On Worthiness

Esei tells you, "** There is a soft tickling against your sense, blackthorn petals drifting briefly
across your vision. **."

You tell Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk, "**A somewhat fuzzy sense of growing
awareness, as of a great cat stirring into wakefulness - eyes of lambent green slitting open to
watch the graceful dance of the petals. A low, thrumming pulse of fondness, and a voice, ragged as
ripping timber.** Warden."

Esei tells you, "Initiate," their voice is smooth and faintly amused. "Could you climb down? I've
someone you might like to meet."

The rustle of leaves and the faint creak of disturbed branches precedes the blurred
form of Rhalkyr as he drops down from above, landing in a soundless crouch, masked head cocked
aside, eyes flitting about curiously.

Esei inclines their head politely to you.

Solanine inclines her head politely to you.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "Initiate
Rhalkyr, meet Solanine, my daughter."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "Solanine,
meet Initiate Rhalkyr."

Rhalkyr tilts his chin up minutely at Esei, uttering a faint, guttural sound by way
of greeting. His gaze flits, then, to Solanine, the vivid green glittering with interest for a long
beat, before darting away. Rather than give a verbal greeting, he lifts a huge hand and taps the
craggy knuckles against the dense swell of his chest.

Nodding once, Disciple of the Tah'vrai, Solanine says, "Greetings, Initiate Rhalkyr."

Esei presses their forehead gently, briefly, to Solanine's.

Balanced upon the balls of his feet, Rhalkyr rocks idly back and forth, forearms
resting upon his knees. Absently, he wiggles the thick fingers of his hands as he turns his head
this way and that, drawn to each minor sound or subtle motion. "Much, family, Warden?"

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "Some,
yes."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "The Shee
-Slaugh family is vast, but I have three children."

Looking out at the trees Solanine runs her hands absently over a spore-laden vinestalker autumnal
frill, while her ears remain trained on the conversation.

Rhalkyr cocks his head at Esei, though, as usual, does not look Esei's way.
"Names?"

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "Solanine,
Mendacium, and Eirlys are all my children, though," they pause, humming low and thoughtful. "I
suspect there are more, somewhere out there. Waiting to come home - maybe even already here."

Esei idly twitches their tail.

Rhalkyr's eyes flick to the motion of Esei's tail, his fingers twitching minutely.
"Strange, yes? Portal, takes memories. Price, for power. Potential." Jutting his chin in Solanine's
direction, he asks, "Love, parent, very much?"

Solanine's ears twitch at the question. Glancing between Esei and you before returning her gaze to
the trees, she nods, adding "Very much. They are very important to me."

Esei tips their head curiously.

Evidently content with the answer, Rhalkyr lowers his head to regard the ground at
his feet, toes digging into the loam in kneading motions. "Yes. Should, be so. Children, of own?"

Quickly bringing a clawed paw to her mouth, Solanine stifles a barking laugh. "No. No. Maybe, in the
future, but not likely. I..." Struggling with the words, she drops her hand back to the
vinestalker's back and shrugs, "I am not... skilled with interacting with others."

A rough, widely spaced grinding sound pulses forth from Rhalkyr's cavernous chest,
the thick, vibrating sound rich with amusement. "Skills, can learn. Need, connection. Bond. Drawn,
to others - not, skill."

Solanine hums thoughtfully, nodding.

Voice uncertain, Disciple of the Tah'vrai, Solanine says, "Perhaps so..."

Esei presses their fingers gently against Solanine's shoulder.

Solanine turns her gaze to Esei and cants her head.

Esei smiles wryly at Solanine.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to Solanine,
"It will come in time, jata fihe."

In an uncannily accurate rendition of Esei's voice, in the exact pitch and cadence
of the words just spoken, Rhalkyr repeats, "Jata fihe," head swiveling on the horizontal in a
querying motion.

At that, Solanine laughs freely, a sharp and barking note ringing true in the sound.

Esei's brow quirks, though they seem amused rather than upset. "It is Elfen."

Eyes bright with amusement, Disciple of the Tah'vrai, Solanine says, "That is a very neat trick."

Rhalkyr grunts in comprehension, shifting his right arm to idly draw a blunt
fingertip through the damp soil, sketching something. "Is, useful. Meaning?"

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "That,
specifically? Means 'dear daughter' in this specific context and tone."

An illithoid scourge nods his head at Evette.

Esei pets a caliginous leopard ingratiatingly.
A caliginous leopard rubs up against Esei affectionately.

A caliginous leopard sniffs Dusan, the coruscant, trying to decipher just what that smell emanating
from him is.

Dusan, the coruscant licks a caliginous leopard.

A caliginous leopard stares implacably at Dusan, the coruscant.

Dusan, the coruscant chirps happily.

Solanine tries and fails to hide a sharp grin behind her hand.

A caliginous leopard nuzzles her head harder into Esei's hand, her eyes betraying a gloating gaze
towards the wyvern.

Rhalkyr does not make a verbal response, instead twitching his chin down in a nod,
evidently focused upon his sketching. Simplistic, and stylised, the growing figure that he gouges
into the earth is nonetheless artfully rendered, in a primitive fashion - Horns jut forth from the
head, and a tumble of wild hair flows down behind them. Eyes, somehow conveying wisdom in their calm
regard, have been pressed in with the edge of a thumb, flattened. "Is good."

Esei blinks slowly.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you,
"Thank you."

"Mmh." is Rhalkyr's sole audible response, though he lifts the dirt-blackened tip
of his finger to tap over his breast once, twice, and then lowers his hand to dangle from his knee.

Esei idly twitches their tail.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk asks, "How are
you all?"

Evette Stormcrow, The Primordial Scourge says, "Well enough, and yourself?"

Inevitably, Rhalkyr's eyes dart to the motion of Esei's tail, fingers flexing
slowly as his left foot slides, almost imperceptibly, in Esei's direction. "Am, fine. Family,
abounds. Content."

Esei runs their thumb across their opposite palm. "I'm well," they say, eyes focusing briefly on you
before moving elsewhere. "I may ask the Regent to remove the notice for the librarian position."

The screeching of a crow echoes through the dark woods, sounding almost like harsh laughter.

Solanine nods, once again allowing her hand to ruffle through a spore-laden vinestalker's frill.
"Well enough," she replies.

Rhalkyr jerks his head down in a sharp nod, angling his head about as he twists at
the waist, drawn to the sound of the echoing crow call. "Yes. Will please, Xenthos. Good, to have.
More, books, yes?"

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "It -is-
quite pleasant to have more books."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "Previous
attempts to encourage writing have been."

Using their tongue and the roof of their mouth, Esei makes a quiet clicking noise.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says,
"Lackluster."

Swiveling back to his previous, Rhalkyr relaxed crouch, taps out a faint rhythm
upon his immensely muscled thigh, asking, "How?"

Esei tilts their head curiously at you.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk asks, "Which
part?"

Flicking a hand sharply, you say, "Lackluster."

A look of understanding crossing their features, Esei nods their head slowly.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "At the
time, not many were interested. I am unsure if it was the rewards, the prompt involved, or simply a
lack of involvement."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "Not many
knew me then, either."

Esei shrugs helplessly.

Rhalkyr lowers his head in a slow nod, the expression of his shadowed eyes one of
disappointment. "Yes. Stagnant. Not, good. Working, to fix."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "I know.
Fret not."

Rhalkyr pulls his head back in an indignant manner. "Will, fret! State, of the
Glomdoring, grave, importance."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you, "And
I know -that-, too. It -is- important, of which I will not argue with you, or anyone else."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you, "You
are doing the best you can, in the ways you know how. You do not need to do it alone, and Fates
willing, you will not."

Mollified, it seems, Rhalkyr settles back down into a loose-limbed hunch of easy
repose, nodding. "Am, not, alone. Have, beloved Divine, giving, wisdom. Stirring, elders, to action.
All, will be, well."

Evette ponders you thoughtfully, looking you up and down.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "Indeed."

Esei's eyes rove briefly over your face, frowning slightly.

Solanine cuts her gaze to Esei quickly, visibly confused and tense.

Canting his masked face up at Esei, Rhalkyr's eyes flick to Esei's visage, then
away, uttering an interrogative grunt.

Esei gives Solanine a friendly squeeze.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you,
"There is something you might learn from."

Rhalkyr dips his head in a slight nod of affirmation, eyes lidding closed in a
slow, calm blink.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you, "In
His Order, there is a tenet named the Amalgam. In addition to being a way to combine all other
tenets, it is also a way to show us as individuals."

Rhalkyr says not a word, simply turning his ear towards Esei as he listens with
obvious attentiveness.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you, "It
teaches us that we are parts to the whole that is Glomdoring. That individual parts may be
interesting and important... but by itself, a part is inferior to the whole. It is replaceable."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you, "I
say this not to discourage you from your task - they are part of your tah'vrai, I suspect."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you, "But
I feel as though that is something you can learn from, all the same."

Rhalkyr waves a hand through the air in a slow sweep, from his chest, down in a
diagonal arc, coming to rest upon the soil with fingers splayed. "Bank, of stones, gravel. Static."
He mimes picking something up and tossing it aside with the flick of a wrist. "Pebble, thrown,
causes shift. One stone, moves. Then, others. And more." Turning his head down, he regards the
leathery callouses of his open palm. "Pebble, like many others. Not, important, but. Useful, if
thrown, at right time, correct, place. Is, the flow, of gravel, that matters. Motion, of many."

Gently, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "Yes, important. We are all
important."

Nodding to herself, Solanine hums thoughtfully.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "It doesn't
matter how much we are able contribute, or how good we are at fighting others, or how skilled we are
at speech or statecraft, or any number of other skills."

Esei exhales slowly, allowing a long fluid breath to creep from their lungs.

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "It is that
we are -willing- to. To devote ourselves to the Wyrd, to contribute in ways that matter to us."

Tilting his head thoughtfully to his left, Rhalkyr's eyes glitter as he considers
this for a time. "Think, that will, should, be married, to skill." Gesturing at Esei, he continues,
"Stronger, wiser, than Rhalkyr. More, valuable, useful. Both, willing. But," and here he gestures at
himself with a small, inward roll of his thick wrist, "Lesser tool, than, Warden. For, now."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "You are
wyrden. You may be lesser in rank, but you are not lesser in worth."

Esei glances up, gazing at Solanine, then at Lillirallia for a brief moment. "And that goes for all
of you, and those that come after us."

Solanine stands a little taller, less tension in her shoulders. But it is gone in only a moment,
hunch and stiffness returning with a vengeance.

Esei places a hand on Solanine's shoulder, squeezing.

Rhalkyr's eyes thin minutely as he twists his head, quizzical. "How, not lesser,
than, likes of, Xenthos?"

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you, "Do
you think I am lesser than he? Certainly, he has more experience, and skill with fighting, and is
older and simply more and better. But am I lesser?"

Rhalkyr flutters the fingers of his left hand through the air, giving his head a
minute shake. "Not, Warden. Rhalkyr."

Esei gently flicks their fingers. "But I asked if I was," they say. "Am I?"

Esei tilts their head and listens intently to you.

Rhalkyr's eyes thin to slits of vivid emerald as they study Esei for a long breath,
before sliding off to one side. "Will not, step, into trap."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "Perhaps.
But traps can be learning experiences too."

A distorted hiss of air, expelled from Rhalkyr's nose, carries upon it faint
amusement, commingled with very slight exasperation. "Can. Need, not, leap, into pit, of spikes, to
know, result."

Esei reaches out to touch your forearm with their free hand, but stops short and brushes over the
air between them instead. "The answer, novice," they say softly, not unkindly, "is no, I am not
lesser than he is. And neither are you."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "It took me
an embarrassingly long time to realize that. But I have, now, and my tah'vrai calls me to teach. So
teach, I shall."

In a husky, honeyed cadence, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you, "And
if that means showing you, and other people like you, how worthy they are? So be it."

Solanine fidgets absently with a hemlock bracelet of the wasp, spinning it on her wrist.

Esei squeezes reassuringly on Solanine's shoulder.

Slowly, as one might when wary of startling a wild animal, Rhalkyr raises a hand to
press the rough pads of his fingers against the back of Esei's knuckles, gently, ever so gently,
applying pressure in the direction of his forearm. Despite this, he makes no effort towards eye
contact, his head turned aside, as if distracted by something. In a quieter tone, softer, he
rumbles, "Just, pebble."

Esei's fingers press lightly against your arm. "I know," they say, with the weight of someone who
truly does. "Most of us start with that same doubt."

Solanine nods, not looking in the direction of the conversation.

Light as the brush of a crow's feather, Rhalkyr taps his fingers upon the back of
Esei's hand, once, twice, and then withdraws his own, lowering it to hang limply from across his
thigh. "Much, growth, done. To, be done. Yes?"

Esei's lip quirks. "Yes. It is not something easily done, or acknowledged," they say, pressing their
thumb gently against your flesh. "But it can be done. So long as you start."

Content with Esei's touch, Rhalkyr utters a soft chuff, the muscles beneath Esei's
thumb shifting and undulating like great serpents bound beneath his stripes flesh as he flexes his
fingers. "Do not, fear, hardship. Anything, for the Glomdoring. For Them. For, you. For, family,
all, call home, here."

Esei's eyes sharpen slightly, and their lips curve into a smile. "Indeed." They drop their hand from
your personal space.