just a brief hug

A veil of shadow momentarily passes across Father Sun, dimming his light and announcing the return of Nocht, the Silent to mortal perception.

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

[various greetings]

[order stuff!]

The Shadows.
The shadowy outline of a twisted forest casts a dark gloom here. A narrow corridor joins the chamber from an odd angle near its far corner, leading away down the broadening staircase below. The only light visible here comes from a dimly glowing brazier just outside the southeast exit. It serves only to deepen the shadow. The floor is smooth, free from impediment. A cold draft streaming through hall gives the sense of a vast space, even as the walls and ceiling are indiscernible in the darkness. It carries the faint scent of Wyrden flora, delicate and sweet decay, and its cloying taste. The whisper of the shifting air seems to grow louder and softer at intervals, this breath of sound echoing again and again as if speaking some incomprehensible message. The darkness seems almost liquid here, dense and giving, allowing all who linger here to sink within its depths.
You see exits leading southwest and down.

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 settle to the ground in a cross-legged position, inhaling deeply. As you bring your hands up to rest open-palmed at either side, you exhale, clearing your mind.

You think to yourself: ...the Shadows just -are-.

You have emoted: Esei sighs inaudibly, rubbing their fingers across their forehead.

You tilt your head back and look up at the sky.

A soft, hollow voice blossoms around you, whispering, "And why do you sigh, My little one?"

Quietly, you say, "Simply struggling with my Black Sorrow more than usual, my Lord."

The voice twists slowly around, dragging a breeze with it as it circles you, "Hmmm... I see... Brought about by nothing in particular?"

"By no one?"

You have emoted: Esei's eyes flick up, observing the shadows. "Old memories," they admit. "It will pass, and I am just trying to... come to terms with it, I suppose, so that it passes easier."

The breeze stirs around you, an idle sensation of curiosity trailing after it, but the voice whispers no more question.

You have emoted: Esei bites the inside of their cheek, loosely clasping their hands in their lap.

You open your mouth to say something, but speech fails you.

You think to yourself: ...would it be childish to ask for that hug, I wonder? ** a fleeting sense of not-quite-shame, self-recrimination. **.

The air grows even cooler as the voice whispers, "Hmm... Is that all you wish, My little one? The embrace of the Wyrd? Connection with some ancient part of Our beautiful home?"

You have emoted: Esei exhales softly, curling their hands into fists tight enough to sink their claws into their palms.

Quietly, you ask, "...would it be a bad thing if I said yes?"

A soft voice whispers in your ear, "I am very curious why you think it may be, My little one... but if you go to the Master Ravenwood, I shall grant you this wish."

You have emoted: Esei slowly rises, inhaling and exhaling again. They give a firm nod, and turn away from the room.

[movement]

Before the Master Ravenwood Tree.
The dark heart of Glomdoring Forest is almost audibly beating in this, its shadowy centre. Tall, blackened trees surround this clearing, pressing together into an imposing barrier of rotten vegetation. Moulds and fungi are smeared across the plants, their pungent stench suffusing the forest. The branches are coated in dark slime, slick tendrils that hang downwards. Although a variety of trees might actually grow here, the black tar that coats them renders them indistinguishable. A thin black mist creeps between the trees, hanging low across the ground. The floor of the clearing itself is simply bare earth, cracked and dry. Overshadowing all is the Master Ravenwood Tree itself, jutting into the sky like a twisted fist. The sound of laughing crows echoes down from the treetops, a harsh sound for the ears below. The atmosphere vibrates with a palpable power. Lovely coltsfoot carpets the forest floor. A marjoram bush flourishes here, spreading its delicate scent. Sprays of chervil cover the forest floor. A sedge of galingale is firmly planted in the forest floor. The Master Ravenwood Tree towers over everything here, pulsing with an immeasurable yet dark power. Casting darkness all around, a shadow totem thrusts up from the ground, chilling the air. There are 2 armoured bats here. A crudely crafted shrine of harsh black crystal stands here, thrumming powerfully. Splintered from the Master Ravenwood, a massive branch lies here, spiders crawling along its rotting wood. A giant bat hangs here, wings folded about its body and one beady eye open. There are 10 shadowlord widowriders here. There are 10 dark nighthags here. In the shape of an open palm, a metallic sigil lies here. An animated skeleton stands here with a ghostly outline of a wasp around its skull. An animated skeleton stands here with a ghostly outline of a bat around its skull. An animated skeleton stands here with a ghostly outline of a spider around its skull. An animated skeleton stands here with a ghostly outline of a beetle around its skull. A mature rowan tree stands proudly here. There are 10 illithoid scourges here. Brennan Stormcrow paces here, his cadaverous body twitching with sudden jerks. There are 2 curious young kittens here. A tenebrous leopard is crouched within nearby shadows, her tail flicking back and forth excitedly. Nascent Gael, Attendant to the Wyrd is here. He wields a grotesque mandolin in his left hand. Drenched in blood, a midnight-eyed savage lingers here appraising her surroundings.
You see a single exit leading north.

You tilt your head back and look up at the sky.

A soft, swirling breeze trails in after Esei, the air around the Master Ravenwood suddenly filled with hushed, whispering voices.

Gael inclines his head politely to you.

Evette closes her eyes and inhales deeply, absorbing the scent of her surroundings.

You have emoted: Closing their eyes, Esei inhales and exhales slowly, as though centering themself.

You think to yourself: No fear.

Brennan Stormcrow tilts his head back and forth, glancing up into the Master Ravenwood in the usual jerking motions of a crow. "You... you want me to -what-?" He quickly bows his head as harsher whispers fill the air. "....as you wish, Lord Nocht."

Evette raises an eyebrow at Brennan Stormcrow.

Brennan Stormcrow narrows his eyes at you in an unnerving manner.

You have emoted: Esei's eyes slide to one side before focusing on Brennan Stormcrow.

Gael's good ear gives a sudden twitch, rising and lowering quickly.

Brennan Stormcrow steps towards you, wrapping his rotting arms around you in an awkward embrace, quickly release you as he returns to the Master Ravenwood, grumbling. "I know better than to question the gods, but sometimes..." he trails off, muttering to himself.

You have emoted: Esei's arms come up reflexively to return the hug, but stops short.

A wry smile spreads across your face.

As Brennan briefly hugs you, you are overwhelmed by a rotting stench mixed in with ravenwood and other wyrden plantlife. You feel a distant, thrumming beat - faint, but clearly in time with the dark pulse of the Glomdoring.

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

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

(Order): Nocht says, "I hope you found what you were seeking, My little one. He is as ancient as the forest, indeed."

Gael slowly shifts his gaze from Brennan Stormcrow to you, watching with mild curiosity.

You have emoted: Esei places an open over their heart, as if to cradle it. They give a short, respectful bow to Brennan Stormcrow.

(Order): You say, "He is. Thank You."

Brennan Stormcrow gives you the once-over, eyeing you suspiciously.

Evette steps further back from the the Master Ravenwood Tree silently, disapearing deeper into the forest.
A caliginous leopard disappears into her surroundings as she silently prowls away.

Softly, you say to Brennan Stormcrow, "Thank you."