"Please do not go..."

You hear the ruffling of cloth and a flash of blackthorn petals falling on a lonely hill in your mind's eye for an instant.

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

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

Tau gently caresses an Idol of Nocht in her hands as a look of deep contemplation crosses her features.

You have emoted: Esei's eyes flick to Gael, and then Tau.

You beckon to Gael.

Tau suddenly vanishes in a flash of scintillating light.

Gael begins to follow you.

You find yourself engulfed in a swirl of scintillating lights, drawn to your Patron's Master Shrine.
Gael follows you ether.
The Fulcrux of Nocht.
The image of a beautiful nighttime sky has been stretched across the fulcrux. Dim stars struggle futilely to compete with the terrifying beauty of Mother Night. The ethereal image wavers on occasion, the sky rippling like water in a pond. A lonely hill covered in tall grass leads up to a single shrine. Behind the shrine stands a large blackthorn tree. The tree is taller than most of its kind, extending upwards rather than outwards. Delicate blossoms shower down from its branches, creating a flurry of white petals and filling the air with the pungent scent of wyrden foliage. A complex series of stones orbit around a stygian orb here. A rippling image of a beautiful night sky has been magically wrapped around the fulcrux here. Reverently laid before the shrine in a sheath of starlight and shadow, the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris emanates Divine power here. The shadowy form of a Daughter of the Night stands here, exuding wyrden power from within swirling black robes.
You see a single exit leading through an image of the night sky.

With several beats of her wings, Tau alights upon the master shrine of Nocht's shoulder.

With a wistful look on her face, Tau touches the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris.

Tau blinks.

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

Tau peers at the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris unscrupulously.

You tilt your head curiously at Tau.

In pleasant, sotto tones, you whisper, "...something wrong?"

Glancing about the lonely hill with curiosity, Gael looks briefly from Tau to you before watching an image of the night sky.

It is now the 16th of Juliary, 594 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 24 days until the New Moon

Tau the Twilit says, "I have not heard that before."

With a wistful look on her face, Tau touches the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris.

You have emoted: Esei's brow furrows minutely.

Gael tilts his head curiously at Tau.

You reach out and touch the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris.
A soft, whispering voice fills your mind, its tone pleading, "She is wrong. You do not have to go with Her. Please do not go..." <- nocht purple!

With a wistful look on his face, Gael touches the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris.

In a quiet, lilting voice, Umbral Evoker Gael, Wyrden Idolator says, "...it's different than when I was here, just earlier this month..."

You have emoted: Esei's body stiffens, eyes going blank for just a moment.

You think to yourself: ** memories flitting sharp like knives through their mind, the pain of that first lesson... **.

Tau the Twilit says, "Who is She? and Who is Her? Maybe not the same One."

Gael slowly turns his head from the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris to look to Tau and you again, asking quietly, "Who...is that?"

Tau the Twilit says, "Where are They going?"

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

Tau the Twilit says to Gael, "Sounds like Our Lord, if I had to guess it."

You have emoted: Silently, Esei falls to one knee, gazing at the Mantle for several moments, as though transfixed; then, they say, softly, "...if my hunch is right... Lord Nocht pleading with His Brother not to go with Amberle."

Tau the Twilit says, "With Amberle?"

Gael tilts his head curiously, good ear up.

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

With a wistful look on his face, Gael touches the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris.

With a blink, Umbral Evoker Gael, Wyrden Idolator says, "...oh, there's more."

[lots of Mantle touching, will add the other visions here]

You reach out and touch the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris.
In your mind's eye you see the silhouette of an imposing divine, the glimpses of His features you can see similar, yet notably different, from those of the Silent Lord. <- blue!

You reach out and touch the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris.
A vision of an otherwordly grove fills your mind, starlit mists pool around the roots of trees whose branches are filled with leaves of beautiful twilit colours. <- pink!

You have emoted: Esei's hand pulls away, expression flickering with some sort of emotion before falling flat once again.

You think to yourself: ** is that what the sapling showed them...? His favorite color... **.

Tau the Twilit says to you, "If it is Amberle, then surely He is lost."

You nod your head at Tau.

You think to yourself: ** their fingers practically itch and crawl - they must paint this. they must... even if they do not show Him... **.

The image of the night sky ripples as the body of Evette suddenly emerges from its grasp.
Nearby shadows coalesce into the caliginous leopard sauntering into view.

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

You have emoted: From their position next to the Mantle, Esei dips their head in greeting to Evette.

Evette tilts her head and listens intently to Tau.

Spotting Evette, Gael motions towards the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris and murmurs, "It's...different."

You sense the sweeping gaze of Tridemon looking upon you.

Tau the Twilit says, "I wonder how Lady Lantra came to have this, and why it shows us these things."

Tau the Twilit says, "Maybe He yet lives somewhere?"

In pleasant, sotto tones, you whisper, "...I feel that is highly unlikely, unfortunately."

In a quiet, lilting voice, Umbral Evoker Gael, Wyrden Idolator asks, "...perhaps another from Their creche?"

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.
You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

Tau the Twilit says, "After the Daath sequence, it's theorized that after the Departure of Dynara and Magnora, neither the Soulless nor the Elders are truly destroyed."

The heady scent of roses and congealing blood resonates from Tau, carried on a light wind.

Tau the Twilit says, "Even if He didn't survive at first, perhaps His essence could still be adrift, in the Void."

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

Softly, after a moment, you ask, "...like a Voice?"

Tau the Twilit says, "Like a Voice."

You think to yourself: ** still, shying away from that line of thought; it does not Feel quite right, and it would be unwise to raise hopes... **.

Shifting his attention towards you, Gael's good ear twitches faintly.

You have emoted: As though sensing Gael's attention, Esei's eyes flick up to meet him. They quirk a brow in silent question.

Using her tongue and the roof of her mouth, Evette makes a quiet clicking noise.

Neck retracting slightly, Gael murmurs, "Ah...what is a...Daath sequence?"

In pleasant, sotto tones, you whisper, "It is also known as the Breaker of the Cosmos. An incredibly deadly, powerful Formation that requires hundreds of Elders to perform."

In pleasant, sotto tones, you whisper, "It was first used to destroy a cosmic creche that was decided too foul and corrupt to exist. The second time, that I am aware, was during Amberle's Folly."

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

In a quiet, lilting voice, Umbral Evoker Gael, Wyrden Idolator asks you, "And...Who is Amberle?"

The fulcrux reacts strongly to the question, the image of the Night sky growing darker as a sudden tension fills the chamber.

You have emoted: Esei rises, clasping their hands behind their back as they turn to face the magical image.

Shifting his attention towards an image of the night sky, Gael's good ear twitches faintly.

Evette's ears perk up with a sudden interest.

You think to yourself: ...will you show us? Will You?

Tau the Twilit says, "A member of the First Circle. She thought that the Soulless could be reasoned with, ultimately causing the lost of most of the Firsts ever in existence."

Tau the Twilit says, "Fewer still have ever made it to the First World, and even fewer still now exist."

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

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

The whispering voice of the Silent Lord fills the fulcrux, its hollow tones laced with unfamiliar threads of malice and disgust, "Amberle was the First who led nearly all of Her circle to Their deaths. She who ignored all counsel to do otherwise. She who robbed nearly every creche of Their First."

A look of understanding crossing her features, Tau nods her head slowly.

"Into the maws of Our Soulless Cousins."

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

Comprehension flashes across Gael's face.

You think to yourself: ** a dark reflection in the shadow of their mind, His voice rising from its depths in memory; "...and She suffered for it." - a silent thanksgiving, rising up towards the fulcrux, in offering to Him. **.

As though two pieces clicked together in his mind, Gael lifts his chin to look up at an image of the night sky and quietly whispers, "'You do not have to go with Her...', was that...was the 'Her' in that memory Amberle?"

The image above wavers and ripples gently as a cold breeze howls through the fulcrux.

Sounds of a distant memory fill the fulcrux, the shouts of horror of thousands of Elders as They watch Their siblings be consumed by the Soulless Gods. <- dark red

A caliginous leopard freezes her tail in place, her eyes growing wide and worrisome.

Tau shudders violently.

Gael's good ear flicks downward against the sudden sounds of horror, a light wince crossing his features.

You have emoted: Esei's face remains impassive and unflinching, fingers only tightening their grip against their hands.

As the screams fade away, the soft voice of the Silent Lord fills the fulcrux, "Powerful memories have their own magic, My little ones. Perhaps My Brother's mantle returning to Me draws some of them forth. And perhaps, with time, more may resurface..."

Tau grabs at her ears between her thumbs and forefingers, as if trying to shut a noise out of her head.

Nodding his head, almost imperceptibly, Gael glances from an image of the night sky to look back to the Sidereal Mantle of Ailustris with a new sense of apprehension.

You think to yourself: Thank You, my Lord. For both the insight, and the reminder of that lesson.

With an unusual amount of trepidation, Tau the Twilit says, "Could not He still exist out there, like a Voice?"

Evette turns her head to listen, looking towards an image of the night sky.
23:22:58 The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

The magicked image above grows darker still as the voice of Nocht fills the fulcrux, His whispers flat and unfeeling, "The Soulless leave nothing behind..." Faint stars twist within the image as the voice hesitates for a moment, "And yet... His mantle somehow returned to My Sister."

A caliginous leopard's golden eyes become overcast with swirling violet shadows as she gazes skywards expectantly.

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

The image above wavers and ripples gently as a cold breeze howls through the fulcrux.

You think to yourself: ** ...why Her? when? had it been stolen... or a fake? it cannot be pure chance alone... **.

Still watching the Sidereal Mantle, Umbral Evoker Gael, Wyrden Idolator says, "Then...perhaps He is not gone."

Tau gives a pained sigh.

Tau the Twilit says to Gael, "Its grasping at straws. Undoubtedly, hundred were wiped out. For good, permanently. The chances..."

Glancing between those on the hill, Gael asks, "He said...the Lady Empyreal had this mantle? Did She say how it came to pass to Her?"

Tau shakes her head.

The boughs of the large blackthorn moan loudly as they shake, sending a new shower of petals cascading across the fulcrux.

In pleasant, sotto tones, you whisper, "She did not tell me, as I did not think to ask... I do not think She would take kindly to my doing so, either."

Tau the Twilit says to Gael, "Illyria may know more. She was there when Her servant brought it here, no doubt as some act of cruelty."

Motioning to the sky, Umbral Evoker Gael, Wyrden Idolator says to Tau, "Lord Nocht did not seem to know either."

Tau the Twilit says to you, "I will ask. She may see through my deception, but I have not approached Her before, and She has not seen beyond the mask yet."

You nod your head at Tau.

It is now the 17th of Juliary, 594 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 23 days until the New Moon

You think to yourself: ** a sharp, angled stab of pure clarity: Cheliyi. **.

The image of the night sky grows terrifyingly dark as an icy breeze cuts across the lonely hill, spiralling patterns dancing across the tall grass.

You think to yourself: ...She would not trust me; likely considers me too similar to Him... but one of Her own?

You think to yourself: ** a faint flicker - does He listen now...? **.

Gael ponders for a moment and says "Hrm..."

Gael gives a small sigh, tugging a black coat with plum panels embroidered with wyrden lyrebirds closer to himself before murmuring, "I should be away...but I suppose it will be good to check on the Mantle from time to time? To see if any new memories appear?"

You have emoted: Esei pulls a blackthorn petal from the air as it falls, pulling it close. They give a short nod to Gael.

Gael inclines his head politely to those around him.

Tau the Twilit says to Gael, "Our task remains assigned to us, yes."

Tau nods her head at Gael.

Gael stands before the image of the night sky, arms spread wide. Dark tendrils shoot forth from the apparition, wrapping around Gael and forcibly sucking him in.

The shadows shrouding a tenebrous leopard's eyes wither away, revealing a strikingly golden gaze.

Tau sighs contentedly.

Tau the Twilit says, "I should be along as well. As with every visit, there is much to do."

You nod your head at Tau.

Tau inclines her head politely to those around her.

Emotionlessly, Scourge Evette Stormcrow, the Heartless says, "Perhaps if I busy my hands it will lesson the flight of my mind."

Evette inclines her head politely to those around her.

[both Tau and Evette leave]

You have emoted: Esei's palm opens, allowing the blackthorn petal to drift away.

With sincerity, you whisper, "...thank You, my Lord."

After pausing for a moment, dark eyes flicking up to observe the image fully, you say, "...in turn, my Lord," they start quietly, "If You have questions for -me-, whatever they may be about, You know where I am to be found."

You give the master shrine of Nocht a respectful bow, one hand clasped over your heart.