Conversations Overheard

1. Conversations Overheard

   #1

   Isle of the Gorira
   
   Overheard beside the Monument of Hetaira on the Promenade of Crimson Suns
   
   "...assume that you have heard tell of the priests called Khaitarae, who dwell on the Isle of Khaitos in the Southern Sea?"
   "I think so; are they not they who despise more wholesome priests, and who ban from their shores all images of the Phoenix and of Shin, the Moon God, and of the God of Carmanians?"
   "The very same! Allow me to tell you, friend- I have seen their isle, and them as well, and I swear upon my name of Stachys..."
   "Stachys? What sort of name is that? It has the ring of the south in it. Is it Khwarezmian?"
   "Nothing so exotic! It is Pisidian; I am named for the city of Stachys, which is the seat of my land's beloved Autarch (whose brow-sweat is as gold to his people, may his name be blessed). But it is of no consequence. Will you now listen?"
   "Yes, yes, do not be irritable."
   "I was hired from the docks of that city of Stachys for a sail upon a Parsic merchantship, and in the fourth day of our voyage, as we sailed the islands, we lost most of our fresh water in an accident; the captain (one Dasharga, a huge and bellicose Parsic) was a man of scepticism..."
   "Do you mean he was an Atheist?!"
   "No! No, of course not. But he was not inclined to believe in such things as hungry ghosts and so on."
   "Then go on."
   "Yes. In any case, this Dasharga was a man of scepticism, and decided that we would put in at the Isle of Khaitos, for it was not far, and ask the priests there for water; they held no fear for him. We put in there, in a beauteous harbor of natural design; above us was the steaming jungle, and the most fantastic peaks, jagged, and worn with ages of rain!"
   "You sound like a poet!"
   "Why thank you."
   "It is not a compliment in this land; but take it as you will. Go on."
   "We went up the shore, looking for a sign of human manufacture, of which we found nothing. But then, as we advanced up into the edges of the jungle (at the orders of Dasharga, who became quite irate, particularly when a black-skin and a Mysian became fearful and fled), we were approached by a party of outrageous creatures!"
   "What were they?"
   "I shall tell you, if you will cease interruption!"
   "Apologies, my good Pisidian; I have simply had too much to drink."
   "Now I shall tell you what these creatures were; they were those solemn creatures who are termed gorira by sages, and..."
   "No! Do you speak true?"
   "Yes! Would I lie to you? Now, this creature, the gorira, is like a man and ape combined, but huge and hairy with black fur and a solemn, old face; I have been told that they are the offspring of apes and human women, but I do not think this true, for if it were, they would be more brutish. But these gorira (there were four) were gracious and dignified, and with hand-signs made it known that we were to come with them into the mountains..."
   
   Stachys begins to whisper into his companions ear

V2.0 - Threads Moved to Main Citadel · All categories · Guildhall