no denying the possibility that whatever she might earn from aiding their quest, the reward could benefit her and her people. Could it create another avenue in which she could please the Goddess Queen?

Vanari seemed to be considering the dangerous path too. A sharp nod from the Myrian signaled she possessed the same questions that needed answering before they agreed, and then adding her own.

"Why did they burn it in the first place?" She inquired uneasily, stealing a glance at Vanari and shrugging her shoulders. It was an important detail to know, and one she felt they should be entitled to if they were going to restore it. They already had the Djed Storm to shake the world. The last thing she wanted was to cause another disaster unknowingly.