Maikochan: (Starting) Sometime after leaving Port Wander, Shao're, feeling cooped up, tried to see if she could speak to any of the humans on the vessel. The first door she tried was that of the ship's astropath, Ishta. Shao're was wearing her full armor, but had left her weapons in her assigned room.
Shrike7: The Astropath was alone, and the door was unlocked, the woman reclining on the floor. Her own armour and weapons lay in a pile beside her bed, though she still wore the heavy cloak that seemed omnipresent on her slim form. She twitched slightly when the door opened, her blind gaze darting towards the door before she calmed, smiling with a decidedly predatory gleam. "Ah, one of our passengers. The... Older one, yes?" She asked, remaining where she was. "Going exploring? Or, scouting, perhaps?"
Maikochan: "Younger, actually." The Tau replied, her armor's translation unit providing the words. "I am simply curious about those with whom I am now traveling with." She seemed to pause for a moment before continuing. "May I enter?" She asked, staying at the door.
Shrike7: "Of course, I wasn't up to much, myself." Ishta answered, gesturing to the bed if the Tau wanted a place to sit. "Truth be told, I am rather interested in the two of you, myself. Let's assuage your curiosity first, however. What do you wish to know, hmm?"
Maikochan: Shao're nodded and entered, sitting down where Ishta motioned. "I thank you." She said, pausing again before continuing. "First, I suppose, the humans are hostile, on the whole, of those who are... not human. I am curious as to why." The way the Tau sat was rather rigid and with her helmet's mask obscuring her features, a sighted person might find it hard to read her emotions.
Shrike7: "Right to the root of things? I like it. Let me start the answer with a question, however. How does the Tau empire treat races that have proven hostile in the past?"
Maikochan: Shao're was quiet for a moment before replying. "So far as I am aware, the only species that qualifies for that would be the orks. For other species, it is much more dependent on the individuals in question, rather than their species." She paused again, as if considering something and shook her head. "Regardless, the orks are the only species we have encountered that we consider to be wholly hostile. We treat them as enemies to be driven out wherever they are found."
Shrike7: Ishta nodded. "The orks are a good example. if one comes seeking aid, or a ceasefire, chances are it's just stalling for a bigger fight. The human empire sees things much the same way, but on it's grand scale, everyone is either human, or ork. Guessing wrong will cause more damage than guessing right will save, and even the right guesses only invite corruption and the mark of Chaos the longer they stay." She explained. Her pet viper appeared out of a pocket in her robes, and she reached down to take it into her hand, letting it coil about her wrist idly.
Maikochan: Shao're seemed to consider this for a moment. "So then, to avoid making mistakes, the strategy is to make enemies?" She asked. Though it might be hard to tell behind her helmet, she was watching the snake with some curiosity.
Shrike7: The viper settled in close to the psyker's skin, the frills around it's head fluttering a bit as it absorbed the human's warmth. It watched Shao're back passively, until something seemed to catch it's attention. Letting out an odd chittering sound, if uncoiled itself and dropped from Ishta's hand to the floor, slithering towards the tau. "Your suit is sealed, right? I wouldn't worry. She thinks you have one of her eggs." The psyker said ruefully, shaking her head a bit. "But where were we? Ah yes, making enemies. I can't truly fathom the workings of the empire as a whole, despite how good I am at fathoming individuals. This is simply my guess, but yes, as it would be easier to deal with that enemy when you first have them at gunpoint, then later on, when you beleive them a friend and they slip a knife in your back."
Maikochan: "Eggs is it?" Shao're asked, reaching down to let the snake climb her arm if it desired. "I'm afraid I have none. I do have this, however." She pulled out a small, orange sphere, about two inches in diameter. Giving it a shake, she tossed it onto the ground where it started to roll around seemingly at random. Shao're tapped a button on the side of her helmet. "Tesha'vesk." She said in Tau before switching the translator back on. "Wanderball. Just a child's toy really." As the ball continued to roll around, Shao're returned to the conversation at hand. "What you say is true, though there are times when those who purport to be allies actually intend to be so. One would think a civilization as large and as powerful as the human empire could afford to take some risks in the pursuit of the betterment of all its citizens." She shrugged. "Obviously, neither of us could possibly affect such a policy, however. Regardless, you've answered my question to satisfaction. Is there a question you had?" She seemed to pause again as if considering something, but didn't say anything.
Shrike7: The viper ignored the Tau's offered arm, seeming intent on climbing her leg instead, until Shao're produced the toy and sent it skittering around the floor, making the reptile chase after it, frills fluttering. Ishta gave a laugh at the development. "I almost want to ask why you carry such a toy around, but the results are just too funny for me to care." She answered, watching the viper try to catch the erratic ball for a moment before continuing. "I have a few, but since you went straight to the root, I should as well. One of the things they say about the tau is that you have no higher power, no god. is this true?"
Maikochan: Shao're considered the question for a moment. "Yes and no." She replied after a moment. "We have no... god, as such, though we do follow a... higher power, or..." She seemed to be trying to find the right words. "Perhaps rather, we believe in something larger than ourselves individually." She pulled her legs up onto the bed to sit cross-legged as she considered the topic. "The Tau'va, or Greater Good. It teaches us that we should strive to improve the lives of all, not just ourselves." She paused for another moment. "I suppose that is an accurate simplification." She said in reference to her explaination.
Shrike7: The psyker nodded along to the explanation. "I see. And this Tau'va provides some form of spiritual protection? How does your kind deal with the incursions of chaos, when they take notice of you?"
Maikochan: "Not exactly." Shao're replied. "It's a philosophy, or way of thought, rather than an entity. And... I don't believe we've had a great deal of contact with the followers of Chaos. From what I understand they are as hostile as the orks, but I imagine our forces could face them similarly."
Shrike7: "They may simply not be as interested in your kind. You don't stand out in my sight, could be they just consider your race as not much of a meal. You're mostly correct in open combat, but they can also subvert by other means than brute force." Ishta answered. Her viper finally caught the wanderball, wrapping around it and visibly shaking from the force until the gyro inside died down.
Maikochan: Shao're chuckled at the snake's actions. "It may be. By what other means do you refer to?" She asked, cocking her head slightly.
Shrike7: "They're immaterial to us in their natural state. Some whisper to weak-willed minds, trying to seduce and corrupt them. Eventually, it can get to the point where they take the body for their own, twisting and warping it to fit their own desire." The psyker answered, her tone growing a little darker, the humour gone from her voice.
Maikochan: "Hmm..." The dire tone was not lost on Shao're. "I believe the Tau would be resistant to such calls with the Tau'va and the Ethereal caste guiding them. Though I would not want to underestimate a potential enemy. This ship travels into their domain, does it not? Perhaps Len and myself can gain some experience combating these forces so that our people might better resist them." The last sentence was said partly to herself.
Shrike7: "We are, though this far from the Golden Throne, and you risk finding them anywhere. Though I do beleive that makes it your question again, if we're taking turns." She answered, taking a lighter tone once again.
Maikochan: Shao're nodded and considered what question she might ask. "If you do not mind me making a personal inquiry," Before continuing Shao're again paused and shook her head. "Your eyes seem to be clouded, yet you seem to see acceptably regardless. I understand your people occasionally use technology to take the place of damaged body parts, but you do not seem to be benefiting from such."
Shrike7: "I am physically blind, yes." Ishta admitted, reaching up to tap her temple. "I see through the warp, however. It's different from how i remember seeing before, but works quite well, so I don't need implants. To be honest, I don't know of an astropath who has tried, I don't know if they would work, or last."
Maikochan: Shao're nodded. "I suppose my next question would be, how do you see through the warp. But if you have one you would like to ask first, by all means."
Shrike7: "It's more or less the same question, I'll answer it. Part of the rituals that deprived me of sight are also what gave me the vision I have now. It's a little hard to explain, but I see through watching or feeling the resonances of the warp as it interacts with the physical world. It's necessary for me to send my thoughts over such long distances, much like navigating a small ship through a planetary storm, I suppose."
Maikochan: "Hmm." Shao're considered this. "Interesting." She said simply, as if still thinking it over.
Shrike7: "Indeed." Ishta repeated, looking pensive herself. She kept her gaze up at the Tau sitting on her bed. The xeno seemed so interesting, but she wasn;'t sure how deeply she wanted to find out more, and what risks were appropriate to do so. "What was your childhood like? That seems an interesting question." She finally spoke, almost musing aloud.
Maikochan: "Hmm?" Shao're glanced up and, after a moment, shrugged. "Not particularly special. I was born into the Fire caste, so my formative years consisted primarily of combat training." She paused again before continuing. "Not to say we are all brought up entirely in combat training. I displayed an affinity for our technology, so I was selected for additional training in that field." She paused in thought again. "When not busy with training, myself and the others around my age would often venture into the countryside and..." She paused again, though the reason for this pause was less clear. "Uh, and explore. We stayed close to the cities, of course, Tash'var has a history with ork attacks."
Shrike7: "Sounds pretty regimented." The woman commented, her brow creasing slightly at the pause, though she let it by without comment. "Did it take up most of your time,or was there ample opportunity to... Explore?"
Maikochan: "There was plenty of time to ourselves." Shao're paused. "Myself and three others would, like I said, go into the countryside and look for, well... fun, I suppose. Pretending to be fully fledged warriors hunting orks, or explorers on an unexplored planet. We had plenty of opportunity to let our imaginations loose."
Shrike7: The psyker chuckled, nodding. "And did you ever stumble upon any real orks?"
Maikochan: Shao're nodded, but took a moment before speaking. "Once, yes. That's been several questions, I think." Didn't take a psyker to tell that Shao're wanted to change the subject suddenly.
[Wed Aug 27 2014 05:20:57 PM] Shrike Seven: Ishta gave a chuckle, holding her hands up in the classic posture of surrender. "Fair enough. That would likely make it your turn for a bit then, hmm?"
Maikochan: "Indeed." Shao're replied, nodding, seeming relieved. She took a moment before posing her next question, however. "How much do you know of the workings of your technology? I understand there's specialists in your empire, but what about you yourself?"
Shrike7: "Sadly for you, very little, as i tend to not have use for much of it." The psyker admitted. "We use machine spirits to enhance our weaponry, but they seem like such fickle creatures to me. Perhaps Siegfried could elaborate, but I don't know much more than that."
Maikochan: Shao're nodded. "It's no problem. However, machine spirits... what are these?" She asked, cocking her head.
Shrike7: "The spirits that exist in all of our technology." Ishta repeated, unhelpfully. Frowning, she considered for a moment before continuing. "The techpriests handle it for the most part, following the edicts of the Omnissiah. Various rituals keep them appeased, so everything works as it's supposed to."
Maikochan: Shao're was quiet for a moment. "Could you explain spirits, then?" She asked, sounding a bit confused.
Shrike7: "Intelligences without bodies. I suppose that makes it sound like those corruptors of chaos i mentioned earlier, but we create these ones, they arent very similar at all."
Maikochan: "Intelligences without bodies..." Shao're repeated, thoughtfully. "You would not happen to be knowledgable of their creation, would you?" She asked, curiously.
Shrike7: "Not in the slightest, the techpriests that do that never leave the forges, far as i know."
Maikochan: Shao're nodded. "Do you have any questions?" She asked after a moment.
Shrike7: "I can still think of a few, but i think it's best they wait a while." Ishta answered, moving to stand. She walked over to her pet, the viper hissing at her and getting a small slap before the psyker retrieved the toy ball, handing it back to Shao're. "It's about time I return to my duties. Feel free to stop by again however, this has been an amusing diversion."
Maikochan: Shao're took the ball back with a nod as she stood up. "Helpful as well. I look forward to talking more again." She said and gave a short bow before leaving.
