The Guild Capitol: Chapter 2.5

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so the other doesn't get lost yet we can still play

flying_purple_monkfish wrote:--everything-- --here-- --is-- --interesting-- Swarm pointed out.

Skye laughed at that and shrugged, picking a place to land and have a closer look. "Right, let's see what this place is."

Swarm kept close, looking around at where they now were.

---

"you do not have hearts though." Armin pointed out with a chuckle and patted James on the shoulder. "but you ARE a person. Always remember that." He nodded and looked warily at the candles. They were small enough not to set off his fear but he was still dubious of them. Even a tiny flame with these oxygen tanks could be absolutely devastating. So he kept his distance. "you are correct, there must be someone nearby." He called out softly. "Hello?"

James laughed and nodded. "Metaphorical hearts," he said, "not physical ones."

Finally something moved. One of the mirrors on the walls swung outward and a quadrupedal creature peered out, before stepping into the room. It was a griffin, feathers light brown and white, and beak a pinkish color. Its claws clicked on the floor as it walked, and its gait was a bit waddling as if it wasn't really a species meant to walk for long.
It looked at then for a moment, then it's ears pointed forward at them. "Hatchlings!" It said, "Welcome!"

Armin tilted his head. "We are no hatchlings my friend." He bowed gracefully. "I am Armin Den Skadare, this is James... Bond yes?" He remembered and bowed his head to James. "I hope we are not intruding."

James tried to not laugh as Armin called him James Bond. Oh dear, that was going to be his surname now, wasn't it? Not that there was anything wrong with that. He nodded in agreement.

The griffin plodded over to them and looked up at them. It was about the size of a Labrador Retriever, albeit much heavier looking due to its thick plumage. "'Hatchlings' is the traditional term of address to all newcomers to the church," it said helpfully, "I am known here as Learned One Sunbeak, as the griffin language is difficult for other species to pronounce."

"It is an honour to meet you Learned One Sunbeak." Armin bowed his head once more. "this is a beautiful church."

Sunbeak's feathers ruffled and it made a purring sound. "I'm glad you like it. The griffins of the Guild have put a great deal of time into making this place right." It looked up at them curiously. "You are a vavare, Armin Den Skadare?"

Armin nodded. "I am. You have had dealings with my people?" He asked curiously.

"Not often. I've met a few vavare before, and the people of our religious sect revere your silk for its healing properties, lightness, and strength, considering it to be something almost holy." Sunbeak nodded sagely, "We don't deal with vavare often, but we respect your kind very much."

"What do you do with the silk?" James asked, "I assume you don't wear it."

Sunbeak clacked its beak, amused. "We normally hang pieces over the doorways during cleansing ceremonies, to keep ancient bitterness and hate away. We don't wear it, we just aren't shaped right for clothes."

Armin bowed his head again. "You honor us with your reverence." He told the Griffin.

Sunbeak made a face that looked sort of like a smile. "It is good to meet a creature such as you." It looked at James, "And what are you? I'd say Terran, but there are so many species that look Terran that it's hard to be sure."

"I'm a Terran android," James said, smiling a bit.

"One of the free ones they've been talking about?"

James nodded. "Yeah, I'm free. My brother's the one who went and spoke to the Guild yesterday."

Sunbeak nodded in a birdy sort of way. "After all that, I guess you androids really are proper hatchlings now. Very good." It looked back to Armin again, "Would you two like to look around at all? I'll be going to roost soon, but I can show you around first. You're welcome to join the flock." Sunbeak was a priest after all, of course it wanted converts.

Armin bowed his head. "it would be a pleasure to hear of your beliefs and to see more of your church." He told him. He had no intention of converting of course, but Vavare were raised to take great interest in other's cultures and belief systems.

The priest flapped its wings lightly, making the candle flames flicker a tiny bit, and lead the way toward the dais where the other mural was.

"There are a lot of griffin religions and political movements, but our religion is the" strange cawing noise "belief system. You might prefer to call it Stellar Reincarnationism. We believe that all beings can be connected when they share our faith, and that those who believe shall be reincarnated repeatedly until they find their true way and become one with the stars." It waved one paw at the mural on the wall, "We believe that as we approach our true way, we are reborn as griffins, but anyone can start that journey, no matter their shape."

"Wait, so if I was the follow your religion, I'd be reborn as a griffin?" James said.

"Eventually, yes," Sunbeak said, amused. "It isn't guaranteed to happen in one lifetime, or even in seven. But someday you would be a griffin if you followed the path faithfully."

James blinked. Weird. "Do you have reincarnation in your beliefs?" he asked Armin curiously.

Armin shook his head. "When we die we are taught that if our hearts are pure, we shall join the weaver in spinning the threads of the universe." He looked up at the mural in fascination. "How does one follow your path?" He asked Sunbeak politely.

Sunbeak fluttered its wings and indicated some writing that twined along the wall held in the beak of a painted griffin, scratchy and illegible. "We seek a life that cleanses us of what weighs us down. We try to leave our hatred and bitterness behind, to lighten the weight on our souls. We fast every year, eating leaves which can grow again. Of course, not all species can handle such a diet, we understand that." It looked at both men, amused. Neither one of them could survive on leaves, after all! "We pray and meditate and seek to bring new folk into the flock. That is our way."

Skye looked around and tilted her head at the things that were set up on tables around them. Apparently this was like a science fair type of place with the inventions ready to be shown off or tested.

Armin listened intently to Sunbeak, studying the writing but making no sense of it. "Thank you for sharing this with us."

--

Swarm eagerly rushed to get a better look at the experiments.

Skye wandered among the people there, asking the owners about each one and what they did curiously. Most answered willingly, eager to share their knowledge

Swarm effectively interrogated everyone intheir enthusiastic manner, curious about everything, wanting to see demonstrations and everything. --we-- --did-- --not-- --anticipate-- --science-- --in-- --such-- --a-- --magical-- --place-- they told Skye

Skye giggled then shrugged "Artuvians cannot be the only ones not affected by magic, and there are many who can use the anti-magic tech to nullify the magic users. Science is the only way around that at times." She said then paused when she saw a hawk-Artuvian at one of the tables, fiddling with something.

"Of course," Sunbeak said. "If you ever wish to follow the path, please come and visit again. Or just come visit! But now I must rest, the sun is down and although we stand under a mural of stars, us griffins really are most alert during sunlight hours." It clacked its beak in amusement.

"Thanks... man?" James said.

The griffin nodded. "That works."

James grinned and looked to Armin. "Want to look around a bit more, or are you ready to head out?"

Armin bowed gracefully. "Our thanks most Learned One. Rest well my friend."

He nodded to James. "I am certain there is much more to see here, but it would be polite to allow our friend to rest. Perhaps we may return come daylight, if you so desire. "

---

--Magic-- --nullifying-- --technology-- --is-- --very-- --useful-- they agreed, but then Swarm hesitated, seeing the hawk. --Artruvan?-- they asked to confirm, watching the man.

James nodded. "Sounds good." He waved to the griffin, then headed for the door. "Anything you want to see, Armin?"

Skye nodded and looked to Swarm then back to the other one, walking over to see what he was doing.

The hawk Artuvian looked up for a moment and spotted Skye, eyes widening in surprise. He came over, still holding whatever it was he had been fiddling with. "You're not a shapeshifter, are you?" he asked Skye.

Skye stopped and shook her head "No, I am not" She replied and glanced to Swarm then back to him again "I am Skye, who are you?"

"Orel," he said, holding out his hand to her. "It's been a long time since I've seen an actual hawk, you'll have to understand my skepticism." He didn't seem to have noticed Swarm yet.