reading gurashi's book

The Pool of Stars.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. Meeting in the radiant heart of New Celest, the broad city streets come together in a large, open plaza of marbled stone. Rising in the centre of the plaza is a structure of noble and luminescent pillars which suspend a round, ring-shaped platform twenty feet above the light-studded surface of the pool below. The atmosphere within the structure and around the pool bristles with a warm, electrical energy, giving a slightly disorienting sense of dizziness and euphoria. A gradually ascending stairway winds its way about the inside of the pillars, leading towards the upper level of the structure and offering a bird's eye view of the pool. An enormously wide circular pool, as dark as the night sky, glitters softly between the columns. His form suffused with soft light, the Keeper of the Pool of Stars stands here attentively. A statue of Zenobia the Queen of Queens stands here, memorializing her noble spirit. An imposing sword of radiant white metal has been driven deep into the ground in a silent statement of intent. In the shape of an open palm, a metallic sigil lies here. A mosaic tiled chest stands here, ready to share donations given. There are 10 archons of Eternal Light here. There are 10 cavaliers of the Light here. There are 10 Kusalas of the Tahtetso here. Glowing gently with a soft blue light, a delicate dreamcatcher has been permanently hung here.
You see exits leading north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest, west, northwest, and up (open door).

Voxtar arrives from the east.

You stretch languidly.
You greet Voxtar with a nod, frills puffed respectfully.

Voxtar gazes into the Pool.
Voxtar bows respectfully to you.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Hello theres!"
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Are looking for somethings? I am Cheliyi, yes. Do not think we have met, no."

Voxtar (Male Illithoid).
He has recently stepped through the Portal of Fate.
He is 29 years old, having been born on the 13th of Roarkian, 565 years after the Coming of Estarra.
He is unranked in Lusternia.
He is an extremely credible character.
He is an Alumnus in the Order of the Secret Flame.
He is a Vagrant in the Fellowship of Explorers.
He is a graduate of the Order of the Secret Flame.
He is surrounded by the Grace of Innocence.
He is considered to be approximately 0% of your might.
He is not currently active in any family.

Blinking slowly, Voxtar says, "I am looking for that which is in the Basin beyond the Flame."
Voxtar says, "I do not think we have met, unless it was in a time before I remember. I am Voxtar."

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "... I sees! Well, uh. Do need to know, there are... rules, for places. And not all of thems are nice. For example. Illithoid peoples are not really alloweds in Celest. At least, not without an escorts."

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Can tell you are young, and doubt you would know, Mister Voxtar."
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "So is fine! But be careful yes."

Frowning slightly, Voxtar says, "It seems I am welcome in few places..."

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.

The distant, soft chiming of a bell echoes across the city, its beatific ring piercing the night with a welcoming, warming voice.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Honestly, it isn't fair to you, yes."

Turning to leave, Voxtar says, "I will depart, then..."

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Never liked the rule muchly myselfs."
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Ah, um."
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Before you goes!"

Voxtar pauses on his way to leave.

You give a lemon and poppyseed muffin to Voxtar.

Voxtar sniffs a lemon and poppyseed muffin, trying to decipher just what that smell emanating from it is.

Sheets of rain pelt the rooftops of the city: an orchestra of noises that leaves every shingle, window, and gutter slick or waterlogged.

Cheerfully, you say, "Have a nicely day, yes. And... maybe can send a letter, if are still curious? Maybe then I could get permissions to give you a tour!"

Nodding slowly, Voxtar says, "I will dwell on it. Thank you for the sustenance."

Gently pressing three fingers to your brow, then drawing them to rest upon your heart, you smile at Voxtar and intone, "As above, so below." As the words leave your lips, a bright aura suffuses you both with a calm, soothing white light that fills you with a sense of inner peace.
You wave goodbye.

Voxtar turns to depart once again.
Voxtar leaves to the east.

You think to yourself: **as the illithoid leaves, it only brings back your mind to the artshow, of the other inhabitants of the Undervaults...**

You purse your lips pensively, gazing off into the distance as you carefully gather your thoughts.

You think to yourself: ... **unease**.

You glance askance at a Kusala of the Tahtetso.


You take a fanciful book of flowery pastels from a fesix backpack.

Near the duck pond.
Pale, watery light floats away from a shield shrine of Carakhan nearby. This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. A rainstorm pours down from the heavens. The flat, grassy lawn of the city park slopes gently downwards and then drops abruptly to the edge of a shallow pond. Large, tame, white ducks paddle lazily back and forth, occasionally bobbing their heads below the surface. On the south end of the pond, water lilies create a solid blanket of green which barely breaks the surface of the water.
You see exits leading northeast and northwest.

"A Humblebee's Then-Story", By Gurashi, The Heart's Friend (Page 1)
~~~~
Foreword: A Thank-You
~~~~

Every persons has a story.

This one was - is - mine.

My name is Gurashi. I was born 5th of Urlachmar, Year 500 CE (the second
one). I lived the first two-thirds of my life after the Portals in the
Glomdoring, then later relocated to the Grand Province of New Celest,
where currently live and am writing this books from. I was born a
kephera, but later discovered my changeling natures. That being said,
feel am forever kephera on my insides.

My experiences growing up as a male kepheras is not the samely as all
other kephera. Not all Princesses are meanly. Not all Princesses abuse
their positions or power, therefore they as a whole do not deserve to
suffer for the actions of a few. Some of my most favorites peoples in
this life I now live are Princesses.

I wants to firstly thank my father for this book, for was he who first
bound a copy for me, encouraged me to tell my story, and rallied my
friends and family to give me the freedom that was not strong enough to
find on my own. I love you Xenthos An'Ryshe, and will forever be
grateful for you giving me back my lifes.

I wants to thank my dear one, my Keeper, Tridemon, for doing so muchly
when my self-discovery was at hand. Without him, I certainly would have
succumbed to my griefs, and ceased being the persons I am today. His
selflessness and consistent presence and support is what bloomed the
Love I feel for him in my heart many decades later.

I wants to thank all of my friends throughout the years, too many to
name in one book, who helped me, held me, comforted me, listened to me,
played with me, and gave me the greatly honor of being a friend. To the
Scourge, Evette, my cousinling, Esei, and so many more: you have all
made being me - Gurashi - a joy and honor.

Finally, I wants to thank every kephera that has been so bold as to
leave the Hives, be it willingly, accident, desperation, or force. You
are so much more than the path that you were told was set before you.
That you exist at all with the freedom of Choice is remarkable, and
should be celebrated. I love you, and hope the story you writes is one
you can be proud of.

Some of the chapters held within this book are not-so-nice, as life is
often unkindly and cruel, with uncomfortable subjects regarding bodies
or violence. These chapters are suited only for those with the sternest
of stomachs and toughest of hearts, and so have taken time to mark thems
with an 'x' in the table of contents, as well as at the tops of each
page. Safe-to-read summaries of the about-to-be's will also be at the
bottom of the previous chapters, so will not be left entirely clueless.

Many thank yous for taking the time to read this. I hopes it gives you
inspiration to make your futures the best you can.

Go in Love in all things,
[in a messy scrawl evident of practice, but not yet fully trained
calligraphy skills]
Gurashi

---> read the book for yourself! i'll add snippets of the parts cheliyi reacts to, but it's an amazing, if emotional read.

You have emoted: Cheliyi settles down beside the pond, leafing through a fanciful book of flowery pastels.

You think to yourself: ... not all princesses...
You think to yourself: Miss Nabithia is pretty nicely...

You think to yourself: **your minds eye flickering back to the painting from before, the illustrated carnage seeping over memories of your own, furious hunts which you thought had little consequence, but were truly slaughters...**.

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

You have emoted: Cheliyi turns one page after another, silently perusing the contents. Her expression softens at some parts, and hardens at others, and she settles comfortably against Muginn's side. The magpie warbles softly at this, practically a wall of misty feathers.

You have emoted: Cheliyi sighs quietly. "Dad..."
You shake your head.
You think to yourself: **teetering, in favor of leaving the Hives as they are. you will not hunt them, but perhaps you will not ask for forgiveness from such terribleness either.**.

[Summary of Next Chapter: Newly of-age Princess Pipui abused her
positions to move Tiso from Neferti to Akhari to be her drone. Tiso
lived and served Akhari for three years making broods before Amun became
Prince of Akhari. With muchly cleverness, he made Tiso his scribes, and
they lived together in the Hives happily until many years later, Pipui
tried to take Tiso back again.] ---> ripped straight from the text! cheliyi reads said chapter.

You have emoted: Cheliyi briefly looks away from the book, pained.
You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

You think to yourself: **utter horror and rage, how dare she do that how d a r e she**.
You think to yourself: If I ever see that horrible monster, I will slay h e r.

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.
You have emoted: Cheliyi returns to the pages, gently flipping them as if the book itself were a fragile thing.

[ They told me what happened. How it came to be I was standing in an
office and not in the lounges. As soon as Khepqet saw me go, she went to
her friends in Mumatuti, to the Hive's then-Prince Amun and Nepra. Amun
was as caught off guards as Khepqet, but Nepra, being closely to Pipui,
had heard of her talking about her plans for me and Akhari. How she
worried that I was brokens, that I might break Amun too, and make him
unfit to be Prince, so she would fix me instead. Nepra, always having
Amun's bestest interests in mind, did nothing. ]

You think to yourself: **and suddenly, blinding r a g e, broken? FIX?**.
You twitch spasmodically.
You have emoted: Cheliyi gently sets the book down, her entire form trembling with anger.

You think to yourself: **the anger filling every limb, cold ice seeping through your veins, you will rend that woman limb from limb, you will bite her head off, you will -eat- her**.

You think to yourself: **and then, a sudden sickening feeling, no, no. you will not eat her.**.

You think to yourself: **but you will let her f r e e z e**.

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

Violet lightning crackles across the firmament, the heavy stormclouds above momentarily parting with the force of its passage to reveal the stars.

You have emoted: Cheliyi glances down at her hands and winces, both of them curled tightly, painfully so. Gingerly, she releases her grip. With another sigh, she picks back up the book.

---> more reading, now at Amun's execution

You have emoted: Cheliyi swallows thickly.
You think to yourself: **an ache, you have heard this before, felt it before.... resolve, to hug dad extra well, tomorrow.**.

[ The tunnels Khepqet had discovered previously and tried to take Amun and
I to were dark anddamp, hidden and unmappable. I learned
later in my life these tunnels are not far from the Village of Duum,
which I speculates is where eventually emerged upon the surface. ]

You think to yourself: **comprehension, you went through those same exact tunnels... but for a different reason. the cramped darkness... Dad lived there?**.

[ I do not hunt the Hives anymore, nor do I wants to like did in my
Glomdoring days. This is both for reasons of living in New Celest and
because I do not know which new brood might bear fate-touched. Which
generations might bear the One who will change the Hives as a whole for
the better. Learning brings about changes slowly, but more effectively,
than a swords. I do not hold animosity towards thems as a wholes. They
were, for a time, the ones who made me. ]

You think to yourself: **and finally, a pause. how can dad not hate the Hives? the entire system, it is terrible. sure, it gave you your dad, but not before it tried to crush them in ever single way possible. unease.**

You think to yourself: **"...I do not know which new brood might bear fate-touched. Which generations might bear the One who will change the Hives as a whole for the better..."**

You have emoted: Cheliyi finally closes the book, looking weary.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you murmur, "... am so proud of you, dad."

You think to yourself: **... okay. you will dislike the system. but not its peoples. should you go get unenemieds? reluctance.**

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

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.
You have emoted: Cheliyi wipes at her face, drying unshed tears.

You think to yourself: **your chest feels tight.**.
You think to yourself: **a gentle reminder, a breath of fresh air, Dad is safe now. Dad is happy now. No one will ever hurt Dad like that again. **.

You sigh quietly, frills drooping as your tail sags.

Muginn, the ghost-feathered magpie inches bashfully over to you and nuzzles you tenderly.

Leaning forward, you gently press a kiss to Muginn, the ghost-feathered magpie's brow.
Muginn clicks his beak, his feathers ruffling as he blinks up at you with an uncharacteristically fond look in his eye.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you murmur, "You're a good bird, you knows that?"

Muginn, the ghost-feathered magpie warbles softly.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you murmur, "Let's go do things. Maybe make a gift for dad."

Muginn, the ghost-feathered magpie rolls his eyes.

You raise an eyebrow questioningly.

Muginn, the ghost-feathered magpie warbles a begrudging agreement.

A wry smile spreads across your face.

You give Muginn, the ghost-feathered magpie a peck on the cheek.
Muginn clicks his beak, his feathers ruffling as he blinks up at you with an uncharacteristically fond look in his eye.

You have emoted: Cheliyi stands up and dusts off her skirt. "Let's goes."

Muginn, the ghost-feathered magpie stands up and shakes out his feathers, allowing the mugwump to hop atop his back.