Anything.

Lightning scarred glade beside a murmuring brook.
A thick cover of clouds obscures the sky in a sheet of dense white. A bolt of lightning has torn a jagged scar down the trunk of a nearby tree, the twisted wound seeping black liquid that covers the heart of the tree in sticky darkness. The ground where the liquid essence of the tree has been absorbed is devoid of all plants. Nothing grows in the circular region, a testament to the corrosive and toxic nature of this twisted area. A small brook gently murmurs on its way past the glade, but the waters are not as refreshing as one would hope, as several bones line the banks. A crudely crafted shrine of harsh black crystal stands here, thrumming powerfully. A hemlock sapling clings tenaciously to the ground here. A slender leothin sits here motionless, brightening its surroundings with its natural golden bio-luminescence.

The air shifts, rushing out from the area like a soft sigh as the temperature noticeably dips.

You blink.

You see the following people here:
Gurashi.

You have emoted: Gurashi lifts his head, blinking.

Bizirik, the leothin sniffs you, trying to decipher just what that smell

Quietly, you say to Bizirik, the leothin, "Ah - did not mean to spook."

You think to yourself: ...was nothing.

Bizirik, the leothin stares implacably at you.

A voice drifts through the air, soft, faint - yet clear, "Have you thought on My advice, little one."

You have emoted: Gurashi starts suddenly, turning a full rotation in his spot, eyes wide. "Oh!"

Covering his mouth with his hands, you say, "...oh, ehm."

You have emoted: Gurashi slowly relaxes, keeping his hands over his mouth to stifle his volume. "... in, the Fulcrux ... you mean...?"

Slowly, shyly, you say, "... or, after."

You twiddle your thumbs.

Gliding in upon cloudy wings of ethereal mist, a yellow gryphon arrives from the east, suffused by a chill, raging gale.

Raising her hand in greeting, Ashira says "Hi!"

You nod your head at Ashira.

The voice murmurs a reply, but its words are muddled, lost in the ambient noise of the ethereal forest. The chilling presence remains, looming over the area.

You crease your brow in a frown.

Ashira Ysav'rai, the Glowing Ember says, "Do you know if Xenthos got the manifestation up here, and if it dropped a sand?"

Distracted, you say to Ashira, "...oh, ehm - said that got four already..."

Ashira blinks.

Ashira Ysav'rai, the Glowing Ember says, "Well, ok then."

Glancing about, you say to Ashira, "Do not know if found in Ethereal Glomdoring or not..."

You think to yourself: ...are O-K?

Ashira Ysav'rai, the Glowing Ember says, "At least I know there's four taken already! Thanks!"

You have emoted: Gurashi smiles weakly.

You nod your head at Ashira.

Ashira doffs an emerald crown of laurels cordially.

With a fierce cry, a yellow gryphon flaps her cloudy wings of ethereal mist and flies off to the ether.

You have emoted: Gurashi finally lowers his hands, antennae raising. "...are still there..?" He asks timidly.

The air shifts once more, an icy breeze the only reply.

You have emoted: Gurashi's antennae subsequently droop a bit, and he continues to wring his hands together, studying his seemingly empty surroundings.

You think to yourself: ... oh gosh.

You think to yourself: O-K, brain, do not stop working now.

You think to yourself: ... oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh.

Beads of sweat break out on your face.

Faintly buzzing, you say, ".... am ..."

Faintly buzzing, you say, "....am -not- too slow."

You think to yourself: O-K, am a little slow.

You think to yourself: No, no - are -not-.

You have emoted: Gurashi lifts his head again, exhaling. "Said that, in Fulcrux, that did not learn lesson soon enough! That know what is to care about somebody else, and now know that... being ignorantly patient, is, not the way," He fidgets.

The air falls flat, then surges forth suddenly as if something has awoken. The voice speaks more clearly, "Have you thought upon the counsel I offered in My fulcrux, little one?"

Faintly buzzing, you say, "...m-mean, yes ..."

Carefully, you say, "... the mistakes that Lady Amberle made ... think is ... O-K to be patient sometimes. But, sometimes, are things that -need- action to be made, and cannot be done by being patient... if hesitate, then something -bad- could happen..."

Your mandibles twitch slightly as you voice a brief, curious chirr.

The wind whistles eerily through the branches overhead.

Placing both left hands over his heart, you say, "Do not know if heard prayers, or, talking-ness, before, while were not present, but..."

Earnestly, you say, "Mean - am, willing to do -anything- for home. For Glomdoring."
Suddenly shy, you say, "...including for those that protect - even if make little bit nervous."

You think to yourself: ...is a little scary.

The voice replies, soft but with the faintest cruel edge, "Anything?"

You think to yourself: ...why is not showing self? Is unwell?

You have emoted: Gurashi's eyes widen. "...yes."

You think to yourself: ...oh boy.

You think to yourself: ...will not poison foods!

You think to yourself: ...unless am asked to poison foods.

You think to yourself: ...aaaaaaugh.

Bizirik, the leothin sits perfectly still beside Gurashi, the only movement from its tail as it occasionally rises and slaps against the ground, staring at a fixed point in the air.

The voice replies, soft and tinged with sadness, "Anything?"

You crease your brow in a frown.

You have emoted: Gurashi's mandibles click, arms dropping to his sides. "...y-yes!" He says at last with resolve, squaring his shoulders.

You think to yourself: ...ohgoshisgoingtomakepoisonfoodsheck.

The voice replies, soft and sweet and gentle, "Anything?"

You blink.

You have emoted: Gurashi takes a step forward, spreading his arms wide to either side of himself. "Yes!"

Faintly buzzing, you exclaim, "Nothing matters but Glomdoring!"

The voice replies, low and cruel and filled with malice. What feels like a dozen hands prodding and pushing at you roughly, "Anything?"

You have emoted: Gurashi starts, stumbling a bit at the sensation. He waves all of his arms frantically, as if to ward off the gestures. "Hey!" He whistles in surprise. "Yes! Anything! Know are Divine but -pleasestoppushingmemanythankyous-!"

You flail about helplessly.

Bizirik, the leothin watches, head tilted dramatically to the side, making no effort to assist its kepheran partner. It snorts loudly, tail slapping the ground again.

The voice replies, as if nothing had been said at all, "You prayed to Me, little one? What is it you wish to know of the blackthorns?"

You blink.

You feel a strong tug within your chest and the air comes alive with swirling, multicoloured light.

You have emoted: Arms still raised as if warding off the pushing and shoving, Gurashi blinks. "...oh, er -" He stammers, embarrassed and brushing himself off. "...just ... wanted to know why was important to. Was a fr--person, that wanted to know..." He shuffles uneasily.

You see the following people here:
Xenthos, Gurashi.

You blink.

Pressing his hands together before him, Xenthos bows his head and an indigo glow suffuses the area around his forehead.

Xenthos tilts his head curiously.

Startled, you say to Xenthos, "...oh."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Who are you talking to?"

You blush furiously.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks over his shoulder, then back at Xenthos, realizing he has no one to point at.

Xenthos tilts his head and listens intently to you.

You think to yourself: ...ohgosh.

"Who wanted to know?"

Beads of sweat break out on your face.

You have emoted: Gurashi clasps his hands together. "Ehm," He says, voice high and uneasy, "Lord Silence."

Comprehension flashes across Xenthos's face.

You think to yourself: ...can't lie.

You think to yourself: Can't lie can't lie can't lie.

Xenthos tells you, "I did not know you were speaking with Him. I will leave you be for the time being. Remember what we discussed."

You nod your head at Xenthos. <-- He left!

You have emoted: Gurashi carefully pulls a small painting of some blackthorn trees from his pack, then sets it on the ground, letting it rest against his legs. "Was Lief." His mandibles click. "Lady of Serenity's, Lief."

Choosing his words carefully, you say, "Asked question, about why had Blackthorns ... but did not realize until she asked, that also did not know."

You stare blankly into space.

The voice is soft and gentle and dripping with potential danger as it replies, "You wish to tell her stories of Mine?"

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 blink.

You have emoted: Gurashi clenches his hands together tightly, the chitin making a faint grating noise. "...only stories that she has are ones that Lady of Serenity has painted..." He stares up at the empty space around him. "Is so convinced that, what are doing - what have done - is -bad-."

Just barely above a whisper, you say, "Does not ... accept that was Lady of Serenity who did first not-so-nice-thing, and is why are where ... are... today."

You think to yourself: ...mean, do not know that much about, either ...

You think to yourself: But, want to know.

Bizirik, the leothin stretches languidly.

A palpable sense of anger fills the air. Then grief. And then confusion. The voice falters and starts several times in reply, the words dissolving into incoherent whispers before finally there is nothing at all. The voice and overwhelming presence gone entirley.

You blink.

As nightfall steals the last vestiges of daylight, a slender leothin's muted coat begins to shine with a violaceous radiance, and a double pair of wings materializes, grandly extended as if they've been there all along.

Faintly buzzing, you say, "... h..."

Shaken, you ask, "Hello...?"

You think to yourself: Ohno.

You think to yourself: Ohnoohnoohno.

Faintly buzzing, you ask, "...L-Lord Silence...?"

You have emoted: Gurashi turns in his spot, shoulders sagging. "...Lord Nocht??" He calls out, voice nearly drowned out by the noises of Ethereal Glomdoring.

You have emoted: Gurashi clasps his hands tightly over his stomach, looking ill. He opens his mouth to speak but utters no words, responding only once Bizirik rises and casually walks up to him, headbutting him in the side.

You think to yourself: Am sorry.

You think to yourself: Will do anything - anything, anything.

Covering his face, you say, "...Bizi ... think made mistake."

Bizirik, the leothin stares implacably at you.

Bizirik, the leothin looks exhausted and opens her mouth in an enormous yawn.

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

You have emoted: Gurashi lays a hand atop the leothin's head, the other resting gently upon the edge of the shrine.

Kneeling humbly, you press your palms together before you and close your eyes momentarily as you pray devoutly to Nocht, the Silent, "Dear Mister Lord Silence. If have done something bad, please, forgive. Or, punish - whichever will help keep in good standing with. Meant what said before - am willing to do anything for Glomdoring. Please tell, or show, what to do, so that can help. Because is all that want: is to help.".

You tell Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "He is gone."

You tell Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "...I ... can Divine hear and see all that do?"

Xenthos tells you, "If they are in the same place as you, aye."

You think to yourself: Really really sorry.

You tell Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "But are always watching, thought."

Xenthos tells you, "Mmhm."

You tell Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "So, are always watching, but only, when are watching...?"

Xenthos tells you, "Always watching, but sometimes with more focus."

You tell Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "...if a Divine were going to smite, would have done it by now?"

Xenthos tells you, "Why would He smite you?"

<-- Faedad to the rescue!

Faintly buzzing, you say to Xenthos, "...wowee was fast."

Faintly buzzing, you say, "...uh."

You have emoted: Gurashi scratches his head. "Uhm."

Faintly buzzing, you say to Xenthos, "Lief has been sending letters to, sometimes. Think is trying to guilt. Or, something. Mean, sometimes it works and do feel bad but."

All in one breath, you say to Xenthos, "Asked me in letter about why Lord Silence had blackthorn tree in temple! And asked Lady Rancoura and she said because they are symbol of Wyrd and strong and delicate and spiky but didn't think that HE actually made them and so decided to ask Lord Silence few months ago."

In the same breath, you say to Xenthos, "So asked why I wanted to know and who wanted to know and cannot -lie- to a Divine, so told Him, but really was not asking for her but for self, because -also- do not know anything besides tenets of Lord Silence!"

Pacing, somehow still going, you say, "And of course Lief does not think that Lady of Serenity is in the wrong and thinks that what She did was right! And maybe if can convince her that what Lady of Serenity has done is -not- right then maybe will see that Wyrd is better and not bad! But anyway was not reason of thinking! For thinking!"

You have emoted: Gurashi finally takes a breath, loud and rasping.

Faintly buzzing, you say, "But, He got really m-mad. And then, very -sad-. And then... confused..."

Faintly buzzing, you say to Xenthos, "...am worried something is wrong with. Felt off."

Faintly buzzing, you say to Xenthos, "Felt scattered."

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

Shuddering, you say, "Also did lots of pushing."

Xenthos tilts his head curiously at you.

You tilt your head curiously at Xenthos.

Faintly buzzing, you say to Xenthos, "...you know..."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Who is pushing?"

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches out and gently shoves Xenthos with his smaller right hand.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "You make it sound like you are pushing Him."

Faintly buzzing, you say, "Oh, no, was pushing -me-."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Hm."

Bizirik, the leothin chirps as if it's a game, trotting over and bumping into Xenthos's leg.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "For any specific reason?"

Xenthos gives Bizirik, the leothin the once-over, eyeing her suspiciously.
Bizirik, the leothin stares blankly at Xenthos. After a moment its tail lifts once then thumps back against the ground with potential delight.

Bizirik, the leothin chirps happily at Xenthos.

Faintly buzzing, you say to Xenthos, "...asked ... lots and lots of times, if would do anything for Glomdoring..."

Faintly buzzing, you say, "Kept asking anything - over and over, and over."

You sweat profusely as you wring your hands nervously.

Faintly buzzing, you say, "Mean, said that would."

Trailing off, you say to Xenthos, "But - am worried that made Him mad, by telling Him that reason that asked was because of Lief ... but, could not in good conscious lie about."
Worried, you say to Xenthos, "What if thinks am not actually willing to do anything for Glomdoring?!"

You flail about helplessly.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says to you, "Then I suppose you would have to demonstrate it, aye?"

You blink.

You flex your muscles in an impressive display of strength.

Faintly buzzing, you say, "Am!"

Faintly buzzing, you exclaim to Xenthos, "But did not tell me what to do to demonstrate!"

Still flexing, you say, "Am doing ... best!"

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says to you, "You need not know of a specific thing-- it is how you live your life, and how to rise to the challenges that come."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says to you, "Don't be focused on any one action."

You blink.

Your mandibles twitch slightly as you voice a brief, curious chirr.

You have emoted: Gurashi lets out a whistling sigh, slumping forward.

Faintly buzzing, you say, "O-K."

Faintly buzzing, you ask Xenthos, ".... do not think will smite...?"

Faintly buzzing, you ask Xenthos, "...if does smite, will make sure Bizi gets home in one piece?"

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "I can try, but that would require Bizirik voluntarily following me."

Xenthos ponders Bizirik, the leothin thoughtfully, looking her up and down.

Faintly buzzing, you say to Xenthos, "She likes you, bet would follow..."

Faintly buzzing, you ask Xenthos, "...what if really is unwell?"

You blink incredulously at Xenthos.

Faintly buzzing, you say to Xenthos, "Has not shown Himself in many months - and, last time that saw, the vines and flowers ..."

You think to yourself: Were pretty bad.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says to you, "Keep offering to Him."

You nod your head sagely.

Faintly buzzing, you say, "...O-K."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Until He says otherwise, that is all we can really do."

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

You have emoted: Gurashi straightens up, attempting to look tough.

Faintly buzzing, you say, "Can do that."

You think to yourself: Am sorry.