"Though, I suspect you haven't been one for longer."

---> Lilli said that she was worried about a prayer she sent, so Chel asked what was wrong, and Lilli said the prayer was about Chel //0v0//

---> She mentioned singing about the glory of the weird, which confused me and Chel both, lol.

Her frills twitching this way and that, you say, "If you are referring to what I sang at the Festival of Greeving, I still think Glomdoring is a goodly place to be. It is just... not a place I am growing in, no."

Sounds become sharper and more vivid once more as Tau leaves to the north.

With a gentle coo, Devotee of the Tah'vrai, Lillirallia says, "No."

You frown at Lillirallia.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "I see."
You give Lillirallia a friendly squeeze.

With a gentle coo, Devotee of the Tah'vrai, Lillirallia says, "I wasn't there to hear what that was anyways. I am referring to when you say "Glory be to Glomdoring", it feels insincere."

You blink.

The sharp staccato sound of chitin striking chitin can be heard as Acosris snaps his claws together, one after the other.

Esei touches their fingers briefly to your shoulder.

You have emoted: Cheliyi looks taken aback, only to glance up at Esei.

---> look esei

Pale porcelain skin covered in freckles, they are a graceful elfen wyrden demigod changeling. Their hair, a vibrant rosewood in hue, hangs past their shoulders to the middle of their back; it's been pulled away from their face into braids and a fauxhawk, the rest gathered into a relaxed half-tail spilling down their back. Two thinner braids come in front of their ears, just past their shoulders, swaying with every movement. Their arched brows complement sloe-dark eyes, angled and edged with feathery lashes. Their nose is straight, slightly quirked at the tip. Below their nose rests full pink lips, filled with sharp teeth. Their body is tall and willowy, muscled like a dancer and, elegant. Their hands terminate long, slender arms, each finger tipped with a claw-like fingernail; their feet are typically bare, allowing those claws to show. Their height pushes six and a half feet tall, accentuated by their long legs. Their face and figure give them an air of neither masculinity nor femininity, confusing the uninitiated. Their ears are pierced, small bronze studs and rings ranging from the bottom of their earlobes almost to the tips. Shadows cling adoringly to them, reluctant to surrender their grasp on one with the truefavour of Nocht, the Silent. Wyrden flames flicker across their form like a shadowy cloak, the sweet scent of roses trailing in their wake.
They are wearing:
a circlet of the Shee-Slaugh house delicately placed against their temple
a dusky, layered ensemble of crow feathers and stars
Ebon Prayer Beads of the Silent Lord wrapped around one wrist
a wedding armband of eternal night resting on their left bicep
a phantasmal shroud of shadows wrapped loosely around their neck like a scarf
the Fingerblade of dha'Wyrden-cree.

Softly, you say, "I do mean it. Glomdoring is glorious. But I am not. I never lie."

Esei frowns at you.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Perhaps that is where you perceive insincerity, but there is none."

The rumble of distant thunder heralds Kosuke, the cloud-bound Long as he flies in and loops himself around Esei several times, forming an odd cocoon before flying off.

Lillirallia folds her wings around her body, wrapping herself in a feathered embrace.

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

Esei ponders some powderfruit sorbet thoughtfully, looking it up and down.
Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to you, "You were, once."

The rumble of distant thunder heralds Kosuke, the cloud-bound Long as he flies in and loops himself around you several times like a draconic cocoon, handing you a curious chocolate chip cookie within before he flies off.

Muginn shakes out his feathers, the plumes suddenly glowing with an ethereal haze. Ripples of mist pool at his talons, writhing with silent, screaming faces that leave hoar-frost in their wake.

(The Shadow Kindred): Esei says, "I like how muginn just has the souls of the damned vibing around him in a cloud of murder."

You have emoted: Cheliyi smiles, the expression almost foreign in its bitterness. "Mm, I doubt it. But thank you, Auspice."

Esei reaches out to tenderly cup your cheek in their hand.
Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk asks you, "Is that so, sapling?"
The ominous booming of the shadowbeat echoes faintly from a three-finger ring bearing an amethyst scythe on Esei's hand, and their eyes flicker with wyrden flames.

Esei drops their hand, crossing their arms.

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks as she's held, expression cracking, only to grimace, and look away. "Mm."

---> D/C'd, because my wifi was bad

Blinking, you say, "Ah... apologies. My soul was shaking."

Shadows swirl around Esei's arm as the Fingerblade of dha'Wyrden-cree shifts and turns around their hand.
Esei caresses the Fingerblade of dha'Wyrden-cree gently.

Suddenly wry, you say, "I won't be a sapling for much longer, anyways."
A light wind whips the cloying scent of roses and congealed blood into your senses, reminding you fondly of home.

Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says, "No."

You have emoted: Cheliyi chuckles quietly under her breath, staring at the ground.

Muginn, the ghost-feathered crow obediently falls into line behind you.

Esei ponders you thoughtfully, looking you up and down.
Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk whispers, "Though, I suspect you haven't been one for longer."

The screeching of a crow echoes through the dark woods, sounding almost like harsh laughter.

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks, but her faint smile to does not leave her lips.
Softly, you say, "Perhaps."

The melodious voice of Tridemon resonates in your mind, "'lo, Cheli."

You have emoted: Cheliyi's frills twitch.

Esei slips into a dapper, cream-banded black felt hat.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "**a deep ache, tinged with a mixture of orange and blue** Mm, hello Mister Dad."

The melodious voice of Tridemon resonates in your mind, "Hmm.... you feelin' alright?"

Esei rolls their shoulders delicately, feathered tail swishing back and forth.

Faint whispers resonate from the seven-pointed star hanging here, their susurrations echoing just beyond comprehension.

The pointed tips of Esei's ears twitch to some errant sound.

Lillirallia caresses Wyrden Prayer Beads of the Lady of the Thorns gently.

After a moment, you say, "If you see Miss Ethna, please let her know I said hello, and that I hope her production is scored well for Glomdoring. Submitted it a few days ago."
Detangling a small braid from her disheveled bangs, you say, "Once Miss Kreon and I have time to meet, I will resign, yes."
You have emoted: Cheliyi redoes the braid with clear effort, and then leaves it be to stare out at the canopy in silence.

Esei's finger twitches. "We'll see."

With a gentle coo, Devotee of the Tah'vrai, Lillirallia says to Esei, "Are you still resigning? I saw the news post asking to replace you."

In dark, lyrical tones, Wyrden Auspice Esei Shee-Slaugh of the Ascending Dusk says to Lillirallia, "I have not spoken with the Dark Regent about it yet; I am unsure as to the correct path presently."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "Not really, no."

Esei lazily draws their wings to and fro through the air, fanning them slowly.

The melodious voice of Tridemon resonates in your mind, "... do you need me to go over and give you hugs?"

You have emoted: Cheliyi's frills twitch, and she glances between the both of you warily. Something pained slips into her frown, only for her to chuckle bitterly under her breath.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "I'll come to you, yes."

You have emoted: Cheliyi bows respectfully to all present.

The melodious voice of Tridemon resonates in your mind, "Let me get somewhere that'll hurt your eyes less."

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "May my siblings shade your paths."

You pet a cat of black ink ingratiatingly.
A cat of black ink purrs softly as she butts her head into Cheliyi's hand.
A cat of black ink rubs up against you, purring like a cat.

Muginn, the ghost-feathered crow stares implacably at you.

The melodious voice of Tridemon resonates in your mind, "'m on my beach now."

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips as you glance at Muginn, the ghost-feathered crow.
Muginn clicks his beak, his feathers ruffling as he blinks up at you with an uncharacteristically fond look in his eye.

Quietly, you say, "Oh, alright."

Muginn, the ghost-feathered crow begins to follow Esei.
Muginn, the ghost-feathered crow inches bashfully over to a cat of black ink and nuzzles her tenderly.

You pet Muginn, the ghost-feathered crow ingratiatingly.
Muginn clicks his beak, his feathers ruffling as he blinks up at you with an uncharacteristically fond look in his eye.

You touch a glowing emerald leaf, and leafy creepers push up through the ground and climb up your legs. As the leaves turn brown and blow away, you are suddenly whisked away.

---> zoom zoom

You portal to Celestial Leviathan.

Sun of a Beach.
Stretching out in every direction is a somewhat oddly colored beach- rather than white or brown or red sand, the sand here is largely a bluish-violet. In the immediate area though is a wide, pristine beach blanket covering the warm sands, along with a wide, colorful umbrella that shades a portion of the blanket from the eternal noontime sun. Next to the blanket is a wooden sign which has been planted deep in the sand, with the words 'Out to Lunch' painted neatly across the weathered boards in black and gold. Off to the north, a forest of rising bamboo can be seen in the distance. The light of day shines brightly. Perpetually ticking away the hours, the Immortal Clock of Past's Restoration stands proudly nearby. Sparkling liquids bubble up from a fountain here. Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters lingers nearby, the air about him singing with the rush of the ocean. He wields a dazzling white staff crowned by a platinum pearl in his left hand.
You see exits leading north, east, and down.

You hug Tridemon as best as you can, pulling them into a tight embrace.
You think to yourself: **your throat is tight as the ache throbs, of course, of course.**.

Tridemon hugs you compassionately.

Quietly, you say, "I already told you about Esei, yes? We can't be siblings anymore."

Aquamantic symbols suddenly project themselves upon the very air in dark blue light, fading after a brief moment.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. One of the rules of Shee-Slaugh, I think, is that no one can have the name outside of the Glomdoring. For some reason."
Tridemon pets you ingratiatingly.

You think to yourself: **a sudden flare of orange, Miss Lillirallia said you were being -insincere-, of course you aren't, you don't lie, but then Auspice Esei said that you used to be glorious and it hurts, it hurts**.

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

Faintly, you say, "Who -cares- about stupid papers, it didn't mean we had to-."
You have emoted: Cheliyi growls incoherently, frustrated.

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

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm... like how Gurashi is your dad without any formalities."

You think to yourself: **agreement, why can't it be the -same-, your siblings- they whisper and writhe, they're your siblings and it isn't in -any- rules, you want to be there for them, you want them to smile at you and hug you but now they think you've left but you're RIGHT THERE-**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi exhales slowly between gritted teeth, the sound like a faint hiss.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It's how they avoid being hurt."
Tridemon gives you a significant look. "Have I told you how Esei got that cat? And why the cat is there?"

You have emoted: Cheliyi grimaces, and shakes her head.

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

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, "It's technically a secret, I suppose. I learned by hearing it directly from their head."

You frown at Tridemon.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It was a ritual of Night and blood and ink. Their own blood, invocations of Night and the Silent Lord... But the purpose behind it was the most important bit. Something that they don't even think to themselves. But I could tell."

You think to yourself: **the anger sputters out, leaving your chest hollow with ash and the burning ache** They... purpose?

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Tsillah exists for Esei to give all the love that they can't give themselves."

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks, slowly.

You think to yourself: **all of the times Esei dumped Tsillah in your arms, in -Dad's- arms, the affectionate cat lovingly tended to by Muginn-**.

Tears fill your eyes and begin to slowly run down your face.
Quietly, you say, "Oh."

You think to yourself: **even as they renounced you, Tsillah was still purring in your arms-**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi scrubs at her eyes.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. Don't tell them that I said anything about it, okay?"

You nod your head emphatically.

Tridemon leans close to you and gently lays a kiss upon your forehead.

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

Quietly, you ask, "So maybe they still love me and Dad?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "They can't say it because it would hurt too much. So don't be angry, okay?"

You have emoted: Cheliyi swallows thickly, and nods.

Quieter, you say, "Am I a bad person? I don't mean to leave them, no, but they won't let me stay, so it is my fault, really."

Tridemon leans in and wraps his arms around you. "You're not bad. You've just grown in ways that the Glomdoring can't accept. If you didn't leave... the ways that you've grown would get pruned away."

You have emoted: Cheliyi leans into Tridemon's chest. "I feel selfish. And weak for leaving. It does not feel like growing, no."

Tridemon pets you ingratiatingly.
Tridemon reaches over and ruffles your hair with a fond expression.

You blink.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Doing what's best for yourself might feel selfish. But you don't owe it to anyone to suffer so that they feel better about who you are."

You think to yourself: **an opposing hiss, rustling like the distant canopy, your tah'vrai is above all else, foolish and weak to oppose**.
You glance askance.
Softly, you say, "I'm not breaking my tah'vrai. I'm just... not fighting for Glomdoring, anymore."

Tridemon suddenly turns to you, and you watch as he reaches out and lightly boops you on the nose with a finger.

You blink.
Inhaling sharply, you sneeze so hard that your frills puff out like balloons.

You think to yourself: **grumbling objections, you are leaving family, you are not standing by them to protect, selfish, selfish**.

Tridemon gives you a friendly cuddle.

You stare blankly into space.

A soft breeze stirs the nearby sand, leaving gentle arcs in its wake.

You snuggle close to Tridemon and lean comfortably on him.

You think to yourself: I won't let myself be run into the ground trying to protect you all. And I can't even do that right, anyways.

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

Tridemon ponders the situation.
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I wonder what kind of extremely dangerous trees exist."

You stare blankly at Tridemon.
Frowning, you say, "All trees are powerful."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... Well, they can't be that powerful if they're whining at a four-foot mugwump to stay and protect them."

You think to yourself: **rattling on the edges of your consciousness, indignant rage**.

You blink incredulously at Tridemon.
You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks, slower.
You twitch spasmodically.
You curl your nose up and grimace awfully.

A light wind whips the cloying scent of roses and congealed blood into your senses, reminding you fondly of home.

Confused, you say, "I... yes. Why do you want me to protect you? You're all so powerful."

You think to yourself: **furious rumbling and rattling, it is your duty, you must follow it, you must stay with us, we need you**.

Tridemon gives you a friendly squeeze.

You have emoted: Cheliyi stares blankly across the waves, frowning deeply.

Quieter, you say, "But you don't. You don't need me. So why..."

You think to yourself: **we're your -family-, you are OURS**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi flinches at the force of the thought, grimacing.

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



With a tinge of anger bleeding in, you exclaim, "So what, this is how you are now, that I am actually wanting to leave? What about all of those years when I was faithful, and you said nothing? You didn't seem to need me then!"

You think to yourself: **the whispers all descend into chaos, each spirit rumbling with a different -excuse- they are all -excuses-**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi begins to tremble, her hands balling into fists.

Sharply, you say, "Shut up."

You think to yourself: **the whispers silence, as if surprised by your insolence.**.

Trembling, you say, "You all are being a bunch of -arses- right now."

You think to yourself: **the whispers rumble and rattle in return, only increasing in agitation, fool fool, foolish child, we could have eaten you but we didn't be grateful**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi's fists only tighten, the leather gloves wrapped around her palms creaking painfully.

Deadly quiet, you say, "I am grateful for how you raised me. But I owe you nothing, not anymore."

You remove a blackened wreath of twisted ravenwood.
You narrow your eyes at a blackened wreath of twisted ravenwood in an unnerving manner.
You have emoted: Cheliyi unceremoniously shoves a blackened wreath of twisted ravenwood in her pack.
You put a blackened wreath of twisted ravenwood into a fesix backpack.

You think to yourself: **the whispers and rattling rise to a crescendo, almost shouting in their fervor as a foreign presence sweeps in once more, blocking out the connection. 'Lilypad...' it murmurs, chiding in its tone**.

You curl your nose up and grimace awfully.
You glance askance.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "... would you like to go to a room where they'll have trouble talking to you like this?"

Flatly, you say, "Yes please."
You begin to follow Tridemon.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I made it for your dad. It's for helping to build up mental defenses."

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters west to A round chamber.

A round chamber.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. Leading from the living room to the east, the archway opens up into a round chamber that reaches up nearly thirty feet into the air. The floor is again made of the same golden, crystal-flecked and violet-whorled bamboo with its protective coating, but in this room there are also a series of depressions in the floor. The first is in the center of the room, and covered with a layer of bright orange padding with red poppies randomly distributed along the fabric. Directly next to that first depression is one that is significantly larger, with more padding, deep black and durable. A few more depressions with their own padding are interspersed throughout the space, though they have the same pattern to them- just pure white. In addition to being a different shape to the rest of the rooms of the house, the walls of this chamber are completely different from all the other rooms, as well- rather than wood leading up to decorative paper, or simply wood leading all the way up to the ceiling, the walls are covered in what look to be thousands and thousands of pieces of bright green jade, melded together and forming a tight weave resembling a wall of vines in an unbroken pattern, save for the archway that leads back to the living room. The jade vines themselves are not unadorned, either, with silvery script and symbols embedded directly into the material. Meditative mantras, defensive glyphs, symbols of concealment and reinforcement can all be found upon the lengths of interwoven jade vines. The ceiling in turn is also different from the rest of the house's theme. Instead of the blue stone tiles, the ceiling has taken on the luminous pigments of the sky of the Great Starry Sea, complete with deep, subtle, tidally slow pulses of aquamantic power washing down from above. A shimmering blue circle floats in the room here. Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters lingers nearby, the air about him singing with the rush of the ocean. He wields a dazzling white staff crowned by a platinum pearl in his left hand.
You see a single exit leading east.

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks slowly, the anger slipping from her limbs.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you ask, "... Isn't this where we made the pillow fort?"

You think to yourself: **despite your siblings fading away, the presence remains**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi's gaze trails the walls, all the while a pair of pale blue eyes solidify over Cheliyi's shoulder. They blink, once, and vanish from sight.

You think to yourself: **the presence fades, and it is... quiet.**.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mmhmm. The cushions are here to make it comfy. But that's secondary to... well. Building up a wall where you control what gets in."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Because the Hives were so very loud. To the point that they were hurting Gurashi very badly, and I can't always be there to drown the noise in the ocean..."

You have emoted: Cheliyi suddenly seems much smaller, as the fight leaves her. Weary, even.
Showing that you understand, you nod your head slowly towards Tridemon.

Tridemon starts gathering up the cushions to make a base for a pillow fort.

You have emoted: Cheliyi follows suit, helping Tridemon build up a pair of walls.

You are exhausted and open your mouth in an enormous yawn.
You stare blankly into space.

Tridemon gently pushes you down into the center of the incomplete fort and builds it up around you.

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks and curls up, her tail circling around much like a cat.
You are exhausted and open your mouth in an enormous yawn.

Quietly, you say, "Thanks, Dad."

You grow still and begin to pray silently for preservation of your soul while you are out of the land.

Tridemon reaches down to ruffle you before putting the roof on.