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Teytis tel Jobont is not living up to her lantelis.
She had been en route to her usual position after a rest-and-resupply period. Instead of the expected uneventful trip, somehow she loses her anchors, falls through a bizarrely shaped storm, then finds herself impossibly over land instead of water and with her upper antennas chopped off like they were never there.
She was able to stabilize with only minor damage to the uninhabited land, but she cannot hear a single intelligible signal, and a hundred other things add up to this is no place anyone has ever seen before. Or rather, reported seeing before.
So here she sits in the sky, relaying nothing, thinking about everything.
synchrosyntheses
She is near some cultivated-looking land, but not well-traveled cultivated-looking land.
Eventually, though, somebody tromps through a field, pops out on the far side, and spots her. Well, her entire rig, floating in the sky, not looking much like a human at all. They are surprised.
Eventually, though, somebody tromps through a field, pops out on the far side, and spots her. Well, her entire rig, floating in the sky, not looking much like a human at all. They are surprised.
synchrosyntheses
Shortly, a merely head-sized thing with mysterious protrusions floats down to eye level and says something that is definitely not in Welchin. If he doesn't run off before it reaches him.
He totally runs off before it reaches him.
synchrosyntheses
The head-sized thing stays put and says its piece anyway, just in case anyone's listening.
Some people look at it from farther away.
Eventually they leave too; they can't understand a word it says. The language they speak to each other is not hers.
Eventually they leave too; they can't understand a word it says. The language they speak to each other is not hers.
synchrosyntheses
(Analysis. Conclusion: This language does not resemble any she has ever heard of having been invented. Not that she has a complete catalog to answer the question definitively. Also, their clothes are weird.)
(Perhaps eventually someone will be interested in making an effort to communicate.)
(Perhaps eventually someone will be interested in making an effort to communicate.)
calescent
Eventually, a young woman in fancy red and orange clothes, accompanied by a young man who strongly resembles her, appears. They're both riding horses.
calescent
Red-and-orange replies in kind, or her best guess of 'in kind'.
synchrosyntheses
It tries a few things that might be other languages, not with a very hopeful tone.
calescent
Red-and-orange doesn't know any of them. She tries what might be another language too, helpful-like, but no dice.
synchrosyntheses
It — buds off — a thing that might be its version of arrows, shaped like elongated triangles without a shaft, gleaming metal.
The arrow splits into two and points at itself and the structure above them, and says “Teytis”.
Then it turns back into one and points at red-and-orange, within arm's reach.
The arrow splits into two and points at itself and the structure above them, and says “Teytis”.
Then it turns back into one and points at red-and-orange, within arm's reach.
synchrosyntheses
It says something using both of their names which could be “Welcome to wherever this is, Kiribel and Aleko Ardelay”. Or it could be “Kiribel and Aleko Ardelay, please teach me Welchin”. Who knows.
It starts pointing at other conveniently available objects, and waiting for responses.
Must have been the second choice.
It starts pointing at other conveniently available objects, and waiting for responses.
Must have been the second choice.
synchrosyntheses
It starts working on more abstract words and grammar, by creating shapes that act out little cartoon scenes. It starts attempting to construct sentences, and rarely makes the same mistake twice.
calescent
Kiri can work with that. She supplies Welchin as fast as the thingamajig can accept it. (Aleko, meanwhile, gets off his horse and sits in the wheat and doodles.)
synchrosyntheses
It seems to be under the impression that humans are capable of telekinesis, or shapeshifting, or something like that. It wants words for these things.
calescent
Since neither Kiri nor Aleko is capable of telekinesis or shapeshifting, they're kind of puzzled. Kiri does know the words for both, though.
synchrosyntheses
It seems to consider itself a product of telekinesis-and-shapeshifting, and to be a part of “Teytis”, but also to be “Teytis”. The distinctions it tries to make are still not clear.
Presently it has acquired enough abstract concepts, if not perfect pronunciation, to ask:
“Where am I?”
Presently it has acquired enough abstract concepts, if not perfect pronunciation, to ask:
“Where am I?”