Ohm's paws unfurl from the bowl, now licked profoundly clean of the soup. Her maw opens, sharp teeth clamping down carefully on the wooden rim and lifting the bowl off the log. Her arms straighten, pulling Ohm's legs up after them, and she skitters along the log towards Yuna. A forelimb stretches out, still slow and gentle, claws grasping the handle of Yuna's bowl and lifting it away, before Ohm's head slowly lowers down, placing one bowl into another with an astonishing amount of care, and setting the spoon gently atop the pile. Two hands then grip Yuna's bowl — this time using the midlimbs that sprout from her back — lifting it up. Ohm gives Yuna an inscrutable glance, then turns away, skittering down the other side of the log and across the beaten-down dirt.

Circling the fire, the Exalt sets the bowls down in roughly the place Snow Lily had taken them from. Returning her limbs to the ground, Ohm sits, eyes cast up towards the old woman, the spoon still balancing atop the fluffy summit of her head.

Snow Lily sighs, bringing a hand to the bridge of her nose, massaging it as if she had a headache.

"It seems like we will not be able to escape dealing with the Realm, no matter how strongly we might wish otherwise."

The sound of Ohm putting down the bowls makes the chief open her eyes again, and she laughs at the display. She takes the spoon from the Lunar's head, and hesitates, seemingly on the cusp of patting her head before deciding otherwise. She shakes her head, a smile still on her lips.

"Now your story, I'd be curious to hear. But enough discussion for tonight. I need to bring your proposition to the rest of the tribe, and make a decision with them. Rest for tonight, and tomorrow we will fulfill Y'mithra's part of the bargain and take you two to Jianta."

Snow Lily gets up, patting some stray snow from her furs. "You can use my tent for tonight. It will surely lack the comforts you are used to, but it is the best we can do." She pauses, looking at the pot of stew for a moment. "There might be some commotion as others come to get food, but they will not bother you otherwise if you remain inside."

Ohm's huge yellow eyes look a bit disappointed when the spoon is removed and nothing more is forthcoming. Nevertheless, she turns away from Snow Lily and trots back to the log, crawls back atop it, and then curls up. Her many limbs come together, creating a uniform ball of fluff, looking as if a particularly large, plush mushroom has sprouted from the wood. The faintest sound of slow breathing, muffled by her fur, can be heard if one places an ear close.

Yuna gave a sympathetic sort of grimace as Snow Lily seemed less than thrilled at the idea of entering into Realm politics, memories stirring of her own frantic studies to try to get up to speed after she had taken her Second Breath. She glanced sidelong at her fluffy companion as Snow Lily removed the spoon and the maybe-Anathema returned to the log once more, still utterly unsure what to make of her. Yuna would certainly love to know that story as well.

The Dragon-Blood bowed her head to Snow Lily. "Use of your tent is more than gracious. You have my gratitude." Yuna hid a faint hint of wry amusement at the thought that this would be not the worst place she'd slept. Though it would be one of the coldest. "That said, if I could make one request? After you've had a chance to discuss things with the rest of your tribe, if they are amenable, could I spend some time observing them? Perhaps speak to a couple, if they are not unwilling?" Observation and conversation were merely another form of study and she would need some degree of expertise here to maneuver this all properly when she got to Jianta.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:57, Mon 17 Aug 2020.

"Yes, of course dear. It's good to see that you'll stick to your words of learning about us, and I am sure some of them are curious about our visitors as well."

The rest of the evening goes by without problems; some of the tribesmen indeed don't mind talking to Yuna, and none of them particularly stand out, either. All in all, the Bao seem to be a pacific tribe of hunter-gatherers, the only oddity being their uncommon connection to the leopards lazing around the camp; they are probably blessed by a leopard god or other similar entity, though they wisely kept quiet about it and, if so, it has not shown itself to Yuna's senses either. Hard to think they would keep up with Immaculate practices in the wilderness, after all. Many seem curious about Ohm as well, though none directly ask Yuna about her strange companion, nor approach the Lunar directly. During all this, Y'mithra is nowhere to be seen.

After a while, Yuna retires to the chief's tent, which reveals itself to be surprisingly warm. There are several personal items scattered around, though not in a disorganized fashion, which Yuna does not pry into. She falls asleep in a surprisingly comfortable bedroll, while her companion seems content to remain outside; or so it seemed at first...

As the camp fades into the relative inactivity of night — still and silent, save for the handful of tribemembers who keep watch, wary eyes staring out into the darkness — Ohm's fuzzy ball stirs and unfurls, stretching out across the log. After a slow yawn, she descends from the log, trodding across the ground to slip into Snow Lily's tent. Her ruby claws pick their way across the floor, attempting not to disturb anything noisesome, before reaching the bedroll from which comes Yuna's clear breathing. Ohm's tiny body slips into the opening, disappearing into the warm darkness and curling up once more into a ball. With warmth and company, she falls again into sleep, her warm, thick fur nestled against Yuna's side.

Yuna awoke slowly, comfortably warm and lazily content. She felt something nestled into her back and unthinkingly rolled over to wrap an arm around her companion, but found them... surprisingly fluffy. Not human...? A dog, then. Yuna had never owned a pet.

The Exalt's eyes shot open and she shoved herself back and away from the bedroll and the unexpected company therein. She pushed herself up to a sitting position, one arm wrapped around her side. The Guardian floated as a flickering orb beside her, unperturbed as ever by anything that was not a direct attack. Yuna regarded the maybe-Anathema with surprise that was swiftly shifting to anger, heart still racing in her chest. "Sweet Danaa'd." Her breath came with faint wisps of smoke. "What in the Hell was that about?" she said, usual cool temporarily lost with her alarm.

Ohm's fur proves itself as exceptional soft as it had looked when Yuna pushes herself away. The Dynast's fingers sink deep into the plush, before eventually hitting on Ohm's significantly-less-yielding main form. With Yuna's hurry to push away, she pushes the smaller Exalt's body up. It tilts onto its side, then away, toppling onto what is... probably Ohm's back. The fur shifts as Ohm curls up a little tighter within the bedroll, now absent Yuna's warmth, a quiet groan of protest escaping the mound. She otherwise offers up no reaction.

Yuna regarded the maybe-Anathema, form half-covered by blankets, as she leaned very lightly against the wall of the tent and waited for her heartbeat to slow and the sense of panic to pass. She set about straightening her clothing a little, smoothing her collar and running her fingers through her hair, trying to make herself more presentable. The Guardian was still at her side, but the magic would be expiring soon and would need to be renewed. Ideally, she'd be able to find somewhere more private to shape the spell, but she might not find anywhere so private as this.

Casting a final glance over at the maybe-Anathema, Yuna took a breath and steadied herself, calling the Guardian to float just above her hand. Gently, she guided it toward her chest, eyes still closed and concentrating, essence beginning to stir. As she pressed the Guardian closer, she stifled a wince; fire didn't burn any more, but this wasn't ordinary flame. She pushed the Guardian to her breast and then through, into her heart, felt the searing burn of it there as agony and as a pure thrill that thrummed all through her veins.

Yuna held onto both feelings as she traced her fingers through the air, leading the little specs of essence, guiding them and augmenting them with her own power as she left little blazing sigils floating before her. As she finished, she tapped her forefinger once against the center and the symbols blazed brighter as the sword began to emerge once more, hilt-first, from Yuna's chest, taking on the form of an ornate saber and stopping once just past the guard.

Exhaling once again for the first time since the ritual had begun, the Exalt took hold of the sword's hilt and drew it forth with a flourish, eyes opening and glowing with fiery Essence.

And then it was done. The sigil went out, the essence settled, and Yuna closed her first fully around the Guardian, collapsing it back into its orb form. It floated back once more to linger at her side.

Wiping away a small trickle of sweat at her brow, Yuna stood and brushed herself off, taking one final moment to check her appearance before stepping out of the tent.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Mon 17 Aug 2020.

Yuna steps out of the tent to a hustle of activity, with some of the tribesmen folding up their tents while others cleared out campfires and generally went about their daily duties in preparation of moving on to a new spot, as the Bao were a roaming tribe. A few moments after Yuna steps out, she is approached by Snow Lily, who now has Y'mithra beside her.

"Good morning, Yuna. After the tribe's deliberation last night, it was decided that Y'mithra will be the one to accompany you to Jianta and act as the Bao's ambassador."

The chief does not seem happy about that decision, but Y'mithra is as inscrutable as they were the previous day.

"This deal was of my own making," the hunter says, "it is only fair that this unintended cost be borne by me and none other."

The hunter's posture is stiff, as if they expect Yuna to object.

Yuna offered Snow Lily a smile and a nod of greeting and the same to Y'mithra. That one, she was certain, did not like her. But you never let on for such things. Not to 'kill them with kindness' as the saying went, but to remain inscrutable, so that they never knew when and if they got to you, so you had a better chance of getting to them.

The Dragon-Blood blinked at the news of who she would be working with, but her expression betrayed little of her thoughts as she turned to Y'mithra. Stiff, obviously displeased and obviously expecting to have to fight for their place. There would be a lot to teach them. Almost as much as Momodi had needed to teach her, Yuna thought wryly. To Y'mithra, she simply bowed, lower than she had the day before and with more respect. Appropriate for one foreign dignitary to another. "It will be my honor to work with you, Y'mithra of the Bao. I am certain there is much we have to teach each other."

Yuna straightened and offered them another smile, an invitation to friendlier relations going forward. So very much to teach them of the Realm and its politics, of which she was no expert by any stretch, and so little time to do it. Easier if they could at least get along for it.

The hunter seems surprised at the apparent lack of the objection they had been expecting, but then simply gives a nod in response to Yuna's words.

"We should move out and start trekking towards Jianta. It is not far, but we will still need to leave early and keep a brisk pace if we want to make it to the city gates by nightfall."

At this point Yuna notices that Y'mithra is carrying quite a few more things on their person than the previous day, though the assorted bags and pouches blend well with the heavy furs the hunter wears. Beside their feet there is also a larger bag, presumably containing what little personal effects they would be taking to Jianta. Y'mithra hands Yuna a pouch with some trail rations inside.

"For breakfast. We'll make a stop halfway through the journey for a heartier meal. Your companion...?"

Y'mithra looks towards the tent, but otherwise trails off, leaving it unclear what they meant by bringing up Ohm.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:06, Tue 18 Aug 2020.

Some time after Yuna has left the tent — taking her lovely warmth with her — Ohm finally stirs to wakefulness. She unfurls herself from the blankets, stretching her body out and shaking her bedroll-compressed fur back into its natural, bouncy shape. She does not immediately head out to join Yuna, who is doubtless preparing for her departure by now. Instead, the Lunar exhales, releasing the tiny ball of silvery essence she'd held bound within her body. As the energy unfurls, so too do the tattoos, spiralling silver lines in a pattern that never seems to intersect. When the lines reach her fur, they seem to vanish, though they are still there — a glittering pattern of larger stripes in her fur that only appears when the light hits them just right.

Next, Ohm focuses the thrumming energy of her body, pulling it inwards... and her form along with it. Her already-tiny frame shrinks, diminishing away even as it shifts. Her limbs narrow, fur proceeding up them to cover her torso. Her eyes grow even larger and bulge out, vision shattering into a thousand images. Two tufts of her hair jut outwards, forming into long, feathered antenna. The fur on her back flares out, then knits together into four elegant, delicately-woven wings. Within moments, she is barely larger than a fingernail, a silken white moth wit golden compound eyes and a particularly thick, jagged covering of fur, both details that would likely be impossible for a human to notice. Her whole body shimmers in those faint silver lines, even harder to see now that all of her is of one colour.

Shaking her newly-remade body, Ohm sets off across the suddenly vast bedroll. For such a tiny creature, she makes alarmingly good time, skittering across the skins and then down onto the earthen floor. From there, she makes towards the nearest edge of the tent. It isn't anywhere near the opening, but that is an arbitrary distinction to her by now. Reaching the wall, pressed tightly to the earth, she nevertheless wriggles her tiny body in, dislodging the skin and burrowing her way through. It would be a feat well beyond the strength of any normal moth, but she is very much not a normal moth.

Eventually, Ohm breaches the other side, emerging into the titanic clamour of human life within the camp as it is being collapsed around her. Not particularly wanting to wait around to be stepped on, for all that it would be entirely survivable, she unfurls her wings, silvery details flashing in the sunlight, and hurls herself skyward. She leaps, an inch or more into the air. As she reached the apex, her wings pound downwards, fold, lift up, extend, and then pound again, lifting her up into the air and away from the cacophony. In seconds, she has escaped into the open sky, near-invisible from below save for the occasional glint of faint silver light.

From her newly-elevated perch, Ohm spies Yuna, the hunter who'd lead the cats, and the village elder. She pitches her wings, turning about so she can fly towards them. The little moth circles in the skies above, coming down low enough to listen to rest of the conversation, if for no other reason than they might mention directions. A useful tidbit in the even they both got eaten by a mammoth en route.

Yuna dipped her head in deferral to Y'mithra's expertise so far as getting to Jianta-- and, indeed, getting anywhere-- from the Bao's camp. She accepted the pouch of rations the hunter offered to them, hiding her disappointment. After the stew from last night, Yuna had very much been looking forward to breakfast. No helping it, though. "Thank you" was all she said however, offering Y'mithra a smile.

The Exalt turned back toward the tent, following Y'mithra's gaze. "Ah... Companion is... perhaps a strong word. One-time rescuer is more apt; she aided me in surviving the shipwreck and I had thought she might have been sent by one of my actual companions, but..." Yuna shrugged. She elected not to name the girl as a possible Anathema; she couldn't be certain and she had saved her life. "Either way, I'm not certain as to where she was headed. I'd say I should wish her farewell before we depart, but I'd rather not wake her." And she didn't know what the girl wanted or if she would continue to follow.

"I... see. Well, in that case, we can leave her to the chief and the rest of the tribe to deal with." Y'mithra looks at Snow Lily, who nods.  "Very well, then. Let us be off."

With matters settled, Y'mithra and Yuna say their goodbyes and start out onto the woods, with Ohm following after in her moth form. The trek is arduous, Y'mithra maintaining a brisk pace, but not something a Dynast cannot keep up with, even one such as Yuna. The pair stops around midday for a meal, which consists of some smoked meat and dried fruits that Y'mithra takes out of her pack; an improvement upon their breakfast, but still not near the previous day's stew. As they continued their journey, Yuna notices that Y'mithra seems surprised -- and slightly impressed -- that Yuna can keep up the pace without any complaints, but otherwise remains silent and aloof, resisting any attempts at conversation with one-word answers or grunts.

Eventually, the pair breaks out of the woods and, in the distance, Yuna catches the first glimpse of Jianta. The walled city is built on the slope of a mountain, with a smaller, also walled settlement also visible in the shores of the White Sea; judging distances, it seems like a one hour ride to go from the city proper to its harbor offshoot. Past the walls, Yuna can see the buildings on the higher levels of the slope, as well as several tall spires jutting out of the ground, the waning sun casting intricate shadows over them.

"Welcome to Jianta, City of Spires," Y'mithra mutters under her breath, clear distaste in her voice.

The pair approaches the gates of the city. A paved, well-maintained road leads from it to the harbor settlement, and a trickle of people are passing by under the watchful eye of several guards. Having come from the woods, however, Yuna and Y'mithra are clearly noticeable, and as they approach to shouting distance a group of guards moves to intercept them. They do not seem hostile, but they are wary and attentive; three guards in well-maintained breastplate armor, carrying swords at their hips and holding spears, with the bearing of actual military training, and an older officer similarly garbed. A quick glance tells Yuna that the other guards at the gate are similarly well-equipped, unusually so for mere guard duty, which perhaps speaks to the recent raiding troubles.

"Halt!" The officer in the group that intercepted the pair says when they get close enough, though neither his posture nor his tone is aggressive. "Name yourselves, and state your business in Jianta."

Ohm's tiny white form alights upon the wall of the great mountain city, a pale spec against the grey. Her golden eyes stare down at the shuffle of soldiers approaching her Dynastic travelling companion, waiting for this petty altercation to resolve itself. Alien as she is to cities, the Lunar has opted to follow Yuna to her destination first, and go seeking a disguise second.

Yuna had to work to keep pace with Y'mithra as they trekked through the unfamiliar terrain, though it proved rather easier than she was accustomed to. A perk of being Exalted, perhaps. Or perhaps she was simply better able to save her breath given that her new traveling companion was entirely unwilling to entertain any kind of conversation.

Whatever her guide's distaste, however, Yuna brightened noticeably and considerably at the sight of Jianta. She was almost there. And Momodi and the others should be there as well. She didn't let herself append 'if they survived' to that; Momodi was far stronger than her and she would have been able to find a way to get them all out safe. She found herself almost beginning to press ahead of her guide as they hit the last leg of their journey.

As they approached the city, the Dragon-Blood lit the lantern at her waist and made a brief gesture to send the Guardian into it. She frowned slightly as the guard called for them to halt, a part of her aware that a true House-raised Dynast should be offended to have a commoner ordering them about, but the request was not unreasonable and she was fairly certain that Momodi would accommodate such a request within reason. Still, she kept her hands clasped before her and she met the guard's eye steadily with an unconcerned smile, as if she were quite sure of herself and of how he would react to her, fully confident he would be assisting her in just a moment.

"Hail and well met, sir. I am V'neef Yuna, summoned as part of V'neef Momodi's entourage to the Satrapy by V'neef Papashan to assist with Kori's recent troubles. I'm afraid misadventure has seen me separated from my party, but my guide here, Ambassador Y'mithra, has been kind enough to aid me in finding my way once more," she said, gesturing to Y'mithra. "I trust you and yours will show her every courtesy you would show me. Now, both myself and the Ambassador have business in the city-- reuniting with Lady Momodi, if she has already arrived, and paying respect to the Satrap if she has not."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:26, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

The guards' eyes widen as Yuna introduces herself, and the officer quickly salutes, "My lady Yuna, allow me to welcome you to Jianta. Lady Momodi told us to expect your arrival by way of the Southern Gate, but I did not expect you to come out of the woods with a companion. I apologize if I have given offence." The officer seems visibly confused about Y'mithra being called "Ambassador", not to mention the way of their garb, but chooses not to comment further on the subject.

"If it please you, we have a carriage ready to take you and your guest to the Alabaster Seat."

The Alabaster Seat, Yuna recalls, is the name given to the queen's palace, the ruling seat of power in Kori. It is also were the Satrap has taken residence.

"None at all, sir. What sort of guard would you be if you did not guard your post, after all?" she told him, smile widening just a hair, a hint of humor and faint indulgence. The first was genuine, the second feigned. She was no longer of a social class with him and she wasn't supposed to let anyone forget it, least of all herself. She offered no explanation for Y'mithra's title. "And it would please me very much to take that carriage. You have my thanks."

Taking just a short moment to gather the power that hummed through the air, just subtle enough not to be a constant press on her awareness, Yuna whispered to the wind, mouth barely moving and voice utterly inaudible: "My Lady, I hope you're well. I've arrived in the city. I apologize for the delay, but I do have an ambassador of sorts with me for one of the local tribes."

"Ambassador?" Yuna asked, turning to Y'mithra, more an invitation that a request for an opinion, waiting for confirmation before beginning to step forward.

The officer relaxes at Yuna's response, and guides her to the carriage after a few curt orders to the guards. Y'mithra sinmply nods to Yuna, following after her and remaining as inscrutable as ever; the hunter's heavy garb definitively making it hard to know what they are thinking since it obscures their facial expressions, but good odds that it was not anything good given their previously clear distaste for the Realm and Jianta in particular. The officer apologizes for not being able to accompany Yuna to the Alabaster Seat, saying he couldn't leave his duties, and bids them farewell. Meanwhile Ohm spies the carriage and starts flying after it.

On the journey to the Seat, Yuna spies a bit of the daily life of Jianta through the windows of the carriage, in a sense. City of Spires it may be called, and indeed there are several dotting the skyline in the city, but more interesting than them are the frequent underground gates that Yuna sees, some closed down, some open as people emerged onto the surface or went underground in their daily business. Yuna had read that a large part of the city was built underground, and it was clear that navigating the city by foot was mostly done through those passages, as she saw very few pedestrians above-ground other than those immediately leaving or entering a building, even though the city was bustling with activity this close to Calibration.

Eventually the carriage makes its way towards the mountain, and arrives at great granite gates carved into the face of the mountain itself. Rising from the mountainside atop it a massive marble spire rises into the sky, and guards in more elaborate garb stand at the ready. The granite gates are large enough for the carriage to drive through, but it stops a few paces away instead, allowing Yuna and Y'mithra to disembark. As they do, they are approached by Momodi, who had clearly received Yuna's message.

"I had no doubts you would find your way here, cousin."

Momodi has an easy smile as she says this and approaches Yuna, giving her an unexpected hug. She squeezes the younger Exalt a bit too hard, betraying that she might not have felt as confident as her words otherwise indicated.

Yuna turned as Momodi addressed her and approached them, just beginning to offer the other Dragon-Blood a bow before being enveloped in a hug. Yuna hesitated for a moment, knowing this wasn't proper and a dozen potential implications from any onlookers running through her head, before the tension eased out of her and she wrapped her arms around Momodi as well. She held Momodi tightly, though not with quite the same almost-painful force as her mentor held her.

"I... apologize for my tardiness, my lady. Are Nanamo and the others all right?" There was a note of genuine concern, pulling back slightly to look around for some sign of Momodi's household.

Momodi also pulls back, giving a tired smile. Taking a good look at her, Yuna can see that she actually seems tired, perhaps the most tired Yuna has ever seen her.

"Yes. They're resting for now, inside the Alabaster Seat. Come, I'll take you to your quarter that you might freshen up and so that we can... discuss some things."

She says the last casting a glance towards Y'mithra, who remains as stoic as ever.

The granite doors open into a huge hall with several connecting passages, with servants and administrative personnel bustling through it to and fro their duties. Momodi takes Yuna and Y'mithra down one of those halls, already seemingly knowing her way around the place. As they walk, unwittingly trailed by a sparkling moth, Momodi tells Yuna how most of the household survived, though the same could not be said of the ship's crew. There is a note of genuine sadness in her voice as she explains how she had to prioritize saving her people before she could see to the sailors, but also the conviction that she had done the right thing.

As Yuna walks through the halls of the "palace" -- which, as far as she can see, are all set into the mountain -- she notices that several ornamental crystals line the walls and furniture, glowing in several shades of the elemental colors with a brilliant, unwavering intensity. She had noticed some of them in the city as well, but here they seemed to be everywhere she looked.

Eventually the group reaches a stairway an ascend into a part of the complex that seems dedicated to guest housing. Momodi stops briefly in front of the door of what she says to be Yuna's quarters to explain how her own rooms are just down the hall, and how the houshold's quarters can be found across the hall from them; they had all been quartered close to each other per her own request. The group then enters Yuna's waiting room, which boasts a massive window -- they've clearly ascended the spire, through they are still very close to ground level.

Momodi heads to one of the many chairs set around the room, turning to Yuna and motioning to Y'mithra. "I think I'm owned an explanation, here." Her tone is not unkind, and Yuna can sense that she means about more than just the newcomer.

Yuna listened attentively as Momodi relayed what had happened at the shipwreck after she'd ordered the younger Exalt to leave. She winced to hear the fate of most of the sailors, once again feeling the stirring of her element in her chest, but trying to force it down. Still. If she were more powerful, more competent, Momodi wouldn't have had to send her away and she would have been able to assist.

They enter Yuna's new quarters and she offers a quick look around, letting her shoulders relax-- though she quickly tenses again as Momodi asks for an explanation, feeling somewhat guilty though she had tried not to do anything outside of her authority. "Yes, my lady. After you gave your order, I came across a rather... odd sort of person in the water." Yuna rattled off a brief description of her previous companion. "At first, I assumed she might be a servitor of yours, but she told me this was not the case. ...And, I confess, I did not press further to her origins; she may, perhaps, have been some form of spirit or so forth native to the area?"

"Either way she helped me to get to the store, where we met Y'mithra." She nodded to fur-clad hunter, then gave a summary of the events at the Bao camp, including the promise she had made. Concluding, she said, "So, Y'mithra is here to act as something of an ambassador for the Bao tribe, as they wish no ill will upon Kori and would like to remain outside of any ensuing hostilities between the satrapy and the other tribes." She looked again to Momodi as she finished, faintly nervous for whether or not the other Exalt would approve.

As the two women enter the massive structure, a moth quiet flutters in after them. In pursues them in irregular pattern, flitting across the ceiling and occasionally landing upon a wall. This continues until they reach the spire, and Momodi says which of the rooms belong to Yuna. The place she intends to return to now known, and not wanting to spend more time flitting about the head of a Dynast than necessary, she elects to make herself scarce... in as direct a path as possible.

A soft dtoonk comes from the window, loud enough that someone sat next to it might notice, or perhaps an Exalted within the room. A moth, having slammed itself vainly into the window, flutters itself to a rest upon the glass. After a moment to shake off the shock of the impact, it lifts off again, silvery-white wings glittering as they catch the sunlight, then slams into the pane again — and again bouncing off. It repeats this several times, its tiny body bounding fruitlessly across the hard, smooth surface, before fluttering down to land upon the windowsill, thoroughly stunned by its repeated concussions.

The impacts do not particularly bother Ohm, but the feigned injury is a tried and true technique to get a window opened. A good-natured someone nearby — like a certain foreign-sourced Dynast — couldn't help themselves but push open a gap to let the poor, dazed, helpless insect escape. Certainly less suspicious than a moth somehow pushing open a window under its own power.

"Interesting," Momodi says as Yuna explains about Ohm. "It seems there is more going on here than we were led to believe, and that creature might have indeed been a local spirit or god. Either way, they did help you out of the shipwreck, so we should be grateful for that."

At around that time Yuna notices the moth bumping into the window, and gets up to momentarily open it, letting in an icy breeze and letting the poor insect out, before continuing with her tale, explaining about Y'mithra and the Bao.

"I see." Momodi turns to Y'mithra, "For one I am also happy to solve matters peacefully when possible. Having access to your tribe's knowledge of the area and the other tribes might prove invaluable to solving the matters here as swiftly as possible."

"Actually, it is my tribe's desire to remain apart from the Realm. We wish to continue our life undisturbed." Y'mithra responds tersely.

"That might not be possible. This is a Realm satrapy. These lands are under our jurisdiction. Trust me when I say that I do prefer to solve issues without bloodshed... but I will not tolerate an independent party inside our borders, no matter how many assurances you give of your neutrality." Momodi pauses, looking at Y'mithra with a frown. "Rest assured that your tribe will be allowed to maintain as much of its lifestyle as possible. But your presence here already shows that you cannot remain as apart as you want. We will require something in return if your tribe is allowed to remain roaming our countryside. You are, of course, allowed to move out of Kori if you do not like those terms."

Y'mithra hesitates, then nods. "I understand."

"Good." Momodi turns back to Yuna. "You should relax, take a bath. Now that you are here, we can hold a formal meeting with Papashan to understand more of the situation. I'll get Y'mithra suitable quarters in the meantime."