Myths and Legends [Kari]

[The Jenn]

Parzifal had trouble containing his excitement as he soared several yards above the treetops in the Wood, his wings beating a quiet rhythm against the silence below him. Always so quiet, these flights. They remained a favorite, however many things they meant.

Some small, sad part of him wished dearly that his siblings would be at Vren's tower when he arrived. He knew that wouldn't be the case, but it didn't dim the pathetic scrap of hope. He hadn't seen them in so long... not since he left. The guilt would probably never leave him.

He spied the tower from a distance and began a slow, lazy spiral downward. He would land a few hundred yards away, make himself more presentable, and go to visit. Then he would begin questions on the real matter of his visit. Namely, the existence of a man who claimed the name of Lythero.

Not a claim to make lightly, that name. Almost a title, for how famous it remained in the history of the War of the Second Wall. Chances were slim that the man actually had any relation to the famous general, but that thread of hope - as well as a healthy dose of curiosity - drove him to inquire of the man who might be able to answer his questions. Vren kept very good tabs on happenings within the Wood. The old man never seemed to slow down.

[Kari Muffin]

Lythero had made a decent amount of connections in the Woods. This wonderful Vren person had provided him with quite a few of those connections with very little protest. He seemed to be morbidly amused by the entire situation.

So it gave Lythero a place to go and have tea when he wasn't cursing the lazy Tulgeies who now resided in the Woods. It was going to be impossible to create a proper uprising if people were just going to come up with excuses. And the Tulgey on the outside were just...

He didn't want to think about it. The wolf hyrbid found himself glaring at the teacup he was holding. Where had the batty old man wandered off to?

Meanwhile Rosemary had left Josephine in the brief care of Vren. It hadn't been the Queen's intention considering she wasn't the one who knew him all that well. However Josephine had decided to stowaway when she wasn't paying attention. Therefore the Queen was left with very few options. She could either meet her "monster" siblings or she could stay with the man at the tower. Rosemary picked the tower of course.

Josephine was wandering through the various articles that littered the place. She probably shouldn't be wandering around. Mom had said the place was dangerous.

[The Jenn]

Home... gods. Home. It was, and it wasn't. The place where he'd been raised, yes. A home? Not... really. Not anymore. Not without his family.

He landed outside the tower and knocked on the front door, a quiet series of knocks. He knew the enchantments placed on that door, and knew that his old master would hear, as he and his siblings never had. Such was the strangeness of spells.

Vren answered, seemed genuinely surprised to see him, and ushered him inside before closing and locking the door firmly. "I don't wish for anyone unexpected to interrupt my guests," he explained as the young man took on his human form, for some deep-seated reason hesitant to do so. Biped would feel more comfortable around Vren, who could interpret his speech with ease. But if he had guests, then there was no getting around it. He did not care to speak thickly in front of anyone if he didn't have to.

When he asked after the nature of the guests, the old man smirked and then waved him upstairs irritably. "Go and keep them entertained," was all he said, much as in the old days. Parzifal didn't have the heart to disagree.

Ascending the winding stair from the horribly cluttered first level to the somewhat more liveable second sitting area, he stopped in surprise and had to take a second look at the figure sitting there, sipping Tulgey Red. Something was off. Several somethings. And yet... he did know this Card. Perhaps she'd run afoul of magical influence? "Miss Femi?" he began curiously.

[Kari Muffin]

The Tulgey Queen was still holding his tea when the bird entered. He didn't expect to be addressed by that name. An eyebrow perked as he looked at the human standing in the doorway. What was that metal attached to his face about? He was a mix wasn't he?

Lythero set down the tea cup before addressing the mixed region. "Do I look like a woman to you?" He said as he motioned to his very flat chest with his taloned hands. Though he still had a horribly girlish face that belonged to that squirrel his body was at least mostly better.

He if hadn't killed the highlander who botched the favor he would have done so again. Frankly if there was a way to resurrect them he would have done so just to kill them yet again. "And who are you to address me in such a manner?"

Maybe the human could be useful. He didn't want to deal with mongrels but at the rate he was going gathering recruits he'd be 200 years old by the time he had a significant amount of power. "My name is Lythero. You should address me properly as Sir."

[The Jenn]

After a moment's observation, Parzifal had to agree that no, the body didn't look especially female. Androgynous, but there were obvious differences between the woman he knew and the man in front of him. But the resemblance was striking...

And then the man continued speaking and his breath caught in his throat.

What. Really? Could he have been lucky enough to stumble across the object of his search before even having to beg a favor of Vren? This was excellent luck. And also, moderately terrible, as he had apparently offended the man from the get-go. Damn.

"My apologies, Sir," he said in as even a tone as he could manage. He even accompanied the statement with a small bow at the waist. "I did not mean to offend. You very greatly resemble a person I used to know. My name is Parzifal, a former resident of this tower. And by any chance, are you truly..." He paused. "The General Lythero?"

[Kari Muffin]

"Apology accepted," the wolf hybrid sad as he picked up his tea to sip. He watched the human closely. Honestly he would have taken his own human form if it weren't for the awful outfit he would have been stuck in. Bah. He needed to see if he could get that damn thing fixed. Except he would have to find someone better than a Highlander mage to fix things for him.

Lythero took his sweet time answering the question. He wasn't particularly sure that he liked the human's tone. Parzifal? Had that name been mentioned before by Vren? He hadn't committed much of the little details to memory. Just the major contacts that the man had given to him.

"Yes. The General Lythero. It's nice to know that not all of the Tulgey mixes are idiots when it comes to their heritage." He smiled, which seemed a little off.

[The Jenn]

Parzifal regarded the man, wondering if the legends of the man's species had been altered to omit his vermin heritage. But why? That seemed pointless. Wolves were more intimidating than squirrels, but historians could have mentioned a "wolf mix" just as easily. And he really did look similar to Miss Femi.

Then an uneasy thought struck him. Obviously the man had been dead - or imprisoned - for a very long while. Perhaps Femi had freed him, somehow? She was a Queen...

He blinked, trying not to take quite as much offense to the man's statement as he wished to. "Yes... well... thank you." He supposed. "It's been my life's work up to this point to gain a more accurate understanding of the events of the War of the Second Wall. History remains very muddled on particulars of the subject, though there are a great many books detailing the better-known aspects of history. I was actually coming here to see if Vren could give me more insight into the rumored resurrection or incarnation of the General Lythero. I'm guessing that will be less necessary now that I find myself in your presence."

[Kari Muffin]

Annoying. That was the word he could use for the human. Lythero continued to drink his tea. Was the man going to just stand there and play the question game? So much for manners.

"Are you going to just stand there all day?" He said after a moment. "What makes you think I would be willing to answer your questions when you're being terribly disrespectful? You just waltz in here like own the place and start asking this and that. I have no interest in playing a part in fulfilling the dreams of a little boy." He waved a taloned hand dismissively. A small growl escaped him as he set the tea cup down so he could properly refill it. The talons managed to knick the china for the hundredth time. As useful as the things were for fighting they were impractical for everything else.

"Of course if you're willing to be a bit more sensible I might answer a few or your questions. Though if you did your research you should at the very least know a hint of how I'm sitting here."

[The Jenn]

Quite, quite abrupt... well. Parzifal supposed the man had every right, considering his age and reputation. Also, manners and conduct within the Tulgey had doubtless changed over the past few centuries. Returning 'home' both reminded him and made him forget. He bowed once more and murmured an apology. Then he moved to take a seat that had not been Vren's, the man's tea and the chair's worn appearance clearly marking his spot.

He clicked on the Diamond charm, just a bit, and waited a moment before speaking again. "Sir, I in no way wish to offend your sensibilities, and I apologize if I have done so. It was not my intent. Doubtless you have people bothering you often. History offers some small clues as to your continued existence." He tactfully failed to mention that the pertinent histories had been gathered in Esterberry. Don't mention realm around the fabled xenophobe, especially when you were a halfling...

[Kari Muffin]

As charming as Parzi was, the Tulgey couldn't help but remain sour. He was a very particular when it came to everything. His company was no exception. Narrowing his brightly colored eyes he continued to sip his tea.

"You obviously weren't looking hard enough if you don't understand how I can be sitting here in front of you," he half snarled. He knew that his name had almost been erased from history by the Outsiders, but there were still mentions of him here and there. And the fact that he was skinned alive wasn't really hidden in most texts. The curse resulting from his vow to return however wasn't public knowledge as far as he knew. The diaries of the enemy Queen's were probably the only things that told something close to the truth.

He rolled his eyes. "Perhaps if you're capable of properly engaging me in a conversation I'll tell you a bit about myself."