Lusternia: Storytelling 2

(Gaudiguch): You say, "We are going to be hosting storytelling in the cantina! PATH WALK 45296 if you wish to join us! All who participate will earn a credit or two for sharing, plus it will be quite fun!"

Xypher claps his hands together merrily.

Xypher Stormcrow whispers, "This shall be a grand story, I can already tell."

Tremula smiles softly.

You have emoted: "Right!" Breandryn happily begins. "Let's start! Storytelling is easy - we take turns telling part of the story. The crowd will decide on three THINGS which we must incorporate into our part of the tale. When one person finishes, they pick who goes next. Any questions?"
Tremula ponders the situation.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame asks, "How do we know when the story is over?"

You say, "When we run out of people!"

Chaote Suavium says, "Nothing is ever over."

Utterly entranced, Tremula emits a long "Ooooh."

Brightly, you say, "We'll start with Xypher. He can get us going and serve as an example."

You give Xypher a peck on the cheek.

Pash rests her wrists against her knees, blinking her great chartreuse eyes slowly.

You have emoted: "So!" Breandryn explains. "We need three THINGS for Xypher to include in his story. Shout out whatever sounds fun!"

Xypher smiles softly.

Xypher nods his head emphatically.

Cehar stares at Xypher, unmoving.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame exclaims, "Mud!"

Chaote Suavium says, "Ducks."

You say, "Mud, ducks and...?"

Sagaciously, Mystic Pash says, "Lizards."

You say, "Lizards, ducks and mud."

You beam broadly at Xypher.

Xypher nods his head emphatically.

Happily, you say to Xypher, "This is far less edible than our last round."

Damned Avurekhos Myeras, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Needs more flesh and blood."

Chaote Cehar says, "What do you think a duck is made of?"

"Lizards and ducks are made of both," Pash points out.

Giggling, you say to Avurekhos, "Wait for your turn, you can add all of that you wish!"

Damned Avurekhos Myeras, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "I suppose a lizard and duck can do in the absence of others to torment in this story."

Chaote Cehar says, "How do we know when a person is done?"

You have emoted: Breandryn settles into a seat near the bar, legs swinging back and forth in a happy kick.

Alaksanteri smiles softly.

You say to Cehar, "They will select the next person to speak."

Cehar nods her head at you.

Tremula leans on the bar next to you, taking care to step around those seating on the floor as she turns her colourless gaze towards Xypher expectantly.

Xypher begins to hover, his wings fluttering in a haze of chaotic colours as he rises above the sandstone counter. In abrupt moment, he lands on the counter striking a heroic pose, speaking fully in a hollow tone, "This tale I tell, it is a thing of woe.." He sweeps an arm out to the left, "It begins with the ducks of the Etrai country. A simple people, of simple ways. For they loved to fish and swim, and generally laze about without a care in the world." He sweeps an arm out to the right, "And to the neighboring side, there were a tribe of desert dwelling lizards who soaked up all the sun they could, eating whatever scarce food they might find buried in the sandy ways...."

You have emoted: Breandryn watches Xypher with wide eyes, jaw dropping as he strikes a heroic little pose, one hand unthinkingly fanning her own face as she blushes brightly. "Oh my," she murmurs.

"The poor lizards," Pash murmurs, her shoulders drooping.

Xypher stomps on the counter with his left foot, his gaze flowing over each of those gathered as he continues, "But, one lone duck came to the desert...and hated what he saw...SAND! NO SAND!...He left to go to the place the water of the lake of his people were stopped from flowing. I WILL HAVE NO SAND! He declared, as he unbound the various sticks damming the water flow...in an instant..." He waves his arms madly as he speaks loudly, "Water crashed down into the lizards desert home...leaving the sand turned into a thick, pasty mud...no water nor sand to be found..."

Alaksanteri tilts her head and listens intently.

You have emoted: Breandryn lets out an excited gasp as Xypher stomps, hand lifting to her mouth as she hangs on his words.

In her ponderous way, Pash murmurs, "But Xypher... Sand doesn't turn into mud... It eventually settles..."

Sagely, you say to Pash, "It must be magical sand, for the duck is talking."

As if it all makes sense now, Mystic Pash says to you, "Ah, this is true..."

Chaote Cehar says, "Could be that ducks talk all the time, and have nothing to say to the likes of us."

You have emoted: Breandryn's eyes widen at Cehar's revelation and she nods slowly, clearly impressed by the insight. "Very wise, Chaote," she agrees.

Xypher hops down off the counter, bouncing to the ground with a flutter of his wings. With a wink toward you he whispers softly, "Perhaps. But it is to Pash who will continue this tale, this horrible no good song of woe!"

"Oh dear," Pash murmurs, her great eyes blinking slowly. "My turn already?"

You have emoted: Breandryn reaches out towards Xypher, her hand tangling with his as she murmurs, "Love, that was beautiful. And you were so HANDSOME." She blushes deeply as she speaks.

Mystic Pash asks you, "Do I just continue where he left off...? Or do I get words as well?"

Smiling happily, Xypher Stormcrow whispers, "You get words as well. I suggest...the pig, that dreadful, horrid, animalistic pig!"

Pensively, Mystic Pash says, "Pigs. What else should I have?"

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "Cactus weed!"

"Ah, yes. There is never a good story without cactus weed," Pash murmurs.

Mystic Pash says, "One more."

Dreamily, you say, "Unicorn!"

Pash's eyes sparkle with amusement at you.

Xypher claps his hands together merrily.

Avurekhos heaves an almighty groan.

Nodding, you say to Pash, "Now, you continue, and weave in your words."

You have emoted: Breandryn wrinkles her nose at Avurekhos, pointing out, "You can suggest words and maybe Pash will even pick you next!"

Pash inhales deeply through her flattened nose, letting it out as her mind works. Finally, she begins to speak: "Now, with the magical sand and the water both gone, it left quite a predicament for the ducks, who could not laze about in mud or swim in it, and other things that ducks enjoy doing, AND the lizards, who found it severely hampered their ability to find foodstuffs." Her hands lift from her knees, webbed fingers splaying as she begins to gesture with them. "It was, however, a great draw to the nomadic pigs that wandered the desert. This was bad for everyone, though: the pigs, you see, were grotesque, oversized bullies, keen on stealing the resources of those smaller than them so that they could laze about."

You have emoted: Breandryn gasps in shock as she hears of the horrid pigs. Her head shakes in dismay as she lets out a mournful, "Oink."

Xypher chuckles long and heartily.

Alaksanteri discreetly eats a few potatoes from a platter nearby.

Avurekhos cackles hellishly.

Cehar is rapt with attention at the direful pig story.

A pig shuffles in from the east, snatching up a platter of potatoes before scuffling off the west, his grunting still audible long after he has faded from sight.

With an indifferent stare, Pash slowly blinks one eye and then the other.

Alaksanteri's eyes sparkle with amusement.

Damned Avurekhos Myeras, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Pigs be damned."

Skeptically, Mystic Pash says, "The pigs are invading..."

Chaote Cehar says, "Wait does this happen a lot?"

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says to Cehar, "If you smoke enough cactus weed, yes."

You have emoted: Breandryn's eyes widen in amazement, hand lifting to her lips. "Hey!" she calls out. "Hey!"

You yell, "Those platters weren't for pigs!"

Xypher raises a hand shaking it about in ire, "Only butterflies may be here! From the cocoon!"

"They liked the mud, and with its presence, they came in great droves to wade in it," Pash continues, scratching at her cheek with a webbed finger, "Much to the dismay of the ducks and lizards both. Upon learning about the duck that sought to bring water back to the desert, and thus making the mud that then brought the pigs and led to the misfortune of the fowl and lizardfolk both, the poor duck was judged quickly and in a very unkind manner. 'This is your fault!' cried the Elder Duck, 'The Pigs would not have come if you had not created the mud!'"

With a great sigh, Mystic Pash says, "The Elder Duck, outraged at this new predicament, banished the unfortunate duck until he could find a way to drive the pigs out."

You have emoted: "The Elder Duck is a quack," Breandryn mutters softly. "The duck just wanted to help and make things better. He did nothing fowl!"

Pash smiles wryly at you.

Chaote Cehar says, "I realize this was just a punning opportunity, but this duck had it coming."

Thoughtfully, Xypher Stormcrow whispers, "Perhaps it is lucky they did not simply give him to the pigs to eat as punishment."

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "If only they'd bill't it better."

Xypher chuckles long and heartily.

Damned Avurekhos Myeras, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Roasted duck is almost as good as roasted pig, except one ducks out."

Pash settles her hands back on her knees. "Forced out of the once-desert-now-mudhole, the duck wandered for some time, alone and lonely and quite sad, until he came upon a curious tear in the fabric of the world before him. Naturally being a curious duck, as all ducks are, he entered the tear." Her hands lift again, electricity crackling between her fingers and bouncing off of her hairless skin as she waves them about. "What a magical place it led to, this tear in the fabric of the world! Full of wandering flowers and mushrooms, and tittering butterfly-girls who loitered within the trees."

You have emoted: "You are all cruel," Breandryn whispers, frowning. "The duck just wanted to help."

Chaote Cehar says, "He didn't want to help, he just hated sand!"

Nodding sagaciously, Pash continues, "It was here, in this glorious, sparkling place that the duck came across a glistening horse with one single horn, resting beneath a tree. 'Oh my!' cried the duck, 'What are you?!' 'I am the Unicorn,' it replied, eyeing the duck with some suspicion, uncertain of what the duck wanted with its mystical home. 'What brings you to us, in this great world of Faetil?' the unicorn queried, causing the duck to relay the tale of the pigs and the mud and his home.'"

You have emoted: "Faetil," Breandryn echoes, enchanted by the thought.

"The unicorn listened, and when the story was over," Pash offers up, "It rose from its place beneath the tree. 'Walk with me,' it said to the duck, who waddled along as ducks are prone to do, 'There is a plant, a spiny plant, that grows between this world and your own. It is a weed, one that, when smoked, turns the mind in interesting manners. Take this weed to the pigs, and you will soon be in the good graces of your flock once more.'" The mugwump relaxes in her place, nodding her head solemnly. "I pass the story on to Tremula."

Using her tongue and the roof of her mouth, Tremula makes a quiet clicking noise.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "I wanted to listen a little more."

The corners of Tremula's mouth turn up as she grins mischievously.

Pash's great, chartreuse eyes glimmer with iridescence.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "Very well. What shall I include in my story? Avurekhos? Alaksanteri? Perhaps you could list two so we can have some variety."

Alaksanteri tugs her chin thoughtfully.

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "Trolls and slaughter."

Tremula's mellifluous laugh hangs in the air despite her covering her mouth with an upheld hand, bent over slightly in her mirth.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "I meant one each, dear."

You have emoted: Breandryn giggles at Pash's conclusion, whispering to Xypher, "I think the unicorn was Sksez in disguise!"

"Avurekhos might agree on slaughter," Pash admits to Tremula.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says to Pash, "Oh, he very well might."

Lips curling up at the corners, Avurekhos's mouth twists into a decidedly feral grin.

Xypher Stormcrow whispers to you, "Perhaps when entering the land, the duck was made altered and only perecieved Sksez as such."

Tremula's eyes turn to glance at Avurekhos, a faint smile on her lips as she arches a single brow.
You grin mischievously at Xypher.

Xypher Stormcrow whispers, "If a third word need be added...add in the word of reapers."

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame whispers to you, "He might be dead...er."

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "This promises to end deliciously."

In concern, you say to Tremula, "Sksez is dead?"

Tremula winks conspiratorially at you.

Damned Avurekhos Myeras, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Suppose torture, slaughter, and devouring sacrifices could be too much wouldn't it? All that good stuff you can get into detail about."

Alaksanteri gives a trillingly melodic laugh.

"Oh dear," Pash murmurs, "I hope Sksez is not dead..."

Xypher Stormcrow whispers to you, "I think she means the unicorn."

You have emoted: Breandryn appears very distressed by this news, turning to Xypher with wide, worried eyes. "Xypher?" she asks, voice shaking.

Nodding his head, Xypher Stormcrow whispers, "I can attest, that Sksez is well."

Damned Avurekhos Myeras, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Something to bring back an appetite for a story full of hate and cruelty."

Pash looks quite relieved at Xypher's assurance, her shoulders drooping once more.

Shrugging her shoulders, Tremula picks up her staff and gingerly steps between those seated until she is in the centre of the cantina. She looks around and says, "I hope no one minds, but I find stories without visuals to be so...unappealing. Let's see if we can continue the story of these damnable pigs." She raises her staff once before sharply rapping against the floor, and the ball at the tip begins to burn brighter, sizzling smoke rising up before falling down in a blanket of fog that quickly covers the floor around her feet and begins to extend outwards.

The cool fog coils about your legs and feet as it spreads, a myriad of unformed shapes and esoteric markings viewable for a moment before falling back to the ground.

Mystic Pash whispers, "Oh, very exciting. A picture-show."

You have emoted: Breandryn smiles at Xypher, nodding once as she leans against him, her attention shifting to Tremula's leg of the story. She tilts her head in confusion at the start, but then her eyes widen and she draws in an astonished, delighted gasp as the images form.

Chaote Cehar says, "Is that what this is?"

Cehar seems dubious.

Her voice taking on a mystical, alluring appeal, Tremula turns and hunches slightly waving her arm in a wide sweep to send a wave of fog rising to begin forming a small mound. "Now then, you will be surprised to find that our duck is but a deuteragonist within this story." She blows softly, and the soft edges of the fog begin to fade, revealing sharpened edges and the leering features of a troll leaning heavily on its spiked club, leering towards Pash. "For these pigs were not just wild pigs, but the escaped pets of a vicious gang of trolls, known only as the Yaevyns."

The troll belches a massive burp as he picks something out of his teeth, tossing it to the ground to land with a sick squelch as it fades into the fog.

You have emoted: "The Yaevyns!" Breandryn breathes in echo, clutching Xypher's hand tighter as the story delves into darker territory.

Damned Avurekhos Myeras, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "That sounds vaguely familiar."

Xypher nuzzles against you happily as he watches on. Leaning close he whispers softly, "Dearest, dreams call to me...so do please let me know how this epic does end?"

You nod your head at Xypher.

"Trolls are very rude," Pash states, staring where the image of the troll was.

Softly, Xypher Stormcrow whispers, "Enjoy the cantina and the festive story everyone, be well!"

You tell Xypher Stormcrow, "Dream on its ending and we shall compare notes."

"For years, these trolls had ravaged lands far and wide, only letting the lizards and ducks live because the desert chafes their skin so, and we all know trolls are terribly vain." Tremula waves her hand, and another form begins to grow behind her, a large pillar nearly as tall as she is. "Yet the trolls were still always moving, and while many assumed it was because they were pillaging and looting, it was truly out of fear. For they had spurned the wrath of one much mightier than them, a terrifying reaper!" With a forceful motion, she presses her palm flat towards the ground and dark black smoke flows over the pillar, cloaking him in the guise of a gaunt reaper.

Midnight blue colours the dark robes of the reaper as he swings a massive scythe over his head, bellowing an unholy scream of rage as he charges towards the troll, gliding over the heads of those seated on the floor.

Xypher tells you, "Dzaaaa, I shall."

Pash's great eyes grow a bit larger.

Alaksanteri's eyes sparkle with amusement.

You have emoted: Breandryn lets out a squeaking cry, cringing back as the image charges. She nearly topples off her seat and sways precariously back and forth, peering over her hands at the performance.

Tremula turns and points her finger imperiously at the reaper and troll, the former nearly at his death blow and the latter seeming to be close to defecating on himself out of fear. "You may be asking yourself, what is it that the trolls have done to spurn the ire of such a mighty foe, causing him to cull their numbers just as fast as they can continue populating?" She twirls her finger and a smaller figure emerges from the mist, dressed in reaper robes as well but well over half the size of the original.

Spectacles appear over the robed face of the small reaper, and curly sprouts of grey hair pop up over her head as her back hunches. It is glaringly obvious this is the reaper's aged mother, but before you can see much of her, a hog's tusk impales her from the rear, and she falls to the ground, dead as a doornail.

"Oh no -- their pigs killed his mum," Pash murmurs, sounding as if she feels greatly for the plight of the reaper.

Damned Avurekhos Myeras, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Damn pigs, they deserve to be spit-roasted over an open fire..."

Avurekhos purses his lips pensively, gazing off into the distance as he carefully gathers his thoughts.

You have emoted: Breandryn frowns in concern, flinching away as the elderly reaper is impaled. "Maybe it was an accident..." she murmurs uncertainly.

Cehar suggests to Breandryn "Maybe she was a monster."

Shaking her head, voice filled with tremulous sorrow, Tremula says, "She never stood a chance, I'm afraid. The troll leader thought her glasses looked particularly shiny." She waves her hand and the reaper follows through with his blow, decapitating the quivering troll before his foul smelling residue can emerge. "And because of this, the reaper has sworn to wipe out their line, leaving naught but carnage and bad stuffed trolls in his wake, outfitted with googly eyes and wide, goofy smiles to showcase their buffoonery eternally. Because of this, they rampage the land before them, driving others out and ruining the lives of all those who they cross, including our dear friend the duck." She smiles and points to Alaksanteri, "But that is your story to tell, not mine."

With a hot wind blowing in suddenly, the fog in the room turns a bright crimson before rushing back towards Tremula in a wide maelstrom, soaking into her staff until it is all vanished, leaving not even a single trace of the terrifying troll behind.

Tremula nods her head before stepping high over the heads of those sitting, returning to lean next to you with a faint, pleased smile on her face.

You have emoted: Breandryn is simply silent for a span as this part of the story finishes, eyes wide as she processes the last of the fading images. "Oh," she breathes. "What a sad twist the story has taken. I worry for our duck..."

Blinking, you say, "Three new things, yes. Cehar, do you have a thought for one?"

With a hopeful smile, Tremula raises her hand high in the air.

You nod your head at Tremula.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "The legendary poleaxe Gunthngillstfrsh."

Alaksanteri blinks.

Pash nods her head in agreement with you.

Pensively, you say, "Ah yes, the famed poleaxe."

Tremula nods her head sagely.

You nod your head sagely.

Chaote Cehar says, "Ghost fish."

You say, "Ghost fish! Oh, that sounds...intriguing."

You have emoted: Breandryn shivers a bit, her imagination clearly already racing.

After a moment of thought, Mystic Pash says, "A mighty dragon."

You say, "Oh, how exciting!"

You say to Alaksanteri, "Did you get the three new elements?"

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "Absolutely."

You have emoted: Breandryn sways slightly in her seat, ears lifting as she eagerly awaits the next part of the tale.

Softly, Mystic Pash says, "I fear I must rest for now... I do hope it all turns out good in the end."

Chaote Cehar says, "Likewise. Let me know how it ends?"

Pash rises from her lotus-folded position, offering a loose bow before drifting from the cantina.

You nod your head emphatically.

With intonation, Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "The duck returned to the rift and transversed it riding on the back of the unicorn he has just met, pockets brimming with freshly picked weed. They traveled for a whole day towards the location of the chief of the wild pigs, the legendary poleaxe Gunthngillstfrsh."

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "This poleaxe was, in fact, a sentient poleaxe carried by the wild pigs."

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "To which they would turn for military strategy."

You have emoted: Breandryn giggles at the description of the poleaxe, hands covering her mouth.

The corners of Tremula's mouth turn up as she grins mischievously.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "The legend continues."

Tremula ponders you thoughtfully, looking you up and down.

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "At the turning of the weave though, the duck and the unicorn decided to rest for some time by a campfire. The unicorn fell asleep only to be awoken by strange muffled noises..."

Tremula rises into the air, her wings surprisingly still as she moves to sit next to you before turning her full attention back to Alaksanteri.

You have emoted: Breandryn's attention is locked on Alaksanteri and she leans forwards in her seat as the story continues, eyebrows raising in worry for the duck and the unicorn. "What was it they heard?" she murmurs, tearing her stare away to look at Tremula. "What was it, do you think? Will they be all right?"

Tremula ponders for a moment before an imp-like grin crosses her face. "Ghost fish!"

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity exclaims, "The duck was bent over the campfire, mumbling, rolling joints and smoking all the weed they were supposed to bring before the chief of the wild pigs!"

Tremula blinks.

Tremula's mellifluous laugh hangs in the air despite her covering her mouth with an upheld hand, bent over slightly in her mirth.

You have emoted: "I'm sure he was just trying to help," Breandryn dubiously insists, her staunch support for the duck taking quite a beating by this point.

Tremula ponders the situation.

Tremula shrugs and throws her hands behind her head, nestling her neck in the nest her linked fingers provide as her elbows rise high into the air. "I never liked him much. He reminds me of my mum."

You have emoted: "Your mother was a duck?" Breandryn asks Tremula, blinking in surprise.

Tremula blinks in surprise before turning her head towards you, "No, she tried to destroy things she didn't like."

You have emoted: Breandryn's lips draw into a soft frown, a worried frown, a concerned frown, and she leans forwards, resting a hand on Tremula's arm. "I am sorry," she whispers softly, eyebrows raised - she says nothing more, but her expression is compassionate and sympathetic.

Eyes gleaming with bloodthirst, Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "The unicorn burst into uncontrollable anger!! She said 'May you be taken into the greatest depths of the Void!' She then powerfully charged to gore the duck with her horn, and stomped the duck several times... then left the campfire in a bloody mess bfore returning to her magical rift."

Frowning for a moment at you, Tremula mouth turns into a quick smile as she whispers, "She was a bad person, so I think I turned out pretty good!" She winks and jerks her head towards Alaksanteri before returning her attention to her.

Utterly entranced, Tremula emits a long "Ooooh."

You have emoted: Breandryn's attention is pulled away from the quiet sidebar as the story continues, expression shifting to shock as the duck meets his bloody end. She sniffles, one hand lifting to cover her mouth in horror, as she continues to listen, stare shell-shocked and ears drooping in dismay.

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "In the morning, a starving lizard was passing by looking for something to eat or drink when he saw flames into the distance..."

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "The lizard approached with caution before realizing that his wishes had come true. 'Fresh meat!' he exclaimed and he roasted the duck into a delicious breakfast. Once replete, he discovered a few rolled joints and smoked them happily. He was quite content and it had been months since he had any sleep so he quickly faded into the realm of dreams."

You have emoted: Breandryn lets out a low moan as the duck's untimely breakfasting is detailed, head shaking in denial. "Fowl, fowl, fowl," she mumbles.

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "A ghost fish came to him in a psychedelic haze. They partied and they danced together in incorporeal form when the ghost fish leaned towards the lizard and whispered with an echoing voice..."

You have emoted: Breandryn shivers at first mention of the ghost fish, but her nervousness fades as the frightening nature is tempered by dancing and drinks. She leans closer, ears lifting as she tries to hear the whispered message.

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "'You must find the great dragon sleeping in the vault of the thousand madnesses... only him can defeat the reaper and return all the water to its original place... Only him can bring peace to long lost wild pig's mothers!"

You have emoted: Breandryn's eyebrows raise as she lets out an entranced, "Ohhh..."

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity exclaims, "Well... everyone disappeared!"

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "I shall give the turn to you, dear Breandryn."

Tremula's eyebrows knit together in stark difference, "Breandryn still hasn't finished, but the reaper was the good guy!"

Tremula mutters discontentedly.

You have emoted: "I can finish it, then," Breandryn says, quietly adding, "And, no, the duck was the good guy!"

You say, "Three things?"

Tremula ponders the situation.

Alaksanteri tugs her chin thoughtfully.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "Funeral pyre."

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "Flaming syphilis."

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame exclaims, "And me!"

Confused, you say, "What is flaming syphilis?"

You say, "Is that like a nymph?"

Tremula shrugs helplessly at you.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "Weirdest nymph I've never heard of."

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "Your story, you say what it is!"

Nodding in thought, you say, "Very well..."

Alaksanteri nods her head emphatically.

You smile and say, "A flaming sylph will do."

Alaksanteri's eyes sparkle with amusement.

You have emoted: Breandryn takes a moment to gather her thoughts, staring down at her hands with a frown as her hair shifts to a pensive deep green. Finally, she begins to speak, voice soft as she picks up the thread of the tale. "The ghost fish's words burbled up out of his mouth, sound resolving into a bubble, bigger and bigger, until the lizard himself was sucked in. Inside the bubble, the world became rainbows, prisms dancing across all he could see - and all pointed onwards, a path traced out by their glittering, colorful arcs, for, you see, the duck, the lovely duck, the beautiful duck: he was not yet gone."

"Oh?" Tremula exclaims quizzically.

Nodding, Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "How pretty!"

You have emoted: Breandryn smiles fiercely at this new revelation, eyebrows lifting as she explains, "In Faetil, where the weed was harvested, magic hangs heavy and such magic lingered over the duck and the unicorn and even the unicorn's trampling hooves, so when our fowl friend became breakfast he was born anew, the magic planting a seed in the lizard's soft, fleshy belly, like Lovashi taking root. A funeral pyre roared in that belly, magic and heartburn churning until the duck was returned like a phoenix." Her smile widens, eyes shining. "And so the duck crept through the lizard's veins and sinew, melded with his bones, and with delightful snaps and withering cracks and twisting tears of muscles, the two merged, transforming and transmologizing into something magnificent and glorious, magic crackling over their new form. They looked down at their hands and were delighted, for they were wreathed in flames - they had become a fae, a slyph, born in fire, of Faetil truly, now."

Alaksanteri snickers softly to herself.

Utterly entranced, Tremula emits a long "Ooooh."

You have emoted: "Together, they thought on this change as they chased the rainbows onwards across the desert," Breandryn continues quietly, hands idly raking through the air. The faintest of shimmers, a stray glint of light, something sparkles in her finger's wake for a brief moment, and then she speaks. "The duck had lessons he had learned - he had sought to help, without thought or question as to if his help was wanted or needed or even helpful, and so the mud was not loved. He had not thought of the consequences of his actions, of what would happen three steps ahead, and so the pigs had come. He had not considered others when he smoked the weed, and so his pancaking had happened." Her eyes widen. Earnestly, she explains, "The duck had learned, most painfully, the flaws of his ways, and this he brought to the slyph. The lizard...well, he was mostly just hungry and enjoyed being high, so this was also contributed to the new them, and it was beautiful and wonderful and hungry and stoned."

Alaksanteri's eyes sparkle with amusement.

Showing that she understands, Tremula nods her head slowly.

You have emoted: "As they reached this shared epiphany," Breandryn murmurs, "So did the rainbows converge, lancing down to a cave's opening in the distance. The slyph adjusted her hand-flames and downwards the bubble soared, alighting on the ground before the yawning opening. They were afraid, but they were also brave, so they paused but a moment before entering the void. They had a desert to save and a ghost to rest. Madness loomed. They vanished inside."

You have emoted: Breandryn's voice grows soft and her eyes get as large as small saucers. "The vault of the thousand madnesses had no sky or earth, no up or down, no right or wrong," she breathes. "The vault is where all of the could-be's and would-be's and should-never-be's converge and crash, every paradigm, every potential tangled together in a wild, wrong, crazed chaos - through this, they crept, their body tiny and gigantic and burning and frozen and outside-in and inside-out and upside down and sometimes not even there and then, when they thought their mind, their newly discovered beautiful shared mind would split and crack, he was suddenly there: the dragon, the dragon, finally. The dragon."

You have emoted: Breandryn smiles suddenly here, unable to keep a tender tone from her voice. "Rainbows danced across his scales and he was more beautiful than the sunrise and as he sneezed out butterflies, he regarded them, the slyph's beautiful fiery form and their keen, new-fashioned mind, and he saw all they had been through and the lessons they had learned. He snorted once, and a cloud of butterflies surrounded them and then again and they sighed, body wisping apart-".

You have emoted: "-And a third snort-" Breandryn continues, her tone shifting between a whisper and a more musical lilt. "Something was tickling her feet..." "-and the butterflies fluttered and flapped and their hands began to burn with dreammotes-" "...insistently. How rude, she thought, grumpily rolling over. Go away..." "-and the dreammotes fluttered and flew and the dragon-" "...again, the tickles. What! What!" "-and the dragon leaned in, warmly whispering-" "Wake up, Tremula! You're dreaming!"".

With a bright smile, you say, "And so she was and so she awoke and so this is the end of our story."

Tremula blinks.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame laughingly says, "That was much more pleasant than my dreams normally are."

Brightly, you say to Tremula, "Everyone deserves happy dreams."

Alaksanteri's eyes twinkle enchantingly.

Tremula beams broadly.

Bad Taxidermist Alaksanteri Elithysius, Dirge of Insanity says, "That was most entertaining."
You have emoted: Breandryn slips down off her stool, rising onto her tip-toes to give each of you a quick peck on the cheek. "Thank you for the stories," she murmurs.

Alaksanteri applauds politely.

Tremula flaps her wings quickly and begins to hover in the air.

Tremula congratulates you with some wild clapping.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

Gaslight Tremula, on Wings Of Flame says, "Thanks for having us! It was a lot of fun, I admit."

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

You say, "We shall have another soon."

You wave goodbye.