Iaxxioldril smiled nervously. He had already done the formal meeting with the heads of the Maar Clans. That had gone without a hitch. They had showered him with greetings and praise at him coming to visit. He was of course the ranking dignitary, his mere presence in the Bloodplains was a high honor for the Clans. It wasn't often that a High Seer came to the desert. Despite this, he couldn't help feeling like he was trapped in something he didn't understand. The web of politics at Novox, while by no means easy or manageable, was something that he was familiar with. Here, he was a stranger is a strange land among strange people with a foreign title. Technically, the Maar followed the Church, same as any other Nitehymn. But the real religious power out here was the Jisu Sect. Technically the Sect was part of the church, and thus under Iaxxioldril's command. In practice this was anything but true.
He was in the House of the Axpur Clan. The Houses were large complex, almost like palaces. Every clan had one, and they surrounded the Hold of Clans, the center of Jin'Lar. It was also were all political business was done, and where the state visit would be taking place. As per tradition, any foreign visitors in Jin'Lar must be sponsored by one of the clans, meaning that while in the city they were that clan's responsibility. Iaxxioldril's was Axpur's. He was seating in the Axpur's famous desert gardens, a series of artificial oases. Across from him was leader of the Axpur, Chieftain Wrox. Wrox has the picturesque Maar, big and muscular. He wore brown pants, tanned from some animal, and a series of leather straps arounds his torso. His exposed chest only furthered to intimidate Iaxxioldril.
"And how are you finding the Bloodplains, High Seer?"
"Hot." He wiped the sweat from his brow to further his point. It was meant as a joke, but his hand came off much wetter than he had expected.
"Ha, yes you'll find no AC in the city. I'm afraid Jin'lar isn't as civilized as the cities of you Easterners."
"Civilized isn't the word I'd use." As he spoke, a woman in blood red robes approached. Iaxxoldril took immediate notice, any Nitehymn would. Red was a color of bad luck. Her robes exposed far more skin than the High Seer was comfortable with, not that he was a prude by any means. It was almost perfectly draped on her, loose and tight in all the right places to suggest the beautiful frame underneath. It took him a second before he realized this must be one of the Sibyl, the women of the Jisu Sect.
"High Seer, this is my consort, Natrax." It was common practice for the Sibyl to embed themselves among the Clans, often holding many important positions and relationships among the elites and elders. While members of the Church were meant to remain celibate, the Jisu Sect placed no such restrictions on its members. There have even been stories of the Sibyl getting married.
Natrax extended her hand, although in a seemingly dainty way, towards the Seer. He took it and nodded his head. "It is a pleasure, Sibyl." Natrax winked before silently taking a seat next to her lover. If Wrox thought to lure Iaxxoldril with sex, he would have to try a lot harder. "How goes your preparations for the Sixth?" June was the holiest time in the Maar calendar, the whole month dedicated to their chosen Seraph. When it came to the Maar's religious practices, Iaxxoldril was anything but ignorant, he was the most powerful individual in the church after all.
"Forgive me High Seer, but if we could skip the formalities." From the corner of his eye, Iaxxoldril noticed that they had been surrounded by armed clansmen. While the Axpur were doing their best to look inconspicuous, they were mostly large brutes in a garden. They stoke out like a sore thumb. He could tell when he was being intimidated.
"Of course! You are always free to speak plainly to me friend" Iaxxoldril smiled largely as he said the words, a spark contrast to the edge he put behind the words.
It was Natrax that spoke next, surprising the Seer. "The Inquisition isn't the only ones with chosen in their mists." She was referring to the Chosen of Necra the Inquisition had recently taken in.
"What a cryptic statement." This time he spat the words out dryly. It seems Wrox was nothing more than a figurehead. The Sibyl was the real power of the Axpur.
"Hm, but High Seer I beg of you, please if you could aid us." Her tone was mocking, filled with false youth.
"What do you need my help for?"
"If you sanctify our chosen into Jisu's Avatar, none will be able to question the validity."
Iaxxoldril was shocked. An Avatar would mean the unification of the Maar clans under one banner. Which would bring untold death and destruction. Already the clans were a nuisance and a threat, but their division meant they were weak. They only reason the Jisu Sect would want an Avatar would be for a civil war. A Maar invasion of the Eastern lands. The Seer looked back around at the warriors surrounding them. Even without it begin said, he knew to disagree would mean his head. "I have little choice is this matter it would seem."
