ꙮ A day of actual… rest, of some of you getting a chance to spend time getting to know each other, some gifts given, some… interesting events performed and observed, even. And then a night at the nicest inn at Kesset, with more of either some of the best food you can ever remember having, or food that tastes very very much like coming home. And then beds that are comfortable, and nice, and… somehow feel more like beds should feel than what the Architect gave you to work with back in the Sanctuary, you know? The Centrelight waxes in the morning, and you wake with it. 🙧
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- Aurelius
- The Awoken
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#full cast session
#izaak
#badri
#pal-king
#chapter 2: almachadta
is up early, surprising no-one–he’s already dressed and nursing a tisane of some kind, along with a plate filled with bread, what looks like some sort of stewed bean…thing…and cheese.
has been quiet in their room for a long time, not wishing to disturb the sleep of those who need more. When they hear the noises of morning routine, they attempt to join their comrades, as quietly as possible.
is also up early. She hasn’t bothered with the crown braids today, just a simple single one. She makes a beeline for Wolf and sits beside him. “How’s this morning’s breakfast?”
rises out of bed and heads towards the smell of food, chowing down happily.
ꙮ There’s traditions in Almachadta that run deep, where if someone shows up in town and they’re hungry, no matter what, you feed them, and beans are pretty much always available. So there’s a number of old, simple bean recipes slow-cooked over a hearth that feel like comfort after a journey to many an Almachadtan, many a yeresh.
lifts a piece of cheese in the way that some folks might lift a fine gem. “Look!” He grins a little. It’s soft-ish, crumbly, with little veins of green and blue–a little bitter, a little tangy. “So very real.”
isn’t up quite so early, but he shows no tiredness as he quickly descends the stairs and strolls over to the counter, asking for a large mug of coffee ‘with just a cut of cream’, and– are those eggs? Egg and cheese and a lil’ spicy sausage sounds amazing thank you. He joins the table with the coffee and food before long. Before he eats, he fiddles with a small bit of thread and something wooden in his hands, affixing it to a clasp in his mantle.
looks fairly refreshed as he arrives not too long after sun up, filling his plate and bowl both with A Bit Of Everything and no regards given to presentation of matching flavor profiles. As he sits down, he pulls a pamphlet out of somewhere and hands it over to Archie. It’s made of some of the most high quality paper you’ve ever laid eyes on with a bit of a glimmer to it - before even going into the golden embossing. “Mornin’. Got you a present.”
accepts the pamphlet. “For me? You shouldn’t have!” He inspects and reads the pamphlet.
glances at it curiously, between bites of bread and cheese. “That’s remarkably fine paper-work…”
admires the cheese, and goes and gets some for her own plate, as well as a hearty helping of beans and some spicy flakes to enhance the flavor of the beans, then returns to her seat beside Wolf. “Brace yourself,” she murmurs to him, eyes trained on Archie.
shoots a sharp glance at the Saint at that, brow furrowing.
: It seems to be titled “A Traveler’s Guide to Known Reality” on the front, and as you open it and explore the contents a bit… well. [It Basically Has All The Information Present On The Rumor Map, Presented As Is, Inside].*
looks over, and recognizes the fiend-craft, and immediately looks over at Aurelius
ꙮ The pamphlet’s title is “A Traveler’s Guide To Known Reality”. It contains the contents of the Rumor Map– ah, yes, Aurelius has me covered.
ꙮ That’s a thing that exists now, and you’re holding it in your hands.
‘s eyes widen as he scans the pages. “This is… wow. Where did it come from?”
: “This will sound a bit disingenuous, but the answer really is simply ‘magic’.”
looks over at Daina. “What did you all do?”
: “It’s somethin’, huh!” he remarks before taking a bite of breakfast.
shrugs elegantly, and gestures to Aurelius. “Ask him. Though he’ll probably just say ‘magic’ again.” She heaps more chili flakes into her beans, not quite able to meet Wolf’s eyes.
: “And on a similar tanget - this coin doesn’t look familiar to anyone, right?” He pulls one out of a pocket and holds it into the air while he starts eating.
: “We are lucky to have such a capable fiend-crafter. I have never seen a map…so complete before though. They’re often much smaller and localized.”
narrows his eyes–more at Daina than Aurelius–then lifts his eyebrows questioningly at Aurelius.
: “Magic explaining things isn’t an uncommon occurence, at least where I’m from. Though it’s curious to consider what type of magic could reveal these things.”
nods to CK between bites. “Oh, yeah the trick for that is using sulfur instead of using local dirt like they tell ya.”
: “It’s a fun read! It gets a little personal, sassy lil’ thing.”
ꙮ It feels to fingertip and gnosis-sense like a totally normal piece of paper with only the faintest hints of liminality lingering on the page. If you close it and open it up again and something on the Rumor Map is different, the text of the pamphlet will have changed. Quite odd.
: “Oh, also, Aurelius. You are quite wise. I had a bit of trouble explaining the humor behind ‘Endjinn’ yesterday. Perhaps while we travel?”
: “Sure.”
: “I have nothing on the coin, but you probably figured that already.” Sipping on coffee.
ꙮ None of you have seen the coin before. The face stamped into it looks oddly haunted by something.
: “The coin?” His eyebrows really MUST be reaching the limit of their ability to arch.
adds way too many chiliflakes to her beans, even for her spice tolerance, but she continues to eat her food, determinedly.
: “Came with the fiend and the pamphlet. Not really sure what its deal is. Guess we’ll all find out together.”
: “Reassuring.”
ꙮ Once breakfast’s been eaten and enjoyed, and you’ve had a chance to glance over the mysterious pamphlet to your satisfaction– well, Iosi said they should be done with the cloak and overcoat by the morning, and then there’s swifts to hire. Once breakfast’s done.
: “Don’t spend it all in one place! Or if you do, get something really good out of it.”
Even though they do not require it, Unua takes a small helping of breakfast. They do not know if it is the company or the world, but it is they best they have had.
: “Mm.”
: “Hmm… so, where are we headed again?”
: “We have a lot of irons in the fire but which one are we stoking first?”
: “The tailor, to pick up Unua’s coat and Archie’s cloak, and then to hire Swifts for travel to the Courtyard.”
disappears a few more bits of food when it looks like they’re getting ready to leave.
also carefully wraps up some of the bread and cheese.
takes a few more big sips of coffee after the last of his breakfast is done, tapping his hands on the table excitedly (and probably caffinatedly). “Excellent!”
likewise, a few slices of bread and some carefully-wrapped cheese disappear into a belt-pouch; then he stands and stretches a little, neck cracking. “Ahh, it’s been too long since I took the swiftfoot-road…”
fills a flask with a second helping of once-cut coffee into a potion bottle (NOT the one with the gnosis in it) before being ready as he stands.
is present at the marketplace, when you get there, although they don’t have -all- their stuff with them this morning. Seems like they wanted to make sure they were there bright and early so they could make sure that they got you the stuff they’d worked on, and see you off! They’re crocheting something, actually, as you approach.
: “Good morning, Iosi! Thank you for meeting us so early.”
brightens up even more once he realizes where the party is heading. “Iosi!” he calls out. “Mightily glad they had the providence to commission you for their garb!”
lets Daina take the lead to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention to himself, though he can’t help but poke his head out to try to sneak a peek at his new cloak.
quietly, to Archie. “I hope you don’t mind. I saw a lovely purple that matched your hair.”
stifles a high-pitched sound of surprised delight. “Mm. Dignified. What I meant to say is, I’m grateful to accept your gift and I appreciate the consideration!” He does an embarrassed half-bow as he says it, clearly unsure how to be polite in Daina’s culture.
grins big and waves to the Awoken first, and to the others once they see them: “Hullo! Light greet you! I swear things get started earlier here than at the Courtyard. That can’t actually be the case, we all wake up when the Centrelight does, I know it, but…” A biiiiig yawn, and a head-shake that sends their ears flapping a lil’ bit, and they glance over at Archie, and grin. “Oh, it -does-. That’s just perfect.” They reach over, pick up and shake out the cloak - it’s absolutely -lovely-, simple but well made, and with SO MANY POCKETS FOR THINGS - and hand it over to him.
reaches over to accept the gift, appreciating the softness and durability of the fabric before donning it and turning to the others with a twirling flourish. “So? How do I look?”
: “Already, the universe weaves its thread of fate around you and us. And sooner than ever, to the Courtyard! We’ll make a grand statement for sure.” He clasps his hand over where his human heart should be.
smiles brightly, pleased that Archie likes the material and awed by Iosi’s fine handiwork. “You look dashing.”
leans back a bit, appraising Archie up and down (and he has to look a lil’ up to do so). “Magnificent!”
smiles, gives a little two-finger salute to Archie. “It suits you.”
then reaches over for the longcoat, and shakes IT out too - it’s done in a Courtyard style, you’ve seen people wearing things quite like it around already, maybe even Iosi’s work. It’s lovely, and functional, and there are no ruffles, as requested, and they hand it over to Unua with a pleased look.
bows in thanks, and slightly awkwardly, dons their new coat, shrugging their shoulders to even out where it falls. “Your work is masterful. Again, my thanks. I will wear it for as long as I travel.”
turns to admire Unua, and has to take a step or two back to properly do so. “As such you shimmer, so does the coat color your shine!”
inclines her head to look, but also a bit proudly. “I was right about the color.”
gives a little bit of a glance at Unua at that comment–that might be a longer time than most would think–but again, the smile and a nod. “Excellent.”
: “Indeed. My thanks to you too, friend.”
tries to help Unua with the coat and they’re tall but they’re not Clockwork Knight tall so mostly it just boils down to gentle encouragement and then heartfelt admiration when they get it on. “Oh, -good-. I wasn’t worried but I was -hopeful- it’d look terrific on you, and it does.” They step back, and beam. “Travel safe, all of you. And know that no matter what, Irric’s Rest always has peace for you, if you should need it.”
: “Thank you, Iosi.”
nods in gratitude, exaggerating the gesture slightly to make sure it could be seen from beneath the cloak.
bows to Iosi, palm over fist and both over his heart. “Thank you. We shall all surely take heart from your work, on the long road.”
: “Rite-challengers will fear the shimmer, and the innocent will laud our approach from afar!” He pumps a fist.
giggles delightedly. “Remember your promise!” It’s playful, more than serious, but also a little tiny bit serious.
turns his head to the Awoken questioningly.
: “I would never forget. Not this.” It’s serious, more than playful, but also a little tiny bit playful.
ꙮ On the way out, they point you in the direction of where they suppose the swifts ought to be - by the city gate that’s in the direction of the Courtyard, since that’s usually where swifts are coming from or going to.
looks positively…jaunty…as he leads the way to the swifts, whistling something light and airy.
says his goodbye with a flourish and wave, and walks with confidence towards the swiftmasters.
ꙮ Generally speaking, if you want to get somewhere in Almachadta, you use a wagon - you’ve got goods to trade, you’re not in any sort of a hurry, people tend not to be in a hurry here, it’s that sort of life. They tend to be pulled by the enormous, patient, befanged wolfdeer you’ve seen very delicately pacing about, or maybe lugging wagons to and fro. ⁂
ꙮ But if you want to get somewhere fast, you hire a swift. ⁂
ꙮ It’s right there in the name! They tend to pick a place to hang out when they’re in town. They have a positively uncanny tendency to know when they’ll be needed. And there’s six of them here by the gate, and when you’re approaching they’re all in a big cuddlepile but they disentangle themselves as you approach, perking up with their front two feet in the air, snuffling at the air, noses twitching - ⁂
ꙮ Imagine if you will a weasel, if the biggest of them were big enough to comfortably carry the Clockwork Knight on its back, if weasels were sinuous like snakes, if weasels had luxurious antlers which became flowering, leafed branches. They trill at you with boundless curiosity - one of them immediately takes off and does a circuit around all six of you, fast as levin. Chrr! Chrr! 🙧
: “Aurelius, have you ever seen anything this big, this peaceful? And not trying to eat you?”
laughs in delight, stepping forward fearlessly, hands out for curious noses to sniff.
: “Hmm, I’ve seen a handful of courel that get a little bigger, but jury’s out on how peaceful a battle mount is at heart.”
laughs delightedly, racing on the inside as the one circles the group- he clearly can’t keep up though, and slows after seven steps, turning about to catch a petting on the next lap.
ꙮ Three of the swifts IMMEDIATELY go in for the nuzzle and almost bonk into each other but weave out of their own ways like adorable, overenthusiastic water, and one of them nuzzlesnuffles Wolf’s hand with unabashed delight.
also laughs brightly and comes up beside Aurelius. “Want to come meet one?”
follows Wolf’s lead, beaming.
: “I don’t think I’m going to have much of a choice in the matter,” He doesn’t really look bothered while observing the overly excitable creatures, though.
gives the appropriate amount of time for it to accustom to his scent, then scruffles and pets all over it, rumbling something deep and song-like, usually-stern face awash in joy.
rolls her eyes and, unselfconsciously, loops her arm through his and tugs him towards the less excitable swifts, offering out her hand.
ꙮ One of the swifts peers down at Archie and then hunkers down a little bit to very curiously snuffle at him. He gets a lick and a confused ‘chrrrr???’ and then another of the swifts comes over and starts churring and squeaking at him and looks confused by the fact that Archie is not churring and squeaking right back.
holds out his other hand.
ꙮ The third swift that tried to nuzzle Wolf has Recognized an Opportunity and has darted over to nuzzle into Aurelius’ hand and fully do the cat press-against-hand thing to get him to scritch at the base of its antler if it can. Another swift is alternating between trying to race the Awoken, immediately winning, and going back to sniffing very curiously at the Clockwork Knight.
scratch scratch scratch.
ꙮ Chrrrrr! DELIGHTED chrrrr.
reaches into a pouch for some berries, and holds them out in a hand, before attempting to pet the swift
ꙮ The swift does basically a full-body joyous wiggle and nibbles with surprising daintiness upon the berries and then starts licking Unua’s hand amiably once it’s done.
chinscratches for new friend!
rumbles from across the way: “Ahh, good, ye found the swifts. Four of ‘em showed up overdim without any warnin’, figured they knew as they’d be needed.”
: “That sounds convenient.”
: “They can sense adventure, huh?”
is still petting–really, full-body rubs–over the swift that seems, somehow, to be “his”. At one point he takes the opportunity to simply bury his face in its fur and hug it, and–if you look VERY closely–comes away with wet eyes, quickly dried on a sleeve. “They know when they are needed. Some say they hear it in the Song.”
mimics their churring, hugging and nuzzling them. “They certainly seem dependable!”
: “Oh, they are.” He smiles openly at his swift as he says it. “Around the world and back again, betimes.”
: “They can’t speak what we speak, but they can understand anyways, and they’re just… always where they need to be, yeah.” He hefts a shockingly -light-, big canvas bag of something to - the Clockwork Knight, probably? “They love this stuff, so I always try to keep some of it on hand just in case someone’s passin’ through.”
happily adds the bag to his camp-pack and nods solemnly, “I will make sure they are well fed.”
ꙮ The swifts accept that the purple-cloaked very small swift is not actually, in fact, a very small swift that grew up somewhere far away from the Centrelight at all, and that they love him anyways. Chrr chrr.
ꙮ Wolf’s swift gives him a curious look, head canted to one side. Most of you have probably never seen a swift raising an eyebrow curiously before. Now you have.
briefly breaks contact with his swift to go over to Izaak–probably entirely unperturbed if the swift follows at his heels the whole way–and holds out a hand to Izaak. “My dear friend. Thank you, truly, for all that you have done for us.”
clasps Wolf’s hand in both of his own and looks like he’s swiftly-fraying willpower away from another bearhug. “Ach, thank… thank -you- for comin’ back safe and sound, yeresh.”
smiles, and gives the hug of his own volition–though from the slight hesitation, you might guess this is perhaps less than normal. “I wanted nothing more, Izaak. Nothing more in the world. Be safe, do you hear me?” He steps back, collects himself–eyes perhaps too bright–and gives that fist-in-palm bow, very deeply. “May the Song guide you, my friend. Be well.”
leans in to the swift that has chosen Aurelius and whispers, “please take good care of Aurelius Fiend-Maker” before giving his arm a final squeeze and going to the last, smallest Swift and petting in both both arms, murmuring something unintelligible to it.
hugs back, with characteristic care, but no less joy. “And you be safe as well, my friend. You and all of yours.” He bows back in his own way. “Come back and tell us all the stories of what all you see! We’ll be lookin’ forward to it!” And then he’ll step back to get out of the way and to avoid, himself, distracting the swifts, or giving Wolf more hugs, or anything of the sort.
: “New friend Izaak. Thank you for all of your help on our journey. Would you like a hug from someone you do not need to worry about crushing?”
I hope
ꙮ The Saint’s swift churrs with remarkable playful vigor and does a full-body wiggle.
shakes his head with a small laugh as Daina moves away, “I am getting the impression you think I’ve never ridden a traveling mount before, and you could not be more wrong.” The scratches turn into a few gentle pats, before he then slide on top of the Swift.
laughs, and gives the Clockwork Knight an absolutely relentless hug before they depart!
HUG
laughs into a hand at Unua’s offer, and goodnaturedly staggers back at the STRENGTH and FORTITUDE of their powerful hug.
ꙮ POWER HUG
ꙮ One of the swifts is very suddenly propping the Awoken up when he staggers and then seems to realise that he was doing a bit and scuffles one of its feet.
: “Oh, no, I know you’ll be fine in that regard. I don’t doubt your competency.” She mounts her own swift with fluid grace and guides it in rapid circles around while everyone says their goodbyes.
: “D’aww, thank you though,” he says, comforting the swift with antler-base scritches.
turns and doesn’t so much swing onto his swift’s back as…seem to kind of flow up onto it, the kind of movement you only get from long practice and habit. He doesn’t seem to even really be guiding the swift–he just turns, and the swift turns with him. “Mount up, my friends!” He’s grinning, bright and edged and more wild than you’ve ever seen him. “We run the swift-foot road today!”
mounts the Swift, though it’s more akin to a hug, lying parallel with its body and holding on in a tight embrace.
: “(…That said the lack of reigns is slightly concerning, but I guess they know where we’re going better than I do anyway.)”
ꙮ The Saint’s swift tilts its head back briefly, sniffs the air and then it TAKES OFF. The circles are RAPID, and it’s squeaking in unadulterated joy. They are -remarkably- responsive to even subtle movements, they somehow -keep- you level and stable by subtle wiggles, even if you’ve never ridden before.
ꙮ Let them know where you’re headed, and you’ll be off!
carefully mounts their swift and steadies themself
swoops up onto the comforted swift, seated forward, holding on with one hand, and feeling the air pass through with the other!
: “Take us to the Courtyard, please. I’ll give you extra treats if we beat out yeresh Wolf.”
laughs brightly at that. “Oh, is that so? Come, Starseeker! Show the good Saint the meaning of haste! To the Courtyard!”
ꙮ A pair of the most gallivanting squeaks in the known Worlds, responded to in turn by the other four. Somehow it’s clear that they are the kind of squeaks that signal ‘ah today is going to be FUN’.
ꙮ To ride a swift is to flow through the forest.
ꙮ Does the swift’s paw just know where every root is before it gets there, or does the forest itself move out of the way? The forest and the swift are in conversation, and the conversation sounds like running.
reaches behind his head and offers a little fiend that’s been floating behind him this entire time a fresh container of Ink as the Swifts get moving.
ꙮ The undergrowth parts. The swift weaves between and around the trees, bending around trunks and keeping on going. It’s like riding a river. Within -moments-, it feels like, you’re off the road, because the road is not actually the shortest path between Kesset and the Courtyard. The roads are for wagon-wheels and wolfdeer that have to care about things like ‘hills’ and ‘tree trunks’ and, frankly, the abstract concept of terrain other than mountainous ridges, and there just aren’t any of those that count, between here and there. ⁂
ꙮ Some of you have gone fast, at some point in your life, but even the Beast’s locomotives… you’re so close to the ground, you feel the Swift under your own body, bounding and graceful and playful and trees BLUR in your vision. Particularly the Saint’s and the Wolf’s visions, although the other four are, in fact, keeping up. Every so often there’s a chorus of loud chirps and chirrs that almost sound like a joke told whilst traveling and a response thereto. 🙧
is not in control and does not need to be. As the swift adjusts its gait and balance to accompany Awoken, he relaxes his arms, folding them in front of himself, making microadjustments with his legs, staying in tune with the rhythm of the swift’s flow state.
ꙮ Saint, Wolf, please give me Flourishing or Burning gnosis as the spirit moves you?
- The Wolf-Priest invoked their 🔴burning gnosis [d4] -> 2.
- Daina, The Sword-Saint invoked their 🔴burning gnosis [d4] -> 3.
: “…This feels more like riding in a boat than it does riding a courel. … If a boat could move ten, twenty times faster.”
- The Wolf-Priest spent 2 Arete and now has 2 remaining.
- The Wolf-Priest invoked their 🔴burning gnosis [d4] -> 4! It ✨explodes!
ꙮ Ascension!
- The Wolf-Priest‘s 🔴burning gnosis has ascended unto the 6ᵗʰ rank.
- Daina, The Sword-Saint spent 1 Arete and now has 5 remaining.
- The Wolf-Priest invoked their 🔴burning gnosis [d6] -> 3.
- Daina, The Sword-Saint invoked their 🔴burning gnosis [d4] -> 3.
ꙮ Gonna spend an Arete to ascend that die, or does Wolf win this race?
- Daina, The Sword-Saint spent 1 Arete and now has 4 remaining.
ꙮ Hell yeah.
ꙮ Ascension!
- Daina, The Sword-Saint‘s 🔴burning gnosis has ascended unto the 6ᵗʰ rank.
- Daina, The Sword-Saint invoked their 🔴burning gnosis [d6] -> 3.
ꙮ PERFECT. MAGNIFICENT.
ꙮ The foremost swifts are neck-and-neck, chitter-laughing with joy!
- Daina, The Sword-Saint has gained 1 Arete, and now has 5.
- The Wolf-Priest has gained 1 Arete, and now has 3.
ꙮ In the strictest possible sense, a tie has no winner, and so I award you both Arete, but I think we all won, here - playful ripples of burning gnosis spread out from behind both of them, bright and shimmering!
in the wake of the burning gnosis, Unua feels ever so slightly more at ease.
laughs, and laughs, and laughs–at some point, his hair has come free from its braid and streams out behind him, as his coat streams out behind him, a rippling crimson flame bolting through the wood, a bright star flashing through the green.
shouts from much further back, “Show off!”
laugh is wild-edged and bright, brighter than the Centrelight. Her braid did not survive the race, and her long dark hair is a messy tangle around her, twined with leaves and branches. She looks at Wolf and she smiles at him feeling like she’s glowing.
: “But what a show!”
beams at Daina as they slow to catch their breaths–his eyes are fire-bright, spark-golden in the light filtering through the canopy of leaves. “Hail, Saint, swift and sure! Never have I had such a run!”
: “And hail the Wolf, like flame through the woods, swift also and fearless.”
as she catches her breath, as the others catch up, she squares her shoulders and decides–something. “My name is Salme,” she tells Wolf, and then louder, to the others. “My name is Salme, and I have been the Sword-Saint for these past seven years.”
blinks at her–then beams, a bright-heart smile. “Hail, friend, hail Salme. You honor us with your truth!”
: “Salme, then.” There’s a pause as he turns that over in his head for a minute, follow by a quite laugh. “Yes, that fits.”
nods, seemingly accustomed to people with a collection of various names.
laughs heartily, head back in the wind, and then leans forward with a wild smile. “Delighted to meet you again, Salme! Blessed are we, to know and journey together!”
: “Your name returns! May many memories follow.”
starts to sidle his swift closer to Salme, to clap her on the shoulder–and then his head jerks around, ear-tips almost flickering. He lifts a hand, eyes scanning the forest intently. “Hsst! I hear…”
nods, then a small frown appears between her brows. “Hold a moment.”
glances down, then lifts up his welding glasses as he peers around their immediately area.
speaks to their Swift “Something wrong, new-friend? Do you need food?”
ꙮ Wolf’s swift chitters, and they all start chittering, and they slow down- and swerve, not dramatically, but a swerve.
glances left, glances right, leaning with the swerve. “An odd interlude…”
: “The notes–wrong?” He presses a palm to his forehead, leaning over his swift. “Saint…?”
is scanning the foliage, the ground, the back of her swift’s neck, cutting her eyes to Wolf and then back to her swift. “Nothing that I can tell or hear.”
ꙮ The forest is dense and thick, here - the swifts still living up to their name, darting carefully through trees.
grits his teeth and listens, eyes squeezed shut.
Rolling flourishing gnosis to attempt to locate the source.
- The Wolf-Priest invoked their 🟢flourishing gnosis [d4] -> 2.
reaches out, remembering what she did the other day, how she reached and–touched.
also rolling
- Salme, The Sword-Saint invoked their 🟢flourishing gnosis [d6] -> 2.
: “Can you try guiding them back the way we were going, see if they resist?”
- Salme, The Sword-Saint has gained 1 Arete, and now has 6.
tunes into his surroundings with greater intention.
I'd also like to try this one!
- The Archivist/Archie invoked their 🟢flourishing gnosis [d4] -> 2.
- The Archivist/Archie spent 2 Arete and now has 2 remaining.
sees their comrades scanning the area. They attempt to look in a different direction. Also upward, through the trees.
- Unua? The Clockwork Knight invoked their 🟢flourishing gnosis [d4] -> 2.
- The Archivist/Archie invoked their 🟢flourishing gnosis [d4] -> 2.
ꙮ Bide a moment.
: “Where? Why?” Wolf nearly pulls his swift up short–he seems to be talking to something only he can hear, his lips pulled back off fangs.
ꙮ The DC for this check for anyone other than the Wolf is 10. Archivist, you’re spending 2 more arete to Ascend that?
- Unua? The Clockwork Knight has gained 1 Arete, and now has 6.
- The Archivist/Archie spent 2 Arete and now has 0 remaining.
ꙮ Ascension, then!
- The Archivist/Archie‘s 🟢flourishing gnosis has ascended unto the 6ᵗʰ rank.
- The Archivist/Archie invoked their 🟢flourishing gnosis [d6] -> 6! It ✨explodes!
- The Archivist/Archie invoked their 🟢flourishing gnosis [d6] -> 6! It ✨explodes!
- The Archivist/Archie invoked their 🟢flourishing gnosis [d6] -> 2.
ꙮ That is another ascension, and a success. One moment.
ꙮ Yes, that’s an ascension.
- The Archivist/Archie‘s 🟢flourishing gnosis has ascended unto the 8ᵗʰ rank.
ꙮ Okay. NOW give me a moment. Good heavens.
glances over at wolf curiously.
drops back so Wolf can take the lead.
ꙮ The swifts come upon a clearing.
ꙮ It is not a natural clearing.
ꙮ Trees have been shattered to pieces. There is… a quite astonishing amount of blood, with little trace of where or what it came from.
ꙮ The swifts rear back, chirring in distress. Trying to shield you from the sight, maybe.
ꙮ There are bite marks, in the tree stumps, in the -ground-, in… pieces of -meat-, flung everywhere but not eaten. There are no birds chirping. The Centrelight is not flickering through the trees.
ꙮ Whatever in the world did this, it isn’t here any more. 🙧
: “This…does not bode well. Meat bitten but not eaten? Something wreaks havoc for havoc’s sake. We should not stay long.”
zones out for a moment but snaps his focus back in at the distress of his Swift, churring to it and petting it reassuringly. “Guys? I just had… an interesting insight. I’m not even sure what to call it.”
: “…Hmm… It doesn’t seem like it’s still here? Which is probably worse, really.” He instructs his cartogrix to make a note of this particular spot while scanning the area.
slips from his swift and stumbles to the ground–his grace gone, just…almost staggering to the edge of the clearing. He drops to his knees by the stump of a shattered tree, presses his hand to it, digs in the nails…stares in wide-eyed horror at the scene. “Why? Why, why why…” He curls in on himself, the other hand pressing hard to his forehead…and then he throws back his head and HOWLS, a ragged keening noise that is worse than any cry could be.
dismounts. She is not ungraceful, but her movements are economic, brisk. She looks at the scene, and while her gaze isn’t exactly cool, it’s dispassionate. She presses her lips together and Wolf’s howl, but her pace doesn’t falter. She kneels down next to him, hand outstretched, and asks, “yeresh, what do you hear? What do you see?”
starts to say something, but packs it away at Wolf’s wailing howl. With a stony-set face, he reaches down to comfort his swift with neck petting, he utters. “(Damned if we’ll be caught flat-footed by whatever lurks about. Steel yourself, friend. We ride together.)”
ꙮ Some of the swifts make tiny little keening noises along with Wolf. Starseeker gently nuzzles his shoulder.
moves closer to Archie, motioning for him to continue after he sees Salme move to check on Wolf.
almost…rocks, back and forth, staring at the horror-scene, tears running down his cheeks, struggling for control. “She keens, she keens she is rent, she is torn, it broke the cycle, it broke the cycle, oh Goddess, the Song…” His breathing is coming in shuddery little gasps, but steadies a bit at the touch of Starseeker’s nose, and he reaches blindly back to tangle his fingers in the swift’s fur. “A wound,” he says, his voice as bleak as ash. “A wound in the world.”
gives his swift a big hug before gently dismounting from it and examining the wreckage. He approaches Wolf. “I had… a vision? Something revealed itself to me. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. It was like I was a part of the forest here, if only for a moment. Is that what it’s like for you?” He seems curious, but quickly diverts himself back to the information he wishes to share. “There’s a disease here, yes? A cancer, of sorts. It seems to have infected the very planet itself.”
turns his head back towards Archie, though he cannot seem to tear his eyes from the ruin in front of him. “Yes. The Song. The Song of all things. Something is tearing at it. Overgrowing it. Like a vine chokes a…a tree…”
ꙮ The swift nuzzles in for dear life.
then starts looking for tracks. Anything that causes this much damage in this wide of an area surely must’ve left some clues as to the direction it left in.
: “A kernel of truth from our previous captor. He was bereft of hope and abandoned his creation. Let us bring this knowledge to your King. May we be blessed to fix what he did not see fit to.”
ꙮ There is a tiny green shoot growing out of the blood and the rent earth. A green fuse springing up, visibly, in the clearing.
stands and backs away. Archie will do more here than she probably could–Starseeker certainly can. She also starts walking the perimeter of the clearing, though she’s not particularly looking for anything.
shakes his head, gently. “Not -something-. It’s the disease. Quite literally, I think. I had a vision of… a part of the body getting selfish, hoarding resources for itself at the expense of all else. The question is, what part of this world is at the heart of it? Where does the tumor need to be excised from? I think if we can figure that out, we may have a chance.”
ꙮ Aurelius - there’s some damage to tree branches that looks like whatever it is -hauled ass- in, roughly, the direction of. Well, the Tangle, if you had to guess, or anything in that direction.
tilts his head, curious. “Do you grow of the rent stump… or are you interloper?” He stares at the tiny green shoot.
: “…You’re probably not going to like where it went.”
nods, sharply. He finally manages to tear his eyes away from the wreckage, still struggling to breathe evenly, but he’s at least not hyperventilating anymore. “Tell me.”
: “From how it’s been described, I’m pretty sure it’s moving into the Tangle.” He points at the trail.
is unsurprised when she looks in the direction Aurelius is pointing. “That makes sense.”
ꙮ It seems completely and utterly like it’s growing out of muck and blood. No tree stump. There must have been a seed, or something. It’s pulling in flourishing gnosis - the clearing’s -thick- with it. There’s another little sprout, and another, green against the red.
: “Do the sprouts that yet flourish be familiar to you Wolf, Salme?”
: “Their nature might yet provide clues, or hope.”
: “I feel no lasting change in the ambience here. The world appears to be ripe to heal itself with flourishing gnosis.”
ꙮ Hard to tell what they’re sprouts of; they’re fairly small and incredibly generic-looking in the way that just-sprouting plants are.
just turns and stares in the direction that Aurelius pointed–he makes something that sounds like the start of a hysterical laugh, then chokes it down. He breathes deeply, then looks over at where the Awoken is pointing. “She…heals. Or tries to. But…should not have had to.” He shakes his head, hard. “Death is not uncommon, in the wilds. But this? To tear and rend, but not…eat? It bleeds the land. It warps the Song.”
: “And if whatever…thing…caused this is retreating towards the Tangle…” He scrubs a hand across his face. “Then it lives in the heart of our world.”
ꙮ A couple of the swifts chirr very curiously at the Clockwork Knight.
: “Then I should tell you that if my assumptions are correct, you have two among you well versed in ousting unwanted fiends from their lairs.” Unua turns to look at Aurelius “You, surely, have missed The Hunt?”
gives the swifts some snacks.
ꙮ One of them headbutts him and then pointedly looks -down-.
: “Aye, I was just about to ask if our immediate destination has changed or not.”
investigates the earth, brushing away any debris.
mews pathetically and headbutts Unua’s foot.
ꙮ It… must have escaped the wrath of… whatever did all of this.
: “We should likely continue on our original course.” they say, mid-examination. “Informing those who sent you would surely…hello? Who are you?” CK holds out their hand towards the coeurl.
immediately jumps into the Clockwork Knight’s hand.
: “Well, I suppose you can come with us, if you’d like.”
started walking towards the Awoken to examine the sprouts, then to the break in the branches Aurelius pointed out, then back to the sprouts, the break, pacing quickly, irritable. “If we were being sent in to the Tangle already then we may have already known all of this. The Courtyard still makes the most sense.”
: “We could follow it on the swifts, but that would…risk the swifts, and I am loathe to–” he blinks at the kitten, then the knight, and then the kitten again. “Well.”
blinks back at Wolf, tiny little coeurl-tendrils wiggling forlornly. “Mew.”
: “Right, that still makes sense. Best to make sure.”
: “As then, so now- we shall follow your instinct.”
takes out a tiny bite of food for the coeurl and is having it chase a small twig.
ꙮ The Tangle and the Courtyard are, from where you’re standing, in similar enough a direction that, even -were- you following, it wouldn’t be hard to make the Courtyard your first destination.
gives the faintest of smiles and reaches out to brush the kitten’s head with a fingertip. “Well.” He takes a breath, exhales. “Hrrr. Goddess. I would hunt that thing, I would end it–” His voice slips into a deep, brutal growl, and then he carefully retrieves it. “But we know so little. Less than we should. The Courtyard. Yes.” He looks over at the Knight. “If you wish it to live, you must care for it. It will be prey, should we leave it here.”
seems consoled by this, but mostly wants to coeurl up in the Clockwork Knight’s hand and also get the blue hell out of the environs. It does a tiny little warbling purr at Wolf, though.
: “It seems content to stay with me. I am content to protect it.”
ꙮ The swifts seem ready to leave, too.
: “If we are decided then shall we resume?” she goes over and mounts her swift, face blank.
places his newest friend in a pocket of his new coat. “If I had known, I would have gotten a statue of you too, little one,” and mounts their swift, more easily than last time.
: “Yes.” He mounts as well, pressing his forehead briefly to the back of Starseeker’s neck, then straightens, some of his usual poise regained. But his face is hard, and his eyes–his eyes keep lingering on the mangled grove.
circles back to the group once Wolf’s ready to get going again.
comforts his mount once more with scalp pets befor calling out, “We ride as seven!”
ꙮ Somehow, the flourishing gnosis is even thicker than before. There’s more shoots, poking up out of the scar in the world. The swifts alight once everyone’s gathered. running hard and fast away from this place. ⁂
ꙮ At the first break in the trees from that point, with the swifts running at full tilt - no less vigor, but -somewhat murderous intent- rather than joy in their step - you can see the Courtyard in the distance - a forest in its own right that is also a city, old-growth wood growing in and around stonework. It won’t take too long for the swifts to get you there. ⁂
There’s birds chirping, again, and Centrelight through the trees, and all of you at this point but especially Wolf can feel the forest’s song reasserting itself as you escape the sundered grove. ⁂
ꙮ The swifts finally slow down, near a gate in the rough mossy stone walls of the Courtyard - the settlement itself overspills the walls by far, people make way for swifts on a mission and their riders. 🙧
cranes his head back, taking in all that in the Courtyard from the outside and comparing what’s similar and what’s different to Kesset in his head. “What did you call these creatures again, Swifts? They’re definitely true to their name, didn’t think we’d get here in under a day.”
dismounts even before her swift has fully stopped. She barely murmurs a “thank you” before she is walking forward, almost running, to the gate.
ꙮ It’s much bigger than Kesset, and everything looks centuries old, although some of the houses on the edges that you passed through seem new-built. The swifts nuzzle you all gently, comfortingly, and watch. There’s someone at the gate who says, “Hail, Saint, and companions,” and seems to have some sense of the energy, here. “How can I help?”
: “Where’s Badri?”
dismounts from their swift, and makes sure that they are all well fed and well petted before continuing on with their companions.
peers about from the back of his swift, and when he sees the quick dismount, he goes “Hup-!” and swings off to the side, hopping a few times to keep up with the swift’s gait. He gives it a quick kiss on the muzzle. “Stay safe! Your keen instinct served us well, thank you.”
is slower to dismount, and lingers with his fingers in the swift’s fur, and his forehead against its neck. Finally, he takes a long breath, lifts his head, rubs the swift across the nose. “Be safe, heart-friend,” he whispers. “Run fast.” And then he turns and walks to join the Saint, shifting his new pack to a more comfortable position on his back as he walks.
ꙮ The guard frowns slightly. “With the King, I think. Who left instructions to send you to him if you were to turn up, but it feels like you were headed that way anyways, Saint.”
surrenders himself for a moment to the cuddle pile of swifts until he makes a playful noise of faux indignation and manages to extricate himself from the warm, comforting tangle to rejoin the others.
: “Yes. I was. Are they in their usual place?” Her voice is steady, but clipped, and her back is straight and her arms are crossed, almost defensively.
hands an apple to the Swift he was riding after it comes to a stop and he hops off.
ꙮ The guard nods as sharply. “I’ll send a Papyrus to Badri’s just in case he’s not at Court.”
: “We will be bringing four guests from far away,” Wolf adds. His voice hasn’t quite yet recovered from the howl, and it rasps in odd places.
waves to the guard as Wolf speaks.
: “Thank you,” she manages, and then she is walking, not looking to see if her companions follow. She knows this path intimately–even if she can’t quite remember knowing it. She is only looking ahead, even though she knows there are plenty of wonders in the courtyard. She has bitten her lower lip raw, and continues to gnaw at is as she walks.
ꙮ Court being ‘the usual place’, the heart of the Courtyard, overlooking the settlement and with a clear view of the Tangle itself over at the far end of a valley through which two of the rivers run- the closest thing to a proper mountain Almachadta has, rising up, narrowing, becoming the Centrelight’s root, absolutely covered in trees and mist. It’s hard to be in the Courtyard without feeling its presence; it’s the closest settlement to the Tangle itself except for a few small outlying towns.
ꙮ You pass by Spoken Wood, monsters, eventually a -gallery- of Lightdrinkers - enormous crystalline beings, rooted to the ground, shimmering with an interplay of auroral light - buildings with centuries of moss and vine overgrowing them - everyone clears out of your way when they see the Saint and her companions looking like they’re on a mission.
keeps close on Salme’s heels, his crimson coat curling and flicking around his legs to billow out behind him as he keeps a fast pace. He does, at least, think to try and make a somewhat-welcoming beckon to the other four as they move closer in to Court.
ꙮ The Court itself: an amphitheatre half-carved into a hill, rows of stone benches surrounding a central meeting-ground. In that meeting-ground is an absolutely enormous Spoken Wood, his branches draped over and over with paper charms. He is a bristlecone pine, and he looks up - stands, stretching, either seated in, or grown into, an arboreal throne in the meeting-place, it’s hard to tell.
needs no signal but appreciates it all the same, speeding up to match pace. Despite the tone, he’s struck with intense curiosity once they start seeing the Lightdrinkers, staaaaaaaaring and doing a spin about as they whoosh past them in the party’s geas’d stride.
nods and follows behind the two. He’d probably normally have a few questions, but seems to be keeping them to himself for now, while half keeping an eye on the Awoken.
: “(Hey, so, before we get too far.)” he whispers to Wolf, but really anyone in the party can hear it.
is following, pausing every now and again, followed by a quick stride or two to catch up. They are looking around at the Courtyard and considering their newest friend’s name.
: “Yes?” One ear flickers back towards the Awoken, but his eyes stay ahead.
- You hear — and your Star hears — a song, echoing from the stillness: To Be Aware of Deep Time
: “(Not like I didn’t notice that both of you clammed up in front of Izaak when I started asking questions. At this point, what does that serve?)”
tilts his head upwards. “…Jazz?”
looks to the Saint - sees the way she’s walking, extends a branch in immediate, concerned welcome. When he talks, his voice is like wind through leaves. “Saint.”
: “Izaak, I didn’t want to disturb.” He glances over at the Awoken with something that could be a grimace or a grim smile, take your pick. “With the King? Feel free to be less restrained.”
: “Tell me what happened.”
: “I don’t remember,” almost snapping it out.
nods once, but doesn’t interrupt the Palimpset-King’s request, or Salme’s incoming response.
: “I don’t remember,” almost snapping it out.
takes up a position on Salme’s left–close enough to be a supportive presence, not so close as to crowd. He stands with his booted feet planted shoulder width apart, hands clasping his forearms behind his back. He watches the King quite nakedly.
: “I didn’t even know you had sent us into the Tangle until we arrived back here. We were taken. We were elsewhere. And we come back and the world is–”
she cannot breathe and then she realizes she’s hyperventilating, trying to breathe so fast that the air doesn’t make it into her lungs. She shoves the side of her hand into her mouth, biting down hard, hard as she can, until she tastes blood. This is–she wants–
places a hand on Salme’s shoulder from behind.
reaches out and gently–very gently, rests his hand on Salme’s shoulder. “Salme.”
blinks, slowly. Spoken Wood communicate through gnosis - shaping the air with it, forming the words. It is rare to ever hear one silent. He looks from Wolf to the Saint, and gnosis rustles to speak- and then goes silent once more, and then he looks -past- the group and-
: “Hey,” he says, gently.
ꙮ -you hear someone shout “Salme!” and you hear footsteps running, a man at full tilt in a very richly-embroidered vest, with silver hair in tight curls and a salt-and-pepper beard, who looks like under most circumstances he has a very easy smile and very much enjoys his life but right now he’s running as fast as he can towards the Sword-Saint.
squeezes once, then steps back and makes room for the newcomer and not crowd around her.
does NOT wait for Wolf and Aurelius to clear out, this will be a group hug if it damn well has to be. “Salme, oh Light-”
spins, nearly draws blades on the man, recognizes just barely early enough that it would be a bad idea to do so, and steps back–but stays in Salme’s reach.
is outright crying at this point, quietly but unmistakably. She started crying at the first touch, but she turns when she hears her name and she almost jumps into the newcomer’s arms. “Badri,” and then, “Dad”
-
hugs her tight and presses her face into his shoulder and if the mask digs in to his flesh, that’s a weight he’s familiar with. “I’m here, Salme, I’m here, I’ve got you-” -his tail curled around one of her legs protectively, and he breathes deep, and you know he’s counting time with the breaths, because he’s who taught you how to do that when you needed to.
Rather
quietly turns away–some things are private, even if they’re happening in one of the places of power in the world–and for reasons he can’t explain, steps so that his body shields Salme to some degree from the King’s gaze.
: “I don’t know what you sent us to do but we failed. I failed. And it’s–everything is–we were taken, we were somewhere else, there are other worlds? Did you know that there are other worlds? Nothing makes sense and I am failing.”
clears his throat. “We, and you included, are not failing.”
keeps breathing, steady and slow, pulls back -just- enough to press his forehead against the cool wood of the mask. Holds up a hand, briefly, in Aurelius’ direction.
ꙮ The Palimpsest-King briefly, imperceptibly nods in approval at Wolf. He is, remarkably, good at Not Being There, actually.
startles, very briefly, tail flicking hard, one ear going crooked. Doesn’t stop hugging Salme, though.
inclines his head in reply, just as fractionally–then closes his eyes, relaxing into that “at ease” stance–seeming to just radiate a steady calm.
shuffles his feet awkwardly, not wanting to stare at Salme and Badri having their moment but not confident in addressing the Palimpsest-King, either.
finds his voice. Wind rustling through ancient branches. Addresses Wolf, quietly. “Yeresh. You brought friends. From strange corners.”
opens his eyes slowly, looks up at the ancient King. “I did. Through strange paths, with the help of an Ember wrapped in old leather. I come bearing tidings of strange things.” He looks down, then back up again. “Tell me, King, for I have forgotten. Did you send me into the Tangle to seek the foul song that taints our world?”
nods slightly in the Palimpsest King’s direction.
pulls out of the hug, but stays near Badri. Her eyes are dry, and she’s calmer, more settled. “I’d like an answer too,” she says, voice a little rough.
: “I did. You and the Saint both. And also, on an old, cold trail. Someone beloved of… many of us went missing, once.” And he spares Badri a quick, apologetic glance. “Badri’s predecessor as Sword-Saint, Ciet. Went into the Tangle, searching for something. They did not return.”
nods, takes a deep breath, exhales. “I cannot tell you what we found, for we cannot remember. We woke, not many days ago, together, in a place far from here–outside the world we call our home.” He takes another breath, meets the King’s eyes. “We were told, by the one who ruled that place, that all our worlds–for there are many, it seems–had been destroyed.”
raises his eyes slightly to see the Palimpsest-King and casts off the hood of his cloak, revealing his appearance.
flinches, slightly. “I was there. It’s… when they gave me the mask.” And he gives Salme a quick glance. “There’s something -strange- in the Tangle. And Ciet said… that… they had gotten messages. From other worlds. That they were going to the Tangle to try and… find somebody? Meet somebody there. And then…”
raises an eyebrow as Badri speaks.
looks at Badri, his voice less…stentorian. “I wish I could tell you what we found, Badri. As Salme says, we cannot recall. Much has been taken from us.” He grimaces. “There are people who I have known for many seasons who I did not remember until I saw their face. And others I still cannot recall. And my voice…” He shakes his head, and falls silent.
raises an eyebrow at Wolf. “….well. I’m the King here.” He almost sounds… amused? “I do not exert my authority often. But whoever he is, is not the king of Almachadta. And sap still flows in me, and the world lives. So.”
looks, with curiosity, to Archie, to Unua, to all of them, really. Taking them all in.
: “And yet our world is dying.” It’s harsher than it should come out, and not the way that he should have said it, but here we are.
supports a raised arm with a crossed one, cradles his chin with a thumb, tapping his index finger across his mouth and nose.
listens to Wolf, and looks up- “…I saw the clearing through the Mask’s eyes. Just now.”
: “Why did you find us into to Tangle to find Ciet now anyway? Was it because of the dissonance in the World-Song that Wolf hears?”
cuts in. “Damaged. I have felt it also, honored yeresh. But not dying, I do not think. Not while we live.”
works his mouth, clearly tempted to argue, but nods instead. “Whatever it is…it grows stronger. Bolder.” He looks towards Badri. “You saw it.”
leans back on his feet, preemptively glancing in Archie’s direction.
nods, to Salme. “Yeresh Wolf was the first to hear it. He came to the Courtyard. Tsemdrulukh– a friend, you’ll… meet them again, soon– said that Ciet had… make them swear an odd oath. That if any threat like that should befall the world, that the King and the Saint should… find them, wherever they went.”
: “So…” He looks to the Palimpsest-King, staring, unblinking. “What would that take, to accomplish?”
: “I…” He laughs, thinly, and smiles. “Should spare myself the shame of admitting I begged you not to go.”
: “And you, Yeresh Wolf, went in my name.”
cannot help the tiny, completely involuntary laugh that the Awoken asks. Of course. She stuffs down the involuntary wash of fondness. Not the time.
out of the corner of his mouth, to the Awoken. “(Great question for first impressions.)”
looks towards the Awoken. “…to find Ciet? They were last seen in the Tangle. There is a… shrine there. Of sorts. It is sacred to the Sword-Saints. And then Wolf and Salme… also vanished.”
: “But now they are… somehow… back. With… all of you.”
: “Oh, my apologies.”
digests the King’s words for a moment, nods–brushes hair back out of his face; he’s forgotten to retie it. “What we found there, I do not know. What we found beyond…” He turns and quietly gestures for the other four to step forward a little. “My friends, forgive me. I have been remiss. This…” and he gestures to the King. “Is the Palimpsest-King, the King-in-the-Wood, they who guide and guard the world. And, King…these are my companions from the worlds beyond our own.”
: “(…Safe.)”
: “It is hard not to see you all as an answered prayer.” He bows, slowly and creakily, to all assembled.
: “I ask how one would bring death to you, to kill you.”
sighs.
looks VERY sharply at the Awoken, just kind of…staring, aghast. “Not that unrestrained!”
looks at the Awoken for several long moments, but he’s not silent. Gnosis ruffles his branches, the air.
ꙮ The two of you who have known Spoken Wood before know that this is what it sounds like when they laugh.
looks at Wolf, with a look of ‘but you said–!’
: “He doesn’t mean that as a threat.”
: “It’s fine.”
briefly just gives up and buries his face in his hands. “Forgive me, King,” he says, very muffled. “It has been a very long…it has been very long.”
: “I think I will enjoy speaking with this one at length.” There’s a resonant warmth in his voice, an audible smile. “He asks a good question. One I have asked myself, in light of threat to my world, to which I am deep-rooted.”
: “I do not know what it would take to kill me, strange new friend. I have never died, and am lacking in experience.”
whispers to Aurelius, “We are lucky this King is so well tempered. Our Queen would have likely dueled him twice already”
chuckles with a nod.
keeps looking at the Awoken like he’s a weird bug, but he’s playing it cool.
brightens up, blinking and nodding in assent. “That’s pretty incredible, there aren’t many who can do that.”
: “But I’m sure we can figure out something!” He says, with a smile, as though it’s almost a problem to be researched, a puzzle to be solved.
: “I was… speaking in seemings, though. Not that my life and the world are -so- tightly bound, I do not think. Perhaps they are. Perhaps that is the way of it. I do not -feel- so. Simply that, while I live, I intend to protect my world.”
: “And I have not yet died, and so, my resolve is to continue until I cannot. Yes?”
nods, emphatically. This logic makes the most sense to them from anything any Almachadtan has said during their stay.
: “Yes, that sounds reasonable.”
: “On that note, ah, Archie. You mentioned a disease infecting the world, earlier? Perhaps we might mention that now?”
looks up, curious.
nods. “I come from a world called Samudra. It is a world of oceans, but more relevant to this discussion, it is a world of study and research. One disease that we have identified is a disease that occurs when a part of the body becomes greedy and hoards resources for itself, growing out of control and to the detriment to the whole, choking out all else. This disease leaves a telling signature trace on the gnosis it affects, and I sensed it very clearly in the destroyed clearing we found earlier. With how much this place flourishes, my working theory is that this whole planet could be thought of as a singular body, and if we look at where growth seems wild and out of control, there seems no more apt a locale than the Tangle. The good news is that the disease is difficult to treat but hardly incurable, given enough pellucid and burning gnosis. The bad news is that, if it’s ever been applied on such a massive scale before, I’m not aware of it.”
looks first to Wolf and Salme, then to the Palimpsest-King. “If it gives you any reassurance, I see no trace of it on yourself, King. It permeates the world, even here, but not you.”
stares curiously and with increasing interest as Archie speaks. “….thank you, new friend, that’s very interesting indeed.”
nods quietly. “What I hear in the Song…matches. A twisted melody, attempting to drown out all others. That takes, but does not give.”
nods to the Wolf. “…strong enough now that I can sense it as well, yes.”
grimaces. “Would that it were not so.” He sags, in spite of himself. “Forgive me…the encounter Badri saw was…taxing.”
: “It is… it feels to me like the gnosis that accompanies a ripening fruit, but… taken to ill conclusion. I have much to consider.”
: “…nothing will be solved within the next gust of wind. You have traveled very far and very fast, for one day, have you not?”
: “…Not to speak for anyone else, but I suspect some of you may need some time to digest that thought, and others some time to rest and recollect themselves before a slightly more productive and/or pointlessly intrusive conversation might be had?” He nods to the King.
: “we have.” She looks at Badri. “I’m guessing you don’t have room for six at home?”
scratches the back of his head. “No, unfortunately, not even if we stacked your room with bunkbeds, and I doubt you OR your friends would enjoy that. But there’s places not far away from the house.”
: “I’d rather stay with my companions, but I do need to talk with you. And I’d like to properly introduce them.”
: “I’m used to camping out without much, at least.”
smiles. “That’s perfectly alright. I’m very much looking forward to it.” The tip of his tail is flicking back and forth.
waves good naturedly at Badri with a smile and a small heel-toe pivot with one boot.
softly: “Anything you need that the Court can provide. Thank you. All of you. I wish… the circumstances of my welcome were better, but: be welcome in my world, far-travelers. It is strange and good to meet you.”
: “There is an inn near Badri’s place I like very much. They’ve done something magnificent with the gnosis to create heated baths. We’ll stay there, assuming that’s acceptable to all?”
literally sways where he stands from the thought of a hot bath. “Please?”
: “Oh, -good- call.”
: “Mmm. You don’t even know the half of it.” Aurelius gives a bow in the Palimpsest King’s direction, before turning to Salma. “Been a while since I’ve stayed at a hot springs inn.”
: “Sounds lovely!”
hears the word ‘baths’ and immediately perks up, his swaying tail shifting the fabric of the cloak just perceptibly enough to betray his excitement.
: “I will forgo the bath. But yes, the imn sounds magnificent. ”
leaf-rustles gently in amusement.
: “You know where you can call on us, then, my King.” Now she does remember to bow, deeply and politely. “We’ll leave you to your ruminations.”
ꙮ And ruminations they certainly will be. Badri follows you out, but turns away to go back to his place shortly before you get to the inn. And the inn: is, in fact, incredible, an onsen built by mad druids - but we’ll get to learn about that soon, I think.