Fwurg

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava took of her shoes, walking into the garden barefoot.

As Ajava wondered how Amilia was able to walk over the gravel without discomfort, she decided that it had to do with her being a priestess. Ignoring any discomfort, Ajava stepped onto the gravel as well.

"That's not a rock?"

[Amilia]

Amilia looked up at Ajava's question.

"No, it's a Bundler." She explained. "It's a creature native to Stellaria. Unfortunately their nearly extinct. To see one outside a rock garden is almost impossible."

She stood back up and started to search the patterns in the gravel for something.

"Now the only thing missing is a Gravelhorn artist."

[Shebi Ajava]

"That's also a creature?", Ajava asked with a hint of confusion in her voice.

[Amilia]

"Yes, it is."

Amilia crouched near a pattern. She waved Ajava to come over. "look." With her index finger she tapped one of the stones in the pattern.

A shift went trough the pattern and a moment later a head lifted up from under the gravel. A snake the same colour as the gravel rose to about half a metre. The head was covered in horns and the scales on it's back look like small stones. It's forked tongue shot out a few times.

Amilia smiled.

"This really is a traditional Stellarian rock garden."

She held her hand out to the snake. After a moment of starring and flicking it's tongue at the hand it started to coil around Amilia's arm. It took up her entire arm and a bit more as it held it's head near her hand. It then started to stare at Ajava.

[Shebi Ajava]

Being used to the rather dangerous animals on Mirda, Ajava was not sure what to make of this.

"Amilia, are you sure that this is such a good plan? I can easily list twenty different species of snake that are poisonous enough to kill you within three seconds. And about half of them seem friendly enough at first, as they eat plants."

[Amilia]

"It's nice of you to worry, but unnecessary."

Amilia reassured Ajava.

"Gravelhorn artists are quite harmless, even at this size. They live of minerals in rocks or water and they are only poisonous if you eat them. Just don't step on them, they have a nasty bite."

While they spoke the Gravelhorn artist kept staring at Ajava, something that didn't go unnoticed by Amilia.

"Oh my, he seems to have taken a liking to you, Ajava. Why don't you try to hold him for a while?"

She held out her arm with the snake around it.

[Shebi Ajava]

Seeing how easy Amilia held the snake, Ajava held out her arm.

[Amilia]

The Gravelhorn artist moved closer to Ajava's hand. It slowly but steadily curled itself around her arm. It was heavier than Amilia had made it look.

When it finally had itself where it wanted it moved it's head behind Ajava's neck and laid it on the opposite shoulder.

"See? That's not so bad is it?" Amilia said with a wide smile. "He makes those patterns in the gravel. That's why Stellarian rock gardens always change."

[Shebi Ajava]

"Are the patterns they make of significance? Either for your culture, or for the creature itself?"

[Amilia]

"Not really, most just find the patterns pretty." Amilia said.

"But the creator of the rock garden always considers which Gravelhorn artist they want very carefully."

The snake started to move. It slithered around Ajava's body and leg and back to the ground. When it was on the ground it looked at Amilia.

She crouched down and gave a small kiss on the snake's head.

"May the stars guide you, even this far from home." Then the snake crawled back into the gravel.

Standing back up Amilia asked:

"Could you tell me something about yourself?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"Ehm... My father is Shebi Kiasekel, the patriarch of House Shebi. I became hemet when I was 14, and I accidentally burned down the forest I was walking in then. My parents had my whole education planned out for me: I had some time, well 10 years really, to train my new powers, and to get used to my new status and abilities while my parents arranged for the rest of my education.

The next 10 years were special operative training, the 5 after operative training I spent at the crimson academy to learn fleet command. After crimson academy I was placed in the House Shebi fleet army, where I rose through the ranks to become senior Fleet Admiral after only 20 years.

Then, on my 60th birthday, a Jedi Master literally landed his craft in the backyard of my parents' mansion, where I was at that moment."

Ajava laughed a soft laugh. "It's rather ridiculous isn't it? I am an 80 year old princess and a fleet admiral, standing with bare feet in a stone garden on a world without a sun, telling a high priestess old enough to be my daughter how I came to be here."

"So, now I want to hear your story."

[Amilia]

"Originally both my fathers where monks in the School of Purity. When they decided they wanted a child. They switched to the School of Knowledge, that freed them from their vow of chastity.

Ever since I was born I have been with the Divine Nova Triage. When I was 11 I joined the School of Purity by taking my vow of chastity. My fathers where so proud."

Amilia's face was expressionless, like she recited the memories from someone else.

"When I was 20 I became a Lady-Priestess. I went on pilgrimage for 2 years, teaching people about peace and happiness. At 28 I became a High Priestess and the Lady of Purity."

She paused for a moment.

"I gave up my friends, my family and even the name my fathers so lovingly gave me and took the name Amilia. That might be a little hard for you to understand, but a the direct representative of a Goddess can't have the same freedom or bonds as normal people."

Amilia gave a content smile.

"It was difficult at first. One morning I woke up and saw the White Goddess had just risen, I suddenly felt fulfilled and strong. Novalia gave me strength and I have never doubted my decision to join the Triage since."

[Shebi Ajava]

"Do you have any plans for the future? As I understand it, after you have served your godess, you can join another school and be freed of your vows?"

[Amilia]

"As the High Priestess I can't. Monks and Nuns of my School can leave for another school or the Triage in general. Lady-Priestesses can join another school, but usually don't. It differs slightly from school to school."

Amilia continued in a serious tone.

"In the STF leaders give up a part of their freedom, place themselves lower than their people. I am a leader of sorts, my personal wishes are secondary to the needs of my people. I will always represent the White Goddess Novalia, until the moment my Great Journey ends. The same goes for High Priestess Shiria for the Red Goddess Novalia and High Priestess Minoka for the Blue Goddess Lianee."

[Shebi Ajava]

"I am not sure whether I could do it."

"Should those below you not support you in your endeavour to protect and guide them? Surely, part of this support is ensuring that you are at peace, and well cared for. So, if you wish to have relations with someone, or a child with someone, why should you put such desires aside?

Those you guide and protect are better of if you yourself are happy. Denying yourself such basic feelings seems to be a good way to become unhappy and frustrated even, which would allow your enemies to have more influence on you..."

[Amilia]

"I think Astrians don't really feel the need for children as you do. It's more a rational decision, than a biological impulse.

And you needn't worry I am well taken care of by my people. I can understand that you find it strange, but it is just our way of doing things.
The members of the School of Purity must be pure themselves, the Lady of Purity must embody the concept. What is more pure than a maiden?

I'm content the way my life is right now. Happiness is like clear glass, when you look directly at it it's invisible. But change your perspective slightly and you can see it.

Besides I don't have enemies."

[Shebi Ajava]

"If you don't have any enemies, why are you escorted by a bodyguard?"

[Amilia]

"As I said before, some people have tried to act on their feelings for me without my consent.

And some people might think harming me will further their goals or harm the STF.

I don't consider those people my enemies. They're merely lost or misguided souls."

Amilia looked at a path where the Lady-Priestess the left earlier was walking down in Amilia's and Ajava's direction.

[Shebi Ajava]

"Misguided souls... That's an interesting distinction. I don't think such distinctions are made on Mirda."

Ajava noted the high priestess' bodyguard walking towards them.

"I take it that you have other appointments as well, Amilia?"

[Amilia]

"Yes, I do." Amilia closed her eyes for a moment to check the time.

"But I still have some time left. If you want to continue."

((OOC: I don't mind continuing a bit longer if you want. Otherwise we can finish this up.))

[Shebi Ajava]

"In all honesty, my jedi master has very perceptively determined that I don't need sleep. As such, he has kindly decided that I can train longer and more intensive than most others." Ajava voice was playful. "So, although I would like to talk some more with you I am afraid that I, like you, have other duties to tend to."

"High Priestess Amilia, it has been a pleasure to speak with you, and I hope to do so again in the future. Maybe I should visit your world, to see with my own eyes the dedication of the monks and nuns of your order."

((OOC: I'm fine with wrapping this up -- It has been immensely fun to roleplay this thread. Thank you!))

[Amilia]

"Than I shall keep you no longer. Thank you, for showing me around the gardens and teaching me a bit about your culture."

Amilia bowed to Ajava. Then she placed a small kiss on Ajava's forehead.

"May the Goddesses watch over you and light your Great Journey, Shebi Ajava. That our paths may one day cross again."

And with that blessing Amilia left the Gardens with the Lady-Priestess.

((OOC: Your very welcome.))

[Fecta Trigiel]

After the first round of the lightsaber championship, Trigiel started to get some more interested in the other cyborg, Nathan. He assumed he could find him somewhere in the garden around this time, so he went looking for Nathan.

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

After having talked with the Lady-Priestess for a while Nathan sat back down against the tree.

He Just sat there, observing his surroundings.

[Fecta Trigiel]

Trigiel found Nathan sitting against the tree. He walked closer and sat next to Nathan. "Ah Nathan, do you mind if I am going to sit here?

I was thinking, all my life I knew Teprogrenaian cyborgs, but I know only little about others, like you. For example, most of my organic bodyparts are rearranged to a more convenient setup, but you look like to be kept as original as possible."