Visiting a fountain

View of the forest.
A biting cold fills the air, seeping away from a healing shrine of Manteekan nearby. A fresh gale whistles in your ears. The forest becomes sparse along this area of the hillside, scattered apples and chestnuts gripping the slope with their deep roots. To the north, the vista of Glomdoring can be seen through the branches. Green and brown treetops crowd together, dappled with thin wisps of white mist. A mature rowan tree stands proudly here. Hanging down from a branch, a dark crystal shaped like a seven-pointed star beckons spirits to gather here. Caught in preternatural stillness, glittering spiderweb streamers lace the area with wyrden beauty. Emitting more shadow than light, a tenebrous lantern burns here with wyrden fervour. Casting darkness all around, a shadow totem thrusts up from the ground, chilling the air.
You see exits leading east and northwest.

You notice Tridemon scuttle nimbly into view in the trees overhead.
Tridemon clambers down from a nearby vantage point in the treetops.

You blink.
You smile wryly at Tridemon.

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

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you ask, "Did a spider pull you up, yes?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mhmm."

The sharp sound of a twig snapping echoes behind you.

You have emoted: Cheliyi glances out across the view, watching the sunrise.

Tridemon settles down next to you.

The storm clouds turn a deep, dark black and the downpour batters you with the force of a waterfall.

You think to yourself: **green, brown, and yellow, it's... nice. home. you can still come back, but... it won't be the same for much longer, will it?**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi leans against Tridemon, unbothered by the downpour.

Glorious rays of morning light burst forth from Father Sun's crown as it peeks over the world's edge, announcing a bright and shining new dawn.

Tridemon pats you on the head.

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

You think to yourself: **your siblings rustle and mutter from the edges of your hearing, discontent, frustrated, but resigned. you do not lie, and they know it.**.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Getting nostalgic?"

Quietly, you say, "A bit."
Staring out, you say, "This was where I met Dad, actually. In their kephera shape. And where I first put on my glasses. And when I learned about hugs, and..."

The sun reaches the zenith of the firmament, pausing in his quest to allow the land to bask in his shining golden rays.

You sigh quietly, frills drooping as your tail sags.

You think to yourself: **the good slipping past, and then all of the aching and crying, when Lady Viravain was furious, when you summoned Mother Night, when Dad first left... and now you.**.

Tridemon ponders the situation.
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I wonder if you'll end up hating squid for a while."

You stare blankly at Tridemon.

The wind whistles eerily through the branches overhead.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "It's what's needed for lighting the beacons, in Celest."
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "No killing. Just chasing down quick squid."

You have emoted: Cheliyi grimaces, and glances up at the sky. "You mean the rude light?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mmhmm."

You think to yourself: **countless conversations, interrupted as you're blinded, a deep sense of frustration**.
You shudder violently as a chill ripples down your spine.

The sharp sound of a twig snapping echoes behind you.

Absently rubbing beneath his left eye, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Maybe your eyes will change."

You crease your brow in a frown.
You give Tridemon a friendly squeeze.
Pensively, you say, "Maybe. I think the shadows started helping my eyes, because they don't hurt as often, no. But they'll probably..."
You have emoted: Cheliyi gestures vaguely.

Tridemon ponders the situation.
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Oh, that reminds me."

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

You tilt your head curiously at Tridemon.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Do you want to come see the Celest Nexus World?"

You have emoted: Cheliyi blinks, slowly.

Shadows grow longer in anticipation for the return of their dark mistress as Father Sun's chase brings him closer to the world's edge.
The heavens alight with a rich purple glow as dusk begins to settle in, preparing the First World for the coming night.

Frowning, you say, "Am... I -allowed- to go in?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I don't see why not."

You have emoted: Cheliyi glances out once more, smiles, and nods.
Taking Tridemon's hand, you say, "Let's go, yes."
You begin to follow Tridemon.

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

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters down to the Pool of Stars.

Tridemon leans on the Pool of Stars seeking consolation.
Tridemon leans out over the Pool of Stars, reaching down to touch the surface. His image suddenly wavers and dissolves into a sparkling stream of water that falls into the pool with a gentle splash.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters to atop a fountain of coruscating starlight.

A surge of starry water suddenly erupts from within the Urn of Celestial Starlight, sending a disoriented Tridemon spilling over its lip.

Atop a fountain of coruscating starlight.

This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. A massive, many tiered fountain made entirely of water extends in every direction, as far as the eye can see. The highest point of the fountain has been sculpted into the shape of a raised dais, and though the water shifts and flows it remains as solid to walk on as if it were marble. An endless flow of pure, liquid starlight cascades over the platform, tumbling over the edge in incandescent streams. A font of endless starlight pours over the rim of the ceramic urn set upon the apex of the fountain. As if caught in a graceful dance of duality, a black and a white koi fish circle one another within the clear waters of this immaculate urn, its shimmering surface reflecting a soothing white light. 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 down.

You have emoted: Cheliyi looks down from the fountain, eyes wide.

Quizzically, you ask, "... Stars?"

The current carries a medusa jellyfish in from the down, a hundred tentacles trailing sinuously behind.

You think to yourself: **it's bright, but your eyes barely ache...**.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Starlight, anyway."
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It's a lot bigger than just this. Want to go down?"

You nod your head emphatically.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters down to staircase on a fountain of starlight.

The current carries a medusa jellyfish in from the up, a hundred tentacles trailing sinuously behind.

You have emoted: Cheliyi stares blankly at the various jellyfish, stunned.

Staircase on a fountain of starlight.
Tranquil as the chime of falling rain, the gentle sound of trickling waters emanates from a shield shrine of Lantra nearby. This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. A wall of liquid starlight falls through the air all around, the shimmering liquid twinkling as it drops down to the first tier of this strange fountain of solidified water far below. This staircase spirals around the top spout of the fountain and heads steadily downward towards the first level. The Blessed Font of the Holy Supernals stands tall, filling the area with a brilliant light. Trailing a multitude of luminous tentacles through the starlight, a medusa jellyfish drifts carelessly about. 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 up and down.

Tridemon ponders an abalone font of crashing waves thoughtfully, looking it up and down.

As Tridemon reverentially places his hands on the Blessed Font of the Holy Supernals, a golden light rises up and his face flushes with ecstasy.
A soft silver cloud rises up from the Blessed Font of the Holy Supernals and surrounds Tridemon, leaving him with a phial of celestial holy water after it dissipates.
Tridemon pats a phial of celestial holy water in a friendly manner.

A gentle mist sweeps through the area, and you catch a glimpse of dreamlike images hovering within.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "There should be a bright starfish around here..."

You blink incredulously at Tridemon.
Hopefully, you ask, "There's more?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Oh, sure. Jellyfish, starfish, flying fish..."

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters down to the base of a spire of water.

Tridemon pats a flying fish in a friendly manner.

A flying fish flicks its fins as it soars gracefully across the liquid starlight, vanishing to the north.

You chuckle softly, your frilled tail flicking idly with amusement.

The base of a spire of water.
Tranquil as the chime of falling rain, the gentle sound of trickling waters emanates from a shield shrine of Lantra nearby. This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. A steady stream of starlight washes out from the middle of this tier, which is centered around a spire. The tier, the spire, and indeed the rest of the fountain are made out of a kind of solidified water, which seems to shift and ripple like normal liquid but which is completely solid to walk on. The liquid starlight that runs down the fountain, however, is carried by force and it is difficult to avoid being tugged along towards the edge. 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, south, west, and up.

You think to yourself: Pretty.

The Mantle of Starlight shimmers and twinkles as the starlit darkness that it is formed of continues its eternal motion.

You have emoted: Cheliyi stares blankly at the starlight.
You think to yourself: ... Can I drink it?

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Don't see why not."

You have emoted: Cheliyi ponders the liquid thoughtfully, and bends down to cup some in her hands.

You think to yourself: **a sudden hiss, and jolt of fear as the shadows pull away from the Light, as if it burns-**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi jumps, and lets the liquid fall from her fingers with a splash.

Faintly, you say, "... Maybe not, no."

A flying fish flicks its fins as it soars gracefully across the liquid starlight, vanishing to the south.

A warm light suffuses the area as a sunflower starfish drifts over from the south.

The liquid starlight cascading down the fountain banishes the shadows, providing illumination to even the farthest reaches.

The world seems to become a little more drab as a sunflower starfish drifts away to the south.

You have emoted: Cheliyi wipes her hands dry on a long skirt of shadows, looking out again at the seemingly endless font.

A warm light suffuses the area as a sunflower starfish drifts over from the south.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. There's a lot more down, if you want to keep going... oh, there's a starfish."

A warm light suffuses the area as a sunflower starfish drifts over from the east.

You stare blankly at a sunflower starfish.

---> look starfish

Countless legs splay outwards from the core of this starfish, arrayed like the delicate, opened petals of a flower. The colouration of its disk-like body changes from moment to moment, staying an almost constant rosy red hue at the very centre, while its numerous arms shift rhythmically between sunny shades of orange and yellow. The sea star moves its many limbs with a languorous grace as it floats and spins listlessly, drifting through the air in constant, sinuous motion.
A sunflower starfish exudes a quiet confidence.

The world seems to become a little more drab as a sunflower starfish drifts away to the up.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you ask, "... That's not a flower?"

A warm light suffuses the area as a sunflower starfish drifts over from the up.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "No, that's a fish."

You stare blankly at a sunflower starfish.
You stare blankly at Tridemon.
You peer at Tridemon unscrupulously.

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

Incredulously, you ask, "You're sure?"

The world seems to become a little more drab as a sunflower starfish drifts away to the up.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "It's an animal, anyway."

You think to yourself: **faint relief, there are still familiar plants in the city, even if they're... weirdly**.

A warm light suffuses the area as a sunflower starfish drifts over from the up.

Tridemon pats a sunflower starfish in a friendly manner.

The world seems to become a little more drab as a sunflower starfish drifts away to the up.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Wanna keep going down?"

You nod your head emphatically.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters east to along the rim of a tier.

Along the rim of a tier.

Tranquil as the chime of falling rain, the gentle sound of trickling waters emanates from a shield shrine of Lantra nearby. This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. Sheets of liquid starlight move with surprising speed and force over the odd surface of hardened water, tugging forcefully before cascading off the edge of this tier of the fountain in a brilliant waterfall. Far below, the other tiers of the massive fountain can be seen. A luminescent flying fish soars daintily above the surface of the liquid starlight. 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 southwest, west, northwest, and down.

The liquid starlight cascading down the fountain banishes the shadows, providing illumination to even the farthest reaches.

You have emoted: Cheliyi wobbles in place, tugged along by the flow of starlight.

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

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters down to below a descending sheet of starlight.

Below a descending sheet of starlight.

Tranquil as the chime of falling rain, the gentle sound of trickling waters emanates from a shield shrine of Lantra nearby. This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. A large sheet of glimmering starlight cascades down the ledge to the west. The liquid starlight raises a fine, barely perceptible mist where it collides with the solidified water that makes up the surface of this enormous fountain. There are conspicuous rectangular holes in the side of the fountain to the west, which would allow a person to climb up the ledge to the tier of the fountain above. 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 east and up.

Thoughtfully, you ask, "Does that mean all of the stars are water?"
You ponder the situation.

"Nope," Tridemon says with finality.

You think to yourself: ... Do stars taste like jelly?

The sky lightens and stars fade as Father Sun approaches the horizon in his neverending quest to capture Mother Night.

You have emoted: Cheliyi squints. "So... they're ice? Or crystals?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I think they're more... concentrated light?"

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

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

You think to yourself: **when you boil down water while cooking, it makes sauce, so... is light sweet? Or spicy? Because then it could be jelly, or then like... sauce cubes? Fireball candy.**.

You stare blankly into space.
You remove 1 fireball, bringing the total in the rift to 1.
You peer at a bag of fireball candies unscrupulously.

The ever-present sense of your heartbeat thrums, beating to the rhythmic pulse of the Drums of the Dead.

Tridemon peers at you unscrupulously.

Tridemon gives a shimmering cube of elemental water to you.

You stare blankly at a shimmering cube of elemental water.

---> p cube

Small enough that nine could fit side-by-side in the palm of the average merian, this shimmering cube of elemental water jiggles and quivers with every motion. Its surface does not break when prodded though it is nearly gelatinous, each of its six sides refreshingly cool to the touch. Shimmering motes of starlight swirl within the watery depths of the cube, its dark contents reflecting the Pool of Stars, though its core is lit by a brilliant, rotating star.
It has 2 months of usefulness left.
It weighs 4 ounce(s).
It has the following aliases: cube, water, watercube, quasiessence.

You have emoted: Cheliyi gently gnaws on a shimmering cube of elemental water.

You think to yourself: **no flavor, just water.... but it tastes clean. And it tingles, a little... spicy? Or maybe that's just the light singeing your tongue.**.

You have emoted: Cheliyi hums, disappointed. "Not sweet."

You have emoted: Cheliyi dunks a shimmering cube of elemental water in the starlight to rinse it off, and returns it to Tridemon.
You give a shimmering cube of elemental water to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters.

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

You have emoted: Cheliyi glances back up at the previous tier, humming softly. "It... it's really nice here, yes."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Mm. I think there's just one more tier... or maybe it's two. I forget. I don't spend a lot of time here."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Let's go, yes!"
You give Tridemon a friendly squeeze.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters down to beneath tumbling starlight.
You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters east to before the image of an elderly man.
You blink.

Before the image of an elderly man.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. An image of semi-transparent blue energy hovers above the liquid starlight that lies within this part of the aqueous fountain. The image depicts a wizened old man wearing robes that flow in numerous folds down to his feet who surveys the area about him impassively. The crown he wears atop his head, embedded with the symbol of a crystalline whale, marks him as Ladyn, one of the past Emperors of Old Celest. Floating lazily through the air like a miniature sun, a blazing sunflower starfish travels an unseen current. A luminescent flying fish soars daintily above the surface of the liquid starlight. 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, south, and west.

You have emoted: Cheliyi stares blankly at the imprint, squinting. "Who is that?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Not sure. One of the Ladyn emperors. Couldn't tell you which one."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters south to slogging through starlight.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "... starlight's gotten high here."

Slogging through starlight.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. The liquid starlight that fills this tier of the fountain, while as fluid as water, reaches waist-high and makes this area difficult to walk through. The starlight is constantly spilling over the edge of the walls of solid water and into the oblivion of the aether far below, but more flows in consistently from the southwest and north to replace it. A luminescent flying fish soars daintily above the surface of the liquid starlight. 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 and southwest.

You have emoted: Cheliyi is practically swimming at this point.

You think to yourself: It tingles.

Tridemon reaches down to help lift you out of the starlight a bit, arms seeming a lot stronger than his frame would imply.

You have emoted: The shadows that cloak Cheliyi seems to have migrated to her head in an almost comical fashion, as if to shirk away from the starlight.

A warm light suffuses the area as a sunflower starfish drifts over from the north.
A flying fish flits daintily above the liquid starlight, flicking its fins as it glides from the north.

Quietly, you say, "Wheeeeee."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Let's move on a bit."
Tridemon helps you over to the southwest.
You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters southwest to circling around the fountain.

A flying fish flicks its fins as it soars gracefully across the liquid starlight, vanishing to the west.

Circling around the fountain.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. This, the largest and bottom-most of the three tiers, circles around the center of the fountain. The tiers together form concentric circles around the central spout of starlight far above, which sprays liquid starlight out to fill the rest of the fountain. Wavy, dreamlike images shimmer from within the light, reflecting the Light conquering the Tainted and images of holy power. Floating lazily through the air like a miniature sun, a blazing sunflower starfish travels an unseen current. 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 northeast and west.

You have emoted: Cheliyi giggles as she's set down on relatively drier starlight, and begins wringing it out from her clothes.

Tridemon reaches over and ruffles your hair with a fond expression.
Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Better?"

You nod your head emphatically.

You have emoted: Cheliyi's tail sweeps through the liquid starlight, causing gentle ripples.

Tridemon gives you a thumbs up.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters west to starlight watched by a merian woman.

You have emoted: Cheliyi stares up at the image, frowning slightly.
Thoughtfully, you ask, "Are they... shades? Or.. well. Maybe reflections? Can they talk?"

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Images- more like statuary made of energy and light."

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Frowning, you say, "Why is there so much focus on... well, the peoples who ruled? Shouldn't the nexus be about the sea, and the life within it?"

You pat a sunflower starfish in a friendly manner.
You are exhausted and open your mouth in an enormous yawn.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Not sure. I think it might have to do with the mortal champions of the Light or something. The manifestation is... older than the Pool in New Celest. It's something that was reconnected from the Old Empire... I think."

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Need to head home?"

You are exhausted and open your mouth in an enormous yawn.
You nod your head emphatically.
Rubbing at her eyes, you say, "Well, it is pretty, yes. The fish are nice."

The world seems to become a little more drab as a sunflower starfish drifts away to the east.

You peer about yourself unscrupulously.

A warm light suffuses the area as a sunflower starfish drifts over from the north.

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

Grinning, you say, "I still think that was a flower, though."

A warm light suffuses the area as a sunflower starfish drifts over from the east.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Nothing that tries to murder you down here unless you hit it first."

Tridemon nods his head sagely.

You nod your head sagely.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters up to atop a fountain of coruscating starlight.

Tridemon takes a long draught of celestial holy water.
As Tridemon takes a drink from the Urn of Celestial Starlight, hundreds of ribbons of liquid starlight suddenly shoot out of the vessel, swathing him from head to toe. The insubstantial folds of light blaze with a fierce luminosity before they collapse in on themselves, flowing back into the urn to take all trace of Tridemon with them.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters to A chilling, forestal curiosities room.

You have emoted: Cheliyi shakes out her frills, yawning.
Leaning forward, you gently press a kiss to Tridemon's brow.

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

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Gonna... go sleep, yes. Be well, Dad."

You hug Tridemon as best as you can, pulling them into a tight embrace.

The Mantle of Starlight shimmers and twinkles as the starlit darkness that it is formed of continues its eternal motion.

Tridemon hugs you compassionately.

You wave goodbye.