"Why do you think He would hurt me? Did... did He..?"

Before a bejeweled tree.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. The bamboo here has opened up into a wide, shady clearing, dominated by a singular tree. Wider than the average igasho is tall, this tree's trunk displays dozens of glittering colors from every angle, as if the entire plant were carved from a dark opal of truly prodigious size. The trunk isn't particularly smooth, though, with knots and handholds every few feet that seem to beg to be climbed at the soonest opportunity, with the tree stretching well over fifty feet above the ground below. Above the trunk and all along the branches, the leaves are all a vibrant green at their cores, but the edges of each of them are quite variable, glittering in dozens of colors. More notable are the large fruits hanging from the branches, each a faceted shape of a single color apiece, the flesh of each fruit transparent, with the shape of a stone visible at the center of each one. An inconspicuous sign at the base of the tree declares its name to be "Terrance".
You see a single exit leading east.

With a heavy creak, you level your gaze on the treetops and cease paying attention to the ground.

You blink.
You blink.
You giggle happily.

Gurashi pants for air, plumage ruffled, clinging to the trunk of the crystalline tree again.
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "H-hi..."

Tridemon pets you ingratiatingly.

Gurashi huffs, puffing their cheeks.
Gurashi's gaze softens as they smile.
With a little wave, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "H-hi, mine-child."
Gurashi swings their legs lightly, pursing their lips. "Everything O-K?"

You glance askance.
You nod slowly, your chimes clinking in a soft melody.
With a gentle creak, you say, "Someone just wanted to join Glomdoring. They always ask me, for some reason. Am not even Shadow Court..."

Gurashi tilts their head and listens intently to you.

In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "...you were explaining yeah, before she left - at the party..."
Gurashi looks down, noticing and plucking free a single disheveled feather.

Pale gold in hue, the wreath about Gurashi's brow shimmers in a steady pattern, like unto a heartbeat in its gentle pulsations, and crowns Gurashi in a flickering halo before settling still once more.

You think to yourself: **irritable rustling, even when you might not want to live there anymore, indignance, quickly sweeping away the notion with quiet scolding**.

You give Gurashi a friendly squeeze.

Tridemon gives Gurashi a friendly squeeze.
Tridemon gives you a friendly squeeze.

You smile softly.
With a gentle creak, you say to Gurashi, "Do you like Terrance?"

Gurashi blinks, then nods, looking up. "Oh, my, yes." Their gaze briefly flits to Tridemon before they lean over, temple touching the tree. "Is a goodly tree."
Gurashi looks exhausted and opens their mouth in an enormous yawn.

Leaning forward, you gently press a kiss to Gurashi's brow.

The ever-present sense of your heartbeat thrums, beating to the rhythmic pulse of the Drums of the Dead.

Gurashi fans their wings at you, bathing you in a cool gust of air.
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend asks you, "Do YOU like Terrance?"

You flash Gurashi a quiet smile, your leaves shaking with amusement.
You nod slowly, your chimes clinking in a soft melody.
With a gentle creak, you say, "They... he? He sings nicely."

Perking up, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend asks, "He does?"
Gurashi looks up at the tree, then presses their earto it, shutting their eyes.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... I think that he mostly sings in the way that Cheliyi hears trees."

You chuckle softly, your leaves rustling with laughter.

Gurashi does not leave their spot, but keeps their ear pressed to the trunk, their eyes shut, legs bent slightly to keep them upright.

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks, and her expression softens. "It's... it's okay if you can't hear him. It takes a long time, I think, for most peoples."

You think to yourself: **soft green seeping in, they are trying, and that's all that matters, to you.**.

Gurashi's plumage puffs slightly as you speaks. "S'O-K," They say again, cracking open an eye. "Is a very smooth tree, too." They tease, closing their eye again.

Gurashi hums softly to themself.

Glancing over, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend asks you, "How are? Was talk O-K?"

Muginn ruffles his feathers, stirring up puffs of fog.

You glance askance.
With a gentle creak, you say, "Was fine."
You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

Gurashi tilts their head and listens intently to you.

With a gentle creak, you say, "I don't know. It made me feel weird."

In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend asks you, "...weird?"

The call of a cicada welcomes the setting of the sun and the coming night.

You shrug helplessly.
With a gentle creak, you say, "Like my chest was heavy."

Gurashi blinks slowly. "When were talking about the Glomdorings...?"

You have emoted: Cheliyi glances at one of the many fruits, and hums noncommittally before wincing.

Gurashi reaches out and touches you.

You think to yourself: **grumbling and creaking, you shouldn't be ashamed, you should be proud**.
You blink.

Softly, you say, "I just... now when I think about home, I think about how it has hurt you, and how it just... hurts all the time. It's supposed to make me strong or something, I suppose, but I just want to sleep, sometimes. Even my siblings... I don't..."

You have emoted: Cheliyi sighs with a hint of frustration.

Gurashi glances askance at Tridemon.
Gurashi returns their gaze to you, hand resting on one of her branches. "...used to feel like that, lots... too..."

You think to yourself: **rumbling and rustling, the voices clamoring in a frenzy of appalled irritation until no voice is discernible save for the general impression of offense**.

You glance askance.
Quietly, you say, "Home just feels not so goodly anymore. At least... it feels like "not anymore." Maybe it was always that way, and I did not notice."

Gurashi listens patiently, their wings arched behind them. "...peoples change, you know. Is part of life."

Almost murmuring, you say, "Glomdoring is supposed to be change. But it isn't, is it? Cousin Caohite was right."

Gurashi fidgets with their other hand, wrinkling their nose. "Something that might have made sense or sounded goodly before...as you learn more and meet more peoples from... OTHER places.... different thinkies. And more realize things..."
Gurashi trails off as you speaks, frowning, then looking down into their lap, swinging their legs.

You have emoted: Cheliyi rubs at her eyes, nodding slowly.

Gurashi's gaze drifts to the shroud about your figure, legs still swinging slowly.

Almost guiltily, you say, "Lord Nocht probably will think I am a failure like His Siblings."
You sigh quietly, branches creaking with the weight of drooping leaves.

Gurashi stares at you blinking, obviously confused.
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend asks you, "He thinks His Siblings are failures?"

You wince in pain.
You wave your hand dismissively.
With a gentle creak, you say, "Not actually, no. Poor phrasing."
With a gentle creak, you say, "He said that even most of His Kin failed to refine themselves, along those lines, yes."

Tridemon gives you a friendly squeeze.

Gurashi finally pulls their hand away, returning them both to their lap, twiddling their thumbs. "What does mean, though? 'Refine'? Like...grow? Change? Is different than what He wants?"
Gurashi wrinkles their nose, plumage ruffling.

Bizirik's head begins to droop. It opens its great maw and curls back its lips to allow its forked tongue to unfurl as it yawns before snapping its mouth shut.

You glance askance.

Embarrassed, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "....s....sorry. Just."
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "...I could."
Gurashi puffs up. "I never. His teachings - they did not take."

As if reciting from memory, you say, "The first Shroud is the Shroud of Refinement. To gain the strength needed to bear the Shrouds, we must first shed our weaknesses. Just as iron and steel are forged in the fires of a blacksmith, so must we be forged in the fires of Lord Nocht. Learn of your weakness, so you may remove them. Learn of your enemies' weakness, so you may exploit them."

You have emoted: Cheliyi glances away, pressing her lips together with a quiet creak.

Gurashi stares up at you as she speaks, wide-eyed as they listen.
Gurashi nods, encouraging you to continue. "...exploiting weaknesses..."

You think to yourself: **you still have so much fear, so much weakness, and you just want to run away instead. a disappointment.**.

Suddenly, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend whispers, "You are not a failure."

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

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm... but are you shedding your weaknesses or just cutting away bits of what makes you you?"

You have emoted: Cheliyi does not meet Tridemon's gaze.
With a gentle creak, you say, "I am not sure."

Gurashi stares at Tridemon, eyes wide.
Gurashi swallows hard, ears flat as they look towards you to listen.

With a gentle creak, you say, "I took the oath to try and follow Him, and I cannot even follow the first teaching He offers."

Quieter, you say, "It is not kind to Him, when He has been so nicely to me. He wants the best for us, so we can grow to be good Baslaor."

Gurashi flaps their wings gently, gazing at you with a furrowed brow.
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "....is O-K for Someone to want the bestly for us, yes. But."
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend asks you, "...which of His teachings DO you feel goodly about?"
Gurashi tilts their head and listens intently to you.

The sounds of unseen animals stirring for the coming day are audible behind the gentle whistling of the wind elsewhere in the manse.

Softly, you say, "His teachings about beauty and shadow and twilight, yes. They are about the good things to find the Wyrd, things that make home worth living for."

Shifting in place, you say, "Beauty teaches us that there is amazingness in everything, but the true beauty is in the inherent change and power in the Wyrd. Shadows teach us to adapt and wax and wane to use our wit to overpower others. Twilight teaches us to use illusions to fool enemies of Mother Night, but is also just... pretty, I guess."

Gurashi nods meekly, listening, feathers quivering.

You glance askance.
You give Gurashi a friendly squeeze.
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend whispers, "Sounds like teachings of Glomdorings, yes."
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Teachings of Mother Night... His daughter..."

Quietly, you ask, "Why do you always.... what's wrong, yes?"
You give a concerned look to Gurashi.

Gurashi looks down at your hand, then up at the wyrdenwood, blinking. "What?"
Gurashi glances askance at Tridemon.
Gurashi stares at you, gaze softening and frowning at you as their expression fills with concern.

Worried, you say, "You always... look so upset when I mention Lord Nocht. I thought at first you were... well, afraid of me, but you said you -weren't- so what's wrong?"

Gurashi's ears flatten upon their head, eyes suddenly shiny. "...just want to make sure is being kindly to you," They say at last, lip quivering. "Want to make sure He does not hurt you is all. Or make you do things that -hurt- you...." They trail off, suddenly glancing about the brightening surrounds, watching the shadows shrink.

You narrow your eyes to thin slits.
Quietly, you ask, "Why do you think He would hurt me? Did... did He..?"

Gurashi glances again towards Tridemon, expression momentarily panicked.
Gurashi blanches suddenly.
Gurashi stares at you, gaze softening and frowning at you as their expression fills with concern.

Muginn ruffles his feathers, stirring up puffs of fog.

You think to yourself: Please no.
You think to yourself: **a deep sense of denial, a creeping sense of betrayal, rustling and hissing leaves that leave your mouth dry**.

Almost pleading, you say, "Dad."
You reach out and touch Gurashi.

You think to yourself: **a quiet voice, snide, but tired, if home hurt them, why not your Lord?**.

Gurashi opens, then closes their mouth, looking at your hand upon them. "....uhm."

Gurashi's plumage ruffles up, and they lean forward, suddenly wrapping their arms around your trunk, nearly falling off the branch in the process.

You blink.

You have emoted: Cheliyi's branches immediately move to cradle Gurashi, making sure the're secured.

"...used to try to teach lessons, before..." Gurashi starts, glancing at the silent lucidian before looking down and holding tightly to you. "And...I do not know."

You think to yourself: **all of the rustling and whispers and hunger and rage silence with a note of pure distress**.
Quietly, you ask, "... Teach?"
You grab protectively at Gurashi.

Gurashi nods meekly. "Taught me about the flaws of the Lady Amberle," They say slowly, as if the name itself hurts. "The first time that met... showed Mixter Esei 'n me... what happens, when you are TOO Compassionate... like Her...."

Gurashi's feathers quiver again. "...Their pain at her loss - it was awful." Their cheek mushes against the bark. "So awful."

You have emoted: Cheliyi listens, her branches utterly still.

Tridemon keeps his silence, wrapping an arm around Gurashi.

Gurashi wrinkles their nose, eyes teary but none falling, their breath still. "He was always watching ... always judging every steps in the forest ... every breath that took, and every friend that made." They tense slightly.

Gurashi glances askance at Tridemon.

Gurashi sniffles softly.

In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Uhm."

Tridemon leans in to kiss Gurashi on the cheek.

Leaning forward, you gently press a kiss to Gurashi's brow.
Y
ou think to yourself: **the distress already fading, anger slowly bubbling forth once more like a wellspring**.

Gurashi coughs, leaning away from you and reaching up to discreetly wipe their eye. "He punished Lief because I had helped her - He -zapped- her, because of -me-. And," They pause, waver, "He was always after her, because she was of the Lady Bloom's," Their voice wavers, "even before He got sick..."

Gurashi's ear twitches. "And, His headaches..."

Barely above a creak, you ask, "Headaches?"

Gurashi sags suddenly, as if they are dragged down by a great weight. "Wanted me to do something, but would never say what... wanted me to carry out some task, but was supposed to figure it -out-, but am not that -smart-, and would not tell me..."

Gurashi nods a few times. "Mm - like ..." They hesitate. "When heads get broken open in timequakes...except He does not need to do it actually..."

Gurashi fidgets impatiently.

You have emoted: Cheliyi's expression flashes as Gurashi sags, first with deep hurt, betrayal, and then anger. But, she closes her eyes and exhales, the expression smoothing out.

You think to yourself: Count to 10, count to 10....

Gurashi reaches up to touch their forehead with all fingers gathered together in a loose cone. Their fingers splay, spread out across their forehead like a 'burst' as they silently, visually demonstrate.
Gurashi slowly drops their arm, looking down, frowning.

Very, very quietly, you say, "I am sorry, yes."

Weakly, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "Could never please Him, no - not like you have been able to."
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend whispers, "...I just want Him to be -nice- to you."
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend whispers, "He was nice to Esei, too..."

Gurashi rubs their arms. "They were willing to accept His teachings, and so He was goodly to them... and am forever grateful..."

In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "A-and, was a time when saved me from the ... uh, little monsters, that were loose in the woods."

Gurashi glances askance at Tridemon.

Staring at Tridemon, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "He saved me from one, once.... like Tridemon did - weird invisible beings of His..."

In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Dunno why they wanted -me-... He said they liked my thinkies. Lots of thoughts. Loud thoughts are delicious I guess."

Gurashi rubs their face, swaying on the branch. "Mine-child - Cheliyi - am so sorry."

You think to yourself: **a feeling in your chest like a gaping wound, how could He, you can't understand when He smiled and was kind, guilt roiling in your stomach, how could -you- love Him when He-**.
You shake your head.
Fiercely, you say, "Do-" an exhale, "... do not be sorry."

Whispering, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "He is the one who told me is no rooms for Compassions or mercy in the Glomdoring, and I could not agree with Him."
Gurashi tilts their head, gaze softening as they frown.


You remove a phantasmal shroud of shadows.
You unfasten the pin that holds the shroud in place and unwind the fabric from around your head in a couple deliberate twists. As you do so the sounds of the world once more become harsher and indistinguishable.

You wince in pain.

In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "I--."
Gurashi blinks.
Gurashi tilts their head, gaze softening as they frown.
Gurashi leans back, watching the shroud disappear.

You have emoted: Cheliyi stares coldly at a phantasmal shroud of shadows, and sighs.
You put a phantasmal shroud of shadows into a fesix backpack.

Gurashi glances at you, then Tridemon, then the shroud, ears flat, leaning away.

You have emoted: Cheliyi swallows thickly, and scrubs away tears. "I do not want to... do not want to do things that will hurt you. Ever. Please don't not tell me just to keep me happy, okay? You're my Dad."

Her tears drying with a suddenly stern look, you say, "And I don't want to hurt family."

Gurashi says nothing, wings loosely drooped forward, as if to hug your head.

Tridemon pets Gurashi ingratiatingly.
Tridemon pets you ingratiatingly.

Their voice surprisingly dry and void of any joy, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "Do not think is healthy for one place... and its peoples... to cause so muchly ....."
Gurashi does not finish the sentence, their ears flat and sitting stiffly even as Tridemon pets them.

Pressing her forehead gently against Gurashi's, you say, "I would... I would rather be a little hurt and sad, because hurting you would hurt me so much worse. Which, by the way does not mean you should hide it from me. It means you should -tell- me."

Gurashi lets out a little whistle, pursing their lips.

Gurashi looks at you, gently wrapping one arm around her head.

You have emoted: Cheliyi swallows again. "And don't you -dare- blame yourself for me being sad. I know you're trying to. So don't. M.... Lord Nocht hurt you. Not you hurting me."

Suddenly, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend murmurs, "Please d..."

Gurashi gives you a friendly squeeze.

You think to yourself: **a deep ache in your chest, why are you always so blind?**.

Tridemon leans on Gurashi seeking consolation.

You have emoted: Cheliyi gently pulls the both of you in with a tight hug, her eyes squeezing shut.

Gurashi reaches out and gently grabs you, pulling you into a tight embrace.

Whispering, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "S'O-K, Cheliyi. Is. Love you muchly."
Whispering, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "Was long time ago. Maybe being sick has made Him gentler. Maybe it is His Nature to be kinder to those in His Fold."

Firmly, you say, "I love you too. But... it isn't okay."

In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Is past, is."

You narrow your eyes to thin slits.
With a gentle creak, you say, "It is -still- hurting you."

Gurashi glances askance.
Gurashi glances over their shoulder, then back at you, frowning.
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend asks, "Is?"

With a gentle creak, you say, "You... you're always looking scared. You still have the memories. I can't... I can't."

Gurashi stares at you blinking, obviously confused.
In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend asks, "Cannot what?"

Quietly, you say, "I won't stay in His Order. Not when I know He... He was so awful to you."

Gurashi puffs up fearfully. "N-no! You cannot leave because of me!"
Gurashi frets over everything that might go wrong.
Gurashi frets over everything that might go wrong.

You frown at Gurashi.
With a gentle creak, you say, "It.... it isn't -because- of you."
Firmer, you say, "It's because of Him."

With a gentle creak, you say, "I already.... there were so many things I wanted to excuse, to ignore, because I thought I did not understand, but... I really didn't understand. That what I saw was the truth."

Ears flat, Gurashi does not lose their fearful demeanor, every bit of them on edge, the very picture of fight or flight.

Quietly, you say, "I was willing to excuse it because I wanted to love Him and make Him proud. I thought... maybe He was nicely. That He cared. Maybe He does. But not for kind peoples. And I don't want to kill the kindness you taught me."
Faintly, you say, "I don't want to cut it out, and I don't want to hurt you."

You have emoted: Cheliyi tightens her embrace, and loosens, giving Gurashi plenty of room to pull away if needed.

Gurashi does not say anything, big fat tears now spilling down over their cheeks and staining the front of their suit.

Suddenly chuckling bitterly, you say, "You know, He actually told me I should be crueler. Hungrier. I am surprised that I didn't realize He might want that in me, because He values it. I really am blind, even with spectacles."

Gurashi stares at you, gaze softening and frowning at you as their expression fills with concern.
Gurashi glances askance at Tridemon.
Gurashi shrugs their shoulder, using it to rub their wet cheek discreetly.

Tridemon pets Gurashi ingratiatingly.

You think to yourself: **It hurts. Even your siblings echo hollow, despite their reassuring platitudes that He is right, and that He just wants the Wyrd to grow**.

In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend whispers, "...is hard to be kind ..."

In an airy, melodic voice, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend whispers, "...says Tridemon..." They pause. "...is right."
Tridemon tilts his head curiously.

Quietly, you say, "It is. You're the strongest person I know, you know that? Most amazing person I have ever met. I am always proud to be your daughter."

Gurashi gives you a friendly squeeze.

...a gentle psionic pulse, a familiar spoke voice though the trill's mouth does not move: "..most favoritest mine-child.." ...

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.

The Mantle of Starlight shimmers and twinkles as the starlit darkness that it is formed of continues its eternal motion.

Tridemon hugs you compassionately.

You have emoted: Cheliyi freezes, and carefully leans into the embrace.

... "..and we love you muchly.." ...

Gurashi swallows hard, slowly slipping back onto the crystalline tree's branch again, looking down.

Quietly, you say, "Love you both so muchly as well."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Terribly hard to be kind. It takes a lot more thought than simply taking what you want for yourself."

Gurashi leans forward gently, touching your trunk and offering a little apologetic bow of their head.
Gurashi reaches out and gently grabs you, pulling you into a tight embrace.
Gurashi gives you a peck on the cheek.

You have emoted: Cheliyi smiles weakly, leaning into Gurashi's touch. "Need a ride down?"

Gurashi gingerly clambers onto your branches, glancing back at Tridemon.

Gurashi gives Tridemon a peck on the cheek.
Gurashi leans against Tridemon, eyes half-closing.

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips as you glance at Tridemon.

Gurashi settles back onto the wyrdenwood's branches before staring blankly, expectantly towards the ground.

You have emoted: Cheliyi bends down, offering Gurashi an easy path down to the ground.

With a heavy creak, you shift your perspective back from the boughs to the ground.

Leaning forward, you gently press a kiss to Gurashi's brow.

Gurashi sniffs the air while twitching a striped badger nose.
Gurashi reaches out and gently grabs you, pulling you into a tight embrace.

With a gentle creak, you say, "Rest. Love you."

Gurashi mouths something silently, nodding, before pointing up several times.
Gurashi looks at you hopefully.

You nod slowly, your chimes clinking in a soft melody.

Gurashi fans their wings at you, bathing you in a cool gust of air.
Gurashi looks back down, rubbing their arms, then flits off anxiously.

The air grows colder and the surroundings seem darker as Gurashi departs to the east, the angelic voices fading with them.
With a great sweep of its tail, Bizirik breaks off to the east.

You smile softly.

With a heavy creak, you level your gaze on the treetops and cease paying attention to the ground.

You have emoted: Cheliyi returns to the canopy, her soft smile slipping off of her lips.

Tridemon gives you a friendly cuddle.

You think to yourself: **the deep ache in your chest, bubbling with quiet, simmering anger that you can't even do anything about**.
You lean on Tridemon seeking consolation.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. I can't really speak to whether or not you should stay where you are..."
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "...mrrh. You should ask Gurashi to show you our nexus world. It's full of starlight."

You think to yourself: **a rumbling font of anger accentuated by a forest rustling with discontent**.

Quietly, you say, "Okay."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Did you look at the palm trees along the streets?"

You think to yourself: **the swaying fronds, soft and clean, barely a flash but it leaves you... calmer.**.
The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.

You nod slowly, your chimes clinking in a soft melody.

Faintly amused, you say, "They were very friendly. Although, they thought I was... spooky? I do not remember the words they used."

The soft sounds of a zither being played and the cry of a crane in flight echo in from somewhere.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Those trees probably see more people every day than most of the others in the entire basin."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... maybe trees are like cats and need to be socialized?"
Tridemon ponders the situation.

You have emoted: Cheliyi snorts.

You think to yourself: **the dissonant whispers halting, then all hissing at once as one sounds... surprisingly mortal with its laughter**.

You blink.
You have emoted: Cheliyi chuckles weakly.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "See? They're hissing when they encounter something they don't like."
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Trees are actually cats."
Tridemon nods his head sagely.

You have emoted: Cheliyi giggles harder, something finally breaking as tears start dripping down her cheeks.

You think to yourself: **it hurts.**.

Tears fill your eyes and begin to slowly run down your face.

Tridemon wraps both arms around you, pulling you in close.

You have emoted: Cheliyi leans in, her entire canopy creaking mournfully as she sobs into Tridemon's chest.

Voice thick with tears, you say, "'msorrymsorry 'm getting sap all over you-."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It's fine. I'd have to be a much worse person to let you cry alone right now."

You think to yourself: **a fresh wound in your chest, you trusted Him, you almost thought He was different, why were you so foolish, it hurts it hurts**.

Tridemon hugs you harder.

You have emoted: Cheliyi hiccups, the crystalline canopy echoing and darkening with her cries.

You think to yourself: **the wyrden canopy twists and writhes, reacting to your pain with mixed confusion, you are one of us, we protect you, but this is not us-**.

A pulse of psionic energy flows out from the lucidian, wrapping around you with great care... and regarding the trees and the whispering of the branches with a sensation not entirely unlike a glare.

You have emoted: Cheliyi's expression crumples, and her sobs grow quieter until she simply breathes, eyes rimmed with a red tinge.

You think to yourself: **the whispers hiss and finally dissipate, leaving all quiet in your mind for a brief reprieve. But, one stays, brushing against your own, oddly... normal. Familiar. It lingers, as if to leave with a backwards glance, and whispers something you cannot hear, but leaves you oddly comforted all the same. Then it is gone, once more a part of the collective forest that has pulled away.**.

You think to yourself: **a deep ache, you're so tired** ... who?

Tridemon squeezes you in against his chest again. "Mm. That was probably Rowan again."

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks blearily, and rumbles affirmatively.

Tridemon leans close to you and gently lays a kiss upon your forehead.
Faintly, you say, "I should... plant him in my manse."

You sigh quietly, branches creaking with the weight of drooping leaves.
You think to yourself: How do I....
Quietly, you ask, "How do I leave His Order without it hurting Dad?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... I honestly have no idea. The only time I've left an order, the Divine in question had been absent for... a long time."

With a gentle creak, you say, "If I talk about myself... well, it is true anyways. Dad just... made me see."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm... Want to go see what's in the fountain this month?"

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.
You nod slowly, your chimes clinking in a soft melody.
You begin to follow Tridemon.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters south to Sun of a Beach.

The fountain is crafted from a bluish-white marble shot through with deep veins of gold. Sculpted in a perfect circle, the fountain is relatively shallow, and a column rises up elegantly from the center upon which rests a marble vase. Out of the vase cascades sparkling liquids that splash into the fountain, occasionally sending bubbles floating up into the air. A lambent light glows within the waters, slowly changing their colour throughout the spectrum of the rainbow.
It weighs about 375 pounds.
Oolong tea sloshes about in it.
There is enough liquid within to fill 5 vials or bottles.
It has the following aliases: fountain.

A wry smile spreads across your face.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. Oolong tea this month."

You nod your head sagely.

You see the death occur at a lifeless plaza.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I would have given the fountain a Talking To if it had produced blood."

You give a trillingly melodic laugh, your branches creaking harmoniously with joyful amusement.

A gentle rolling of waves laps at the sand's edge.

You have emoted: Cheliyi visibly relaxes, tired, but content.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... I'm pretty sleepy."

You have emoted: Cheliyi nods. "Me too."

The sounds of waves entice your ears, drawing your senses on a salty journey.

You have emoted: Cheliyi pauses, looking down at her blunted claws.

You sigh quietly, branches creaking with the weight of drooping leaves.

You unhide a dark moss-green linen shirt from view.
You unhide a long skirt of shadows from view.
You hide a cloak of crow feathers from view.
You unhide a leaf-green woollen blanket from view.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Just know that I won't judge you for what you decide. Whatever it is."

You have set your accent to: Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool
You will now be described as "(Small and cheery,) of axolotl descent who starkly contrasts her homeland with her pearly skin and mauve-tinted frills. Her stature is not unnatural for a mugwump, short and sturdy with a clear fitness that implies years of climbing about trees and swimming through swaths of swamp. A messy bob of magenta hair flows from her scalp, unkempt and tangled with shiny knickknacks, small origami, and albino feathers. Hints of wyrden willow leaves mingle with her pink locks, the sprouts seemingly rooted to her skin. Affixed to one frill is a tiny set of bone chimes, so small that it almost seems like an earring. Her skin has a soft, oily sheen akin to most mugwumps, but, strangely enough, the skin becomes abruptly dry and brittle in some places. Most notable of these are her forearms and a large patch around her eyes, the complexion slightly discolored to an uncomfortable beige, pattern reminiscent of roiling flames. Shadows cling to these surfaces in a loving embrace, seemingly soothing the damaged skin. Her eyes fare no different, the traditionally midnight orbs a faded, milky grey. When caught in a certain light, they seem to almost glow with the dull fog of twilight. A long, thick tail twitches occasionally behind her, stirring up dust and litter with each sweep. The pale frills that would usually extend from her tail are torn and scarred, the wounds long since healed."
When describing yourself, keep in mind that your race and your clothing are already described. Furthermore, please refer to HELP DESCRIPTION to verify the format of your description.

You slip into a dapper, cerulean-banded black felt hat.
You have emoted: Cheliyi lands on the ground in a flurry of leaves.
Quietly, you say, "I know."
You have emoted: Cheliyi takes Tridemon's hand.
Tridemon gives you a friendly squeeze.

Hesitantly, you say, "Can I.... fall asleep with you? Don't want to go alone right now."
Tridemon nods his head emphatically.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I might not wake at the same time as you, of course."

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.
You nod your head emphatically.

Tridemon hugs you compassionately.
Tridemon grows still and his lips begin to move silently.

You hug Tridemon as best as you can, pulling them into a tight embrace.

Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters has left the realm of Lusternia.
Tridemon is enveloped in translucent fire for a moment and is gone, his soul safe until he returns to Lusternia.