7700/Dark Truths in Light Sand (pt 2)

Dark Truths in Light Sand (pt 2)
Date of Scene:	05 September 2021
Location:	The desert, Egypt
Synopsis:	This is the first full day of Lydia being with the Coven, and she learns a lot about both the coven and herself.
Cast of Characters:	Raven Darkholme, Lydia Dietrich

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Raven Darkholme has posed:
Although the oasis sat in the middle of a desert, the day time hours inside the tents were much cooler than one might expect. Either the trees and foliage, coupled with the design of the tents permitted cooler conditions, or there was magic at work.

As the evening approached, a single bell rang to announce the setting of the sun. The room Lydia had been shown to was not large, but it had everything one needed for comfort, including a pitcher of water that never got warm. It wasn't freezing by any mean, but it stayed cooled. The bed was literally a pile of cushions on the floor, with the same gauze drapes around it, not that any insects seem to be buzzing about.

Off the main room is a smaller bathing room with a large wooden tub and when Lydia woke she found that the tub had already been filled to a very specific line with scented waters, and a new gown had been laid out for her to wear.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia slept soundly during the day. Whether through jet lag or the long journey or some combination of the two, she didn't rise from her slumber until the ringing of the bell to announce sundown. She awakes curled around one of the pillows and levers herself to sitting, yawning hugely and stretching her arms overhead.

It takes her a bit to clear the muzzy feeling of her brain, and in that short period of time, she wonders in what heaven she had awoken to. Then the previous days events come rushing back to her, letting her remember where she is and what she's doing here.

She gets to her feet, shedding the gown she had slept in and pours herself a cup of cool water. It was set out when she retired last night, and the fact that it's still cool meant that they either replaced it with a new jug, or used magics to keep it cool during the night. She snorts in amusement at the idea of using magic for such a thing, but if this is the home of a very ancient coven, then doing such a thing would be a trifle.

She goes into the bath and sees that it's already been filled with scented water. Either more magics were used to fill this up without waking her or she slept like the dead last night. Either were equally as likely. She dips a toe into the bath and finds that it's refreshingly cool, and slides down into the tub, after putting up her hair in a bun. She'll wash and dry /that/ when she has a spare hour or so.

After a good thirty minutes of soaking and bathing, she gets out of the tub and dries herself off. Donning the gown, she goes back to the bedchamber and puts on her sandals and walks out of the tent and into the night, smiling widely. A girl could get used to this.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The hall outside of the room was created by hand woven tapestries with curtains marking the entries to various rooms, but the space between was slightly narrow. This area of the tent was clearly used for just sleeping and prepping for the day.

When Lydia steps out of the room, Senet is waiting at the end of the hall, issuing instructions to the other servants who are preparing the evening meal, which really is a morning meal for most.

"Miss Lydia," she chimes softly, her accent just as thick as always. "Come, we food you."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia smiles at Senet offering up a cheerful, "Good evening!" when she sees her. Her eyes crinkle in amusement at the other woman's broken English finding it endearing. "Lead the way," she says, stepping in line to follow Senet to where they will food her.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Senet leads Lydia to a smaller dining room, the same sort of low table with cushions on the floor. The table is laid with fruits, what looks like pancakes, a small dish of scrambled eggs, and tea, Arabic tea to be exact.

Hatshepsut is already sitting at the table, sipping at a cup of tea while listening to a small woman in a red gown speaking, really quickly, in Egyptian Arabic. The other woman is kneeling by the table, rambling off what could be anything really, in a rhythmic voice until Hatshepsut raises her hand.

"Send out the birds," she says in English, then the woman in red nods, stands and leaves. "Good evening Lydia, did you sleep well?"

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"I slept like a rock," Lydia offers, with a grin. Not knowing the proper place to sit when you're dining with an honest to goodness ancient Egyptian queen, she decides to sit on her right, a respectable distance away, but not too far away to seem distancing. She sits, folding her legs underneath her. "I honestly haven't slept that deeply in a long, long time." (Of course, lately, her nights have been a bit more rambunctious than what she's used to)

"How did you sleep?" she asks, conversationally as she takes a plate and starts loading it up with food. She takes a couple of those pancake things and then arranges some eggs and fruit around it before digging in. "Mmm," she says when she tries the pancakes. "These are delicious. What are they?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut sits back a little with her tea, offering a bright smile as she hears Lydia slept well. A hostess always worries about the comfort of their guests, even if there are other people around to do all the handiwork to ensure that comfort.

For one brief moment, she considers the answer to Lydia's first question and then a playful smile dances across her lips as she says, "Like the dead." and takes another sip of tea to stop herself from laughing. It's an old joke.

"Those are ataif," she offers in answer to the second question. "Or rather the batter from them, made into more European pancakes. The mixture that normally goes into them before they are fried is not kosher, so I had them make little pancakes for you to put fruit on instead."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Can't help but let out a little giggle at Hatshepsut's joke. She had been thinking just that, and found it funny that her host shared the same sense of humor.

She looks touched, though, that somebody would remember that she was kosher throughout all of this. She was prepared to have to police herself, and then maybe do a bit of forgiveness when the inevitable slip up happens. "Thank you," she says. "For considering my diet. It's not often you run into people who care or even know enough about being kosher that they would take it into consideration."

Oh! There's a fig! She plucks it up and bites into its flesh. Mmmmm. One really /could/ get used to this.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Adding a touch more cream to her tea, Hatshepsut shifts forward to slide a bowl of what looks like brown goo toward Lydia, "Mashed dates and figs, marinated in honey and cream, then blended into a kind of spread to put on pancakes. I could not recall if honey was kosher or not, but it is used in a lot of Egyptian and Arabic cooking."

On her plate is a small pile of eggs, one little pancake and most likely what is sour cream or something much like it. She makes a burrito out of the collection of things, before using a fork to cut off a piece. "After we have eaten, I will take you to the caverns and you will meet the other members of the coven," she says softly. "All but two, who could not make it."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"Honey is kosher," Lydia says taking the goo and spreading it on the pancakes. "That sounds delicious, thank you." She tries them now that they've had the spread added to it and closes her eyes in delight. "Oh God that's good. I'll need to get a recipe for this."

She finishes off the fig, and a bit of egg, nodding. "I'm surprised that eleven of you could make it on such short notice. Especially to here. /Especially/ to just meet me." She shakes her head, "I have to be honest, I wasn't really expecting you to go to such great lengths like this." She takes another bite of those oh so delicious pancakes as she continues, "There's a part of my mind that's still a little suspicious. That says, 'what's the catch? you can't /possibly/ be that important.'"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut smiles softly as she says, "It is rare these days to find one who has the ability to join the coven, Lydia. There are many with the very basic abilities, but not a lot who fall into your category. You really do not realize just how much power you have inside you."

Pouring Lydia some tea, she slides it toward the woman. It already has some cream in it, that is how it is served, and it is sweetened with honey because other wise the strong brew would be exceedingly bitter, but there is more cream on the table just in case.

"The order is dying out slowly, so every possible new sister we can find is a big deal," she finishes with, then takes another bite of her version of a burrito.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia accepts the tea gratefully, taking a tentative sip of it to test it's temperature. She takes a moment to savor the flavor before taking another sip. "This is good. I'm going to have to learn how to brew this, too." If only she had her journals to write this all down. Their absence is making her fingers itch. She wants to write /all this/ down as she experiences it, to solidify it into her memory.

"So thirteen isn't a fixed number?" she asks curiously. "I was kind of worried it was, since that would mean that something would have to happen to one of the other members in order to let me in."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut again chuckles softly and lifts her hand to make a gesture with it.

"I realized that when I said no luggage, that might be taken to a completely literal point." She explains, as Senet comes in and places a small leather bound journal and pen on the table, offers a smile and slips back out. "I know that you like to take notes, and I should have been more clear that you did not need clothing. I hope you can forgive me." The journal is newer, but is hand made, even the papyrus inside is hand crafted.

"Thirteen is the primary number of elder sisters, those who work the magic that protect this place, but there are numerous acolytes and apprentices, which is where you will start."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia's eyes light up like a child's at Christmas (pardon the analogy, Lydia I'm sorry) when Senet comes in with the journal. An audible gasp escapes her as she picks it up to find that it's real leather, and the paper is real papyrus. "This is..." she says breathless as she turns the blank pages, basking in their imperfections, "so beautiful. Thank you."

She's almost too distracted to hear what else Hatshepsut has to say, but manages to tear her gaze away from the journal back to the ancient woman. "Oh!" She says, when it's revealed that she'll just be an apprentice. "Yes. Of course. That makes sense. When you say that you were dying off I just..." she shakes her head. "It's silly."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
"In a way, your thinking was also correct," she says, finishing off her burrito and pushing the small plate away. "The number of those able to work the magic are fewer and fewer, it is only a matter of time before the required thirteen may not be possible."

Hatshepsut takes another sip of the tea, and again Senet appears with a small piece of paper that she lays by Lydia, giggles a little and slips out. The paper is written in English, and holds the way to make the tea and the pancakes.

"We are working on ways to alter the magics to accommodate a smaller number than thirteen, but it is not going well. The magics are older than even I am, they are designed a specific way, and aside from Embracing the the entire coven, I do not know if we will find a way... and I will not do that."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia lets out a little "Oh!" of surprise when Senet comes with the slip of paper with the recipes on them. She flashes the woman a brilliant smile and says, "Thank you!" She quickly scans the recipe before folding it, and tucking it neatly inside the journal.

She looks up as Hatshepsut speaks. Well, that's one of her questions answered. As soon as she had learned that the ancient Queen was a vampire, she had wondered if that meant that this was a coven of vampires, not witches. Again, there was that suspicious part of her that was thinking that that would be the 'catch.' As much as she likes vampires, she was not ready to become one. She might never be, to be frank. There's too much life to live.

"How many acolytes and apprentices do you have?" she asks, curiously.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut folds her hands in her lap, watching Lydia's face. She is not the one who can read minds, but the expression on the mutant's face is readable like a book. "No, we are not all vampires," she says plainly. "I am a vampire, they are witches, and that is why I am no longer one of the thirteen."

With that said, she addresses the other question, "There are two levels of apprentice, and two levels of acolytes, each determined by ancient colors of Egypt. At this time there are five acolytes, and three apprentices, two elders who are not part of the thirteen and then the thirteen."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"That's.... not a lot of people," Lydia admits. "When you said that your order was dying I wasn't expecting it to be quite so... well..." she gives her hostess a helpless shrug, "Dead." She takes her tea and gives it a thoughtful sip. "I can see why you'd go to great lengths to recruit me."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut nods, setting her tea cup on the table. "Now you understand the intent behind my offers, and perhaps understand better that there is no alterior motive. I know you have been questioning my motivations," she offers a smile. "In your place, I would as well, but until now I could not fully explain the details beyond what I said. The weakened state of the coven is not something spoke of outside the protection of this location, ever."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia finishes up the last of her pancake and eggs as she thinks about this. Her eyes dart to the journal that they gave her. "How much of this can I tell other people, like my girlfriend? She's going to want to know details, and I don't really feel comfortable being vague and secretive around her." With good reason. Mystique is not the kind of girlfriend you want to keep secrets from. "How much of this am I even allowed to write down?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut moves to stand herself up, stretching a little as she does. Her robes today are a pale, pale yellow with turquoise and sapphire jewelry. "You may tell Raven anything you wish, and write down anything you want, I only ask that you do not mention the weakness of the coven. Everything else is yours to share as you wish, as it is a part of your life. I would prefer the entire world not learn I'm a vampire, but Raven... you may certainly tell her, so long as she agrees to keep it quiet as well. If you trust, then I trust."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia nods, taking one final sip of her tea. "That's fair enough. She really didn't like me going," she says softly. "It was hard for her. She wants to protect me so badly, because I mean so much to her." She silent for a moment as she picks up the journal and pen, her thumb worrying at a corner of it. "I want to show her that her trust in me is justified, that letting me go was a /good/ decision." She looks up at Hatshepsut and chuckles, "Plus you have to admit this is all pretty cool."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut laughs, a soft sound really but it makes her eyes sparkle as she smiles. "Raven has had a hard life," she offers, revealing she knows more than perhaps she should. "I can understand her protectiveness, Lydia. Has she mentioned Irene at all?"

Senet comes back into the room now, offering a large jewelry box to Lydia by setting it on the table, then turning around to adjust the gown and jewelry Hatshepsut is wearing. She doesn't ask, she just does it, apparently comfortable in adjusting her mistresses clothing right there in front of people, but it really was part of her job to ensure that her lady was presentable at all times.

"When you've adorned yourself," Hatshepsut gestures to the box. "We will head to the cavern."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia's face shuts down to neutral at the mention of Irene's name. "No." she says flatly. "She hasn't. I admit that I don't know a lot about Raven's past but I know a lot of it was painful." She looks up to meet Hatshepsut's eyes. "I don't know what you hoped to achieve by name dropping somebody from her past, but you should know that I made a promise to her that I wouldn't pry, that I would let her talk to me about it on her own time. That includes Irene."

Still scowling she opens the jewelry box and lets out a little gasp when she sees what's inside. One would think that by now she would have gotten used to Hatshepsut's opulence, but still, somehow that ancient vampire manages to surprise her. She takes a breath, and tries to clear her head. She's not going to let a stray comment that probably meant nothing ruin the good time she's been having.

Inside the box are a set of Egyptian jewelry. The one that gets noticed first is a wide necklace of beads inset with moonstone scarabs that when worn is almost more like a collar than a necklace. Matching earrings are there, heavy with beads and each inlaid with matching moonstone scarabs. Finally there's a bracelet made in the same manner.

She adorns these each in succession, glad that she had put her hair up because trying to fasten the necklace proved to be something of a chore even without her thick curly hair to get in the way. Once she's all set she gets to her sandaled feet and nods. "I'm ready."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Canting her head slightly, Hatshepsut frowns. "It was not an attempt to name drop, it was a genuine question. I am aware that Raven's past is a mystery to many, and that she does not willingly talk about it. I only know this because I did my research on her, Clarice, and yourself before approaching you. I am sorry if that upset you, it was not my intent."

Speaking to Senet a moment, the servant nods and steps over to help with the necklace if needed, then slips back out of the room. Sometimes even the oldest of those in existence can commit a faux pa, and it seems that Hatshepsut has. She is not happy with herself, the frown lingers even as Lydia opens the box and adorns herself.

Once ready, Hatshepsut leads they way out side down another all to the main room they first entered and then out the tent flap. On either side of the entrance is a woman in what looks like beaded armor, each carrying both a sword on their hip, a bow and a quiver on their backs. The air is filled with the scents of the oasis and on the wind a gentle music can be heard playing from somewhere.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia nods at Hatshepsut's explanation, only somewhat mollified. She grabs the pen and journal and follows after her host. The armed guard takes her by surprise, though. She wasn't expecting to need an escort, but really it makes sense that the encampment would have physical protections along with mystical ones. She nods to Hatshepsut indicating that she's ready to go on.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Walking through the oasis the first obvious thing is that there is no one out and about. Here and there are the same guards that are now walking with them, but everyone else seems to either be in bed, or merely in their tents. The chosen path leads them past the large body of water and to the thicker foliage at the back of the oasis itself.

The entrance to the underground cavern is concealed by thick foliage of the oasis vegetation specifically grown and pruned to conceal the thick wooden trap doors have been angled over the opening. When opened, a wide flight of stone stairs leads down into the ground at least two two stories before opening up in a massive antechamber nearly a hundred feet squared. The room is illuminated by ancient looking lanterns that hang on the walls and from the ceiling, but there are no flames, the light given off is pure and white. The walls are a tan colored limestone, the very same stone used to in the construction of the pyramids, and have been hand carved and painted with numerous hieroglyphs that tells the story of the creation of this coven. Deep alcoves have been set at exact spacing along three of the four walls, but there are no obvious doors exiting this room.

In the center of the anteroom is a large round natural looking fountain with crystal clear water spraying up and back down into a large collecting pool neatly twenty feet in diameter. Numerous stone benches set around it offer places to sit, with potted plants between the benches for decoration. On of the benches is more like a table, with several cups and a large dipping rod for collecting water from the pool. The eight foot feminine statue at the center of the pool appears to have been crafted of black stone, a winged Isis knelt on one knee on a pedestal with her arms extended up and out to spread her wings.

https://www.egyptianmarketplace.com/image/cache/catalog/sacredstatues/biw-egyptian-goddesss-black-winged-isis-statue-400x500.jpg

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia isn't surprised by the hidden entrance. After all, she had been told of the existence of the cavern and it's not like they're going to pop up a neon sign pointing to it anyway. She makes her way down the stairs carefully treading the well worn steps that have seen millennia of use.

It isn't until she reaches the giant underground chamber that she is awed. History has a way of adding weight to things. Centuries go by that add layers and layers of this weight that by the time something becomes several millennia old it's all but laden with the past. She can /feel/ the history of this place. There's a pressure that the ages have added that's almost palpable.

She pauses to take in this sensation, and once getting used to it, she steps in to take a look at the hieroglyphics that are spread out across the walls. She wants to touch them but she doesn't want to damage their image. "What do they say?" she asks Hatshepsut. Already she's got her new journal out and is scribbling descriptions of the chamber into it.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut has entered this chamber numerous times in the past three thousand years, but every time the same awe struck her. She remembered vividly the day her mother brought her here. She was barely twelve years old, but she was ready to learn the magic of their family line. While Lydia takes her moment, Hatshepsut takes her own.

"That is the story of the creation of this coven," she explains, walking over to run her finger over one of the hieroglyphs. "In those days there were hundreds of girls eligible to learn the magics, you had to want it, earn it, fight for it." Taking her hand away, she takes a step back.

"You will learn to read it yourself, that is part of your future training."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Looks over her shoulder at Hatshepsut, eyes wide and eager, "Really?" She turns back to the hieroglyphs. "Does this mean that I'll be able to speak Egyptian? I'm sorry. Is there another name to it?"

Seeing as her host touched the carvings, she tentatively reaches out to touch them herself, feeling the smooth stone under her fingers. "This place is beautiful."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut smiles softly, almost sadly before she nods.

"We have maintained it through hard work and magics," she replies, then starts to walk toward the fountain and the benches around it. "Mostly hard work."

Stopping at the benches she gestures around the room as she says, "Tell me, when you look at this room and see no doors, in what way would you think the passages be revealed?"

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"The simple answer would be to take a drink," Lydia says, as she, too, makes her way to the fountain. "Isis was a goddess of magic and wisdom, if I recall correctly. So this could be the font of her knowledge." Her hazel eyes roam over the fountainhead as she muses aloud. "That seems a little /too/ simple, though. Anybody could just walk in, take a sip, and find their way into the inner chambers. Perhaps there's a rite that goes along with it."

She turns from the fountain to walk to one of the alcoves, resting a hand on the blank surface of the wall. She closes her eyes and lets her power infuse her ectoplasm with golden flares of amber as she 'feels' the wall to test for a door. "Maybe you anoint the eyes." She shakes her head. "I feel that the water is part of it. It seems obvious but... there it is."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut looks to pleased, like a mother whose child just come home with all As on their report card. She doesn't really have the right to be that proud, but she is. Lydia was the right choice, she just proved it.

"You were extremely close, Lydia," she offers. "In fact, you were closer than anyone else as been in the past two hundred years."

Reaching to collect one of the water ladles, she summons Lydia over. "Isis is the Mother Goddess, of life and magic, yes." When Lydia comes over, she dips the ladle into the water then reaches up to pour it over the woman's head.

At first it feels exactly like someone just dumped cold water on Lydia's head, she can feel the droplets running down her head and through her hair, but none of them reaches the grown, in fact if she reaches up to touch her head, it doesn't feel wet. In that same moment, three doors becomes visible, but they are not in the alcoves like one might expect. Instead, the walls have shifted and there are no alcoves, the hieroglyphs are still there, but three archways are now in three of the walls.%

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia's eyes squinches closed, as she prepares to get a face full of water, but it doesn't come. When she opens them again, she sees how the room has shifted. She does, in fact, reach up to touch her curly hair, but finding it dry, her hand drops down to the side. "Neat," she says.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
A ladle of water goes over Hatshepsut's head as well, and Lydia can /see/ the water flowing over her hair and face and yet... it's not, there is no wetness, not a single strand of hair is out of place. Whether she actually needed to do that remains unknown, but likely it was required for anyone who wanted to see the truth.

With the archways revealed, the music that has softly been in the background is more pronounced, and several voices can be heard. "Egyptian is the correct term for the ancient language," she then says, to answer the question Lydia had asked earlier. "Arabic takes a lot of meaning and pronunciations from it, but it really is another language entirely."

Gesturing now to the north wall of the room, and the archway there, she starts to talk slowly in that direction. "We should not keep the other waiting too long."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia watches with fascination at the demonstration of Schrodinger's dampness. She cocks her head when she hears the music become louder. She hadn't realized that she was still hearing it underground, but now that it's more present she becomes acutely aware of it. She nods to Hatshepsut and falls in line with her to meet the other members of the coven.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Beyond the archway is a wide hallways with numerous fancy wooden doors, most likely bedrooms or something of that sort, but all of them are closed. At the end of the hall is a pair of wooden double doors that have been etched with hundreds of hieroglyphs. Before they even reach them, the doors swing open slowly and beyond is a large room of rugs, cushions, low tables and women dressed in yellow gowns exactly like the one Lydia is wearing, merely a different color. There are ten women in this room, all of varying ages, from one who looks like she's in her thirties, to another who looks like she's in her nineties. Each had adorned themselves in jewelry similar to that which Lydia was given, and yet the gift was clearly far more elaborate.

As the door swings open, all conversation comes to an end, those sitting stand themselves up and the music stops. All eyes are on Hatshepsut and the woman beside her. Almost in unison they offer a bow, and Hatshepsut returns it.

"Sisters," she says clearly and loudly. "Allow me to present to you, Lydia Dietrich."

Laying her hand on Lydia's shoulder now Hatshepsut begins the other half of the introductions. As their name is said, each bows their head to the young mutant. "1st Sahira: Kezia, 2nd Sahira: Aysi, 3rd Sahira: Hava, 5th Sahira: Fathiyya, 6th Sahira: Jaci, 7th Sahira: Moina, 8th Sahira: Amunet, 10th Sahira: Anja, 11th Sahira: Nyah, and 12th Sahira: Minako."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
When Lydia is introduced she takes a small step forward to present herself, and nervously bows her head once all eyes are upon her. She nods her head as each member is introduced and when all is said and done, she bows her head again and says, "Hello. It's good to finally meet you all."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The eldest of them, who looks ninety and was introduced as Kezia waves Lydia over.

"Well come on girl, let's have a look at you," she snorts in very fluent English as she gestures toward the others and herself. "Some of us are too old to go wandering across the room. Minako, be a good sister and get us all some tea?"

The others around her all appear amused by her words. She is the 1st Sahira, if she wants to drink and sit around, then they will drink and sit around.

Hatshepsut even chuckles softly before leaning closer to Lydia to whisper, "Do not be fooled by her age, she is still quick as a cat and strong as an ox."

Kezia snaps her fingers a few times with a, "Bup, bup, bup, bup, bup... none of that whispering, you know I can hear you. Ears of fennec fox!"

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia dutifully steps up to the elder woman. The soft glow of her green aura illuminates the room and gives everything a subtle green tint to it. She looks over and grins at Hatshepsut, before fully presenting herself. She's not sure what that exactly entails, so she stands there, with one hand clasping her journal, and the other clasping her arm, as if she were a child again. "Hello," she offers again, feeling awkward.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Kezia is a smaller woman, maybe a grand total of five feet in height, if she was standing up straight, which she is not. She looks up at Lydia, one brow slightly lifted.

"Do you always to exactly what you are told without question?" She asks bluntly. "Are you afraid we will black ball you if you fail to meet expectations?"

Minako returns with a large carafe of... something. Setting in on a table, she pauses to look at Lydia, in fact they were all looking at her, waiting to hear her answer. Hatshepsut had moved over to stand with them, however she had looked more than enough and instead started filling the glasses on the table from the carafe.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"Only to people I figure are worthy of respect," Lydia answers. She stands a bit straighter and squares her shoulders as she gets into the proper mindset to talk to the woman. This one speaks bluntly, so bluntly she'll answer in return. "And only if the nature of the request doesn't seem unreasonable." She shrugs. "You are an elder of the coven that I'm considering joining, so I figure that would make you worthy of respect. It doesn't seem unreasonable that the eldest would want a closer look at me, so I comply."

"Black ball me from what? The coven?" She asks smoothly with a grin. "That won't stop me from practicing magic my own way. This is very much an interview for me as it is for you."

She turns to address the room. "I haven't decided whether or not I want to join the coven, which is why I requested to meet you all in the first place," she says with a sweep of the hand. "I want to know who I'm pledging allegiance to if I join, what I'll gain out of the deal and what sacrifices I must make in order to gain them before I make any decision."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut had already told them all that very thing, but like herself, they were all pretty certain she would join. Her announcement is met with nods and acceptance of course, but they all know already, just as Hatshepsut had when she looked at Lydia... she was a sister.

Kezia snorts again then laughs before she sits herself down. "I like you girl," she states with a nod. "You've got brains in that pretty head, which is too damned rare out there these days." She collects a glass off the table and offer it to Lydia, as well as gesturing to the cushion beside her. "So, if you intend to interview all of us, you planning to stay a month or so?"

"Sister," Aysi warns softly. "Let her get comfortable before you start trying to break into her mind."

There is a bit of chuckling to this, but Kezia just snorts again and picks up a glass for herself. "What do you want to know, Lydia?" She then asks.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia laughs lightly, taking the offered glass and pouring herself something to drink before sitting down next to the old woman as instructed. "Thank you," she says to the compliment, but grins, "No, I just wanted to get a general feel of your personalities and how you work together as a group, really."

She takes a sip of her drink, wincing at it's sweetness. She contemplates the last question asked of her for a moment. "I guess the thing that's foremost that's on my mind is what does joining the coven entail? Hatshepsut mentioned a ritual, and I'd like to know more."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
All eyes turn to Minako, who was sitting there sipping her juice quietly. When she is looked at, she blinks then clears her throat.

"Oh right, Sahira Jenean could not be here, so it... yeah," she shifts a little uncomfortably, not used to public speaking really. There is a Japanese accent, though not a strong one, to her voice. "The ritual is simple really. Each of the thirteen add a drop of their blood to a dish, you add a drop of your blood, and then together an incantation is spoken. This ritual binds you to the coven and to the power of the coven. It doesn't make you a slave, or force you to change your ways, in fact all it really is, is our way of signing a contract. By doing this, you agree to keep our locations secret, to come to our aid, to uphold the honor of Isis and the coven, and in return we do the same for you."

Kezia nods, "Very nice sister, you are getting better at speaking up."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"Buuut," Lydia says, drawing out the word, "Hatshepsut mentioned that that would make me more visible to your enemies." That is not an insignificant downside. "Though I'm not entirely convinced that I'm as invisible as all that. After all," she says, looking to ancient vampire as she muses her thoughts aloud, "One of your acquaintances managed to find me. Who's to say that others wouldn't."

"When we first met," she continues, "You'd mentioned that binding myself to the coven would 'open up my power.' What would that look like? Are you talking just about magical theory and it's direct application, or is there something more literal to that?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Kezia starts chortling as she looks over at Hatshepsut. "Told you she'd be smart," she offers to the only person in the room older than herself.

This time it is Hava who speaks the answers. "If one knows what to look for, you are as a lighthouse in the night, but they must know what they are looking for, that is how you were found." She glances to Hatshepsut for a moment, but look back to Lydia. "In time, Hatshepsut would have found you herself, because she is always looking. Now... concerning binding yourself and the power you will obtain."

Aysi speaks up now, "When you become one with the coven, you gain the power that is hidden in your own blood, but you are also linked to all of us, that is why you would be more visible to the enemy. You want to quantify what gaining power might be, but it is different for each of us. When I joined, to my eyes it looked at if I literally exploded with power, yet when Hava joined, she merely glowed with a white light as you do now, only green. The binding also introduces you to the basic incantation, the foundation upon which all other spells and rituals are built, and it will allow you to read the hidden texts."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia nods to the two women thoughtfully, "I see," she says. The answers she'd been given were pretty much in line with what she had expected. A spike in power that lead to more visibility, and a more fundamental understanding of magic more than what she's pieced together from her studies.

She takes a sip of the nectar that they'd been drinking as she mulls over her options. "Was it worth it, do you think?" she asks the room at large, wanting to know their personal experiences with this. "Oh, and if I do join, who would be my mentor?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The first reaction is to her last question, they all look at Hatshepsut, who has settled into sitting at the end of the table while eying the juice. She doesn't have the heart to mention there's a fly in her cup, so she just drinks it anyway, then looks up and realizes they are all looking her.

"You get to choose, from the 4th Sahira to the 13th, which you would like," she answers.

Now they all sort of mutter and speak at the same time about if it was worth it, and the general over all reaction is positive. Not one has a negative think to comment on, other than Anja who doesn't like the heat of the desert, but that's about all she can complain about.

Kezia raises her hand and the speaking ends, "What Hatshepsut failed to mention is that /she/ is the 4th Sahira. She should be the first, but oh no, she needed to pass that on to me." Apparently this is some sort of an inside joke because they all laugh, including Hatshepsut.

"Yes, I am the 4th Sahira, but you get to choose whom you would like as your mentor."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia absorbs the chatter, listening to them all as the speak, getting a feel for their experiences since they had joined the coven. She nods along, sometimes asking for clarification to one bit or another, but generally stays silent and listens.

The news that Hatshepsut herself is only the 4th Sahira takes her by surprise. "Oh? I didn't realize you were... why did you decide not to take a higher position?" She looks around the room, "Do people usually choose the one who had found them to be their mentor?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The question was asked, but before anyone else could speak up or say anything, and many look like they want to, Kezia raises her hand to silence them.

"That question is one that Hatshepsut will answer in private," Kezia says firmly, and bluntly, but the tone was more for those around her than for Lydia.

"Usually there is a relationship of some nature already established with the one who discovers you," she continues. "Which may be why most do ask the one who found them to be their mentor. There is also logistics to consider. I'm not moving to New York, so you can bet that the mentor you choose isn't moving."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia laughs at that. "I really didn't expect anybody to move to New York on my account," she says with a grin. "Though I have access to teleporters so I can go to wherever if need be." Her grin fades as she studies the floor. "It's just that... I don't know. It doesn't feel /right/ to ask Hatshepsut to do it. She's an ancient," she flails, "queen vampire. And I'm just, you know. Me." It escapes her that she's talking like she's already made up her mind about the whole deal.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Kezia reaches over and pats Lydia's arm lightly. "Lydia, dear child... she was my mentor. As well as Moina's, Nyah's. and Fathiyya's." She comments with a soft smile. "She may not have told you, so I will... this coven, and we sisters, are the most important thing in her world. Nothing of her past matters in comparison. We all know this, because we have lived with her, bled with her, saved her from death and she has done the same for us. You could not ask for a better mentor."

Hava just can't resist is and chimes in with, "Except perhaps me." This makes them all laugh, and Aysi throws a small cushion at Hava.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lyida nods as Kezia speaks. "Yes, that's the feeling I get from her." She wants to continue to argue about her worth, but she knows that, well, first it would be futile, and secondly sooner or later she's going to have to accept it.

Lydia's eyes glitter with mirth when she turns to Hava. "Oh? Why's that?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hava stands up, puts her hands on her hips and announces. "I am the youngest full Sahira eva!"

This makes all of the other woman groan, facepalms, shake their heads, all but Hatshepsut who laughs. "Yes Hava, the youngest and oh so modest about it," she comments. Instantly Hava blushes a deep crimson and plops back down to sitting, and this makes them all laugh again.

Kezia looks back to Lydia, still chuckling a little. "Then you know her well already, that said, the choice remains yours. However, if you are have as powerful as Hatshepsit believes you are, then she would be the best mentor for you to have, but that power level is determined through the binding ritual."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia can't help but chuckle at Hava and shoots the elder a grin. "I'll have to keep you in mind then when it comes to make my decision," she says. She nods to the eldest. "I see. I have to admit that I'm curious to see what my potential would be."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Amunet says something in Arabic, which causes Kezia to hmm softly and Hatshepsut to nod and say, "That may work."

Looking over to Lydia she then says, "Amunet just suggested a way that might determine that power, before the binding, if you were interested in trying it."

Kezia snorts, "I don't think it will work."

Aysi then says, "YOu don't think anything will work."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia's eyes flash between Amunet, Kezia and Hatshepsut. "I was willing to wait for the ritual, but now that you've piqued my interest I'm willing to give it a try. What does this entail?" Lydia doesn't seem to realize that she's speaking as if her joining the coven is a done deal. She's still thinking that it's something she needs to think over but, really, with the answers that she's been given and the vibe that she's gotten from the group, something in the back of her consciousness has already made the decision.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut stands herself up. She had known all along that Lydia would join, it was just a matter of when. This little attempt might even make it sooner than later.

"Kezia, I will take responsibility for this," she says, looking right to the woman. "But it requires your permission."

Kezia snorts again, realizing that all the sisters present are all looking at her. "I can already see that I am outvoted," she replies, then picks herself up. "Alright, permission is granted. Aysi and Hava will assist you, the rest of us will remain here."
Hatshepsut bows slightly to Kezia, then looks to Lydia. "It you are willing to wait for that answer until we move to the appropriate room, then I can answer it."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"I don't want to do this if it's dangerous or will get you into trouble," Lydia tells Hatshepsut, her brows furrowed in concern. "I'm willing to wait, though."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut shakes her head, but it's Hava who says, "There is nothing dangerous about this, nor will anyone get in trouble. Kezia merely prefers not take extra steps, but she is outvoted and she knows it. You have nothing to worry about, I assure you it is perfectly safe."

Aysi nods along as Hava is speaking. "Sometimes we younger sisters think of things that Kezia does not, this is one of them."

Kezia snorts at this but even she nods in agreement.
Hatshepsut chuckles, "See Lydia, you forget that this is a committee that votes. No one can get in trouble, we all agree to accept the vote even if we voted against it."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia looks relieved, and nods at Hava. "That's a relief. I was worried there for a moment." She looks at Hatshepsut, "I'm still learning about how you all work together," she says. "That's partly why I'm here. I need to know these things before I make my decision." As if her decision isn't already made.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
They each look around at one another, apparently they already knew Lydia's answer as well, she was the only one in the room who didn't know.

"We have been together long enough that we can look at once another's faces and just know," Kezia says before moving around to stack up a few extra cushions to sit on.

"There is also the fact that we can, when we want to, communicate with one another mentally," Hatshepsut adds, giving Kezia a 'look', then she shifts her eyes to Lydia. "It is difficult to truly understand how we work in just a few hours Lydia, even a few days may not be enough. You may want to be more specific in what you are hoping to learn because a lot of what we do is mental. Amunet only speaks Arabic. Nyah only speaks Arabic and Swahili, but in our minds, we all understand one another."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
And here Lydia was thinking they all just spoke Arabic, and this would be another language that she would be picking up. It's almost disappointing that that may not be the case.

"I'm just trying to get a feel for how you work together, your personalities, and, really, how you get along with me." She shrugs, "It's one of those things where you want to make sure you fit in before you commit to something like this. So far so good, though," she says with a grin.

"I have to admit," she says with a grin, "Telepathy is pretty cool. Is that something you pick up when you're an apprentice, or do you gain that ability later when you become one of the thirteen?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut walks around the table and lays her hand on Lydia's shoulder. "It comes with the binding spell, and time with the coven. It is one of the ways we stay in contact even when we are thousands of miles apart. You may trust those cellular phones, but we do not." She pauses there looking to Aysi and Hava, then back to Lydia. "Would you prefer to wait until the binding?"

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia seriously considers this question. On one hand it'll tell her how much she'll need training if her power levels are as high as they seem to think they are. On the other hand she still hasn't decided to.... who's she kidding? She's going to go through with this, and she's eager to find out.

"I think I'd like to go and find out now," she says. "It's got my curiosity up, and I'd like to know more about myself." She worries a little bit about seeming impatient.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
There are numerous nods from the sisters, then Aysi and Hava just head out of the room through the door to the east. Hatshepsut smiles broadly, eyes sparkling.

"I knew your curiosity would get the better of you Lydia," she comments with a soft chuckle. "So come, let me show you the place where all the power centers."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Well, this sounds exciting! Lydia eagerly follows Hatshepsut as they make their way to the power center of the underground caverns. "Now you /really/ have my curiosity piqued," she tells the ancient queen.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Through the west doors is a short hallway at the end of which is a set of massive metal looking double doors. The doors have been painted with the images of Isis standing tall and proud in a sheath dress with her colorful wings spread out to her sides from behind her. Her arms are folded in an X across her chest, in right hand she holds a jeweled Ankh, in the left she holds the papyrus scepter. The main coven room is two times the size of the antechamber, and crafted from the same tan limestone. The floor has been worn smooth from hundreds of years of bare feet move over it, back and forth, throughout the entire room.

In the center of the room, beneath an massive ancient looking chandelier, a large ankh has been carved out with thirteen locations specifically marked by half circle indentations large enough to sit cross legged in. At each of the thirteen locations a five foot standing candelabra has been placed, each with a green candle single candle. None of the candles appear to have ever been lit, there is no indication of melted wax, and yet eleven of the thirteen /look/ like they have a pure white flame flickering at the end of the wick. The chandelier is nearly six feet in diameter, and is constructed of metal, glass, and millions of colorful beads, with candles resting on the platforms offering the same pure white light as the lanterns on the walls do.

All around the room against the walls are numerous half circle indentations like those in the ankh. These are spaced exactly five feet apart and three feet away from the walls. On the wall behind each of the half circles a large ankh has been carved into the limestone and then painted. On the east wall are twenty wahdj, or verdigris green. On the west wall are twenty irtyu, or Egyptian blue. On the north wall are ten deshr, or red ochre, and ten hedj, or white ankhs. The south wall is reserved for the entry doors and nothing else.

Hava and Aysi have already moved to two of the half circle indents, standing near the candelabras, both are smiling and look a little excited themselves.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Once again Lydia is awed to silence at the display in front of her. She's never seen anything like this, and once inside the room, she takes a slow lap around it, burning the sight into her memory. "This is magnificent," she breathes.

Her eyes turn to the thirteen indentations in the floor. "I take it those are for the elders and the rest are for the acolytes? Is this the chamber where the ceremony would take place?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut watches her moving around the room, that same smile of pride on her face. She couldn't help herself, Lydia really was the perfect candidate, everything about her matched but she had to figure that out for herself.

"This is the room where all the magic we work as a group takes place, yes. It is also for meditation and private thinking, and admittedly, sometimes for punishment."

She walks over to where Hava and Aysi are standing, and for a moment they speak in Arabic before Hatshepsut looks back to Lydia and says, "Feel free to walk around more, get a feel for the room... see if you can feel anything more than the natural warmth."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia nods and does as she's instructed. As her mentors speak, she takes another lap around the room, this time with her hand outstretched. Once again she puts some of her own power into her ectoplasm, helping her sense what's going on in this room.

She pauses at one of the ankhs embedded into the walls, and she touches it with her outstretched hand. "There's a vibration," she says. "Kind of, well, I want to say it's like a song."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hava actually gasps and looks over at Lydia for a moment, then immediately starts talking to Aysi in Arabic again. Hatshepsut just nods and turns to face Lydia.

"I knew you would hear it," she says softly, then walks over to Lydia. "If you close your eyes and reach out, you will hear the hidden words of the song that this place sings. It is in Arabic, but you will hear it."

Aysi nods to Hava, then she hurries out of the room for a moment, returning with a small white candle to stand by Aysi. They both look exceedingly excited no, waiting, wondering if she will really hear the words.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia nods and dutifully closes her eyes, stretching out her hands. Really, it's a matter of focus. Drowning out the distractions around her, and honing in on the vibrations. "I can... no." She says after a while. She shakes her head. "I can /feel/ that there are words there, but I can't make them out."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hava is just struck with pure awe, staring at Lydia with wide eyes while Aysi just squeaks and looks at the elder queen, then Lydia, then the queen again.

Hatshepsut gestures for Lydia to join her with the other two, her smile having turned coy for some reason. When the young mutant comes over she says quietly, "You feel the words... that is more than either of them could do." She indicates the two just standing there struck dumb. "It is more than the others, save Kezia, could do."

She takes the candle from Hava, then holds it out toward Lydia with one hand, the other hand offers a small needle, "Prick your finger with the needle, and bleed on the wick of the candle. If this works, we will know your level of power by how large the flame grows."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia ducks her head in embarrassment. She didn't realize that what she's done was such a rare thing. She was sure that they would be impressed that she could just sense them, but somewhat disappointed that she could not hear them. When she hears otherwise, well, her cheeks flush in modesty.

Lydia takes the needle and nods. "Okay," she says, and pricks her thumb with it. She holds it out over the candle and squeezes it to force a drop to land on the wick of the candle. She expects it to sizzle a bit, maybe grow twice in size, but in reality what happens is a gout of flame shoots forth from the candle causing her to step back in surprise.

"Goodness!" she says, hand over beating heart. "That's.... that's a lot isn't it?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hava blurts out in an almost yell, "I knew it!"

Aysi shoots out of the room like the candle lit her butt on fire, already screaming in Arabic so the others can hear it, even though they are all linked and knew... sometimes excitement still got the best of that one.

Hatshepsut actually takes a step back from the fire, she knew it would be large, but fire was still a bad thing for her, magical or not. "That... that would be the second highest flame ever, and technically, that should not have worked, just as Kezia thought."

The flames last for a few moments longer then dies back down to a normal flame, pure white flame, like the other candles around the ankh on the floor. Once it reaches that point, Hatshepsut steps back over to Lydia. "I knew it would work," she whispers coyly. "You are meant to be here Lydia, and I think you know that now."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia is just standing there, stunned. "Yeah, I..." She shakes her head, "If I have this kind of potential, then I think I better join the coven," she concludes. "If nothing else for my own protection. You can't possibly be the only ones hunting for me. Especially not after /that/."

She looks after Aysi had fled to and takes in a deep breath. "I guess we should tell the others then. "

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Kezia is the one who comes in now, walking with Aysi and Jaxa, technically she's using Jaxa as a sort of cane.

"Well holy hells girl," she states to Lydia. "I thought maybe you had a little juice in you. Do you need more proof? Perhaps to see one of the acolytes fail miserably to do that?"

Hatshepsut snorts this time, rolling her eyes before whispering very, very quietly to Lydia, "She's playing it up, it's her job."

Jaxa offers Lydia a smile, used to being a crutch, then says, "You see the flame you have there, that's what I got at the binding. I'd be jealous, but you're my sister and I am over joyed for you."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia shakes her head at Kezia. "No," she says slowly. "I don't think I need any more proof than that." She takes another deep breath and announces, "I think I'm ready to join the coven." There. She said it, and in no uncertain terms. This is it. This is her committing to it.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Kezia nods once, "Good. Hatshepsut, take her outside the oasis to contact her family, she will be here a few more days for Jenean and Glorianna to get here, unless of course Lydia, you would prefer to wait until the next official gathering in three months."

Hatshepsut is pretty sure Lydia won't want to wait, but it is her choice and answer to give.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"I... aheh," Lydia chuckles nervously, "Wasn't expecting it to be quite so soon, but now seems to be better than three moons hence." Lydia facepalms. Did she really say 'three moons hence?' /Seriously/ Lydia? "But, yes. I think doing it sooner rather than later would be the smart choice."

"I'll need to give Raven a call and let her know what's going on. It might take a while to catch her up to speed, though." The last thing she wants is to just call her and tell her that her vacation is going to run a little long and that's it. She wants to make sure that Raven is well informed so she won't worry as much.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
There is a moment of silence, the Sahira present all closing their eyes. Jaxa steps away from Kezia and walks over to Lydia now, as Aysi has Kezia in hand.

Leaning in closer to Lydia, Jaxa whispers very quietly, "I will take you out to the desert where a cellphone will work when the sun rises, most likely your friends are asleep at this hour. We are..." she pauses a moment then continues. "... five hours a head of New York. Nothing electronic works within the Oasis."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia is led out of the oasis, past the barriers and back into the desert. Hatshepsut handed her her phone which can contact the Asteroid from just about anywhere. "Thank you," she tells the ancient queen and takes a few steps from her to get a bit of privacy. Then she settles down into the sand, legs crossed, and dials Mystique's personal number. This is going to be a long conversation.