Ensign Jaran Jira - Can I just... slip past you?
Jira Jaran
((Shrine of the Blessed Exchequer, Shore of Kentar Sea, Ferenginar))
Jaran: It's your expedition, sir. Lead the way. All I did was hack through the underbrush.
Munro: Rather expertly as well :: nods towards the steps :: Let's see how you fare with those.
Jaran: I'd wager we're looking at, what, 1100 stairs? 1200?
Munro: Now this is what I call fun. What about you doc? I hope you can keep up?
Jaran: Hey, I stay in shape! What are you trying to say?
Commander Munro was laughing when Jira saw their face change to a momentary panic. Looks like she'd hit a rough spot as she began bounding up the stairs. At least she hadn't slipped and fallen, but it was close.
Munro: Watch your step :: take the next step upwards :: You ever been to one of the sites on Bajor? My last commission, the ship :: takes another step :: visited B’hala to help with some missing archaeologists. Just before I joined :: another step :: I missed out by days.
Jira had begun up the steps themselves, taking them slightly more carefully than Ava. Jira shuddered to think what it would cost to get medical assistance after a fall here. But there was no way Jira was going to let themself fall behind, so they took things probably less carefully than they should have in favour of speed.
Jaran: ::speaking while steadily moving upward:: You know, I never made it to B'hala, but I did get a chance to handle a fragment of the Tablet of Reckoning from there. Touching such powerful history like that...
Munro: Response
Jira paused to take a look at some of the carvings alongside the stairs. They were surprised to see how much they bore in common, stylistically, with other ancient carvings. As it turns out, there are really only so many ways to draw "local four-legged animal" or "tree" or "humanoid" when using crude tools on stone. They drew Ava's attention to one repeating motif, however.
Jaran: Commander, take a look at this. ::gestures at a squared off, obling symbol:: I've been noticing this symbol repeating, but I haven't been able to guess at it. It has a place of prominence, but usually something like the symbol of a deity or powerful figure would be there. For example, on Bajor, you would see the symbol for the Celestial Temple with this place of honour. Historically, that usually looked like a representation on the sun, and sun imagery is pretty common in a lot of proto-religions. But this doesn't look anything like a sun or anything I can recognise. Thoughts?
Jira was no archaeologist, but they'd studied a lot of religion during their prylar days. This was stumping them, though.
Munro: Response
Jaran: Interesting. I guess that could be the case. It would certainly be... unusual. Perhaps we'll find some more examples and see if we can fit together the pieces.
Before Ava could look away from the carvings, Jira had begun their ascent again.
oO Halfway up. Don't breathe too hard, Jira. You've got this. Oo
They picked up the pace a little to cover their exertion, but that proved to be an error. A stone slipped under their foot and they felt themselves going down.
oO Please not all the way to the bottom. Too embarrassing. Oo
Munro: Response
Tags/TBC