A Terribly Hallifaxian Story

@Ymuli found @Shonjir and I at the Matrix and after a bit of talking about culture, Ymuli asked us for a story...

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Fogrey dy Coardailys, Ymuli of the Curious Heart says, "Will either of you tell me a story of Hallifax?"

Ymuli's eyes raise to the heavens as a look of hope flashes across her face.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat says, "I am a terrible bard, and an even worse storyteller."

You look skeptical and say, "I am not even a bard."

Fogrey dy Coardailys, Ymuli of the Curious Heart says, "Falmiis! It's all on you."

With a pointed look at Falmiis, Ambassador Shonjir Shevat says, "With no grandkids yet, lack of storytime has not been
an issue."

Fogrey dy Coardailys, Ymuli of the Curious Heart says, "One doesn't need to be a bard to tell stories!"

You say, "Wait, what?"

Ymuli shifts her eyes suspiciously from side to side.

You say, "Alright, alright."

You purse your lips, deep in thought.

You say, "Let's call this the tale of the lost skylark."

Shonjir's ears perk up with a sudden interest.

Ymuli hides an excited grin behind one hand and adopts a look of intense focus as she listens.

You say, "Once upon a time, when the city was still young there was a trill girl who owned a skylark. Mind you, this
wasn't just any skylark. This skylark had feathers painted a brilliant gold."

Yehn arrives from the southwest.

Shonjir beams broadly at Yehn.

You incline your head politely to Yehn.

Yehn bows respectfully to Shonjir.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat says to you, "Start again if you would?"

Yehn bows respectfully to you.

You say, "Oh."

You have emoted: Falmiis clears his throat.

Nodding, you say, "This is the tale of the lost skylark."

Ymuli's eyes sparkle with amusement.

Yehn tilts her head and listens intently to you.

You say, "Once upon a time, when the city was still young there was a trill girl who owned a skylark. Mind you, this
wasn't just any skylark. This skylark had feathers painted a sparkling silver."

You say, "Born into a family of artists and scientists, she was destined to enter into the ranks of the highest castes.
Even at her young age she was known throughout the Over City for her talents as a painter. But as a family of noble
birth - at least as noble as can be found in Hallifaxian culture - she had never ventured into the lower wards. So one
day she and her skylark went exploring."

You look thoughtful and say, "I meant to say, as a trill of noble birth."

You say, "Anyway!"

Shonjir swishes his tail back and forth with a touch of increased enthusiasm.

Questioningly, Fogrey dy Coardailys, Ymuli of the Curious Heart says, "This caste thing... the uh... noble whatevers
live in this over city, and the not-nobles live in the lower wards?"

Yehn gives Ymuli a thumbs up.
 
You say, "Without informing her caretakers, she woke before the sun had even begun peeking over Avechna's Teeth to cast
his radiance and make the city sparkle. With her skylark, she descended the city. First it was to the ward of the
merchants where she saw the majestic towers each belonging to a different company. She had heard there were shops with
various oddities but as it was still early none of them had opened yet."

You say, "Next, she found herself before the Ministry of Postal Services. Unlike the shops in the Merchant Ward, the
ministry was very active with crystal spheres flying every which way as the ministry's attendants diligently worked to
ensure that all of the important documents would reach their recipients before the day began in earnest."

Shonjir's pointed ears swivel about before focusing forward once more.

You say, "While she wanted to stay and play with the crystal spheres, she knew she had much more to see and so she
continued down the platforms of the city and found herself in the Engineering Ward. For the first time in a long time
she truly felt small compared to the generator that stood before her, buzzing and beeping as it too worked overtime to
ensure the city kept afloat."

Yehn folds her wings around her body, wrapping herself in a feathered embrace.

Fogrey dy Coardailys, Ymuli of the Curious Heart says, "Oh! -That- is how this works..."

Ymuli shifts her eyes suspiciously from side to side.

You say, "Soon she continued down to the Entertainment Ward. Unfortunately it too was closed. There was also a
crystalline pillar with a line marked with -."

You raise an eyebrow at Ymuli.

Yehn gives Ymuli a thumbs up.

Yehn tilts her head and listens intently to you.

You say to Ymuli, "Can I continue?"

With a soft sigh, you say, "Anyway, where was I? Oh yes..."

Ymuli shifts her eyes suspiciously from side to side.

The sweet scent of cherry blossoms wafts through the air as a cavalcade of ivory petals heralds the entrance of Yarith.

A low, contented growl arises within Shonjir's chest as he sniffs at Yarith.

You say, "Soon, she continued down to the Entertainment Ward. Unfortunately it was closed. All she saw was a crystal
wheel with numbers marked in alternating red and black around the edges. She had no idea what it was but it definitely
looked like fun. Feeling slightly dejected, she pressed onwards to the lowest ward."

Yarith beams broadly at Shonjir.

"Shh!" Ymuli says to Yarith, putting a finger to her lips.

Yarith opens his mouth as if to say something, but pauses.

You say, "In the eighth ward, she found herself in the forty-second and final precinct, where visitors to the city would
usually have to come through. By now the sun was well on its way to making his daily journey across the peaceful sky and
this precinct was full of activity. Trill and lucidian servants alike all moving about to ensure the multitude of
visitors of all shapes and sizes would be well treated (and more importantly were made aware of the laws)."

You frown and say, "There was one problem, though."

Ymuli tilts her head curiously.

You say, "While the trill girl was marveling at all the wonders of the city she had forgotten that she had brought her
sapphirine skylark and now it was nowhere to be seen!"

Yehn brings her hands to her mouth.

Ymuli creases her brow in a frown.

You say, "In an instant she began to panic. The skylark was her best friend and among the busy platforms of the Over
City, it could have been lost -anywhere-. Even worse, what if it had flown out of the city all together, never to be
found again? As all of the these horrid possibilities started to flood her nubile mind, she began to cry."

You say, "One of the lucidian servants took notice of this young trill girl and immediately recognised her as a member
of the highest castes by her splendid clothing. He walked over and tried to calm the girl and asked her what had
happened."

You say, "She hurriedly told him and his body turned a dark shade of grey as he entered into deep thoughts about what he
could do for the girl."

You say, "Now, I must make it clear that this is a Hallifaxian story. Had this been a story about a merian girl who lost
her duckling in Celest, a simple priest would have gone out of his way and spent the whole day searching for the
duckling. But no! This is Hallifax."

Fraesic Sunfar, Keeper of the Matrix says, "Once the seat of power within the Basin of Life, the sole survivor of
Hallifax, Archmage Cririk Adom, was forced to sever our city from the Empire's control. A society built on faith and
magic, their aquatic tendencies and their nigh absolute devotion to the half-formed entities known as the Supernals
leads them down a strange path, one that at times intersects our own of intellectual enlightenment."

Fraesic Sunfar, Keeper of the Matrix says, "However, they have a tendency to overvalue individuality and place a strong
value on the lives of those who are unable to work efficiently within a productive environment."

You say to Fraesic Sunfar, Keeper of the Matrix, "Thank you for your input."

You say, "So, what did this lucidian do? He simply directed the girl to the Ministry of Information and returned to his
task, for he had a job to complete and the city would not be able to function if he was to leave his post and search for
this skylark. Yes, the girl was of high birth and belonged to the highest castes, but all citizens are equal before the
Collective."

Ymuli peers about herself unscrupulously.

Yehn nodnod.

Shonjir lets a long breath escape his lungs, the action turning into a soft growl.

You say, "And so that concludes my story. You may wonder what happened to the little girl and the skylark. I simply do
not know. What interests me more is this lucidian servant, of the lowest caste. He understood his place and soon reached
out and became a progenitor of one of the city's greatest House of Scientists, the Eepex."

With a flourish of your arm, you bow deeply.

Yarith sucks thoughtfully on his teeth.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat says to you, "An ending well worth waiting for."

You say, "I hope we have all learned a valuable lesson today."

Yehn opens her mouth and then closes it again.

Ecclesiar Yarith Shevat says, "That you'd be as good a bard as your father is?"

Yarith hides a grin behind his hand.

Shonjir thwaps Yarith on the head.

Undergraduate Yehn murmurs, "Um..."

You ask Yehn, "Yes, Undergraduate?"

Yehn hesitates and then shakes her head.

Yarith smiles softly at Yehn.

Releasing a breath and just staring, Fogrey dy Coardailys, Ymuli of the Curious Heart says, "That. Is a terribly
Hallifaxan story."

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat says to Yarith, "I'll have you know I can sing a song or two."

Ecclesiar Yarith Shevat says to Ymuli, "It is indeed."

You say to Yehn, "If you have a question you must ask, or you will never be able to learn."

Flatly, Ecclesiar Yarith Shevat says to Shonjir, "I'm well aware."

Shonjir snickers softly to himself.

Yarith gives Shonjir a peck on the cheek.

Shonjir nods his head at Yehn.

Undergraduate Yehn murmurs, "Um... did anyone... chronicle what happened at the, um, ministry?"

Ymuli mutters discontentedly.

You say to Yehn, "No, that is a tale that has been lost to history. The important thing is that we know the lucidian
served the Collective well."

Yehn nodnod.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat says, "So, how about a little tune to round things off."

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "There once was a little grey cub."

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "Who never wanted to scrub."

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "Had fur full of dirt."

Shonjir hums a happy tune.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "So grubby and vert."

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "That father called him a shrub."

The corners of Shonjir's mouth turn up as he grins mischievously.

Ymuli peers about herself unscrupulously.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "He dragged the young pup of to a tub."

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "Squealing and squirming just like a grub!"

Your eyes sparkle with amusement.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "Shoved him inside."

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "Scrubbed hard and dried."

Yehn listens with a faint smile.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat sings, "Till raw and pink was the cub!"

Shonjir beams broadly.

Yehn gives Shonjir a thumbs up.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat says, "Quite good, no?"

Shonjir wags his tail happily.

You nod your head in agreement.

You say, "Not enough Hallifaxian ideals in there, but it is a good start."

Ymuli's eyes sparkle with amusement.

Shonjir utters a deep, rumbling laugh.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat says, "Dirt got scrubbed, good enough."

Shonjir nods his head sagely.

Yarith sucks thoughtfully on his teeth.

Ambassador Shonjir Shevat says, "Who's next?"

Shonjir urges his companions onwards.

Ymuli shifts her eyes suspiciously from side to side.

You say, "It would have been more appropriate if a servant of the Ministry of Sanitation did the scrubbing."

Folding her wings so she can reach them easily, Yehn preens her wings happily, straightening out the disheveled feathers.

Shonjir grins mischievously at you.