| Logs |
2009 June 14
| When The Bough Breaks |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Bough Logs |
Fourth Movement, Second Verse
Dawn comes, heralding the next day. Much has happened through the nighttime hours; but today the group, along with Vibhishana, will be going to Ankor Wat, on the side of Mount Meru opposite the Mirror, but further down, almost at the base of the mountain.
Norris spent much of the previous day working on Jareth's new armor. It bothers him, that they're going nito a potentially more dangerous system than before, and it's not done yet. Then again, part of the problem is that he was trained as a smith, not a leatherworker. Therefore it's taken him much more time, and he's had more than a few mistakes along the way. Fortunately, the supplies he brought along gave him room for mistakes. But he could not bring better skill or more time.
Mikal gleefully turns up with a currently rather nasty looking leopard skin in the process of being tanned, hopefully asking Norris if he could possibly use the skin to make the armor for Jareth more lovely?
Norris had actually been resting his eyes when Mikal showed up with the half-tanned skin. The armor was finally finished...it won't win any awards, but it will protect Jareth. Studying the skin, he considers it. "Well..." he starts to say, about to tell Mikal that he's done...but from the look in her eyes, he decides to not go that route. "Sure'n, be happy t' dew that for ya, Mikal." he assures.
Mikal beams and throws her arms around Norris's neck in an exuberant hug! She gives him a kiss on the cheek as well, thanking him delightedly before she skips cheerfully off.
Norris's brain does not lock up again. He's actually getting used to Mikal's spontaneous hugs...it oddly relaxes him. Less because of the affection from his dear friend, but more because he actually feels himself responding like a real person ought. For a while, he wondered if he ever would. Studying the skin, he starts planning now to decorate the leathers with spots.
The group shares breakfast at Dawn with the raksasha, though they have it in their open-sided tent with Vibhishasa; he has taken on a human seeming this day, that of a rather simple, plain male human. After breakfast, he gathers supplies which gives Norris enough time to finish the armor. Once that's done, the group gathers at the back of the raksasha camp, against the slope leading up higher to the peak, meeting with Asmodeus and Ravana.
Mikal is excited to be moving again, and almost bouncy with enthusiasm -- it's been a marvelous time here so far! She grins and waves as she spots the leaders of the Mazikin and the rakshasa heading their way, then goes back to wandering around the little group in restless enthusiasm.
Norris waits for the meeting to end before he'll gleefully display Jareth's new rainment. He's so pleased, he almost can't stand still. For the first time in a while, he got to explore a more artistic side, rather than his functional training. He does so hope Jareth likes it. Because if he doesn't, he might not wear it, and that would be Bad.
Jareth grins at Norris and looks over the armor, touching the places with the fur with a smile, remembering his first reaction to the pelt. "I should probably try it on."
Mikal is tremendously excited to see Jareth's new armor, and while the young man is trying it on she stands on tiptoes to tug on Norris's arm so he'll lean enough that she can whisper, "It looks beautiful, Norr!"
Norris beams! "Yuh should. But ahm gonna have t' teach yuh how t' put it on. Aint as easy as just shruggin on a shirt, r' unlacing a..." He trails off, and suddenly blushes deeply. Where had *that* thought come from? He refuses to look at Mikal. "Uh...Yeah. Meetin'." he reminds his pack.
Mikal gives Norris a confused look, "Unlacing a meeting?"
Jareth arches a brow at Norris and says, "Do I need to wear something under it?"
Mikal nods to Jareth, "Oh, yes! Armor can chafe otherwise."
Norris shakes his head. "Dress." he mumbles.
Mikal gives Norris another confused look, "Er... was that a command, or a suggestion?"
Norris brushes the hair from his face. "Unlacin' a dress, Mikal." he explains, mortified.
Mikal says, "Oh!" She looks interested, glancing between the two young men, "Er... is that hard? I've never worn one... that I remember...?"
Ravana says, "We decided that the best way for you to get to Ankor Wat is to go over the mountain top. Through Sumeru, the home of the gods. It is empty now, but you will not be hindered in your crossing." He adds, quietly, "Please step gently there. There are thousands upon thousands of kalpas of history there, and many say that the gods do not rest easy in death. But I do not think you will be hindered in crossing. Merely be respectful.
"On the other side, there will be a goat path, that will wind its way down the mountain and lead towards Ankor Wat. You will be able to see it from some great distance on the path, so you will not have trouble finding it."
Jareth's lips twitch slightly as he notices the bit of interplay between Norris and Mikal as he looks for a s hirt that's appropriate.
Mikal salaams politely, then smiles up at the rakshasa lord, "We will be quite respectful, I promise."
Norris clears his throat. "Nuh. Not hard at all. Least ways, not fer th' simple dresses. Ah heered that some get right down as complicated as armor." He refuses to explain how he knows this.
Mikal nods interestedly to Norris, whispering, "Tell me more later, please?" For now, she's trying to concentrate politely upon the two sceptres.
Norris breathes a sigh of relief. Saved, for now.
Jareth nods to the rakshasa, "We'll treat it as holy ground, as is right."
Norris raises his hand politely. "Uh, Lord...how's th' path? Ist well travelled? Wide, narrow, steep?"
Mikal adds politely to the rakshasa, "Thank you very much for all your kindness and assistance to us, Ravana Lord." She nods politely to the Mazikin leader as well, ruthlessly squelching the slow shift of discomfort she always gets around him, and adds, "If you find out where the True Name of Azrael can be found, we'd be interested to hear it, honored entity."
Ravana says to Norris, "It is a narrow path. You may not be able to traverse it on mount-back, but I promise to you that we will take good care of them, including your fey-stag."
Asmodeus nods politely back to Mikal, smiling quietly. "I will be doing what research I can while you are gone. I will have something fo ryou by the time you return.
Norris watches Mikal with Asmodeus, wondering if she's still skittish around the once-angel.
Mikal looks a little unhappy at Ravana's comment, but reassures herself that he did promise to take care of them. Iron Antlers isn't happy either, but... well... she sighs softly, mentally crossing her fingers that the rakshasa and the fey stag won't come to loggerheads over anything.
Mikal sighs, glancing a bit wistfully over to where their borrowed pavilion is hidden by some trees, then back at the rakshasa. In an effort to perk herself up she smiles brightly, "Well, sooner we're off the sooner we're back, aye?"
Vibhishasa nods, shouldering his satchel. "We shall return forthwith as soon as possible."
Mikal beams at Ravana's brother, darting forward to get going, "Excellent!" Raphael opens an eye from where he's been snoozing, sits up and yawns hugely, then pads heavily after the slight woman. The big raptor wolf has a rather amused glint in his eye as Mikal nearly skitters impatiently off.
Only once they're on the way does Jareth move to walk with Vibhishasa, waiting for the rakshasa to acknowledge him.
The path up to the top of the mountain is almost hidden, but Vhibishasa leads the group to it easilly enough. It is well-hidden, obviously not meant to be used often. But once on it, one can see how well-camoflauged it is; it is not able to be spotted at all easilly from below. Vhibishasa leads the way, quite determinedly blazing a trail through the overgrown, and somewhat treacherous in places, path.
Vhibishasa does glance at Jareth when the young mortal moves up to him, smiling quietly. "What can I do for you, Cat?" He does not pause in his walking.
Jareth stays out of Vhibishasa's way as best he can. "I wished to ask you for rather a favor, actually."
Vhibishasa arches a brow. "If it's within my power, friend, certainly."
Jareth nods and thinks for a moment how to put this, "The vajra... I would like, very much, to learn how to use it properly. I'm..." He glances back over his shoulder at his companions, "... sort of a liability in a fight right now. And the vajra seems like it's something I could learn."
Norris is explaining to Mikal, as Jareth is off with Vhibishasa, that his mother (who she'd never met) was actually the town dressmaker. So actually, he knows more about dresses than the average man. And he'd helped her more than once, which means he'd seen more than a few women in frilly underthings. At the time, it didn't matter much. He was younger, and slower, and the women didn't seem to be self-conscious around him. Now though, as he realizes women are Women, it's clearly causing him some consternation.
Mikal smiles and pats Norris's arm reassuringly, "You don't need to worry, Bear -- you listen just fine! And if a woman didn't want you in the room while your momma was measuring, I'm sure you'd notice."
Norris shakes his head. "Naw, that's not it, 'tall, Mikal."
Mikal looks inquiring, patiently waiting for her patient friend to elucidate.
Norris says, "Ah mean..okays, yuh, mebbe remberin that stuff now makes meh blush. But it's 'at...makes me wunder iffn they didn't care cause they wuz okay and comfertable...or cuz they done thought ah wuzn't a real man no-how, and therefore didn't matter none."
Mikal gives Norris a puzzled look, "Er... am I misunderstanding? They didn't mind you being there when you were a child, yes?"
Vhibishasa makes a quiet sound, lowering his voice as well. "I will teach you how I can. It is both a distance weapon and a melee weapon, and while it does not excel at either it is fair to good at both. I will teach you how to use it before we reach Ankor Wat. I imagine we will have to spend the night or at least some time to rest at Sumaru."
Norris shrugs. "Wuz helpin Ma long till after i's old enuff t' be climbin' outter windas, like Cat. An y' know how folks dun think o', him, makin time with the girls."
Mikal looks confused, slowly working through the thick accent. Finally, hesitantly, she says, "So you... you and Cat were climbing through windows? And people didn't think of either of you?" She confusedly adds, "Why were you helping Cat make time with girls?" She frowns thoughtfully, then adds in a more perplexed tone of voice, "And when? I don't remember seeing you two like that at all!"
Jareth nods to the rakshasa and makes a slightly halting salaam to him, "Thank you. I don't have any way to repay your kindness now, but please call on me if you need my help."
Vhibishasa smiles kindly. "You are helping us, Cat. If I can help you in your journey, I am more than happy to.
Jareth nods and looks down at his feet thoughtfully, "Thank you." He smiles crookedly, "I'll drop back now and get out of your way."
Norris shakes his head, waving his hands! "nuh, nuh. I couldn'a climb outta winders no how! Too big! An, well...wasn't zactly helpin Cat that way. Helped hide him from some irate fathers, couple times. Made 'im a new knife, once. S'not what ah meant. Ah's just sayin. Ahm ol' enoguh t' be looking at girls like that. T' be innerested. But ah wuzn't. Then. An ah guess mebbe it hurts, that Ma's clients dun thought ah wuz...ah dunno. Defec'ive."
Vhibishasa says, "You are not in my way at all. We are, though, coming up to the peak of the mountain soon. You may wish to prepare yourselves. It may evoke... conflicting emotions.
Jareth nods at this warning and says, "Let me tell the others..." He drops back along the trail to where Mikal and Norris are talking.
Mikal still looks confused, but even though she's not sure exactly what's upsetting Norris, she doesn't like seeing him upset. She carefully leans against him as they walk, putting an arm about his waist, and smiles up at him, "Bear, who cares what someone else thought? They used to wonder if I was a changeling. So? We're here now, and we're pack, and isn't that what's really important? -that we're all together and we care about each other?"
The arm around the waist helps. She could be saying anything right now, and he'd agree. But as it so happens, she does have a point. "Yuh. Ah know, Rabbit. Ah's just...brings up uncomfertable mem'ries." he mumbles.
Mikal hugs gently as she says, "Bear, we all have uncomfortable memories. My Da used to always say that's not what's important -- what's important is making sure we're creating good new memories, y'know?" She smiles at Jareth as she sees him dropping back towards them, adding, "Here's Cat! Betcha he'll tell you the same."
Jareth smiles and kisses Mikal's cheek and then falls in on Norris' other side, "What will I tell him the same?"
Norris smiles shyly. "That ah dun need t' make good mem'ries."
Mikal beams and turns to give Jareth an exuberant hug, then takes his hand and skips between the two men.
Mikal happily asks, "So what were you and Vibhashana talking about so seriously, Kit-Cat?"
Jareth considers for a moment and then says to Norris, "Then, yes, I agree." To Mikal's question, he says, "He's going to show me how to use the vajra... but he also said we should prepare ourselves. We're getting near the top of the mountain. He says it could cause some conflicting emotions.
Mikal looks confused again for a moment -- then brightens, "Oh! So that's why Bear was unhappy!" She smiles up at Norris, adding, "There, see? Wasnt your fault at all, Bear!"
Norris blinks. "Conflictin...oh!" He got that. "Okays. But why?"
Jareth says, "Ahh... he didn't actually say...""
Norris's brow knits. "Sommat t' do with dead gods, annat, mebbe?"
Mikal grins at Jareth, "Silly! No worries, I'll ask." She skips ahead, calling to the rakshasa, "Excuse me, Vibhashasa, please, but why should we be concerned for conflicting emotions?"
Vhibishasa says, continuing to walk. "Because it is a city of the gods, and it is a silent city of the gods. No gods, few aethyrs, and fewer mortals have walked the paths there since the Godswar."
Mikal pads along next to the big rakshasa for a bit, considering that intriguing statement... then she looks up curiously at him, "Is our going there contentious then?"
Jareth walks easily beside Norris and smiles up at his friend, "You OK, big guy?"
Vhibishasa says, "Contentious? No, not contentious. But mortals have differing reactions. It is both magnificent and sad at the same time."
Mikal studies the rakshasa's face for a bit, then says quietly, "And you? How do you feel about it right now?"
Norris shrugs. "Yeah. Ah guess. Mikal has a way o' makin things all betta...but yew know that." His eyes get wide as he realizes how that could be taken. "Ah mean...jus' in matter o' cuttin past all th' chaff, seein' right t' the heart o' a sitch-e-ation. Usually doan have problem wi' that, but ah guess even I dun have mah bad days."
Jareth's eyes glint at Norris' flushing again, "Everyone has bad days. And Mikal hasn't a bit of deception in her. So she just ignores all the other stuff."
Vhibishasa has an moderately controlled expression, but the mask slips a little as Mikal asks him the question. "I am... uneasy, Rabbit. We honor the memory of the gods who tolerated the rakshasa, who fought with us and warred with us, and who in the end saw us as a bright hope for mortals. It is... hard to think of such magnificent entities as... being gone. Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, Lords Brahma, Shiva, and Kali, and their beautiful, equally capable dakinis.... Sometimes it is a great deal to be asked to face their loss."
Mikal silently watches the rakshasa speak, and at his obvious pain -- a pain she's felt herself on occasion -- she impulsively takes his hand in both of hers as they walk. "Don't say that! Don't believe that. I couldn't have sung to Inanna if she weren't still out there somewhere. If she managed to hide herself away, then it makes sense your pantheon could do the same."
Norris says, "Yuh. Kin see that. That what drew yew in? Or wuz it this new part, th' one where she's more'n she wuz. n' avatar of sommat holy an incredible."
Vhibishasa nods, squeezing Mikal's hand back. "This I know, Rabbit. But I do not think all or even most of the gods could have hidden themselves away in the theoclysm of the Godswar. I suppose, though, that we can only wait and hope."
Mikal smiles up at him again, "Also, who knows what energy and love freely offered can do for the goddesses and gods? They need us as much as we need them, remember." She releases his hand gently, adding, "Don't despair early -- my Da taught me that. Wait and see and keep your hope up."
Jareth watches Mikal as he walks beside Norris, "It was before that. I think it started back in Staunton. She got hurt pretty badly one night and dragged herself out to my little hut and slept by my fire." He shakes his head, "I didn't realize it until I died, though." He glances up at Norris and says, "And what makes you think you aren't something amazing, my friend? You had a dream that might tell us what the Lotus Seeds are."
Mikal pads along next to the rakshasa for a bit, her strides much shorter and swifter than his longer legs. After a bit she says hesitantly, "Vibashasa, is it... is it rude to ask about your past? Like... like why brothers were fighting each other?"
Norris shakes his head. "Nuh. Nothin' like that, Cat. Nuthin like her. Mebbe ah am special - an certainly, a visit from Throne o Smith's 's enuff t' swell my head a bit - but if ah aim, it's cuz ahm all too human. But ahm th' best durn human ah kin be. Been workin at it alla my life. Watchin Mikal the way she dun been sometimes, like on th' field...wuz like watchin a force o' nature."
Vhibishasa smiles to Mikal, nodding. "I will do so. Thank you, Rabbit" He pauses before answer. "It is not rude. And it is very simple. Ravana had abducted the wife of Lord Rama. He was much more given to pursuing his desires in those days. I had studied with the sages, and knew that he was wrong to do so. When the rakshasa of Lanka rallied behind him obediently and gleefully anticipating the fighting to come, I could not stand with him. It would have justified his actions, you see? He knew I was good-hearted, and if he knew that I would stand against him, his will to fight to the very end would be abated. By opposing him, it gave him the reason to give pause when Rama finally demanded his surrender and submission, and so he gave it.
"He has learned much from those days, I am glad to say. But, alas, I think he is very far from enlightenment. And yet I, and other warrior-philosophers such as Lord Guan, await the day when he might attain that goal."
Norris adds, "An I think my past self wuz like that too. Not special cuz he did sommat amazin, like *invent* th' Lotus Seed. Special cuz he's a good fella."
Mikal says curiously, "What keeps Ravana Lord from more kidnappings of women he likes, then?" She adds with guileless curiosity, "And are you enlightened, then?"
Jareth reaches up to squeeze Norris' shoulder, face serious, "Norris, that alone makes you special. You're probably the best person I know. You are kind and strong and refuse to be a bully. With your size and your strength, it would have been easy. But you refused."
Vhibishasa grins softly. "A mix of things. First, and I think formost on his mind, is his vow to Lord Krishna. Abducting women will break the spirit of that vow, detracting from his mission. Second, he is under a curse. If he abducts a woman against their will, he will loose all his heads. They'll just pop right off. Something of an invconvenience for him."
Mikal blinks a bit startledly, "Er... excuse me, did you say heads?! Plural?"
Vhibishasa smiles quietly. "And it is said that he who claims enlightenment is not in truth enlightened. I cannot say that I am 'enlightened.' But I do believe I am on that path.'
Norris cups Jareth's hand, smiling down at his pretty friend. "Wanted folks t' like me. Wuzn't gonna do that by smackin' em around." he murmurs.
Jareth grins even more widely, "See? You wanted to be liked. You didn't want to be feared." An analogy pops into his head and he says, "The Architect... I don't think he knows the difference. It's like he thinks fear is as great as love. Or that they're the same thing."
VHibishasa nods, "Yes, plural. As a rakshasa of great power he can take many forms. The form he took during the Ramayana, when he abducted Sita, was with ten heads. It was not entirely monstrous, though; it is said that he had ten heads back then because he had knowledge of four vedas and six upanishadas, making him the equal of ten scholars."
Norris appears to think about that a bit. "Mebbe. S' kinda what worried me. Ah's so much stronger n' most. Folks wuz worried ah might do sommat, cuz ah had th' power. But ah didn't want th' power. Wanted t' be like everyone else. Course, ah wuzn't. So ah had t' try harder, but ah didn't none give up. Mebbe th' Architect did. Mebbe th power went t' his head. Or mebbe usin it was easier than doin things th' hard way."
Mikal blinks again, still rather startled. Her voice is bemused as she murmurs, "Huh!" and then patters silently along next to the much taller rakshasa. She wonders confusedly why someone as well educated and sophisticated as Ravana would be interested in a young country girl like her... then she wonders if maybe she's overstating the case. Could Jareth be wrong about Ravana wanting her? Hmm... she's more likely to doubt herself on that subject, actually, than Jareth.
Jareth mms thoughtfully and says, "I don't think he gave up. I think he's just... either crazy or cruel."
Norris kneads his hands. "Mebbe he did give up, tho. Rabbit keep talkin about this woman that wuz his other half...mebbe he lost her, an things got out o' balance. Ah mean...don't know nothin' fer sure. All ah member what what's in th' Book, and that only spotty. But maybe it wuzn't allus this way."
Norris kneads his knuckles. "Ah member somewheres that man an' woman what's been t'gether a long whiles...when the wife dies, th' husband sommat doesn't live much longer n' her. Kinda goes south physically, mentally. So...mebbe he did go crazy."
Jareth says, "Of course it wasn't always this way. There used to be other gods. Norris, you aren't as simple as you think. You aren't as fast with your mind as some, but you've got a soul even bigger than your body.""
Norris blinks at Jareth. "Ah does? That's gotta a be a big durn soul. How do it fit?"
Jareth laughs and pats Norris again, "Well, Mikal's got an awfully big soul and she's tiny."
Norris yuhs. "Well, guess we's lucky that th' body doan need t' hold the soul." He looks at Jareth curiously. "Did yew get t' see your soul, when yew wuz with Raven?"
Jareth shrugs and smiles, eyes flashing with sadness briefly, "I just looked like me."
Norris tilts his head. "Nothin special? Way you talk about it, sounded like sommat incredible 'sperience."
Jareth shakes his head, "The experience was amazing. But I looked just like myself." He glances up the trail toward Mikal and the rakshasa, "I don't think the soul is something you can see. It's... it's like ideas. Can't see them, but you know they're there."
Norris huhs, and says, "Yew think that's what th' soul is? a mix o' ideas?"
Jareth rubs the back of his neck and squints a little as he thinks, "Not... exactly."
Norris headtilts. "What then? Ah mean...ah's just curious. Yew's th' only wun what went beyond an come back, so ah figger yew's th' one t' ask."
Jareth shakes his head and says, "Let me think how to explain it."
Norris is patient, like always.
As the light from the Mirror fades behind them into the light of a late summer day, the group comes to the last stretch of the path that leads up to Sumaru, the peak of Mount Meru. The stretch is short; it is walked quickly, and then quite abruptly the group is looking upon the peak of the mountain of gods.
The top of the mountain seems vast, and dominating it is a mighty fluted pillar or rock formation in the center, atop which is a magnificent, five-spired temple. Surrounding it are more temples, mostly of the stippled spires and domes. The roofs appear to be of bright gold, which catch the fading light of the day and, it seems, the very light of the stars as they come out above. The walls are of bright clay-hued stone, yet are solid and seemingly infinitely hard. The silk flags and baners are still draped from their poles and rafters, drifting silently in the breeze. a faint silvery light suffuses through the streets, lednding them an ethereal beauty, but from the temple at the top of the mountain there emanates no light. And there is no sound whatsoever other than the sounding of birds and the wind.
Norris shakes his head. Such beauty, such majesty...and no one here to see, or know. It's clearly a sad place.
Jareth stops for a moment, breath caught by the sight of the silent city. He understands now why they were warned. This beautiful place is not meant to be so still. It is obviously a place of joy and worship, but now it waits like a tomb.
Mikal unwittingly comes to a halt, looking around slowly. She blinks at sight of the pristine silken banners, wondering how they've stayed so untouched for a millennia or more... then she blinks again, her head turning to take in all the eerie beauty of the place. For a moment she feels tiny, silenced, stilled by the place -- and then she takes a deep breath and straightens. Her voice is quiet and firm, "Vibhashasa, would you take us to the central temple, please? We should pay our respects."
Jareth nods silently in agreement with his mate.
Norris uhs? He says, "Y'think that's wise, Rabbit? This aint our place."
Mikal smiles a little sadly over her shoulder at Norris, "If I died, I would be touched by anyone kind enough to pause and say a prayer over my grave. I have-" she pauses and thinks about that for a moment, then amends slightly, "As Rabbit I have never spoken to a deity, so all I can do is operate under what I would consider most respectful, Bear."
Mikal's glance up at the rakshasa couldn't be termed impatient, but she's clearly waiting on him.
Norris considers. "Guess ah caint argue with that. Jus' worried that yew might stir sommat up. Not ev' one is as kin' and unencumbered as yew."
Mikal murmurs quietly, "Indeed, I hope I do awaken one of this pantheon. It has been long and long since she interceded for her Lord's people, and I suspect they would rejoice at her return."
Vihbashasa nods quietly. "I can take you there, yes. It will be a while, almost midnight, by the time we get there.
Mikal smiles up at the rakshasa, continuing to wait for him to lead on.
Jareth asks, "Would it make you overly tired?"
Vhibishasa shakes his head, as he leads the way to the central temple. "No. I will be fine. Come, we should go. It would be auspicious to reach it at midnight."
Mikal patters swiftly along next to the rakshasa, looking around in a mix of fascination and wariness. She wonders if any of the creatures of the jungle have wandered in here; she knows there are likely no angels due to the efforts of the rakshasa.
Jareth follows along, eyes sliding around the temple city, heart aching for such a strange and silent place.
What animals are present are extremely shy; mostly large vultures who are quiet in their croaking, a few leopards who glance uneasily at the mortals but move away quickly when spotted, some monkeys who chitter softly amongst each other before scampering en masse out of sight. There are no vermin or insects to be seen, and the place is still immaculate.
It is, indeed, almost midnight by the time the central pillar is reached. The path up it is hidden, winding it's way through the legs of what at first glance was a rock formation, but up close is a very cunningly-built pedistal.
Mikal's bow comes out at sight of the first leopard, and from that point on she carries it in hand. She never has to draw it, though. She nods politely to the vultures -- one never knows when an entity is either deity-ridden or carrying news to the deity, after all. At the central pillar she looks up, murmuring a soft, "Oh, my..." To the rakshasa she adds, "Will we be able to make it by midnight?"
Norris's brow knits a little in thought. "Dinna yew say that vultures was sacred to Innana?" he queries in a whisper to MIkal.
Mikal smiles at Norris, "They are messengers for many of the deities, Bear. They help free the soul from the deceased body, and wing its way to the Afterlife."
Jareth is silent as they walk, as if listening for the stories the place can tell him.
Norris blinks. "Vultures is psychopomps? Ah dinna know that." Norris realizes he didn't know what a psychopomp was till Mikal said what she just did. He ignores it. The confusion doesn't help, but the knowledge does.
Mikal grins and nods at him, "Exactly!"
Norris thinks about that for a bit. "Issat why they's looked down on in some culture? Cuz they's symbol o' a pagan religion?
Mikal gives Norris a curious glance, "Looked down on? What's a pagan religion?"
Vhibishasa nods, and starts up the path. "We should be able to," he says quietly.
Norris uhs, trying to explain th words that he's usin. "Feared. Reviled. An, ah guess...anneh religion what's not the Architect."
Mikal grins apologetically at Norris, then darts lightly up after the rakshasa.
Mikal shrugs, "No idea, Bear. I'm not of that religion, so I didn't really pay attention."
Jareth stops at the base of the pillar, breath caught in his throat. For a strange, eternal moment, he can almost feel what this city would have been like when the gods still walked its streets. The currents and eddies of the energy that once ran here like rivers, the whispers and songs of prayers made manifest, are but bare shadows of themselves now. It reminds him of the streambed that used to run behind his little hut in Staunton. It had been dry since he could remember, but one particularly rainy spring, it had chuckled again with water.
Mikal pauses to glance curiously back down at where Jareth stands, waiting for him.
And then he sees something else. Bright as a vein of gold through dark, dull granite, a trickle of that same energy. A bright, tiny thrill of it starting at the base of the enormous pedestal and flowing upward and outward, wending its way toward Polaris.
Jareth gasps as his vision shifts back to the normal world and he whispers, "It's not dead. Not all dead. Just sleeping."
Mikal calls back a bit worriedly, "Cat? Are you all right, love?"
Norris doesn't hear Jareth, currently studying one of the vultures that seems to be peering at him. "How yew doin'." he says to the bird.
Jareth shakes his head and takes a few deep breaths, hurrying to catch up, "I'm fine. Sorry... I was... I was trying to see what the city could tell me. I thought it was dead, but it's not. There's still something here."
Mikal smiles, reaching for Jareth's hand and walking next to him, "How do you mean?"
Jareth takes Mikal's hand and traces the now-invisible line of energy, "There's something here... energy. Bright... leading up there." He points overhead to Polaris.
Mikal draws in her breath softly, then looks up with delight, "Up there? Oh, how wonderful! Vibhashasa will be thrilled!" She beams at Jareth, "We'll definitely have to perform puja for whomever it is." She pauses, thinking a bit -- then blinks, "Wait. Where's the place the Architect is supposed to be hiding out and sulking? Could the energy be streaming to him?"
Vhibishasa says softly, albeit sounding impressed at Jareth's sight, "Polaris was once the place where the gods met. The Architect has claimed it as his New Jerusalem."
Jareth catches his breath, looking a little worried. "Could... could he know what goes on here?"
Mikal frowns quietly, "Hmm. How would one stop an energy flow? And if we did... could the Architect possibly come here to try and turn it back on?"
Vhibishasa says quietly, "Unlikely he knows we're here. The energy flow is probably a remnant of the travels the gods made there. I have heard it said that the Architect went to Polaris and has not been heard from since.
Mikal says, "Just a remnant? Excellent. That lessens the odds the Architect will notice if we manage somehow to stop the flow so it remains and pools here!" She grins, her eyes alight with an almost mischievous excitement, "Come on! We need to be at the center before midnight, so we can perform puja!"
Norris catches the tail end of that. "Pooja?"
Jareth murmurs, "Prayers."
Mikal giggles, repeating for Norris, "Puja, Bear! Holy ritual of reverence to the deities!"
Norris inclines his head. "Kay. All about the reverence thing."
Mikal grins again, trotting swiftly up the trail after the big rakshasa.
It doesn't take long to reach the top of the pedistal. There are three temples here, surrounding a central courtyard with an elaborate triskele mandala paintakingly crafted in the center. It seems like it was made from countless grains of sand affixed in place, yielding an amazingly high-resolution depiction of nothing less than the universe.
Norris is studying this strange, unearthly craftsmanship. He's always been a big admirer of the work of others, even when it's outside his expertise.
Mikal glances a bit worriedly upwards, checking the moon to see if it's midnight yet, then follows the rakshasa. She's sticking close, not wanting to rudely pass him, but also quietly running through prayers in her head -- prayers for the aid of Inanna, peaceful Lady of the Evening, that the small group be able to aid the pantheon here somehow. Mikal doesn't quite understand what's up, but for some reason Inanna wants the rakshasa to be thanking Radha, not Herself. All right -- if this temple is important to thanking Radha, Mikal will do her best to make sure it's alive and well.
It is edging on midnight. The three temples are clearly to three equally important deities, and Vhibishasa points out their temples: The white temple of Brahma, the scarlet temple of Vishnu, and the black temple of Kali.
Mikal looks around puzzledly -- which one?! She frowns worriedly, absently gnawing on her lower lip... then comes to a decision, whirling to call, "Cat-love? Can you see where the energy is coming from?"
Jareth steps up beside Mikal and sees if he can catch a glimpse of the shining thread he saw before.
Jareth's eyes go a little unfocused as he follows the pathway of the thread to its beginning. Or is it the end? Still looking a little dreamy, he says, "It comes from the center of that..." He's pointing at the intricate mandala of the universe.
Mikal smiles in relief, then goes up on tiptoe to gently kiss Jareth's cheek, "Thank you, sweetling." She puts her pack down, opening it and pulling a few things out. She glances around, then swiftly hands out a candle stub to the rakshasa, a horseshoe nail to Norris, and the sweet-smelling wreath of flowers to Jareth. "Here -- we'll all focus together, all right? Vibhashasa has fire, Bear has earth, Jareth has air, and I have water." She's holding a bowl and her waterbag, and she says with quiet intensity, "What exactly you do is not as important as that you focus, please? Focus on your element and how you gift it and your caring and love to the deities here, and how it will help the energy stay here and pool and become stronger for its pantheon. Do you understand?"
Norris doesn't, at first. He's a very grounded person, and although he does know a few things about religion, he's not very religious. But the value, the weight, the strength of metal...that is something he understands. He nods.
Mikal grins in relief at him, then glances inquiringly at the other two, "I'll lead to give an example if you want?"
Jareth smiles at the wreatch of flowers and then carefully perches it on this head, nodding.
Mikal beams at Jareth, then smiles at the rakshasa, "This will be all right for you?" To Raphael she adds, "Circle us, please, and ward us from harm?" The big raptor wolf nods and slips quietly into the shadows.
Jareth nods, smiling, reaching up to touch the flowers, "Was just wishing there were some apple blossoms in this thing."
Vhibishasa nods quietly. "I will do what you ask of me."
Mikal's face flushes with happiness at Jareth's comment. When he speaks, she nods in relief at the rakshasa, then turns and steps towards the triskele in the center of the curious mosaic. She's singing quietly as she does so; she'd prefer dance to best express religious rapture, but she doesn't think it would unite the others with her so well. Her low, musical chant is easy on the ears as she chants a generalize song of praise, offering, and affection for the deities worshipped here. As she does so she kneels next to the triskele, pouring some of the fresh water into the small, pretty bowl and raising it in offering. A moment to splash a little of the water onto the center of the triskele to ceremonially clean it and give it the element she is representing... then she steps back and smiles at the others. She beckons Norris to come next.
Norris holds the nail first in his open hand, and then closes his fingers around it. Feeling the weight, the line of it, understanding it better, feeling how it was made. Remembering the work he did in Stanton, where he made both nails and shoes, where his master taught him how to make both, and the love inherant in the teaching of a sacred craft, of the ritual of making. Metal is ore, part of the earth, part of creation. Metal is liquid, heated till it's a slurry, something that was tough and brittle, now made soft and changeable, able to be made into something new. Metal is part of something greater, a part of the whole, can be joined with other metals to be made stronger. Metal is enduring, and a thing crafted well, with love, with care, with pride, will last long, and serve. It can protect life, aid life, can even end life when needful. He grips the nail tight, and it digs into his palm...enough that he bleeds, staining the metal with carnelion drops. And then he gives up the nail in offering, as Mikal had also done.
Mikal is still chanting softly, but her eyes brighten in pleasure -- she knows Norris's sincerity, and she knows he's as utterly focused as he can be. She beckons Jareth to come forward next.
Jareth steps forward and takes the wreath off his head. He holds it to his face and breathes in the scents of the flowers there, thinking about the fact that air is, in many ways, life. If you don't breathe, you don't live. Carefully, he plucks a petal from each of the flowers and scatters them over the mandala.
Mikal watches with quiet joy, still chanting. Once Jareth is done, she beams at him, then beckons the rakshasa forward.
Vhibishasa comes forward, considering the candlestub carefully. He crouches down in the center of the mandala, murmuring prayers softly to the deities his bretheren fought for so long, and tucked away into the prayers are the quiet little cantrips to create fire, but not the raging infernos his bretheren favor; rather this is a tiny spark, just enough to get the candle wick lit, as he sets it down in the center of the mandala, stepping back once that is done.
Mikal waits until Vibhashasa is done, then holds her hands out so they can all join hands. They stand in a small ring around the center triskele, with the offerings in their midst. Mikal's voice is soft as she changes her peaceful chant of praise into one of supplication, and she speaks in whatever language it is they are all speaking here, since she does not know the native tongue of this pantheon. She calls on the realm to remember its deities and to welcome them back again: all the elements -- water and earth, air and fire. She calls on the energies of the land of this realm to preserve themselves and to call their deities home again. She calls on the deities to return to the supplication of their people, both mortal and aethyr, who need them and miss them sorely... and then she falls silent, standing in the moonlight with her dear pack and friend, looking up at the stars and praying there'll be something -- some sign for poor, sad Vibhashasa.
The city if Sumaru, once home to a thousand gods, remains quietly silent, even as to Jareth's vison the small ritual of honoring those gods seems to make the streets a little bit brighter, the silver luminescene just a little more prevailant. But if any of those deities, from the Trimurti here at the peak of Mount Meru, to the devas who were aught but demigods themselves, survived the Godswar, and might be listening, they give nary a sign. Perhaps the scarlet of Vishnu's temple becomes a little more vibrant; the white of Brahma's temple a little more pure; the black of Kali's a little darker. But these whispers of the city are the only replies to the puja.
Mikal smiles in quiet serenity; that is answer enough for her, for now. She respectfully remains silent for a few minutes so everyone can concentrate on their own private prayers... then she draws a long, slow breath to subtly draw people's attention back to the here and now.
Mikal raises her hands, each clasped with that of a fellow supplicant, and smiles at them all. Her eyes are bright in the moonlight as she murmurs quietly, "Thank you all for performing puja with me."
Jareth takes a deep breath of his own, smiling a little. It's not a huge change, but large changes are made up of small ones.
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