Meant To Be Broken

You have emoted: Lief inclines her antlered head politely toward Avurekhos.

Avurekhos raises a single clenched fist to the air in greeting.

The ground thrums as elemental energy momentarily manifests within.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage asks, "Out of curiousity, since I am hearing rumours. Is Shashi really gone?"

You have emoted: "Yes," Lief says quietly, her hands folding in front of her lap. "Glomdoring murdered him at the Silent One's behest."

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

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "The Silent has terrorized the forest for centuries, even when I was a child in the Serenwilde. Pray, you all have strong wills. He will try taking family from the forest next."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Always despised him, mind, he is an Elder."

You have emoted: "Family?" Lief echoes, her attention suddenly keen on Avurekhos.

Avurekhos nods solemnly.

The wind whistles eerily through the trees.

You ask Avurekhos, "Do you mean that He will try persuading others to join with Glomdoring? Or...?"

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "He whispers in your ear in times of silence, caressing you in the darkness."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "I lost my Father, and Sister to him."

You purse your lips pensively, gazing off into the distance as you carefully gather your thoughts.

Quietly, you say, "His voice is no caress."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "And he made my Mother betray her oath to the Bloom of Serenity, I was there."

Midnight shadows coalesce around a new day, and Mother Night embraces the land in utter darkness.
It is now the 19th of Vestian, 544 years after the Coming of Estarra.

You have emoted: Lief brings her eyes to Avurekhos again. "His voice is a vice in the mind. He hurts."

Avurekhos nods his head affirmatively at you.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "My Mother finally gave in and ended her life before my departure. It fractured my own mind."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "She's buried in the Kiunid Vruna now."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "I helped her retrieve the stone that was inside it."

You turn quickly as a twig snaps behind you.

You have emoted: "Beneath the cananga tree," Lief says softly, her head lowering.

You remove 3 vellum, bringing the total in the rift to 67.

The sound of a steady heart beat echoes from the Moonhart Mother Tree, before Lotheryn steps from its embrace, his eyes slowly clearing as he regains his senses.

Avurekhos nods solemnly.

Lotheryn flashes you a joyous smile.

Adding a bit of moisture, you fold, cut, and shape three sheets of vellum into a delicate ylang ylang blossom.

Likewise solemn, you give a delicate ylang ylang blossom to Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage.

You smile softly at Lotheryn.

Avurekhos looks at the delicate ylang ylang blossom in his hand, smiling briefly he says, "Thank you."

The air here pulses with the musical beat of deer hooves.

You have emoted: "I will not let Him try those same tricks this time," Lief quietly vows, touching her hand to her heart. "I will not give Him what He wants."

Lifting her chin a fraction, you say, "Gabriella was not weak, but her suffering has lit the way for those who come after her. We will be strong because of her."

Lotheryn raises his branches up into the air, shading himself in his own canopy.

Avurekhos nods his head enthusiastically at you.

You smile softly.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Her sacrifice was not in vain."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Though I suspect she will be disappointed her son became a Ur'lord because of it."

Her smile fading, you say to Avurekhos, "Perhaps. I cannot say I know her mind. But I know my Lady would say our choices each belong to ourselves and ourselves alone."

Avurekhos nods his head at you.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "All things go in a circle as they say."

A fierce timberwolf tilts back his head in a low, resonant howl.

The last vestiges of midnight shadows flee as Mother Night hides herself from the luminous arrival of her shining mate as he chases her across the bowl of the sky.

You have emoted: Lief presses her fingertips together, forming them into a circle that she gazes down upon.

Avurekhos slips into a cruel crimson mask covered in black ritualistic markings.
Avurekhos presses a cruel crimson mask covered in black ritualistic markings against his face and shrieks as it melts and writhes across the contours of his visage, burning with a sickly crimson fog that obscures his contorting features from view.

You have emoted: "Some circles..." Lief lets her hands drop. "Are meant to be broken, I think. We in the Serenwilde are not the only ones who have cycles."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "If the Serenwilde ever needs another arm against the Glomdoring however, I'll be there if I can, and if its found wanting."

You nod your head at Avurekhos.

Avurekhos nods his head at you.

You say to Avurekhos, "Thank you. I cannot know what they'll do next, but regardless of where you live and what turns your life has taken, I'm certain Gabriella would appreciate you standing beside the Forest that she loved again."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "This is where I was born. While rage blinded me, I still have love for my home."

You nod your head at Avurekhos.

The musky scent of loam and leaves fills you with vibrancy.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "The forest still calls to me occasionally, I have missed its harsh winters and warm harts."

Lotheryn leaves to the north.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Perhaps it is due to the blood of Glinshari that runs through me."
Miakoda, Maiden of the Moonhart says, "As long as the flame burns, we are safe from Crow."

Sunlight billows across the realm, revealing the full glory of the majestic sun's luminous presence as he climbs higher into the sky.

With a wistful look on his face, Avurekhos touches a slender tree displaying the faces of the dead.

You have emoted: Lief gazes skyward through the canopies stretched out high above. "I imagine it will never stop calling. It will ever be a choice you must make, again and again, I think."

A radiant aura of blue light glows forth from the Glinshari Circle, signalling that the Flame of Glinshari shines with great strength.

Birds fill your ears with serenades of happiness and love.

Avurekhos takes a moment to furrow a brow to signal that he is thinking despite his otherwise emotionless eyes, "It only gets stronger, and yes, it is a choice one must contemplate. There are many steps to take, the first has been taken."

You have emoted: Lief looks to Avurekhos, considering him once more, her expression curious - quiet but curious.

You hear a faint, ethereal melody, laden in the surrounding air.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "There are moments when you can see clearly, it is clear to me that some things go back to the way they once were."

The sun reaches the zenith of the firmament, pausing in his quest to allow the land to bask in his shining golden rays.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Mind without the tragic endings but the pain and suffering is part of the experience."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "From it comes wisdom."

You have emoted: Lief nods her antlered head slowly. "Sorrow and joy each have their own seasons," she agrees, bobbing in the air before Avurekhos.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage smiles and says, "Maybe there will be a 'happy' ending to this dead man's story."

Her own smile touching her lips, you say to Avurekhos, "Perhaps there may be. As is written by your mother's tree - so long as the smallest bit of hope exists..."

You have emoted: Briefly, Lief bows her antlered head. "It defeats the darkness."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "So mote it be."

You have emoted: "So mote it be," Lief echoes Avurekhos.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "For now I dwell in the darkness to think on what has been spoken of. Thank you for taking the time to talk with me, it is appreciated."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "I am dormant but like this forest I will awaken again."

With a faint smile, you say to Avurekhos, "As it is with all cycles."

Avurekhos nods solemnly.

Avurekhos gazes around to take in the sights of the forest before turning to the north and departing.

Avurekhos leaves to the north, emanating an aura of immense power.

Kneeling humbly, you press your palms together before you and close your eyes momentarily as you pray devoutly to Maylea, Bloom of Serenity, "My Lady, I hope all has been fruitful and well for You. I'm sure You have sensed it, or Mahin has seen him about and told You, but do You know of the traitor, Avurekhos? He has been spending much more time in the Serenwilde of late. We have talked of much together: of the Forest, of cycles, of sorrow and joy, of hope, and of his mother, Your dear Gabriella. I dare to hope his path may lead him back to us - back to home. His words speak of longing for the First Forest, a familiar though more gentle ache I felt as I wandered the Basin for those decades I was gone. I wonder whether speaking with You would help him begin to heal enough to answer the call that Serenwilde sings to him? Would You welcome his presence, in Your Fulcrux or otherwise, should he be willing to speak?".