Somehow all the events that had taken place during the day had lead them to this very weird moment.
Mimiru found herself sitting on top of a small straw filled cushion, at the right side of Feugan while Bannon was on the left, both staring ahead at a campfire, with dozens of kobolds dancing around the disturbingly big ceremonial bonfire.
Immediately after the news of the burial ground consecration (and one very excitable dwarf passing out) had been known, the kobolds in the village started going back and forth like bees in a hive, full with purpose. Mimiru couldn’t help but to feel the excitement and relief on the air, it was almost palpable to her, possibly due to how her senses now included some sort of beastmaster-enhanced perception for the feelings of living beings. Or at least this was the only reason she could think of this change.
The handsome elven researcher Auric, told them that the kobolds had been in some sort of pilgrimage looking for a new settling based on a vision the kobold shaman had. Apparently the Kobolds had been wandering as a nomadic tribe for quite some time. In the very own kobold words (or at least from what the researcher team had managed to translate) the kobold tribe had been traveling and looking for their new home for 5 old moons and 3 new moons. This felt very cryptic to her, but the moment Auric had told her this and she looked at him with obvious confusion on her eyes, the elven researcher just shrugged and shook his head, showing how he shared her confusion regarding such an explanation of time. Of course this manner of astronomical approach made no sense to them. They knew of the term “new moon”, which was a widely spread measure of time. Even if it required more detail on which one of their 2 moons they were talking about. But it was a moot point for the moment, with all the researchers fully focused on a different subject. The researchers were engrossed with taking notes and sketches of the live and breathing kobolds, documenting all changes they were observing within the last few weeks.
And speaking of the researchers…
The 3 of them had been relentlessly taking notes for quite a while now, almost since the kobolds started their preparations for their celebration (after they managed to wake up their fallen comrade). With two of them taking notes while each one of them was assisted by a magic scribe spell. Light Notetaker. A fancy spell that you would see among magically inclined administrative workers. After a short incantation and using a few cheap catalysts, a pen made of light would start taking notes for you on a sheet of parchment (or that fancier papier preferred so much by merchants and the banking guild). A rather simple spell to take notes while the caster was occupied doing some other chore, as long as the tasks the caster was undertaking didn’t break his/her concentration, the spell could continuously take notes for them.
Mimiru briefly remembered the details of such spell, as she recalled from her own research on it. She initially thought it could be a handful tool to have available. Being able to take notes while examining animals and beasts. It seemed like the ideal tool for someone like her which original aim was to work in the stables of some noble, taking care of their animals and monsters. It seemed like something all too convenient (unlike the price tag on the scroll to learn the spell). All the while, she observed the research team taking body measurements and notes on the kobolds. Cheese coins were being handed freely to kobolds. They were being handed to any kobold willing to exchange some of their time and an intrusion to their personal space in exchange of the cheesy treats. The frantic exchange taking place was quite reasonable after all. For the kobold tribe as a whole had undergone physical changes within minutes of the hallowing of their burial grounds.
Mimiru just didn’t had the eye for physiological details the researchers seemed to have on them. So she was just forced to believe them as they were currently almost oozing with a zealous dedication to their research. She could hear some of the details as they continued giving notes to the dancing pens of light, notes on the shape and coloration of the scales, as they had apparently changed. Notes on the slight coloration of the little horns the kobolds showed on their heads, she even heard a comment on how one of the younger kids would probably develop horns on a different angle. From their excited expressions and continuous notes, she could see that there were many more things going on. In what seemed almost a choreographed odd dance performed by the 3 researchers. First, they would lure invite a kobold closer to them by offering a cheesy treat. Each volunteer, the next one of the line of willing subjects that had promptly formed, would be taken its measurements, size, limbs and tail’s lengths, then they would check the kobolds’ eyes, the scales, offer a cheese coin and invite the next one in the eager line of little mulberry colored beastkin lizards.
Weren’t they a little more cherry-colored like?... Must be the poor light inside of the cavern.
As the kobolds started their celebration, they dragged the 3 of them deeper into their encampment, it was then that they realized only the entrance had the looks of a burrow, deeper into the cavern, the place expanded greatly, one would be able to fit a building the size of the adventurers guild within this cavern with ease, quite possibly a few of them actually. It was now obvious to Mimiru that what she considered their main encampment was only a temporal settlement and this cavern was their desired place to occupy.
In the middle of this cavern they prepared a bonfire, possibly the next key place for their celebration. After some time, the kobolds had been going at it, reveling in the celebration for the newfound home, feasting and dancing without reserves.
They had been quick on preparing a small celebration, one that had seemed to extended for some time now. It was definitly hard to guess the pass of time within a cavern. A small celebration from which now they found themselves in a position of honor somehow. With the apparent arrival of their prophesized -Dragon Lord- to bless their final abode, Bannon and Mimiru were now somehow playing the roles of retainers (while conversing with the kobold shaman, she had managed to at least upgrade their standing from servants to retainers, conserving some modicum of dignity)
It was then that another log from the campfire cracked, in an overly loud manner, startling Mimiru. Again. This had been going for a while, she couldn’t help herself, those logs were making loud cracking noises. And sometimes with each crackle, she swore she could see small lightning arcs going out of the fire too. Which must be just her tired eyes and some sparks flying off from the same logs. The ceremonial fire, already way too big for the size of the campfire, seemed to burn with a will of its own, its flames reaching all the way to the roof of the cavern, licking on it everynow and then. Up there on the roof, the light seemed to be playing tricks as the shadows cast by the stalactites on the ceiling and walls seemed to dance almost at the same weird rythm the kobolds around the bonfire.
The Kobolds seemed unaffected by such shadows or sounds and continued dancing around the fire. If one was inclined on describing it as a dance at all. They movements involved a lot of waving their arms up and then towards the fire, thumping their tails on the ground and then some yapping. She found it weird that she could not understand those cries, which then again made her think it was just that, excited cries. Not so much of a song or even a chant at all but rather just some excited expression of joy.
Out of the corner of her eye she notices the Kobold shaman is standing beside her, staring (Maybe?) like her at the dancing and celebration talking place.
“We have been wandering for a long time now. Not all our brothers made it. But they accompany us in spirit even today. We are greatly indebted to you, human child. For now we can focus settle down, lay strong roots and grow strong”
“P-please just call me Mimiru. Besides, don’t you mean you are grateful to all of us? And even more so to Feugan? Since he was fundamental for hallowing your cementery?”
“Heh! One could see it that way”
He has a whole lot of these puns, doesn’t he?...
“It was shown to me, in my visions. There would be a Dragon of nobility in this land. We respect, and revere Dragons, but we make no mistake, we know they can be fickle and temperamental. It might be unforeseeable to the children dancing here tonight. But I know he is here tonight, thanks to you”
“How do you kno-”
“I saw it in a vision” hastily replied the Shaman, not letting Mimiru fully finish her question.
Of course…
“Now for more important matters. Lord feugan has told us you leave in the morrow back to your human settlement. Alas I see no better time than the present to proceed with the blessings”
She wondered if there was something else the shaman might be trying to avoid discussing. Right after giving his puzzling explanation he stood in front of Mimiru, and then for all intents and purposes, Mimiru swore he was looking all over her before holding her hands, each one on one of his own.
“I had problems looking at you when I first laid eyes on the 3 of you. Never seen so much light on living beings before” The kobold shaman continued his explanation while pressing Mimiru’s hands poking here and there with his clawed fingers, the onslaught of weird sight oriented jokes keeping her slightly distracted as he continued his prodding.
“It seemed weird to me. After consecrating our cementery and receiving the blessings of our gods old and new, I was shown a new vision. I couldn’t fathom a greater visage, granted the opportunity to assist in the protection of this realm!”
“Now. Make a small prayer to your gods and don’t mind the pinch”
“Wait. What do you mean-”
“Shhh! everything else can wait. For now, focus on an honest prayer and try to not pass out. The gods are understanding, but they appreciate the effort nonetheless”.
With his cryptic words said, he pressed clawed thumbs on both of Mimiru’s palms even before she could even decide if she wanted part on this or not, Puncturing her palms on 2 different points, somehow not drawing blood while doing it, the pinch in itself was nothing great but she immediately felt as if the shaman had injected something inside of her. “Did kobolds come with venom claws?!”
Before the brief thought could be further evaluated or properly made her go into full panic, she felt a gentle warmth surrounding her. Where the cold damp air of the cavern was felt before, now she felt enveloped by a soft and warm feeling all around her, it was not an unknown feeling to her, it actually brought forth warm and jubilant memories of her youth. A warmth that was present in all the joyous celebrations in her small village, the merry spring festival dances, the gentle warm winds on summer nights, the mirth of the harvest festivals, eating with family and friends under the cold winter starry nights.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of it, she then recalled the words of the kobold shaman, and so she closed her eyes and focused on earnestly repeating a simple prayer, one that her mother had once taught to her in order to show gratefulness to the nature and the spirits of the land. She did it so without paying attention to a towering draconic figure, seemingly made out of light, in front of her, or the visage of the kobolds, performing their hectic dance in company of whimsical dancing spirits. The towering Dragonic figure laid its eyes on her, watching her intently as she continued her prayer, and then, after deeming her resolution good enough, it gave a silent nod of approval and then turned towards Feugan. Determined to complete the mission it was entrusted and honored with. He needed to bestow the blessings while the gods saw him fit to be the vessel for such a task. He would see to it.
You have been successfully consecrated by a priest of the land.
You have acquired the ability to perceive and manipulate Divinity.
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…
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Learn and survive.
Persevere, Thrive. Do not falter while looking for thine happiness. Share thine blessings.
You are loved.
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