Private Tales Spirited Conversation

[Fauna]

The deserts of Amol-Kalit were alien to Fauna. More than the snows of the tundra, more than the ocean expanses high mountains. As a spirit born deep in the Falwood the apparent absence of life was jarring. Endless waves of sand and heat, tiny, twisted plants that barely clung to life and that guarded what little water they held with fierce spines.

Yet even here Fauna could feel creatures. They were spread thinner than in the forest, but they were here. Beneath the sands they waited until the searing sun descended. As cool darkness came they emerged. Venomous serpents hunted the few brave sand-mice, tracking them by scent and heat. Toads, safe and damp in their burrows, came to feed on the flies and beetles, and all manner of crawling, stinging creatures slid out from beneath the dunes.

As they neared Annuakat, the familiar pulse of abundant life grew stronger. The rivers granted greenery, and animals flocked to the coastal oasis.

The form Fauna had chosen to cross these dunes had been hardy, stocky, and able to travel great distances without trouble. A physical shape borrowed from the herds they had seen on their trip, with long legs and a high hump to store precious energy. Upon arriving to Annuakat, however, they took a most unusual appearance. Although a common creature, it was a form that Fauna had adopted only a handful of times.

An elven woman strode along the riverbank. She was dark and wrapped in silks that shimmered like the night sky. The streets were clean and well organized, and though it was dusk, the activity had merely been reduced from a rumble to a hum. Fireflies darted through the reeds as frogs sang their evening songs. Fauna had come here to further their investigation into the "civilized" peoples. Their achievements were grand, but they encroached on the space of the other creatures. The Falwood felt their effects as its edges were chipped away, and even here in the barren desert the environment shuddered beneath acts of war.

Annuakat was grand, and its position on the delta allowed many animals to coexist within it. Egrets and storks walked the shores, and even the monkeys were tolerated in some areas. Still... Fauna could not help but wonder at how magnificent the wetlands would have been without the stony structures beneath the great pyramid.

But what was this? They felt something distinctly... ethereal. Fauna was an embodiment of natural creatures, but they themselves were spiritual, existing outside of the realm they so carefully guarded. Something here shared that spiritual space, that plane of existence. Deep black eyes swept the riverbank and the street ahead, searching for the source. "Where are you?" The woman said quietly in a rich but hushed voice. They were very curious why this particular spirit had also chosen to be here.

Favashi ​

 

[Favashi]

A piece of gold in the river. A prayer. A... wish.

The Fae of War often left these sorts of more trivial things to the Little Folk; if people wanted to make a deal with one such as she they would come to the right spot at the right time with the appropriate gifts. But this plea had sailed down through the channels of water to her ears as she had bathed and it had... tempted her. Further upstream and away from the Faerie Pools to see the woman who prayed for revenge against a man who had wronged her.

Such conflicts spoke to her and this one was the beginnings of a story, a legend, that through the ages people would speak around a fire. If she could be a part of that from the start then Favashi would live for longer in the realms of mortal man. So she went and she listened to the sobbing and the rage of the man who had spurned her for a richer wife. It was such a mundane thing. Trivial, really. It happened to these moral women all the time it seemed. But what caught her interest was the man was that of high standing and this was a chance to bring his House to ruin.

So Favashi had emerged from the rivers and touched the woman's cheek, consoled her and given her a gift. In exchange for the woman's first born child she would grant her the powers she desired to see the man who had done her wrong brought to justice. The woman had agreed and the pact had been sealed with a kiss. Now the Fae, bloated on the woman's rage and anguish, bathed once more in the rivers. Such was the glamour she didn't particularly care for her nudity, not that she did care when she wasn't glamoured. With skin of molten gold and eyes to match Favashi knew she was beautiful to mortals whether she bothered to throw on clothes or not.

She had fallen into a restful doze when a tingling, a prickling, started on the back of her neck. The Fae were not alone in walking different planes of existence though it was rare the two should meet. There were rules and courts and codes of conducts to stop the wars they might fall into otherwise. whilst Favashi might reveal in them they did tend to cause the mortals who got in their way some... disruption for a century or two. One eye opened, then another, and she watched in fascination as one of these rarities came walking down the river bank.

It seemed the other had sensed her two.

Centuries of existence were often dull but this was a moment that might stand out amongst the dreary parts. She let her glamour drop so that the newcomer would see her.

"Neither here nor there," Favashi replied in amusement, referring to where the woman was currently looking and had been looking. She was seated instead in a shallow curve of the river suitable for bathing.

 

[Fauna]

Their appearance was that of an abtati, the so called "sand-elves" that made this land their home. Fauna had felt more comfortable in their form than, say, one of the humans that also walked these lands. In their limited time in the desert, the abtati had shown the least alteration of nature, choosing instead to live within and alongside. The humans built cities, like this one, to attempt to mold the world to their design. This was fine in moderation, but like all activities of these "men" it needed pruning from time to time.

Their demeanor, however, was decidedly more animalistic. The long ears twitched in the wind, and their head moved in jerking, quick turns. They sniffed the air, dismayed by how abysmal the sense of smell was in this body. Sight, then, was their primary ally.

There, in the river, a shimmering wave, both there and not there. Something of the other realm, and in answer to Fauna's question the faerie revealed herself fully. It was immediately clear that she was no flesh and blood creature of Arethil, and indeed, Fauna felt no lines of connection to her as they did will all true animals.

They approached, stepping off of the smooth street and across the soft grass, and simply wading into the river itself. The silt was soft on their bare feet, and the silks grew dark and heavy where they hit the water, sticking to the abtati's legs tightly.

Fauna had encountered fae before, albeit infrequently. The deep recesses of the Falwood were packed with magical entities, but their own territory had been large and it seemed that the little people had not wished to interfere. They had no quarrel with the fae, but perhaps their age and animalistic demeanor had been... intimidating.

The woman strode near enough to speak in quiet tones. "I did not know the fae crossed the deserts." It was strange to speak physically. Most forms did not allow for it, and so Fauna performed most communication telepathically. It was not unpleasant, though, to use their mouth and throat in novel ways. Perhaps more tools to understand the civilized. "Nor that you would live so close to the people. Do you watch them, as well?" Perhaps this vision of a woman could grant a fresh perspective.

 

[Favashi]

Favashi sighed dramatically, her face instantly becoming that of a bored and annoyed child and she swirled the water with her fingers.

"Fae are not tree sprites," the word was a hiss. "We are everywhere. Every rain drop, every winter storm, every ray of sunlight, every battlefield. The Fae will wander," it was times like this she believed it would be best for the Fae to take a more active place in the world once more. Clearly the other realms were forgetting of their importance to the fabric of this world. She watched with slightly narrowed eyes now her temper had been raised as the other creature came towards her. Favashi's mood changed as quickly as a battle did and in her present state of mind the other best tread lightly.

Her fingers began to tap against the rim of earth she leaned against.

"People call, Fae listen. Sometimes we come, such is why I am here. And you?" she paused then and took a deep inhale of the others scent, her eyes closing for a moment. "Now, you are the real odd one out for Desert planes."

 

[Fauna]

Fauna was not what some would call "worldly." Their existence, for millenia, had been restricted to the deepest reaches of the Falwood. Perhaps a traveler from the outside would venture in from time to time, although almost no one but the elves could survive the forest for that long. As such, their current journey was one of learning, gathering information about the outside world that had so insistently thrust its influence into their domain.

Every creature had its threat display, and this was something Fauna understood quite well. Pinned ears, bared teeth, raised hackles. Warning signs that said "stay away" or "leave immediately." Favashi was not so obvious, but her tone and her expression were not ambiguous. Fauna had offended her somehow. A being such as this should be calmed, for they existed beyond the avatar's expertise.

"Thank you for your wisdom," the woman's lips said. She knelt, and then sat in the waters as well. They were refreshingly cool, and the connections to the small fish nearby were comforting.

Favashi was astute, and Fauna nodded their head. "I am of the forest. But people... man... they have begun to disrespect the boundaries." The woman looked back at the city as she spoke before turning back to the faerie. "Have they not encroached on your realm?"

 

[Favashi]

Mollified by the stroke to her ego the tension drained from Favashi's shoulders and she went back to enjoying the soak in the water. Her head lolled back to rest upon the bank behind her and her eyes half closed. As a Solar Fae the height of her power was noon and whilst she was old and thus the evening did not drain her as much as say, a young fae only in her 6th century, but she had completed a deal today and she was enjoying the rest. A little creature who could benefit from Favashi's benevolent imparting of knowledge was a ... relaxing and pleasant distraction.

She did not know much about the Spirits of the Forest except that a lot of the time people confused them for Fae quite often. Their nature was similar so she could understand why, to an idiot, it might appear they were the same. But still, they both found man to be lacking when it came to respecting certain boundaries they should be more aware of.

"That is the way of mortals, pushing, taking," a breath sigh of words as if it were truly a hardship to bear. "If you desire your forests to stay that way you need to show teeth," Favashi sat up a little straight and flashed the other creature a feral smile to drive her point home. "The mortals have learned there are places they do not go; when they forget we remind them."

 

[Fauna]

Fauna surveyed the Fae. She seemed to shimmer against the background, as if she existed separate from it. Her skin was adorned with floral imagery, and Fauna did not immediately realize that the flowers were not real.

Her words echoed what Fauna had been feeling for some time. Hunters and poachers that entered their domain on occasion, and they were dealt with most severely. It seemed that, perhaps, they would need to expand what was under their protection.

Favashi seemed well versed in these people. She would be a useful ally in their... disciplining. "I am called Fauna," the woman introduced herself, "And I have teeth to spare. Tell me, wise one, how do you remind the mortals of their place? For they are many, and we are but two."

 

[Favashi]

Favashi preened under such words of flattery. A dramatic sigh as she leaned her head back against the soft grass and looked up at the sky.

"They do not know there are only two. Mortal men are arrogant and stupid," there was distaste in how she spoke about them as if they were maggots on the bottom of her shoe. "The key is trickery and deceit, make them believe there are more than what there are. A shadow here, illusion there. When you bite do not spare them. But it might also do you good to find some allies for when you do need more than two. If they do not learn then you need to take the fight to them and burn down their villages and cities when they encroach upon your lands," the Fae of War was perhaps not the wisest person for the creature to ask about what to do with a pest.

There would be no calls for peace from her lips.

 

[Fauna]

The advise was easy enough for Fauna to understand. Indeed, when mortals had committed crimes within the spirit's domain they had been harshly punished. Poachers were gored by the beast they sought to slay, and lumberjacks ended up with their corpses dragged atop the tree branches. More often than not, however, a traveler had simply lost their way. It was not simple task to venture so deep into the Falwood, but those that had were usually guided away gently. Most of them were not even aware of Fauna's intervention and simply found themselves turned around, back where they came from.

One of the first signs of the diminishing woods was the increased frequency of such visitors. Were the edges shrinking so vastly, or were the men of the world simply multiplying uncontrolled? Perhaps they had simply learned to navigate the forest consistently. Whatever the case, Fauna did not like it. They could feel nature being chipped away, bit by bit. They felt it in their own spirit, and were it not stopped, they too would be eaten away in a thousand cuts.

Perhaps it was time for more direct action. Perhaps the mortals needed to be made aware of Fauna's existence. Perhaps... it was time to make alliances.

"I do not wish to deceive..." the woman spoke again. The irony of these words coming from a shapeshifter did not occur to Fauna, but they tried to take care not to offend the quick-tempered fae, "...but I can bite." Their elven head turned to gaze on the city beyond the two spirits. The eyes of this form were dark and soft, but there was a sharpness to them now. "It may be time to reveal myself to men."

 

[Favashi]

Favashi listened and thought upon it.

"It depends what form you take. Man is fickle, an image such as that," she waved a hand in her general direction towards the form Fauna took and in doing so caused a spray of water. "Will not terrify man. Their first instinct is never to run form a pretty face such as that but to have it for themselves," there was disgust in her face. There had been numerous times a man had thrown themselves at her feet to ask for her hand or her heart because of her looks and power.

"Men listen through action. You will have to strike fear into their hearts good if you choose this form to appear in again," her head tilted to the side like a predator watching something curious between its paws. "Carve their hearts out, slash their childrens throats in the crib," a half shrug. "If you go soft at the beginning they will walk all over you. Or maybe take another form more terrifying and that will deter them."

 

[Fauna]

This fae spoke of blood as if it were no more precious than the very water in which they sat. Of course, in this place, that water was probably quite precious indeed. What Favashi described, however, was a comfort to the avatar. She proved that men were not so different from the beasts of the forests and seas. They feared death, they feared harm upon their offspring. They needed a firm and direct reminder of the dangers they toyed with.

Fauna did not like the idea of slaughtering young, and the mothers that raised them likewise were a questionable target. They did not seek extinction of the civilized peoples, only control. The elven woman turned her dark features to face Favashi's shimmering visage. "More terrifying?"

There was the sound of rushing wind, and the elven woman vanished in a blur of blowing reeds and water. The shadowy form beyond twisted and morphed until, within seconds, she was gone. In her place lay a gargantuan black crocodile. Fifteen feet from snout to tail, with jagged teeth and scales like darkened steel. The sudden change in volume sent a wave rushing through the cool water.

The beast lay low, just the top of its body visible above the river's surface. |This body should suffice.| A voice spoke within Favashi's head. The voice was no longer that of the willowy elven beauty, instead it was the voice of whatever internal monologue Favashi possessed, simply guided to hear the words Fauna wished her to hear.

 

[Favashi]

What a peculiar display of magic. It kept her attention at the very least, made her companion more... interesting. Whether that was a safer thing or not would left to be seen. As the water swirled up Favashi raised herself up and out of the water so that it didn't get on her face or her hair which was delicately piled into a complicated twist of braids atop her head. Her nakedness clearly didn't bother her for she made no effort to reach for her clothes nearby but rather watched the creature in front of her with morbid curiosity.

"That is all well and good but crocodiles can be hunted. They make purses out of their skins," she cocked an eyebrow. "All this will get you is hunted more. No, you need your own form that is terrifying, you need to become a creature of legend and myth that they dare not even whisper about in the shadows," her eyes were slight with mischief.

 

[Fauna]

Fauna had to admit to feeling a little disappointed at Favashi's reaction. They had usually had success with large and fearsome predators when dealing with mortals. Perhaps the fae, being not truly of the "natural" world, felt a greater pull towards strange and fantastical shapes.

This was not how Fauna lived. Not only were they limited to mimicry of the animals whose spirits they embodied, they preferred to live as closely to them as possible. |Many creatures hunt| they stated plainly. |I would prefer them to see me in their prey. That my image might remind them to use... moderation.| They did not particularly mind that men hunted the crocodiles, nor that they took fish from the seas. This was natural, this was good. But they forgot restraint, and if Fauna were to instill a lasting message it would be better received if men thought the spirit was everywhere. If any creature could be the protector, then every creature must be respected.

The giant reptile turned their head and body slowly, barely ripping the river's surface. |This river feels... depleted. The creatures are thin. They speak of nets and hooks and barriers. You have inspired me to action this night, Faerie. Would you join me in correcting these wrongs?|

 

[Favashi]

She did like upsetting mortals... their fear was a delightful drink she liked to sip upon from time to time. It would also be... amusing. Another way to spend some of the endless time that stretched before her and an excuse to leave the confines of her court. Then of course, there was also the chance to upset the Summer Court that lived in the Falwoods - now that would be... delicious.

"I will," Favashi pronounced after a time of musing. "If you are intent on doing this in the form of animals," there was a shimmer and then her body changed and on the bank lay a tigress, her tail trailing in the waves and a low purr rumbling in her throat.

I have many duties but perhaps when I am in the neighbourhood we shall meet.

 

[Fauna]

The crocodile rumbled in visible delight. Surely this spirit, who shifted forms so easily, held at least some of nature's power within her. Fauna had lived a life of isolation from her own kind and had been content with this... but perhaps that had been because they had been unaware of what it was like to meet other mystical creatures. They had always lived above the other creatures, observing but untouchable. This was their first chance to exist as an equal.

|Then I will await your arrival. For now, I would punish the gluttons by the river.| They sank silently beneath the dark water, and drifted invisibly away, towards the scent of blood and fish flesh that marked the fisher's market. It would not hold many visitors at this time, but a city such as this was likely to produce at least one to serve as an example.

Fauna was not worried about finding Favashi again. They had felt the fae's imprint, had her scent. When she next came nearby, especially to the Falwood, Fauna would know.