"What do you see in him, little one?"

Faint whispers murmur to you from the forest floor below as an overwhelming floral fragrance suddenly washes over you.

You shudder violently as a chill ripples down your spine.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard tilts her head curiously at you.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard sniffs you, trying to decipher just what that smell emanating from you is.

You have emoted: Gurashi inhales deeply, suddenly looking around the clearing.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard nudges you suggestively.

You think to yourself: ...hmm.

A faint voice, barely able to make out, whispers to you, "What do you want to make her hear, little one?"

You have emoted: Gurashi stares blankly towards the ground before him, narrowing his eyes in thought. He clasps his hands together tightly, twiddling his thumbs.

Ghostly voices echo softly, combining into a haunting melody.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says to you, "Is something wrong?"

You think to yourself: For anything that say about the Wyrd to make -sense-. To click with, know? Is already acknowledging that creations with Shadowbeats can be beautifuls.

You have emoted: Gurashi casts a nervous glance aside to Xenthos, forcing a smile. "Have a Guest." He gestures, then bows.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Ah."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "I will stop being quite so loud, then."

The wind whistles eerily through the branches overhead.

A sudden rushing power swirls around the Master Ravenwood, an exhaled breath that tears through the area like a frigid wind. A faint voice whispers, "Do you think she truly see any beauty in the Wyrd?"

You shiver violently.

Xenthos purses his lips pensively, gazing off into the distance as he carefully gathers his thoughts.

You have emoted: Gurashi taps his fingers together, staring off thoughtfully again.

You think to yourself: She wrote -me- a song. And thought my song at Solstice Festival was also beautiful - said so. Has acknowledged these things as Wyrd...!

You think to yourself: It is ... -something-.

Evette reaches over and ruffles Ilistala, an enormous leopard's hair fondly.
A loud rumbling emanates from Ilistala as she rubs against Evette.

You stare blankly into space.

The voice continues, louder, but still faint, "What did she say was beautiful about your music, little one?"

(The Shadow Kindred): Xenthos says, "I can hear the voices now, I'm excited."
(The Shadow Kindred): You say, "Nooo."
(The Shadow Kindred): You say, "Cries."
(The Shadow Kindred): You say, "I'm so embarrassed."
(The Shadow Kindred): Xenthos says, "I think I got them because I was polite and stopped influencing."
(The Shadow Kindred): Esei says, "VOICES?"

"Perhaps your father has some insight...", the voice whispers. "Xenthos. What beauty do you think the Phrase of Serenity sees in Gurashi?"

Evette peers about herself unscrupulously.

(The Shadow Kindred): You say, "Dad."
(The Shadow Kindred): You say, "Dad help."

Esei blinks.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard ponders you thoughtfully, looking you up and down.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard stares implacably at you.

You think to yourself: She felt my emotions and how conveyed them - love for the Glomdoring... that was one of few times could really -feel- what felt through -my- song...

You see the following people here:
Evette, Xenthos, Esei, Gurashi.

You have emoted: Gurashi casts an awkward glance to those gathered ,his shoulders slouching slightly as he looks towards Xenthos, expression unreadable.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Mm. I had a long conversation with one of Hers, Lief, about how mortal-kind attempting to frame the thoughts of the Divine into our own narrow views was an exercise in futility. We do not see the world in the same way."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Perhaps She is speaking simply to plant seeds in his mind. Perhaps She truly does see something. Perhaps it is not what any of us would expect."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "She has proven Herself capable of dissembling many times, after all."

You blink.

You think to yourself: Dissembling...

The mid-morning lights twists and shifts unnaturally, casting grasping shadows that dance about the Master Ravenwood until they finally fall upon the now visible form of Nocht, the Silent.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "I know what I see in Gurashi. I doubt She sees the same. But I am proud to call him my son for what he is capable of, for what he will do."

look nocht
Were it not for the way darkness itself trails after Him, it would not be immediately obvious that He is a radiant immortal. His skin is a cracked and sickly gray colour that looks as if it could crumble away at a touch. Long white hair clings to the sides of His face as it spills down His back. All along His form - from the aristocratic contours of His face to the slender, musician's hands - are seeking vines of vibrant emerald which carry a cascade of orange and crimson snapdragon blooms. The growth reaches up the right side of His face, leaving His eyes untouched - a clear, ethereal blue, each pupil rimmed in a golden starburst which makes His silent, thoughtful gaze appear to pierce to the very soul.
He is wearing:
a faded cloak of once-darkest black
a fractured gem suspended from a thin, metal chain
boots of shifting shadow
a frigid, aphotic crystal ring emblazoned with the script of fae.

Esei bows respectfully to Nocht.

You tilt your head, gaze softening as you frown.

Evette curtseys gracefully before Nocht.

Ghostly voices echo softly, combining into a haunting melody.

You have emoted: Gurashi's expression falls the moment he lays eyes on the Divine, unable to mask his surprise.

Softly, Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Greetings, My dearest Glomdoring..."

Faintly buzzing, you whisper, "Lord Silence..."

You think to yourself: Oh ... Your hair ... Y... the ... flowers...

You think to yourself: What terrible pain ...!

Xenthos bows his head in acknowledgement of the Silent Lord's appearance.

Nocht turns His gaze upon Xenthos, "What do you see in him, little one?" He asks with a gesture towards you.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "I see passion. Drive. I see an individual who, immediately after leaving the Portal, threw himself wholeheartedly into the cause of the Glomdoring against his own former "kin.""

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

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "He learned of his race's past as he fought them, and he grew into the Glomdoring."

You twiddle your thumbs.

You think to yourself: Xenthos...

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "I see a young shard who throws himself time and again into things on the Forest's ends, regardless of what it might cost him."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "What we ask of any other servant of the Glomdoring, we ask of him, and he serves his tah'vrai as do the rest of us."

Nocht turns His gaze upon you now. "Is your father's assessment accurate, little one?" He asks, His voice barely a murmur though each word remains crystal clear. "Do you serve your tah'vrai wholeheartedly?"

You have emoted: Gurashi stares at Xenthos, expression contorting from concerned to something near relief. His attention is quickly drawn back to Nocht, antennae bobbing. "Yes, Mister Lord Silence," He says with a nod. "One-hundred and ten percent."

Nocht considers those words for several moments, as He observes you. He ascends just off the ground, circling the kephera slowly as He speaks to all gathered. "Gurashi has asked Me how he might make the Phrase of Serenity hear - to see the rightness of Our Wyrd. Do any of you have a suggestion?"

Esei chews on their lip, deep in thought.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist looks skeptical and says, "I rather doubt that She would willingly submit to a wyrden cocoon, wherein to experience the Wyrd Herself for a considerable period of time."

Evette purses her lips pensively, gazing off into the distance as she carefully gathers her thoughts.

You have emoted: Gurashi offers nothing, looking to each person as they speak in silence.

Nocht allows His gaze to shift briefly towards Esei, the faintest trace of a smile, or smirk, flickering briefly across His features.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says to you, "I suppose I have a question for you. Let's say that there is a furrikin who is totally, completely, and utterly convinced of his own rightness. He refuses to listen to anything anyone says, and throws tantrums whenever anyone contradicts him. How do you make him see what you want him to see?"

Nocht ceases His circling, landing immediately before you with a heaviness that contrasts with His graceful movements. A heaviness seems to land with Him, an overwhelming gloom choking the already darkened nexus of the Glomdoring.

You have emoted: Gurashi's face falls, unable to break his wide-eyed gaze from Nocht.

After a painfully prolonged silence, Nocht, the Silent whispers, "How badly do you want to make her see?"

Quietly, you say to Nocht, "... very much, Sir..."

You think to yourself: Will all of heart...!

Nocht tilts His head as He stares, unblinking, at you. "What if she says she does not want to see? What if she tries to close her eyes, and send you away?"

Nocht tilts His head as He stares, unblinking, at you. "What if she says she does not want to see? What if she tries to close her eyes, and send you away?"

You have emoted: Gurashi's face contorts, suddenly unsure, leaning back a little bit.

You think to yourself: ... we... make her... open them?

You think to yourself: Have uh, four hands.

You have emoted: Gurashi's right hand twitches slightly.

Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Would you? If she curses you?"

You stare at Nocht, eyes wide.

You think to yourself: ... yes.

Esei's eyes flick over to you.

Nocht, the Silent whispers, "The beauty the Phrase thinks she sees is weakness, little one. Mercy and compassion."

You blink.

Nocht, the Silent whispers, "Do you have mercy, Gurashi of the Glomdoring?"

You have emoted: Gurashi quickly shakes his head.

You think to yourself: Weakness...

You think to yourself: Compassion is not weakness is it? As a whole? As a thing?? That is how peoples work.

Nocht allows His lips to turn upwards in a smile that never quite reaches His eyes, an unnatural expression that sends a chill down your spine. "Then I have no doubt you will make her see..." And then He is gone, lost in the shadows of the Glomdoring's night.

Esei blinks slowly.

You have emoted: Gurashi's antennae droop, and he stares long and hard at the spot where Nocht once stood, even after the Divine has vanished.

Esei lays a hand on your forehead, and your body tingles with a healing warmth.

You have emoted: Gurashi swats Esei's hand away sharply, taken aback by the sudden contact.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard inches bashfully over to you and nuzzles you tenderly.

Esei smiles wryly at you.

Esei tells you, "Why don't you go help her see?"

Esei tilts their head curiously at you.

Midnight shadows coalesce around a new day, and Mother Night embraces the land in utter darkness.
It is now the 5th of Urlachmar, 552 years after the Coming of Estarra.
There are 3 days until the New Moon

You have emoted: Gurashi sways a little on his feet as Ilistala, an enormous leopard brushes her great body against him. He looks down, stiffly resting a hand on the leopard's back.

Esei caresses a phantasmal shroud of shadows gently.

Esei exhales slowly, allowing a long fluid breath to creep from their lungs.

You stare at Esei, eyes wide.

Esei tilts their head curiously at you.

Evette ponders you thoughtfully, looking you up and down.

Esei caresses a phantasmal shroud of shadows gently.

Esei exhales slowly, allowing a long fluid breath to creep from their lungs.

You stare at Esei, eyes wide.

Esei tilts their head curiously at you.

Evette ponders you thoughtfully, looking you up and down.

Suddenly seeming tired, you say, "Hmmmm - think am going to go home."

You pet Ilistala, an enormous leopard ingratiatingly.
A loud rumbling emanates from Ilistala as she rubs against you.

Ilistala, an enormous leopard purrs softly against your side, her large frame rumbling against your carapace.

Esei pets you ingratiatingly.

Evette curtseys gracefully before you.

You nod your head emphatically.

You see the following people here:
Xenthos, Esei, Evette, Gurashi.

You think to yourself: Do not know what that means...

Faintly buzzing, you ask Xenthos, "Uhm ... do need anything before go...?"

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "Hmm."

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "I don't think I do, no. I'm all set with things."

You nod your head at Xenthos.

Spirit Warden Xenthos An'Ryshe, the Ebon Strategist says, "How about you?"

You have emoted: Gurashi quietly shakes his head.

Esei pats you in a friendly manner.