RETURN OF THE NAVIGATOR, 654 CE
[starting with the explosion of the beacon]
Amidst flattened grass.
A strong breeze whistles over the ground. Once tall grasses lay flattened against the ground, forming a circular pattern around a sizable crater. Bits of gravel have been firmly embedded in the crater, barely visible amidst the damp dirt. Slowly trickling water flows in from the north, weaving its way among the flattened grasses towards the crater, doing more to dampen the dirt than fill the crater. An enormous rhombicosidodecahedron-shaped beacon hovers a little bit off the ground here. A fluffy husky puppy sniffs anything that isn't moving here. A humble song sparrow twitters cheerily here, flickers of aetherspace around her wings conveying a dizzying sense of scale. Lendren Starfall with a Rainbow face stands here, surrounded by faint sparkles of prismatic light about her form. She wields a scuffed mandolin bearing the stories of the road in her left hand and a Gnomish Industries Multitool in her right hand. She are surrounded by a deflection bubble.
Tikki puts a bit of light essence into an enormous rhombicosidodecahedron-shaped beacon.
An enormous rhombicosidodecahedron-shaped beacon absorbs a bit of light essence into it, and begins to throb with power for a few moments before settling down.
With a wistful look on his face, Tikki touches an enormous rhombicosidodecahedron-shaped beacon.
In response to Tikki's interaction with an enormous rhombicosidodecahedron-shaped beacon, the beacon flares with a bright light! Mist briefly surrounds the beacon before the light suddenly fires off a bright beam towards the sky!
A dazzingly bright light shoots up from the Grey Moors, piercing the skies above.
Suddenly and quite inexplicably, an enormous rhombicosidodecahedron-shaped beacon loudly explodes into an immeasurable number of shards! So small and numerous are the shard, that it is more akin to a misty dust, which slowly fades away upon the gentle breeze of the Grey Moors.
Almost as soon as the bright light shoots up from the Grey Moors, a loud explosion resounds across the First World and the beaconing light ceases!
Tikki blinks.
You blink.
Tikki runs around madly, flapping his arms in a blind panic.
Nepenthe arrives from the southwest.
You shift your eyes suspiciously from side to side.
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says, "Ooh nice."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Oh gods, oh gods, I broke it?!"
Tikki runs around madly, flapping his arms in a blind panic.
Lendren puts her hands on her hips and goes "Hmmm!"
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says, "So does this mean we're not shining a 'come and get us' light into the Void now?"
Lendren Starfall says, "Apparently not."
Lilting in a dark, ethereal voice, you whisper, "Ah, I suppose it wasn't as indestructible as you thought."
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says to Tikki, "Good job, that was a terrible idea to turn that thing on."
Lendren Starfall says to Tikki, "Actually it vanished the moment Nepenthe arrived."
Cerosir arrives from the southwest.
Lendren gives Nepenthe the once-over, eyeing him suspiciously.
Cerosir creases his brow in a frown.
Nepenthe hums innocently to himself.
Cerosir, of the Tide asks, "Is everyone okay?"
Tikki paces back and forth nervously.
Lendren Starfall says, "Maybe it was afraid of being fed hot peppers. We already tested with rice."
Lilting in a dark, ethereal voice, you whisper, "And carrots."
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says, "Sure, blame it on me. I'll own that, as the opposed-to-powering-the-thing guy."
Nodding, Lendren Starfall says, "And carrots."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "This is awful, awful. If one of the divine sent that down here, now it's my fault they can't get back!"
Tikki runs around madly, flapping his arms in a blind panic.
Nepenthe peers at Tikki unscrupulously.
Xiran dances down a moonbeam and alights gently on the ground.
Lendren Starfall says to Nepenthe, "Oh, I figured it was a bad idea from the start. But this is Lusternia. Doing obviously catastrophic things against which we have been warned is perhaps our most well-established tradition."
Cyprian arrives from the southwest.
Lendren Starfall says, "So since it was inevitable -someone- was gonna do it, I figured I might as well lean in."
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says to Tikki, "If Darvellan the Navigator can't get back without a hugeass light shining the way, he doesn't deserve the title."
Lendren snickers softly to herself.
Nepenthe nods solemnly to Lendren.
Xiran Stormcrow says, "-Lord- Darvellan. Let us not neglect to pay respects."
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says to Lendren, "Right, if you didn't do it, Xenthos would've."
Lendren Starfall says, "Well, to be fair, navigators are exactly the people who make and use navigational aids."
Cyprian ponders the situation.
Tikki, Sugary Savant says to Nepenthe, "Listen we all get lost from time to time. Good at traversal or no, I'd still feel bad!"
Lendren Starfall says to Nepenthe, "Actually it was Huskii who did it first."
Nepenthe's eyes sparkle with amusement.
You murmur softly to yourself.
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says, "Anyway, now there's not a light guiding whatever -Lord- Darvellan found out there that spooked Him so much."
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu asks Tikki, "How'd you blow it up?"
Lilting in a dark, ethereal voice, you whisper, "Assuming it is Lord Darvellan, of course."
Xiran nods to you.
Tikki, Sugary Savant says to Nepenthe, "All I did was give it essence like normal! It started up fine and then a moment later, KABLEWIE!"
Lendren Starfall says, "And as for the explosion, the shards were so small they were more akin to a misty dust."
Nepenthe ponders for a moment and says "Hrm..."
With a shrug, Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says, "I think it's good."
Tikki sweats profusely and wrings his hands nervously.
Xiran pats Tikki in a friendly manner.
A thoughtful scholar scuttles in from the southwest.
Gesturing excitedly, a thoughtful scholar exclaims, "What was that!?"
Lendren greets a thoughtful scholar with a sincere smile.
Deadpan, you whisper, "An explosion."
A thoughtful scholar peers high and low, bending and twisting every which way as he looks about.
Cerosir points accusingly at Tikki.
Lendren Starfall says to a thoughtful scholar, "Tikki powered it up and it turned inside out. And exploded."
Cerosir, of the Tide says, "Their fault."
A thoughtful scholar exclaims, "Where'd the beacon go!?"
Tikki whines pitifully.
A thoughtful scholar exclaims, "It turned inside out!?"
Lendren Starfall says, "It turned to dust."
You pat Tikki in a friendly manner.
Lendren Starfall says, "Okay, I made that part up."
Lendren Starfall says, "But definitely it exploded."
Nepenthe crosses his arms expectantly.
Pondering thoughtfully, all panic gone for the moment, a thoughtful scholar says, "I wonder what an inside-out rhombicosidodecahedron would look like..."
A thoughtful scholar frowns at Lendren.
Cyprian frowns at a thoughtful scholar.
Lendren Starfall says, "Well, geometrically it would be the same thing. There is no inherent definition to 'inside' and 'outside'."
Xiran makes a weird face, attempting and failing utterly at the mental acrobatics to turn the shape inside-out.
Xiran shakes her head as if to clear it.
A stoat rushes in from the southwest in a flash of fur.
Thumbing his nose thoughtfully, a thoughtful scholar says, "Hmmm! Well, it doesn't look to have damaged anything, and nobody looks injured."
Cerosir, of the Tide asks a small stoat, "Are you here to investigate also?"
A small stoat attempts to imitate a sheep with a "Baaaaahhhhhh."
Lendren Starfall says to a thoughtful scholar, "Indeed, the pieces left behind are so small as to be devoured by the mist, ruining Esei's plans of making tea cups from it."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Nothing injured except my pride and nerves."
Lifting a dainty hand to finger your neckline, you glance about with uncertain disdain.
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says, "And as an added benefit, we're not broadcasting Lusternia's location to whatever spooky thing in the Void."
Lilting in a dark, ethereal voice, you whisper, "That was not I, I'm afraid."
Midnight shadows coalesce around a new day, and Mother Night embraces the land in utter darkness.
It is now the 6th of Dvarsh, 654 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 29 days until the New Moon.
Tikki, Sugary Savant whispers, "They would have been such cute tea cups too..."
Tikki whines pitifully.
Lendren Starfall says, "Oh sorry. Tikki's idea."
Lendren thumps herself on the forehead.
Spirit-Touched Cyprian says, "Is it possible to send some light signals up ? The new arrival might be pretty close already."
Nepenthe shifts his eyes over Cyprian with a look of suspicion.
Cerosir ponders the two small stoats. "A gathering herd," he says.
Lendren Starfall says, "Right, so, if it is Lord Darvellan, hopefully He got far enough before it exploded that now he can just stop at the nearest shop and ask for directions for the rest of the way, because I don't know what else we could do to help other than go to His fulcrux and shout really loudly."
Rubbing his chin again, a thoughtful scholar says, "You all were keeping that beacon pretty well lit, on and off, yes? Might not have been made intended for such repeated use..."
Xiran curtseys gracefully before Uzriel.
Lendren Starfall says, "Hard to tell, all we knew is it seemed to die out and then need to be activated again, but we were guessing based on insufficient information. Next time He should send an operating manual."
Uzriel inclines his head politely to those around him.
Voice muffled by his mask, Necrochemist Uzriel d'Vanecu, Demagogue of Dissonance says, "Oh its completely gone?"
Lendren Starfall says, "Whereas if it's -not- Him, or some other well-intentioned Divine, as Nepenthe says, just as well."
A thoughtful scholar shakes his head.
Scratching his head, a thoughtful scholar wanders out to the southwest, preoccupied.
A small stoat sniffs Cerosir, trying to decipher just what that smell emanating from him is.
Nepenthe hums an atonal little ditty to himself, clearly pleased.
Xiran Stormcrow says to Uzriel, "The scholar here was just ah, putting forward the possibility the beacon had not been designed to sustain the beam as we had made it do."
Voice muffled by his mask, Necrochemist Uzriel d'Vanecu, Demagogue of Dissonance says, "So we broke something an Elder made? That's satisfying."
Lendren purses her lips, deep in thought.
Cerosir, of the Tide says to Nepenthe, "There's just as much a chance that it was one of your departed Pantheon trying to get home, ya know."
Your soft voice reaches out to Tikki, Sugary Savant, tickling their ear, "At least you have made your mark?"
Tikki flops down onto the ground.
Lendren Starfall says, "If it wasn't intended to run that long, then one has to assume that if Lord Darvellan or another Divine made it, it ran as long as needed, if not longer, for its intended purposes."
Xiran tilts her head, listening to the gathered.
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says to Cerosir, "Not likely, history considered."
Uzriel waves his hand dismissively.
Nepenthe glances at a sandstone sundial wrist watch and then at the sky.
A taurian trudges in from the southwest.
A taurian pilgrim's eyes widen in disbelief as she softly exclaims, "Whoa."
Cerosir nods his head at a taurian pilgrim.
A taurian pilgrim scratches at the base of her horns in confusion.
You murmur softly to yourself.
Cerosir, of the Tide says to a taurian pilgrim, "A gathering of people staring at an empty space in the middle of a field. -Very- worrisome."
Lendren greets a taurian pilgrim with a sincere smile.
A taurian pilgrim says, "Very much so. Did someone blow up?"
Lendren Starfall says to Cerosir, "Seems quite Lusternian."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Something, rather."
Cerosir grins and nods at Lendren.
Lendren glances askance at Tikki.
Revelrous Nepenthe Dahyu says, "Well unless the sky's about to fall, I need to get back to my Nep nap. Good luck everyone!"
Lendren heaves an almighty groan.
Nepenthe waves furiously and says, "See you later!"
Lendren Starfall says to Nepenthe, "You just called it a Nep nap."
Lendren Starfall says to Nepenthe, "I don't think we can be friends anymore."
Voice muffled by his mask, Necrochemist Uzriel d'Vanecu, Demagogue of Dissonance says, "So no shards or anything left huh?"
Nepenthe hums an atonal little ditty to himself, clearly pleased.
Shaking her head at Uzriel, Lendren says "Nope."
Lendren Starfall says to Uzriel, "They were so small they were basically dust."
A taurian pilgrim opens her mouth as if to say something, but pauses.
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Fed it essence as normal, it started up again, and then but a moment later, boom! Nothing but dust."
Cerosir tilts his head curiously at a taurian pilgrim.
Lendren Starfall says, "I suppose only those of us here could see the particulate nature of the shards with that precision."
A taurian pilgrim waves goodbye.
Continuing her journey, a taurian pilgrim trudges off to the southwest.
You ponder the situation.
Lendren ponders the situation.
Lendren Starfall says to Xiran, "Or maybe you found a way to move it and it just looked like exploding it?"
Xiran blinks.
Lendren Starfall says, "Well, you were SO determined."
Xiran Stormcrow says, "If I had moved it, then how would everyone be coming back here to power it successfully?"
Lendren Starfall says, "I mean the explosion we saw was actually you moving it."
Xiran's eyes sparkle with amusement.
Churning waters of liquid light swirl into view from the southwest, radiant droplets splashing about as the tide ebbs to reveal Daxi.
Lendren Starfall says, "Fess up! we're on to you!"
Xiran Stormcrow says, "Nay, I was the last of you here."
Daxi blinks.
Xiran curtseys gracefully before Daxi.
Daxi gives Xiran a respectful salute.
Lendren Starfall says, "Naturally. You were off whereever you were moving it to!"
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says, "The thing is gone?"
Lendren claps her hands excitedly as she intones a hearty, "Boom!"
You nod.
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Blew up into dust."
Tikki gives a pained sigh.
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says, "That is unfortunate."
Lendren Starfall says, "At least I got a sketch before it did."
Xiran tilts her head.
Daxi tilts her head back and looks up at the sky.
Xiran Stormcrow whispers to Lendren, "It was definitively not gnomish technology then?"
Lendren Starfall says, "Didn't look it. It was all edges and spheres and then countless fibrous strands. Not a gear in sight."
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says, "Did you put too much power into it?"
Lendren Starfall says, "Looked to be the normal amount. The scholar that visited speculated it was only meant to run so many times."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "I made sure to count, thirty pieces."
Lendren Starfall says, "That's what it's been every time since the first, it seems."
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says, "Perhaps it has already served its purpose."
Lendren nods her head emphatically.
Tikki paces back and forth nervously.
Lendren Starfall says, "Whoever sent it perhaps already can see the destination by now."
Spirit-Touched Cyprian says, "Well, they just needed it to correct their path, right? Not see it the whole time."
Lendren Starfall says, "Sufficient samples of signals allow one to correct for drift and isolate a vector, I would assume."
Xiran ponders Cyprian's words in consideration. She nods slowly.
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "I hope so... I may never forgive myself if I messed up so badly..."
Amused, Xiran Stormcrow says to Lendren, "I have no idea what you just said. That sounded like an aetherpilot talking."
Lendren ponders Xiran thoughtfully, looking her up and down.
Lendren Starfall says to Xiran, "Close your eyes."
Xiran lightly pats Tikki in a friendly manner, withdrawing a hand dusted in sugar.
Xiran Stormcrow says to Lendren, "Eh?"
Xiran blinks before properly obeying, hovering in place with eyes closed.
Lendren steps a bit away and begins to move slowly around the flattened grasses. "Now with your eyes closed, follow my voice towards me," she says as she moves.
Lendren falls quiet, then hums a note every few moments from a slightly different position.
Xiran's pointed ears twitch. She cautiously turns to Lendren's voice before flitting forward, startling when her wings brush someone else.
Xiran turns and turns like a bee in a meadow, seeking Lendren's melody instead of summer blossoms. Huffing slightly, "What's this demonstrate, dear Lendren?"
Lendren Starfall says, "You see how the first time you heard my voice you only got a general idea of the direction, but then a few more pulses of my song let you narrow in the right direction?"
[I, and a few others, departed for a bit here.]
Amidst flattened grass.
Small particles of dust fly through the air, caught up in a moderate gale. Once tall grasses lay flattened against the ground, forming a circular pattern around a sizable crater. Bits of gravel have been firmly embedded in the crater, barely visible amidst the damp dirt. Slowly trickling water flows in from the north, weaving its way among the flattened grasses towards the crater, doing more to dampen the dirt than fill the crater. A fluffy husky puppy sniffs anything that isn't moving here. A humble song sparrow twitters cheerily here, flickers of aetherspace around her wings conveying a dizzying sense of scale. Swaying in place not unlike a thin sapling, a pale, overgrown mugwump stares implacably about himself with striking cerulean eyes. A leopard lurks in the shadows, curiously watching anything that moves. Clad in matte black leather, a golden-eyed savage lingers here like a living shadow. Waykeeper Qistrel Strongleaf with a Dryad face sojourns here, veiled by incensed mists winding into a wispy fog. She wields a black iron-hilted dagger in her left hand and the Cudgel of the Seven Beetles in her right hand. Huskii is here, pondering thoughtfully. They wield a flowering garland in their left hand. Spirit-Touched Cyprian is here. He wields a steel claymore with both hands. Xiran Stormcrow is here. She wields an exquisite ink brush in her left hand. Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf stands quietly here, trickles of water playing across her form. She wields a finely crafted rapier in her left hand and a radiant chalice in her right hand. Lendren is here, pondering thoughtfully. She wields a scuffed mandolin bearing the stories of the road in her left hand and a Gnomish Industries Multitool in her right hand. She are surrounded by a deflection bubble. Tikki, Sugary Savant stands here, his presence perfuming the air with the warm scent of mouth-watering confections. He wields a sticky spatula of Solstice peppermint in his left hand. Starlight shrouds a wanderer in the mist here within a twinkling mantle of sidereal radiance.
You see a single exit leading southwest.
Spirit-Touched Cyprian says, "There was a pilgrim too."
Lendren Starfall says to Cheliyi, "You missed my scientific demonstration to Xiran."
A wry smile spreads across Xiran's face.
You pet Ilistala, an enormous leopard ingratiatingly.
A loud rumbling emanates from Ilistala as she rubs against you.
Cheliyi peers at Lendren unscrupulously.
Lendren gives a pained sigh.
A pale, overgrown mugwump nods his head at you.
Xiran Stormcrow says, "He made me dizzy."
Lendren Starfall says to Cheliyi, "Okay. Close your eyes."
Xiran curtseys gracefully before Xenthos.
Cheliyi frowns, but nods and does so.
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says, "Yes you can, you just point a weapon a them and tell them not to leave."
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says, "It's quite easy."
Xiran blinks at Daxi.
Eyes closed, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says to Daxi, "Is so -rude-."
Lendren walks a bit away, then says, "Now follow my voice," and begins walking around the clearing, occasionally singing a single note.
Cheliyi follows Lendren's rather accurately, her frills twitching and adjusting their angle to let her listen in Lendren's general direction.
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "I might be a bad subjects because am already very very nearsighted, Miss Lendren."
Closing her eyes, Cheliyi aims her frills at Lendren, the salmon-pink appendages twitching curiously. She seems to be listening intently.
Lendren Starfall says, "After a few pulses, you can figure out my direction even if I stop adding more notes."
Comprehension flashes across Cheliyi's face.
Qistrel tries not to laugh.
Lendren Starfall says, "Each time you pick up my voice, you narrow in the range of possible locations, even if I'm moving slowly, and thus you don't need me to keep making sounds until you come all the way up to e."
You ponder the situation.
Cheliyi opens her eyes, and then squints over at Lendren. "Makes sense, yesly."
16:52:09.720 Daxi claps her hands excitedly as she intones a hearty, "Boom!"
Cheliyi drops a pale, overgrown mugwump.
A pale, overgrown mugwump begins to follow Cheliyi obediently.
You give Cheliyi the once-over, eyeing her suspiciously.
Cheliyi hums innocently at you.
Cyprian grins mischievously at Lendren.
Lendren nods her head at Cheliyi.
Cyprian looks up.
Cheliyi sighs quietly, her frills drooping as her tail drags on the ground behind her.
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "I need to rest."
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "Nothing better explodes without me agains."
Cheliyi peers about herself unscrupulously.
Huskii tilts back their head to gaze at the stars overhead.
A wry smile spreads across a pale, overgrown mugwump's face.
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says, "Experiments are hard work."
Daxi nods her head emphatically.
Spirit-Touched Cyprian says, "So, if They really arrive here.. should we dodge?"
Amused, Xiran Stormcrow says, "Perhaps we should not be here at all."
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "I think we will have more problems than just dodging."
Lendren Starfall says, "Suppose we'll find out when we know who or what comes, if anything even does."
Cheliyi waves goodbye.
Lendren Starfall says, "We cannot dispense with the possibility that Tikki blew it up too early and the signal was still incomplete."
Her steps oddly disconnected from her forward motion, Kaiyo arrives from the southwest.
Lifting her head, Ilistala looks at Luce hopefully.
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "Be well, alls! Be above in your brains to the below! Or. Something like thats."
The corners of Cheliyi's mouth turn up as she grins mischievously.
Tikki paces back and forth nervously.
Spirit-Touched Cyprian says, "They may be just delayed a bit."
Cyprian ponders the situation.
Xiran's eyes sparkle with amusement.
Waykeeper Qistrel Strongleaf says, "So how long are we gonna stand here for?"
Huskii shrugs helplessly.
Daxi checks her watch.
Huskii Myeras of the Misty Vale says, "Not much left to see here... Just little bits of gravel and glass."
Daxi tilts back her head to gaze at the stars overhead.
Lendren Starfall says, "Honestly I'm surprised this many people stayed this long! I thought maybe I was being especially charming."
Lendren hums a happy tune.
Uncertain, Xiran Stormcrow says, "I might return to the Commune, in case we need to raise the forests' defenses."
Huskii nods their head sagely.
Huskii waves goodbye.
Xiran Stormcrow says, "Please call out if you sense anything amiss."
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says, "Well there's no unusual lights in the sky so far."
Xiran dips her grey head in thanks.
Lendren Starfall says, "I'll keep an eye on things here in case there's anything to see."
Xiran searches the air in front of her, then tugs upon an invisible strand of force.
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat says, "I'm mostly here to attend the ferretkin."
Tikki gives Luce a peck on the cheek.
You pat Tikki in a friendly manner.
Your eyes raise to the heavens as a look of hope flashes across your face.
You pat Luce in a friendly manner.
Cyprian sneezes.
Twinkling merrily, a blue light descends from the skies into the Grey Moors.
A flare of light precedes an explosion of stars, revealing Darvellan in their midst.
You tilt your head back and look up at the sky.
Utterly entranced, Lendren emits a long "Ooooh."
Lendren bows respectfully to Darvellan.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Ah, you found My beacon."
Tikki blinks.
LOOK DARVELLAN
He is a radiant immortal and is surrounded by a cloud of ethereal stars, each seemingly set in an orbit about Him. Drawn back into a shoulder-length ponytail from its widow's peak source, silky hair as dark as ebony offsets slightly the tanned, worn complexion of His face. With only the faintest hint of cragginess, His otherwise handsome face is somewhat marred by the jagged, white scar running across His right eye, starting from the temple and working its way to the base of His nose. Immediately surrounding the searing scar, grey flesh creeps around both the scar and the unseeing eye, creating a ghastly effect. While lithe and slender, toned muscles also grace His frame, seemingly dancing beneath His swarthy skin with each movement made.
Grown out just long enough to be prickly without being annoying or abrasive to the touch, this black-as-night beard graces the Navigator's face, running along His cheeks and chin, but no lower than just below His jawbone. Seemingly lighter than the rest of the stubble, though barely so, a strip runs beneath His nose, joining on either side of the mouth.
He is wearing:
a pair of nearly knee-high, faded leather boots
a cloud of stars suspended in starlight
a starlit pearl pin
a pair of cuffed breeches
a canvas backpack
a jet-black tricorne covered with glowing lines of power sits jauntily atop his head
Tikki claps his hands together merrily.
Among the sparkling motes of light, a translucent figure appears in the air and then quickly solidifies as Xiran comes into view.
You give Darvellan a respectful bow, one hand clasped over your heart.
Luce bows respectfully to Darvellan.
Tikki bows respectfully to Darvellan.
Lendren Starfall says, "The note that was in it with instructions was partially damaged but we were able to decipher a likely meaning."
Cyprian bows respectfully to Darvellan.
Daxi gives Darvellan a respectful salute.
Lendren Starfall says, "Incidentally, was it distorted or disrupted?"
With especially precise folds, Qistrel assembles a silver firefly origami from four sheets of vellum.
Xiran freezes before bowing before Lord Darvellan.
Darvellan looks about those gathered, and then at the surrounding horizons at large.
Darvellan, the Navigator says to Lendren, "Hmm, oh, the message on the scrap of shirt? Disrupted."
Lendren claps her hands together merrily.
Lendren Starfall says, "That's what I thought of first! Then I thought distorted might also apply, as to interplanar gates."
Waving a hand dismissively, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "But that's not important. Did Lantra and Terentia make it back safely?"
Xiran searches the air in front of her, then tugs upon an invisible strand of force.
Lendren Starfall says, "We have not, I think, seen Them as yet. The beacon only came apart about a day and a half ago."
Looking around, Lendren Starfall says, "Has anyone else heard from Them?"
Darvellan creases His brow in a frown.
Lilting in a dark, ethereal voice, you whisper, "They did, Lord Navigator, though both returned to wonderings beyond our mortal perception now."
Lendren Starfall says, "Oh, I thought it was meant just now."
Darvellan nods solemnly to you.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "It should have been quite some time ago."
Alastair arrives, following Xiran Stormcrow.
Among the sparkling motes of light, a translucent figure appears in the air and then quickly solidifies as Xiran comes into view.
Ilistala eyes Xiran warily, settling into a predatory crouch.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "They made it safely, then, at least?"
You nod.
Lendren Starfall says to Darvellan, "And it was Nohaji of whom you wrote, yes?"
Frowning slightly, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Yes, I lost track of them when the anomaly hit Us."
Waykeeper Qistrel Strongleaf says to Darvellan, "Excuse my skepticism, but we often have fell for beings pretending to be other beings, how can we be sure you are who you appear to be?"
Lendren Starfall says to Qistrel, "Both of your inferences of names were spot on!"
Darvellan frowns at Qistrel.
Xiran sprinkles a circle of salt around Qistrel, and a shimmering white orb springs up around her.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "It pains Me that what you say is true."
Lendren Starfall says, "Hmm, it is a good thought."
Xiran glances to Darvellan, wings fluttering warily.
With barely a sound, a spherical entity enters from the southwest, its legs touching the ground with the lightest of motions.
Lifting her head, Ilistala looks at Ayisdra hopefully.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Drocilla...so cleverly pretended to be Carakhan, and Nohaji is known for similar...actions."
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "By what means would you have Me prove Myself, then?"
Colour drains from your surroundings as Uzriel manifests within a pall of cinereal mist creeping in from the southwest.
Ilistala eyes Uzriel warily, settling into a predatory crouch.
With a wistful look on her face, Lendren touches a translucent crystal bindi.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "To convince that I am neither Drocilla nor Nohaji?"
You reach out and touch a phantasmal shroud of shadows.
As your fingers brush against a phantasmal shroud of shadows a cacophony of whispers fills your ears, murmuring of the past, the present and the future.
Lendren Starfall says, "Tricky conundrum."
Darvellan raises His right eyebrow in questioning.
Qistrel looks uncertain. "Well...actually I hadn't thought of that."
Lilting in a dark, ethereal voice, you whisper, "I... ah. May have an option?"
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Oh?"
Lendren tilts her head and listens intently to you.
Raising His other eyebrow, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Do tell, then."
Huskii gives you the once-over, eyeing you suspiciously.
Lilting in a dark, ethereal voice, you whisper, "You may answer privately if You so wish, but to which creche were You and Your siblings borne?"
You feel a slight tug within your chest and the air around you sparkles with motes of bright light.
The Tree of Life blooms from a spark of numinous light, unfurling the sefira in a display of white light. Cheliyi steps out of the centre, wreathed in energy.
Darvellan, the Navigator says to you, "And is this knowledge that only I would know?"
The low mist swirls around your ankles, creating the impression of a sea of grey water.
Lendren Starfall whispers to Qistrel, "Would Nohaji have possessed the technology to make a beacon of this sort, after consuming the Navigator?"
With a dip of the head, you whisper, "Perhaps not, Lord Navigator, but I am unsure of how many -would- already know."
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Yet you yourself know?"
Sweeping across the heavens on a gentle breeze, the serene voice of Maylea, Bloom of Serenity echoes, "Darvellan."
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat says, "That ought to do it."
Cheliyi pants as she tumbles out of her teleportation, flopping on the ground. She immediately scrambles to her feet and dusts off her skirt. "Well, ah, if Esei would stop being so cryptics, a few of us-".
Cheliyi blinks.
Waykeeper Qistrel Strongleaf whispers to Lendren, "I have no idea."
Huskii's ears perk up with a sudden interest.
Maylea steps quietly into view, the air bending with a swirl of prismatic colours.
Lendren bows respectfully to Maylea.
Tikki bows respectfully to Maylea.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Say Ah, Cousin Maylea!"
With a flourish of their arm, Huskii bows deeply.
Cheliyi bows respectfully to Maylea.
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat says to Lendren, "Actually the question wouldn't be whether Nohaji could create the beacon, merely whether it could be followed."
Lendren Starfall says to Maylea, "Lady of Serenity, perhaps you could help us to be sure that this is not a Soulless bearing the face of one consumed?"
Your shroud stirs, murmurs of first recognition and then irritation.
Daxi gives Maylea a respectful salute.
Luce bows respectfully to Maylea.
You have emoted: Esei shuts their open mouth, dipping into a brief bow towards Maylea before tilting their head in the direction of Darvellan.
The pointed tips of your ears twitch to hear an errant sound.
Darvellan, the Navigator says to Maylea, "I trust You are well? It has been some time..."
Xiran bows before Maylea, the Bloom of Serenity.
Maylea turns Her gaze to Lendren for a moment before fixing Her golden eyes to Darvellan.
Smiling wryly, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "The portal-touched are concerned by My arrival, and think I may be some trick."
With a smile in return, Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says to Darvellan, "I am as I always was. Painting, as you know."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "I was just worried that I messed things up when the beacon exploded..."
Cheliyi grabs protectively at a veiled idol of the Empyreal Goddess.
Lendren beams broadly.
Lendren coughs softly.
You glance askance at a shadowy Font of the Silence.
Waykeeper Qistrel Strongleaf says, "Well, we've been tricked a lot. There were the Ice Angels for example. And that time Hallifax exploded, but it was actually a dream."
Lendren Starfall says, "I asked my Lady to come because I thought She would be able to be more sure than we could, and only the true Lady Maylea would hear my call."
Cheliyi tilts her head curiously at you.
Maylea ponders Darvellan thoughtfully, looking Him up and down.
Comprehension flashes across Xiran's face.
You have emoted: Esei offers Cheliyi a bland smile.
Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says, "You certainly look to be the true Darvellan that I knew."
Tikki wipes the back of his hand across his brow in relief.
Cheliyi glances up at the sky, as if looking for something.
Lendren Starfall says to you, "Not to disparage your method; I just thought it would be better to have more than one pie in the oven, so to speak."
Luce absently reaches up to touch a teardrop pendulum of starlit quartz.
(Order): You say, "My Lord, is there aught You might comment on, if You wish it...?"
You incline your head politely to Lendren.
Maylea reaches out to lightly touch Darvellan upon His bare chest. Her colours bleed across Darvellan's skin, flickering with faint light.
Lilting in a dark, ethereal voice, you whisper to Darvellan, "To continue my previous statement - if my Lord and Yourself truly are crechemates, then aye, I myself would know."
Lendren Starfall says to Maylea, "Thank You for helping us to be more sure, my Lady. There has been some worry we were actually calling something terrible from the Void, or some such."
Waykeeper Qistrel Strongleaf says, "And when Nemach tricked us into feeding the mushrooms, and when Lord Hajamin turned out to actually be Lord Morgfyre, and the thing with Lady Drocilla...."
Lendren grins mischievously at Qistrel.
Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says, "The essence feels the same. But, Soulless could have consumed such essence."
Qistrel continues counting on her fingers.
Xiran smiles wryly at Qistrel.
Nodding sadly, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Indeed, I fear much of Mine has."
Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says to Darvellan, "I do not know if You are You, Darvellan. No more than these shards before Us."
Cerosir, of the Tide says to Darvellan, "Mortals can help with that."
Cerosir nods his head sagely.
A velvety indigo mist roils through your surroundings, carrying a soft, intoxicating scent that promises dark triumphs and pleasures alike as Drocilla, the Enchantress returns to mortal perception.
Darvellan creases His brow in a frown.
Cheliyi's frills flick back and forth between all of the fate-touched speaking, looking a bit dazed at all of the noise. As the mist rolls in, the mugwump grimaces.
Huskii ponders the situation.
Lendren chews on her lip, deep in thought.
(Order): Nocht says, "How curious... No, My little one. I would only have you be My eyes there as you have been."
Cerosir, of the Tide says, "I mean, someone -did- have to go and say Her name."
Ethereal violet suffuses the firmament as the lilting, smoky voice of Drocilla, the Enchantress croons, "Welcome back, Darvellan dearest. Oh, I have missed you so, and had only your gift to remember you by all those long years."
(Order): You say, "Of course, my Lord."
With a flourish of her arm, Lendren bows deeply.
Luce makes a swirling gesture to conjure a breeze in an attempt to dispel a pocket of the mist around himself and Tikki.
A cloud of rainbow smoke drifts in from the southwest, heady layers swirling upwards before condensing into Ixchilgal.
Maylea presses Her lips together and withdraws Her hand from Darvellan's chest. She waves the indigo mist away, Her wildflower fragrance vying with the scent of the Enchantress.
Cheliyi inhales sharply, and then sneezes so hard that her frills puff out like balloons.
A gust of chill wind creeps into the moors, ushering fragrant indigo smoke that dances among the low-hanging morning mists. The scent is enticing, invigorating, yet the. [??]
The ground convulses as a mound of rich, liquid gold rises high. The scent of musk wafts upon the air while the liquid recedes to reveal the immaculate form of Drocilla, the Enchantress.
Lendren glances askance at Qistrel.
Maylea creases Her brow in a frown.
Darvellan, the Navigator says to Maylea, "As pleasing as Your company is, it seems to have drawn unwanted attentions."
You have emoted: Esei clasps their hands behind their back, tilting their head.
LOOK MAYLEA
She is a radiant immortal and glows with effulgent life, a powerful sense of vibrancy emanating from Her presence. There is something thoughtful and introspective about Her expression and Her brilliant golden eyes, as though She gazes farther into the soul, brushing aside the impermanent layers of existence to seek the truth within. Streaks of deep blue wind through Her chestnut hair as it falls straight down Her back to the hips, several shorter locks dangling forward to frame Her heart-shaped face. A thin line crosses the skin of Her left forearm, the only remnant of the scar from a savage bite. An aura of power plays about Her slender frame and sets Her tawny skin aglow in faint, prismatic hues.
She is wearing:
a woven sari edged in prismatic embroidery draped upon Her radiant form
a trailing rainbow sash tied loosely about Her waist
a translucent crystal bindi gleaming with prismatic colour between Her brows
an anklet hung with crystal chimes lightly resting against Her bare foot
LOOK DROCILLA
She is a radiant immortal and is breathtaking to behold, radiating a painfully sublime and gentle beauty that inexplicably drains the vibrancy and colour from all else in the room. Shimmering with an eerie effulgence, Her almond-shaped eyes are a cruel, sharp lavender; sculpted with grey and violent shadows, they draw the onlooker with their mystical allure. Her tawny skin is creamy and flawless - the visage of utter beauty, elegance and perfection - and Her high cheekbones are touched by the gentle shade of a rose. The glossy scarlet red of Her lips stands out against these soft hues with a generous fullness that makes them deliriously tempting. Every subtle movement of Her perfectly poised figure exudes a raw confidence that dominates Her surroundings, Her superlatively shaped jawline held with regal posture. Intoxicating and addictive, an entrancing scent drifts in Her wake like a cloak of perfumed silk.
Her silken hair, a hundred shades of burnished gold, is pinned like a crown of molten gold atop a visage of utter perfection. The thick, detailed braids wrap about the head with nary a disobedient wisp in a polished updo that wreathes Her face in a smouldering halo.
She is wearing:
sophisticated pants of pitch-black velvet
a set of armour rings of blackened silver over the knuckles of Her right hand
black slippers on white copper heels
a luxurious pitch-black corset trailing a tulle skirt and black mists
an exquisite smokesilver shoulder necklace
Lendren exhales slowly, allowing a long fluid breath to creep from her lungs.
Twilit motes dance within Drocilla's lavender eyes as She takes in the measure of the Navigator's shirtless form, Her nonchalance marked by the casual sliding of Her hands into the pockets of Her attire.
Cheliyi glances askance at Luce.
Xiran uneasily tugs at her ethereal shawl before dipping her grey head before the Lady Enchantress, although her gaze does not lower.
Defensively raising her hands, Daxi backs away from the situation slowly.
Luce's tail curls nervously around Tikki's ankle.
Closing Her golden eyes for the briefest moment, Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says, "Drocilla. I see You've sensed Darvellan as well."
Eiselle gazes on with rapt attention, her ears swiveling and orienting towards the Elders.
Drocilla spares Maylea a glance and smiles, then glides languidly towards the Navigator, Her white copper heels somehow eliciting a staccato against the flattened grass. Her voice is a lilting melody as She observes, "It has been a while, old friend."
Darvellan steps a pace back away from the Enchantress' advance.
Hyirah's eyes light up with elation, and her wings wiggle in excitement.
Stopping within a few steps of Darvellan, Drocilla tilts Her head slowly and lifts up Her bare right arm.
Lendren watches the interaction nervously but clearly at a loss for more to say.
Cheliyi clutches a veiled idol of the Empyreal Goddess close to her chest, watching the interaction with rapt attention.
Though the Enchantress' lips scarcely move, an incantation sung in an otherworldly voice spills from Her direction. It is over in an instant but the memory of it continues to ring deep within you. A twinkling sapphire cuff bracelet is revealed clinging to Her wrist, swathed in a swirl of dispersing indigo fog.
You crease your brow in a frown.
Smirking slightly as His left eyebrow raises halfway, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Ah, Traitorous Cousin, I see You still bear My... gift."
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "I trust it has served Celest well in My absence."
Drocilla's eyes snap to the Navigator before slowly sliding down to the bracelet which pulses with light and power. A wicked smirk curves Her ruby lips at the display and She lowers Her arm. "I would be pleased with either revelation, but I am glad... so very glad it is You, Darvellan."
Her golden eyes upon the other two Elders, Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says to Drocilla, "You are certain?"
Drocilla's lips thin as She absently shakes the wrist bearing the bracelet, as if it were abruptly an inconvenience. "It is Him," She murmurs and turns all of Her unblinking attention to Maylea for a long, long while.
Cheliyi tilts her head curiously.
Lendren ponders Drocilla thoughtfully, looking Her up and down.
A dark and seductive voice murmurs in your ear enticingly as Drocilla dissipates into a velvety indigo mist, leaving in Her wake a sense of unrestrained longing.
Cheliyi blinks.
Xiran sways back and forth.
Cheliyi shudders violently.
You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.
The very air resonates with mellifluous laughter from all around you until the dissonant echo fades along with the lingering presence.
Lendren exhales slowly, allowing a long fluid breath to creep from her lungs.
Lowering His eyebrow, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Perhaps She isn't entirely inconvenient after all, if You believe Her, Cousin Maylea."
Maylea stares after Drocilla as She fades into indigo mist. She shakes Her head and waves Her hand, calling up a breeze redolent with wildlflowers to clear the air of the Enchantress's fragrance.
Sapphira creases her brow in a frown.
17:29:58.231 -
17:29:59.008 Darvellan, the Navigator says, "I would doubt Her Myself, but I hope She hasn't acquired enough power to be two of Us at the same time."
Xiran closes her eyes and inhales deeply, absorbing the scent of her surroundings.
Lendren Starfall says to Darvellan, "I hope You do not hold against us the discourtesy of verification, Lord Navigator. It is the First World and the seed of hope it represents that we protect thereby, not our own lives or anything so tawdry."
With a flicker of a smile, Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says to Darvellan, "At least You are not She. Perhaps that is enough assurance for now."
Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says, "What brought You back to the First World in such a dramatic fashion?"
Darvellan dips His head in a slow, solemn nod.
Ixchilgal smiles at Lendren and his eyes wander up and down her body.
Cerosir, of the Tide murmurs, "Finally someone asks."
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Ah, I am afraid to say that I was quite... lost."
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Even though I should not have been."
Maylea bursts into laughter, causing wildflowers to sprout at Her feet and a fragrant breeze to dance through Her tresses.
Lendren hides a grin behind her hand.
Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says, "The Navigator, lost?"
Ixchilgal opens his mouth as if to say something, but pauses.
Ilistala, an enormous leopard gives Darvellan the once-over, eyeing Him suspiciously.
Xiran blinks. She glances to Lendren.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "There was some sort of... anomaly? Something unexpected while I was leading Nahoji away from the First World, which I had been doing for some time."
Lendren Starfall says, "Hence sending out not one but many beacons, only one of which fell here? There was some confusion whether the beacon we saw was actually many beacons."
Luce carefully steps off the ground and rests himself in midair so as not to damage any flora.
Frowning very deeply as He tugs on His stubble, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "All My hidden beacons to guide My way back were...well, I suppose both disrupted and distorted applly."
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat says, "Most sense would be to send many, many beacons hither and yon, and trust us nosy shardkin to empower it."
Lendren blushes furiously.
Maylea frowns slightly, the wildflowers about Her drawing close to Her feet. "An anomaly? What kind of anomaly?"
Turning momentarily to Lendren, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "I had sent out many, not knowing the way back."
Lendren nods her head at Darvellan.
Returning His attentions to Maylea, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "I'm not quite sure. It felt...weird might be the best word. Both warmth and a sense of loss embraced me, and I forgot Myself for a moment."
Lendren Starfall says to Darvellan, "Please forgive my curiosity. We had many discussions about these points, and about the particular construction of the beacon and ways it resembles in some ways some of the shapes found on Continuum, and whether it liked rice or could be made into tea-cups and... well, we talked a lot while we waited."
Lendren blushes furiously.
Comprehension flashes across Maylea's face.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "And then Nohaji was nowhere to be seen once it had departed."
The pointed tips of your ears twitch to hear an errant sound.
Darvellan nods solemnly to Lendren.
Luce gives Tikki the once-over, eyeing him suspiciously.
Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says, "I wonder..."
Maylea looks like She is about to say something, but then She shakes Her head.
Huskii's ears perk up with a sudden interest.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "You have a thought, Cousin?"
You have emoted: Esei's dark eyes are rather rapt upon the exchange.
Cheliyi glances askance at you.
You raise a slender brow at Cheliyi.
After a moment, Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says to Darvellan, "Well, if you lost sight of Nohaji, that is unfortunate indeed."
Lendren nods her head enthusiastically.
Frowning slightly, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Yes, it is indeed, but the chase was quite long as it was, I was almost happy to have the lose My trail."
Ixchilgal nudges Eiselle suggestively.
King of Nepotism, Ixchilgal Mes'ard, The Sassy Man-Whore whispers to Eiselle, "Who, or what is a Nohaji?"
Cheliyi blanches suddenly.
Cheliyi glances askance at Ixchilgal.
Lendren Starfall whispers to Ixchilgal, "One of the Soulless, the Face-Eater."
Lendren Starfall says, "Or was it stealer."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Could that anomaly have coincided with Lady Li-varili ahm... well. Sharding."
Lendren glances askance at Qistrel.
Alastair shudders violently.
Waykeeper Qistrel Strongleaf says, "Stealer."
You have emoted: Esei coughs, elbowing Tikki. "Splintering."
Cheliyi winces in pain.
Tikki, Sugary Savant says to you, "Exploding."
Cheliyi's eyes raise to the heavens as a look of hope flashes across her face.
You give Tikki the once-over, eyeing him suspiciously.
Maylea creases Her brow in a frown.
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat says, "Presumably capable of the same sort of deception as Morgfyre displayed on Their initial return to the Basin in the modern era."
Cyprian gives Tikki a pained sigh.
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom whispers to Tikki, "Ohmygods you're gonna get zapped."
Waykeeper Qistrel Strongleaf says, "Is that something that can be sensed by other Elders? A splintering?"
Sapphira ponders the situation.
Luce positions himself in front of Tikki, prepared to ward off all dangers.
Tikki, Sugary Savant says to Cheliyi, "I don't know all the right terms!"
Continuing to frown, Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says, "Ah yes, Li-varili was found bound to the Morokeche Seat by... Drocilla, incidentally."
Darvellan raises both of His eyebrows before furrowing them deeply.
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat says, "Things got a bit damp."
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "The Morokeche Seat?"
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "Floody."
Her expression now smoothing to inscrutability, Maylea, Bloom of Serenity says, "She has since splintered, as the little ones say."
Huskii shivers violently.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "I see the Enchantress has only gotten worse since My departure."
Lendren Starfall says to Tikki, "Well, you didn't break it, at least."
Turning as if to go, Maylea says, "I will speak more on this later if You wish, but. It is simply good to see You again, safe from the void. I think My meadows beckon." She draws upon the colours from the air about Her.
Darvellan nods His head emphatically.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Be well, Cousin."
Gracefully departing, Maylea dissolves into a swirl of prismatic colours.
"Oooooooooh!" Hyirah says, eyes wide with wonder.
Shadows grow longer in anticipation for the return of their dark mistress as Father Sun's chase brings him closer to the world's edge.
Lendren exhales slowly, allowing a long fluid breath to creep from her lungs.
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "Ah, uh. Mister Lord Navigator Darvellan? Though am not super high on the chains, as one of the Star Council, and glad to welcome you back to the Basin, and Celest is happy to see yous, yes."
Cheliyi coughs softly.
Darvellan flashes Cheliyi a joyous smile.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "It has been long since I've seen Meridian's city."
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "I hope it has been well."
Lendren chews on her lip, deep in thought.
Voice muffled by his mask, Necrochemist Uzriel d'Vanecu, Demagogue of Dissonance says, "I'm curious about the anomaly, did it vanish after You discovered it, or is it still there?"
As soon as the prismatic lights of the Bloom of Serenity depart, pools of dark shadow bubble up from underfoot and rising up from them, the Silent Lord hidden behind His veil as always.
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "And while I'm not part of Celest, I'm glad you were able to find your way home as well!"
Startled, Xiran jolts into the air.
You give Nocht a respectful bow, one hand clasped over your heart.
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "It has! We got a fancy clock tower, and uh..." She squints. "I'm not sure how long You've been gone.""
Cheliyi blinks.
Cheliyi stares blankly at Nocht.
Cheliyi glances askance.
LOOK NOCHT
More silhouette than Elder, the way the shadows on the ground seem to grasp towards Him make it unmistakable that He is a radiant immortal. Standing a little taller than the height of an average elfen, all other aspects of the Elder's appearance are shrouded in veils and robes. Flashes of brilliant emerald and prismatic light occasionally light up the air around Him, accompanied with a sickly sweet floral scent that lingers in the air.
He is wearing:
a cluster of snapdragons erupting from the shoulder of His cloak
concealing robes painted with the colours of Night that twist in the air around Him as if underwater
a veiled blackthorn crown that obscures His face
Tikki bows respectfully to Nocht.
"Eep!", Huskii screams in fright.
17:47:21.644 -
17:47:22.078 Daxi gives Nocht a respectful salute.
17:47:22.078 -
17:47:27.637 Lendren gulps nervously.
17:47:27.637 -
17:47:29.474 Luce bows respectfully to Nocht.
Tilting His head towards Darvellan, Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Well hello, Brother..."
Turning towards Nocht, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Ah, Brother Nocht! It is good to see You..."
Cheliyi glances askance at you.
Sapphira glances sidelong towards Nocht.
Xiran positions herself before the Wards of Serenwilde before bowing her grey head before Lord Nocht.
You shrug helplessly at Cheliyi.
Eyeing Nocht, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "You seem a bit...changed since last We met."
Ixchilgal peers at Xiran unscrupulously.
Albany, the stag beetle sniggers evilly.
The melodious voice of Cheliyi resonates in your mind, "Is... Is Lord Silent doing okays? I think this is the first time I've seen Him since... her words falter awkwardly.."
Nocht, the Silent whispers, "So I am... Did Our dear Cousin not tell You of Her betrayals while You were away?"
Frowning slightly, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Cousin Maylea? We only talked briefly..."
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "...but no such thing was mentioned."
Your soft voice reaches out to Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom, tickling their ear, "Hmm..."
The melodious voice of Cheliyi resonates in your mind, "You can laugh all you wants, I am just... worried."
Cheliyi shuffles her feet uneasily.
Your soft voice reaches out to Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom, tickling their ear, "Did I seem amused? I fear I am not."
The melodious voice of Cheliyi resonates in your mind, "Rights."
Nocht makes a soft tsk noise as He strides towards Darvellan. "Be careful with Her, My Dear Brother. But let us not linger on such things... What has kept you from Us all this time?"
Luce relaxes slightly.
Unforrowing His brow slightly, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "I was leading Nohaji away from the first world and lost track of time."
Cheliyi sniffs the air while fluttering a cute little rabbit nose.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "As I was telling... Cousin Maylea, I experience a sensation of warmth and loss that came washing over Me, and made Me forget Myself for a moment. Before I knew it, Nohaji was no longer chasing Me, and My way back was gone."
You have emoted: Esei tilts their head briefly towards Nocht before focusing their attention back on Darvellan.
Cheliyi ponders the situation.
Luce's eyes flicker briefly to the heavens.
Nocht circles Darvellan slowly as He whispers, "It is a lonely thing to be lost in the Void... You should join Me, Brother, now that you are returned and safe. Far less likely to get lost in the dark if You were to stop staring so much at the light."
Daxi creases her brow in a frown.
Piping up, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "Or, uh. Celest is happy to welcome You backs, Mister Navigator."
Beads of sweat break out on Cheliyi's face.
Daxi nods her head at Cheliyi.
Cheliyi adamantly does not look in Nocht's direction, looking only a small amount terrified.
A bit coldly, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "You know Me well enough to know that I go My own way, Brother."
Lendren Starfall says, "And the First Forest would also be glad to offer You hospitality or a tour should You ever wish one, Lord Navigator."
Luce's tail squeezes down as he tenses again.
You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.
King of Nepotism, Ixchilgal Mes'ard, The Sassy Man-Whore says, "At the very least, You shouldn't allow Lady Kalikai to pack Your canteen before You travel. Gotta expect a little hot and empty feelings followed by loss of time if You do that."
With an equal coldness, Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Whichever way the nearest First points You, perhaps. You are as impossible as Her. Good luck to you, Darvellan. I hope you will remember My warnings at the very least..."
The surrounding shadows wane, relaxing into their normal state as the form of Nocht, the Silent dissolves into the aether.
Cheliyi narrows her eyes to thin slits.
Cheliyi caresses a glass ampoule of bottled starlight gently.
Xiran sways back and forth.
Cyprian exhales silently.
Darvellan creases His brow in a frown.
Qistrel bows respectfully to Darvellan.
Tikki sucks thoughtfully on candied prayer beads of the Lord Epicurean.
Xiran flits about Cyprian, Hyirah, and Alastair, looking them over.
Turning to those present at large, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Barring any more of My Cousins' arrivals, tell Me, what came of My beacon?"
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "It ah..."
Tikki coughs softly.
Lilting in a dark, ethereal voice, you whisper, "It exploded."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Into dust..."
Cheliyi thrusts her palm towards her forehead and hits it with a resounding smack!
Huskii rolls their eyes.
Lendren Starfall says, "When we powered it up one more time, which had us wondering if it only was made for so many cycles of operation."
Laughingly, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "For as long as it was burning, I am not surprised. What came of it when it arrived?"
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "It uh... scared a lot of our star-looking peoples?"
Lendren Starfall says, "It bounced off many places, was repelled by Celest's shields, and fell here. Barrin found it."
Cheliyi nods her head emphatically.
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says, "It made this crater."
Midnight shadows coalesce around a new day, and Mother Night embraces the land in utter darkness.
It is now the 8th of Dvarsh, 654 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 27 days until the New Moon.
Lendren Starfall says, "We had been anticipating something for some time as it was occluding stars."
Looking about at the crater, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Ah, perhaps I misjudged how fast I was sending that one, then."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Very nice choice of shape for it too! Very well sided."
Tikki nods his head sagely.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Oh, I did not design the shape, so to speak."
Cheliyi tilts her head curiously.
Xiran Stormcrow says, "Rig-Wilde Huskii was first to see the beam activated, after the Haruspex testing it with essence."
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "I simply... made My stars as I do, and then drained it of My essence. It was the first time I tried such a thing."
Curiously, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says, "Huh. Is sixty twos Your lucky number, thens?"
18:02:23.523 -
18:02:40.546 You have emoted: Ears twitching with barely restrained curiosity, Esei asks quietly, "You made the stars, Lord Navigator?"
Cheliyi stares blankly into space.
Tapping His nose, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Mine know what My lucky number are, though they seem not to be present."
Addressing Esei, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Ah, not the stars of the sky, no. My Own stars, for which I use for many purposes."
Using your tongue and the roof of your mouth, you make a quiet clicking noise.
Archimandrite Daxi Strongleaf says to Darvellan, "So as I am somehow the only member of the Star Council here, uh, on behalf of New Celest, welcome back, Lord Navigator."
You think to yourself: alas, another mystery left unanswered .
Tikki wraps a comforting arm around Cheliyi.
Using her tongue and the roof of her mouth, Lendren makes a quiet clicking noise.
Lendren Starfall says, "So in a way it was indeed a star-fall..."
Cheliyi whispers something quietly to Tikki.
Darvellan, the Navigator says to Daxi, "My thanks to you, and to Cheliyi. I shall be along there shortly, I think."
Cyprian tilts his head inquisitively.
Forlornly, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom whispers to Tikki, "It's not even sugar-sand, Sibling."
Tikki pats Cheliyi in a friendly manner.
Cheliyi smiles brightly at Darvellan, her frills puffing with joy.
Echoed by rippling waters, Ablutant Cheliyi Lunarose, Seeker of Wisdom says to Daxi, "Hey nows, I sort of count!"
Rubbing His chin thoughtfully, Darvellan, the Navigator says, "It sounds like many of the forest of Serenwilde aided My beacon when it landed?"
Cheliyi nods her head at Darvellan.
Lendren nods her head at Darvellan.
Huskii nods their head sagely.
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat says, "And Tikki and I."
Cheliyi grabs protectively at the Imperial Annals.
Daxi flashes Cheliyi a joyous smile.
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Til it sploded in my face."
You have emoted: Esei slowly raises a hand, then lowers it just as fast.
Lendren Starfall says, "Vates Arboreal Barrin found it, Huskii first powered it up, and I and Qistrel did much of the work, though not alone, on deciphering the scrap of message."
Huskii Myeras of the Misty Vale says, "It was one of our Moon Coven who first saw the Beacon flicking over The Spider."
Lendren Starfall says, "But many others worked on keeping it powered from the start and throughout."
Xiran Stormcrow says, "With Haruspex Esei seeing to it with essence first."
With a flick of its tail, a stoat darts out to the southwest.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "A token of My favor to you all, then, for aiding Me on My way home."
Tikki hums a happy tune.
Huskii's mouth turns up as their face breaks into a smile.
In a sweet, airy voice, Eiselle Mes'ard, Spicy Cinnabun mumbles, "..d I tried t. ... a car... .nside it."
Tikki, Sugary Savant says, "Happy to have been of assistance!"
Lendren grins mischievously at Eiselle.
Darvellan, the Navigator says, "Perhaps, if there is nothing else needed of Me here, I should make My way to Celest?"
Huskii's mouth turns up as their face breaks into a smile.
Hyirah beams as she marvels at the twinkling star motes about her.
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat says, "Ah...I...uh..."
Huskii Myeras of the Misty Vale says, "Safe travels, and good hunting Navigator."
With a flourish of their arm, Huskii bows deeply.
Lendren bows respectfully to Darvellan.
Xiran curtseys gracefully.
You incline your head politely to Darvellan.
Cyprian bows respectfully to Darvellan.
Daxi gives the world a smart salute.
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat asks, "That Beacon, is that something only You could detect and follow?"
Lendren Starfall says to Darvellan, "Thank You for not turning out to be some horror to consume us all."
Lendren nods her head sagely.
Cheliyi smiles wryly at Lendren.
Darvellan, the Navigator says to Daxi, "Let Us go to the Pool, then."
Huskii nods their head sagely at Lendren.
With barely a twinkle, a mist of stars implodes around Darvellan, removing Him from sight.
Luce coughs softly.
Huskii's mouth turns up as their face breaks into a smile.
Cheliyi's eyes raise to the heavens as a look of hope flashes across her face.
Cheliyi touches the Mantle of Starlight and is surrounded by a brilliant white light. The distant song of an angelic choir can be heard as she is lifted aloft and disappears.
Huskii stretches languidly.
King of Nepotism, Ixchilgal Mes'ard, The Sassy Man-Whore says, "So. Kegger?"
Tikki giggles happily.
Huskii begins to wield an ornate iron stein in their right hand.
Jade Dreamer Luce Shevat says, "Well...hopefully they get an answer."
King of Nepotism, Ixchilgal Mes'ard, The Sassy Man-Whore says, "Followed by a ..however many people there are here-some?"
Luce's eyes raise to the heavens as a look of hope flashes across his face.
Huskii giggles happily.
Huskii Myeras of the Misty Vale says, "I'm going to return home though."
Huskii waves goodbye.
Lendren exhales slowly, allowing a long fluid breath to creep from her lungs.
You ponder the situation.
You incline your head politely to those around you.