[Carissi]

|☠| oukoku-kai |☠|  
the banshee & bondless

"Fear and greed are potent motivators. When both forces push in the same direction, virtually no (human) being can resist."
-Andrew Weil

So this was the Valley of the little White Rose. Interesting name, or lack thereof, Gigantea, Scheherazade, titles from her understanding. Never the less, this red and gray girl was interesting, the proof in the pudding of what happens when children are given more power than they deserve. Not that Carissi was complaining, the White was interesting, her mannerisms, her speech, the Banshee sought to watch the creature progress. To tag along for what would be a very interesting amusement park ride in the scorching tar-filled hell that was Oukoku-Kai. What had convinced her to sell her soul to the devil was beyond her, as she was convinced it was not just Anamelech's appearance. The Bacchus woman might appreciate a pretty piece of tail, but she was well skilled in turning and walking away as well. This Valley intrigued her, it's people intrigued her, the blasphemous lie of a religion the ragdoll Rose reveled in... intrigued her. 

Although the derelict woman was not easily convinced of spirits and afterlifes, she figured it would at least be an amusing passtime to watch the believers grovel at the paws of a merciless self-proclaimed triumvirate of deities. Of course, this meant she too had to grovel at their paws. Why not? Saccharine smiles were a specialty skill; it hid her forked tongue and masked over her thoughts of heathenism. Carissi saw it as a game, after all she was nothing more than a naughty spoiled child herself. The red and gray brute of a woman loved games. And she loved winning, the sweet taste of someone else's misery rolling around on her taste buds. The question would be whether she would be a good enough player? This was not the neutrals, she was not a free woman anymore, the game she was playing had preset rules that she wasn't aware of yet.

What an underdog story.

The dingy beast had brought her mother with her, or at least the remains of her mother's head. Perhaps so Carissi could pick her brain from time to time? Pearly white fangs poked out in a devious smile as she considered the lovely pun she'd concocted while staring into the empty eye sockets of the skull. The eyes were gone from this skull into Carissi, that same blue, same glimmer of pride and devious nature; and a tickling of neuroticism. Hidden well but it still remained, the need to win and do better ate at her soul more than any Valley of cultists ever could. Heavy paw brushed over the more delicate skull, Mother had been a much softer shaped wolf than she, though who could blame her when they saw her daddy-dearest. Teeth clicked dully, still settling in to this warm, salty hell. Pungent smell of tar wafted into her makeshift living quarters and she wrinkled her nose at it for a moment. Good place to burn heathens and the blasphemous. It was a good reminder that if she didn't play this game well, she'd be tasting the bitter taste of loss-- as tar filled her lungs.

It was time to go out and make friends, so to speak. A newcomer in the valley, fresh blood with a couple ugly scars and a strange figure. Her preparation and thankfully not made her weary; tutorial time was over, the game was starting and she picked up the figurative controller. A raspy kiss goodbye to the skull of Whiteraine before turning to move towards the innards of the Valley. What sort of spectacles and circus acts would she find in this Valley of the God's people? What would they find in her? Carolina blue eyes would sweep up towards the towering cliffs on one side, curious about them. What would she learn today?

[Crux]

CRUX

thorn in your side

Heavy paws, made for traversing difficult biomes, carried the boy across the cracked earth of his desert-and-forest home. He knew nothing more than this land, so he loved it - especially now as the colder weather came in and soothed his hot coat. Thick tendrils of curly fur waved in the wind as he allowed his long, curled tail to wave ever so slightly as he walked, ears pricked and attention spread across his surroundings. He wanted to meet and greet and also eat, though that was of lesser concern at this moment in time.

Right now, he was following an unfamiliar scent. It was thick with outside stench, only just barely covered by the smells of the Valley. His mother said she had been in the wilds not once but twice, but wouldn't go into details about what she saw out there. Not that it mattered much to the boy, who had no desire to dig his own grave by leaving the lands, but he was a curious fellow with an intense desire to learn.

He saw her in the distance, a black-white-red-gray smattering of colours. His eyes remained on her as he approached, ears forward and eyes flicking from her to the areas around here where others might be skulking. Those rocks over there would be perfect for ambushes... he thought as he walked, turning his attention from the rocky cliffs to the wolf in question.

Then he stopped, one paw raised and eyes squinted.

There was something... off about this wolf. Something very familiar in a weird way - she was different from the other wolves he'd met. Very few others had the arching nose, and definitely fewer with the long fluffy ears and the - the back hump! His eyes widened and he started moving again, headed straight towards her. Ey - you! You're like me! He paused once he'd come close enough to speak without yelling, and turned his body a bit so she could see the thick fur around his shoulders and the way his nose lay mostly straight from forehead to nose. Who are you?

OOC

Dialogue - Thought

[Feizin]

She could feel herself grow larger, older and stronger and all the while she became wiser. Young still, but careful, thinking, analyzing and sharpening her mind to her teeth. She yawned lightly in the daylight, she had just finished her usual run and began walking slowly around the valley.

She wasn't a sociable creature by nature, she didn't seek it out like others did, instead she stumbled upon in and only engaged in it if she found it interesting enough to pay attention to it. She stretched her toes a little and while she was free to roam the entire area she always stayed clear of the slaver quarter. She did not like heathens, she did not understand them and hardly thought they were worth saving or wasting time into, yet she applied to become a priestess - odd how her career stepping stone would be a thorn in the side for someone else unfortunate.

She jumped on to cliffs and took long steps between each stone, balancing herself along each stone and keeping watch of her footing, so much that she was almost caught off guard by the scent of two things. Something familiar and comfortable, something she trusted her future with, and something she fought against, hated and felt displeased toward. She looked up, standing very still on one large rock and watched Crux walk toward the other very large female. She darted her eyes toward the female and made the same connection as Crux did. "Ey - you! You're like me!" She curled her lip upward.

"Don't compare yourself to her Crux." She jumped off the rock and watched this. Newcomer who had the stench to match. "You are a child of the valley. Destined for greatness. This one has yet to prove herself." She could almost guess her to be bondless, no one entered the valley lucky enough to be bonded right off the bat, and bondless were still borderline heathens in her world, she was gently reminding Crux that he was better. Granted she had not bonded anyone either, she was still too young to become a bashin, and Crux did not have a bond either, but they were born here and raised with the gods on their backbone.

She was not.

"When did you join?" How close are you to being an actual heathen?

[Carissi]

|☠| oukoku-kai |☠|  
the banshee & bondless

"Fear and greed are potent motivators. When both forces push in the same direction, virtually no (human) being can resist."
-Andrew Weil

ooc| this is still open, just wanted to pop a reply in.

---

What did they keep in those dark cliffs? Carissi had an idea but it had yet to be confirmed, instead she studied from a distance, taking in the Valley. Visions of flailing bodies of the edges amused her mind but she kept her grin at a minimum. Carolina blue eyes scanned the horizon and her speckled tongue slipped delicately across her fangs. The Bondless continued to amble forward,  trying to find a bearing to give her some information. Though she would not be alone for more than a few seconds; thankfully these children were not too dreadfully small, Carissi loathed little ones. The first to come galloping at her was far more interesting than his strange little stalker. The half-Bacchus sat back and took the boy in as he arrived, brother; little did she know. Curly fur, the tall ears, the roman nose and straight skull, the mass of fur and muscle that formed the hump... Rainer's teeth too, those snaggles, though Carissi simply thought it a common Bacchus trait. The red and gray woman grinned most gleefully at his approach, fiery golden eyes were filled with interest and perhaps confusion.

Clearly Crux had never seen another of his own kid, though had it not been for her littermates, Carissi would be in the same boat. So where had the little Bacchus come from? If he had not seen any others in the Valley? Perhaps he too was a newcomer? Though he smelt thoroughly inundated with the stench of the believers. The woman would cock her head to the side and take him in, height they were a lovely match but he was a much more stout creature than herself in weight."Yes, it would appear you have a dash of Bacchus dire in your blood..." Spoken softly, almost mysteriously as the little zealot arrived to chastise him and question her. Carissi remained in her seated position, sitting lofty with an eyebrow perked at the red girl. Leaping down as if she was some sort of superhero saving Crux from speaking with the horrible scary villain. A bemused smirk pulled onto the half-Bacchus' face as Feizin began to purr the words of a wolf whose very sanity had already been pulled from her. Though Carissi lingered on something more specifically, this Bacchus boy was a child of the Valley? As much as she wanted to refrain she could not fight the smile widening into a devious grin.

She knew something they didn't know.

Carissi might not know who sired this boy, but if he was born here, and had never seen a Bacchus it stood to reason he hadn't been sired here. Within the Valley. Blood of a heathen? This time she managed to refrain and gain control of her mouth before her snake tongue started hissing truths this boy might not yet know. "A child of the Valley? Hmmm," icy eyes would snap to Feizin, with a tone much less interested for a moment before snapping to one that sounded like it came from a prize-winning teacher, laced with almost a dash of good-will as her true feelings seethed beneath the surface, "you too as well I presume? Of course. Consider something, he and I have similar physical attributes that one does not find every day. Use your eyes child, only a fool would think he was comparing himself in any other way." Carissi would motion to herself with her paw with a 'this isn't very impressive' look on her face.  Before grinning and stretching to settle back down. "To answer your question, I was found by the White Rosa during the War. As does anyone with sense when they met a God, they follow, so I came to the Valley with her upon her return."

The Bondless didn't know that the child was Gigantea's, if she had oh god would Carissi have put more stress on the fact that it was the White Rosa and not the others. Perhaps it's for the best anyway, she wasn't starting off by making friends, already appalled by the little shit's attitude and far more interested in learning the genealogy of her fellow Bacchus. But she remained still, her expression calm, there was something she was waiting for. Feizin was a zealot already she could tell that well, how would she take to hearing that this ugly heathen had been personally accepted and brought home by a God? Her God? Her Mother? --Not that Carissi knew that last bit--. The woman watched intently, hoping to see something come across Feizin's face, her own expression stoic if not a little cold. She really did hate children, and this one certainly acted like it was still just a petulant child.

[Crux]

CRUX

the sacrificial blade

The stranger grinned and sat back as he approached her and she took him in. Clearly, they had similar traits - he'd seen none other with their nose or specific other traits among the pack. Though he lacked the five toes of his father, she also seemed to lack them.

Yes, it would appear you have a dash of Bacchus dire in your blood... Don't compare yourself to her Crux.
Bacchus dire? He'd never heard the word and therefore was very much intrigued - but before he could speak, a familiar voice struck out as his betrothed appeared behind him, chastising him for his comparison of them. He blinked at her, confused and embarrassed for a second as she continued.

You are a child of the valley. Destined for greatness. This one has yet to prove herself.
That was.. true. He knew she meant comparison of a different breed than he had meant when he spoke to his half sister (how delighted he would be once he learned of this connection!) and he forced down the childlike desire to defend his words and explain himself. While Feizin took on the persona of an adult, Crux was still learning and growing. He sometimes felt like she mothered him, but only in rare times like these. Usually, they were equals. Little did he know, "equals" to Feizin was something rare to find.

A child of the Valley? Hmmm, you too as well I presume? Of course. Consider something, he and I have similar physical attributes that one does not find every day. Use your eyes child, only a fool would think he was comparing himself in any other way.
While he was extraordinarily interested in this stranger with her information, he instantly felt himself becoming protective of his betrothed. You're clearly new, so you wouldn't know - but you'll find it's important to know who not to call a fool here in the Valley. His golden eyes dripped with warning, though if he was sure that Feizin was looking at Carissi, he would offer a smile in return for her grin - We'll talk later.

When did you join? I was found by the White Rosa during the War. As does anyone with sense when they met a God, they follow, so I came to the Valley with her upon her return.
He watched, curious. When Carissi explained herself as a follower of the White Rosa (at least, in this sense), he looked at Feizin with what would have been both eyebrows raising, before looking back at the other half-Bacchus. He remained silent through this exchange, allowing the zealot daughter of the White to speak with the heathen who bore such a resemblance to himself.

[Carissi]

|☠| oukoku-kai |☠|  
the banshee & bondless

"Fear and greed are potent motivators. When both forces push in the same direction, virtually no (human) being can resist."
-Andrew Weil

The little zealot seemed to have no reply to her comment about being a fool and Carissi grinned softly. Had she seen the error of her ways or was she just so butthurt she was unable to come up with a retort back? Either way, she failed. Carolina blue eyes watched the little red girl for a moment, taking in all of her features at least for a moment. The boy however took offense, and her eyes slide in his direction with a cool gaze, a bemused smirk pulled onto her face. Could this little girl not defend herself? Did she need a knight in shining armor to deflect all the little hurtful words? Wasn't it sticks and stones that broke bones? Words could never hurt me? Was this his little girlfriend? Surely the well built Bacchus boy could do better than this ugly red mess? Were these children so self-righteous that they could not accept genuine criticism? Questions poured through her brain and the urge to laugh was nearly unbearable, but she had a better idea. "How considerate of you." Carissi would coo to the boy.

Did she mean protecting his betrothed? Or giving her very important information about the Valley? Truth was neither, she simply had the good sense to not continue to mock the girl who was obviously too inept to answer for herself. The time would come she hoped that she could call the girl a fool and have no one bat an eye. But a call sounded out and the girl then turned to leave, Carissi missed Crux's smile towards her. Instead watching the little zealot turn and disappear without a word. Charming. Obnoxious. She did not like children and this girl was just another nail in the coffin of her coming to completely hate children. Blue eyes would shift to Crux then with a somewhat bland expression, one eyebrow perked as if waiting.

Was he going to leave too to go to wherever this little girl had been summoned? For a moment she waited, and when the boy seemed to not be disappearing she shifted her weight. The saccharine smile gone off her face, her expression calm if not slightly irritated. Curiosity welled up in her but for a moment she simply looked him over with a bored expression before speaking. "You've never heard of a Bacchus Dire then?" Allowing him a moment to process and perhaps answer the question, to which she would offer a slight huff as a chuckle, "Strange. Considering you look like just as much Bacchus as my father, little snaggletooth and everything. Look more Bacchus than me and I'm half." Where was her sense of decorum? Her sense of waiting, her sense of not destroying his family, or his idea of family. He was surprised to see her, obviously he'd never seen another that looked like he did.

This boy wasn't Valley bred then? It could not be a coincidence he looked so similar to her, the Bacchus traits are strong and bold and are not easily mistaken. She was not the gentle woman, nor did she care to make him question everything. "You've truly never seen another like us?"