Part of the Wyrd

The Aetherplex Chamber.
The spherical chamber is formed from a hollow geode comprised of dozens of precious gemstones. Large jagged formations of rubies, sapphires, diamonds and emeralds line the walls and ceiling. The floor has been cut and polished to a brilliant shine, revealing concentric circles of brilliant colours. Upon close examination of the glassy floor, shimmering reflections briefly glide across its smooth surface of wondrous mansions and abodes. A current of electricity continuously runs throughout this mineral wonder, causing tiny sparks to erratically blossom up and down the crystalline formations. Hidden deep within the environment lies a mystic pathway. Shimmering with aetheric energy, a bright glowing portal floats here in midair. Hackles risen, a fierce timberwolf prowls about here. A screech owl is here, surveying the surroundings. There are 2 great brindle mastiffs here. A giant bat hangs here, wings folded about its body and one beady eye open. A colourful cup cake of paradigms rests here. Standing majestically, a lady-like penguin with a sparkling, opalescent scarf surveys the surroundings. Serenader Andral is here. Eyes gleaming with daring, a Horizon Walker stands here armed and ready to face the vast unknown. He is surrounded by a deflection bubble. You see a sign here instructing you to use the PORTAL command to enter the aetherplex system. There is an aetherways portal here.
You see exits leading north (open door), south, out, and through a bright, glowing portal.

You lean on Sutekh seeking consolation.
You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

Sutekh pats you in a friendly manner.

Sutekh gives a raspberry creme donut to you.

The ghost of a smile passes fleetingly across your lips.

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "Are you okay?"

Very quietly, you say, "No."

Sutekh beckons you to him.
You begin to follow Sutekh.

You follow Contemptible Sutekh to Before the cartouche of the sha.

You have emoted: Cheliyi takes Sutekh's hand.

You follow Contemptible Sutekh in to A comfortable but open room within the pyramid.

Sutekh guides you to the bedding and plaps you down within it, firing the oven for heat.

Muginn ruffles his feathers, stirring up puffs of fog.

Quietly, you say, "I... summoned Mother Night again. On accident."
Her frills twitching with distress, you say, "Someone else was doing the ritual, and I went to watch so the child would not be completely alone, but when Miss Rowena said to 'do it'"

You open your mouth to say something, but speech fails you.
You are dismayed as a glittering black rose turns to dust in your hands.

Quietly, Sutekh gazes at the sky, as though longing to sail into the far reaches of space.

Softly, you say, "I did it. On instinct."
You have emoted: Cheliyi swallows thickly, curling into a ball. "Dad already told me that it's okay because it was an accident, and that the hunger I'm feeling is okay too, I just need to control it, but-".

Voice tiny, you say, "How many more accidents will I have? I do not want to be a liar, even if it is not on purpose."

Eyes going dull in the light of the fire, you say, "I get very hungry. And Mister Dad gave me some blood from his fountain, which helps, but I don't want to be hungry at all."

Quietly, Contemptible Sutekh says, "That is... a powerful instinct to have."

You have emoted: Cheliyi says nothing, squeezing her eyes shut.

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "...I...you... Cheliyi. You can't be..part of the Wyrd and not be hungry, I think. That's like worshipping Gorgulu and not being hungry. Everyone thinks those deep-pacters are mad even by Magnagoran standards.."

The Iron Key to the Infernal Machine clicks and clanks with a cacophony of mechanical noises, a trickle of crimson blood streaming from one of the eye sockets for a moment.

You have emoted: Cheliyi opens her eyes, blinking slowly, almost owlishly. "That's... I..." She pales. "But, Sibling Esei isn't hungry. Or... or Dad wasn't. Or Miss Evette."

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "They weren't *part* of it. Were they? Not like you. Not wyrdenwood. Just people who serve the Wyrd, not the Wyrd itself."

You have emoted: Cheliyi's tail curls around to rest at her feet, her expression torn.

Quietly, you say, "I know... my siblings are hungry, because they are trees. That is how they are. But... but I.."

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "Not all trees are that way."

You have emoted: Cheliyi swallows once more, glancing askance at a bloodstone vial.

Softly, you say, "Maybe... not the same way my siblings are hungry. But they still need nutrients that come from sleeping things, yes."

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "The difference is that generally most plants don't kill their food themselves, I think."

You have emoted: Cheliyi chuckles, the sound brittle and dry. "Have you not felt Feyr's treehugs, no?"

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "I haven't, no. But...I'm trying to get you to understand what I mean and failing, I think. I don't know enough about the communes to... to speak well about it."
Sutekh gives a pained sigh.

You lean on Sutekh seeking consolation.
Quietly, you say, "It's okay. I don't know what to do, so you shouldn't have to know either, yes."

Exhaling softly, you say, "It is my refinement to complete and make myself better."
You have emoted: Cheliyi grabs a fistful of a phantasmal shroud of shadows, gazing into the cushions.

Sutekh exhales slowly, allowing a long fluid breath to creep from his lungs.
With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "...Was Gurashi able to come to your festival?"

You shake your head.
Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, you say, "Dad said that... that I can't do much else to help. And that it is their issue. The festival still hasn't even been officially set by the court, no."

Sutekh exhales slowly, allowing a long fluid breath to creep from his lungs.

You snuggle close to Sutekh and lean comfortably on him.
Quietly, you say, "Sometimes I wonder why I ever entered the portal. Peoples and communes and cities are so complicated, yes."

Also quietly, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "... So do I. Things are less..urgent now. I wish Celest hadn't enemied me. I never wanted to care about surface politics."

You have emoted: Cheliyi takes Sutekh's hand, squeezing it gently. "Still. If I did not enter the portal, I would not have met you, Dad, Mister Dad, Sibling Esei, Glaisne.... so many nice peoples." She sighs quietly, a faint smile lifting her lips. "It is a dilemma, yes. Like a stone and another stone."

Sutekh's mandibles twitch slightly as he voices a brief, curious chirr.
With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says, "I...suppose that's correct.."

You have emoted: Cheliyi closes her eyes, leaning wordlessly against Sutekh's side. Her frills twitch occasionally, slowly relaxing in the silence.

Sutekh pats you in a friendly manner.

You have emoted: Despite the previous panic and stress, Cheliyi's breathing evens out, and she begins to slouch.

You grow still and begin to pray silently for preservation of your soul while you are out of the land.