starlit solace: Tikki, Nocht

You reach out and gently brush your hand against a delicate veil of shadows. Your senses suddenly dull as you feel yourself pulled into the entrancing darkness. As your senses return, you find yourself beneath a beautiful night sky.
Tikki follows you ether.
The Fulcrux of Nocht.
The image of a beautiful nighttime sky has been stretched across the fulcrux. Dim stars struggle futilely to compete with the terrifying beauty of Mother Night. The ethereal image wavers on occasion, the sky rippling like water in a pond. A lonely hill covered in tall grass leads up to a single shrine. Behind the shrine stands a large blackthorn tree. The tree is taller than most of its kind, extending upwards rather than outwards. Delicate blossoms shower down from its branches, creating a flurry of white petals and filling the air with the pungent scent of wyrden foliage. A complex series of stones orbit around a stygian orb here. A rippling image of a beautiful night sky has been magically wrapped around the fulcrux here. Reverently laid before the shrine in a sheath of starlight and shadow, the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris emanates Divine power here. A pink rose lies elegantly on the ground, discarded by a careless hand.
You see a single exit leading through an image of the night sky.

You give the master shrine of Nocht a respectful bow, one hand clasped over your heart.

Tikki bows respectfully to the master shrine of Nocht.

You have emoted: Righting themself, Esei's black gaze turns patiently to Tikki as they clasp their hands behind their back.

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

Tikki nods and softly clears his throat, speaking softly as he attempts to stand up straight. "Apologies for any disruptions, to your peace, Lord Nocht. But, I've a gift I'd like to present you. If that's okay. And you're not too terribly busy, of course."


The fulcrux grows silent for a moment, a sudden, oppressive sensation welling up within as you feel the full attention of the Silent Lord fall upon you.

The blackthorn shudders, sending showers of white petals across the fulcrux as a soft voice whispers, "A gift? Why do you wish to grant Me anything, child of the cities?"

The blackthorn shudders, sending showers of white petals across the fulcrux as a soft voice whispers, "I see... And what do you bring to offer Me?"

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

Tikki smiles softly and nods once more. "Sometime ago, during the contest of Beauty, I worked up a triptych tapestry. The subject was, well. The Awakeners. A section was dedicated to You, of course. And so recently I had the three approved separately, and thought to gift You with the first depicting You."

The shower of blackthorn petals swirl about in the chilling winds, suddenly revealing Nocht, the Silent at the centre of the bone-white flurry.

You give Nocht a respectful bow, one hand clasped over your heart.

Tikki bows respectfully to Nocht.

Nocht nods briefly towards you as His soft, empty voice fills the fulcrux, "I assume the presence of Mine indicates some belief in your craftsmanship, child. Show Me then."

Tikki gives a package containing a tapestry of Starlit Solace to Nocht, the Silent.

Tikki says, "I hope that I was able to do You and Yours justice."

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

Nocht releases the package within His hands, willing it to float in midair before all present. The ropes that bind the tapestry come undone in a single, smooth motion allowing the piece to unfurl and sway slightly in the breeze that ever sweeps the fulcrux. The Silent Lord says nothing, only stepping forward to observe the work, His expression concealed behind the veil He yet wears. "And what do you think of My Night, child?", the Elder God asks, not turning away from the tapestry.

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 veiled blackthorn crown that obscures His face
concealing robes painted with the colours of Night that twist in the air around Him as if underwater

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

Tikki ponders on what to say for a moment before speaking. "I think that she's beautiful. Both in a literal sense and in ways that someone like me may never really understand. I can't claim to be the wisest of furrikin. So there's always things that escape me, the gravity of things. But I try not to fear things I don't understand, but to respect them and their beauty regardless."

You have emoted: Esei's attention shifts from Nocht to Tikki as each speaks, before their gaze rests fully on the displayed tapestry, hands still clasped behind their back.

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

You think to yourself: ** an odd shimmering in their vision around the tapestry, and a voice heard in triplicate: "...Visit Me in Glorianalefehlora, visit Me and My daughter." **.

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

You have emoted: Esei's eyes flick over to Tikki.

Nocht turns away from the tapestry, the robes He wears billowing around Him like smoke as He leans in towards Tikki. "You are correct... she is, indeed, beautiful..." The Elder God's expression is mostly shrouded, but His eyes are clear, and His intense gaze remains firmly upon the small furrikin before Him. "But you should fear her. She is terrifying in her might. As is the Glomdoring. As is the Wyrd. That is part of the beauty, child. Never forget that. Though..." He says as He stands upright once more, "There is no need to fear in this moment. Your work is pleasing enough. My thanks."

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

With a flick of His wrist Nocht allows the tapestry to be consumed in shadow before it vanishes to some unknown location.

Tikki nods his head in understanding and bow respectfully again. "I understand. Thank you, Lord Nocht. For Your praise and Your time."

His voice unchanging from its soft, empty tone, Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Be well, Tikki. Child of the cities."

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

Tikki bows respectfully to Nocht.

Tikki inclines his head politely to you.

Nocht allows His veiled gaze to rest upon you as the furrikin departs.

Nocht, the Silent whispers, "And how do you find yourself, My little one, after this... exciting new year?"

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

You have emoted: Back straightening, Esei bows their head momentarily. "Well enough, my Lord. A touch... surprised at the splintering, and the resultant shards." They pause, pondering quietly. "Yet, I do not believe surprised is quite the word for it. Nor is confusion, nor alarm."

Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Ah. Then you stand apart from many, little one. It seemed to cause quite the stir for some time for many."

Softly, you say, "I understand. Though... to me, they did not seem much like Her. In appearance, and perhaps in personality and voice, certainly. But not in..."

You have emoted: One of Esei's hands come free to gesture vaguely, clearly indicating something they cannot quite articulate.

You shake your head.

Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Time will tell. Perhaps one day a part of Her, at least, will serve the Wyrd."

You nod solemnly.

Nocht, the Silent whispers, "There are several matter I wish to attend to, however. Did you wish anything from Me, My little one?"

The image above wavers and ripples gently as a cold breeze howls through the fulcrux.

With a soft, darkly melodious inflection, you say, "No, my Lord, and I believe the question I presently have would take a fair bit of Your time, if You chose to answer it."

With a simple nod, Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Then we shall speak of it next when I may offer the time required. Be well, My little one, until then."

The surrounding shadows wane, relaxing into their normal state as the form of Nocht, the Silent dissolves into the aether.