Water and Sand

[Bestat]

Location: Ankhypt

The desert winds were harsh and unyielding today opalescent eyes scanned the horizon ahead nothing for miles except fawn colored sand. The Lotus Oasis was the one place in the unending sands that offered reprieve from the heat, and a drop of water.

Bastet stood at the gates staring out she could feel it something, something coming. She could not tell whether it was a good omen or a bad she only knew it was coming. Titus stood off to her right watching and waiting for her to move slowly she looked over, "You're staring should you be?"

In her loneliness he had become a friend even though he was still a servant among the Mau. It gave him reason to be near and her reason to keep him near. "No my goddess"

"That's right no." She didn't dare smile at him in case someone heard. "I want to go into the Capital make it happen." She turned and walked away the soft white folds of her dress floating upwards catching the breeze that inched its way across the lands. A deep breath caressed her parched throat, "i'm thirsty" she said to no one yet she knew there was someone else close enough to hear.

Within moments a woman about her age came forward with a carafe of water her eyes cast to the ground as she offered the clear cold liquid. Bastet took it and waved her away taking several long draws from the container she felt refreshed.

What was coming and why? Her connection to the life force of her home world hummed with activity she just couldn't nail down what it was.

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

​It was no mere chance encounter that lay before the Chieftain of the Bryn'adûl.

​Whispers brewed stories of a conflict to come between cults and would-be kings. Whispers that travelled on the wings of old and derelict constructs that once bore the name Ancient Eye with proud zealotry. Now, amiss to the Galaxy and even Ankhypt itself. It seemed since his time there, things had changed. Well, more accurately reverted to their natural flow.

​As all things did.

​He had no fledgling concern for those he had once lorded over, as was apparent by the destruction of Santamede on Edemar, his home and sister planet to Ankhypt and Nibelungen. Tathra had wiped out the remaining populace of Edemar, restoring it in his mind to its natural statue of barren open landscape. His concern lay within the order of the planet, and who ruled it. For who resided over his neighbouring planets was in fact a concern. He could not tolerate an enemy. That was why he was to facilitate this meeting, with a grand show from beyond the deep rock he resided within.

​Tathra was accompanied by a score of his own Draelvasier, members of the Bryn'adûl Crusaders. A total of six hundred had made landfall as the Bryn'adûl arrived. However, only a total of sixteen accompanied him. He would not dare for a show of force to be mistook as compensation. Thus in place of a messenger, the Chieftain moved to intervene directly.

​Whilst the grumblings in Ankhypt's capital would worry their citizens. It was indeed the Mau that would be the first to come to heel. Whether they knew it or not.

​[member="Sennu"] | [member="Bastet"]​

 

[Bestat]

The capital was a place of bustle, warm inviting smells, and hundreds of people moving about with a single purpose survival. Bastet had shifted into the form of a woman with dark hair, dark eyes, olive skin and soft supple lips. She moved through the crowd slowly taking in the many delights that were forbidden by the Mau.

The Mau she had been considering them for quite some time now. They were singular in purpose protecting her, teaching her but when she talked to the others they did not push the agenda of the Mau. This made Bastet wonder what were the grumblings in the city. The whispers of hard times, crops failing, trade down, and death. Bastet knew that to win the hearts of the people she would need to combat these things she would need to provide them.

Her ship, Desert Storm was near completion she could travel to other planets soon enough either make them kneel, or engage in trade with them. She did not wish to rule over bones and sand. The people needed to survive. She would go to the palace it was time to make her presence known there too. What were these foolish people doing to her home, why were they killing the people.

[member="Tathra Khaeus"] | [member="Sennu"]

 

[Tathra Khaeus]

​Tathra arrived in the palace, accompanied by a total of sixteen Baedurin Sentinels as they moved into the palace. The black and red skin and thick armour and weaponry the Bryn'adûl warriors carried was in stark contrast to the armaments and décor of the Anubian people and their planet. Guards and staff within the palace became somewhat docile in the sight of the Bryn'adûl warriors as the massive Tathra lead them towards the throne room.

​That docile nature was met by a passively held back hostility exhibited by the Bryn'adûl. They seemed to unbalance the natural state of Ankhypt with their very presence. The massive creatures were slightly smaller than some of the Anubians present back much stockier, with thick and painful looking skin.

​Whilst they moved with purpose, they also were lead by Tathra carrying his Mace; a sense of belonging on his face as he seemingly knew his way around the Palace. Most of the anubians would likely begin to recognise him, especially the Palace Guard. As they arrived in the Palace Throne room, it was a large and almost silent room. Many golden pillars decorated each side of the long arching room. His eyes moved to a familiar sight, the Throne.

​Sat in the middle of the room, atop a pyramid like set of steps. Suddenly he was returned to a year ago, the Throne room was bustling with life, yet the Throne was still absent. However, all thrones were absent under the Ancient Eye. Tathra held his Mace in one hand, laying it down against the steps as he sat adjacent to the throne.

​Both of those he sought would no doubt be aware of his arrival, they'd be here soon.

​[member="Sennu"] | [member="Bastet"]​

 

[Bestat]

There was one place she knew she had to go, those that were the caretaker of the people, those that were to see that the people of Ankhypt flourished. The Pharoah and his advisors.

She could already feel the rock and reel of life around her the dark feelings of those nearing desperation, the sadness over the loss of a child, and then there was the greed of the overseers taking every bit of blood they could from those they preyed upon. Where were the stewards?

Bastet stood before the grand obelisks that told the story of how the pharoah came to power, these would be the first things to go. She pushed though shifting quickly to the form of a guard, then to the form of a servant until she found herself just outside the throne room. There was life there, but not who she thought she would find.

Switching quickly back to her natural form she entered. Her gaze fell upon [member="Tathra Khaeus"] , "Ahlan wa sahlan" she said it phoenetically the ancient word for a greeting, she wondered if he would know it.

[member="Sennu"]​