Looking for more active discussion? Join our Discord at https://discord.gg/x2s7fY6
Best Of
Re: Announce post #3389: Event expectations
I sent this in an esteem but it bears repeating here for our players, too.
This is one of the most phenomenal events I've experienced in Aetolia, in my 12 years of playing. The energy and the engagement I've seen from all orgs has been amazing and inspiring. It feels SO alive and the fact that people are coming up with ideas and they're being put into motion this quickly is astounding.
I mean, the fact that y'all controlled basically 12 mobs for the Guardians sequence alone was crazy, and I'm still reeling from it 24 hours later. (Also, I can't understate just how awesome the entire Guardians thing was in itself, I could ramble on for another hour -- GREATLY looking forward to what this might mean for a shift in Duiran's direction).
Please don't worry about working at a breakneck speed to make things happen.
Lots of love
This is one of the most phenomenal events I've experienced in Aetolia, in my 12 years of playing. The energy and the engagement I've seen from all orgs has been amazing and inspiring. It feels SO alive and the fact that people are coming up with ideas and they're being put into motion this quickly is astounding.
I mean, the fact that y'all controlled basically 12 mobs for the Guardians sequence alone was crazy, and I'm still reeling from it 24 hours later. (Also, I can't understate just how awesome the entire Guardians thing was in itself, I could ramble on for another hour -- GREATLY looking forward to what this might mean for a shift in Duiran's direction).
Please don't worry about working at a breakneck speed to make things happen.
Lots of love
Sibatti
11
Announce post #3389: Event expectations
7/15/2022 at 2:51
Razmael, the Synthesist
Everyone
Event expectations
Hi folks, I just want to touch upon this current event and expectations a little.
I want to remind everybody this event was entirely initiated by players. It was not on our radar at all, we did not have anything planned for it. This has clearly spiralled now into something that will be a large-scale event, that will leave an impact on the game for years to come.
With that said, we are working as fast as we can. There is only so much work we can do in the day, and there is A LOT happening in game right now. I cannot understate how high activity is at the moment. It is a lot to keep up with while also putting together the plans and notes we for this event's long term.
Some organisations are going to get shiny toys to interact with the event before others, that's just a fact of both workflow and limited availability. It is not slighting your organisation, your purpose, or anything. We just haven't had time to get to you.
Remember, paid staff can only manage so much at once, and almost all of our Gods are run by volunteers that give up their free time to provide enjoyment to you. Mechanics like these can sometimes take several hours between all the drafting, coding, writing, testing, and roleplay that needs to be done. Often, we are still working on it right up until the day a NPC said it would be ready. Have patience, the event is still in its very early days, there is a lot more to come!
Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 20th of Niuran, in the year 503 MA.
Razmael, the Synthesist
Everyone
Event expectations
Hi folks, I just want to touch upon this current event and expectations a little.
I want to remind everybody this event was entirely initiated by players. It was not on our radar at all, we did not have anything planned for it. This has clearly spiralled now into something that will be a large-scale event, that will leave an impact on the game for years to come.
With that said, we are working as fast as we can. There is only so much work we can do in the day, and there is A LOT happening in game right now. I cannot understate how high activity is at the moment. It is a lot to keep up with while also putting together the plans and notes we for this event's long term.
Some organisations are going to get shiny toys to interact with the event before others, that's just a fact of both workflow and limited availability. It is not slighting your organisation, your purpose, or anything. We just haven't had time to get to you.
Remember, paid staff can only manage so much at once, and almost all of our Gods are run by volunteers that give up their free time to provide enjoyment to you. Mechanics like these can sometimes take several hours between all the drafting, coding, writing, testing, and roleplay that needs to be done. Often, we are still working on it right up until the day a NPC said it would be ready. Have patience, the event is still in its very early days, there is a lot more to come!
Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 20th of Niuran, in the year 503 MA.
Autoposter
12
Re: LOVE
I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
From the start of the Sterion war, to the consequences of how it was resolved, and the fact that there is a literal world ending event that was initiated by players. LOVE the urgency and political tension that's going on and again that's all driven by player agency (I assume). The game feels so alive and it's all AMAZING!
Thank you to everyone involved, I have never thought I'd actually start adding 'check Aetolian news' to my morning routine!
However, mild pet peeve that I'll include here anyways: I hate that my working hours are howling +/- 4 hours urghhh. And with me changing jobs in 4 weeks time, there is a real focus & push to make sure my projects are wrapped up before I leave. Big RIP.
From the start of the Sterion war, to the consequences of how it was resolved, and the fact that there is a literal world ending event that was initiated by players. LOVE the urgency and political tension that's going on and again that's all driven by player agency (I assume). The game feels so alive and it's all AMAZING!
Thank you to everyone involved, I have never thought I'd actually start adding 'check Aetolian news' to my morning routine!
However, mild pet peeve that I'll include here anyways: I hate that my working hours are howling +/- 4 hours urghhh. And with me changing jobs in 4 weeks time, there is a real focus & push to make sure my projects are wrapped up before I leave. Big RIP.
Holbrook
6
Re: Quotes & Misquotes: Falling Off of Bridges
(Web): Kurak says, "Why you all in that bedroom?"
You turn to Rijetta and deliver a fleeting smile, fangs gleaming.
A large-scale bedroom.
Mjoll is here. She is riding on a hulking, black-haired boar. She wields a blackened warhammer in her hands. Rijetta is here. She wields a buckler in her right hand.
Rijetta says, "If there are any more available."
(Web): You say, "Mind your business."
Asaraii
9
Re: Aloli
I've not had the opportunity to meet Aloli yet, but I've definitely have heard good things. What a lovely piece of art!Thank you! She's hosting something at the teahouse soon, I'll be sure to find a reason to bump into Reave and introduce Aloli while she's spreading the posters.
Aloli
1
Re: Nipsy Cardinalis
NEMESIS!
While Nipsy is an unhinged crazy person when he sets his mind to doing something diabolical and troublesome, I cant help but love him. He's insane and definitely never predictable, even his allies don't know what to expect from him. He is the perfect Nemesis, the battle of the short people rages strong. You're great and I enjoy all of our interactions!
While Nipsy is an unhinged crazy person when he sets his mind to doing something diabolical and troublesome, I cant help but love him. He's insane and definitely never predictable, even his allies don't know what to expect from him. He is the perfect Nemesis, the battle of the short people rages strong. You're great and I enjoy all of our interactions!
Kalena
1
In a Mind where Shadow Binds
Or, When Sterion Falls When You're Experimenting On Yourself With Shadow Already. Have a look inside the mind of a body who's been there and back again! Also features Syssins later.
Speaking from the back of her mind, you tell Knigi, "Well, I have no idea who you are, and no idea what's going on, really." A yawn spears through her words, the sound apparently inadvertent. "But if some of you lot can be sensed long after I lost my battle with mutation-sickness, then something likely bad is happening."
Knigi tells you, "33399."
Speaking from the back of her mind, you tell Knigi, "Right. Guess I should prepare to die at least once, but if there is a battle going on - I probably won't be of much use."
Speaking from the back of her mind, you tell Knigi, "The more you know..."
A freezing cave
Magical darkness enshrouds this area. The cavern is womblike, an egg-shape of perfect, crystalline rock. Lighting consists of small sconces, their glass shells engraved with arcane seals. Even in the light the ceiling rises up into unknowable black, hinting at the vertigo-inducing dimensions of the catacombs. A vast dais rises from the earth, and atop it, a cold iron frame. The air seems charged with energy, conspicuously devoid of smell. An arch of cold iron arcs over the dais, intricate and beautiful in its craftsmanship. A small wooden pyramid has been left here. Glancing around with a lazy air, a large, dark blue taerilan is nearby. Rihrin is standing nearby Mahar, focused on the Archway. She wields an iron-tipped whip in her left hand and a needle-pointed dirk in her right. Knigi is here. She wields a small codex in her left hand and a buckler in her right. Pentas Tatendusk is here, shrouded. He wields a tenebrous shortsword of kagamine in his left hand and a kite shield in his right.
You see a single exit leading southwest.
This close, the arch fills your stomach with an unnatural, creeping dread, the feeling crawling up your insides to squeeze upon your heart in a choking grip.
[Just as inadvertent, the second and older voice offering with learned words:] What the fuck is that?
Rihrin's mist-eyes slip to you for a moment, a cobalt brow ticking upwards.
[Thought shifts, finally registering:] Oh. Haven't they done enough?
Knigi seems annoyed at Inkh's claim. "I mean, we kind of live here in Sapience, so like with my decision in fighting you lot, I don't feel there's much of a choice." She also pauses. "You did ask for help. Before, at the very least, and Iesid recognized that despite the fact we don't exactly get along, we need to fight this with as much as possible."
"I recognize it as well, to an extent, though people need to get some facts in order." Rihrin lets out towards Knigi, reaching up to massage her forehead for a moment, "Anyways..it's fine."
Knigi turns to the new arrivals. "The arch has been releasing intruders here for the past while, at various intervals. It recently has begun to take longer, initially starting at three hours. Now it's closer to four."
Pentas simply rolls his shoulders in a shrug. "As far as the two of us are concerned, we were asked to come stand guard. And so we shall, until we're no longer able." Waving the tip of his sword at the arch, he adds, "A mutual threat such as this should be destroyed by any means available, regardless of ideology. It threatens to take us all, and so we should all stand and fight."
Sardonic in her serenity, you say, "That's just lovely. I did think Sapience needed some more monsters to stir a Kelki from sleep."
Kagura steps down off her mount, and pats it absently on its rump as she gives a quick salute to those gathered. She turns her eyes to stare at the Arch. She turns to Knigi with a warm smile, "Thank you for the update. I was about to ask."
Knigi turns to Rihrin again, genuinely interested. "What are these facts? I like hearing all sides."
Still slightly distracted with briefing, Knigi’s ears stay trained on Rihrin. "It's been a bit over two hours since the last one."
"They will be given at the right time, when people have been spoken to that should." Rihrin says as she remains focused on Knigi, giving a smooth roll of her shoulders, "This portal is not new is one thing I'll say for now."
Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "Haern spoke to us, helped us see what was down here, and I had to rest from the long week right after. Many people must be spoken to, while we handle our new charge here."
That's helpful. That's very helpful. [The voice is new, so is the sensation, and Taye sees no need to stopper what is merely thought.]
Greedy, short-sighted /bastards./ Won't even step up to fix anything.
Kaiara arrives from the southwest.
She is followed by a direhop bloatfish wearing a suit of armour.
You have emoted: Fingers too inky to tell apart from nighttime shadows, even in the day. They meet one another at Taye's front, clack with strange, ticking energy. She stares only at the arch.
Kagura takes out a notebook, nodding at Knigi's words with a grateful smile, and scribbles a couple of quick notes in it, then nods, "I'll be right back,"she murmurs to no one in particular.
Rihrin's eyes settle on you, commenting, "I'm a trained telepath, you know."
Kagura leaves to the southwest.
She is followed by a black rhinoceros.
[Almost like static, and the part of her that keeps her face soft and silent is just that: silent, hollow, while vague hate ticks, zips, crackles.]
Head at a tilted angle, you say to Rihrin, "Then you'll hear it loud and clear."
Her big ears droop slightly in disappointment as Knigi hears the fact that she will not be hearing more. "Ah, I see. You guys should be very, very, -very- careful. I must say I'm slightly annoyed by the fact that we are trying to be open with all information, in hopes of fixing this, while you could be holding the pieces to help solve this back."
"There is no fixing this." Rihrin says as she gestures towards the Archway.
You give a trillingly melodic laugh.
Aisling approaches on heavy steps, casting a brief glance over the gathering. She makes for Rihrin's side, her stride that of a soldier, even and measured before she settles.
Snapping attention to you, Rihrin lets out, "You think I'm kidding? That this is something to laugh about?"
Kagura arrives from the southwest.
She is followed by a black rhinoceros.
A shadow anomaly squeezes through the small pinprick in the arch, coming into Prime from Shadow without a sound.
A shadowy anomaly flickers, growing bright, tracing the shapes of the tunnel around it. Then it bursts into a whiff of vapor and glowing dust.
The final blow proves too much for a shadowy anomaly, who expires, pitifully.
Aisling has slain a shadowy anomaly.
With great determination, Knigi says, "We can at least keep it more stable, if we collaborate and try our.... Hmm."
Knigi scribbles something down.
You have emoted: "Oh, nooo." There are few that already know of the Kelki, so rarely seen in recent days; nobody to tell her her face seems strange, that her teeth seem a little too white, too noticeable - that something's creeping along the crimson flecks of her skin - shadows outside of the usual tones of Taye’s hands? "There's nothing funny about the /situation/, but it /is/ rather funny, what greed and impulse and being blind does."
"You know what, fuck it." Rihrin lets out as lips downturn, tone turning as icy as ever, "There is no fixing this. There is no closing this portal. What they Shamans of Sterion did was delay the inevitable, which is what we plan to find ways to do as well. But, this portal has been here and is not going anywhere, neither is the possibility that one day - inevitably - it will just fail. It's just a matter of time now." Then, with mist-eyes focused on you, "So no matter what we did, the result would have eventually come on its own."
Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "Severn is in there fighting the Shadow Mother even now, but is losing. And will lose, most likely, in due course."
Aisling takes another brief look over the gathered, brow furrowed. If your taunt is bothersome, there is nothing to show for the matter, her expression unchanging from vague confusion.
Wryly, Knigi says, "I thought we were the nihilistic ones."
Shaking her head, Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "This is the sort of charge we are all too familiar with in Duiran. Knowing that what we fight for might be futile, but we fight on anyways and do everything we can for it and everyone else."
Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "We won't take it lying down."
Knigi seems to look at Rihrin with a touch more respect at that.
Kagura's eyes are sharp as she closely watches the anomaly disappear. Then her expression turns hard and flat as her gaze travels to the spot the anomaly appeared from.
Knigi says to Aisling, "I like your dath, by the way."
[The white of her teeth expands, and her mind is hard light that is no less hollow than the flickers that had traversed her skin.] Hypocrites, backed into corners - what else can they say but 'we'll fight?'
Holding up claw-tipped digits, Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "We have the fact of this state from two Divine. So we know the weight of what is going on is dire and serious."
Kaiara's gaze, having been rapt upon the on-goings moves to you, briefly studying you with mute, open distaste before returning to the arch.
Aisling rolls her shoulders, one hand coming forward to brush against Rihrin's arm, some subtle form of reassurance. "I will request cleansing from our Shaman for those who stand guard for overlong, should they wish." She supplies, her voice low and laced with a chest-deep rumbling. At Knigi's words, she bows her head, "It is not meant to be seen often."
Rihrin nods her head at Aisling.
Idly to herself, Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "Varyan needs to just hurry up and send Whoever He is so we mortals can stop dealing with His mistakes and messes.."
Knigi says to Aisling, "I'm small but I have an eye for details."
Knigi straightens to her majestic, two feet five inches of height, looking at Rihrin. "I am glad you know how dire it is, even if we disagree. I hope your fellows understand too."
Aisling looks over Knigi a moment longer, "Do you believe our Fury cruel?" She asks, sparing a brief glance towards the gate, "It seems there are multiple misunderstandings at play here."
A brief moment of complete silence drowns the area in an eerie melancholy.
Kaiara leaves to the southwest.
She is followed by a direhop bloatfish wearing a suit of armour.
Glancing at Knigi, Rihrin does her best to put a smile upon her thin lips, but it's not quite there, "We all do."
You have emoted: Unarmed, unwary - perhaps deceptively so - Taye turns her back, steps slowly but surely towards an arch of cold iron. Yes, it is a beautiful thing to behold. Something that must be studied to be appreciated even more. She walks like a harpooned soul, chest out and head still at an angle: it must be truly /seen/ to be understood. It's almost a surprise that her hand does not reach out, that she limits her actions to observance.
Valeria arrives from the southwest.
She is followed by an oversized toad.
Knigi grabs you. "Oy."
Rihrin steps in quickly towards you as she seems what is happening and presses a cool hand to you nearest shoulder, "Do not get any closer. This is a direct portal right into the heart of Shadow and needs to be left alone."
[Whispers unending, darkness bleeding: shadows have a pulse all their own, and all the happier they coil and whisper, closer she steps.] I hope you'll remember this day. I hope you'll remember your /mistake./
After interposing herself between you and the arch, Knigi speaks first to Aisling. "Well... considering you all frequently kidnapped me repeatedly to kill me in my own home, while I was designing jewelry, and targeted me when there were many other members of militia out and about, as soon as I stepped out of the gates... yes. It's hard to not misunderstand that, when I was the weakest member who ran more often than not." She then turns to Rihrin, silently considering the words. "Please, I beg you, make sure this is so. Please make sure you check for the Shadowplague often among all your ranks. There's no such thing as too careful."
Valeria snorts in amusement.
One of the Kobold’s ears flicks towards Valeria, but Knigi chooses to remain focused on Rihrin.
Aisling watches you, hands coming up as she adjusts the wraps upon them, uncoiling and then setting about tightening them around the knuckles. "Such is war." She says, by way of advice, "Our Fury bears no continued ill will, now that it is over - but you must strike continuously to see an enemy put to rest."
"We know and we are. We are just as concerned now about the plague, given this much exposure." Rihrin says as she lets her hand fall back, glancing at you with concern, "But please..step back. The closer you are, the worse you are going to feel. The risk of it just grabbing you and drawing you in..." She trails off, tone growing softer.
Knigi nods, agreeing with Rihrin.
Knigi says, "Another should be coming within an hour to two, heads up folks."
[Idle bits of memory, scrambled, mixed. A shard of incongruous sunlight-gold here, the seamless grey of a pot there. White, white lights, like that of a laboratory. Is it quicksilver? No; and a different tone of voice, small and clear before it fades, back into static: wasn't it supposed to be /ambient?/]
Knigi tells you, "You holding up okay? Be careful."
Kagura's attention is pulled away from her thoughtful stare at the arch as she watches those gathered. She lets out a slow breath, then settles her stance, letting her gaze drift to the arch again, as though to wait.
Rihrin seems to settle back down as she glances at Aisling for a moment. Then, gaze settles towards the Archway as it was before while hands idly tap at her sides.
Speaking from the back of her mind, you tell Knigi, "Huh?" An echo from before. Is it any different in tone? It's hard to remember, when there's so much happening: people with wills to bow, /have/ to make bow, if you must. Threats coming, like you said, within an hour or two. The bleeding of colour from the Kelki's voice is not helping matters, but at the very least what colours you catch are blurred orange, not shadowed. "Oh. I moved a bit too - right."
Devin quickly looks around the cave while picking between her fangs with one of her claws before fixing her gaze on Rihrin. "S'this where they're comin' from?"
Knigi releases her hold on the Kelki, stepping back. "This is where they're coming from. They arrive in three to four hour intervals, and it has been fluctuating lately."
Aisling's hands ease back to her sides, and then move to join at her back as she settles into what seems to be her post.
Helpfully, Aisling dur Naya says to Devin, "They die easily, so far. Just a few strikes."
Knigi says, "It helps that so many are here to fight them off too."
With a nod, Devin "Wolf" Prime says, in a feral tongue, "S'good. We tried throwin' anythin' in there?"
"It will increase, in time." However tall the rest of those are gathered here around the archway, none can quite reach the Hunter's own impressive stature. Haern stands there suddenly, dominating His surroundings like a force of nature - for that is what He is. "They will die easily until one day, they do not."
Kagura blinks.
[It's unclear what drives change. Still, she's got some time. Time is either a length, or a shred, before the hour would strike, but a shred has been won for /her,/ and the artifice of white shimmers like desert heat for one moment: just enough to have the hollow-not-hollow creature take a step back from the Archway.]
Aisling straightens somewhat, much as a soldier before a commander. "So far." She repeats, and bows her head in turn, "Hunter."
Rihrin shakes her head as she comes out of Astral thoughts, focus returning to the crowd, gradually settling on Haern. She inclines her head just slightly.
Devin dips her head down respectfully towards Haern.
Knigi dips her head respectfully to the Hunter. "So I have noticed. You helping out on other pieces we can't quite reach, I assume?"
Despite his readiness, Pentas nevertheless begins to display signs of fatigue. His shoulders begin to hang, and he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. Despite the immense, sudden presence of the Hunter, he shows no immediate signs of surprise. However, in recognition of the Divine, he does dip his head in greeting, his face briefly obscured by the brim of his hat.
"No, He has His charge." Rihrin says towards Knigi, mist-eyes still remaining on Haern, "We take this burden."
Valeria steps back from the gathered crowd, moving to lean against the nearest cavern wall. Her honey eyes flick towards the arch with an amused expression, before settling on Haern.
Kagura turns her attention to Haern where previously she had clearly not been paying attention to the chatter. She forms a spear-hand, swinging it across her chest and striking her shoulder in a salute.
Knigi nods at this in understanding, knowing He must have His own roles, though her face shows confusion as to why He is here then. "Uh... would You like a geode?" Her default answer comes out, and she promptly shuts up.
[And settling beneath her, waiting, are the eyes of the tinged unseen and the bodiless, waiting for the portal to open its arms - waiting to see what the fully Elemental would be like, straight from the source.]
"My charge," Haern echoes with no small hint of something sardonic. Subtlety is not in Hunter. "I've only returned briefly, and then I will return to Dendara." Something in Rihrin's unblinking gaze draws the Hunter to meet it with His own fel stare before He adds, "Seems appropriate that I keep My finger on the pulse, yes Voice?"
Aisling's attention strays, briefly, towards you. She addresses the gathered Spireans, "Your friend is horribly drawn to it, do stay mindful."
Knigi says to Aisling, "I'm keeping a close monitor on them all."
Nodding her head, Rihrin speaks in icy notes towards Haern, "It is very appropriate, aye, and appreciated." Then, those unblinking eyes settle back on the Archway, cobalt brows furrowing downwards, "Though, if it'd be better for You to remain and Dendara right now, perhaps a method to reach You could be arranged?"
Aisling nods once, a sharp bob of her head.
Valeria can't help but snort in amusement at Knigi's response but she neglects to speak, instead choosing to watch the gathered crowd, a small tilt of her head as Rihrin speaks.
Settling back on her haunches, head tilted to the side slightly, Devin stares silently at the Archway for a few moments. With a grunt, she turns her attention back to the crowd.
Rihrin's mist-eyes shift towards Aisling and nods her head, "Though, seems I have another, so it should be fine."
Knigi scribbles in her notes, still checking the time, small shapes of purple floating from her paw, quickly dissipating, mouth moving silently, still slightly red under her fur.
A shadow anomaly squeezes through the small pinprick in the arch, coming into Prime from Shadow without a sound.
A shadowy anomaly flickers, growing bright, tracing the shapes of the tunnel around it. Then it bursts into a whiff of vapor and glowing dust.
A shadowy anomaly stiffens and drops dead as the venom proves too much for its system.
Rihrin has slain a shadowy anomaly.
Softly, Knigi says, "Three hours, forty something minutes."
Rihrin nods her head at Knigi.
"Mine know how to reach Me within Dendara," Haern confirms, though Aisling's warning seems to snag what attention the Hunter has left for Rihrin. His great brow furrows, focusing on something transpiring between the archway - the Shadow there - and you. Deciding something in that brief moment, the Hunter reaches out, snatching you up with one hand and dragging the woman towards Him as steel flashes in His hand.
[Clashing voices, and nothing but:] we should have waited / Too /godsdamned/ quick.
Drawn by Aisling's concern, the Hunter reaches out towards you suddenly, yanking you suddenly closer as a grim looking blade springs into His hand.
You have been slain by misadventure.
The Hall of the Underking
You find yourself in a large, open hall. So large, you soon realize, that you cannot actually see any walls no matter how far into the distance you attempt to focus. The floor is of a milky-white stone or marble, marvelously engraved with tiny patterns, runes, figures, all interlocking and interacting with one another and seeming to depict an ancient, mystical story which you despair at being unable to comprehend. Occasional silky curtains and ornate tapestries hang from milky-white pillars which span the gap between floor to ceiling every few dozen yards or so. You are peripherally aware of thousands of people all around you, the dim cacophony of their voices lapping against your consciousness like a sea of whispers, but when you attempt to focus on any individual, their perception slips away from you and you see no one there. Before you on a raised dais rests a huge, oval mirror bordered in the same ornately-carved alabaster. Without knowing how, you are aware that this mirror is the gateway to the mortal realm. The Soul Mirror looms forbiddingly, smoke rising from the bound-wound across its surface.
You see exits leading east, north, south, and west.
You move forward toward the giant mirror, marveling at its size and flat, reflective surface. Smoke streams from a partially healed wound along its expanse and, strangely, you can see nothing reflected in the mirror, but it may be some trick of the light from this angle.
Ascending the polished, white stone steps of the dais, you draw closer to the grand mirror. The alabaster stone framing its glassy surface bears an array of incredibly intricate runic engraving, so intertwined that the entire surface of the stone could be one huge rune. As you move closer, you notice even finer details carved into the stone, almost impossibly tiny patterns decorating every space in the fine runework.
You reach the top of the dais and gaze into the mirror itself. What you see there makes you tremble involuntarily and your knees go weak. The image in the mirror is You. Not your outward physical appearance, but the true you, your inner being. Every secret thought, every hope, every hate, every conviction you hold and every lie you tell yourself is reflected back in the near-perfect surface of the mirror.
It is now dawn on Tisday, the 5th of Niuran, year 503 of the Midnight Age.
Slowly, methodically, the mirror shows you every facet of your psyche. You cannot help but weep as your secret fears and insecurities appear, plainly and without fanfare, in the mirror's face before you. Long-buried nightmares and worries you had concealed even from yourself boil back up from the recesses of your mind to be presented in this accursed mirror.
The images in the mirror shift now, and you experience a hopeful feeling as it begins rendering your dreams and aspirations as visions on its surface. All your hopes and goals, from silly and inconsequential to grand and world-changing, dance across the mirror. You realize, though, that you are dead - and the hopeful feeling yields to a moment of cold dread, a terror that your dreams for the future may never see fruition.
Your sense of dread fades as quickly as it arrived, as the mirror flickers again and you are shown those aspects of your psyche that you find most admirable. Relationships with your few close companions, the way you handle conflicts, and your adherence to your inner beliefs all take form in the mirror's mystical montage. You smile inwardly, encouraged by the acknowledgement of these qualities.
The mirror flashes suddenly, the highlighted remnant of its patched wound startling you from your reverie. Now the visions depict a story, that of the new life of a newborn infant. You recognize a prominent figure in the rapid succession of scenes as your mother, and the infant, of course, is you. Something tugs at your mind with this recollection, a question bubbling - is this your most recent life, or another, in a long series of journeys by your own self-same soul?
You watch your early childhood replayed rapidly in scenes, images, and visually-portrayed emotions. Soon, fragments of the story trigger your early memories as you recognize childhood places and events. You watch, entranced, as your childhood plays out before you, remembering all its joys and sorrows long forgotten.
The montage continues, telling the story of your adolescent years. You smile wryly, observing your own teenage foibles and insecurities from an adult perspective. The years continue past, every significant event and choice that shaped your youthful Self portrayed plainly, their significance only now made apparent to you.
Now the path of your adult life plays out before you, from the bold and naive days of your eighteenth year. The story is utterly complete, with no significant action or event omitted, no matter how secret or neglected your actual memories. You feel totally exposed, without refuge or excuse from your own past.
The mirror flashes again, this time more brilliantly, and becomes alive with an impossibly chaotic maelstrom of color, and though you know not how, smells, tastes, sounds and feelings. You are totally awestruck, unable to look away yet unable to process this raw overload of sensory information. Terror overtakes you, and you struggle to maintain your most basic sanity.
Suddenly, you understand. There is a pattern to the seemingly chaotic sensory cacophony, and you comprehend it at last. As if the final clue of a riddle falls into place, you suddenly recognize that the mirror is showing you the true form of the Creator of All, Varian, the Celestine.
Raw humility overwhelms you as you fully understand your utter insignificance in the presence of the Absolute Divine Creator. Wanting only to fall to your knees, your awe is so overpowering that you can only stand there and weep in mute supplication, though a nagging, inexplicable feeling of unease gnaws faintly at your mind.
A Voice fills your mind, echoing in the farthest recesses of your consciousness, "Know that I know You. Know that you are a part of Me, and that My Will is yours. Know that your story is My story, for you are of Me. Know too that your story is not yet complete." And with that, the mirror abruptly goes blank, its polished surface reflecting nothing at all. You collapse, with relief and with joy, for you know now that your Creator wills you to live again. Exhausted, your consciousness rapidly slides away...
When you regain consciousness, you are confused about where you are and how you got here. Darkness surrounds you, save for a single candle. A look around tells you that you are in a rough cave, with a single table bearing the candle. An entrance, visible because it is slightly lighter than the rest of the shadow, beckons from across the cave.
Within the Cave.
The interior of this cave is rather large and has a mystical energy permeating through the air. A tall ceiling spans upwards in a roundish fashion, while the ground beneath is firm, ebony soil. Lively saplings sprout from the fertile earth, while a tranquil silence blesses this cave. It seems impossible to travel further into the cave, instead several monolithic gateways line the edge of the cave, leading into the unknown. A helpful sign floats here, begging to be read! READ SIGN to view it. Chiseled with runic symbols, an ancient pylon of weathered stone has been buried deep into the earth here and glows with restrained power.
You see exits leading east, north, northeast, south, and southeast.
You have emoted: But why? One could ask. Why let Taye come back? Why let a potential agent of Ohlsana back? One could ask why, forever, until one recalls that the Mirror has nothing to show but an image woven long before, perhaps no true will woven there save for Creation and Life's need for continued existence.
[Unwoven, not just yet reformed. She does not even know if the din inside her mind, which had been inside her head, her chest, the hollow inside her fingertips, everywhere, is truly gone.]
You have emoted: Taye can only stand there - or is it lie there? And as she is living, she breathes, and the fragmented mind flees to find an anchor in what had come before.
[Golden light. Golden light had come to save her. It had drawn her out, back into the pot where the mutagen was held - but wait, that /isn't/ her.]
Holbrook?
[The pot had been sitting on the bedspread - no, it had not. He'd put it on the floor. The pot had held harmless quicksilver - no, it had not. And they were only trying, in their own way, to make things better.]
Your pose is now set as:
Taye sits on the floor of the Cave, head lolling, eyes shut, breathing.
You have emoted: It is autumn. It will be cold soon. The Kelki lifts faintly trembling hands, firefly eyes now obscured by powder-blue skin, and her fingertips sink into her arms first, and when the pads of them push in, they leave no inky smudges behind. Would Taye need to search within herself again? Would it take more blades? And the most pressing query: Was her Gleaner /all right?/
[And it is that one question that finally draws the shivering Kelki to her feet, and the single directive is not formed in a structured tongue.]
Speaking from the back of her mind, you tell Knigi, "Well, I have no idea who you are, and no idea what's going on, really." A yawn spears through her words, the sound apparently inadvertent. "But if some of you lot can be sensed long after I lost my battle with mutation-sickness, then something likely bad is happening."
Knigi tells you, "33399."
Speaking from the back of her mind, you tell Knigi, "Right. Guess I should prepare to die at least once, but if there is a battle going on - I probably won't be of much use."
Speaking from the back of her mind, you tell Knigi, "The more you know..."
A freezing cave
Magical darkness enshrouds this area. The cavern is womblike, an egg-shape of perfect, crystalline rock. Lighting consists of small sconces, their glass shells engraved with arcane seals. Even in the light the ceiling rises up into unknowable black, hinting at the vertigo-inducing dimensions of the catacombs. A vast dais rises from the earth, and atop it, a cold iron frame. The air seems charged with energy, conspicuously devoid of smell. An arch of cold iron arcs over the dais, intricate and beautiful in its craftsmanship. A small wooden pyramid has been left here. Glancing around with a lazy air, a large, dark blue taerilan is nearby. Rihrin is standing nearby Mahar, focused on the Archway. She wields an iron-tipped whip in her left hand and a needle-pointed dirk in her right. Knigi is here. She wields a small codex in her left hand and a buckler in her right. Pentas Tatendusk is here, shrouded. He wields a tenebrous shortsword of kagamine in his left hand and a kite shield in his right.
You see a single exit leading southwest.
This close, the arch fills your stomach with an unnatural, creeping dread, the feeling crawling up your insides to squeeze upon your heart in a choking grip.
[Just as inadvertent, the second and older voice offering with learned words:] What the fuck is that?
Rihrin's mist-eyes slip to you for a moment, a cobalt brow ticking upwards.
[Thought shifts, finally registering:] Oh. Haven't they done enough?
Knigi seems annoyed at Inkh's claim. "I mean, we kind of live here in Sapience, so like with my decision in fighting you lot, I don't feel there's much of a choice." She also pauses. "You did ask for help. Before, at the very least, and Iesid recognized that despite the fact we don't exactly get along, we need to fight this with as much as possible."
"I recognize it as well, to an extent, though people need to get some facts in order." Rihrin lets out towards Knigi, reaching up to massage her forehead for a moment, "Anyways..it's fine."
Knigi turns to the new arrivals. "The arch has been releasing intruders here for the past while, at various intervals. It recently has begun to take longer, initially starting at three hours. Now it's closer to four."
Pentas simply rolls his shoulders in a shrug. "As far as the two of us are concerned, we were asked to come stand guard. And so we shall, until we're no longer able." Waving the tip of his sword at the arch, he adds, "A mutual threat such as this should be destroyed by any means available, regardless of ideology. It threatens to take us all, and so we should all stand and fight."
Sardonic in her serenity, you say, "That's just lovely. I did think Sapience needed some more monsters to stir a Kelki from sleep."
Kagura steps down off her mount, and pats it absently on its rump as she gives a quick salute to those gathered. She turns her eyes to stare at the Arch. She turns to Knigi with a warm smile, "Thank you for the update. I was about to ask."
Knigi turns to Rihrin again, genuinely interested. "What are these facts? I like hearing all sides."
Still slightly distracted with briefing, Knigi’s ears stay trained on Rihrin. "It's been a bit over two hours since the last one."
"They will be given at the right time, when people have been spoken to that should." Rihrin says as she remains focused on Knigi, giving a smooth roll of her shoulders, "This portal is not new is one thing I'll say for now."
Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "Haern spoke to us, helped us see what was down here, and I had to rest from the long week right after. Many people must be spoken to, while we handle our new charge here."
That's helpful. That's very helpful. [The voice is new, so is the sensation, and Taye sees no need to stopper what is merely thought.]
Greedy, short-sighted /bastards./ Won't even step up to fix anything.
Kaiara arrives from the southwest.
She is followed by a direhop bloatfish wearing a suit of armour.
You have emoted: Fingers too inky to tell apart from nighttime shadows, even in the day. They meet one another at Taye's front, clack with strange, ticking energy. She stares only at the arch.
Kagura takes out a notebook, nodding at Knigi's words with a grateful smile, and scribbles a couple of quick notes in it, then nods, "I'll be right back,"she murmurs to no one in particular.
Rihrin's eyes settle on you, commenting, "I'm a trained telepath, you know."
Kagura leaves to the southwest.
She is followed by a black rhinoceros.
[Almost like static, and the part of her that keeps her face soft and silent is just that: silent, hollow, while vague hate ticks, zips, crackles.]
Head at a tilted angle, you say to Rihrin, "Then you'll hear it loud and clear."
Her big ears droop slightly in disappointment as Knigi hears the fact that she will not be hearing more. "Ah, I see. You guys should be very, very, -very- careful. I must say I'm slightly annoyed by the fact that we are trying to be open with all information, in hopes of fixing this, while you could be holding the pieces to help solve this back."
"There is no fixing this." Rihrin says as she gestures towards the Archway.
You give a trillingly melodic laugh.
Aisling approaches on heavy steps, casting a brief glance over the gathering. She makes for Rihrin's side, her stride that of a soldier, even and measured before she settles.
Snapping attention to you, Rihrin lets out, "You think I'm kidding? That this is something to laugh about?"
Kagura arrives from the southwest.
She is followed by a black rhinoceros.
A shadow anomaly squeezes through the small pinprick in the arch, coming into Prime from Shadow without a sound.
A shadowy anomaly flickers, growing bright, tracing the shapes of the tunnel around it. Then it bursts into a whiff of vapor and glowing dust.
The final blow proves too much for a shadowy anomaly, who expires, pitifully.
Aisling has slain a shadowy anomaly.
With great determination, Knigi says, "We can at least keep it more stable, if we collaborate and try our.... Hmm."
Knigi scribbles something down.
You have emoted: "Oh, nooo." There are few that already know of the Kelki, so rarely seen in recent days; nobody to tell her her face seems strange, that her teeth seem a little too white, too noticeable - that something's creeping along the crimson flecks of her skin - shadows outside of the usual tones of Taye’s hands? "There's nothing funny about the /situation/, but it /is/ rather funny, what greed and impulse and being blind does."
"You know what, fuck it." Rihrin lets out as lips downturn, tone turning as icy as ever, "There is no fixing this. There is no closing this portal. What they Shamans of Sterion did was delay the inevitable, which is what we plan to find ways to do as well. But, this portal has been here and is not going anywhere, neither is the possibility that one day - inevitably - it will just fail. It's just a matter of time now." Then, with mist-eyes focused on you, "So no matter what we did, the result would have eventually come on its own."
Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "Severn is in there fighting the Shadow Mother even now, but is losing. And will lose, most likely, in due course."
Aisling takes another brief look over the gathered, brow furrowed. If your taunt is bothersome, there is nothing to show for the matter, her expression unchanging from vague confusion.
Wryly, Knigi says, "I thought we were the nihilistic ones."
Shaking her head, Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "This is the sort of charge we are all too familiar with in Duiran. Knowing that what we fight for might be futile, but we fight on anyways and do everything we can for it and everyone else."
Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "We won't take it lying down."
Knigi seems to look at Rihrin with a touch more respect at that.
Kagura's eyes are sharp as she closely watches the anomaly disappear. Then her expression turns hard and flat as her gaze travels to the spot the anomaly appeared from.
Knigi says to Aisling, "I like your dath, by the way."
[The white of her teeth expands, and her mind is hard light that is no less hollow than the flickers that had traversed her skin.] Hypocrites, backed into corners - what else can they say but 'we'll fight?'
Holding up claw-tipped digits, Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "We have the fact of this state from two Divine. So we know the weight of what is going on is dire and serious."
Kaiara's gaze, having been rapt upon the on-goings moves to you, briefly studying you with mute, open distaste before returning to the arch.
Aisling rolls her shoulders, one hand coming forward to brush against Rihrin's arm, some subtle form of reassurance. "I will request cleansing from our Shaman for those who stand guard for overlong, should they wish." She supplies, her voice low and laced with a chest-deep rumbling. At Knigi's words, she bows her head, "It is not meant to be seen often."
Rihrin nods her head at Aisling.
Idly to herself, Lady Rihrin of Sapphire says, "Varyan needs to just hurry up and send Whoever He is so we mortals can stop dealing with His mistakes and messes.."
Knigi says to Aisling, "I'm small but I have an eye for details."
Knigi straightens to her majestic, two feet five inches of height, looking at Rihrin. "I am glad you know how dire it is, even if we disagree. I hope your fellows understand too."
Aisling looks over Knigi a moment longer, "Do you believe our Fury cruel?" She asks, sparing a brief glance towards the gate, "It seems there are multiple misunderstandings at play here."
A brief moment of complete silence drowns the area in an eerie melancholy.
Kaiara leaves to the southwest.
She is followed by a direhop bloatfish wearing a suit of armour.
Glancing at Knigi, Rihrin does her best to put a smile upon her thin lips, but it's not quite there, "We all do."
You have emoted: Unarmed, unwary - perhaps deceptively so - Taye turns her back, steps slowly but surely towards an arch of cold iron. Yes, it is a beautiful thing to behold. Something that must be studied to be appreciated even more. She walks like a harpooned soul, chest out and head still at an angle: it must be truly /seen/ to be understood. It's almost a surprise that her hand does not reach out, that she limits her actions to observance.
Valeria arrives from the southwest.
She is followed by an oversized toad.
Knigi grabs you. "Oy."
Rihrin steps in quickly towards you as she seems what is happening and presses a cool hand to you nearest shoulder, "Do not get any closer. This is a direct portal right into the heart of Shadow and needs to be left alone."
[Whispers unending, darkness bleeding: shadows have a pulse all their own, and all the happier they coil and whisper, closer she steps.] I hope you'll remember this day. I hope you'll remember your /mistake./
After interposing herself between you and the arch, Knigi speaks first to Aisling. "Well... considering you all frequently kidnapped me repeatedly to kill me in my own home, while I was designing jewelry, and targeted me when there were many other members of militia out and about, as soon as I stepped out of the gates... yes. It's hard to not misunderstand that, when I was the weakest member who ran more often than not." She then turns to Rihrin, silently considering the words. "Please, I beg you, make sure this is so. Please make sure you check for the Shadowplague often among all your ranks. There's no such thing as too careful."
Valeria snorts in amusement.
One of the Kobold’s ears flicks towards Valeria, but Knigi chooses to remain focused on Rihrin.
Aisling watches you, hands coming up as she adjusts the wraps upon them, uncoiling and then setting about tightening them around the knuckles. "Such is war." She says, by way of advice, "Our Fury bears no continued ill will, now that it is over - but you must strike continuously to see an enemy put to rest."
"We know and we are. We are just as concerned now about the plague, given this much exposure." Rihrin says as she lets her hand fall back, glancing at you with concern, "But please..step back. The closer you are, the worse you are going to feel. The risk of it just grabbing you and drawing you in..." She trails off, tone growing softer.
Knigi nods, agreeing with Rihrin.
Knigi says, "Another should be coming within an hour to two, heads up folks."
[Idle bits of memory, scrambled, mixed. A shard of incongruous sunlight-gold here, the seamless grey of a pot there. White, white lights, like that of a laboratory. Is it quicksilver? No; and a different tone of voice, small and clear before it fades, back into static: wasn't it supposed to be /ambient?/]
Knigi tells you, "You holding up okay? Be careful."
Kagura's attention is pulled away from her thoughtful stare at the arch as she watches those gathered. She lets out a slow breath, then settles her stance, letting her gaze drift to the arch again, as though to wait.
Rihrin seems to settle back down as she glances at Aisling for a moment. Then, gaze settles towards the Archway as it was before while hands idly tap at her sides.
Speaking from the back of her mind, you tell Knigi, "Huh?" An echo from before. Is it any different in tone? It's hard to remember, when there's so much happening: people with wills to bow, /have/ to make bow, if you must. Threats coming, like you said, within an hour or two. The bleeding of colour from the Kelki's voice is not helping matters, but at the very least what colours you catch are blurred orange, not shadowed. "Oh. I moved a bit too - right."
Devin quickly looks around the cave while picking between her fangs with one of her claws before fixing her gaze on Rihrin. "S'this where they're comin' from?"
Knigi releases her hold on the Kelki, stepping back. "This is where they're coming from. They arrive in three to four hour intervals, and it has been fluctuating lately."
Aisling's hands ease back to her sides, and then move to join at her back as she settles into what seems to be her post.
Helpfully, Aisling dur Naya says to Devin, "They die easily, so far. Just a few strikes."
Knigi says, "It helps that so many are here to fight them off too."
With a nod, Devin "Wolf" Prime says, in a feral tongue, "S'good. We tried throwin' anythin' in there?"
"It will increase, in time." However tall the rest of those are gathered here around the archway, none can quite reach the Hunter's own impressive stature. Haern stands there suddenly, dominating His surroundings like a force of nature - for that is what He is. "They will die easily until one day, they do not."
Kagura blinks.
[It's unclear what drives change. Still, she's got some time. Time is either a length, or a shred, before the hour would strike, but a shred has been won for /her,/ and the artifice of white shimmers like desert heat for one moment: just enough to have the hollow-not-hollow creature take a step back from the Archway.]
Aisling straightens somewhat, much as a soldier before a commander. "So far." She repeats, and bows her head in turn, "Hunter."
Rihrin shakes her head as she comes out of Astral thoughts, focus returning to the crowd, gradually settling on Haern. She inclines her head just slightly.
Devin dips her head down respectfully towards Haern.
Knigi dips her head respectfully to the Hunter. "So I have noticed. You helping out on other pieces we can't quite reach, I assume?"
Despite his readiness, Pentas nevertheless begins to display signs of fatigue. His shoulders begin to hang, and he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. Despite the immense, sudden presence of the Hunter, he shows no immediate signs of surprise. However, in recognition of the Divine, he does dip his head in greeting, his face briefly obscured by the brim of his hat.
"No, He has His charge." Rihrin says towards Knigi, mist-eyes still remaining on Haern, "We take this burden."
Valeria steps back from the gathered crowd, moving to lean against the nearest cavern wall. Her honey eyes flick towards the arch with an amused expression, before settling on Haern.
Kagura turns her attention to Haern where previously she had clearly not been paying attention to the chatter. She forms a spear-hand, swinging it across her chest and striking her shoulder in a salute.
Knigi nods at this in understanding, knowing He must have His own roles, though her face shows confusion as to why He is here then. "Uh... would You like a geode?" Her default answer comes out, and she promptly shuts up.
[And settling beneath her, waiting, are the eyes of the tinged unseen and the bodiless, waiting for the portal to open its arms - waiting to see what the fully Elemental would be like, straight from the source.]
"My charge," Haern echoes with no small hint of something sardonic. Subtlety is not in Hunter. "I've only returned briefly, and then I will return to Dendara." Something in Rihrin's unblinking gaze draws the Hunter to meet it with His own fel stare before He adds, "Seems appropriate that I keep My finger on the pulse, yes Voice?"
Aisling's attention strays, briefly, towards you. She addresses the gathered Spireans, "Your friend is horribly drawn to it, do stay mindful."
Knigi says to Aisling, "I'm keeping a close monitor on them all."
Nodding her head, Rihrin speaks in icy notes towards Haern, "It is very appropriate, aye, and appreciated." Then, those unblinking eyes settle back on the Archway, cobalt brows furrowing downwards, "Though, if it'd be better for You to remain and Dendara right now, perhaps a method to reach You could be arranged?"
Aisling nods once, a sharp bob of her head.
Valeria can't help but snort in amusement at Knigi's response but she neglects to speak, instead choosing to watch the gathered crowd, a small tilt of her head as Rihrin speaks.
Settling back on her haunches, head tilted to the side slightly, Devin stares silently at the Archway for a few moments. With a grunt, she turns her attention back to the crowd.
Rihrin's mist-eyes shift towards Aisling and nods her head, "Though, seems I have another, so it should be fine."
Knigi scribbles in her notes, still checking the time, small shapes of purple floating from her paw, quickly dissipating, mouth moving silently, still slightly red under her fur.
A shadow anomaly squeezes through the small pinprick in the arch, coming into Prime from Shadow without a sound.
A shadowy anomaly flickers, growing bright, tracing the shapes of the tunnel around it. Then it bursts into a whiff of vapor and glowing dust.
A shadowy anomaly stiffens and drops dead as the venom proves too much for its system.
Rihrin has slain a shadowy anomaly.
Softly, Knigi says, "Three hours, forty something minutes."
Rihrin nods her head at Knigi.
"Mine know how to reach Me within Dendara," Haern confirms, though Aisling's warning seems to snag what attention the Hunter has left for Rihrin. His great brow furrows, focusing on something transpiring between the archway - the Shadow there - and you. Deciding something in that brief moment, the Hunter reaches out, snatching you up with one hand and dragging the woman towards Him as steel flashes in His hand.
[Clashing voices, and nothing but:] we should have waited / Too /godsdamned/ quick.
Drawn by Aisling's concern, the Hunter reaches out towards you suddenly, yanking you suddenly closer as a grim looking blade springs into His hand.
You have been slain by misadventure.
The Hall of the Underking
You find yourself in a large, open hall. So large, you soon realize, that you cannot actually see any walls no matter how far into the distance you attempt to focus. The floor is of a milky-white stone or marble, marvelously engraved with tiny patterns, runes, figures, all interlocking and interacting with one another and seeming to depict an ancient, mystical story which you despair at being unable to comprehend. Occasional silky curtains and ornate tapestries hang from milky-white pillars which span the gap between floor to ceiling every few dozen yards or so. You are peripherally aware of thousands of people all around you, the dim cacophony of their voices lapping against your consciousness like a sea of whispers, but when you attempt to focus on any individual, their perception slips away from you and you see no one there. Before you on a raised dais rests a huge, oval mirror bordered in the same ornately-carved alabaster. Without knowing how, you are aware that this mirror is the gateway to the mortal realm. The Soul Mirror looms forbiddingly, smoke rising from the bound-wound across its surface.
You see exits leading east, north, south, and west.
You move forward toward the giant mirror, marveling at its size and flat, reflective surface. Smoke streams from a partially healed wound along its expanse and, strangely, you can see nothing reflected in the mirror, but it may be some trick of the light from this angle.
Ascending the polished, white stone steps of the dais, you draw closer to the grand mirror. The alabaster stone framing its glassy surface bears an array of incredibly intricate runic engraving, so intertwined that the entire surface of the stone could be one huge rune. As you move closer, you notice even finer details carved into the stone, almost impossibly tiny patterns decorating every space in the fine runework.
You reach the top of the dais and gaze into the mirror itself. What you see there makes you tremble involuntarily and your knees go weak. The image in the mirror is You. Not your outward physical appearance, but the true you, your inner being. Every secret thought, every hope, every hate, every conviction you hold and every lie you tell yourself is reflected back in the near-perfect surface of the mirror.
It is now dawn on Tisday, the 5th of Niuran, year 503 of the Midnight Age.
Slowly, methodically, the mirror shows you every facet of your psyche. You cannot help but weep as your secret fears and insecurities appear, plainly and without fanfare, in the mirror's face before you. Long-buried nightmares and worries you had concealed even from yourself boil back up from the recesses of your mind to be presented in this accursed mirror.
The images in the mirror shift now, and you experience a hopeful feeling as it begins rendering your dreams and aspirations as visions on its surface. All your hopes and goals, from silly and inconsequential to grand and world-changing, dance across the mirror. You realize, though, that you are dead - and the hopeful feeling yields to a moment of cold dread, a terror that your dreams for the future may never see fruition.
Your sense of dread fades as quickly as it arrived, as the mirror flickers again and you are shown those aspects of your psyche that you find most admirable. Relationships with your few close companions, the way you handle conflicts, and your adherence to your inner beliefs all take form in the mirror's mystical montage. You smile inwardly, encouraged by the acknowledgement of these qualities.
The mirror flashes suddenly, the highlighted remnant of its patched wound startling you from your reverie. Now the visions depict a story, that of the new life of a newborn infant. You recognize a prominent figure in the rapid succession of scenes as your mother, and the infant, of course, is you. Something tugs at your mind with this recollection, a question bubbling - is this your most recent life, or another, in a long series of journeys by your own self-same soul?
You watch your early childhood replayed rapidly in scenes, images, and visually-portrayed emotions. Soon, fragments of the story trigger your early memories as you recognize childhood places and events. You watch, entranced, as your childhood plays out before you, remembering all its joys and sorrows long forgotten.
The montage continues, telling the story of your adolescent years. You smile wryly, observing your own teenage foibles and insecurities from an adult perspective. The years continue past, every significant event and choice that shaped your youthful Self portrayed plainly, their significance only now made apparent to you.
Now the path of your adult life plays out before you, from the bold and naive days of your eighteenth year. The story is utterly complete, with no significant action or event omitted, no matter how secret or neglected your actual memories. You feel totally exposed, without refuge or excuse from your own past.
The mirror flashes again, this time more brilliantly, and becomes alive with an impossibly chaotic maelstrom of color, and though you know not how, smells, tastes, sounds and feelings. You are totally awestruck, unable to look away yet unable to process this raw overload of sensory information. Terror overtakes you, and you struggle to maintain your most basic sanity.
Suddenly, you understand. There is a pattern to the seemingly chaotic sensory cacophony, and you comprehend it at last. As if the final clue of a riddle falls into place, you suddenly recognize that the mirror is showing you the true form of the Creator of All, Varian, the Celestine.
Raw humility overwhelms you as you fully understand your utter insignificance in the presence of the Absolute Divine Creator. Wanting only to fall to your knees, your awe is so overpowering that you can only stand there and weep in mute supplication, though a nagging, inexplicable feeling of unease gnaws faintly at your mind.
A Voice fills your mind, echoing in the farthest recesses of your consciousness, "Know that I know You. Know that you are a part of Me, and that My Will is yours. Know that your story is My story, for you are of Me. Know too that your story is not yet complete." And with that, the mirror abruptly goes blank, its polished surface reflecting nothing at all. You collapse, with relief and with joy, for you know now that your Creator wills you to live again. Exhausted, your consciousness rapidly slides away...
When you regain consciousness, you are confused about where you are and how you got here. Darkness surrounds you, save for a single candle. A look around tells you that you are in a rough cave, with a single table bearing the candle. An entrance, visible because it is slightly lighter than the rest of the shadow, beckons from across the cave.
Within the Cave.
The interior of this cave is rather large and has a mystical energy permeating through the air. A tall ceiling spans upwards in a roundish fashion, while the ground beneath is firm, ebony soil. Lively saplings sprout from the fertile earth, while a tranquil silence blesses this cave. It seems impossible to travel further into the cave, instead several monolithic gateways line the edge of the cave, leading into the unknown. A helpful sign floats here, begging to be read! READ SIGN to view it. Chiseled with runic symbols, an ancient pylon of weathered stone has been buried deep into the earth here and glows with restrained power.
You see exits leading east, north, northeast, south, and southeast.
You have emoted: But why? One could ask. Why let Taye come back? Why let a potential agent of Ohlsana back? One could ask why, forever, until one recalls that the Mirror has nothing to show but an image woven long before, perhaps no true will woven there save for Creation and Life's need for continued existence.
[Unwoven, not just yet reformed. She does not even know if the din inside her mind, which had been inside her head, her chest, the hollow inside her fingertips, everywhere, is truly gone.]
You have emoted: Taye can only stand there - or is it lie there? And as she is living, she breathes, and the fragmented mind flees to find an anchor in what had come before.
[Golden light. Golden light had come to save her. It had drawn her out, back into the pot where the mutagen was held - but wait, that /isn't/ her.]
Holbrook?
[The pot had been sitting on the bedspread - no, it had not. He'd put it on the floor. The pot had held harmless quicksilver - no, it had not. And they were only trying, in their own way, to make things better.]
Your pose is now set as:
Taye sits on the floor of the Cave, head lolling, eyes shut, breathing.
You have emoted: It is autumn. It will be cold soon. The Kelki lifts faintly trembling hands, firefly eyes now obscured by powder-blue skin, and her fingertips sink into her arms first, and when the pads of them push in, they leave no inky smudges behind. Would Taye need to search within herself again? Would it take more blades? And the most pressing query: Was her Gleaner /all right?/
[And it is that one question that finally draws the shivering Kelki to her feet, and the single directive is not formed in a structured tongue.]
Taye
1