Post by Mlle Bienvenu on Jul 17, 2007 1:12:46 GMT -5
Aurifex chided himself for not having the foresight to wear a scarf. Even while far above the mist enshrouded land where the warming sun never quite reached, he would have to pass through the occasional cloud while following a thermal, and that meant getting soaked.
But that was the least of his reasons for finding the journey annoying, more prominent among them was the fact he knew it would've been quicker (and much less cold and wet) to meet Vran outside of the simulation. The thing about Vran, however, was that he wasn't the type to flaut the rules and that was just annoying, seeing as how it would've been a simple matter for Aurifex to merely forgo the formalities and find out whatever it was Ziz Vran wanted.
And what The Ziz could possibly want with him, he couldn't imagine. He was merely an artist, after all, not a Xenophilologist, or Natural Gnostic, or any other person well-informed in Ancestral Design or even Xenointeraction for that matter...
Sure, he had a hand in designing all experience, and he knew it was an important calling, but what it had to do with the Ziz, he didn't know.
It took another ten minutes of riding a southern stream before he reached his destination. The building stood on the edge of the white cliffs far above the gray haze below, and the sun had just sunk low enough that the building shone, making it easy to pick out against the scrub that sometimes obscured it. He wondered sourly why no one ever seemed to bother about the pruning.
And there he was, shorter than Aurifex, but still imposing in the bright regalia of his calling. As Aurifex landed, Ziz Vran turned and bowed cordially, not waiting for Aurifex to return the gesture.
"You are Master Aurifex? Yes?"
"Yes sir."
"You've no doubt wondered why I have called you?"
"I was wondering that, yes." He said as he sloughed off the dew from his feathers and tunic.
"You are aware that we have reached the end of phase one of the Ancestral Design."
Aurifex bobbed his head slightly,"I've been following the reports."
"Good. Then you are also aware of the fact that there are other inhabitants in this system?" He made a motion with his hand and a miniature replica of the Sol system appeared between them. A few more motions and the Ziz had honed into the familiar shape of the homeship, "Right now, we are orbiting a moon of a Nebulus Class planet, apparently uninhabited," He zoomed the three dimensional image to include some of the inner planets, "For a while now we have been receiving broadcasts from the third planet, which is inhabited intelligent life. It is still unclear exactly what level of technology they poses, but it was decided we would send an ambassadorial and trade mission to our new neighbors. Something of a scouting party."
Aurifex nodded his understanding, and the leader continued, "There are other peoples in this system as well, we are not quite sure whether they are native to this system or are newcomers. The third planet is the only one from which we have received broadcasts."
Aurifex listend, all the while wondering why he was privy to such knowledge. This next phase of the Ancestral Design had little to do with him. He didn't expect he would ever leave the ship he was born on. He would tend to the created world here probably for the rest of his life.
"What I am asking of you is no small task, you will be an ambassador of your race," Aurifex realized with a jolt his mind must have wandered because suddenly what Vran was saying made little sense. Vran must've sensed the confusion because he quickly went into an explanation, "All this while we've been in transit, we've made little headway into new technologies of our own, save one. And that just happens to be your field, the creative arts. Possibly no one in this system has seen such simulations and replications as your art conjures, and your abilities stand out as a credit to our flock."
"Sir." Aurifex was breathless and could say little else. He had always taken the utmost pride in his work, but he had never thought his work would be recognised as a 'credit to his flock'. His was the sort of job that if it was done correctly, no one noticed it. All at once, the recognition pleased him but also made him uncomfortable.
===
Although it was a trick of the mind, Aurifex, as he looked out the artificial window of the trade cruiser,, felt as though he were leaving his entire planet behind. In reality, it was his ancestors who had truly felt that loss. He gripped the precious-stoned necklace for comfort, his reminder of those who had gone before him. It reminded him he had come from pioneering blood. Freeflyers. Migrators.
He zoomed in the window until his mothership filled the screen. It was hard for him to believe how small it looked, especially compared to alien moon that would become the next generation's new home. It was hard to believe that ship contained the white cliffs and steep mountains, the deep seas and silver mists that made up his home. It was even harder to believe that he had been a part of making that happen.
"Hmmph...." He said as the trade vessel turned around the alien moon and he could see his home no more.
But that was the least of his reasons for finding the journey annoying, more prominent among them was the fact he knew it would've been quicker (and much less cold and wet) to meet Vran outside of the simulation. The thing about Vran, however, was that he wasn't the type to flaut the rules and that was just annoying, seeing as how it would've been a simple matter for Aurifex to merely forgo the formalities and find out whatever it was Ziz Vran wanted.
And what The Ziz could possibly want with him, he couldn't imagine. He was merely an artist, after all, not a Xenophilologist, or Natural Gnostic, or any other person well-informed in Ancestral Design or even Xenointeraction for that matter...
Sure, he had a hand in designing all experience, and he knew it was an important calling, but what it had to do with the Ziz, he didn't know.
It took another ten minutes of riding a southern stream before he reached his destination. The building stood on the edge of the white cliffs far above the gray haze below, and the sun had just sunk low enough that the building shone, making it easy to pick out against the scrub that sometimes obscured it. He wondered sourly why no one ever seemed to bother about the pruning.
And there he was, shorter than Aurifex, but still imposing in the bright regalia of his calling. As Aurifex landed, Ziz Vran turned and bowed cordially, not waiting for Aurifex to return the gesture.
"You are Master Aurifex? Yes?"
"Yes sir."
"You've no doubt wondered why I have called you?"
"I was wondering that, yes." He said as he sloughed off the dew from his feathers and tunic.
"You are aware that we have reached the end of phase one of the Ancestral Design."
Aurifex bobbed his head slightly,"I've been following the reports."
"Good. Then you are also aware of the fact that there are other inhabitants in this system?" He made a motion with his hand and a miniature replica of the Sol system appeared between them. A few more motions and the Ziz had honed into the familiar shape of the homeship, "Right now, we are orbiting a moon of a Nebulus Class planet, apparently uninhabited," He zoomed the three dimensional image to include some of the inner planets, "For a while now we have been receiving broadcasts from the third planet, which is inhabited intelligent life. It is still unclear exactly what level of technology they poses, but it was decided we would send an ambassadorial and trade mission to our new neighbors. Something of a scouting party."
Aurifex nodded his understanding, and the leader continued, "There are other peoples in this system as well, we are not quite sure whether they are native to this system or are newcomers. The third planet is the only one from which we have received broadcasts."
Aurifex listend, all the while wondering why he was privy to such knowledge. This next phase of the Ancestral Design had little to do with him. He didn't expect he would ever leave the ship he was born on. He would tend to the created world here probably for the rest of his life.
"What I am asking of you is no small task, you will be an ambassador of your race," Aurifex realized with a jolt his mind must have wandered because suddenly what Vran was saying made little sense. Vran must've sensed the confusion because he quickly went into an explanation, "All this while we've been in transit, we've made little headway into new technologies of our own, save one. And that just happens to be your field, the creative arts. Possibly no one in this system has seen such simulations and replications as your art conjures, and your abilities stand out as a credit to our flock."
"Sir." Aurifex was breathless and could say little else. He had always taken the utmost pride in his work, but he had never thought his work would be recognised as a 'credit to his flock'. His was the sort of job that if it was done correctly, no one noticed it. All at once, the recognition pleased him but also made him uncomfortable.
===
Although it was a trick of the mind, Aurifex, as he looked out the artificial window of the trade cruiser,, felt as though he were leaving his entire planet behind. In reality, it was his ancestors who had truly felt that loss. He gripped the precious-stoned necklace for comfort, his reminder of those who had gone before him. It reminded him he had come from pioneering blood. Freeflyers. Migrators.
He zoomed in the window until his mothership filled the screen. It was hard for him to believe how small it looked, especially compared to alien moon that would become the next generation's new home. It was hard to believe that ship contained the white cliffs and steep mountains, the deep seas and silver mists that made up his home. It was even harder to believe that he had been a part of making that happen.
"Hmmph...." He said as the trade vessel turned around the alien moon and he could see his home no more.
