Open Chronicles An Arrangement of Stardust

Nilamani
Pomrick Bloomsfield

Lysander’s gaze lingered on the strangers a moment longer, then he gave a shrug that seemed half dismissal, half amusement.


“They don’t look like any students I’ve ever seen. I’d wager they’re Anirians. And if they are—well, that explains it. Leave it to Anirians to make the room feel like someone left the door open in winter.”

His mouth bent into a crooked line that was almost a smile.

“Since we’re speaking of the unpleasant, Pomrick: tieflings are people, first. People whose ancestors either got cursed or bumped uglies with infernal things. It shows itself in small rebellions of the body: a horn where there should be none, a tail, hooves, skin the color of a bruise or a flame. Nothing too mysterious about it beyond the name.”


He cocked his head, listening to the exchange between the horned twins and the Anirians. The corner of his mouth twitched.

“They’ve just called one of the Anirians a woodland spirit. Charming. A woodland spirit with a drab attire and a bad haircut, perhaps.”

Lysander Docatto Valestri said:

“Since we’re speaking of the unpleasant, Pomrick: tieflings are people, first. People whose ancestors either got cursed or bumped uglies with infernal things. It shows itself in small rebellions of the body: a horn where there should be none, a tail, hooves, skin the color of a bruise or a flame. Nothing too mysterious about it beyond the name.”

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Now the cursed part, he could understand - even empathise with. But his mind reeled at the thought that one could . . . as Lysander put it . . . bump demons. Was that even possible?

"O-oh. I see." Even though he tried not to see all kinds of grotesque manifistations before his mind's eye. He swallowed what felt like a lump of lead at the idea of talking to them.

But before he could stop to reconsider, the words flew out of his mouth - a part of his newer, stronger persona:

"Maybe we should . . . you know . . . go and introduce ourselves. Welcome them to El-Elbion."

Lysander Docatto Valestri
Nilamani

Nilamani gave an amused if slightly taken aback laugh.
"Bump Uglies....? If I didn't know better I would have said you sound like you've been hanging around the docks. " It was only a touch more reserved than the ways sailors spoke about it. They wouldn't have bothered to be accurate about the infernal part. 'Malakathian devils' was the sort of term they had heard thrown around.
It was something he could sympathize with albeit loosely. Nilamani found that unlike their kin, Sailors had much less strong of an opinion on if Tieflings were an ill omen.

Still Pomrick's words did stir some of that sympathy.
"You're right, it would be best if we let them speak for themselves on who they are."
Nilamani offered an encouraging smile and gestured for Pomrick to lead the way.
They figured that at the very least it might be good for them to be near should the twins have misjudged the temperament of their chosen conversation partners.

Lysander Docatto Valestri
Pomrick Bloomsfield

Nilamani
Pomrick Bloomsfield
Elyon and Eshara
Henk
Alistair Krixus
Livia Quinnick

Lysander gave a slow blink and rolled his eyes skyward, as though searching for patience among the rafters.

"Can you fault me for it? None of the men and women who drilled me at arms were given to kindness. And Maester Vaezhasar, I say that with Gods as my witnesses, when his temper rises, his tongue could paint a blush on a dockside brat."

With that, he stepped away from his companions and made his way toward the gathered strangers, his pace unhurried, deliberate. The twins stood out in color and bearing—striking, self-contained. The others, Anirians by the look of them, wore their stiff formality like an ill-fitted suit of armor.

Lysander stopped at a respectful distance, four paces, as manners prescribed, and brought his hand to his mouth in a gesture more theatrical than necessary. He coughed once, the sound soft but intentional.

“Pardon the interruption,” he said, though his tone suggested he required no such pardon. “My friends and I found ourselves curious. What exactly are you?”

He gestured with one thumb toward Nilamani, without looking back.

“The one with the snake’s tail thinks you might be tieflings.”


He waited, not with mockery, but with the open, unsparing curiosity that children, and young mages, are sometimes permitted.

Bliss said:

"Oh, please!" Bliss sighed aloud. "What's wrong? Made no friends in your class, you have to bother me?"

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Calixtus tilted his head, her words rolling off him as though they were nothing more than a mild breeze. His smirk, however, only grew sharper.

“Friends?” he echoed, voice dripping with mock amusement.

“How quaint I would have to be to cling to such schoolyard comforts. No, Bliss I don’t collect friends.”

He shifted his gaze back to her, eyes gleaming with mischief at the fury in hers.

"I suppose architecture is an achievement. Not that it makes worthwhile art on canvas."

“Perhaps you would go bored without my lessons. Maybe I enjoy your company."

He let the smirk linger, leaning ever so slightly closer. “As for bothering you… don’t flatter yourself, Gradimir. I’d call it a public service - keeping you from fading into the wallpaper.”

"Dreadlords!"

Both twins parroted the title as if sampling a new flavor. They were unfamiliar with its weight, or even its meaning.

"It sounds as foreboding as we thought, sister."

"But the others are Lord and Lady, brother. Married?"

"Mm mm, different second-names."

"Of course, of course."

The twins brief discussion between themselves was first interrupted by their own realization that the Anirians had just introduced themselves, and that manners dictated they do the same. The two smiled brighter, moving from Henk to stand beside each other. They gave a polite bow in unison and began to give their names, but were interrupted by a loud cough before they could begin.

Both turned to regard Lysander and the group of students that had wandered up behind them.

"'...Tea fling?' We have done no such thing. Today, anyways," Eshara huffed, confident that neither her nor her brother had thrown any liquids on anyone recently.

"No no, he asks what we are, sister," Elyon stated thoughtfully. So it was time for introductions after all, they supposed.

"We are Ely'Esha!" they announced in unison.

"I am Elyon," the brother greeted all.

"And I am Eshara," the sister continued.

"And we are delighted to meet you all!" they finished, both neglecting to note the difference between "what" and "who."