A Desperate Plea (MT, TG for Entry)

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

OOC Thread

According to common Shrailleeni wisdom, there are two main types of matriarchy in the modern world today. The first are primitive, isolationist, peace-loving cultures who have maintained their values through seclusion. The second are fierce, warlike survivors who create or maintain their traditions through brutal force. Shrailleen itself, it is said, has taken the middle path. The Enlightened Matriarchy has never given up its devotion to peace and love, but it has always maintained that peace must often be defended at the point of a blade.

The Shrailleeni Empire has taken its place among the nations of the world, and is no stranger to war. In its home region the century of peace that has been so carefully maintained has begun to unravel, and once more it seems that the Enlightened Matriarchy will have to fight to defend its values and its honor.

It would seem that there is much to deal with. But from across the vast seas has come a message from a hitherto unnoticed country, a message of two parts. The first part claims that there live yet another population of people who worship the Mother Goddess, the original and true Creator of the universe who most of the world has forgotten in their ignorance. The second, claims that these Children of the Mother Goddess are being annihilated from the face of the world...

Bright Blessings to you,
I would love to visit, and I am currently on my way after I was smuggled out of my village, and I am now on a boat heading your way.

Yes our situation is certainly unique, since we are facing a regime that does not only want to ban our faith, but wipe out our culture, our history, our shrines, our clergy, our people and our way of life, and we will bring our remaining holy moonstones for safe keeping.

Our high priestess was supposed to accompany me, but she got arrested by the regime, so I fear we will never see her again.

Signed Gaius Daghnon.

Not to stand idle while Children of the Mother Goddess suffer abroad, the High Priestess of the Ancient Temple has arranged a meeting with this Gaius Daghnon. She has gained the attention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and has the ear of the Mother Empress herself. What the Shrailleeni can do for these desperate people is yet unclear, but they cannot ignore a plea for help.

[Arachkya]

According to common Shrailleeni wisdom, there are two main types of matriarchy in the modern world today. The first are primitive, isolationist, peace-loving cultures who have maintained their values through seclusion. The second are fierce, warlike survivors who create or maintain their traditions through brutal force. Shrailleen itself, it is said, has taken the middle path. The Enlightened Matriarchy has never given up its devotion to peace and love, but it has always maintained that peace must often be defended at the point of a blade.

The Shrailleeni Empire has taken its place among the nations of the world, and is no stranger to war. In its home region the century of peace that has been so carefully maintained has begun to unravel, and once more it seems that the Enlightened Matriarchy will have to fight to defend its values and its honor.

It would seem that there is much to deal with. But from across the vast seas has come a message from a hitherto unnoticed country, a message of two parts. The first part claims that there live yet another population of people who worship the Mother Goddess, the original and true Creator of the universe who most of the world has forgotten in their ignorance. The second, claims that these Children of the Mother Goddess are being annihilated from the face of the world...

Bright Blessings to you,
I would love to visit, and I am currently on my way after I was smuggled out of my village, and I am now on a boat heading your way.

Yes our situation is certainly unique, since we are facing a regime that does not only want to ban our faith, but wipe out our culture, our history, our shrines, our clergy, our people and our way of life, and we will bring our remaining holy moonstones for safe keeping.

Our high priestess was supposed to accompany me, but she got arrested by the regime, so I fear we will never see her again.

Signed Gaius Daghnon.

Not to stand idle while Children of the Mother Goddess suffer abroad, the High Priestess of the Ancient Temple has arranged a meeting with this Gaius Daghnon. She has gained the attention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and has the ear of the Mother Empress herself. What the Shrailleeni can do for these desperate people is yet unclear, but they cannot ignore a plea for help.

Gaius Daghnon is nervous, even when he walks off the boat that carried him to this strange new land, as he still carries the pain and the images of terror and death in his heart, as he sighs, dressed in a long gray coat, with several bodyguards around him, just in case the regime has sent a few assassins.

And so now he just waits, as he tries to feel the spirits of this new, modern, but somehow still clean land, with images of the polluted wasteland he left behind, but also images of the wild, forested paradise it used to be, before the dark times, before HE came back, with his new ''friends''.....

And a week ago, the regime killed his high priestess, his closest friend, by slowly sawing her head off with a bread knife.

He was going to bring a priestess, so the newly anointed Enya Dralakh, 23 years old, will have to do, a shy but determined young women, who only cares about the restoration of her lands, her people, her faith, and the holy balance the mother Goddess designed.

Enya Dralakh:

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Arrivals to the Shrailleeni islands by boat were unconventional, but not unheard of. The Shrailleeni had arranged to meet Gaius at the harbor of Allegarra, on the northern coast of the great island of Vangarra. It was a well-developed port but not one of the empire's primary trade centers, a place that they hoped was sufficiently out of the way to deter interference in this meeting. Not that security was a great concern, it would take incredible effort to sneak into the archipelago undetected by air or sea.

It was the beginning of the seasonal rains and the sky was covered in gray, rolling clouds. The seasonal winds cooled the tropical temperature of the islands somewhat, but it was still quite warm by any standard. The docks of the harbor sheltered a mix of merchant and fishing vessels, and smelled strongly of the sea. The city itself, one or two tall buildings standing out from a sea of plaster, stone, and wood, dominated the background, while far beyond lay the green canopies of the rainforest.

Waiting for Gaius and Enya was a welcoming party of Shrailleeni, containing the High Priestess of the Ancient Temple, a representative of the Matriarchy of Foreign Affairs, a SISI senior analyst, and a squad of Black Wing Imperial Guards. All of them were islanders of various description, naturally slim, relatively short, and brown-skinned with straight black hair. The High Priestess was a woman in her late sixties, with hair streaked gray and features lined with age. Her green eyes were still bright with life, however, and she greeted their visitors with warm regard. She wore white robes decorate with black designs that featured the oval-arcs, the symbol central to the Shrailleeni flag, and a long feather cape clasped at the neck with a simple rope.

"Welcome my Son, welcome Daughter. On behalf of Her Enlightened Majesty, you are now guests of the Shrailleeni Empire and under our protection."

The much younger woman representing the Matriarchy of Foreign Affairs stepped forward to assist in any details of translation that might occur, while the SISI analyst, a man in his late thirties, stood by with an aloof posture, looking the new arrivals up and down.

[Arachkya]

"We give thanks to your kind words, our lands have known suffering beyond the darkest dreams of our ancestors, and we fear the worst is yet to come, but we also feel renewed hope, as we now know we are not alone" Enya Dralakh says in perfect Shrailleeni.

And as Gaius is trying to contact home on his satellite phone they see a young boy is seen skulking in the background, clearly shy as goes on: "I hope you do not mind that we brought Arlan Kentohr, his father disowned him a 4 months ago, and he fled into our hands, he may seem odd, but he is very kind, especially if you consider who his father is", and the young lad seems both terrified and intrigued by the high priestess.

And as they both kneel they see Arlan has no idea what to do, so instead of kneeling he does the ''star power'' dance, from a game he played a lot, and this was the reason his father disowned him, because he viewed the behavior as ''to effeminate'', and the boy barely escaped with his life

Arlan Kentohr, 15 years old, son of the leader of the regime.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

The teenaged child choosing to perform some sort of interpretative dance was met with perplexed stares from the Shrailleeni. It might have been dismissed as a strange Arachkyan custom if the two adults had not been kneeling in a much more traditional greeting. Why the boy was incapable of mimicking simple social norms was a mystery, and most of the Shrailleeni guessed that he must be suffering from some sort of developmental issue. Which, considering who his father was, seemed like an extremely likely case.

"Arlan Kentohr, is the son of Arash Kentohr?" the SISI analyst now spoke up. How this group had learned to speak Railti was another surprise, and an intriguing one, but it did make everyone more comfortable.

"He is welcome in our lands, of course," the High Priestess said kindly. "All who follow the ways of peace are welcome here. But come, this is no place to discuss matters. Come to the temple, and we shall be more comfortable there."

The part was escorted by a waiting car into the city, where the tall spires of the Allegarra temple rose into the sky. There were many temples and shrines throughout the city, but this one was a primary congregational temple accommodating worshippers of all orders and sects. In Vangarran fashion it resembled a ziggurat with spires rising dramatically from each corner.

Once inside, the guests were taken to an office-like area and offered refreshment in the form of coffee or tea in addition to water. They were also offered food, should they wish it.

Once they were comfortable, the SISI analyst turned to the High Priestess and bowed his head. "With your permission, My Mother," he asked politely.

"Yes, let us turn to the matter at hand," she replied with a nod.

The man turned and formally introduced himself. "I am SISI Analyst Gravet Serras. There are matters of security I would like to discuss with you, Gaius. How did you manage to leave Arachkya? Is it possible that you are being tracked?"

[Arachkya]

The teenaged child choosing to perform some sort of interpretative dance was met with perplexed stares from the Shrailleeni. It might have been dismissed as a strange Arachkyan custom if the two adults had not been kneeling in a much more traditional greeting. Why the boy was incapable of mimicking simple social norms was a mystery, and most of the Shrailleeni guessed that he must be suffering from some sort of developmental issue. Which, considering who his father was, seemed like an extremely likely case.

"Arlan Kentohr, is the son of Arash Kentohr?" the SISI analyst now spoke up. How this group had learned to speak Railti was another surprise, and an intriguing one, but it did make everyone more comfortable.

"He is welcome in our lands, of course," the High Priestess said kindly. "All who follow the ways of peace are welcome here. But come, this is no place to discuss matters. Come to the temple, and we shall be more comfortable there."

The part was escorted by a waiting car into the city, where the tall spires of the Allegarra temple rose into the sky. There were many temples and shrines throughout the city, but this one was a primary congregational temple accommodating worshippers of all orders and sects. In Vangarran fashion it resembled a ziggurat with spires rising dramatically from each corner.

Once inside, the guests were taken to an office-like area and offered refreshment in the form of coffee or tea in addition to water. They were also offered food, should they wish it.

Once they were comfortable, the SISI analyst turned to the High Priestess and bowed his head. "With your permission, My Mother," he asked politely.

"Yes, let us turn to the matter at hand," she replied with a nod.

The man turned and formally introduced himself. "I am SISI Analyst Gravet Serras. There are matters of security I would like to discuss with you, Gaius. How did you manage to leave Arachkya? Is it possible that you are being tracked?"

Gaius sighed saying: "It is always possible, but I had to act, we used one of our traditional boats to reach a naval ship that escorts cargo ships passed our coast, and we were taken to the nearest port, where we boarded a ship donated by a friendly group of exiles, and now we are here"

In the meanwhile they see the young lad is happily eating as he listens to a song on his MP3 player, seemingly trying to get the high priestess to dance along with him for some reason, as their own priestess is on her knees, saying a mantra in an old language very few in Arachkya still speak:
"Grootse Moeder Aarde, bescherm ons en uw schepping"

Song the boy plays and the dance he does:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr0ntnbR09I

[Republica De Gran Chaco]

Allegarra, The Shrailleeni Empire

The old man rode in his small cart pulled by a Kalko. He had a grey beard and a weather-beaten face. On his head he had an old and faded red boonie hat that said enjoy Coca-Cola. The had did not match his tattered brown robes, but it kept the hot sun out of his eyes as he drove his cart down the streets of Allegarra towards the temple. Rarely did the old man make the journey into the city, and he disliked it immensely, preferring to live alone in the holy forest among the Mother Goddess’s bounty. When he was forced to travel into town, he always made certain to go and worship in the great temple and to thank the Mother Goddess for all she provided.

Long ago, the old man had moved from the land of Chaco, where the rest of the people in his poor village had taken to calling him a brujo and had run him out of town for his ways of worship and his belief. He had briefly tried to stay among the Intakin in Ashab, but their milquetoast ways and the oppression of the Republican government had moved him to the sacred soil of the Shrailleeni Empire. But that was long ago now, and for decades the old man had lived alone in the woods, seeking the ancient ways of the ancestors of men.

He stopped his cart and got out and patted his Kalko, “Now you rest easy cousin, I shall be out after thanking the Mother Goddess.”

The old man grabbed his tall and thick mahogany staff, that was stained and polished to a beautiful shine. He made his way into the temple. He prayed for some time and meditated on the goodness of the Mother Goddess, when some faint sound caught his ear. The old man got to his feet and shuffled towards the sound of scuffling and stomping, his curiosity leading him. He made his way through the halls as the faint sound grew, and soon opened a door to a room where several people were drinking tea and a youth was dancing.

The old man smiled and spoke, “Ah it is good to see a young lady dancing in the light and goodness of the Mother Goddess!”

[Mackjaracotavon]

The Kingdom of Cretia was, at times, a shield for various nations. It has existed relatively unchanged as a total monarchy since its formation in the 1200s AD, and for centuries, it protected its shores and colonies from pirates and would-be warlords. This "Guardian of the Realm" policy extended beyond its own interests in the late 1800s, when advances and glories of an industrial revolution swiftly turned into the horrors of the Great War. Then-King Louis V believed that "to preserve peace, we must sometimes act with war." and fought tooth-and-nail to have a technologically superior military of great strength, sparing no expenses in that regard. Their largest and state religion, Canonism, also had its own quasi-military force, the White Inquisition, dedicated to protecting the clergy and neutralizing void cults, as well as more noble acts such as diplomacy, peacekeeping, and humanitarian aid. It was an inquisition in name only.

King Mauer I stood on the balcony of his palace in Ruunfield with the queen, Henrietta III and their son, Prince Asriel. It was early morning, and they were eating breakfast as they watched the sunrise, overlooking the coastline. They were unaware that trouble was brewing until the High Pontiff of the church arrived with a message.

"Your Holy Reverence." Maurer said, shocked at the sudden arrival.

"Your Majesty. I just received a message from Mother Edith of Rivia." he said. His face was pale, enough that it was easy to see that something was wrong.

"Let me see that." Mauer said, gingerly taking the note.

Your Holy Reverence. It has come to my attention that a small Canonist priory that was sheltering those of another faith, the Children of the Mother Goddess, has been sacked and burned down. Father Hans has relayed everything to me, and it seems that holy relics were destroyed, and those he was sheltering were butchered. There was a young Cretian woman in her late teens who was staying there while her family discussed a business arrangement with the local duke. Hans has said that she was taken behind the burning building and shot... A small girl of the other faith was the only one who survived, and the Father is taking her in as an orphan... I don't know what to do, Your Holy Reverence, and my prayers have been of little consolation to myself and the families of the victims... I can only hope that GOD has the answers we seek, and that He shall lead you to make the right decision.

Sincerely, Mother Edith of Rivia.

Mauer was visibly shaken. War was one thing he was prepared for, but he never asked to respond to an unjust massacre of civilians.

"Honey, what is it?" Henrietta asked. Mauer crumpled up the note, still looking at the High Pontiff.

"How bad...?" he asked.

"There's still reports coming in that the aggressors are hunting down the Children of the Mother Goddess in their mad conquest, and it seems that Canonist strongholds and even Cretian lives are being targeted as a result of their efforts to preserve this peoples' way of life in foreign lands." top general reported. Mauer walked over and slumped in a chair, still reeling from the news.

The High Pontiff got himself together and promptly began to write a letter to the High Priestess.

OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF THE CANON AND OF THE KINGDOM OF CRETIA

To the benevolent high priestess of the Mother Goddess

It has recently come to light, that one of our priories has been sacked for trying to shelter people of your faith, its holy relics destroyed, and that one of the Cretian people were mercilessly killed in the process. Father Hans extends his sympathies in these dark times, as he and a little girl of your faith run to safety in our lands. His Royal Majesty and I agree, we cannot stand for the merciless killing of anyone regardless of whom they believe in. We therefore, by the grace of GOD most holy, open our doors to the people of the Mother Goddess, to come shelter among our people. His Royal Highness has ordered a joint task force of his military and of our inquisitors to ensure that those attacking your faith are stopped and pushed back. I pray that you accept our offer. May GOD shine a light through the darkness, and may the wings of the noble Azrael shelter those in need.

Signed - His Holy Reverence, High Pontiff Aeden II of the Holy Church of the Canon

Her Holy Reverence, High Mother Judith I of the Holy Church of the Canon

His Royal Majesty, King Mauer I of the Kingdom of Cretia

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Henrietta III of the Kingdom of Cretia

With the writing done and looked over, the letter was immediately sent to the High Priestess, awaiting whatever she were to respond with.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Great Temple, Allegarra

"That sounds like a safe enough passage," Gravet said, exchanging a glance with the woman from the Matriarchy of Foreign Affairs. "It would take some doing to infiltrate these islands, I can assure you of that. We have issued an advisory on anyone traveling from your homeland to go through a security check, whether by air or sea."

"I know that you must be eager to speak with the High Priestess further, but on behalf of Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress I am obligated to ask you a few questions. What is the situation in your homeland? We have seen conflicting reports, some say that your people are all but extinct, others say that a resistance movement continues. If there is resistance, the Mother Empress is interested in supporting it."

Meanwhile, the High Priestess was listening in half to the conversation, while also entertaining the young man dancing to what seemed to be his favorite song. She did not dance herself, but she looked upon him with great kindness and understanding of the trauma that he must be dealing with through that medium. She also listened to the Arachkyan priestess who was clearly praying in the fashion of her people, and offered to pray with her if she would like. She did not yet know for certain if they worshipped the same Creator, but she acted out of a compassionate intuition.

There were of course many other priestesses in the temple, as well as worshippers. As with most of the largest temples its doors were always open to the people of the city, as many wandered inside to pray or meditate, or to seek the services of the priestesses or priests for various official contracts or rituals. Among their number today was a young couple seeking to prepare the birth rituals for their expected child, a fish seller and a fruit seller who wished to formalize a business contract, and an old man who carried a polished mahogany staff. The latter of these, attracted to the sound of dancing in the room, quite unexpectedly flung the door open and entered to the see young Arlan performing his dance.

He smiled and spoke,

“Ah it is good to see a young lady dancing in the light and goodness of the Mother Goddess!”

The Head Priestess of the Temple, who too late realized his intention, hurried up behind him. She was a round-featured, matronly woman who upon seeing the High Priestess inside bowed in a hurried way that caused her to nudge the old man slightly.

"So sorry My Mother, I know that you wished not to be disturbed!"

The High Priestess only smiled. "Not at all My Child, we must not judge the inquisitive. May the Light of the Mother smile upon you," she said to the old man, "you arrive at an unusual time. We are in something of a meeting at the moment, this young woman and man are refugees newly arrived from a foreign land, and the child is with them."

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Official Message of the Enlightened Matriarchy of the Shrailleeni Empire

---

---

To His Holy Reverence, High Pontiff Aeden II of the Holy Church of the Canon,
Her Holy Reverence, High Mother Judith I of the Holy Church of the Canon,
His Royal Majesty, King Mauer I of the Kingdom of Cretia,
and to Her Royal Majesty, Queen Henrietta III of the Kingdom of Cretia,

Your Reverences and Your Royal Majesties, I greet you in the Mother's Light. The news that you have brought to me is a terrible tragedy, and though I am glad to learn that your people are active in sheltering the Children of the Mother Goddess from great violence and wickedness, I mourn for our collective loss. May these good and just acts be repeated, and may they those leaving this life return to the Mother's embrace and know bliss eternal. We must honor their lives with our own, to create a better world for those created to live upon it.

I have, in due course, spoken with Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen about the information that you have given, and the request that you have made. I have been endowed by the Mother of All with great insight, and I am entrusted by all Children of the Mother Goddess with the guidance to see to all spiritual matters, but the exactitudes of all laws and processes are not something that I daily familiarize myself with. It is in accordance with and toward those matters that the Mother Empress leads our people, and after some discussion she has requested additional information from you before a decision is made.

First I would like to give you my thanks, and the thanks of all of the Enlightened Matriarchy, for the kindness that you show the Children of the Mother Goddess and for your willingness to give us shelter in your lands. We recognize that our faith is not your own, and for many people this is justification enough for the making of great evil and violence. That you are not such a people is a great light and blessing, and the Mother surely smiles upon you.

Second, you have asked to send a joint task force of military and inquisitors, to seek the use of force in ending these attacks. A grave and unfortunate necessity is war, but to save the lives of the innocent must at times require this sacrifice. This we know and accept. But the evil of this world is great, and we are relatively few. Therefore, Her Enlightened Majesty bids you send a representative of this proposed force to our islands. She suggests that such a person meet with our own military advisors to discuss strategy and logistics. Once we know more about this threat, we shall be better prepared to act upon it.

May the Light of the Mother smile upon the people and government of Cretia,

The High Priestess of the Ancient Temple of the Children of the Mother Goddess,
on behalf of Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen

[The Worst Nation Possible]

In a abandoned warehouse, acting as the groups temporary headquarters.
"So, we don't even know who's hiring us?"
"No, and we don't need too."
"But don't you think it's just kinda odd that... whoevers paying us wants us to off this priest lady."
"No, it's not like we haven't killed religious leaders before."
"But this is different, this isn't some sort of pastor or priest in a church who's kids want his inheritance, this person is like The Shrailleeni Pope, quite a step up won't you say?"
"You didn't say anything when we killed that senator."
"No, I guess I didn't."
"Now, unless you have any other questions. We need to get going, the last known location was on in Allegares, when there we will link up to Group B. Before you go, make sure your documents are in order. The last thing we want is for a 5,000,000$ contract to go down the drain because a security guard starts asking up questions that we can't answer."

[Arachkya]

In a abandoned warehouse, acting as the groups temporary headquarters.
"So, we don't even know who's hiring us?"
"No, and we don't need too."
"But don't you think it's just kinda odd that... whoevers paying us wants us to off this priest lady."
"No, it's not like we haven't killed religious leaders before."
"But this is different, this isn't some sort of pastor or priest in a church who's kids want his inheritance, this person is like The Shrailleeni Pope, quite a step up won't you say?"
"You didn't say anything when we killed that senator."
"No, I guess I didn't."
"Now, unless you have any other questions. We need to get going, the last known location was on in Allegares, when there we will link up to Group B. Before you go, make sure your documents are in order. The last thing we want is for a 5,000,000$ contract to go down the drain because a security guard starts asking up questions that we can't answer."

OOC: DO not kill the child please, this is not GOT.

And it is against the rules.

IC:
Gaius then walked to the side as the young lad ventured off, followed by several bodyguards, as he seems drawn to something, or rather, someone, and Gaius just sighs saying: "Great, now Romeo thinks he can seduce somebody, Goddess help us", following him as he politely nods at the high priestess as he says:
"Sorry, the boy is a real handful, I hope you understand, i will be right back"

The lads father is notorious for going through women like a food addict goes through French fries, but the boy seems curious, and as he walks up to the windows he tries to get the attention of a boy his age on the other side, as he smiles and giggles, and the blonde boy outside smiles back at him.

Enya then walks up to the high priestess as bows and asks: "If you do not mind, I would like to ask you something.....Odd.....its about the occult", and she is cearly afraid of something, as if demonic spirits are lurking just beyond sight.

[Republica De Gran Chaco]

Allegarra, The Shrailleeni Empire

As the boy ignored the old man and brushed past him to wander about the temple with the rest of his entourage following him the old man chuckled and looked to the High Priestess, “Well, I suppose the meeting is adjourned for now. It is wonderful to see that you have given shelter to this young woman, though clearly mentally defective. No doubt the Mother Goddess smiles upon your charity.”

The old man reached into his robes and pulled out a cassava root in one hand and a handful of dried moss in the other. He crushed the dried moss in his palm and then held it up to his mouth and blew it onto the robes of the high priestess before offering her the Cassava root, “Gifts and blessings from the garden of the Mother Goddess, may this root serve you well and fill your stomach. As the Mother Goddess gifted it to me, so I give it freely to you.”

The old man sat cross legged and began a sort of chant with his eyes closed and his mahogany staff laid across his knees, “Long have I survived in blessed solitude deep within the forest. Long has the Mother Goddess provided. I seek no human contact and am blessed to live among the garden of the Mother Goddess, yet when I am forced to come to man’s scar on the sacred garden that is civilization I am blessed by seeing the holy kindness of such wonderful people, and they give me hope that a new generation will carry on the duty most high!”

The old man stood up again and began swaying back and forth waiving his staff in the air for several minutes, before pulling out more dried moss and sprinkling it on the floor. He looked to the high priestess again and asked, “I believe I am here for a purpose today, and I am at your service for any task large or small.”

[Arachkya]

Allegarra, The Shrailleeni Empire

As the boy ignored the old man and brushed past him to wander about the temple with the rest of his entourage following him the old man chuckled and looked to the High Priestess, “Well, I suppose the meeting is adjourned for now. It is wonderful to see that you have given shelter to this young woman, though clearly mentally defective. No doubt the Mother Goddess smiles upon your charity.”

The old man reached into his robes and pulled out a cassava root in one hand and a handful of dried moss in the other. He crushed the dried moss in his palm and then held it up to his mouth and blew it onto the robes of the high priestess before offering her the Cassava root, “Gifts and blessings from the garden of the Mother Goddess, may this root serve you well and fill your stomach. As the Mother Goddess gifted it to me, so I give it freely to you.”

The old man sat cross legged and began a sort of chant with his eyes closed and his mahogany staff laid across his knees, “Long have I survived in blessed solitude deep within the forest. Long has the Mother Goddess provided. I seek no human contact and am blessed to live among the garden of the Mother Goddess, yet when I am forced to come to man’s scar on the sacred garden that is civilization I am blessed by seeing the holy kindness of such wonderful people, and they give me hope that a new generation will carry on the duty most high!”

The old man stood up again and began swaying back and forth waiving his staff in the air for several minutes, before pulling out more dried moss and sprinkling it on the floor. He looked to the high priestess again and asked, “I believe I am here for a purpose today, and I am at your service for any task large or small.”

Enya than gave the old man a short nod, as she wonders what the ritual is for, and Arlan Kentohr is brought back by Gaius, as he was to the boy on the other side of the window, who seems quite charmed by his friendly demeanor.

Though Enya was terrified, especially after she heard rumors that the regime is hiring experts on the occult in an effort to not only destroy them physically, but spiritually as well, and to her that was perhaps even more terrifying, as it would wipe out their entire culture.

As if it had never existed at all.....

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

"I...suppose that is important, yes," Officer Gravet said with visible annoyance as Gaius walked off to attend to the boy and then addressed the High Priestess as though he hadn't asked anything at all. He and the woman from Foreign Affairs exchanged another glance. These were a strange people indeed. It was such an odd occurrence that they didn't even process the strange appearance of a blonde and therefore clearly foreign child in the temple.

The High Priestess, dealing with Priestess Enya and the appearance of the strange old man, first addressed the man. She watched impassively but not unkindly as he performed some sort of ritual unknown to her. She was familiar with the rituals and practices of every order and sect that existed under the known umbrella of Mother Goddess Worship, but there were often hermits and secluded mystics who sought a more personal connection with the Goddess. This was clearly one of those, and she was not in the habit of mocking such people.

She accepted the Cassava root graciously. "My thanks to you, My Child. It is clear that you have communed with the Goddess, and walk the Enlightened Path. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the High Priestess of the Ancient Temple."

At that time she turned back to Enya, her eyes full of curiosity and some empathy for the woman's obvious concern.

"Now, My Child, you mentioned the occult? This is another term for the supernatural, which are merely those aspects of the universe that we humans do not yet understand. All things, known or unknown, are creations of the Goddess My Child."

[Arachkya]

"Sorry but is that not saying there is no darkness?, I have seen the horrors of this world and the darkness in the souls of humanity, so is it not naive to believe all things are good?, creation is not a fairy tale full of rainbows and fairies after all" Enya says as she is confused, after all, the spirituality practiced by members of the regime is dark, twisted, power hungry and has an aura of dread about it, and she firmly believes that dark spirits were at work there.

"You should ask the boy, he has seen the worst of the "spirituality'' his father practices, and I can personally tell you it is not pretty, I have seen things that would make Stephen Ming wet his pants, and I have not even seen the worst of it, HE HAS" goes on as she points at Arlan Kentohr, and shows her a picture she got from a fled dissident, who took it at an official, government sponsored destruction ritual, as she wonders what the old man is doing.

But she does not want to disturb him, so she just waits for the high priestess to react.

The picture:

[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/lotr/images/d/d6/Black_Númenóreans_doing_a_ritual.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20090921074927[/img]

[Mackjaracotavon]

Having received a less than optimistic response, given the situation on context, plans were made over the past hour or so, and a new, shorter, response has been sent to the High Priestess.

To the High Priestess of the Ancient Temple of the Children of the Mother Goddess.

We have received your reply, and after thoroughly reading it, we have decided to discuss the matters at hand, in person. We have made arrangements to arrive ahead of the main fleet. My wife, the High Pontiff and the Grand Inquisitor will join me on the battleship HMCS Valiant to sail to your shores. GOD bless you.

Signed, His Royal Majesty, King Mauer I of the Kingdom of Cretia.

With the message quickly sent, he helped his wife pack for the journey. They then went to an awaiting vehicle to take them to Ruunfield harbor.

(OOC: sorry, short post.)

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

"Sorry but is that not saying there is no darkness?, I have seen the horrors of this world and the darkness in the souls of humanity, so is it not naive to believe all things are good?, creation is not a fairy tale full of rainbows and fairies after all" Enya says as she is confused, after all, the spirituality practiced by members of the regime is dark, twisted, power hungry and has an aura of dread about it, and she firmly believes that dark spirits were at work there.

"You should ask the boy, he has seen the worst of the "spirituality'' his father practices, and I can personally tell you it is not pretty, I have seen things that would make Stephen Ming wet his pants, and I have not even seen the worst of it, HE HAS" goes on as she points at Arlan Kentohr, and shows her a picture she got from a fled dissident, who took it at an official, government sponsored destruction ritual, as she wonders what the old man is doing.

But she does not want to disturb him, so she just waits for the high priestess to react.

The picture:

([url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/lotr/images/d/d6/Black_Númenóreans_doing_a_ritual.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20090921074927]Image[/url])

"All things come from the Goddess My Child," the High Priestess said calmly, "but not all things are good. She has given to Her Children the Enlightened Path, so that by following it we may bring ourselves closer to oneness with Her. Those who reject the Enlightened Path stray farther from Her Light, and become lost. It is from these people that the darkness you speak of emanates."

She looked at the photograph, taking in the strange sight. She had seen many things in her lifetime, including things that evoked terror and revulsion, things that the science of modern times could not explain. This image did not shock her any more than those things had.

"We have nothing to fear from the darkness," she said finally, and with a conviction born of experience. "The Light of the Mother is the Light of Creation, there is no force more powerful in all the universe. Let that Light into your heart My Child, let it fill up your every breath and thought, and there is no evil from the hearts of men that can douse your spirit. And when we let it guide our actions, when we give ourselves to the will of the Goddess, then shall all the cruelties of humankind be resisted."

She lay a hand on Enya's shoulder, and smiled at her reassuringly. "That is what brought you here. These lands are filled with Light of the Goddess, women and men who walk the Enlightened Path as one. To defeat evil and promote good requires righteous action, and here we are a nation with the will to act."

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Official Message of the Enlightened Matriarchy of the Shrailleeni Empire

---

---

To His Royal Majesty, King Mauer I of the Kingdom of Cretia,

Your Royal Majesty,

Allow me to offer my greetings to you on behalf of Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen. My Mother the High Priestess of the Ancient Temple has instructed me to respond to your letter on her behalf. She looks forward to meeting you, but matters of state such as these require expertise beyond that of the spiritual.

As Foreign Minister for the Enlightened Matriarchy it is my great honor to arrange for your arrival and welcome to our lands. We shall expect the singular battleship HMCS Valiant to arrive at the Imperial Naval Yard of Vrenetesse. I shall attach the relevant shipping charts to this message, and ask that you take care to remain in international waters for the duration of your journey. A somewhat severe military conflict has recently broken out in our region, and we would not like to see your forces caught up in it.

Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress shall arrange to meet with you personally, and Your Royal Majesty, Her Royal Majesty, the High Pontiff, and the Grand Inquisitor as well as all of your declared entourage shall be treated as Honored Guests of the Mother Empress for the duration of your stay here.

I would like to stress two things for your consideration. First, our enemy is somewhat of an unknown to us at this time. It is for that reason that we are slow to action, as it is not our custom to fight an enemy about whom we know very little. Second, we must request that you delay sending the remainder of your fleet for the time being. Regional tensions being what they are, it would do more harm than good until we know more about what is to be done.

Foreign Minister Zattem Resbruck,
on behalf of Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen

[Arachkya]

"Sorry but is that not saying there is no darkness?, I have seen the horrors of this world and the darkness in the souls of humanity, so is it not naive to believe all things are good?, creation is not a fairy tale full of rainbows and fairies after all" Enya says as she is confused, after all, the spirituality practiced by members of the regime is dark, twisted, power hungry and has an aura of dread about it, and she firmly believes that dark spirits were at work there.

"You should ask the boy, he has seen the worst of the "spirituality'' his father practices, and I can personally tell you it is not pretty, I have seen things that would make Stephen Ming wet his pants, and I have not even seen the worst of it, HE HAS" goes on as she points at Arlan Kentohr, and shows her a picture she got from a fled dissident, who took it at an official, government sponsored destruction ritual, as she wonders what the old man is doing.

But she does not want to disturb him, so she just waits for the high priestess to react.

"All things come from the Goddess My Child," the High Priestess said calmly, "but not all things are good. She has given to Her Children the Enlightened Path, so that by following it we may bring ourselves closer to oneness with Her. Those who reject the Enlightened Path stray farther from Her Light, and become lost. It is from these people that the darkness you speak of emanates."

She looked at the photograph, taking in the strange sight. She had seen many things in her lifetime, including things that evoked terror and revulsion, things that the science of modern times could not explain. This image did not shock her any more than those things had.

"We have nothing to fear from the darkness," she said finally, and with a conviction born of experience. "The Light of the Mother is the Light of Creation, there is no force more powerful in all the universe. Let that Light into your heart My Child, let it fill up your every breath and thought, and there is no evil from the hearts of men that can douse your spirit. And when we let it guide our actions, when we give ourselves to the will of the Goddess, then shall all the cruelties of humankind be resisted."

She lay a hand on Enya's shoulder, and smiled at her reassuringly. "That is what brought you here. These lands are filled with Light of the Goddess, women and men who walk the Enlightened Path as one. To defeat evil and promote good requires righteous action, and here we are a nation with the will to act."

Enya then takes a deep breath and says: "So you are saying the darkness is powerless?, how is that?, I have seen villages destroyed, innocent people massacred, entire scared groves burned down, and I swear that I saw dark spirits in the smoke, sorry but I do not believe this problem can just be waved away"

She then gave the high priestess another picture, showing a newly constructed dark temple in the capital city of Nashka city:

She may not have the experience herself, but she does have the experience of her tribre, passed to her through years of training, and she lifts up her head and says: "We need real action, both physical action and spiritual action, we need both the weapons to fight the regimes killers, and the power to drive away the dark spirits, after all, the regime recently appointed a ''minister of faith'', a twisted figure called Szandor Lavras, we are facing true evil"

"The regime is implementing dark magic, I have sen its effects among my people, and the land, such as old sacred groves that do not grow back, not even after we removed the top soil, blessed and re fertilized the whole area, there are dark forces at work, and we need both the sword and the sage to cleanse the lands of them" Enya says as Arlan walks up to them, listening to their conversation as Enya thinks and thinks of something else.

But before she can go on they are interrupted by Arlan Kentohr, who asks: "What does ''oneness with Her'' mean, it sounds scary, like one would lose their individuality, which would almost be like being devoured and absorbed by the Goddess, at least that is the way my father described it", in a friendly though inquisitive way, as Gaius looks down, seemingly embarrassed by the young man's curious outburst.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Enya then takes a deep breath and says: "So you are saying the darkness is powerless?, how is that?, I have seen villages destroyed, innocent people massacred, entire scared groves burned down, and I swear that I saw dark spirits in the smoke, sorry but I do not believe this problem can just be waved away"

She then gave the high priestess another picture, showing a newly constructed dark temple in the capital city of Nashka city:
Image
Image

She may not have the experience herself, but she does have the experience of her tribre, passed to her through years of training, and she lifts up her head and says: "We need real action, both physical action and spiritual action, we need both the weapons to fight the regimes killers, and the power to drive away the dark spirits, after all, the regime recently appointed a ''minister of faith'', a twisted figure called Szandor Lavras, we are facing true evil"

"The regime is implementing dark magic, I have sen its effects among my people, and the land, such as old sacred groves that do not grow back, not even after we removed the top soil, blessed and re fertilized the whole area, there are dark forces at work, and we need both the sword and the sage to cleanse the lands of them" Enya says as Arlan walks up to them, listening to their conversation as Enya thinks and thinks of something else.

But before she can go on they are interrupted by Arlan Kentohr, who asks: "What does ''oneness with Her'' mean, it sounds scary, like one would lose their individuality, which would almost be like being devoured and absorbed by the Goddess, at least that is the way my father described it", in a friendly though inquisitive way, as Gaius looks down, seemingly embarrassed by the young man's curious outburst.

The High Priestess smiled kindly at Arlan and spoke to him first. "Not at all My Child. We all come from the Goddess, we are born of Her and shaped by Her. In a way, we are a part of Her in life. She is the source of our thoughts and emotions and the substance of our bodies. To return to Her is to be become whole, that you may experience the great oneness of creation among the stars or return to the world born anew."

Then she turned back to Enya, ably turning the conversation back to this subject. "You allow fear to cloud your thoughts My Child. Clear your mind, commune with the Goddess. As I said before, darkness stems from the hearts of men who reject the Light of the Goddess. Those who truly reject the Goddess, who purposefully subvert the Enlightened Path, become the Unembraced, severed from Creation. Their powers are a pale reflection of the Light of Creation, but that does not mean that they are not dangerous. That is why you are here."

"Yes, My Lady," said Officer Gravet, stepping forward with barely contained impatience.

"My Mother," the High Priestess corrected gently. "She is a Priestess after all."

"Ah, er, yes of course My Mother," he bowed, but then continued. "As I have been trying to say before we were so rudely interrupted, the Mother Empress is highly interested in supporting your people, but we need more information!" He looked at Gaius. "I asked you before Sir, about the situation in your homeland. We know next to nothing about your situation. Does the rebellion still exist? If you were able to leave, could we get inside? What are the size and composition of the enemy's forces?"

"Patience My Child," the High Priestess admonished softly. "They have been through much. But Gravet is correct," she continued, looked at Enya. "Evil stems from the hearts of men, but righteousness stems from the hearts of those who follow the Enlightened Path. Why are you here, if not to seek out our arms and soldiers to save your land?"

[Arachkya]

The High Priestess smiled kindly at Arlan and spoke to him first. "Not at all My Child. We all come from the Goddess, we are born of Her and shaped by Her. In a way, we are a part of Her in life. She is the source of our thoughts and emotions and the substance of our bodies. To return to Her is to be become whole, that you may experience the great oneness of creation among the stars or return to the world born anew."

Then she turned back to Enya, ably turning the conversation back to this subject. "You allow fear to cloud your thoughts My Child. Clear your mind, commune with the Goddess. As I said before, darkness stems from the hearts of men who reject the Light of the Goddess. Those who truly reject the Goddess, who purposefully subvert the Enlightened Path, become the Unembraced, severed from Creation. Their powers are a pale reflection of the Light of Creation, but that does not mean that they are not dangerous. That is why you are here."

"Yes, My Lady," said Officer Gravet, stepping forward with barely contained impatience.

"My Mother," the High Priestess corrected gently. "She is a Priestess after all."

"Ah, er, yes of course My Mother," he bowed, but then continued. "As I have been trying to say before we were so rudely interrupted, the Mother Empress is highly interested in supporting your people, but we need more information!" He looked at Gaius. "I asked you before Sir, about the situation in your homeland. We know next to nothing about your situation. Does the rebellion still exist? If you were able to leave, could we get inside? What are the size and composition of the enemy's forces?"

"Patience My Child," the High Priestess admonished softly. "They have been through much. But Gravet is correct," she continued, looked at Enya. "Evil stems from the hearts of men, but righteousness stems from the hearts of those who follow the Enlightened Path. Why are you here, if not to seek out our arms and soldiers to save your land?"[/quote]

Enya then nods as Gaius says: "I can give you our reports, and yes we still exist, but barely, our primitive weapons are no match for the overkill of the enemy war machine, and to think that it all started so small", and Enya says: "My mother even knew him, she said he was a quiet boy, almost like his son, until something broke inside him", as she looks at Arlan, who seems disgusted, as he tries to keep up his happy appearance.

"And evil can come from the hearts of women as well" Arlan whispers as he looks around him, seemingly nervous as he smiles, but his eyes are full of fear for some reason, as he sighs and tarts to walk, followed by 3 bodyguards, bowing to the high priestess before he strides off.

Gaius then says: "We are fighting with throwing spears, bows and clubs, while our enemy has machine guns, tanks and jet fighters, they rain death on us, and they have already massacred 17.000.000 of our people, we need better weapons, or we will be wiped out within the year, because we can not hide forever, we can use the black market to smuggle the weapons too our rebel warriors", as Enya says: "I wish things were different, but we need fire to fight fire"

[Republica De Gran Chaco]

Allegarra, The Shrailleeni Empire

The old man was sitting quietly on the floor listening to the strangers speak to the high priestess. He had taken out a handful of coca leaves and stuffed them into his mouth to chew on. The talk of great evil and the occult made him shudder. Long had he been at war with ancient demons deep in the forest, banishing them to the other realm. No doubt this city priestess was too young and inexperienced to know the daily evils that men faced. He blurted out with some drool escaping his lips, “Great darkness lives on. Difficult to fight it, but though the love of the mother goddess it can be done. Ancient and wicked things still roam the earth, hideous abominations left over from the great war that the Mother Goddess waged to cleanse the earth for her children to be born and live freely.”

He watched the simple-minded child walk off and then listened to the horrors described at the massacre of seventeen million people who foolishly tried to fight man’s wars like gangs of savages. Even the poorest rebel factions in Ayaca knew to use bombs and guns, these poor ignorant people must have used those weapons out of some kind of belief that bullets would not touch then, similar to what he had heard Dengalis had tried in some war or other. He handed a cassava root to each Gaius and Enya, and said, “Surely one who kills so many can defeat any uprising short of an all-out invasion, but that is not the important subject! Those are the works of man. The darkness you spoke of, the occult, is what we should battle first. Those are powers not understood by humanity, and can cause suffering far worse than the eradication of a nation. The Mother Goddess weeps for your loss, but now she is comforting them in Elysium, and we must thank her for that. The Dark ones, however wish to spread the darkness throughout all lands and nations, to choke everything that is good on this earth and to pull all people into the tar pits of ukhu pacha.”

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Enya then nods as Gaius says: "I can give you our reports, and yes we still exist, but barely, our primitive weapons are no match for the overkill of the enemy war machine, and to think that it all started so small", and Enya says: "My mother even knew him, she said he was a quiet boy, almost like his son, until something broke inside him", as she looks at Arlan, who seems disgusted, as he tries to keep up his happy appearance.

"And evil can come from the hearts of women as well" Arlan whispers as he looks around him, seemingly nervous as he smiles, but his eyes are full of fear for some reason, as he sighs and tarts to walk, followed by 3 bodyguards, bowing to the high priestess before he strides off.

Gaius then says: "We are fighting with throwing spears, bows and clubs, while our enemy has machine guns, tanks and jet fighters, they rain death on us, and they have already massacred 17.000.000 of our people, we need better weapons, or we will be wiped out within the year, because we can not hide forever, we can use the black market to smuggle the weapons too our rebel warriors", as Enya says: "I wish things were different, but we need fire to fight fire"

The woman from the Foreign Affairs Matriarchy spoke for the first time, in the form of a quiet "spears and clubs" gasped audibly under her breath. The other Shrailleeni did not seem to react strongly to this information.

"How effective is this black market?" Gravet asked with curiosity. "Would it be possible to smuggle something as large as, say, a vehicle as well as small arms? Ideally of course we would also send a few of our own forces to train your people in the use of these weapons, or they are likely to do more harm than good..."

It was at this point that the strange old man from the jungle stood up to speak once again. He seemed greatly upset and invigorated by the prospect of the occult being involved in what was transpiring in Arachkya. The High Priestess was able to follow his words better than the other two Shrailleeni, who were not as well-versed in spiritual matters, although she had to guess from context that Elysium referred to the afterlife of reunification with the Goddess and that ukhu pacha referred to the state of being Unembraced. It was true that some orders of the Ancient Temple believed in the existence of an afterlife of relative suffering, although the Temple as a whole was divided on its interpretations of that afterlife. As High Priestess, her understanding was of a spiritual state of separation from Creation, a state that would surely be one of fear and loss.

"There is truth in what you say," she told the old man, to the incredulous looks of the other Shrailleeni. "We cannot ignore the spiritual menace of so many who reject the Goddess so violently gathered to do their works toward a single purpose. Perhaps we should send Priestesses back to your lands as well," she said as she turned to Enya, "those who are versed in battling that which is often unseen."

"With all due respect My Mother," Gravet said, his eyes widening, "Priestesses? Civilians? Into an active war zone? Even if we invaded the country with the full might of the Imperial military we could not guarantee their safety!"

"Calm yourself My Child. We who walk the Enlightened Path fear no worldly danger. It is as our friend here has said, there are terrible things in this world. It is our duty to destroy them, it is our calling, so far as we are able."

[Arachkya]

[spoiler]

Enya then nods as Gaius says: "I can give you our reports, and yes we still exist, but barely, our primitive weapons are no match for the overkill of the enemy war machine, and to think that it all started so small", and Enya says: "My mother even knew him, she said he was a quiet boy, almost like his son, until something broke inside him", as she looks at Arlan, who seems disgusted, as he tries to keep up his happy appearance.

"And evil can come from the hearts of women as well" Arlan whispers as he looks around him, seemingly nervous as he smiles, but his eyes are full of fear for some reason, as he sighs and tarts to walk, followed by 3 bodyguards, bowing to the high priestess before he strides off.

Gaius then says: "We are fighting with throwing spears, bows and clubs, while our enemy has machine guns, tanks and jet fighters, they rain death on us, and they have already massacred 17.000.000 of our people, we need better weapons, or we will be wiped out within the year, because we can not hide forever, we can use the black market to smuggle the weapons too our rebel warriors", as Enya says: "I wish things were different, but we need fire to fight fire"

The woman from the Foreign Affairs Matriarchy spoke for the first time, in the form of a quiet "spears and clubs" gasped audibly under her breath. The other Shrailleeni did not seem to react strongly to this information.

"How effective is this black market?" Gravet asked with curiosity. "Would it be possible to smuggle something as large as, say, a vehicle as well as small arms? Ideally of course we would also send a few of our own forces to train your people in the use of these weapons, or they are likely to do more harm than good..."

It was at this point that the strange old man from the jungle stood up to speak once again. He seemed greatly upset and invigorated by the prospect of the occult being involved in what was transpiring in Arachkya. The High Priestess was able to follow his words better than the other two Shrailleeni, who were not as well-versed in spiritual matters, although she had to guess from context that Elysium referred to the afterlife of reunification with the Goddess and that ukhu pacha referred to the state of being Unembraced. It was true that some orders of the Ancient Temple believed in the existence of an afterlife of relative suffering, although the Temple as a whole was divided on its interpretations of that afterlife. As High Priestess, her understanding was of a spiritual state of separation from Creation, a state that would surely be one of fear and loss.

"There is truth in what you say," she told the old man, to the incredulous looks of the other Shrailleeni. "We cannot ignore the spiritual menace of so many who reject the Goddess so violently gathered to do their works toward a single purpose. Perhaps we should send Priestesses back to your lands as well," she said as she turned to Enya, "those who are versed in battling that which is often unseen."

"With all due respect My Mother," Gravet said, his eyes widening, "Priestesses? Civilians? Into an active war zone? Even if we invaded the country with the full might of the Imperial military we could not guarantee their safety!"

"Calm yourself My Child. We who walk the Enlightened Path fear no worldly danger. It is as our friend here has said, there are terrible things in this world. It is our duty to destroy them, it is our calling, so far as we are able."

Gaius followed the conversation as Enya just stood silent for a while as the warrior says: "Small arms, and people, vehicles are impossible, since all fuel supplies are controlled by the government, and we do not want to damage our forests even further, and we would appreciate the gesture, but I think our own clergy just need more training, since much of the old rituals where lost with the death of our high priestesses"

And during this time it is Arlan Kentohr who stands next to the old man as he murmurs: "Is it me or are men viewed as the servants of he women here?, that is what father used to scream in his sleep, no idea why, he just kept yelling "Women are not incharge anymore'' and ''I am not a part of you'' and ''Don't eat me you false goddess!'', all night, I used to wear earplugs'', as he casually sways from one foot to the other, staring at a teen aged boy on a billboard outside the same way a toddler looks at a candy store.