A Week's Worth of Offerings

<-- FOR THE NEXT IRL WEEK Gurashi went regularly to the statue to make offerings! Tonatiuh did similar things! Calioliahali was the best birbwife and also aided in this endeavor even though she couldn't put the essence in the statue directly! I don't think I logged every essence offering session but here is what I saved of the actual delivered prayers/offerings (Gurashi was human for all visits save one):

~~~~

A darkened, solemn corner.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. Decayed oranges crumble into a glowing gold dust, with clouds rising up in a swirl around the center of the chamber, their movement frozen as if time has paused. A pervading sense of stillness emanates from the sight, with little to no smell or airflow to indicate decomposition is still ongoing. Shafts of light peek through silken fabrics obscuring the entrance in a wall of translucent saffron cloth, with some folds thin enough to cause the light outside to cast the curtain's warm glow into the dust-filled dome chamber, but thick enough to hide the contents of the chamber. The sunset orange light illuminates an intricate tile mosaic of the Dreadform of Iklara, its serpentine form coiling with its maw fixed open in the center ready to clamp shut. The dome overhead is painted in thousands of hues as they bleed pigments into one another in a swirling mass that slowly fades to black as it reaches the floor. Barely visible in the maw of the Dreadform that threatens to consume Her, a stained glass statue of the Thousand-Hued struggles to rise skyward from the centre of the mosaic.
You see a single exit leading southwest.

You gulp nervously.

You put a bit of light essence into a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued.
As a bit of light essence is slowly absorbed into the stained skin of a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued, a small rush of power washes over you and causes your flesh to sprout small goose pimples as strange, alien feelings wash over you. xa billion

A hot flash of anger spikes through your very being as dark crimson sends bloodied splotches across the statue's complexion. They will never touch Her. Not again.

You shiver violently.

A last gasp of whispered prayer can be heard echoing through the air as a mote of dust comes into contact with the statue's outreached hands, sending golden tears streaking down Her arms.

Hands clasping together, you exclaim, "Ah, uhm, a prayer... oh, ah - do not worry, Most Beloved! And Most Beloved's Most Beloved - we will bring you strengths! And hopes! We will make the thing happen, with all that we are and all we can do - to see it succeed! We will try! Please accept this newest offering. May it gives You strengths and, ah, satiate some of the hungries and... know that we love You! The Beloved Love You! Yes! Go in Love! Always!"

You clap your hands together merrily.

You think to yourself: I should really offer up that prayer I wrote for the Most Beloved ... but would that helps in this case... I do not know.

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

You bring your fingertips together in the shape of a heart.

You nod your head sagely.

~~~~~

A darkened, solemn corner.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. Decayed oranges crumble into a glowing gold dust, with clouds rising up in a swirl around the center of the chamber, their movement frozen as if time has paused. A pervading sense of stillness emanates from the sight, with little to no smell or airflow to indicate decomposition is still ongoing. Shafts of light peek through silken fabrics obscuring the entrance in a wall of translucent saffron cloth, with some folds thin enough to cause the light outside to cast the curtain's warm glow into the dust-filled dome chamber, but thick enough to hide the contents of the chamber. The sunset orange light illuminates an intricate tile mosaic of the Dreadform of Iklara, its serpentine form coiling with its maw fixed open in the center ready to clamp shut. The dome overhead is painted in thousands of hues as they bleed pigments into one another in a swirling mass that slowly fades to black as it reaches the floor. Barely visible in the maw of the Dreadform that threatens to consume Her, a stained glass statue of the Thousand-Hued struggles to rise skyward from the centre of the mosaic.
You see a single exit leading southwest.

You tilt your head, gaze softening as you frown.

You put a bit of light essence into a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued.
As a bit of light essence is slowly absorbed into the stained skin of a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued, a small rush of power washes over you and causes your flesh to sprout small goose pimples as strange, alien feelings wash over you.  xa billion

You nod your head emphatically.

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

Clasping together their hands, you exclaim, "More essence, to gives You strengths and hopes. More power, to give wishes beings! To give them forms...." They pause, considering the statue for a long while. "I hopes beyond hopes that this works. And know that no matter what we will do the thing, to-gether. Because, we are always more strongly when we works to-gether. I hopes the other Beloved come and help too.... a-anyway, I love You! It will be O-K! It will work...! Am certains!"

You huff, puffing your cheeks.

You nod your head sagely.

~~~~~

A darkened, solemn corner.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. Decayed oranges crumble into a glowing gold dust, with clouds rising up in a swirl around the center of the chamber, their movement frozen as if time has paused. A pervading sense of stillness emanates from the sight, with little to no smell or airflow to indicate decomposition is still ongoing. Shafts of light peek through silken fabrics obscuring the entrance in a wall of translucent saffron cloth, with some folds thin enough to cause the light outside to cast the curtain's warm glow into the dust-filled dome chamber, but thick enough to hide the contents of the chamber. The sunset orange light illuminates an intricate tile mosaic of the Dreadform of Iklara, its serpentine form coiling with its maw fixed open in the center ready to clamp shut. The dome overhead is painted in thousands of hues as they bleed pigments into one another in a swirling mass that slowly fades to black as it reaches the floor. Barely visible in the maw of the Dreadform that threatens to consume Her, a stained glass statue of the Thousand-Hued struggles to rise skyward from the centre of the mosaic. In the shape of an open palm, a metallic sigil lies here.
You see a single exit leading southwest.
You tilt your head, gaze softening as you frown.
A brilliant spray of lavender mists away from the statue, and you feel your eyes water as a tender voice whispers, "I love you."
With a little nod, you say, "Uhm... Sorry I was resting the last months... but... I am here, now. With things - to helps be-cause...."

You have emoted: Gurashi's brow knits together and their voice hitches in their throat. They stare at the statue in quiet surprise, then look around the room as their gray eyes well up with tears. "Ah..."

Golden shades radiate from your chest and your heart beats faster with newly-appeared determination.

Seemingly out of words to say, you say, "I... w-we Love You, ah. Uhm. I." They shake their head. "I-I have, ah - gifts...! L-leftover, birthday cakes! Because peoples de-serves to feel special at least ONE day of the year, yes ... so..."

You drop a rose-tinted cheesecake.
As your offering is lain, the Vaults themselves seem to shudder as the Divine power of the Thousandfold manifests. Like bloody tendrils of silk, ribbons of visible essence reach down from the dark dome overhead and dissolve a rose-tinted cheesecake, leaving naught but a spray of essence which begins to slowly flow towards the statue.

Hopefully, you say, "Happy birthday! Belated, or, early. Probably very belated..."

You tilt your head curiously.

<-- Cali proceeds to send me ALL THE ESSENCE FROM THE OTHER PLANES (minus Fire)

Your melodic voice sings into Calioliahali Skydrifter's mind, "Oh... dearest you are too kindly ... thank you."

You put a bit of light essence into a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued.
As a bit of light essence is slowly absorbed into the stained skin of a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued, a heady wave of power thrums throughout the room - pulsing back the ominous silence which pervades the area for a brief moment and replacing it with strains of alien song. Too soon, though, does it fade; returning the silence once more to drown out and restrain the hungering need which had briefly manifested.  xa billion

Calioliahali tells you, "It was no trouble to secure for you, my apotheosis."

Inhaling deeply after they've made their offering of essence, you say, "You know I thinks birthday wishes have even -more- power than new year wishes, even though they boths only happen once per year ... I-I have already used my wish for the new year... Maybe it is a little late but, I would use my birthday wishes, to helps ensure that this ah - that You get to wake up soon, and, eat Your birthday cakes. I DID technically design one for You, but I do not know what flavors You like. Maybe the Most Beloved knows and can helps me puts it in a foodstuffs for then." They shake out their head, clapping a hand on their scarred cheek. "I gotta go do city stuffs now. Be a goodly city persons. But I will come back and makes more offerings and bring more goodly wishes, O-K?"

Pursing their lips and bringing up their hands to form the shape of a heart, you say, "We Loves you. Yes yes."

You quickly bend at the waist to offer a polite half-bow.

~~~~~

(For this visit Gurashi was a faeling)

A darkened, solemn corner.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. Decayed oranges crumble into a glowing gold dust, with clouds rising up in a swirl around the center of the chamber, their movement frozen as if time has paused. A pervading sense of stillness emanates from the sight, with little to no smell or airflow to indicate decomposition is still ongoing. Shafts of light peek through silken fabrics obscuring the entrance in a wall of translucent saffron cloth, with some folds thin enough to cause the light outside to cast the curtain's warm glow into the dust-filled dome chamber, but thick enough to hide the contents of the chamber. The sunset orange light illuminates an intricate tile mosaic of the Dreadform of Iklara, its serpentine form coiling with its maw fixed open in the center ready to clamp shut. The dome overhead is painted in thousands of hues as they bleed pigments into one another in a swirling mass that slowly fades to black as it reaches the floor. Barely visible in the maw of the Dreadform that threatens to consume Her, a stained glass statue of the Thousand-Hued struggles to rise skyward from the centre of the mosaic. In the shape of an open palm, a metallic sigil lies here.
You see a single exit leading southwest.

You look at a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued hopefully.

As they flit around excitedly, you sing, "I yam heeeere! I gots foooooood!"

Throwing open their arms, you sing, "Guess WHAT Most Beloved's Beloved!"

You put a bit of light essence into a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued.
As a bit of light essence is slowly absorbed into the stained skin of a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued, a heady wave of power thrums throughout the room - pulsing back the ominous silence which pervades the area for a brief moment and replacing it with strains of alien song. Too soon, though, does it fade; returning the silence once more to drown out and restrain the hungering need which had briefly manifested.  xa billion

You wipe the back of your hand across your head in relief as you mutter, "Whew."

Panting, you ask, "I gots married! I did an eloping! I think that is the word .... Ah! I am so happy! Are You and the Most Beloved gonna get married when You wake up?" They flit around excitedly, hands folding over their heart. "I feel like I yam on top of the world, yes! Like everything is goodly and could never go badly! Is this how You will feel? How the Most Beloved feels?"

Genuinely, you say, "Did you know peoples can marry themselves? Does that mean the Most Beloved can marry Themselves? That would be convenient, wouldn't it? If You Guys have a wedding can I come?" Their insectoid wings buzz noisily, causing them to dip and dart about blithely. "Oh, how rude of me, I brought some wedding cake, yes. Enough for two, just in case."

You drop a slice of sky-blue wedding cake.
As your offering is lain, the Vaults themselves seem to shudder as the Divine power of the Thousandfold manifests. Like bloody tendrils of silk, ribbons of visible essence reach down from the dark dome overhead and dissolve a slice of sky-blue wedding cake, leaving naught but a spray of essence which begins to slowly flow towards the statue.

You eyes light up as you smile.

Fluttering as if caught by a breeze, the silvery threads of tinsel weave about in a haphazard pattern: conjuring new constellations and shapes as they glow from the sidereal light of the wreath's fine filaments.

Soft and ariose, you exclaim, "Anyway I loves You muchly and lots! May these things gives hopes! Inspires! It is tasty! Wedding cakes are the BEST cakes!"

You bring your fingertips together in the shape of a heart.

You swoop and tumble through the air, wings beating furiously as you execute a series of aerial acrobatics.

~~~~

A darkened, solemn corner.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. Decayed oranges crumble into a glowing gold dust, with clouds rising up in a swirl around the center of the chamber, their movement frozen as if time has paused. A pervading sense of stillness emanates from the sight, with little to no smell or airflow to indicate decomposition is still ongoing. Shafts of light peek through silken fabrics obscuring the entrance in a wall of translucent saffron cloth, with some folds thin enough to cause the light outside to cast the curtain's warm glow into the dust-filled dome chamber, but thick enough to hide the contents of the chamber. The sunset orange light illuminates an intricate tile mosaic of the Dreadform of Iklara, its serpentine form coiling with its maw fixed open in the center ready to clamp shut. The dome overhead is painted in thousands of hues as they bleed pigments into one another in a swirling mass that slowly fades to black as it reaches the floor. Barely visible in the maw of the Dreadform that threatens to consume Her, a stained glass statue of the Thousand-Hued struggles to rise skyward from the centre of the mosaic. In the shape of an open palm, a metallic sigil lies here.
You see a single exit leading southwest.

Happily, you say, "I am back! Am here! I brought gifts, again! Essences! Powers!"

You put a bit of light essence into a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued.
As a bit of light essence is slowly absorbed into the stained skin of a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued, a heady wave of power thrums throughout the room - pulsing back the ominous silence which pervades the area for a brief moment and replacing it with strains of alien song. Too soon, though, does it fade; returning the silence once more to drown out and restrain the hungering need which had briefly manifested.  xa billion

You wipe the back of your hand across your head in relief as you mutter, "Whew."

Bright and clear, you say, "There we go!"

As they lay one of the custardy scroll breads upon the ground, you say, "And of -course- I brought -snacks-."

You drop an apple and custard scroll bread.
As your offering is lain, the Vaults themselves seem to shudder as the Divine power of the Thousandfold manifests. Like bloody tendrils of silk, ribbons of visible essence reach down from the dark dome overhead and dissolve an apple and custard scroll bread, leaving naught but a spray of essence which begins to slowly flow towards the statue.

Your shoulders bunch as you let out a short giggle.

You have emoted: Gurashi folds their arms behind their back, rocking back and forth on their feet. Then, they think better of themselves, instead clasping their hands together in front of themselves. "Uhm, let's see..."

"Ahah!" you exclaim triumphantly.

Brightly, you say, "There are still a few months left before the year ends. A momentous one - did You know? It is the year six-hundred! A whole six-hundred years! Times is flies, isn't it? I wonder if when You wakes up it will means Your birthday is changed? Or maybe we would all celebrate it then, instead... I guess it does not really matter. Ah! But, oh. Sorry. My brains is having troubles with the words I want to say out-loud and how they are in my head."

Your shoulders bunch as you let out a short giggle.

A horrible feeling of guilt washes over you as inky black tendrils snake across the statue's wrist. It's all your fault. All your fault.

A searing pain behind your eyes sends starbursts dancing across your vision as you hear a mantra repeated in your head. "ALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULT"

You wince in pain.

You have emoted: Gurashi seems like they are about to fold the piece of vellum they've pulled from their rift, but a sudden disturbance from a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued causes them to start, letting it fall to the ground. They seem frozen for a time, their gray eyes wide and hands locked mid-curl, trembling as the wave of energy washes over them, then finally - achingly - passes.

Startled, you say, "O-oh, no, it's..."

Stepping closer to the statue, tears in their eyes, you say, "I-it is O-K! It, ah, it..." They inhale through their nose, letting out a shaky exhale. "I-if something b-bad happened, and, you made it happen, a-and it was not meant to happen or you do not want it to happen - i-it does not define you? Yes? It is, a-ah, O-K. The Most Beloved - They are such goodly teachers of t-this yes. I-it's O-K."

Their voice wavery, you say, "It ..."

Earnestly, you say, "It w-will be O-K."

Bright and clear, you say, "We will help You, yes - to-gether? The Beloved." They blink back tears, shaking out their head. "Be-cause, You are not a-lone. And so, so, so so so, so so so loved, yes."

You deftly fold and cut a sheet of vellum into a fluttering scarlet butterfly.

Softly, you say, "Here - these - little origami friends, yes, see? To keeps You company."

You drop a crimson winged trill origami with slate blue eyes.
You drop a fluttering scarlet butterfly.
As your offering is lain, the Vaults themselves seem to shudder as the Divine power of the Thousandfold manifests. Like bloody tendrils of silk, ribbons of visible essence reach down from the dark dome overhead and dissolve a fluttering scarlet butterfly, leaving naught but a spray of essence which begins to slowly flow towards the statue. x2

Gently, you say, "The firstly one - t-that one is my wifey! Isn't she cute? The other one, well - it is a butterfly. Not a moth. But it has scarlet wings like the Most Beloved, yeah?"

You stare blankly into space.

Bright and clear, you say, "They are still the Mothie right?" Their eyes lose focus for a time and then they nod. "Yeah, the mothiest."

The Shifting City fades around you. Your stomach drops into nothingness, falling endlessly before the surrounding buildings and streets recondense.

You have emoted: Gurashi stands there quietly for a time after they've laid down their offerings, their eyes still shiny with tears. They blink hard a few times, then look down, inhaling deeply.

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

Your melodic voice sings into Calioliahali Skydrifter's mind, "*quietly ripples of familiar pastels, albeit cool hues - blues and lavenders, a sense of distraction* You are O-K?"

Wiping their eyes, you say, "I-I will come back, ah, l-later this months with more offerings. O-K? I-I will do my bestest."

You huff, puffing your cheeks.

You bring your fingertips together in the shape of a heart as you gaze adoringly at a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued.

<-- mopily leaves!
The Courtyard of Broken Citrus.
The entrance to the Monastery of Orange Thieves is filled with vibrant life in the form of manifold strange trees that grow here in a large orchard stretching forward a good fifty feet, their bark a bizarre shade of indigo and their leaves a faded saffron. Tiles of jade in hues of pale ivory and emerald spread across the ground surrounding this orchard, surfaces swept immaculately clear whilst figures of the Hermit Clad in Saffron line alcoves in the wall, each expressing a separate mudra. Dishes of incense float languidly in thea ir before them, cones disgorging orange-scented plumes of smoke: sand trickles upwards from the ground to catch snapping sparks. The archway leading into the orchard itself violently disagrees with its surroundings, blackest onyx and inky obsidian rising on the left and right in enormous wings to meet with a blossom of palest ivory in the shape of an owl's face, saffron eyes staring down at all those who enter. Steps lead north and easterly both, though neither rises near high enough to meet the platform hovering far in the distance to the northeast. A pair of broad, coppery doors rest here, panels emblazoned with devices of mantra-adorned oranges. Robed in ivory and orange, the Saint of Broken Citrus tends to the affairs of her grove.
You see exits leading north and east.

You nod your head at the Saint of Broken Citrus.
Quietly, the Saint of Broken Citrus says, "Can I help you, Gurashi?"

You shake your head.

Calioliahali tells you, "*a sense of growing concern* I am perfectly satisfactory. And, ah... Bizirik is well-behaved, as well. Are you well?"

Morosely, you say, "It is O-K."

You reach out and touch a pair of broad copper doors.
The cold air of the city infiltrates the monastery as the doors to the outside creak open.

Before the Monastery of Orange Thieves.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. Sharp aromas hang in the air in the street before the monastery, rising up from scattered heathens, the entrails of kneeling shaddocks and the blooming hearts of tangerines. Porcelain shingles crown the tall, sun-burned walls of the building, avoiding snow-capped cupolas and skewed oculi that overflow with stains and the smoking exhalations of stolen orchards. Pools of molten metal have been tended like sacred fires outside the monastery and from their churning liquid hearts grow tall and branching trees of obsidian and glass that hang heavy with brindled brass feathers and swollen jewels. Idols of cast-off rind and copper bones have been hung from the branches of the forge-copse; dozens of mutely screeching monkeys and a single, unreachable, terrified puss. A pair of broad, coppery doors rest here, panels emblazoned with devices of mantra-adorned oranges. Calioliahali Skydrifter looms here, lingering with an unsettling aura of strict severity. She wields a severe steel arming sword in her left hand and a severe steel shortsword in her right hand.
You see exits leading east, south, west, and in.

Bizirik, the leothin's tail slaps the ground where it sits, having most definitely been here the entire time Gurashi was gone. <-- she totally reset while I was talking to the statue

You have emoted: Gurashi emerges from within the monastery, carefully and quietly closing the door behind them. They look up, then shuffle over to Calioliahali, smiling weakly. "Ah, h-hi. Sorry..." They reach out a hand. "I did not mean to make you wait..."

Calioliahali's calloused hand winds its way into your grasp, her other arm curling around your back as she draws closer to you. "Do not fret, my apotheosis. It was but a moment, and ah, even when you are not with me, you are with me." Her thumb rolls across the back of your hand, and then she squeezes it. "Are you, ah... Are you well?"

Bizirik, the leothin tilts her head curiously.

It is Bizirik, the leothin who response to the question Calioliahali asks, letting out a short, bark-like chirp before it leans forward to nose at Gurashi's free hand. When the human presses their hand at last against the intruding snoot, the leothin lets out a content snort, then scoots closer, sitting beside the human with an abnormally protective air.

Petting the leothin with their free hand, you say, "...yeah, it was just ..."

Calioliahali's black lips tug downwards at the corners as she watches Bizirik, the leothin's reaction, her gaze returning to your face with no small measure of concern.

You begin to follow Calioliahali.

Quietly, you say, "...th-there are just lots of feelings, I-I guess."

You have emoted: Gurashi pulls their hand away to their chest, rubbing at it tiredly. "Familiar ones. Big ones." They inhale slowly. "I thinks that means it is working..."

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

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

Seeming to steady themselves, you ask, "Do you wanna go hunting with me? Do chores with me? Do you mind?" They smile faintly. "Does sound fun?"

Calioliahali squeezes you within her half-embrace, nodding a few times. "I am with you, my apotheosis."

You have emoted: Gurashi smiles weakly.

~~~~

A darkened, solemn corner.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. Decayed oranges crumble into a glowing gold dust, with clouds rising up in a swirl around the center of the chamber, their movement frozen as if time has paused. A pervading sense of stillness emanates from the sight, with little to no smell or airflow to indicate decomposition is still ongoing. Shafts of light peek through silken fabrics obscuring the entrance in a wall of translucent saffron cloth, with some folds thin enough to cause the light outside to cast the curtain's warm glow into the dust-filled dome chamber, but thick enough to hide the contents of the chamber. The sunset orange light illuminates an intricate tile mosaic of the Dreadform of Iklara, its serpentine form coiling with its maw fixed open in the center ready to clamp shut. The dome overhead is painted in thousands of hues as they bleed pigments into one another in a swirling mass that slowly fades to black as it reaches the floor. Barely visible in the maw of the Dreadform that threatens to consume Her, a stained glass statue of the Thousand-Hued struggles to rise skyward from the centre of the mosaic. In the shape of an open palm, a metallic sigil lies here.
You see a single exit leading southwest.

Adoringly, you sing, "I retuuuuuuuuuurn."

You put a bit of light essence into a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued.
As a bit of light essence is slowly absorbed into the stained skin of a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued, a heady wave of power thrums throughout the room - pulsing back the ominous silence which pervades the area for a brief moment and replacing it with strains of alien song. Too soon, though, does it fade; returning the silence once more to drown out and restrain the hungering need which had briefly manifested.  xa billion

You throw back your head as you let loose a delighted laugh.

Bright and clear, you say, "So many! All of them, so many, see? Look at all this powers! Thanks to my wifey! Isn't she the best?"

Shimmying back and forth, you say, "Do You want to hear the prayers I have been working on for the Most Beloved?" They chew their lip, looking about slowly. "I have been working on it for a long time but I am always too shy to bring it up." They look down towards their booted feet, letting their toes bump together. "Before, I do not know, if it was You or ... ah. Well. Sometimes it hurts to have bad feelings, and so I have been saying this to my-selfs to helps me, when my feelings are, big."

Clasping together their hands and bowing their head, their voice soft and reverent, you say, "My Most Beloved: help me be an instruments of Your Love." They pause, as if their words are momentarily caught in their throat. "Where there is hatred, lets me bring Kindness. Where there is harm, Forgiveness. Where there is fear," They look up, "Courage. Where there is despairs, Hope." They fidget slightly. "Where there is darkness, Light."

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

Softer, more reverently, you say, "Gives me the strengths, so thats I may not seeks to be comforted, so as to comfort, to be understood, as to understands, or to be Loved, as to Love."

Closing their eyes, you say, "Know it is in givings that receive. It is in forgiving, that we are forgiven. And it is when things end that we may begin anew." They pause again to consider their words before they quakingly add, "Keeps me fiercely kind, and Go in Love in all things. Yes..."

A horrible feeling of guilt washes over you as inky black tendrils snake across the statue's wrist. It's all your fault. All your fault.

A searing pain behind your eyes sends starbursts dancing across your vision as you hear a mantra repeated in your head. "ALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULTALLMYFAULT"

You wince in pain.

You have emoted: Gurashi finishes just as the statue lashes out again, causing them to withdraw unexpectedly. "S-sorry," They gasp softly. "Ah. U-uhm. I-I loves You! I-it will be O-K, s-sorry if that was an un-O-K prayers to say! But! It--" Dazed, the human bows and slides backwards.

You quickly bend at the waist to offer a polite half-bow.

~~~~

(the final visit hours before the statue did its thing ;~;)

A darkened, solemn corner.
Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. Decayed oranges crumble into a glowing gold dust, with clouds rising up in a swirl around the center of the chamber, their movement frozen as if time has paused. A pervading sense of stillness emanates from the sight, with little to no smell or airflow to indicate decomposition is still ongoing. Shafts of light peek through silken fabrics obscuring the entrance in a wall of translucent saffron cloth, with some folds thin enough to cause the light outside to cast the curtain's warm glow into the dust-filled dome chamber, but thick enough to hide the contents of the chamber. The sunset orange light illuminates an intricate tile mosaic of the Dreadform of Iklara, its serpentine form coiling with its maw fixed open in the center ready to clamp shut. The dome overhead is painted in thousands of hues as they bleed pigments into one another in a swirling mass that slowly fades to black as it reaches the floor. Barely visible in the maw of the Dreadform that threatens to consume Her, a stained glass statue of the Thousand-Hued struggles to rise skyward from the centre of the mosaic. In the shape of an open palm, a metallic sigil lies here.
You see a single exit leading southwest.

You huff, puffing your cheeks.

Their arms loaded down with essence, you exclaim, "Is meeeeeee!"

You have emoted: Gurashi bows politely, nearly dropping a bit of light essence as they do, shuffling closer to the statue. "I have, I have ... ahhhhh..."

You put a bit of light essence into a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued.
As a bit of light essence is slowly absorbed into the stained skin of a stained-glass statue of the Thousand-Hued, a heady wave of power thrums throughout the room - pulsing back the ominous silence which pervades the area for a brief moment and replacing it with strains of alien song. Too soon, though, does it fade; returning the silence once more to drown out and restrain the hungering need which had briefly manifested.  xa billion

"Tada!" you say with a proud expression on your face.

You have emoted: Gurashi pants lightly, shoulders heaving as they flash the statue they've just made their offering to a grateful, exhausted smile.

Rolling their head back and forth against their shoulders, you say, "Ahhh, I hopes You are doing O-K! There's been lots of feelings ... that means, it is working, right?" They lean forward, staring towards the statue's upturned face. "Do You hear us all out here? I hopes so..."

You shake your head.

Hopefully, you say, "I will come, again and again, with more essences. And, more gifts - to helps You feel stronglier. Give You things to look forward to." They sigh, somewhere between content and exhausted. "I hope..." They pause, shaking out their head and adjusting their phrasing, "I -know- that, ah. It'll be, ah, good. And ah, a relief - when You and the Most Beloved, are to-gether a-gain."

You think to yourself: *the word still echo in the back of their head, like a chant, or a prayer: hope*.

Suddenly, you say, "Oh .... Tonatiuh got me this sparkler from his fiery festivals, yeah. The sultan-y one... I was gonna use it, to celebrate something big but maybe You should haves it instead. It is fun - and easy. You just lights the end and then it is little fire, a tiny fire that doesn't really hurt unless you like try to eat it, I guess..."

You drop a colourful sparkler.
As your offering is lain, the Vaults themselves seem to shudder as the Divine power of the Thousandfold manifests. Like bloody tendrils of silk, ribbons of visible essence reach down from the dark dome overhead and dissolve a colourful sparkler, leaving naught but a spray of essence which begins to slowly flow towards the statue.

Genuinely, you say, "Please don't eat the sparkler, just lights it. Yeah."

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

Hopefully, you say, "I love You! And will go on and out and forth in Love, now, O-K!"

You give the world a smart salute.