A brief lesson in history

Jp with Lorem Winteroak and Bandorchu

Tar sat on the steps of the crypt. It was strange lives they lead that they would sit among the ancient dead and share bread.

He looked at Alexis not comfortable with her line of enquiry. He didn't want to have to share more than he had too.

Plus these two had just taken down an adult Naylmo so they were people to trifle with.

"The civilization that populated these ancient cities and strongholds was extremely wealthy and advance." He started wondering how much he would share once he started. He had a tendency to ramble on lately when among other people. "Something happened that made the people of Fang to turn their back on all this." He said pointing at the cave networks "And shun everything that is still to be found down here." he started biting into some rations. A plan started to formulate on his mind. He could feell the pull of the hammer's head on his backpack.

“The Odonine either seem not to know or blame it on the Neph-Kin. You got a theory?”

Alexis had, in all honesty, wondered about that, too.

Odonine, Neph-Kin, Odsier, Mizar, Garrah, and more … Gonyaul was floored by how his little world from the jungle had expanded. So many different cultures and peoples. With more diversity came more conflict. How was a single little Vaux supposed to bring balance to all of this?

He sighed to himself. One moment at a time he thought.

He finished eating and drinking and packed things away, so once they were ready he could go in an instant.

Tar chewed on his rations slowly contemplated Alexis question.
"The Neph-Kin were only a small part of it as far as I can tell. They don't have the numbers to expel anyone from such a vast network." He shook his head. "No, it was a series of events that lead to the fall of the High Odonine." He said looking at the dust.
"The Ozainae invaders were much to blame from what I have gathered. The rising of the Noraura cult and the waning of the Fosia creed and the old ways. The Neph-Kin were a single drop in the tidal wave that swept them away and reverted them to a pastoral clan's life" he paused looking at vast cemetery. " And something else. Something else happened that made them leave their cities and strongholds behind. Something I have not found out exactly what. Yet."

Gonyaul was listening to the interesting explanation and absentmindedly rubbing his sore arms. While he may have wanted to be on the move already, his body was extremely grateful for this reprieve.

“Curious and curious.” He mumbled at the epic nature of Tar’s words. Had he not been on a pressing mission himself, Gonyaul would have been potentially intrigued to go off on this tangent.

“You’re really deep into the history of the old Odonine. I don’t think I’ve heard about those… Ozainae?… or those cults before. Did you come here to study the history of the Fang?”

Alexis wondered how a meeting between this guy and Boyce would go. They’d probably forget to eat and drink while they talked the night away.

Gonyaul’s nose had started bleeding again and he was using an extra bandage to help stop the flow. He was earnestly trying to listen and translate the conversation between Alexis and Tar as best he could, despite the distraction.

For a second he almost blurted out about the visions in the Fire-Shrine and the mountain spirit who had lead him to it. But he stopped himself.
"The Ozainae are the Horde from beyond the desert. I know very little about them." He confessed honestly. "But no, I did not come to the mountains to study the Odonine. I came to escape Ostiarium."

“I’ve been here only for about three seasons. But I heard that things were extremely dire that first year.”

Alexis had found herself caught up in more conversations than she had ever thought possible after the events around the Creed. Didn’t have the Keep and its ruler rise in her esteem.

“So how did you get into researching all this?”

He shrugged. "The Odonine don't tolerate outsiders much. Keeping to the caves and tunnels helped at first as they shun these places." His replied held much truth. "Once you start seeing these ruins and caves it's easy to get caught up in their past." He shrugged. "Kept me sane..."
Maybe these two could be even more useful. Something told him they would have to find their friends first though...