Almost Something of a Tune...

A chilling, forestal curiosities room.                 (#HAH_1)
The shadowy outline of a twisted forest casts a dark gloom here. A comforting feeling of privacy pervades the area. The first discernible sensation upon entering this room is a mixture of earthy smells; mulch, petrichor, decaying wood, and the heady scent of Wyrden roses saturate the air. As one's eyes adjust to the darkness, barely abated by shadowflame sconces hung on the walls, tall figures begin to emerge. Expansive shelves carved to look like tree trunks seem to grow out of the floor and reach clear to the ceiling. The moss-green rug has been cut to fit neatly between each root and around each curve, giving the illusion of springy turf underfoot. Gently glowing fungi, which seem to be growing out of the shelves at random, make it just possible to see their contents. On one shelf, a scorched dragonturtle shell and a dried starfish sit beside a glistening glasswork recreation of a pile of salmon roe. On another, a pair of arrows with heart-shaped heads are arranged with one crossed over the other, and a scented love-letter lies on top of them. Other shelves are crammed with an increasingly peculiar assortment of knickknacks: an ice pick, a tiny red stone, a dusty brown bottle with "Alchywhole" written in a barely legible script, a cuddly stuffed Tae'dae bear, a miniature rockeater figurine, an ornate ivory pipe, a pile of glittering Czigany coins, and a charm bracelet that looks to be of Fae origin. One rather macabre shelf holds a coiled slave master's whip and a skull that appears to have belonged to a Krokani before it made its way here. Still other shelves lie bare, waiting to be filled with more mementos of adventure to come, and in the corner of one of them a tiny black spider has made its web. A brightly colourful tapestry depicting a bear filled picnic has been hung on a nearby wall. A small table hewn from a ravenwood trunk has been upended here, providing a small surface on which to rest various objects. Depicting the four trees of Glomdoring in stylistic renditions, a woven, rose-scented rug spreads across the floor. There are 2 lyre-backed chairs here. Hanging from fine silver, this large snowflake lantern has light blue gems dangling beneath it, causing a gentle sway. A broad glass-faced display rack for musical instruments stands proudly here. A painting of Gurashi's Staring Contest is proudly exhibited on a nearby wall. A gilded pedestal, displaying a painting of the Lazing Leothin, stands here, its gold leaf cracked and weathered. A gilded pedestal, displaying a painting of A Future Endeavor, stands here, its gold leaf cracked and weathered. A gilded pedestal, displaying a painting of A Wee Highland Cow, stands here, its gold leaf cracked and weathered. A marble archway stands here, elegantly arcing up from ground to ceiling. Surrounded by a faint, emerald halo, an ethereal cat romps playfully about the area. Wreathed in blue light, a jade scaled kirin with a pair of tawny antlers displays long-feathered wings of blue and gold. 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 sign here instructing you to use the PORTAL command to enter the aetherplex system.
You see exits leading north, east (open door), south (open door), and southwest (closed door).

You blink.

Tridemon raises his hand in greeting to you and says "Hi!"

You have emoted: Gurashi puffs his cheeks, looking entirely surprised, wiping dirt off his pants.

You beam broadly at Tridemon.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "So what have you been up to!"

You blink.

You have emoted: Gurashi lets out a silent laugh, glancing over his shoulder awkwardly, clapping his hands together. He bounces in his spot, then beckons.

You open the oak door to the southwest.

You have emoted: Gurashi steps aside, making a face, looking excited.

Tridemon points to the southwest.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "That way?"

You nod your head emphatically.

You twiddle your thumbs.

You fret over everything that might go wrong.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters southwest to A bright but barren solarium.

A bright but barren solarium.                          (#HAH_19)
Stepping out from the wildly busy curiosities room, you find a brightly lit octagonal space that is nearly entirely composed of clear glass walls and dark ravenwood support beams. The solarium stands as wide as the neighboring greenhouse to the north, and the conical ceiling comes together at an equal point where a lovely glass lantern has been set to hang. The floor is made of smooth, slate-colored stone, three half steps leading down to the heart of the solarium. Multi-tiered gardening beds have been set up along four of the eight walls, freshly planted but far too soon to be showing signs of life. Another wall holds carefully organizes shelves with gardening supplies - gloves and spades - small instruments intended for light indoor horticulture. The final wall houses an unassuming upright piano. No more than fifty inches in height and carved from walnut, the instrument houses shiny ivory keys and offers a sweet, lovely tone when played. A shimmering blue circle floats in the room here. Wreathed in blue light, a jade scaled kirin with a pair of tawny antlers displays long-feathered wings of blue and gold.
You see exits leading northeast (open door) and east (open door).

You nod your head emphatically.

You clap your hands together merrily.

You bounce up and down.

You bounce up and down.

The sun, unable to pierce through the thick stormclouds, manages only to bathe your surrounds in an eerie golden-green glow.

You have emoted: Gurashi flits about a bit, then gestures at the flower beds, huffing. He gestures to himself, quite dirty, having been busy for the better part of the day.

You have emoted: Gurashi glances towards the piano, then perks up, gesturing at it excitedly.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Do you know how to play?"

You have emoted: Gurashi bounces a little, then slows... then bobs his head side to side, wandering over to it. He touches a key, and the sound reverberates throughout the hollow glass room. He looks up, then over at Tridemon, pleased.

Tridemon peers at the piano suspiciously.

You have emoted: Gurashi lets out a silent laugh, then steps away, looking for his notepad.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ ... ... /."

You have emoted: Gurashi finds his notepad near one of the flower beds, turning around and scribbling in it as he walks towards Tridemon, still smiling.

You have emoted: Gurashi holds out the pad to you: 'mandolin made hands tired - piano easier'. He beams.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "I think Khep is nearby again."

You have emoted: Gurashi is about to play on the key again, then gasps, standing up straight and looking at Tridemon hopefully.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks around, listening.

Tridemon reaches over toward the piano and presses down on one of the keys.

You hands fly to your mouth as you give a short gasp of elation.

You have emoted: Gurashi lifts his head as the note rings out, clear and happy and deep.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ * a twitch * /."

Tridemon ponders it a bit again, pressing a few more keys and getting a feel for where a certain range of notes is, before blinking.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I've been called."

You blink.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "I'll be back."

You tilt your head curiously.

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

Tridemon spreads his arms wide, and the air between his hands begins to warp and twist, dancing with brilliant multicoloured light as he bores a hole through the fabric of the planes.
A swirling gateway of brilliant light pierces the air before Tridemon, boring a hole through the very fabric of the planes. Tridemon ascends confidently through the rotating gate, which shimmers and snaps shut behind him.

You have emoted: Gurashi steps away, nodding again.

You tilt your head curiously.

You have emoted: Gurashi watches the spot where Tridemon stood just moments prior, quietly tapping his fingers together and looking around.

You have emoted: Gurashi returns to the piano, settling his hands on the keys. When he presses down, the notes are clear but dissonant. No proper chord, still. He tries a different configuration to no avail, his smile slowly fading.

<-- later after presents and guests

You have emoted: Gurashi reaches up, awkwardly scratching at his temple, his smile faltering. He puffs his cheeks up at Tridemon.

You have emoted: Gurashi writes: 'sorry for all running!'

You think to yourself: ** a little ripple of excitement, remembering you playing music - you played a whole song...! **.

You twiddle your thumbs.

Tridemon heads on back to the piano to continue playing that bit of music that he'd started.

You bounce up and down.

You think to yourself: ** excited buzzing - ah ahhhh he likes the piano **.

Tridemon pets you ingratiatingly.

Tridemon returns to poking slowly at the keys in sequence.

You have emoted: Gurashi trails after Tridemon with a bounce in his step, eventually folding his arms over the top of the piano to watch Tridemon play. He looks up thoughtfully.

You think to yourself: ** a recollection of a pious merian kinswoman humming this tune to you on the wall overlooking the sea ... a lovely recollection **.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ ........ *a familiar pulse, softer, though - tired* /."

Tridemon finishes the song, letting his hands drift from the keyboard.

The soft tinkling of seashell wind chimes is carried in on a warm breeze.

You have emoted: Gurashi sighs happily, listening to the notes and how well they resonate within this room. He mushes his cheek against his wrist, shutting his eyes, keeping them closed even after the song finishes.

A shaft of sunlight manages to break through the clouds, reflecting off the glass and sending a cascade of rainbow colors across the floor, the flower beds, you.

You think to yourself: / .... *soft, spoken, impossible to make out* .... /.

You have emoted: Gurashi's eyes open.

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

Tridemon ponders the situation.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "Let's... see here..."
Tridemon ponders the situation.

A cloud moves in, quickly blotting out the sun, casting the room into semi-dim daylight hues once again.

Tridemon moves his hands over to the lower, deeper notes of the piano, and pokes at a few of them, getting a feel for the notes. What he ends up doing... well, he's attempting to evoke a sense of the undervault. It's not terrible.

You have emoted: Gurashi shifts in his spot, pressing his chin against his palm and listening, head canted to the side, eyes half-lidded.

You think to yourself: / ..... sh.... *more speaking, so close*...e... /.

The sun, unable to pierce through the thick stormclouds, manages only to bathe your surrounds in an eerie golden-green glow.

You think to yourself: ** ...ah - familiar .. **.

Tridemon continues playing, moving up an octave, but continuing the pattern of notes that he was already playing.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *as you play, you suddenly see a flicker of movement. her - very near, again, out of step, cut off* ...shi, wh ... ..u? /."

You think to yourself: ** ... ..khep... .. **.

Tridemon increases the tempo slightly. Not out of any real intention, but simply due to the fact that he's finding the keys more easily.

You have emoted: Gurashi watches Tridemon, semi-distracted. He looks up at the lucidian, offering an excited smile.

You think to yourself: ** good - are good - washes of hope - hope are having -fun-, because are good... **.

Tridemon suddenly stops, and frowns... then repositions himself, and starts playing a much, much more familiar song. The one you were known to play to defend your allies. The shadowbeat itself is missing, but there's no mistaking the tune.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *her antennae turn - you feel her look at you, no, through you, mandibles clicking* ...demo.. /."

You have emoted: Gurashi's smile falters a little, and he looks down at the piano, watching Tridemon's hands. He stares intently, then steps over to stand beside you, near the highest octave, watching. Mimicking. One note, then another, hopefully.

For a moment, bright vermilion hues paint the surroundings, giving the illusion of everything being aflame. Shortly thereafter, a passing cloud obscures the sun and everything is dark once more.

You think to yourself: ** can repeat - it is my song - made it ... for ... **.

You think to yourself: ** .....a deep sigh ... **.

Tridemon lets his hands fall still, looking at you. "... you want to give playing your wyrdsong a go on the piano?"

You have emoted: As soon as you finish playing, Gurashi his own playing stops, as if he's forgotten which notes he was just tapping out. He frowns, rests both hands on the piano, laying down a few notes, though it makes anything but a lovely chord.

You think to yourself: ** ... a feeling - pin-prickling, scrambling - song becomes chaos and chaos becomes meaningless - oh - what was playing again? right - wyrdsong .... how goes again .. **.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *she steps closer, shakes her head* ...hing hap.... ...... th .... they're getting ..... /."

Tridemon watches you in silence for a few moments... and then resumes playing, the lower registers of the song you played before. Your wyrdsong. Leaving the higher registers and notes to your discretion.

The clouds part again, and for a moment you see the sky dappled with starlight.

The grass rustles slightly as a warm night breeze caresses your skin.

You tilt your head curiously at Tridemon.

Bizirik, the leothin lays down in the center of the solarium, tail slapping against the ground as it flops, staring intently at the piano and those playing it.

You have emoted: Gurashi watches, then, carefully, slowly, begins to mimic the notes, bobbing his head as if coming to understand something, his face lighting up.

You think to yourself: ** almost songlike, along with the piano - 'nothing can... take you for...' **.

Tridemon seems to come to the end of the song... but starts again at the last stanza. A refrain.

As Gurashi plays, you see the shadows near the floor begin to warp and and swirl, starting to form a slow circle surrounding the two of you.

You think to yourself: ' ... so long ... so long, so lo.. '

Tridemon continues to play the same stanza, repeating the refrain over and over, letting it continue, essentially, for as long as you are willing to follow it.

The singing of night insects and frogs from the surrounding wetland punctuates the otherwise silent night air.
It is now the 13th of Dioni, 562 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 17 days until the New Moon

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *you hear her inhale, then quickly cuss and move away* ...ppening again! S-- /."

... as the notes play out, and the shadows rise, there is a faint, distant... keening sound ... from the manse? No.

You think to yourself: ** --- suddenly, sharp, stabbing pain - FORCEFUL static -- a gentle 'POP' -- **.

At the sudden intense pain, across mindscape you see a flash of brilliant red spread across the sky like lightning. No. Branches.

Tridemon stops playing abruptly, lifting his hands from the keys to look sharply at you.

You have emoted: Gurashi abruptly stops playing, pressing down a single key forcibly and locking up in place.

The color fades like the tail end of fireworks, leaving you with a throbbing ache that makes you feel like you're on fire.

Tridemon creases his brow in a frown.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "I see that Tiso has lodged a protest about the Shadowbeat?"

Bizirik, the leothin abruptly rises from the floor, letting out a high pitched whine.

You think to yourself: ** -- ---- -- ----- -- **.

You have emoted: Before you can finish your sentence, Gurashi drops like a marionette whose strings have been snipped.
Bizirik lets out a loud yelp and dashes forward, immediately snuffling and prodding and sniffling at Gurashi, tail lashing back and forth.

Uncertainly, Tridemon nudges you with his foot. <-- we are 100% tired

The shadows that had gathered previously dissipate with the morning light, the Wyrdsong's magic lost.

Bizirik, the leothin lets out a noise, proceeding to crawl over Gurashi, then decide to lay on top of him like a chicken with an egg, clearly distressed.

** henlo part two **

Bizirik, the leothin grumbles and whines softly, still draped over Gurashi protectively, tail lashing back and forth in its distress. It looks up at Tridemon and chatters, its blank eyes wide.

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

Tridemon watches this is silence for a few moments, before settling in to sit down, starting to examine your mindscape, flooding the immediate area with waves of soothing psionic energy.

Another ripple across the mindscape, a wash of vibrant red like lightning, burning, finger-like branches of some distant tree. All around it, catching the eerie red light and quickly vanishing: gnarled glass vines, not unlike the ones originally constructing the circle. These, far more ominous.

You have emoted: You can see as you sit that Gurashi is utterly motionless, not even taking a breath, his eyes half-lidded and vacant. Bizirik snuffles at his hair again, gnawing, licking, nervously flexing and relaxing its smaller forelimbs as it makes soothing biscuits against his shoulder.

For a moment, bright vermilion hues paint the surroundings, giving the illusion of everything being aflame. Shortly thereafter, a passing cloud obscures the sun and everything is dark once more.

Tridemon frowns slightly, watching the light show for only a few seconds before manifesting himself in your mindscape once more- not fully, but rather as a wispy cloud of starlit night, drifting in for closer examination of this lightning-tree that has struck you down.

There is a crackling noise as you manifest, static? breaking glass? shifting ground? shifting vines? too many possibilities but the sound is overwhelming, the tree fading from sight with the latest wash of pain.

You think to yourself: ** ... no, no ... do not - must keep it safe - precious, good ... **.

You think to yourself: ** ---- --- -hh- ---- **.

Bizirik, the leothin claws a little firmer, hooked claws grabbing bits of tunic and pulling. It lays its head down atop Gurashi's, growing more and more distressed. It rises suddenly and begins to pace around the solarium, then returns to laying down on the man, then repeats this futilely, whining again.

Tridemon reaches out with a wisp of starry night, a ball-like mote of starlight filled with... well, it's essentially partially being soothing, and partially a mild reprimand. Forcing you to stop and seize up like that was VERY RUDE. He lets the mote of light drop to the cracking, shifting ground below.

You think to yourself: ** aahh, another feeling like a sigh ... keep safe ... do not... understand must keep safe ... **.

Tridemon frowns slightly... "You're already SAFE, Tiso. What in the world made you react to music like that? Do you hate music now? Is the shadowbeat that terrible?"

Pulsing, sighing. The soothing is felt, met - the response is festering. You sense some sort of struggle, unseen. Freedom and containment made evenly matched. You cannot tell if you have been heard.

From deep within the cracks, nearly lost in all the red and black, a faint, familiar flicker of ... green ...

You twitch spasmodically.

Bizirik, the leothin perks up, waits... then whines again, the noise high-pitched and no less distressed.

Tridemon moves in closer, no longer a cloud of starlit night, but falling to the ground to land in his kephera self as he starts to walk along the ground toward the red light.

You think to yourself: / *you can feel her suddenly beside you again, keeping up, the blue tip of her spear a bright shining blue in the dark* ..s whe ... s.. wh... going ... /.

You twitch spasmodically.

A bit of pale morning light tries to bleed through the clouds, but is quickly lost again.

You think to yourself: ** ---- --- ----- **.

Bizirik, the leothin snuffles softly, leaning down to snuffle at Gurashi, still distressed at his lack of response.

Bizirik, the leothin lets out a miserable little yowl.

Tridemon pauses slightly, looking toward where Khep ought to be in the mindscape. He holds out his left hand, and starts manifesting something new... a swirl of ivory and starlit night. A brooch made of sorrow and determination- and starlit night forming a mantle, made from the desire to make things right. Not terribly substantial on their own- made to both bolster and be maintained by the wearer. He drops this in front of where he believes Khep to be, before returning to his approach, trying to find that glass vine.

You think to yourself: / *she looks down suddenly antennae twitching ...* /.

You think to yourself: / ........ * you see her scoop up the brooch first, turning it over, then the mantle, confused* ...s th... ...sed to b...? /.

Tridemon doesn't pause in the slightest, continuing the search... "Courage. A little bit of help, because its easy to falter. Assurance that at least someone believes in you and what you can do."

Another strike as you try to move forward, this time lashing out across your face.

Loud to the point of seeming reverberation, cicadas play out buzzing dissonances.

Tridemon pauses, the antennae of that manifested form twitching... and he begins to circle around the boundries, evidently fairly unperturbed by being lashed out at.

You think to yourself: / ... *she takes both, affixing them to her form curiously - at times it is as if a ghost were wearing it, her own figure flickering in and out of view*... nk you... /.

You twitch spasmodically.

Another flash of green from between the cracks which quickly swallow them up again.

Tridemon frowns again... and starts approaching directly once more, eyes glittering at he walks forward with determination. "Stop. This cannot continue. You are throwing a tantrum, and you are HURTING him."

You think to yourself: / *you hear Khepqet make an audible gasp, the sound echoing out before it is also swallowed up by the sound of moving, thrashing glass* /.

A sharp pain greets you as you step forward - no, you realize, you cannot move forward, the air in front of you distorted, moving, festering - those damned, familiar glass vines.

A solid wall. No. A wash of rejection. No.

You think to yourself: ** --- ----mo --- --- **.

You twitch spasmodically.

Tridemon raises his head to look up at the distortion, reaching up and pushing his hand flat against it. "You are not keeping yourself safe. You are keeping yourself blind, and deaf, and paralyzed."

As you lay your hand on the wall - a wash of color spreads out over the see-through wall. Relief. Familiar blue-violet, and behind that - green --

Alas - the color quickly begins to absorb back into your hand like a sponge drawing up water. You hear, soft, and frantic, from the other side, a familiar voice:

"Tridemon...!"

You twitch spasmodically.

You think to yourself: / *her eyes narrow... suddenly you hear her say something - a blur of blue, the spear, suddenly being partially restrained by the vines. It is all she can to not lash out like did before, antennae flat against her head* /.

Tridemon narrows his eyes slightly. "Tisohepsut. This is not acceptable behavior. I will give you to the count of ten to cease this." He says in a very stern voice, as if he were speaking to a wayward child, eyes glittering in an unseen light. "One."

You think to yourself: ** ---- a feeling, like being suffocated ----- **.

Bizirik, the leothin lets out another soft whine, leaning down, licking, nudging him onto his back. As it rolls over Gurashi, you can see the front of his face is smeared with blood, either from having hit his nose in the fall or otherwise. It lays down atop him again in an attempt to fix it and make him move again, tail slapping the ground anxiously.

Tridemon narrows his eyes a little more. "Two." He says, slowly starting to shift back into his more familiar lucidian shape. But not how you know him now. No spectacles, his robes dark and starry again... blue light hiding his eyes. "Three."
You hear a terrible cracking noise and witness a flash of green as a familiar vine strikes against the wall from the other side, its appearance warped by the writhing unseen mass.

You think to yourself: / *you sense her beside you, at a loss, not wanting to cause another set back but also not about to give up her only weapon. she digs her heels into the cracked ground and yanks, and the vines yank back, locking her in a brief tug-of-war* /.

Tridemon raises his right hand. "Four." His staff, still the white he has now, manifests with him within his hand. "Five." Crystal clear water, shallow as a puddle, starts spreading out from him endlessly to cover the broken ground. "Six."

Another flicker of green, desperate, searching. You know now what causes a caged animal to go mad, to gnaw at its own flesh. It lashes out against the vine wall from the other side again, hard enough to make some fill with hairline fractures.

You think to yourself: / .....per what.. .re ...ng? *she looks beyond her own mantle, at the ground around her too floods* /.

You twitch spasmodically.

You think to yourself: ** --- --- **.

You think to yourself: / -- Keeper -- /.

The walls writhe, sensing your building aggression preparing to meet it. The vines cease their writhing, settling, now a solid mass of solid, distorted glass, thicker than you can fully register. You do not understand do not under-stand-.

Bizirik, the leothin snuffles lightly in Gurashi's face, whining when he does not reward her neediness with affection.

Tridemon pauses a bit. "I understand just fine. I have simply run out of -patience- for the tantrums that keep hurting Gurashi. Break. By storm and wave. By right of knowledge. By right of power granted and earned. I call the Maelstrom. Ten." He says, the light in his eyes flaring as dark lightning flashes, bringing along with it the pressure of the waves, boiling and freezing and striking at a single point.

The vines respond frightfully at the sudden assault, unable to hold up to the sudden barrage of aquamantic magic. They twist to try and save themselves, but many shatter to bits, sending shards of glass flying everywhere - including back at you, and Khep, embedding in the ground, in illusory flesh and cloth.

Harmony echoes in your mind as you sing to Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters, "/ *you hear her yell something, see a familiar blur of blue - your spear - she swings it and cries out, bringing it down onto the ground and a mass of translucent glass vines you hadn't before noticed that were creeping up to you, shattering it, ignoring the bits of glass that find their way into her as well* ...mit! /."

The entire mindscape groans, the severed vines crumbling to bits, leaving a gaping wound and bad taste in your mouth.

Where the lightning hit you see a bright flash of green, a weary shade of sea foam, a cluster of familiar vines just barely growing in one of the many cracks. It trembles as it is exposed.

You twitch spasmodically.

You have emoted: Gurashi suddenly twitches again, then gasps, as if he'd been holding breath, or simply been unable to breathe at all.

Bizirik, the leothin sits up abruptly, no longer crushing Gurashi beneath it, tail lashing side to side in concern.

Tridemon turns back toward Khep, blinking slightly- the light draining from his eyes and replaced by the usual mismatched pair, spectacles reappearing as the blackness drains from his robes. "Are you alright?" He asks... both in the mindscape and aloud, before noticing the flash of green and starting to walk to it.

As you look beyond the vines, you realize with some trepidation you are still nowhere near to where you saw the tree from before, and there are ... more walls...  The glass vines nearest to you continue to crumble - no, rot.

You think to yourself: / ..s. *a buzz of affirmation. She seems almost -too- pleased to have finally gotten to do that* /.

You twitch spasmodically.

Bizirik, the leothin sniffs you, trying to decipher just what that smell emanating from you is.

No more than half a dozen, you recognize the vines. The same kind that made up the walls of the first circle. Small, lacking in thorns, akin to new growth  but already partially withered.

Tridemon shakes his head... "Come along. This has gotten out of hand." He says, reaching out a hand and manifesting his staff again as an afterthought, though this time he's mostly using it as a walking aide over the broken ground.

You have emoted: From the ground, Gurashi lets out a short, strangled noise, surprised to find his face covered in blood. He tries to reach up to wipe himself clean, but his arm moves in an unnatural, jerking motion, swinging too far and hitting the ground instead. He huffs, dazed.

You think to yourself: / *she circles the vines curiously, crouches down beside them* ..s th... ..n? /.

You notice among the cluster, a bit of color - blue and violet. A bud.

You twitch spasmodically.

Tridemon leans in to look at the little bud of blue and violet, tilting his head. "... huh. Is that the flower I gave him? .. it's not crystalline, but maybe... he made it his own."

You think to yourself: / *you feel her lift her arm, still partially chained... it pulls, ever-so-lightly, towards the other walls* ...nk he m... it... /.

As you gaze upon the flower, you see and hear something familiar: piano music.

Tridemon looks on the bud, and smiles, softly. "You're right. It's his. I helped, but it's his flower, entirely."

You have emoted: Gurashi tries to move once more, jerking, exhaling sharply, falling still again, staring up at the glass ceiling of the solarium.

You think to yourself: / .... *she stays near the plant for a while, reaches out, touches it* /.

The small green vine initially retracts at the touch... then, stays put. Does not lash out. Piano music continues to drift out from the flower - the tune from earlier. Clumsy attempts at recreating the Wyrdsong. Fun.

Tridemon lets himself withdraw from the mindscape at this point, dissolving into pinpoints of light and glitter.

Uncertainly, Tridemon nudges you with his foot.

You stare blankly into space.

Bizirik, the leothin snuffles softly, having laid back down partially atop Gurashi, head draped across his chest. He lets out a little noise.

You think to yourself: ** --now that you are back, suddenly a flood of thought - what happened what happened why happened what's wrong with my leggies my hands feel funny did my face break oh heck am leaking oh boy oh no my tunic why is it so hot in here wait where is the music-- **.

You have emoted: Gurashi blinks slowly, attention drawn to Tridemon. He tries to lift his head, but nothing happens.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Tiso threw a tantrum about the music."

You have emoted: Gurashi stares, dazed.

You think to yourself: ** why was going O-K? does he not like music what's wrong with... **.

You think to yourself: ** a little wash of fear - cannot move, what's wrong **.

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

Bizirik, the leothin snorts, reluctantly pulling away and sitting up straight, tail slapping the ground.

Bizirik's head begins to droop. It opens its great maw and curls back its lips to allow its forked tongue to unfurl as it yawns before snapping its mouth shut.

You have emoted: Gurashi exhales softly, tries again to move, hands balling into useless fists. He manages to get one arm under him, but the left seems useless. He puffs his cheeks, head thunking against the nearest garden bed.

You think to yourself: ** synapses fire demanding motion, but seem totally fried **.

Tridemon watches you attempt to stand, leaning in and reaching down to help you to your feet, supporting the left side of your body entirely.

You have emoted: Gurashi makes a little noise, clinging best that he can with his right arm, the limbs on his left side still seeming to be coming round. His left foot drags, and he flushes bright pink, bowing his head apologetically as he leans into Tridemon. Suddenly, he notices the blood all over the front of his tunic and flies into a mild panic, puffing his cheeks at the mess.

Bizirik, the leothin stares implacably at you.

You think to yourself: / *you sense her settle in near the bud and the cluster of vines, watching the other glass walls with great caution, spear resting in her lap* /.

A warm, gentle wind brings forth the scents and sounds of fresh moving water.
You think to yourself: ** oh no was a gift heck wait why am bleeding am hurt oh heck **.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says to you, "Come on. Let's get you over to a bed."

You stare blankly at Tridemon.

You have emoted: Gurashi bobs his head in confused agreement, then looks around at the mess he's made, pots still set out and soil untended to. He huffs.

Ocean waves echoing softly behind his voice, Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters says, "You're half-paralyzed. You need to lie down. And there's just one place that's already prepped for a healspring."

You begin to follow Tridemon.

Tridemon opens the oak door to the east.

Tridemon pats you on the head for a moment before moving to help you out the door.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters east to A charming patio overlooking oblivion.

You think to yourself: ** oh but wait was doing something before ... wait, healspring..?**.

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

You have emoted: Gurashi follows after, doing his best to keep up, head bowed.

You follow Tridemon Regalis, Keeper of Pure Waters northwest to A breezy retreat of ocean hues.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks around dazedly, as if he's not quite sure where he is... then, it hits. He lets out a silent gasp.
You have recovered balance on all limbs.

You think to yourself: ** nice clean sheets! bloody face! bloody tunic oh -no- cannot! **.

Tridemon helps you into the bed that you prepared here for him. Given the state of your ability to move, it's unlikely that you have much of a choice in the matter.

You have emoted: Gurashi does his best to fight, but, it is sort of light wrestling with a noodle. He does his best to lift his head away, covering his face with his tunic, wiping at it desperately to keep the sheets clean.

You lie down on a low, wide bed layered with snow-white silken blankets and comfortably stretch out.

You think to yourself: ** washes of apology - still unsure what happened, why happened - did something wrong? poor Tiso **.

Bizirik, the leothin lays its head on the edge of the bed, staring intently at you, blank eyes wide.