"A shame you will not save them."

 You say to Coraline, "A Shroud is like... a tenet of His."

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "... are you... hiding inside.. oh."

You say to Coraline, "He has seven."

A thoughtful, inquisitive look fills Elexia's visage as she considers you with a slight cant of her head.

You say, "Not counting these."

You caress a phantasmal shroud of shadows gently.

Comprehension flashes across Coraline's face.

Swollen, searing air slinks in through cracks and crevices, offering no escape.

You tilt your head curiously at Elexia.

You ask Elexia, "Something a-matter, Lady Oracular?"

Looking worried, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver asks, "Sister, is something wrong?"

Elexia's eyebrows raise slightly as she sees you return her gaze. "Ah, I am merely curious of your perspectives, in the Wyrden Wood," she admits with a light little shrug of her shoulders. She begins to rock from toe-to-heel and back again, continuing the nervous gesture as she adds, "Perhaps we wouldn't understand in the manner you do. Yet, I cannot help but be curious to know."

Adding with a nod, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "Not that I am pressing for an invitation, of course."

You purr, "I see."

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "I understand that... I think that it's important to also listen to other viewpoints as well.."

The first rumbles of a distant eruption reverberate through every surface, causing the very foundations to shiver and quake.

A new post has been made to the Glomdoring board. (Gurashi!)

You have emoted: Esei's eyes suddenly unfocus, head tilting to face southeast, towards the Glomdoring.

With an idle gesture, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "Such is one of our own Truths, after all."

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "...I think that it would open your mind a whole lot if you also listened to people who don't agree with you, yes..."

Softly, you ask, "Do you follow the Lady of Serenity, Lady Oracular?"

Coraline's ears perk up with a sudden interest.


In every corner, glazed vessels illuminate with licks of flame, while red embers spit and glow within hanging censers.

As you look towards Glomdoring, Elexia's pointed ears perk. Then, when the question is directed to her, she ceases her rocking upon her heels. She stands tall, at least as tall as a faeling of such small stature can posture. "I do," she says with a nod. "it is a change which has occurred but recently in me... Perhaps two years ago, now. But I am blessed to be called Her Yneli."

Coraline's mouth turns up as her face breaks into a smile.

You murmur, "I see."

You have emoted: Esei draws their shroud closer to themself, gazing off into the distance. "Nine Truths," they say. "Seven Shrouds."

Elexia flashes Coraline a bright smile, reaching over to squeeze her sister's hand.

Clapping her hands, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver exclaims, "So there are two Truths more than the Shrouds!"

You say to Coraline, "That is because one of the Shrouds could encompass some of the Truths."

You shrug helplessly.

Elexia folds her hands back behind her as she considers you again with another light tilt of her head. "And yet, I know none of your Shrouds... Save Rebirth, which I know little of. I suppose that is the nature of a Shroud, though," she says with a wave of her hand. She flashes Coraline a little wink.

You say, "There is no Shroud such as Rebirth."

You say, "There is the Amalgam, I suppose."

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.


You say, "He has no book and no tome. Even those within the Glomdoring itself know little of His Shrouds."

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver asks, "The Amalgam? Is it like Alchemy?"

Elexia taps her chin in thought at this, musing, "Then I misunderstood our previous talk of it, I suspect. But then, you seemed to will not to elaborate. Perhaps, this concern of being misunderstood?"

As she nods slowly in your direction, you realize Elexia understands.

You wave your hand dismissively.

The muffled turning and grumbling of wheels on stone pass by outside, followed by the sharp crack of a beastmaster's whip.

You say to Coraline, "It is closer to cooking."
Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver exclaims, "Ah!"

You say to Coraline, "Imagine having six ingredients, but they were each vital and important to the final product."

You say to Coraline, "But the cake is better than raw egg, or mere sugar."

Proudly, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "My Teacher told me that cooking is the purest, most distilled form of Alchemy!"

You say, "In a way, I suppose that is true. But that is not what we are here to speak of, no?"

Your eyes twinkle enchantingly.

Upon hearing the word 'Teacher,' Elexia's calm demeanor abruptly suffers a crack. She can't help but cast a glance of concern towards Coraline, though she quickly attempts to cover it up with an anxious smile.

Looking suspiciously around, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver asks, "Oh.. are we here to speak about something, then?"

You say, "Seven Shrouds, but only six of them are... static."

You say, "Refinement. Twilight. Beauty. Shadows. Sacrifice. Silence."

You sway back and forth.

You say, "And the seventh, as you may know, is the Amalgam."
After you list the Shrouds, Elexia mouths them silently, a look of concentration on her face.

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "Some of them don't sound so bad.. but Silence?"

Coraline makes a face.

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.

Sparkling grains of sand whisper and frolic across the floor, dusting every surface and settling into every crevice in sight.

Elexia lifts a hand to her chin, eyes searching your face again. She nods, as if confirming something to herself.

The dazzling flash of coloured glass announces the stealthy arrival of an iridescent clockwork dragonfly. Hovering just above Coraline, it drops a plump bumblebee cookie, then is off whizzing through the air in a metronomic drone.

An iridescent clockwork dragonfly rises effortlessly into the air, only to vanish in a dazzling flash of glass and metal.

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "Silence is awkward, Silence kills conversations... and makes things awkward."

The dazzling flash of coloured glass announces the stealthy arrival of an iridescent clockwork dragonfly. Hovering just above Elexia, it drops a plump bumblebee cookie, then is off whizzing through the air in a metronomic drone.

You say, "Yes. And no."

An iridescent clockwork dragonfly rises effortlessly into the air, only to vanish in a dazzling flash of glass and metal.

You say, "I do not find Silence to be awkward."

Coraline looks around at the awkward silence, then smiles at you triumphantly. "See?"

The last vestiges of some sultry, mystical canticle reach your ears before fading away.

Resting a hand upon her hip Elexia remarks, "It is difficult to say what Silence does or not make you, with only the word itself to describe the Shroud."

With a wave of her hands, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver states, "Silence, awkward."

You caress a phantasmal shroud of shadows gently.

You whisper, "Silence is wisdom."

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says to Elexia, "Oh, you're right."

You whisper, "If you use the proper words at the proper time, to the proper person..."

Crossing her arms, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "I see... You are not wholly silent, but using Silence to give the times when you break it greater potency, then?"

You say, "Essentially."

The pointed tips of your ears twitch to hear an errant sound.

You think to yourself: Are You watching me now, my Lord?

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver asks, "Oh, much like when you add a pinch ofsalt to baked goods, and how that brings out their sweetness?"

Vaguely, you say, "I suppose."

Elexia nods in contemplation, replying, "I can appreciate what an economy of words can do for a conversation..." A slight grin, reminiscient of a pixie's crosses her lips. "Although I am one to ramble myself, as you may have noted."

Coraline nods in agreement with Elexia. "Silence sounds.. less lame than I thought, but I still prefer talking.."

You smirk.

A luminescent butterfly flutters in from the north, awashing the room in a glittery warmth.

You say, "The Shrouds eventually build up to the Amalgam."

You say, "I am almost finished with the other six."

Her eyebrows raising, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "I suspected it would be the combination of the others... But I had not suspected they are sequential."
You say, "They are not."

You say, "They are in whichever order you feel best."

Comprehension flashes across Elexia's face.

Showing that she understands, Elexia nods her head slowly.

Comprehension flashes across Coraline's face.

Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "Similar, then, to the Nine Truths in that way."

You say, "Silence was my first Shroud that I completed."

You say, "The Amalgam, in addition, is unique to each individual, as each Shroud's is more or less unique to them."

With sudden playfulness, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "You've a talent for it."

A luminescent butterfly flutters off to the in, leaving behind a glittery path.

Coraline nods solemnly.

The pointed tips of your ears twitch to hear an errant sound.

You whisper, "The Amalgam task is set by the Silent One Himself."

Nodding again, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "But, the Amalgam... Ah, is that so?"

Showing that she understands, Elexia nods her head slowly.

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver asks, "Oh.. and the others are not?"

You say, "I presume they were agreed upon by the Enur Il'dal at the time. But I could not say."

Comprehension flashes across Coraline's face.

You tilt your head curiously at Elexia.

The first rumbles of a distant eruption reverberate through every surface, causing the very foundations to shiver and quake.

Elexia rests her hand beneath her chin, contemplation in her violet eyes. "It sounds, in some ways, similar to the Way of the Blossom. Each individual, experiencing Serenity in their own way," she says. "...It makes me all the more curious of the other Shrouds. For clearly, there are differences." She tilts her head again. "Enur Il'dal... Are they your Order's leadership, then?"

You say, "Quite."

Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "Akin to our Phrases, I suspect."

Elexia nods her head emphatically.

You say, "Lady Rancoura and Lady Tau."
Shadows swirl around your arm as the Fingerblade of dha'Wyrden-cree digs itself more painfully into your finger.

A luminescent butterfly flutters in from the in, awashing the room in a glittery warmth.

Comprehension flashes across Coraline's face.

Elexia's eyebrows lift again and her gaze is suddenly distant. She nods to herself, in apparent satisfaction.

The last vestiges of some sultry, mystical canticle reach your ears before fading away.

You shift your eyes over Elexia, suspicious about exactly what she has been doing.

Elexia looks up at you curiously.

Suspiciously, you ask Elexia, "...are you well?"

Coraline leans agains a fluid crimson chaise couch, watching the interaction with curiosity.

Blinking in surprise, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "Oh, I was just recalling something. From the Solstice."
You sense the following people:

You ask, "...what would that be, exactly?"

A cool breeze drifts into the Gallery causing the temperature to dip slightly.

Without guile, Elexia continues, "My sister, Lief, seemed very cautious around your Rancoura at the time of the Solstice. I hadn't understood, then, why that might be, though I had my suspicions. Now, it is very apparent... Especially given what had happened at the time."

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.
You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

You sense the piercing eyes of Gurashi looking upon you.

You murmur, "I see."

You caress a phantasmal shroud of shadows gently.

The pointed tips of your ears twitch to hear an errant sound.

You think to yourself: ...that chill...

You whisper, "It feels cooler in here, does it not?"

Coraline looks around, looking for a way to dissipate the tension in the air.

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "... cooler? No..."

Emphatically, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver exclaims, "It's warm, like it's s'posed to be!"

Elexia casts a glance to Coraline, her pointed ears drooping. "I felt a little breeze, I thought," she mentions off-handedly. "It *is* winter, after all?"

Coraline furrows her brow in suspicion. "We don't get much affected by winter here..."

You murmur, "I see..."

Elexia twists her mouth in thought as she casts a glance of concern at Coraline, then at you. Her posture suddenly appears more guarded as she draws herself up.

Shaking her head, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "Perhaps what both of you need is a blanket..."

Coraline removes a woolen tentacle scarf of violet and lavender.

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "...I ran out of scarves."

You give Coraline the once-over, eyeing her suspiciously.

You caress a phantasmal shroud of shadows gently.

You crease your brow in a frown.
Although her posture is rigid, Elexia is immediately brought out of her guarded stance by Coraline's gift. She flashes her sister a fond, bright smile as she accepts a woolen tentacle scarf of violet and lavender and throws it about her neck.

(Trasto): Tridemon (from the Astral Plane) says, "Is it a beach,."

You wave your hand dismissively.

Narrowing her eyes, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "Doesn't look like that shroud is helping.. if you're feelin' cold in Gaudiguch.."

A slight smile dances at the edge of Elexia's lips, but then is immediately stolen as her hand reaches up to grab at a woolen tentacle scarf of violet and lavender.

You say to Coraline, "I am a child of Night."

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says to you, "A -cold- child of Night, it looks like."

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

You notice the faintest tremble of the shadows in the room at the mention of Mother Night.

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver mutters, in Dracnari, "Forestals, I swear..."

You say to Coraline, "I can understand you, you know."

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "Oh."

Elexia casts a wary glance about the room, her brow furrowed. She casts a quick glance to Coraline as dracnari speech leaves her sister's lips. As if she were a cornered animal, her eyes dance to and fro for a moment or two. Then, she stubbornly closes them and inhales deeply.

You smirk.

You say to Coraline, "As for that, I thrive in the cold."

You caress a phantasmal shroud of shadows gently.

Ethna tells you, "Oh!"

You tell Aphid Ethna D'Rose, One of Many, "Yes, dear one?"

In a matter-of-fact way, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver states, "Well, you won't find any of it here, I'm sure.. we are a city full of warmth, and fun, and life!"

Ethna tells you, "Do you have any plans on connecting your tower to the commune's aetherportal?"

You tell Aphid Ethna D'Rose, One of Many, "At some point yes."

Elexia opens her eyes, some of her composure regained as she makes a conscious effort to relax her posture.

Ethna tells you, "Okay! If you need help with it, I'm somewhat okay at gathering power quickly."

You ask Elexia, "Are you well? The chill of Mother Night has not affected you, has it?"

With a dip of her head, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "Thank you, Master Esei, for sharing some of your perspective with us this Moon."

With concern, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says to Elexia, "Sister, maybe you should sit down on that couch a while.."

You tell Aphid Ethna D'Rose, One of Many, "Thank you."

Soft voices whisper to you from the phantasmal shroud, murmurs of cruel amusement at your question.

Your eyes sparkle with amusement at Elexia.

Elexia pauses a moment, the fear resurfacing upon her face before she manages to grab hold of it again. "It has," she says simply, with a nod.

Elexia smiles softly at Coraline.

Coraline creases her brow in a frown.

With a grateful nod, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says to Coraline, "Thank you for your offer, sister, but I will be fine."

An anxious smile, but still a smile, comes to Elexia's face.

You have emoted: "I see," Esei murmurs, hand still gently touching their shroud. They flash a grin, showing far too many sharp teeth. "Do be safe under Her watchful gaze."

Coraline looks at Elexia, still not entirely convinced, but decides to let it go.

Elexia nods once, twice, then thrice, as if trying to convince herself of something.

You tilt your head curiously at Elexia.

You purr, "Something troubling you, dear Oracular?"

In every corner, glazed vessels illuminate with licks of flame, while red embers spit and glow within hanging censers.

Distractedly gazing about, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "What? Oh, that's..."

You think to yourself: The moon is waning tonight...

The gentle glow from the censers casts shadows that seem to stretch longer and longer.

Elexia squints for a moment about her, as if trying to see something not present. "...Yes, but I will endure," she asserts.

The first rumbles of a distant eruption reverberate through every surface, causing the very foundations to shiver and quake.

You whisper, "So sad, that you must simply endure."

Your words draw sudden fire in Elexia's eyes as she retorts, "Is it? For many things must endure in the winter, only to bloom in full with the coming of spring."

The whispering of your shroud falls silent, as if the voices await your response.

It is now the 15th of Estar, 553 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 6 days until the New Moon

Coraline's head cocks, and she pauses, her skin shading to tan covered with the numerous routes and markings of a map.
The world briefly flares copper all about you as your hands curl into claws. You bare your teeth as a sudden feeling of intense want and desire washes over you. You shake your head, momentarily, and the feeling slowly passes.
(convenient curio ambient timing)

The last vestiges of some sultry, mystical canticle reach your ears briefly before fading away.

You have emoted: Esei tilts their head slightly, hair sliding over skin as they carefully appraise Elexia and her words. "Only born, simply to die?"

A surge of confidence filling her words, Elexia replies simply, "Die." She punctuates this word with a nod and a pause, before adding. "And then bloom again." She gives Coraline a small, comforting smile, squeezing her sister's hand.

Trying to back up her sister's words, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "We're all born to die. That doesn't mean that our lives don't have meaning."

The pointed tips of your ears twitch to hear an errant sound.

Eyes sharp, you murmur, "I see."

Elexia gives Coraline's hand another affectionate squeeze. "Aye, sister," she agrees softly with a nod. "And indeed, has not the whole of the Basin endured? Struggled? Clung to Hope amidst tragedy? And yet, we have this Hope. This Winter's promise, leading to Spring."

The unease that lingers in the air suddenly breaks forth into the sound of a voice, hollow and without feeling. "Some were born to die, child. Not all."

Coraline creases her brow in a frown.

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.
Motes of rubescent light shimmer across the Golden Belt of the Enlightened briefly, lending the effigy of the Guardian Drachou about Coraline's waist the appearance of dancing amongst flames.

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver frowns and says, "You're both right.. there -is- something weird going on around here."
You stare implacably at Coraline.

Coraline closes her eyes and shakes her head, as if trying to clear out any intruding thoughts.

You whisper, "You don't say."

Hearing the voice in the open shakes Elexia's fragile resolve, and she can't help but shrink back a step and grip Coraline's hand more tightly. Mustering herself up, though, she manages a reply, "Perhaps, Lord Silent. But mortals were. But we are capable of finding our own Serenity nonetheless, and eventually, new life again."

Elexia suddenly seems unsure of herself, looking down.

The first rumbles of a distant eruption reverberate through every surface, causing the very foundations to shiver and quake.

Coraline considers her thoughts, then nods at Elexia vigorously in agreement.

You have emoted: Esei's lips twist into a sharp, dangerous smile, dark eyes flashing.

"Do you truly believe your words, child?"

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver asks, "If she didn't, why would she say them?"

Coraline moves next to Elexia protectively.

Elexia manages to regain a measure of composure, though she settles for looking down at her loam-stained feet instead of at the open air. "Y-Yes..." she whispers, with less force this time.

The dazzling flash of coloured glass announces the stealthy arrival of an iridescent clockwork dragonfly. Hovering just above Elexia, it drops a pale, budding peach blossom, then is off whizzing through the air in a metronomic drone.

Unique in its eye-catching complexity, this insect crafted of metallurgists magic is much larger than an average dragonfly - and arguably far more lovely. Rather than four wings, it has six, the malleable metal used to engineer each so intricate, so delicately shaped, that they could pass as organic were it not for the strange sounds produced as they passed over one another in motion. Gossamer-fine panes of stained glass offer a dazzling display as the bulk of each whirring appendage, their surfaces flawless and veined to mimic the real patterns found on a natural dragonfly's own fragile wings, Overly large gears serve as eyes atop a perfectly oval head, and the segmented thorax and abdomen below this taper gradually into a curving set of brass claspers. Hooked to accommodate a package or letter, these are activated by the turn of a skeletal key fit snug into the centre of the dragonfly's back.
An iridescent clockwork dragonfly looks weak and feeble.
He weighs about 1 pounds and 4 ounce(s).
He are loyal to Awanydd Lief Myeras-Silvermoon.
You cannot see what an iridescent clockwork dragonfly is holding.
It has the following aliases: dragonfly, bird.

An iridescent clockwork dragonfly rises effortlessly into the air, only to vanish in a dazzling flash of glass and metal.

Though the voice does not change in pitch and tone, there is no (less) a threatening edge to it, "Mortals often speak what they wish was true. Not what is."

Closing her eyes, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "I speak what I believe is true... Because it is all that I know."

Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "Maybe -some- mortals speak like that.. but my sister doesn't. She only says what she means."

Elexia cradles a pale, budding peach blossom in her hands, the corners of her lips twitching upwards in a smile for but a moment.

Elexia freezes suddenly, her face scrunching up as if a blow had just struck her. Her eyes remain fiercely shut, and her grip on a pale, budding peach blossom becomes so tight the paper of the origami becomes wrinkled and damaged.

Coraline moves silently towards Elexia to whisper in her ear.

Whispering, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says, "We shall see what She makes of me. What I will make of me."

The air stirs, the warmth of Gaudiguch suddenly rushing back into the room as the oppressive aura lifts and departs without warning.

Elexia takes a deep breath, her wings closing together as she does so. As she slowly exhales, her wings fan out with the action. She embraces Coraline tightly, lightly quivering in spite of herself.

Stating the obvious, Coraline Myeras, Flowing Quicksilver says, "...I think He's gone."
The first rumbles of a distant eruption reverberate through every surface, causing the very foundations to shiver and quake.

A faint whisper from your shroud as the chilling aura departs, "A shame you will not save them, My little one. Be well."
Nocht, the Silent has bestowed His divine strongfavour upon you. It will last for 2 months.

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

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

Coraline blinks.

With a gentle smile as she releases her sister, Oracular Elexia Myeras-Silvermoon says to Coraline, "Thank you, Coraline."

You think to yourself: I will not be able to save everyone. But perhaps those I can....