"I've heard your prayer, little one..."

[[A prayer to Nocht:
Dear Mister Lord Silence. Am thinking, that if -I- were a Divine, and were doing My very best to protect My home, and My followers, and the friends of My followers, then... would be very hurt if any one of them did not like Me even though only wanted to help make them better persons. Am sorry. Do not know if hurt feelings or not, or if offended, or not - but if did: am so very sorry. Sometimes, am overwhelmed by Divine, and what and who and how are. There are Many of You, and are beyond persons like myself's comprehension. Think maybe frightens, or, intimidates... **The voice wavers and trails off before picking up again with more resolve** Ah - nevermind. Anyway, came to... answer Your question. Have never been good at guessing what other people's want, because do not always understand other peoples, especially not Divine. But have been given pretty strong hints, from Yourself and from Lady of Roses - that will have to do something. And will probably mean hurting someone. Or punishing someone. And You do not think that can do it, so probably means that want to hurt someone that would never want to hurt, and ... there are so many of those peoples in my life. But, know You there are some that You would probably like to see... suffer more than... others... and, think know w... who might want... **Another pause, only faint, contemplative buzzing** Know is my duty. But, that ...that being said ... cannot help but wonder what happens if You are right?]]

Before the Black Tower.
It is quite mild. The thick trees and shrubs part into the small clearing. At the centre of the verdant grasses is a huge structure of black bricks. This tower rises high above the tree-line, a thin spire that looks barely stong enough to withstand a strong wind. High up the western side a smaller spire juts outwards, whilst the main tower continues up to a crenulated top. A large doorway, carved of deep brown oak, leads into the structure. A hemlock sapling clings tenaciously to the ground here. Casting darkness all around, a shadow totem thrusts up from the ground, chilling the air.
You see exits leading south and in (open door).

Midnight shadows coalesce around a new day, and Mother Night embraces the land in utter darkness.
It is now the 7th of Juliary, 549 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 29 days until the New Moon

Soft whispers linger in the air, gently raining down from the tower high above.

You blink.

You have emoted: Gurashi lifts his head, his eyes widening.

You have emoted: Gurashi slowly approaches the doors he's just come from, mandibles clicking nervously.

Inside the Black Tower.
The shadowy outline of a twisted forest casts a dark gloom here. This small entry-room seems to function purely as a resting point before embarking on the spiral stair that commences in the centre of the tower. Bare stone - grey granite on the inside of the tower, to contrast the black stone outside - covers all of the walls, as well as forming a smooth floor. There are no signs of whatever inhabits or may have built this mysterious construct, except for the carving of a moon and stars above the doorway. Woven with inspiring wyrden hues, this velvet tapestry depicts a glorious rendition of a Glomdorian grove, the Master Ravenwood rising majestically in the distance.
You see exits leading northeast, up, and out (open door).

You have emoted: Gurashi continues to ascend, poking his head up at each floor, scanning for signs of life.

Spiral staircase within the Black Tower.
The shadowy outline of a twisted forest casts a dark gloom here. The stone stairs continue their twisting climb, with only the grey blocks in the walls to serve as handholds. Small windows pepper the walls, giving views of thin tree branches as the tower climbs above the forest. Otherwise these steps are plain and functional. A painting of the sacred shadowed feminine is proudly exhibited on a nearby wall.
You see exits leading south, northwest, up, and down.

You think to yourself: ...Lord Silence?

The whispers gently twist around you, the overlapping murmurs coming together to form a clear, drawn-out, "Guraaaaaashiii...."

A flurry of blackthorn petals arrives from the down, thorny vines sprouting within the floral cloud and twining together to form the body of Esei, riding Dusan, the coruscant.
Shadows pour out from the down, heralding Dusan.
Skeletal white blossoms flower along the flesh of Esei, riding Dusan, the coruscant, as their body splits apart into a blizzard of blackthorn petals that leave to the up.
Trailing stars and smoke, Dusan trails off to the up.

You have emoted: Gurashi stops mid-step on the stairs, hand on the railing.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up, eyes straining in the dark to seek the source of the voices.

Voice shaking, you whisper, "H-hello?"

Your snout twitches and trembles at the air, sensing through a striped badger nose upon your face the faint traces of others in the surrounding area.
You make out the scent of Raimari coming from before the Master Ravenwood Tree.
You make out the scent of Esri coming from sloping evergreens.
You make out the scent of Esei coming from annex of Wyrden Scriptures.

You think to yourself: Esei's upstairs...

Wait timer expired.
Nearing the Tower's top.
The shadowy outline of a twisted forest casts a dark gloom here. The spiral stairs dominate most of this area, leading upwards to a wooden trapdoor, and down into the heart of the Black Tower. A small stone landing leads off the staircase towards the western doorway. The door itself has been painted black, and is ornamented with small golden stars. A small window has been cut near the top of the door to resemble a crescent moon.
You see exits leading east, west (open door), up (open door), and down.

The voices fall once more to incoherent murmurs, gentle encouragement to continue upwards.

You have emoted: Gurashi slows his ascent, his eyes still wide, doing his best to make no noise.

You have emoted: Gurashi pauses again, taking a deep, shuddering breath.

Top of the Black Tower.
The shadowy outline of a twisted forest casts a dark gloom here. It is quite mild. The summit of the Black Tower consists of a flat platform of black stone surrounded by a small crenelated wall. To one side of this rooftop is set a small wooden trapdoor, dark wood standing out against the ebon flooring. The view from this height is absolutely astounding. The tower stretches some way above the forest, giving some idea of the scale of things here. Glomdoring itself stretches quite some distance on each side, rotten trees and broken branches showing the extent of its decay. To the southeast there is a gap in the trees, and it is just possible to see the edge of a long rift in the ground. To the south and east, great mountain peaks cast their shadows; whilst to the north the shape of the inner sea and its smaller corrupted counterpart are visible as shimmering light on the horizon. To the west, the great marsh-plains lead over and beyond a small river, until they reach the horizon. Night's Needle pushes up from the ebon flooring.
You see a single exit leading down (open door).

You have emoted: Gurashi tightens his grip on his cloak, looking all at once quite dizzy as he steps out onto the top of the tower.

Bizirik, the leothin stays near the steps of the landing, a low rumble in its chest.

Faintly buzzing, you whisper, "...h-hello?"

Gusts of winds whip across the top of the tower - the expanse of the Wyrden Forest visible so, so far below. The voices suddenly come to a halt, and all that remains is the rushing sound of the wind.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks this way and that, reaching up quickly to keep his hat from gusting away as he squints about the platform.

You think to yourself: ...what's...

You think to yourself: ...am not imagining.

You have emoted: Gurashi stands stock still, silent save for the occasional flap of his cloak in the wind.

The tower suddenly seems swallowed up in darkness - the Glomdoring below reduced to only a few skeletal branches reaching up from a dark void. A voice whispers, both nearby and far-away, though its words are crystal clear - "Gurashi An'Ryshe. I've heard your prayer, little one..."

You have emoted: Gurashi continues to wait... and wait... after a while, he looks unsure, and then --.

You have emoted: Gurashi lifts his head, awed at the sudden looming void, the familiar landscape becoming nothing for than a shadowy blur. He opens his mouth to speak but cannot find words, only able to offer a nod.

"What do you think should happen, little one? If I am right?"

You have emoted: Gurashi swallows hard, seeking for anything familiar to look at, to grasp onto as he speaks - "You... want me to hurt ... Miss Lief."

Weakly, you whisper, "Or someone dear to Miss Lief ..."

The darkness below swells and churns around the tower like waves at sea - the voice responds, "Not quite, little one... Though you are on a proper course, certainly."

You have emoted: Gurashi looks all at once quite relieved... then very confused.

In disbelief, you ask, "... it.... it's not?"

You think to yourself: ...is t-this better or worse.

You have emoted: Gurashi wavers, stumbling a step from a forceful gust of wind.

A chronomantic cube unfolds from thin air, impossibly, with a clicking noise, resting upon the ground. <-- TRIDEMON

A chronomantic cube beeps plaintively at you.

Lines of scrolling text wash over a chronomantic cube's surface: The fingerblade demands its price in blood.

A chronomantic cube folds upon itself impossibly before vanishing entirely from sight.

"Maylea's playthings matter little... If I just wanted her butchered, it would be simple enough to achieve."

The sounds of scurrying animals fill your ears, emanating from the Wyrden foliage below.

You have emoted: Gurashi tilts his head, staring into the incredible, terrifying darkness in shock. "Then..."

You think to yourself: What is worse than that?

The voice intrudes on your thoughts, "Why do you think of it as 'worse'?

You have emoted: Gurashi takes a step closer to the edge of the tower, hands clasped at his chest. "Wha-what then? Before thought the worst thing was that!!" He exclaims over the wind. "W-what's worse than that?"

You flail about helplessly.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks to be at a loss of words, hands now slapped on either side of his face.

"Do you not have an answer, little one... or do you fear to speak it?"

You think to yourself: Cannot think of something more awful than intentionally hurting someone that care about - what is worse than that, if is not violence?

You have emoted: Gurashi shakes his head - no longer confused but exhausted.

Faintly buzzing, you say, "I-I thought that did have the answer, but, is not..."

Faintly buzzing, you say, "So now, do not know...."

You have emoted: Gurashi trails off. "What is that You want..."

You think to yourself: Heck ...it took -three months- to come up with answer too.

The darkness clings close to the tower, resisting the light of the morning sun above. "Hmm..." the voice whispers, the air shifting slowly around you along with it. "Do you wish Me to release you from finding an answer? It is true... you are not one of Mine."

You have emoted: Gurashi tilts his head, looking again for the Divine. "How can I help if do not know how?" He asks with finality. "Am not good at metaphors or clever words, Mister Lord Silence."

Calling out over the darkness, you ask, "What .. do have to do to get the answer...?"

The voice comes to a halt directly behind you, "I need nothing, little one. The question was for your benefit."

Your eyes raise to the heavens as a look of hope flashes across your face.

You have emoted: Gurashi chooses a spot in the darkness to squint at, frustrated.

The spot you're squinting at suddenly twists and turns , reality bending away until the Silent Lord stands before you, returning your gaze.

You stare implacably at Nocht.

look nocht
Were it not for the way darkness itself trails after His form it would not be immediately obvious that He is a radiant immortal. His entire form is concealed beneath a hooded cloak. His only feature visible, His eyes - a brilliant ethereal blue rimmed in golden starburst, intense in their piercing gaze.
He is wearing:
an all-concealing cloak of darkest black
a fractured gem suspended from a thin, metal chain
boots of shifting shadow
a frigid, aphotic crystal ring emblazoned with the script of fae.

You have emoted: Gurashi exhales in relief. "Oh," He says, elated to have a face to speak with.

You have emoted: Gurashi suddenly gasps, bowing deeply to Nocht.

Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Tired of My questions, little one?"

Flabbergasted, you say to Nocht, "Cannot tell if are like Xenthos and are stoically trying to be funny, or if are teasing."

You have emoted: Gurashi rises from his bow, letting out a whistling huff. Though he looks nervous, his usual aversion of gazes and overall trembling seems to have been lost in his frustration at the questions.

Nocht turns to look down at the shadows below, His expression unhelpfully hidden. "I am incapable of humour, little one."

You have emoted: Gurashi lets out a gentle gasp. "No."

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches out a hand in consolation, though he comes nowhere near Nocht. "Maybe have not heard the right joke yet..."

You think to yourself: ...unless, that was a joke.

Nocht exhales softly, continuing to gaze at the forest below. "Perhaps... Let Me hear one then, Gurashi." He turns to look at you once more. "Why do you care for the Phrase of Serenity?"

You have emoted: Gurashi squints a little, unsure. "...oh - mean, Miss Lief." He exhales.

Nocht, the Silent whispers, "If that is her name."

You blink a few times and stare at Nocht in confusion.

Quietly, after a confused pause, you say, "Is like... many peoples that have met. Shares of love of musics and art, and is a very good listener and advice-giver, and though ideals are... opposite of own, respects that feel way that do about Wyrd, and..."

You twiddle your thumbs.

Interrupting, Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Does she respect you?"

<--RaIdErS aaaa

(Glomdoring): A Daughter of Shadow says, "Don't forget me, Glomdoring."

Nocht turns His head slightly, before looking back to you.

You have emoted: Gurashi too seems momentarily distracted, eyes on the Master Ravenwood as the cries of Daughters ring out over the aethers.

Faintly buzzing, you say, "...most of time, yes - but, sometimes butt heads, when are in disagreement... but, not... meanly."

Faintly buzzing, you say to Nocht, "If there were no ties to Lady of Serenity, would just be another persons like other friends."

A chilling breeze caresses your face as Mother Night's shadows swirl about the forest below the Black Tower.

Nocht remains silent for several moments before speaking, "There is much potential in you, little one. So much that could be used in service to the Wyrd..."

You crease your brow in a frown.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks only more confused, taking a hopeless step towards Nocht. "What am supposed to do?" He asks softly. "Please - want so badly to help."

After another extended pause, Nocht, the Silent whispers, "You must realize it for yourself, little one. Hopefully you will. What a waste it may be otherwise..."

The surrounding shadows wane, falling back in despondent melancholy as the form of Nocht, the Silent dissolves into wisps of shadow.

You look about in confusion.

Your eyes raise to the heavens as a look of hope flashes across your face.

You have emoted: Gurashi throws up his arms, looking tempted to leap from the tower itself before clasping his hands on either side of his head, chittering like mad.

You have emoted: Gurashi doubles over shortly thereafter, sinking to crouch, still clutching his head and pinning his antennae back.

You think to yourself: Thought that was the answer... so then what is answer.

You think to yourself: Have to figure out the answer.