Dans la cadre de l'écriture d'un nouveau livre sur les curiosités du désert, j'invite tous les volontaires à participer à quelques recherches. Des petites, des grosses, il y en a pour tous les goûts. Vos noms seront cités quand l'ouvrage sortira.

- Que voyez-vous sur les 3 types de totems du désert? Quels types d'animaux? Je ne parle pas des totems kamis.

- Ces totems sont-ils aussi présent dans d'autres régions que le désert, et si oui où? Je sais qu'on en trouve en primes racines par exemple, mais il faudrait répertorier les régions, et même les lieux dits.

- Pouvez-vous prendre des lucios de restes ou d'images d'animaux non répertoriés? J'ai déjà les peaux qu'on trouve dans la forteresse de thesos, l'animal à corne des routes du désert et le crâne à deux cornes des étables.

- Voyez-vous quelque chose de particulier dans les symboles présents sur les murs avenue arispotle et cerakos? Un symbole déjà vu ailleurs?

akep pour votre implication. Vous pouvez me faire part de vos découvertes par écrits. Nous en parlerons lors d'une réunion dont la date reste à prévoir.

Azazor, akenak et écrivain

He had finished all his daily tasks before it was even mid-day, his three outposts were safe, the spider’s reports from the 4 nations were as usual unexciting, the Masters’ of the Goo grounds were as prepared and fertile as they could ever be and there were no exceptional creatures to be spotted. Him and General Lee had made sure that the land be clean… to the point of queasiness. In brief, he had managed to lock himself into yet another afternoon with absolutely nothing to do.

His usual source of distraction, his Magnificent Giant Flask of Enemy tears had been dried out already five or six seasons ago, he wasn’t careful or judicious enough to account for his enemies’ all too sudden disappearance “…Such loudmouth cowards!” he thought, and a smile drew across his face as he realised they had acted the exact way he had foreseen they would… “it all comes down to the black sap… and bad leadership, I guess… I hoped they would prove me wrong…”, he ripped a Dandelion off the ground and watched closely as a slightly stronger breeze blew all seeds away … refreshing.

He had until now always relied on the majestic Virginia Falls when he needed an alternative source of distraction. This time was different, something had changed in the atmosphere…

Running steps in the distance started closing in every second. The sounds of waterfall, the breeze and the grunting Cuttlers he had earlier masterfully avoided made it difficult for him to properly distinguish what or whose they were... Yet soon enough, a slim figure materialised before him and any doubts were cleared. It was his former lover and now loyal servant Laelgia. Even after so many years of resigning her position as Karavan Priestess, she seemed ever as imposing, grandiose and graceful. However, her expression did not appeal him at all.

“I knew I would found you here, I am burdened to bring you sad news, sit down”… “this tone???” he thought to himself.

Concerned, he followed her direction. “What is it Lae, has any of our enemies been sighted? My tear flask has been empty for a while” he said, trying to ease the perceptible heavier mood, but Laelgia remained sovereign and determined, as was common of her.

“Lacuna is dead…” she looked him in the eye, a tear forming in her own and continued, “an anonymous Izam has delivered news that a lifeless body matching her description was found… Remains of a Purple drink would be dribbling out of her mouth as well as in a cup next to her corpse” she hesitates for a minute, closely examining Alee’s countenance, assessing whether she should stop, but his face just looked expressionless “I suppose you understand what this means, Alee. I think it is final”, she concluded.

The word echoed endlessly in his head, yet every time louder. Of course, he knew what it meant. Was it true though? Could it really be that Lacuna’s Seed of Life was blighted by something as mundane as Goo?... Laelgia had to be lying. But that was not usual of her… Many years ago, she had sworn unconditional loyalty to him, why would she ever lie? And about such a delicate matter?

No. It finally stroke him. A gelid current traversed his body cap-à-pie, freezing his every muscle fibre, he shivered quietly as something inside him broke, again. Why would Lacuna ever even do that? Had it been an accident? Had she been consuming Goo to cope? Had she overlooked what would happen? No. That was not the Lacuna he knew, she was the only mildly reasonable Fyrette all over Atys, wiser than most babbling Zoraï Sages, wiser than himself! No. This had been deliberate.

His mind drifted away to more joyful times. He was comforted by the sight of a mature White Chinchilla on her path to becoming the Great Serpent that she was always destined to be. Mely was finally ready. “Go, Mel, join them and fulfil your duty to yourself, you are now finally ready to hatch”, he remembered telling Mely as she approached him, concerned that he’d be mad if she kept hanging out with The Lost Girls. Of course, he wouldn’t, he had taught her everything he knew. He had seen her learn the intricacies of Magic, become a more avid digger than himself, he had taught her to combine materials into mind-blowing armors of war, and almost every Atys secret he took pride of knowing of, he had shared with her. He had also seen it in the stars, Mely was always meant for Grandiosity. He remembered how she had assigned herself the title of Serpent. He giggled in his mind, it all seemed so recent in spite of how many years had passed.

Mely, the White Chinchilla, turned into a Lost Girl. For a moment, he was happy to remember how much joy she had with her new sisters… He feared Marikka’s boytoy would be a bad influence for her, luckily time proved him wrong, as Marikka herself had (to his joy) disposed of him, his endeared Mel wouldn’t be corrupted... And her joining the Lost Girls clan allowed his own, the Arcane, to get a little closer to them, something he had always secretly desired...

Many a time, even before his awakening, he cooperated with them, the coordination and skill they displayed was always admirable. Especially Lacuna, she had a bright aura around her that inspired empowerment, her stances on males were akin to his own and he admired her like one does those one deems equal. Mely’s move had helped him get to know the mighty Lacuna a bit better and even sympathise with her cause, he would even often find himself supporting her craft endeavours with dappers, even when it was craftworks that he could have done himself, he is rich after all, and there’s no greater joy than helping a fellow marauder homina, especially one like Lacuna...

As he came back to reality, Laelgia sat before him, her ocean blue eyes penetrated directly into his soul and a tear escaped them as she witnessed Alee’s ever serene expression turn into untameable sadness. How many people had he lost now? Lamda, Eilvara, Elvanae, Mely, Lacuna and the list went on. Every loss ever as painful. And even though he had mastered the art of summoning some of his old companions, there was no replacement for their spontaneity, ideas and real presence. “These are dark times Lae, the world is full of sadness and sorrow”. He gave her a hug, unable to comfort her with anything other than silence and insight, and his tears escaped his own will to show himself strong.

... “Help me gather some things, Lae”…

They meet again at the Marauder camp entrance, “Did you bring everything I requested?” Laelgia handed him a Golden backpack. “Yes, it’s all in here.” He put one arm around Laelgia and rubbed his and her Crystals together and appeared suddenly in a much darker place. “Lac loved this place, Lae…”. They walk together towards the Mountain Bane, always marvelled at the beauty of the prime roots, so dark and yet full of life, and of course, precious creatures and materials.

They reached the Hall of the Mountain and Aleeskandaro started pulling items from the golden bag, a pile of Mekoo bones served him to start a fire, one flick of his Magic amplifier and the bones started burning with unseen intensity, the highly flammable character of Mektoub bones made them perfect fuel for long lasting campfires. He continued to pull other things off the bag, a book of recipes from Lacuna, which he had written without her permission, Mely’s sisterhood ring, a rubbarn weapon crafting tool, boosted Tekkorn-jen Sword, Maga-jen and Cheng-duk Amplifiers, he pulled some supreme Zun Amber from the ground  and… “Lae did you bring that other thing I asked you to? That from Marceline?” “Yes, of course, I had it in my pocket, so I wouldn’t lose it on the way, you know, it’s so little after all…” she added the parts of Marceline on top of everything and it was all ready.

Alee sprung in the air and started casting a forgotten spell, one that he had long ago learnt from his royal relatives, and which allowed him to transport things into the Nothingness, the land of no-homin, where the souls of all those with blighted seeds of life went to. As the spell landed on the pile of things, they turned into glitter and vanished. He descended and watched as the fire illuminated up the Hall… He knew what a good hunter Lacuna was, he was certain she would find the stuff, rejoice with memories of better times and face whatever may come as fierce as she ever had…

The campfire remains to date as a memorial for a lost loved one.

 
In memory of Lacuna, a great Hunter and friend, may peace and comfort find you on the other side. Words can not fully express my sorrow. You will be missed.

Wer hat bloß diese ganzen Eier auf Atys verstreut? Ich habe einen ganz argen Verdacht, dass es die Bruderschaft war, um die Homins zu versklaven. Eier verteilen, die Jetons enthielten, und dann alle Homins süchtig machen. Diesem bösen Treiben muss ein Ende gesetzt werden, bevor alle Homins dem Glücksspiel verfallen! Selbst eine Kitin-Armada würde so einige Homins nicht vom Platz an den Rädern wegbewegen. Traurig, wie die Homins auf diese Weise abstumpfen.

Alexarwe ist wirklich eine ganz nette Matisse, aber ich kann mir wirklich keinen Reim darauf machen, warum ihr stiller Freund Tomato ihr nicht von der Seite weicht? Ohne zu zögern lässt er sein Leben immer und immer wieder für sie. Eine ganz seltsame Beziehung führen die. Aber soll mich nichts angehen. Sie hat mich zum Buddeln in den Urwurzeln und zum Jagen eingeladen und sie hat sogar die Ausbeute geteilt! Das kann nicht von jedem Matis behaupten. Vielleicht ist sie doch mehr Tryker als Matis.

Neue Flüchtlinge sind angekommen. Es kommt kein Ansturm mehr, aber immerhin vereinzelt, manche verschwinden aber auch auf mysteriöse Weise. Keiner weiß genaueres. Ich vermute die Marauder stecken dahinter, die ihre Kampfkraft erhöhen wollen. Es braut sich da irgendwas zusammen.

Außenposten-Kämpfe wurden meinerseits keine gesichtet. Die Gubani-Rad-Sucht lähmt den Willen dazu. Einseits ist es vielleicht doch nicht so schlecht, die Homins zu beschäftigen, andereseits breitet sich das Goo aus und die Kitins wachsen zahlenmäßig. Auch wurde mir berichtet, dass Kitins im Majestätischen Garten gesehen wurden, aber nicht die Gewöhnlichen, sondern ganz Fiese, die man noch nicht kennt. Ich hoffe, das war nur ein Gerücht und lässt sich nicht bestätigen.

The next morning, when I was torn from my sleep by a puke attack with a hangover as white as a sheet, I instinctively ran to the water and had my stomach emptied downwards through my mouth. Those were once again those hours of remorse that I was allowed to commit with stranglehold. When I was finished, this wonderful female matis came to my mind again. "Virginia", I thought loudly. A little too loud, because the tryker from yesterday speaks to me.

“Lordoy! Ba Matis poch gyf!”
“Lordoy! Oy Talar. Det lor!”
“ Pact dyneer, Talar?”
“Y tywill detem! Y ameen detem! Elysem sulem name? ”
“Y Y’akdu! Y pact sul.”

Well, that's what I call a positive development! Someone will actually help me to see this graceful female matis named Virginia again. Y'kadu tells me at a sweet Stingoo how he knows her and how I can meet her. She belongs to the nobility and is of noble descent. "Well, if that's no challenge," I thought to myself. But getting to the Green Hills won't be easy, as he told me. There are supposed to be creatures I can't just dodge on the way there. What you don't do for love... Now I should also train and gain muscle mass, he just tells me by the way. Hello? I am Tryker! There is nothing with muscle mass. Yes, I have brown mass in my brain (some trykers probably less), but I am not a hollow nut, like a Fyros. Not with muscles, but with brains I reach my goal! So what is the plan? I have to be faster and more agile than the old critters on the way. "Hey, come here," the stable boy calls to me. Have I already thought out loud again? Well, it hasn't hurt so far. "So, what do you want from me lad?" I answered him when I was with him. "Top offer for you. I listened to you while you were making a loud monologue. What do you think? Cheap 5000 Dapper for a mount of your size. Dress and follow your command! I don't think twice about that. "Yes, I'll take it". "Since you are new here, the first one goes on the house. We'll see each other again very soon," he grinned deceitfully at me. I don't think anything about his greedy look and the rubbing hands. Strange way to greet someone new. But trykers are just a little "different". And while I get a card from Y'akdu and feed the mount, I think I can tell you one thing: The mount will be to blame for my emotional depth, even if it can't help it. Only patience! You'll find out why I can now make myself comfortable outdoors on a dead stinga. Tomorrow! Promise! * Eyes roll*

=> Ne suis allé à Thesos avec Serae Wu She-Peng.
C'était la première fois que ne me rendais dans cette cité depuis mon enlèvement.
Nous cherchions un Ktheros qui travail pour la Firme.

nos sacs étaient Lourd.

Quand nous l'avons enfin trouvé, Nous nous sommes approchés.
Son uniforme de garde était sale, et l'Odeur était à la hauteur de la crasse. Ses cheveux graisseux brillait au soleil, ses armes n'étaient pas entretenues...

Bref, nous avons négocié avec un homin qui doit être la lie de cette société primitive.
Cela m'a permis de revoir ma perception de cette société. Si on Considère leurs élites il n'est pas surprenant que cela descende si bas...

Après notre départ ce Fyros était beaucoup plus riche, espérons qu'il en profite pour se laver!

Bravo Azazor !

Je me permets de signaler une minuscule coquille :

Il y a confusion entre le traité de Karavia et le PAM.

2436 : traité de Karavia : marque la fin de la guerre des civilisations. Signé par Abylus l'Érudit, Loria et Aniro III.

2490 : Signature du Pacte d'Aide Mutuelle (PAM) par Leanon, Hoï-Cho, Yasson et Rigan Mac'Darrell pour lutter ensemble contre les Kitins.

Mes encouragement pour d'autres ouvrages à venir !