In the Worldship

[Blue but beautiful]

The presence of the pair who had concerned Elan before, now seemed in deep conversation yet again. This time in tones so hushed, she could barely hear them over the noise of the crowd.

Almost regrettably, she was ushered to depart the crowd and make for the dais in the center of the great chamber to address the crowd, as would many this day.
Familiar faces aside, this task was somewhat daunting and she knew well of the consequences of uttering words that might fall foul with some factions within the strict caste system.

The attendants remained with her until she - familiar in tow - reached the podium where a low ranking seer from the deception sect waited holding out a dagger-like coufee.
Taking it into her hand, she drew the blade across her palm before handing the ceremonial weapon back to the seer. Curling her hand into a fist she allowed the blood that flowed and dripped from the fresh wound to spatter against the coral beneath her feet.
It was a ceremonial mark of respect or devotion to the gods, this hall was sacred.

The same was not required of Vergere, that would have been considered an insult. Truly, unless that was, she was offering the Fosh up as a simple blood sacrifice.
It bode well for Vergere then, that Elan had absolutely no intention of that.

Turning toward the crowd, she waited until many were silent and watching.

"I bring only a simple message on this day that precedes our arrival." She began as she cast her gaze around the room, noticing a few more familiar faces in the crowd. "The gods have given the awaiting galaxy to us, you all heard the words decreed. That we must bring with us the true way, purge it of the infidels that inhabit it falsely." This was no new information, it was what was to come next that had relevance.

"I bring only a simple message of caution through devotion." Now the crowd, in particular the warriors, seemed curious. Good.

"It has not escaped the attention of the deception sect, how many of those advancing through the infidel's worlds even now, have neglected the needs of Yun-Harla. For she is closely entwined with the one, the slayer, that you warriors call upon for strength each time you go into battle."

Elan could see several members of the warrior caste shift uncomfortably, others snarling and snapping retorts to their surrounding caste-mates. Those among the deception sect further across the hall however, all gave approving glances.

Hand still bleeding, droplets of ebony trailing down the side of her robeskin to form spattered patterns on the floor, caused Ngdin's to trail their way over to her and devour the residue.

"Devote too much to one and neglect the other- who's divine intervention you will need- you will earn the raw end of Yun-Harla's cloaked embrace."

Indeed, along with the lover gods, Yun-Harla and Yun-Yammka were often referred to as 'the twin gods'. Each went hand in hand where conquest was concerned, but the warriors had become too reliant on the aid of Yun-Yammka, the slayer, to allow them to prevail in battle. This would surely anger Yun-Harla, who thrived in the deception of others.

"Pay diligence to the cloaked goddess, this I suspect, may turn the tide of the recent failures of those who went ill prepared into the galaxy the gods provide us with." The warriors had quietened somewhat now,

"Taan Yun-forqana zhoi! "

Her point placed firmly across, she stepped back to allow the next speaker their chance.

[Elmira Val]

For what seemed many standard hours later, the ardent speakers had strongly reinforced and contradicted Elan's point five times over like a flock of mating crabs.
Most noticeably, a pair of followers of the Undying Flame had encouraged the warriors to seek romantic aid more often and drawn off a steady stream of uncomfortable looks and barely concealed eyesack blushing from their intended audience as they rattled off the benefits of a bleeding-prone session of neck biting.

"Had'reh, I should be considering my relationship to you." Ingo said, trying hard not to sound nervous.
The other temple guard declined to answer. She was contemplating the best method of giving a clear show of masculinity but felt rather inadequate.

"Mistress, was there any unity to this?" Vergere asked as they made their way through the final procession. There was some time left for the ceremony to wind down, and the cloaked temple workers had lain a traditional reception meal on the back of a servant arachnid sent Elan's way.

[Blue but beautiful]

Exiting the grand cavern-like hall had been far more taxing than entering it. Almost an hour after the ceremony it's self had ended, persons of all castes - with the exception of the shamed - were still filling out or milling around.

Many were discussing the speech given by those priests who dedicated their lives to the 'undying flame' as their sect were known. Every so often Elan would catch word of others views on the whole thing, mostly the words of opinionated warriors or highly strung shapers, their tendril-covered headdresses curling in mild amusement.

"Mistress, was there any unity to this?" Vergere's voice floated musically out of the crowd's noise, causing the priestess to pause mid-action as she had reached for an item on the moving biot meandering past.

At first it was a puzzled look she presented her familiar with, but this was shortly followed by a more serene - if one could call it that - expression.
"That is our wish, the gods' wish." she responded as though she had expected the question...she knew however, that she had not.
"However such a unity is reached, this will please them...we have spent too long on petty domain rivalries, it is time to set them aside and...as you put it, unite in one way or another."

Elan noted the strange look of amusement in Vergere's eyes then, it had been apparent for only the smallest of moments, but she had seen it none the less.
"This amuses you my pet?" She queried almost suspiciously, why would she have reason to suspect anything advertant of this one? Perhaps she had misread her. She would give Vergere chance to answer first.

[Elmira Val]

"It can be said of many things that they are amusing. Several speakers were contradicting each other. Is is not disunity if proof if not in purpose?"
Vergere twisted her wrists in mock confusion, and stepped in tune with a chorus line of the Undying Flame making elaborate spins in the name of the Twins.
"But, I suppose the mission will continue regardless of petty monologue..."
As Vergere said this, a priestess, or a priest, scantily clad in black skin straps was encouraged to take Vergere's hand. The troupe was filing merrily out of the crowd.
Another one took Elan by the shoulder as her attention was turned away.
"Have the Lovers inducted you into the dance? I hear, I hear that the followers of Yun-Harla are amiably involved...."

[Blue but beautiful]

The crowd soon began to pick up momentum and intensity as the members of the undying flame joined the fray, clearly this little celebration would go on well into the day cycle, perhaps the night too.
Vergere was soon swept up by it and Elan recalled a time when her familiar had so loved to dance. Though she had not been her's at the time, she had heard tales from the priestess Falung of how Vergere had performed some kind of dance to entertain her and her peers, when she had first arrived aboard the worldship. Sadly though, this tale told also, of a time when the worldship had become so far away from the infidel galaxy, that Vergere's ability to perform such dances had vanished almost all together.

Perhaps this is why she is able to do so now? We are ever closer to our destination. She pondered as she watched the fosh become swept up by the others. Such things always had a tendency to get out of hand.

Before barely another moment had passed, Elan's attention was caught by another of the Priestesses that had introduced Vergere to the celebration.
"Have the Lovers inducted you into the dance? I hear, I hear that the followers of Yun-Harla are amiably involved...."
The one who spoke was almost unrecognizable beneath their elaborate trappings and scarring. Huge swirls of dark colour encircled their form, the straps of living fabric accentuating the patterns beneath.

Elan smiled, though it was an unreadable smile if anyone had ever seen one.
The undying flame were not the only Yuuzhan Vong sect to speak in tongues. She did enough of that herself, but the question was an innocent one she feared. And so she dare venture an answer.

"Indeed? I am perhaps ashamed to say I have not in this particular case, others however..." She let her words hang in the air, there was no need to finish what she had said.
That all depends on the particular case. was her initial after thought.

[Elmira Val]

"Palenqu, there's no penalty if you join us. What would Yun-Harla think, I wonder?" the priest answered. A collective of like minded peers were tossing Vergere up and down lightheartedly as a toast to her dancing abilities.
"We're always available, in the evening, in the evening." he babbled. Elan was now surrounded by wide-eyed entertainers in varying states of undress.
Vergere remained silent as she was hoisted up on the shoulders of the tallest dancer, who gave a better view of the crowds filing through the vast community square. She could smell the hazy erroc being mixed with blood and tishwii leaves in the smoke wafting from a hidden balcony. Her ears pricked up at the artificial gust of wind; in the worldship there was no wind like the cool breezes she remembered on Zonama Sekot, fifty years earlier.
The square grew brighter in remembrance of the suns it left behind long ago, casting warm gold on terraces like grey seashells.
Vergere motioned to be lifted higher, unafraid of falling off the priestess's magenta adorned shoulders. She wondered if her mistress Elan would approve, but left the assumption where it lay. Elan hinted at another round of yeast based faire on a chitin plate.
The temple sentries from earlier where on a jutting veranda a story above. Vergere gave a semblance of a smile as she caught them sharing discreet intimacies.
"Had'reh, we're being watching by her" the warrior promptly whispered.
"Only because you insist on watching."

[Blue but beautiful]

"Palenqu, there's no penalty if you join us. What would Yun-Harla think, I wonder?"
It was exactly what they meant by join that she was interested in. Vergere on the other hand was quite taken away - literally- by the revelers.
Entertainment had it's place aboard the worldships and this was one of those rare occasions where some celebrated that fact freely.
Some might say a little too freely.

Elan on the other hand was young enough to keep somewhat of an open mind, but old enough to know when such open mindedness could become dangerous, blasphemous. She had been schooled in the ways of the deception sect since being born into the creche of her domain and had learned quickly in her own opinion. Again she had heard rumours of some - jealous types - mention that she had only attained the rank of Priestess so young because of her father's high standing in Shimrra's court. Elan often sought to prove those persons wrong.

But here she was surprised to find these ones taking such a keen interest. She remained unphased by their excitement and curiosity.
"The cloaked one might let you believe that you already know that answer, but I would say it is not for us to feign a guess."
It was a trick in it's self that this one would try and pull such an answer from her regarding their question anyway.

Her attention had been only half focused on the one's surrounding her for some time now. Vergere was being passed through the crowd above their heads, her small form sometimes disappearing from view, before then reappearing in leaps and bounds.
Were these ones trying to separate them?

Her familiars attention seemed to be drawn to something also, but not the source of the entertainment anymore, no. Two warriors stood peering out of a high, overlooking alcove - barely visible through the heady mix of incense and fume that filled the air.
A wry smile played across the priestess' lips, what had she just discovered?

[extras]

Standing among the other priests of Yun-Yammka and the warriors he listened to all the whispered speaking between others. This was it the moment they had all been waiting for the reason for their long travel between the galaxies. Where others cheered and invoked praises to the gods at what was to occur out loud he remained silent. No one had noticed over the noise of course. He blended in well enough among the other priests of Yun-Yammka. Many went to groups of warriors singing prayers and offering tales of great warriors in the past.

He moved himself away. In a time he should have been glad he was troubled. He had hoped this day would not come..That their worldship would have simply lost the energy to move as others had. A warriors hand patted his shoulder making him turn his head in attention to him. He was carrying a coral of spark bee honey and rose it to the sky as he spoke.

"Join me in song my brother! We will need all the songs for what is to come!" He gritted his sharp teeth faintly in a smile that he tried to force to form. The warrior he was with was suddenly pulled away by another warrior and they battled in the middle of a circle forming around them. Songs, cheers , and praises formed around the two warriors. It couldn't have been better timing as he continued away. He wouldn't even be here if he hadn't told his father he would be. He started toward the statues of the gods. He needed respite from this. Everyone was here save for the shapers and the shamed ones. They were too busy managing this dying craft.

He was finally away from them the order of the Undying flame seemed to be surrounding someone..or something. He had only seen the creature once or twice before. It was the High priests daughter's familiar..He shyed away again. He need not be involved in any of this nor did he want too at the moment. Did he even deserve too now? Zhentl Set lowered his head to the floor. His thoughts wracked by the thunder around..and within.

[Elmira Val]

Vergere glanced over her shoulder at someone, but lost sight of whoever it was. For countless times she had browsed over the heads of strangers she would never meet again, this time it was no different. She couldn't sense their intentions, not in a long time had she been able to gauge crowds in the flow of the Force....
She smiled to the priest lifting her, and to Elan made a gesture towards the spiral balcony.

[Blue but beautiful]

The small gesture was not lost on the Priestess at all, as subtle as it was it's purpose was discernible as Vergere had wished it to be. Elan was careful to pause before making her way through the crowd at a leisurely pace, toward the conical staircase.

Littering it's spiral stairs were several members of the warrior caste who had placed themselves as though to get a better view of the proceedings, remaining there during the celebration as a stark reminder that all this still held very serious undertones.

At her back, Elan was sure she had felt someones gaze at her back...had seen someone slip away to the outer-reaches of the hall soon after Vergere had cast a beady eye their way.
She reached the top of the staircase to the balconied alcove that overlooked the antechamber. There stood two warriors, deep in conversation of their own, too deep to notice Elan...for now.

She knew she would not be able to take another step without interrupting them and regretted that she had not the biot with her that could be used to listen in. But what she could discern from their expressions might be enough.

[Elmira Val]

"Areh, what is it you may be seeing? Is it the doing of the Lovers?" a short statured priest said to Elan. Almost always in the mood to share in gossip of the suchlike, she (or was it he?) was sure to pay attention. Through a grin marked by smokelike red waves she cackled gleefully.
"We would love to know, is it someone you know?" echoed another, hands over a protruding belly decorated with visions of coufee eels.
They approached Elan like a flock of predatory fish, as if to cause her to step back.
"Tell us, we shall see to their pleasure if it is truly of weaving of their doing." a gangly older priest teased, causing the ocular stalk of an implant to protract, studying Elan intensely.

Vergere was now being lowered to the floor, but the disciples of the Undying Flame would not stop there. There were surrounding the pale violet Fosh excitedly while more Yuuzhan Vong watched.

[Blue but beautiful]

"Areh, what is it you may be seeing? Is it the doing of the Lovers?"

Elan almost started, shamefully she realized, she had been followed. Not that it would have taken much effort for them to do so, there was only so far someone could escape the crowds. And this crowd was particularly persistent.
The warriors would have no doubt been alerted to her presence and would perhaps change their topic of conversation accordingly.

"I cannot be certain of that," She assured the priest who had interrupted her thoughts.

This would not be enough to satisfy their curiosity though, nor the others who approached and surrounded her once again.
The topic among them took an unexpected turn it seemed.

"We would love to know, is it someone you know?"

These ones always spoke in tongues, while her own sect had it's very own language, Elan often wondered if the undying flame should have their own. They certainly had a way of getting others to admit to things without knowing they had so willingly done so.
This was why she kept an air of caution about her now, even those who worshiped Yun-Harla more than most were not immune to deception.

"I do not know these ones you speak of..." she was cut off abruptly, to which she showed her slight distaste in expression.

"Tell us, we shall see to their pleasure if it is truly of weaving of their doing."

Elan did not like the way this one was scrutinizing her, he seemed to be searching for something, that was for sure. Perhaps an adverse reaction that would betray her thoughts? He would not find one here, she was adept at that.
She glanced back over the stairwell, the members of the undying flame now had Vergere surrounded too...excitedly chattering among themselves at their new find, as long as that was all they did, they could live to preach another day.

"I fear you are gravely mistaken, Priest" she responded as she captured his glance once more, "Unless you imply something else, to distract me perhaps?" She cocked her head to one side slightly in question, seeing out the corner of her eye that Vergere had all but disappeared among the sea of revelers.

[extras]

Of course the statues of Yun-Yammka, Yun-Harla, and the lovers Yun-Txiin and Yun-Q'aah. All were surrounded by worshipers except for Yun-Ne'shel and Yun-shuno. He hardly felt like a shaper this night but the staute was unattended. He took to the Molder's shadow he did not need several eyes upon him and at least it was quiet. He prayed no one would mistake him as a shaper and ask for an implant. Zhentl Set sighed at the all too real possiblity of that and started toward the other statue. The statue all of the others avoided even though she was still a goddess and a piece of Yun-Yuuzhan.

The many eyed mother of snivelers as some warriors refered to as. His eyes closed as he stood in her shadow. Away from the noise. He didn't belong back there but he didn't belong here anymore so did he? He frowned faintly as he stared upward to the statue of the goddess of the shamed ones and returned his gaze back toward the Yun-Ne'shel and lowered his head in a silent prayer to the both of them. It wouldn't have been possible without them without their children.

Praise be to the Yuuzhan Vong. The children of the gods.

[Elmira Val]

"I fear you are gravely mistaken, Priest. Unless you imply something else, to distract me perhaps?"
"Aleh! There is no trickery here, we are not Yun-Harla's kin!" exclaimed the priest, showing the vast array of patterns etched on his skin. His implant magnified a scar above his pelvis, marking him as seperate from warriors who began as flesh on the various fish chamber wombs of worldships. The rest of the priests were similiarly exposed, wearing little but loincloths. It was a habit of the Disciples of the Undying Flame to be open about themselves, unlike the followers of Yun-Harla. On a daily basis, the priest's companions advised long suffering lovers, and the sect had a habit of being very open and intruding.
"We would inquire to fulfill our duties, there is no conspiracy you can see!" sung another.
The faces of the priests twisted into gnarled grins of goodwill, and their leader circle Elan playfully.
"Why, I can tell you my name. It's Halel. I believe you've seen my mate, Erov." he said, expecting Elan's reply.
"Ai, I seem to know what the feathered one's mistress saw...are they not our temple sentries, Had'reh and Ingo?" said a slighter-built acolyte, now perched on the shoulders of the one who had invited Elan into the circle. The mob that had surrounded Vergere shifted towards this new interest, allowing her to return to Elan's side. The group was clearly more interested in the relationship of the two warriors than the pale, diminuitive avian.
"Ai, why not pay a visit to the grand atrium?" suggested Erov, no doubt asking Elan to visit the temple of the Undying Flame that the statues of Yun-Q'aah and Yun-Txiin faced. The left side of her face was covered in bulky coral growths that twisted her mouth into a warped sneer.

[Blue but beautiful]

It was , perhaps, a relief to see that Vergere had been able to return to her. While the subject of attachment to ones familiar was discouraged and she chided herself for it as soon as the thought arose, she could not help but be relieved. Such peculiar creatures were hard to come by. The recent influx of infidels captured and brought back for the shapers to study had never turned up one such as Vergere.
Elan considered herself to be somewhat rare, and it was only fitting that Vergere - who was also a rarity - be handed down to her.

The sect members of the Undying flame persisted still, though some had taken more interest in the two warriors that she herself had been interested in only moments before.
The ones the priest known as Halel had claimed were the sentries to their own halls. Truth or a lie? She had always been apt at spotting those, it was her trade after all. But she doubted highly that Halel was lying when there was no plausible reason why. If only she had caught word of their conversation earlier, she feared now this distraction had been intentional.
Let them keep their secrets, for now.

"Ai, why not pay a visit to the grand atrium?" The one known as Erov spoke up, her voice sounding shrill to Elan's ears, even as she cast a narrow eyed glance her way, she did not wince.

"I never recall a time when we payed diligence to the lovers, those who do so -other than yourselves- are usually those who have disobeyed the gods in their imperfect and forbidden union." She responded coolly, what were they implying? "Something of which I can not say I have partaken in. You would do well to mind your step when you speak of Yun-Harla too, her cunning knows no boundaries and even those who souley bow down to her are not immune."

Her words were of warning, not threat. But this did not mean she was not wary of what they had said to her. Elan had seen the grand atrium they spoke of, with it's two sides of difference - marked out by the subtle switch of colour in the coral it was etched from. Above the shimmering walls was a large slab of yorik coral that would become transparent should those within the belly of the atrium wish to gaze out into the endless black of the void.

Elan had been but a child the last time she had mistakenly wandered into that particular temple, only to be ushered out again shortly thereafter. Curiosity had always been her worst and most exploitable trait, and she did her best to curb it where possible. Such instances as now.

She had been about to speak more, when she cast her glance out over the stairwell again and frowned as though confused. Below them, keeping away from the crowds was a lone figure of who she could only assume was lost, judging by the way he was wandering. His domain symbol and scarification that would have indicated his caste, were obscured at this distance by the poor lighting that was but another disadvantage to these old and dying worldships.

More concerning, he seemed to wander between the large effigies of the sacred hall, always returning to the shadow of one of them each time he apparently recognized his straying.
The effigy of the many eyed mother, Yun-Shuno.

He is no shamed one, or so he seemed not to be, but one could never be certain at long distances. He could have been one who was recently shamed. But if that were so, all shamed ones were barred from such events. It was an insult to the gods!

As if she had displayed her sudden disdain at her thoughts openly, she looked back at those who still surrounded her, some of them casting their own fleeting gazes out to where Elan had. No doubt pondering the same thing. She thought to herself.

A wry smile played across the priestess' darkened lips as she turned back to Erov, "Your sentries might wish to make themselves useful then?" She cast her hand out in an arc toward the lone figure who seemed oblivious to what was transpiring only meters away.