Losing Her Love (and panicking along the way)

The Bower of Grasping Thorns.
The shadowy outline of a twisted forest casts a dark gloom here. Hand-long thorns pierce a cocoon of ebon silk, forming a bower of thousand-barbed walls. Between great gashes in the silk, a garden grasped in endless twilight is visible, its paths and trellises twisted with black rose vines. Long tapestries of cunningly-worked wool studded with black diamonds glitter in the light of a single wax-papered lantern hung from the centre of the arched ceiling. The air is thick with the scent of rotting petals and loam. Viravain, Lady of the Thorns hovers here, shrouded within an ambiance of unnatural darkness. She wields a wickedly curved scythe with both hands.
There are no obvious exits.

You are transported by the power of the Divine.
Viravain strokes a wickedly curved scythe tenderly.

You blink.
Cautiously, you bow respectfully to Viravain, only to sway dizzily once you stand upright.
With a gentle creak, you say, "G-greetings, Lady Viravain."

Tilting Her head, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "You bow to Me here, but slander Me in My own temple?"


You crease your brow in a frown.
Deadly amusement on Her lips, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "How brazen of you. Is it fear that causes your body to bend before Me?"
Stroking the curve of Her scythe as She speaks, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "Or do you make it a habit of only speaking about people when they are not physically before you? No matter the answer, you may understand now --."
Her emerald eyes burning with wyrden fire, Viravain says, Her voice a breeze through skeletal branches, "I am displeased."

After a long moment, you say, "No. I simply respect You greatly, Lady Viravain. I fear you as well, but that is not why I bow."

You nod slowly, leaves rustling softly.

Lowering Her scythe to caress idly through your branches, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "Your form is an interesting one. What, pray, power in this First World do you think endows your trunk with the form it takes?"

With a gentle creak, you say, "I believe it is both Yours, and the Wyrd, Lady Viravain."

Viravain drifts slowly toward you, the umbral cloak twisting around Her as She glides. "Then you are not addled in mind. Then I must wonder -- is it base pride that allows you to believe you are wiser than I?"
You have emoted: Cheliyi opens her mouth to say something, pauses, and then presses forward. "No. I do not think myself wise at all. I am simply honest with how others actions make me feel. I care deeply for my new friend, who has only been kind. It... upsets me to see them upset."

Moving slowly in a circle around you, Viravain says, barely above a whisper yet still loud like thunder in your mind, "You believe that I am beholden to your perceptions of My actions? That some sort of mortal assumptions of My behaviour are valid?"

You hum softly, your leaves resonating with song.
With a gentle creak, you say, "I... am unsure. I know little of the basin at the moment, and I apologize for assuming otherwise. I do not think I can help my base reactions."

The incredible weight of power presses against you from all sides. Although She displays none of it, you feel the slow roiling anger of the Lady of the Thorns bearing down on you as if it were a gravity all its own.

You have emoted: Cheliyi winces, falling to one knee.

Gently, although the now-black flames of Her eyes are all but gentle, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "I am Viravain. I am the Glomdoring. I am the Wyrd."

You have emoted: Cheliyi struggles to nod, silent.
Your bones protest the weight against them, and slowly, the air seeps from your lungs, pulled outward by the rippling anger that flows through the Bower, emanating from the petite form of the Mistress of Webs.
You have emoted: Choking Cheliyi does not waver, although her body trembles greatly under the strain.
You think to yourself: **red, red, the flames stealing your breath**.
You have emoted: Cheliyi suddenly gasps, and falls down to both knees.

Her voice echoing with an unnatural timbre, each syllable a crescendo of power, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "You do not need to understand My actions, but you will respect them. The weavings of My Web are for Me to know, and whatever you believe about My Guest who dwells within My temple is merely one strand of silk amongst thousands."

Inbetween gasps, you say, "You are. You are what gives my siblings life, and You love the Glomdoring so much. I can not ignore that, as foolishly as I have. I will do as You command, Fair Lady."

Viravain places Her hand on your cheek and leans forward, the black fire in Her eyes stretching across Her face, melting into Her pale skin. "If you do not believe what you say to Me, child, dare not say it." Her nails dig deeply into your skin as a smile stretches across Her features, without touching Her eyes. "Do you understand Me, child? Do you recognise the weight of My words in this moment?"

You have emoted: Cheliyi's pale eyes widen at the sudden flames and she chokes back a cry. She swallows, before something hardens in her gaze. "I recognize that I am in danger. I recognize Your displeasure. I also do not lie. You have given love to my siblings, and they give love to me. I am foolish to have not seen it, and even more foolish to have disrespected you. I cannot ever claim otherwise."
You have emoted: Cheliyi glances away, pained. After a moment, she says much softer, "I am truly sorry."

Lightly, the black flames extending outward, traveling down Her arm to the hand upon your cheek, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "Then remember this, My little one. What you perceive of love is merely a fleeting mortal thought compared to what I feel for My Glomdoring. All who dwell within My Wood remain guarded by that feeling."

(The Shadow Kindred): Gurashi (from the Aetherways) says, "Screams in ooc."

You think to yourself: **red, mixing with deep purple** Siblings, I cannot believe I have acted this way. You all must be -so- angry with me.

--> ooc, gurashi is freaking out
(The Shadow Kindred): Aleyah says, "SKREEM."
(The Shadow Kindred): Gurashi (from the Aetherways) says, "*gets gun*."
(The Shadow Kindred): Gurashi (from the Aetherways) says, "WHERE IS SHE."

Her voice dangerously low, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "Including those who have rightfully earned the lessons I teach them -- lessons that I do not need to explain to you."

(The Shadow Kindred): Aleyah says, "We're sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed...."
(The Shadow Kindred): Gurashi (from the Aetherways) says, "Nooooooo."
(The Shadow Kindred): Gurashi (from the Aetherways) says, "Cheli are you ok ooc."

You have emoted: Cheliyi nods, tears forming in her eyes as she chokes back a sob. "I could not begin to understand You. I am so sorry."

(The Shadow Kindred): You say, "I am. sort of panicking."
(The Shadow Kindred): Gurashi (from the Aetherways) says, "She do that."

As if the weight of power were never there, it recedes, and all is as it was. The petite form of the Lady of the Thorns remains before you, the fires gone from Her eyes and the pale lambency of Her skin restored. She smiles wickedly and then nods.

Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "What will you do to earn back My love for you, child?"
Viravain strokes a wickedly curved scythe tenderly.

You have emoted: Cheliyi stands, wiping away tears. "For as little as my words are worth, I will learn to respect Your teachings, and mediate my behavior. I am... undeserving of your love I think, and I do not wish to insult You by asking for it."

Icily, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "You are correct, child. You do not deserve My love, but I trust that you will find a way to earn it. Yes?"

Gesturing vaguely, Viravain, Lady of the Thorns says, "I will await your reply. When you have thought about how you will redeem yourself, you will pray to Me."

You nod slowly, leaves rustling softly.

Viravain nods once and then turns away. With a flick of Her wrist, you feel the world shift beneath you.