Selcis Bayt
Eye of Alexandrite, Selcis Bayt (a.k.a. Sel)
She is beautiful, but a darkness lingers around the corners of her mouth. Her eyes sparkle with playfulness. When she speaks, her voice tinkles like chimes. Underneath, however, is a strange energy that catches you off guard.
View Character Profile
Age
20 years old
Children
Gender
Female
Eyes
Grey and Black
Hair
No hair
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Yellow speckled head, two black rings around her neck like a collar, with a bright blue green body.
Height
6'4"
Weight
145 lbs
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A Much-Too-Brief Moment With My Jida
A gasp escapes Selcis’ lips as she looks up into a face she never thought she would see again in this lifetime. She falls to her knees beside Enoch. He gets up slowly, and backs away to sit respectfully on a rock a few meters away. His heavy breathing from the exertion slows to normal, and he folds his hands loosely in his lap, his eyes closed.
“Hello little one,” Niran murmurs in Sahalian. Selcis blinks. Words utterly fail her. Niran laughs a tinkling laugh, much like that of her granddaughter. Free and sincere.
In Common, Niran goes on. “I can see you’re a bit surprised to see me! I don’t blame you. I’m a bit surprised myself. I hardly could have guessed that one such as this young gentleman would summon me back to this world. He has talent, that’s for sure. And handsome too!” She winks.
Selcis smiles, and takes a deep breath.
“I don’t really know what to say. I’m so glad to see you. I miss you, Jida.” Selcis stands up, gazing into the joyful face of her beloved grandmother. They look at each other for a few minutes, taking in the moment. Selcis’ smile fades as she remembers their mission.
“Jida, there is something going on here.” Niran holds up a scaled hand.
“Say no more, my child. What is happening here is an abomination. I do not wish to speak of it, only to give you some advice.” She smiles sadly. Selcis nods, and says, “I’m listening.”
“The powers at work here are darker and stronger than they appear. Please, proceed with great caution. I know that you are here to find a solution, but one cannot be found so easily. Selcis, my beloved. Do what you must, but keep close friends nearby, such as this Sobakkan. Be careful about who you call an ally, and do not underestimate anyone.”
Selcis stays silent, hanging onto every word spoken by her grandmother. She looks down at her hands, then back up into Niran’s now concerned face.
“Thank you, Jida. Do you know what the cause of the disturbance is? It appears to be more than just a mining operation. I’m confused, and angry.” Niran gives Selcis a comforting smile.
“I do not. I cannot sense everything as clearly as I once could. All I know is that you need to be careful. For your own sake, and that of our Tribe.” She pauses. “I need to go now. I have only a short amount of time on this plane. Thanks to this young man, I got to speak with you, and I am so grateful. My heart is overflowing. I love you, Selcis. When you see your mother again, tell her I am so proud of her for raising such a special young woman.” She starts to fade away into the dim twilight.
Selcis bows her head. A tear rolls down her cheek.
“I love you too.”
Wrapping Up Our Time in Thalarasa
Written with help from 20thLevelBard.
Selsic receives a letter of correspondence from Nuru saying the following:
"Hey Selcis, I owe a big thanks to you and your strange friend for getting down to business and sorting out some of this mining deal issue. Also, thanks for taking on Zuhara, she was scaring the hell out of me, and I don't know how much longer her mind could have taken whatever it was that ring was doing. Thanks to you, Zuhara is in good care, although she will be out of commission for quite a while. It seems she has times of complete lucidity where she seems her typical self, as well as periods where she seems completely absent, and some where she is filled with terror, screaming about being chased by some horrible creature. I don't think I need to say, don't play around with that ring.
The periods of lucidity are becoming more common by the day, so I've been able to work with her to draft up some new documents, including a proposal that tribes Topaz and Ruby will both need to sign off on land deals regarding this region, as well as requiring it to be put before the council for review. For now, while Zuhara is under the weather, no land deals shall be made until she has made a full recovery. We're also working on a proposal to return the burial grounds in the Velonar Mountain foothills to the Alexandrite tribe, should that be what they desire. There's no doubt in my mind that they'd be the best people to have accountable for the land, but we would allow for them to call on our militias if they need support against interlopers."
Dear Nuru,
Thank you for your letter. It has helped us to understand a little more about what we might be dealing with, or at least gives us a place to start as far as this ring goes. We will certainly take your advice and be very cautious with it going forward.
And thank you especially for working with Zuhara and, in the near future, the Council to make things right for my tribe. Our relationship to that land is deep and wide. So, on behalf of myself and the Alexandrite Tribe, your work and your care is profoundly appreciated and it will be remembered.
Let’s get together for a drink next time I’m in town.
Warmest regards,
Selcis Bayt
A second letter is delivered from Zuhara.
"Dear Selcis, the last 48 hours have been challenging for me. Nuru has gotten me up to speed on what the last couple weeks have been, and I am terrified at what I've done, and cannot apologize enough for the destruction I caused, and the risk I brought upon your blessed ancestors sacred place. There aren't enough words to make up for the kind of trauma that was… that could have been. It's simply unspeakable.
I was not myself… but that trinket… it called to me. I implore you - have a healthier fear of that blasted ring than I did. Whatever it is, I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy.
Nevertheless, there is no excusing what I did. But know that the people of the Ruby tribe are with you in spirit, and in the flesh, should you require it. I hope you'll return to Thalarasa some day, and I hope I'll be in better health at that crossroad.
Sincerest apologies again, With love and blessings from the Topaz tribe,
Zuhara Aman"
Dear Zuhara,
Thank you so much for your letter. There is no need to apologize, though please know that it carries deep meaning for me.
It was fairly clear from the moment we met in The Grumpy Boar that something strange was going on. I will certainly take your warnings to heart. Due to the events of the past few days, the ring is in safe keeping now, and something might be done about it. You were a part of that, so thank you.
Also, do not worry about my visiting Thalarasa again. Who could stay away from such a fine collection of hostelries and interesting characters?
Please, Zuraha, do take care of yourself. And be kind to yourself as well. You were not in your right mind, and certainly I do not blame you for what happened. Sit with it, feel it, then let it go. Together, let’s look forward to a bright future between our tribes, and our people.
Peace,
Selcis Bayt
The Call
Written with help from Dr. Enoch Elmstone.
Selcis looks down at the stone, the ever-shifting colours of the thin veins sparkling in her eyes, and in her mind. In that moment, she feels fiercely proud of her tribe, and of her ancestry. She comes from a long line of incredible individuals. Fun, adventurous, optimistic, wise, and above all, caring. She smiles, and a single tear escapes its confinement and barrels down her cheek before she can wipe it away. She really does miss her Jida.
Enoch approaches the site where Selcis says Jida is at rest. He stands above the red-tinged sand as it slowly snakes across his boots.
“Here?” Enoch asks in a low voice, almost like a whisper. Selcis senses the gravity of what is about to happen. She nods.
"Thank you for offering to do this. I know it’ll likely be useful for intel, but I’m grateful to have the opportunity to connect with her. I miss her like hell. My mother does too. She was such a special person to me, and to the whole tribe.” Selcis pauses. She feels her throat tighten, swallows and attempts to continue on, but her breath catches in her throat. She takes another deep breath, and waits.
Enoch looks to the sky above as he slowly falls to his knees. His knees push deeper into the sand as Enoch lifts a handful of the red sand in his hands. He raises his hands and allows the sand to slowly seep through his fingers, watching the red glints of the grains as they catch the wind. Enoch sits back on his knees and sighs. He puts his head down and raises his arms upwards, in what looks to be a form of offering.
“Selcis, I warn you. When I commune with the ancestral dead they have the choice to come or not. It is not common that I request a soul so deep in the ocean of death to come to shore. This may not work, but I hope your connection to the dead bridges the gap.” Enoch sighs and begins to box his breathing to prepare for a great effort. He takes a moment to compose himself, listening to the wind gently caress the sand around him. Enoch begins to speak quietly; “When Likho begins to glow green, please place your hand on my shoulder so that Jida may know your presence. When you are ready I will call her name, I leave the rest to you and fate.”
Selcis inclines her beautiful head.
Enoch slumps as his arms reach higher above his head. He begins to mutter under his breath and a withering green begins to take the colour of his eyes and the skull of Likho. Selcis steps forwards and softly but surely places her scaled hand on his shoulder. The sand begins to swirl in front of him as his mumbling continues. With an abrupt stop Enoch becomes silent as the sand swirls higher and suddenly falls.
Enoch looks up and says in a low voice, "Marhaabi, Jida Niran."
A Visit With Jida
Selcis leads Enoch along a worn dirt path through the reddish-coloured mountains. She breathes in the cool air, her scales tingling with anticipation. There is scrubby vegetation along the path, and yellow desert poppies grow abundantly, swaying between the rocks. The path opens out into a sort of valley, mottled by the shadows of the cliffs, but surprisingly lush for a desert. The stones marking the graves spread out before them, their number and variety taking their breath away. Some of the stones seem to be sparkling, some are reddish like the surrounding cliffs, and some are so ancient that the Sahalian lettering has simply been worn away by the dust and wind.
Selcis pauses and looks out over the valley. She takes a deep breath, then starts making her way down the path. The path forks, and she turns left, hugging a steep cliff. The silence she expected to find in this place isn’t as silent as she would have guessed, it being a sacred burial ground. Even she senses a disturbance in the valley, and the weight of the miner’s presence settles heavily on her heart.
After some time, they both arrive at a beautiful stone, sitting half in the shadow of the cliff, and half in the sun. The gravestone is smoothly carved into an egg-like shape from the reddish stone typical to the region, but veins of a sparkly and striking gemstone run organically through the dusty red body of the rock. The veins on the half of the stone shrouded in shadow gleam a deep purple-red. As her eye moves across the stone to the half that sits in the sunlight, the veins turn sparkling green. It’s a wonderful effect. Selcis feels a sense of pride.
She runs her scaly, blue-speckled hand over the smooth stone, and breathes a deep sigh. She closes her eyes.
“Hi, Jida.”
Selcis looks up at Enoch, who is standing a respectful distance away. After a pause, she says in a throaty voice, “She is here. This is my Jida. Her name is Niran.”
Dreamscape
You’re sleeping comfortably, dreaming of eating a delicious picnic next to a bright green, gently rolling pasture dotted with fluffy white sheep and cream-coloured llamas. What did you pack in your picnic? Out of nowhere, a feeling like a gentle pressure on your temples comes to your attention. You don’t think much of it, and you go on munching your meat and sipping your Raichia.
The feeling intensifies, then suddenly disappears. You feel as though something magical is happening to you, but it doesn’t feel malevolent. It’s a calm, cozy kind of feeling. Do you choose to make a will save to try and fight what is happening? You hear a familiar voice from far off. You can’t quite make out what the voice is saying. You stop chewing and strain your ears, certain that you know that voice. Without really noticing how it happened, you find yourself still sitting on your picnic blanket, not in the pasture as you were, but on the shore of a small lake. It is hot, but comfortably dry, and there is a light breeze that ruffles your fur. The lush green grass all around you, and ancient, weathered trees rustle in a calm fashion. You hear birds chirping, and the smell of earth and freshwater fills your nostrils.
“Don’t be afraid.”
You DO recognize that voice. You turn around and see Selcis Bayt leaning against a large, shady reddish-coloured rock. Her eyes are bright, and she looks totally relaxed. There is a calm, comfortable energy radiating from her that you haven’t encountered before.
“Hi. Yes, you’re dreaming. Yes, I’m real. And yes, I probably should have asked first. Welcome to our shared Dreamscape.”
