Ovid
players
Posts: 313
|
Post by Ovid on Feb 26, 2023 14:17:39 GMT
Ovid even in the skull like face paints could be seen to be amazed. Eyes widening showing the whites more.
"Amazing, you can take the form of a spirit. It took him a moment to recover. "Beautiful, we have rumors here and some Shamans can walk as animals in the spirit world but you have changed before my eyes. The claws then have returned to the spirit of a cat, a shadow cat. The cycle is complete this pleases me greatly."
|
|
|
Post by Katerina on Feb 26, 2023 14:53:27 GMT
The shadow cat nods sagely and grins showing all her sharp teeth. Then slowly she changes back before Ovid's eyes to the half cast teenage girl with big billowous black hair.
"Now let us see what we can do about food. You can still eat when you are dead?" She asks.
|
|
Ovid
players
Posts: 313
|
Post by Ovid on Feb 26, 2023 16:43:17 GMT
"I think that I can, it is simply that they do not supply food or water to me. I make do with the water that trickles down on the walls. Each experiences death in their own way. We are to seek enlightenment and I have certainly learned things to consider. It is good to know there are others in other places different like me. Though you are blessed with gifts that are most amazing Princess Katerina Alswyck. Here they would think you a spirit or goddess for your Mastery of Mirrors and ability to take the form of spirits. Though if you came I would advise caution as the Master of smoking mirrors would consider you a challenger or threat most likely, and battles of supremacy are common here."
|
|
|
Post by Katerina on Feb 26, 2023 16:59:14 GMT
Kat nods.
"I will note the word of caution. Mirrors can be dangerous even for a Master and there are dangers at every turn. I will try and avoid your Master of Smoking Mirrors if I can for he sounds a dangerous and jealous being. But let me see what I can do for you. You say you would like roasted boar, well we have those here as well so I can probably do that. You may need to give me a minute or so."
With that Kat puts her hands through the mirror once again and begins to conjure a fat sizzling roasted boar on a spit, just like they have in the grand hall that the Master Cook prepares for their father the King. Slowly as she conjures the smell of the roasted animal begins to assail Ovid's nose and the roasted animal seems to form itself seemingly out of thin air. It is a little while after that Kat nods in satisfaction.
"There, see how it tastes."
|
|
Ovid
players
Posts: 313
|
Post by Ovid on Feb 26, 2023 17:33:05 GMT
"It smells delicious." He closes his eyes inhaling the scent of it.
He takes it and will take a bite, "Oh yes, this tastes exactly as it should." Ovid's stomach certainly agrees grumbling happily. He happily eats the boar meat from the spit. "I wonder, can one learn such gifts as you possess?"
|
|
|
Post by Katerina on Feb 26, 2023 18:07:41 GMT
Kat has to think on the question as Ovid eats. She seems happy that Ovid is enjoying the food.
"Probably. Maybe. I'm not sure. I was taught to be a Mirrormancer here and part of that teaching I kind of found my way to learning about how things are assembled and I sort of picked up the art of creation of things myself but using the principles I'd learned in Mirrormancy. So I assume both can be taught. I learned to change my form somewhat by accident, so I am not sure on that one can be taught or not. Certainly I have seen no one else here do it, so I keep that private as much as I can. It is another reason that I know that I am not from here originally. Maybe there is another world out in the heavons which is full of people who can change their form and that is where I am from. I do not know, but I am determined to go and talk with the Gods and Goddesses about it someday and to get them to help us defeat the demons who beset us."
|
|
Ovid
players
Posts: 313
|
Post by Ovid on Feb 26, 2023 18:24:20 GMT
Ovid listens to her speak on the various wonders he has seen her perform. "The spirit world is supposed to be full of beings who can change there forms perhaps you come from there. The plants, animals, insects, wind, all things have different forms. Shamans can go there when in a state of euphoria, I can touch the spirit world briefly perhaps it is how I am able to see and speak to you now. I know not. Though if you can do so then there must be others who can do so as well. Your parents and perhaps siblings."
His face became serious and concerned. "Tell me of these demons, perhaps I can help. I am a warrior among my people."
|
|
|
Post by Katerina on Feb 26, 2023 18:57:01 GMT
Kats sighs.
"Yes would that I knew who my real parents were. I wish I knew them. Everyone else has parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts .... Whilst my adoptive father has a family and I try to fit in as best I can, only he is really kind to me." She starts sounding a lot younger now that her confidence at the start of the conversation. She sounds like a little girl, trapped and alone and a little lonely. "I would love to meet my real family. I hope they are nice."
"Well they are big, scaly and often have many limbs and they can regenerate. So if we don't kill them in one go, they come back sooner than we'd hope. There is a demon Lord called Malficious who commands them and they seem intent on killing us all." Not only does she sound younger now, but also a bit scared.
|
|
Ovid
players
Posts: 313
|
Post by Ovid on Feb 26, 2023 22:27:07 GMT
Ovid nods taking it in conversely he goes in the opposite direction. From one filled with awe and wonder to one filled with serious intent. Taking in what has been told to him. He sounds more grown up and confident.
"We have scaled ones here they do not do well when it is cold. Some fall from trees. Perhaps it is the same for the demons. Different cycles are better for creatures then others. The people here there cycle is best between the extremes of hot and cold. This may be a way for you to strike the creatures if they too are affected by the cycles. Scales sound like they would be resistant to darts and small blades but long ones, spears should be effective. Since they have multiple limbs to strike with I advise your warriors add spikes to their armor so that they help prevent those extra limbs from gaining purchase on them."
His mind focused on the problem even though clearly his mind framed it in things and myths he knows.
"As for their ability to regenerate an ability we share. Drugs even though the Shamans must use large amounts on me still work. Perhaps this is the same with you. It is how they brought me low for this ceremony what came after I do not know but it gave them time to place me here. You may be able to use drugs or poisons on these demons. If they celebrate victories against you, you may leave casks of poisoned or drugged liquors. Then return when they are weakened. So too can your warriors use poisons on their weapons ones that cut so to get into their blood. Fire makes the blood brown and hard and wounds take longer to heal so flaming weapons or attacks may aid against them as well."
He holds up her forge hammer. "I don't know what magics you use to make such a tool but pure metals like gold are known to harm the impure creatures. Perhaps such things are true. Many royals and nobles here have gold and it may be for it's warding property as much as it's beauty. You may test different metals against the demons and see if any have an effect upon them."
"In what manner do they attack ?"
|
|
|
Post by Katerina on Feb 26, 2023 22:57:37 GMT
Kat nods at his words.
"I will tell the men of the army of your wisdom. I hope that they listen to me. Oft times they will not as I am nothing but the Mogrel Princess who doesn't belong. They can be quite cruel to me, even though I have shown them that I too can fight with a blade. My adopted father has gold. and I have a forge here that we could use to fashion it into weapons. I don't know if such weapons would be effective, but I can ask them to try." She still sounds sad and alone.
"We have magic here, but none of us know how it works save for the mirrors. That is another advantage that the demons have over us. I wish we had your wise shamans here to help us. At the moment they launch small strikes at random towns. We cannot fortify everywhere sufficiently well and their raids kill more and more of our men. I fear they are whittling us down for a final strike. I fear for my people."
"But if you have shamans and warriors then you must have an enemy as well. It is so stupid of me to think otherwise, a man who knows so many wise things about the arts of war, must surely have engaged in it."
|
|
Ovid
players
Posts: 313
|
Post by Ovid on Feb 26, 2023 23:41:35 GMT
"We have wars mostly against other peoples. Sometimes it seems we have wars simply to have wars and of course we have wars to appease the gods for they require much blood sacrifice in their honor. So it is as you say. It sounds like they are testing you with their strikes. Seeing what kind of defenses the people there can mount. Such tactics if used here are often to gain small numbers of people for other tribes when they are suffering disease or other problems, or to gather sacrifice. It is not done often unless it is between smaller tribes. This is because it tends to lead to full wars. Do your people use traps? Since they are testing your forces it may be a time to set a trap to capture one or more of these demons so as to learn more directly their weaknesses. Demons are supernatural and may require supernatural means to battle. Perhaps a spiked pit with poisoned spikes a poison that puts ones body to sleep. If they attack these outlying areas traps would have to be set in those locations but the benefit of knowing where your enemy's heart and other organs are, could greatly help if you need to strike true. To keep them from simply regenerating. Sadly, attacking unprepared peoples at the edge of your lands does give them an advantage. Unless your people can be brought to more centralized places for defense, or such outlying villages can be trained and prepared for war."
Thinking on it more he gives some suggestions for various traps and stratagems for turning outlying and seemingly defenseless areas into a places to hide troops, tunnels, large buildings like temples, places where they may remain hidden and not move about and give away they are there till the enemy strikes. Traps to use and places for people to hide during attacks and gauntlets they might create of traps if pursued. Offering the best advice he can knowing what he knows and the information he is given.
|
|
|
Post by Katerina on Feb 27, 2023 8:05:06 GMT
Kat looks really sad.
"You may be right in that they are testing us, but they do not take captives. They just kill us. It seems that they are determined to wipe us out bit by bit. We try to replenish our numbers, but things are not going our way. I will add traps to the list of suggestions for the army. As to their organs, my understanding is that they can often have them in different places. We can never be sure where they are on any particular opponent." Kat thinks to herself that she should really be taking notes, but there is no pen and paper around.
"Why would Gods demand your blood? Are they not satisfied with you praying to them?" Kat sounds shocked at hearing this.
Not that ours have ever answered our prayers.
|
|
Ovid
players
Posts: 313
|
Post by Ovid on Feb 27, 2023 14:03:55 GMT
He gets closer to the mirror, "I asked the same when I was young, I was told do not question the ways of the gods. As I got older I still had the same question but then they thought I was testing them since they thought me a demigod. They were going to start sacrificing to me." He grows quiet. "I would not allow it. So I have had to think of my own reasons why this must be so. I think it is not the blood but the life force. There is something special about us, we the people. For there are many animals with strong life force and yet they are not sacrifices. This life force must sustain the gods and allow them to perform the greatest of their magics. In this I think the gods need us as much as we need them. Though to speak such to the priests I know would be heresy here. Still Princess, I am not suggesting sacrifices for your magic, as I may be wrong."
He then though of the other problem she brought up. "Strange that their organs are in different places. Perhaps to solve this problem look to yourself. Your organs must move when you become a shadow cat. Perhaps they are similar instead of changing into a spirit they change inside while looking the same on the surface. There is a separate world here Xibalba a place of demons also though I have never seen them. They are wood spirits that can change their outward appearance to look like the people. I do not know if your demons are the same. I do not know of their organs. Still what I am getting at is look to your own weaknesses see if there is anything that hurts you that takes longer to heal or perhaps hurts more. Your enemy might have similar weaknesses."
|
|
|
Post by Katerina on Feb 27, 2023 14:53:18 GMT
Kat bites her lip before replying. She still sounds young and a little sulky now.
"I will try, but I am not in the army and they do not always listen to me. They treat me sometimes as someone to belittle even though nominally I am a Princess of the Realm."
She thinks for a minute and a bit of spark and zeal comes back into her voice.
"I am intrigued at your Gods. Are they really feeding on your people and they seem content to let them do it like herding animals and culling the livestock? We at least are fighting back against our oppressors!"
|
|
Ovid
players
Posts: 313
|
Post by Ovid on Feb 27, 2023 15:29:34 GMT
"I understand, often my suggestions are ignored simply because it is me that makes them."
He then looks in thought.
"Our gods are often busy with great duties though it is by sacrifice that they do these duties. Without the gods doing these duties the world dies. So we must sacrifice to remind them or perhaps enforce them to these duties." He waves his hand a bit.
"I am not a priest so I may be explaining it wrong. Also some of our gods are petty and will inflict horrors upon us if we do not sacrifice to them. Things like drought, disease, famine. To fight the gods would mean the death of a nation and some gods it might mean the death of the world. If I am a demigod, I do not know how to feel about all this." He has a haunted look about it for a moment.
|
|