Player: Stuart A
Email: metis@djemity.chaosdeathfish.com
Caste: Scholar
A FEMALE teklo/sylphim chimera and archeologist
Metis was the first Chimera to ever bear the child of another Chimera. This led to the founding of a new field of medical study. Of course, over the years since then we have found less horrific methods than the use of womb badgers.
Unfortunately soon after the birth of her son, Unity, she was wrenched away by Teklo officials, tried for her Crimes against Divinity and executed.
“Through your eyes, I can now look upon my own without shuddering. You made me a woman, you made me myself.”
– Metis's post coital speech to Jupalo, often parodied in subsequent years for being unbelievably sappy.
“What's that ugly bird in the background?”
“That is the counterpoise to the artist's use of green and movement in this lower section of the painting, to better emphasise the unity and contrast of composition…”
“No, I mean, who was she?”
“The Chimera Notis, according to the note. She did something, apparently. But most importantly, she has the right colour of hair…”
– Aquienos exchange students commenting on the venerable painting “Thae Hal exposes the mysteries of Chitha to the masses”, artist Anonymous (as in, the painting was signed “Anonymous”).
“If you can read this, you've got everything I can teach you.”
–Note from Metis to Gala, written in a combination of all 12 main languages, including 5 extra dialects, puns in 8 languages, play on words in 6, visual clues in 4, and that cunningly mixes the physical layout of the Sirusirean, Imanguni and Palmereans languages.
”…to this day, we do not know the name of the anonymous hero who infiltrated Metis' confidence and saved so much valuable information for the Teklo people…”
– Senator Fori-Lato Galt's “100 morally uplifting true mysteries to delight the minds of the youth” (total print run: 15 copies)
“Right,” said the professor as he dived underneath the twirling obsidian blade, “what we have here is a Palmerean trap-golem, using non-metallic triggers - quite cunning that, that's why your brother David didn't see it coming - and certain Kirsla influence in the general shape.” He decapitated the golem with a swipe of the massive sword-trowel he always carried with him. “I'd date it to 345, plus or minus 150 because of MF.”
Trembling, I put up a shy hand, then dived as I accidentally triggered a hidden trip-wire which sent burning blades scything the air around us. “Sorry,” I said, rolling to a stop, “but what does MF mean?”
“Metis Factor, my child, the Metis Factor.” The professor cracked his whip, entangling the mechanism and stopping the burning blades. “One of the greatest archaeologists, fount of wisdom and all that, but a royal pain the butt for chronology. She went around re-burying all the artefacts she had uncovered in new tombs dating to completely different times and species, and adding cryptic riddles. So any dates where she is involved are subject to great uncertainty. Oh, run.” Water began filling the cavern where they were, and one of the walls was beginning to lean down towards them, on the edge of crushing the pair. Still running, the professor continued: ”…and the quality of the traps in this tomb makes it one she would likely have used, or even designed. So a rather large Metis Factor in this instance… Oh dear, I seem to have inadvertently fallen into a bottomless pit…”
Bouncing off the walls as he fell to his death, his cries faded away with a last shout of: “Interesting murals down here! I'll try not to damage anything as I plummet…”
– The Kirla Bone-finder's oft repeated tale, informally titled: “Ancestors are more dangerous than beasts: my experience in the wonderfully deadly world of archaeology.” His work resulted in combat archaeology being officially added as a competitive event at the citadel games, with scores being awarded in centi-Metises for elegance of trap avoiding, gratuitous violence without damaging priceless artifacts, and badass poses.
“Is the rack really the best you can come up with? Try giving birth to a half-egg baby through half-insect genitals, and you'll know what real torture is.” Remarks attributed to the Chimera Metis, upon being threatened with torture during her trial.
– Scholar Chur-heal's “History of the Teklo-speaking people.”
“So now, my child, it is time to pass on the last message your mother confided in me.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Will you listen? She poured out her heart in this, you ungrateful oaf, putting all her love and meaning into it, hoping that as her light faded at least yours would burn bright forever.”
“Ok then, what she say?”
“Er… Well, she said 'Son, you are a freak, a unholy mix of races, rejected by most, an abomination against nature. So go out in the world and show nature who's boss.'.”
”…”
”…”
“Cool.”
– Unity Fra Metis: “My life among the the freaks and the fans”
“I still have tears in my eyes thinking about it. Weddings, funerals, duels, coming-of-age. That's all I'm good for, nowadays. The greatest tailor this world has ever seen, and most people come to me for drivel, look upon my wonderful creations, and then say “I was thinking of something simple and white…”. But that day that Metis came to me and said “I need a costume to surrender to the Teklo and maybe get executed in”, I knew my time had come, my Art was calling to me, Chaith had come down and given me my chance. I took the entire history of Metis's interactions with the Teklo in one piece of clothes; the colours, the embroidery, the flaring, the scents, let me start telling you all about that…”
– Memoires of The-Cut-That-Weaves, Sylphim tailor extraordinaire, in the chapter “My Happiest Challenge”.
“May all you Teklo burn in your own arrogance! Your divinity is shattered, smeared around spread out among all the other races, and your crumbling, sneering faces will soon be stuffed with the rot of your own inferiority! I am so much better than you worms! And I hate words too. Oh mummy, please don't kill me…”
– Last words of the Chimera Metis in the official record of the senate proceeding, 1st revised edition.
“I am happy.”
– Last words of the Chimera Metis in the official record of the senate proceeding, original edition.
“I foresee a time when Teklo society will have need for a great leader. My, my executioners, and the entire Teklo people are agreed on this, that that leader will probably have a great name, something like Fori-Lato Galt, to pick a powerful, sexy name completely at random.”
– Last words of the Chimera Metis in the official record of the senate proceeding, 2nd revised edition, during the time when Fori-Lato Galt was in charge of record-keeping. (Fori-Lato Galt was later executed as a rebel for the crime of altering official proceedings)