Prayer for Permission

With a whisper of energies and a glimpse of changing paradigms, the veil parts, allowing you passage beyond.
The Fulcrux of Mysrai.
The walls of this rounded chamber are dimly illuminated by burning coals within a copper bowl at the centre, but remain no more distinct than any of the shadowy carvings upon their surface. At times, the walls seem as though they are mere veils between open air and the fire-illumined ring: at others, they are whirling sand or solid stone. Despite this, figures in various races shift and change, gone in seconds or less, with the only constant remaining the pinpricks of alien constellations within. The ceiling is a canopy of silk, or veils, or shifting realities, with loose poppy blossoms floating amidst it, or upon it, in tears of white and red and indigo. Oilslick patterns ripple across the silken folds of this veil as it flutters between two paradigms. Veils of reality bounded by skeins of ivory and blood-hued blossoms twist and shiver above a poppy-inlaid vessel filled with burning coals.
You see a single exit leading through a fluttering veil.

You have emoted: Gurashi creeps inside, looking left, then right. Beside him, Bizirik lets loose a terrible belch before it yawns. The man looks at the leothin in disbelief.

Bizirik, the leothin snorts, pleased.

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

You have emoted: Gurashi gazes up hopelessly at the ceiling before bidding the creature to stay as he steps forward. Timidly, he bows before the master shrine of Mysrai, then rises again, wringing his hands together.

You think to yourself: ** O-K, have practiced so do not have to be scared - Friend Shulamit said is O-K if am learning and Friend Aschwar said is O-K if is done out of love... **.

You have emoted: Brushing his hair out of his face, Gurashi slowly sinks to settle on his knees. He pulls out his notepad, his gray eyes scanning the fairly new page over, its surface still mostly untouched. He considers the first page, then flips it open to a new one near the end instead. He squeezes his quill tightly, staring off contemplatively into space before bowing his head as he writes...

You have emoted: 'hi Shofets,' The page starts as Gurashi holds the notebook out, as if allowing it to be read by the air. 'wanted to ask You about something important that wanted to do but do not want to do if is going to make You sad or angry.'

You have emoted: Gurashi glances up briefly towards the shrine, then looks back down at his notepad, tucking his hair again behind his ear. 'a few years ago, when had courage to ask the Lady of Roses if could become a Beloved and She said no,' He pauses, squeezing the quill so tightly for a moment his knuckles go white.

You think to yourself: ** a sudden recollection of pain - of hopes gathered and instantly dashed **.

You think to yourself: -- a wash of pain, ahh, a terrible memory, why did She hurt us what did we do --.

You have emoted: Gurashi refocuses on the notepad, writing again.

You have emoted: 'and i got visited by a ghost, and she was very lovely, and she knew about poppies and about You, and Friend Shulamit, and oranges, and know does not really make sense, but have suspicion that was,' He hesitates before slowly, meticulously, lovingly, writing the name: 'Miss Sebitti?' The handwriting returns to its usual careless scribble. 'but maybe, not. but maybe yes. she could not answer, because it is hard to be a ghost.' Gurashi shifts in his spot.

You have emoted: Gurashi bunches his shoulders. 'i learned how beloved she was to the other Beloved. how much her going away hurt friend Alary and how sad it made Friend Shulamit. and wanted to help her so much, but the Shadow Court said no and she left to protect You and the others--' Suddenly, he is wiping at his eyes, blinking back tears. He looks down at the notepad, writing furiously again.

You have emoted: 'she said she would go where oranges were. and did not know what that meant, until ran into friend Akuuko - do You remember? he told us Friend Aschwar's nickname before Aschwar was ready to, and he paid price for, and so he is not a thief anymore I do not think, but he is still very lovely persons. anyway - i made him a soup!!' Gurashi wipes his eyes again. 'anyway, is apparently a ghost that is bothering the orange thieves, and i do not know many ghosts--'

You think to yourself: -- as the words spill out onto the page, a sharp pain - a reminder, a buzzing, anxious presence --.

You think to yourself: -- here - am here --.

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

You have emoted: Gurashi relaxes visibly... resumes his writing. 'do not know many ghosts... and friend Akuuko has seen the ghost, and Friend Aschwar is helping investigate, and i want to investigate too, but think means i need to know some things first. because every time i try to progress further in knowing, there are no answers.'

You have emoted: 'want to know more about the path of saffron - know that it is a false path, at least is what friend ixchilgal says. he thinks is a reminder of failure, and know that the previous leaders of the path let it down, but,' Gurashi He stares at the master shrine of Mysrai, furrowing his brow, eyes still shiny with tears. 'friend Alary also says that saffron is still part of Beloved and important to. so why would keep something only as a reminder of failure when whole point of being Beloved is to love?'

You have emoted: Gurashi gazes, perplexed, at nothing in particular.

You sniffle softly.

You have emoted: Gurashi wipes again at his eyes, then his nose, sniffling. He stares at the words he's written, furrowing his brow, the quill hovering over them as he considers crossing this out.

You think to yourself: -- gentle squeezing --.

You think to yourself: ** impolite to assume when do not know hardly anything at -all- **.

You have emoted: Gurashi writes: 'more than anything, want to know if ghost is same. so want to know more to see if is reason ghost is there. in case is her because i did not get to help her the first time.' He falls perfectly still, gazing down at his words again, re-reading the page in its increasing fullness.

You have emoted: 'if You have any advice or directions or even if do not want to respond at all or want to be mad at me is O-K. friend Shulamit said learning was a way to make You happy and am still very new and learning what makes You happy'. Gurashi puffs his cheeks, swaying from one leg to the other in mild discomfort.

You have emoted: Gurashi stays seated like this for a long time, unmoving, unwavering, staring off into space with a bereft expression. Finally, he pushes himself to stand up, wiping again at his eyes.

You think to yourself: ** maybe, if can figure out how to help one ghost... **.

You have emoted: Gurashi stares tiredly at the master shrine of Mysrai, pulling his hood back up over his head. As his face is cloaked again in shadow, he looks down at his feet.

You think to yourself: ** could possibly help Tiso too - Tiso is like a ghost - sort of **.

You think to yourself: -- .... --.

You have emoted: Gurashi steps back, away from the shrine and closer to the Fulcrux's entrance.

You think to yourself: ** then can have my body back, and, maybe can start talking and singing, and can feel happy and like me again - be me again, i wanna be me again **.

You have emoted: Gurashi hiccups unexpectedly, bowing. Suddenly he gasps and holds Lady Tejas's Ultimate Brazier of Anomalous Ascension up before the shrine, offering what little he can.

With a whisper of energies and a glimpse of changing paradigms, the veil parts, allowing you passage beyond.
A sacrosanct, smoke-filled cavern.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. Muted traceries of paint outline the bas-reliefs graven into the stone of this cavern. Here, a curving woman wrapped in flamelike blossoms rises out of the rock: there, a robed man lifts his lantern. Other figures rise amidst them, in turn becoming warriors, scribes, sages and children arrayed in bewildering, interlocking patterns. Sigils and starfields fade from the skins of each figure, radiating from occlusions of crystals within the walls; shallow, broad bowls of stone rest beneath them, ringing the cavern. Smouldering coals lie within, casting what little light there is within this darkened sanctum. Oilslick patterns ripple across the silken folds of this veil as it flutters between two paradigms.
You see exits leading north, east, west, and through a fluttering veil.

You sniff softly.

A stirring breeze caresses your exposed skin, sending shivers through your body.

You think to yourself: ** ripples of guilt - too much feelings, too many big horrible things for one persons - remembering your most dearest friend, increasingly reclusive - still friends? do just make them sad to be around? stabbing disappointment **.

You think to yourself: ** should just be me again and then will be fine - but kicking Tiso out is cruel - kicking Miss Sebitti out was cruel - why is everything so cruel **.

You have emoted: Gurashi stands before the veil of the Fulcrux, big, angry tears spilling over his cheeks as he stares at his feet.

Bizirik, the leothin lets out a reassuring little croon, staring up at Gurashi with wide, blank eyes.

You think to yourself: ** festering sadness --.