"Sometimes feeling can hurt."

Gurashi went home! To think! To mull!

A charming patio overlooking oblivion.                 (#HAH_2)
The shadowy outline of a twisted forest casts a dark gloom here. From outside the door, both stories of this timber-framed, two-story building are visible. Gnarled, blackened trunks bow out at the corners, and ivy creeps up each exterior wall, giving the structure a rounded, organic look. The roof is steeply pitched and shingled in mossy cedar, save for the rounded upstairs windows that peek out like a pair of sleepy eyes. A flagstone patio extends out from the facade for several feet, before coming to an abrupt end at the edge of the bubble, beyond which only the churning, stygian nothingness of aetherspace is visible. A narrow footpath curls around the side of the building. Beneath it, hard-packed dirt and stringy grass roots give way to the emptiness below. There are 3 smooth ravenwood benches here. An expansive picnic table seems to burst from the ground here, a trunk-like protrusion of whorled walnut wood. A shimmering blue circle floats in the room here.

Xenthos tells you, "How are things faring for you? It seems to have taken longer than you thought."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "**quiet, contemplative buzzing**."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "**quietly** hi, Xenthos ..."

Xenthos tells you, "Mm. Greetings to you as well."

Wooden wind chimes can be heard clunking gently together as a breeze moves through.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "It was ... I got invited to a tea party. With Friend Shulamit! And Friend Aschwar! Was at Aschwar's house, actually..."

Xenthos tells you, "Ah, I see."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Mister, uhm... Ixchilgal was also there? But he mostly just sat and looked grumpy..."

Xenthos tells you, "Was there any particular reason for his looking grumpy?"

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Mm... uhm, I do not know. Think is just resting bull face."

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 sit yourself down on a smooth ravenwood bench and make yourself comfortable.

You have emoted: Gurashi flops forward on the table present, shaking his head.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Friend Shulamit made me a -beautiful- tea set... haha, you should see! Am the teapot!"

A gust of wind carries on it the pleasant warmth of the noon day sun and the tranquil song of insects.

Xenthos tells you, "So she did not make you a teaset in the traditional since, she made you actually be a teaset?"

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "She -made- me a tea set, and ... I -was- the tea set."

Xenthos tells you, "I see."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Yes! It was very sweet. There were Shulamit cakes, too... lots of fun. Friend Aschwar seems really happy..."

Xenthos tells you, "Ah. That is good- last I heard they were not much on happy."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Mm ..."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "They are getting better, yes..."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "... they asked me to come - Friend Shulamit and Friend Aschwar? Because they wanted to ask me something."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "And also to have a tea party."

You have emoted: Gurashi lifts his head from the table, staring across it, despondent.

You think to yourself: How am gonna...

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "**a resumed soft buzzing, words leaving**."

You shuffle your feet uneasily.

Xenthos tells you, "Would you perhaps like to shoot some things? Or... watch them be shot?"

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "... is Mixter Esei up there? They wanted to talk to me so want to make sure they can find me - yes."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "...I will shoot things."

Xenthos tells you, "No, Esei is not here."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Hrm..."

<-- doot de doo, went up for aetherhunt

An unfinished section of a great aethership.
This location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. Sparking with arcs of power, an energy collector spirals up from the floor here.
You see exits leading east and west.

You step up to an energy collector, locking yourself into the module and linking your mind to the controls of the ship. After a moment, you begin to sense your command of the module in your own brain.
(Ship): Nyx Daedema says, "Welcome to an energy collector, Gurashi."

<-- lotta silence

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, ".... you are doing a big thing?"

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Busy job, right now?"

Xenthos tells you, "Not really, just shooting things."

Xenthos tells you, "It's not super busy."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Mm, O-K."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "**rather abruptly, full of panic or excitement or something akin to that** Friend Aschwar and Friend Shulamit asked me to be a Beloved."

Xenthos tells you, "Oh?"

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, ".... -yeah-."

Nyx Daedema sails to the north.
You are thrust forward as Nyx Daedema shudders violently and comes to a complete stop.
[(700, 423)]
A tendril of Kethuru enters from the south on the aetherways.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "And -- oh! We are moving."

A tendril of Kethuru shudders violently, then comes to a complete stop.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "I ... O-K."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "They asked me to be a Beloved! And, asked me about feelings about Them and stuff. The Shofets. Honestly and stuffs."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "And it felt kind of -nice- to talk about? Divines, mean."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Once again Divine things are making me sad, think - ahha."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "I think am wanting something so very specific from a God? Maybe why has taken so long to find Someone that draws to, know?"

Xenthos tells you, "What precisely do you want?"

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "...n-no - you will laugh at me!"

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Or - at the very least, exhale loudly, though your nose, maybe."

You have been recognised by Ixchilgal for: A lovely little dinner party with Shulamit and Anchwar.  Answhar?  I can't spell their name when it's not right in front of me.  With Order mobs!
You just earned 4 daily credits. You can earn 11 more.

Xenthos tells you, "Mm. It is your choice to say, but I do think it has some bearing on the discussion, yes?"

<-- Olethea came to return Kyalrhin's book, chatty chatty! Then she left

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Ah - sorry - Miss Olethea was returning abook."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Uhm."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "I would like a Divine that can be very close to. I would like to be -friends- with Them. **quickly** a-and, know have said this before and you said why it doesn't make sense and am knowing it is -silly- and unobtainable sort of thinking b-but.."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Do not know why but feel very strongly that want to help the Shofets."

It is now the 11th of Tzarin, 558 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 31 days until the New Moon

Xenthos tells you, "There are some obstacles, you realize- possibly insurmountable ones."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "And it is scary to say that, yes, aloud."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Because - yeah."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Yeah."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, ".... they know that - They do, too, think."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Can already imagine how Lady of Roses would react... I do not know about Mister Lord Silence ....."

Xenthos tells you, "What are your thoughts of being told that it cannot be? At least, not officially? There is no restriction on being friends, but officially following another Divine is an entirely different matter."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "...... **quiet, miserable buzzing**."

Xenthos tells you, "If it -was- allowed, have you considered how it would work? You would be expected to fight others of the Beloved if they are acting against the Glomdoring- because the Glomdoring comes first."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "... I ... would not, do anything to make the Glomdoring... the Lady of Roses, its denizens ... do not want to put that at risk, no."

Xenthos tells you, "How would they react to you fighting them? Have -they- considered that?"

Xenthos tells you, "I am not seeking answers to these questions right now."

Xenthos tells you, "But they are things that you should consider, carefully."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "..... **continued quiet buzzing**."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "I ..."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, ".... we already fight."

Xenthos tells you, "Indeed you do."

Xenthos tells you, "The question is if they've considered that fact moving forward."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "And it hurts the same anyway because they are my friends."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "**a gentle chirr**."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "I do not know if they would have asked if didn't consider it, maybe. Do not know. I do not know their thoughts - am just a bug!"

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "... persons, right now. Have been kind of distractedly squishy today."

Xenthos tells you, "Perhaps you should discuss it with them. Make sure that you are all understanding exactly what you are asking for."

Xenthos tells you, "If even that is too big a hurdle to surmount..."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "... the Glomdoring will always come first."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "I just - we already fight. And. I."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "**lots of flustered buzzing sounds and chitters and chirrs, malcontent insect noises**."

Xenthos tells you, "It is a difficult thing- especially with how strained relations with Gaudiguch have become."

You have emoted: Gurashi drops his head against the chair, looking out the window to watch the chaos outside with a miserable huff.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "The Shofets isn't Gaudiguchs. Gaudiguchs isn't the Shofets."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "The Shofets told me - They told me so!!"

Xenthos tells you, "Such can be stated, but Their Order is full of Gaudiguchians."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Yes!"

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Lots of 'em."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Lots of Friends."

Xenthos tells you, "Which, to us, makes it inextricably tied to Gaudiguch-the-city."

You have emoted: Gurashi narrows his eyes, looking at the collector, bobbing his knee.

Xenthos tells you, "Regardless of the Divine's will, the followers themselves are Gaudiguch."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "... **quiet buzzing again**."

You have emoted: Gurashi leans forward as much as he can while locked into his seat, frowning.

You think to yourself: ... think really want this...

You think to yourself: .... is O-K to?

You think to yourself: ...clearly not.

Xenthos tells you, "My recommendation would be: Put in the time and discussion to make sure that this is something both you and they truly wish to pursue, with an understanding that it very well may not be allowed. Past that, I would suggest speaking with Lady Viravain, to get Her thoughts on the agreement that you have come up with the Beloved- the understanding that you've laid down. Then it would require the Shadow Court voting to approve an exception. Her words would, of course, bear significant weight in that vote."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "..... **a soft, slightly confused buzz of affirmation**."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "... you know that am someone who feels very strongly about things, yes."

Xenthos tells you, "I do, indeed."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, ".... feel ... very strongly that .. want to help the Shofets."

Xenthos tells you, "Sometimes feeling can hurt."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Yeah."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Yeah feelings hurt a lot, too."

Xenthos tells you, "Sometimes we cannot always do what we want- but we do what we must."

You have emoted: Gurashi looks about the room distractedly as his eyes flood with tears. "Right," he mutters quietly to himself, drumming his fingers on the armrests.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "Right, right. Right. Right. Many - many thank yous Xenthos for listening to my problem and offering thoughts and uhm, solutions yes."

Xenthos tells you, "It is not solutions, so much as... a path. There are no guarantees of anything. But you will never know if you do not try, yes? Just do not let yourself become too hopeful."

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist, "**another softer, more tired buzz of affirmation**."

You sniffle softly.

You think to yourself: ... no - no crying in aetherspace!

You have emoted: Gurashi blankly stares out the window, sniffling noisily and once more watching the chaos outside unravel with a strange calmness.

A gentle reminder touches your hand, a memory of the large paw gently squeezing it, bringint the gentle scent of honey. In the reflection of the window, overlaid upon the chaos, you see your friend and a small, sad surge of hope fills your stomach. There is a chance. However small, however unlikely...there is a chance.

You have emoted: Gurashi lifts his chin, taking a deep breath before nodding, just once.

You think to yourself: Yes, it could maybe possibly work. Will try.