"Do not fail Me."

<-- Standing with Sutekh and Cheliyi talking about troubles and things (resolved after log!), when suddenly...

The scent of honey picks up on the wind as grains of golden sand begin to blow further against the mountain's side, catching against your clothes in the spare and nestling in skin and carapace both.

Cheliyi blinks.

You have emoted: Gurashi immediately perks up.

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

Eyes widening, you say, "Aschwar."

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says, "....eh?"

Cheliyi glances around curiously, eyes wide with excitement. "Yes, the very nicely Mixter Bear."

Sutekh's elytra clack together sharply with a loud, if low, tone.

As if moving with one mind, the sand swirls begins to swirl about you in a vortex which only spins faster and faster as more sand is brought into the mass. Pitch black nothingness fills the space within as it slowly rotates into a large gate, from within which trundles out an enormous tae'dae with a happy smile.

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "I was just. Xypher isn't around to work on the fleshcrafting, so I haven't been able to make progress on that, and -."

You have emoted: Gurashi excitedly begins to flail their arms, stepping away from Sutekh and Cheliyi as they follow the sand with their gaze until the tae'dae emerges.

His compound eyes fixated on Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, Sutekh's mandibles twitch to voice a brief, curious chirr.

Throwing up their arms into the air, you exclaim, "Beloved Aschwar!"

Cheliyi cheers wildly!

You beam broadly at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

LOOK BEST BEAR
Radiant gold and inky black compete for prominence in the thick fur that covers this enormous tae'dae's body, the well-groomed hair shifting like fields of wheat and clouds through the night sky with each movement. Despite their thick limbs and eleven-and-a-half feet of height, an aura of well-being and contentment radiates off of their body, only enhanced by the gentle smile that is nearly always present on their muzzle. Glittering mis-matched eyes, the right brown and the left green, stare with a gentle warmth at the world around them, only inches below a pair of fuzzy ears with several notches missing from them. A brilliant red hieroglyph crackles in the centre of their forehead, flaring occasionally with small tendrils of red lightning. They are nicely dressed in a comfortable pair of deep grey trousers, held up by a burgundy belt of leather, and a three-layered tunic of bright red-violet cloth that fits them nearly perfectly. Light tan, a pair of strap boots are a stark contrast to their fur and have been decorated with little, hand-drawn moths. Shifting colours swirl around them in a small space, creating an aura of delightful serenity for all who pass through it.
Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart has an air of extreme strength.

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart raises a paw in greeting to you, exclaiming just as cheerfully, "Beloved Gurashi!"

Cheliyi pats the side of Sutekh's face from atop his shoulder, saying, "Look, look. They are a -super- strong and nicely tae'dae, yes!"

The golden portal dissipates and the blackness within quickly shatters as the sand falls like tropical snow - dancing to the ground in a gentle decline.

Cheliyi blinks.

Cheliyi blinks.

Cheliyi inhales sharply, and then sneezes so hard that her frills puff out like balloons.

Cheliyi stares blankly into space.

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart tilts their head at Cheliyi, and then at Sutekh, eyes narrowing before widening in recognition. "Oh! You are a bug person, just like friend Gurashi is sometimes."

You have emoted: Gurashi stops just before Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, excitedly clapping their hands together, then throwing their arms out wide. "How are you! How-- OH! You have gotten VERY goodly at that!" They laugh, bouncing. "Yes! This is my friend, Mister Sutekh! And, you know Cheli! Cheliyi!"

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart giggles happily.

Cheliyi nods her head sagely.

Bright and clear, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "Yeah! He is a bug like me! We have -lots- in commons, yes."

With visible excitement, Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart says to you, "I've been practising lots! I can move whole ARMIES of monks through it now, 'cept I don't think they'd ever fight but I swear that's how many of them I sent through last time."

Cheliyi stares blankly into space.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Cheliyi, the Pebble in the Pond says, "That is a -lot- of peoples."

Eagerly, you exclaim to Sutekh, "Look! Is Aschwar! The one was telling you about!" Wheeling around, they suddenly devote their whole attention to the tae'dae, jaw dropping. "Oh WOW, that is a LOT of peoples!"

Boggling, you ask Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "How many is an army? Like, ten? Fifteen?"

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart nods and then looks between Cheliyi and Sutekh, leaning in close to you to confide, "Over ten fives."

With a wheeze, you say, "Oh, that's big maths."

You boggle at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart nods their head sagely.

Cheliyi attempts to count on her hands, and runs out of fingers.

Cheliyi stares blankly into space.

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "I am a kephera, yes. I have heard that you can speak the unspeakable. It is an impressive thing to hear."

You have emoted: Gurashi turns their at tention back to the tae'dae, tilting their head. "What brings you to the mountains! What are up to today?"

Sutekh glances about alertly, his antennae twitching as he scans the immediate area.

"Oh. I uh...do not know what that means," Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart admits plainly to Sutekh before visibly perking and nodding their head, turning towards you and adopting a somewhat official air as they proclaim, "I am here because the Shofets asked me to come and tell you something."

Comprehension flashes across Cheliyi's face.

Cheliyi creases her brow in a frown.

Like a gentle ripple in a crystalline pool, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Cheliyi, the Pebble in the Pond says to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "Ah, should we goes, then? Do not want to intrude."

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart shakes their head and says, "I do not think it is a very bigly secret, because I do not even think I know of how to make sense of it in my head. It is just some words, and I guess it will be meaning stuff to you."

Sutekh glances at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart appraisingly, antennae twitching in his direction as he turns his attention to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

A look of understanding crossing her features, Cheliyi nods her head slowly.

You tilt your head and listen intently to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

Surprised, you ask Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "...the Shofets sent you?"

You think to yourself: * confused * Oh - must be very busy...

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart nods their head and looks towards you, reaching up to tap a claw against their cheek as they say, "Yes. And She asked me to say..."

You look at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart hopefully.

Cheliyi goes still.

Aschwar's eyes begin to glow a brilliant gold as they open their mouth and speak in a voice that does not belong to them, but is instead the alien, echoing voice of a childish female, asking, "Will you give up so easily, My Beloved, or will you continue to carry out My Will?"

You stare at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, eyes wide.

Cheliyi stares blankly at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

Cheliyi frowns at you.

Surprised, you whisper, "...give up?"

Sutekh chitters to himself with speedy movement of his mandibles.

The glow slowly fades from Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart's eyes and they shake their head quickly as though to shake off the echoing remnants of power that might linger there. "Iunno. I asked, and She said I did not need to know."

You have emoted: Gurashi sets their jaw, studying Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart's face, then looking down at their hands, rubbing their right thumb over their left middle finger, gaze tracing over the shadowfire that swirls there.

Quieter, you say, "Huh."

You think to yourself: ... give up? No...

An echoing voice arises abruptly, and a soft caress of silken veils brushes your skin, whispering to you in foreign, lilting syllables, ""I did not send you to the Empyreal to be returned to me, My Beloved. I sent you to convince Her, for She will ever distrust Me and My intentions." A brief image of Aschwar flashes into your eyes, superimposed over your surroundings, and the voice quietly returns, "You know well what is at stake. Will. You. Give. Up?""

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart tilts their head curiously towards you and asks, "Are you having trouble with something, friend Gurashi? 'cause I can try to help you out while I am on breaking from building the Vaults."

(clan): You say, "Did you see -that-."
(clan): Cheliyi says, "See what."
(clan): You say, "MMMMMMMMMMMhmhmhm."

You have emoted: Gurashi stares suddenly at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, though it is clear they are looking beyond the tae'dae, eyes widening. Just once, they firmly shake their head, swallowing. "No. Am fine."

You gaze softens as you smile at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

You think to yourself: * a quiet thrum... have to - will - will -have- to *.

You think to yourself: * a desire - because -want- to ... *.

You think to yourself: * now bigger thoughts, swirling thinkies - oh but -how- *.

Cheliyi watches your expression suspiciously, though she holds her tongue.

Sutekh peers at you unscrupulously.

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart frowns softly, but then gives an encouraging smile to you and steps over to wrap you in an enormous hug that lifts you from the ground and briefly hides you in a sea of fur. "Then you are going to do the goodliest! I am sure!"

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "What are you giving up about?"

You have emoted: Gurashi grunts as they are swept off their feeet, suddenly clinging to the tae'dae and returning the embrace.

Briefly muffled by all the fur, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "Will do best - will!"

(clan): You say, "AAAA."

Pulling back, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "Love you! Thank you for passing on Their message to me, yes."

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart laughs, the sound deep but still far too high for their enormous form, and lowers you once more before stepping back and saying, "I do not have much time, so I thought I would come and see how you are doing. Are your plants growing good? Have you been making friends in your new home? Are you eating lots? Is mister Tridemon treating you nicely?"

In a single breath, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "Yes am taking care of the plants that you guys helped me plant and they are growing nicely! And am making new friends! Lots of thems!"

Bright and clear, you exclaim, "And am eating plenty! I just gave away most of my leftovers but do not worry still have this! And Tridemon is -wonderful- and always is!"

Hurriedly, you give an amethyst geode macaron cookie to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

You think to yourself: * slowly growing washes of warm pastel color - a sense of adoration ... yes - yes, have to do better, do best *.

You think to yourself: * will not give up, no no no *.

Shadowfire flickers within Cheliyi's eyes as the skulls hanging from a shadow-limned wreath of stygian feathers sway of their own accord, like macabre wind chimes without wind.
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.

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart exhales with obvious relief and their shoulders slump, looking down with delight at the cookie in their paws. "Well, I think I am supposed to be going now. But I do mean it! Please just ask if I can be helping you out any. Or if you want to go see mister Binky. I will do my bestest to try and ask the Saint to let me go."

You give Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart a friendly squeeze.

Hand lingering on the tae'dae's arm, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "Yes - of course, of course."

Sutekh's mandibles twitch slightly as he voices a brief, curious chirr.

Rubbing the back of their head, Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart says, "I feel like I am spending all of my time doing workings. I promise we will have a big adventure once I am all done. I wanna find a place where there's a magic spring that can make sick people better. Or maybe a big sword that is lost in the sand."

You have emoted: Gurashi flashes Sutekh a smile, leaving the question unanswered as they look back up at the tae'dae. "Ah? Those sound like really good things to find!"

Bright and clear, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "Am not very goodly at going through the things but, will help if can? Yeah! Of course! And you know if you ever need any helps with YOUR works..."

You flex your muscles in an impressive display of strength.

Cheliyi gazes off into the distance, frills wilting.

Looking a tad tired, Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart beams at you with all the potency of a thousand suns yet, nodding eagerly. Then, they laugh abruptly before plainly saying, "You are not very strong, friend Gurashi. I do not want to ask you to help with things that will break your arms."

Withering, you say, "O-K but if Cheli helps too - she is super strong as a tree..."

You huff, puffing your cheeks.

Your shoulders bunch as you let out a short giggle.

Cheliyi snaps back to the present, offering a weak smile. "I am always happy to help, yes."

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "He is very strong as an elfen. He helped me clear the giant stones away from my manse."

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart nods their head, conceding the point but quickly adding, "Friend-daughter Cheliyi is not Beloveds, though, so she is not allowed to help in workings for our things."

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart offers Cheliyi a small, apologetic smile.

You nod your head sagely.

Quieter, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "O-K ...but."

You nod your head emphatically.

Cheliyi smiles wryly at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

Bright and clear, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "O-K. But still. If can help with -any- things. Am here, yeah."

Softly, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Cheliyi, the Pebble in the Pond says, "I understand, yes."

You look at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart hopefully.

You think to yourself: Will not give up.

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart turns their head towards Sutekh, and then back towards you. "Woweeee..." They laugh and say, "I did not know you could change into so many different things, friend Gurashi. I bet you've got all sorts of bodies that I've never even seen!"

Looking just a tad somber, Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart says, "Well...I would be able to if I wasn't...y'know..."

Quietly, Exemplar of the Tah'vrai, Cheliyi, the Pebble in the Pond says, "A moment, yes."

Cheliyi's eyes droop, and she murmurs softly to herself, then smiles triumphantly. Soft, numinous energy swirls around her form.

The low hanging mist dissolves as Muginn, the ghost-feathered crow glides off to the ether with a click of his beak.

You have emoted: Gurashi's jaw tightens slightly, and they bunch their shoulders, shrugging apologetically. "Uhm. Have some new ones, yes. But!" More hopefully, they add. "Soon."

Insistent, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "Very soonly."

You think to yourself: Will be better.

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart smiles softly at you.

You think to yourself: Will help you be all better again * a ripple of gold and black *.

Crimson lightning flashes above Glomdoring Forest, fingers of red death raining down upon the dark forest. <-- Cheli accidentally slayin' bebe in Glom

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart says, "Okay, well. You be very goodly, friend Gurashi. I am going to go and try to sneak in a nap before it is time for training. The Shofets says today She is going to use a VERY big hammer."

You stare blankly at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

You nod your head sagely at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

The thunderous beating of drums from Glomdoring can be heard throughout the land. The night thrums with power and grows darker.

Gently, you say to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart, "You too, yes. You stay goodly, and kind, and have a good rest."

You glance askance.

A look of understanding crossing his features, Sutekh nods his head slowly.

You have emoted: Gurashi abruptly looks towards the south, lip twitching before returning their attention to Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

You gaze softens as you smile at Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart.

Aschwar, the Ebongold Heart pulls out a scarlet scabbard wreathed in living poppies and waves it about energetically, saying, "Don't worry! I will do very goodly, because the hammer is no match for a good swordsing!" Nodding at their own wisdom, they turn and look away before deciding on a spot just further up the mountain. "Oh, the Veil is..." Not even bothering to finish the statement for your regard, they wander off towards some point that you cannot see.

The world seems a little less pleasant as an enormous tae'dae with black and gold fur departs to the up.

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says, "Shango would be keen to object about the sword being mightier than the hammer, keheheh."

You have emoted: Gurashi watches the tae'dae wander off, wide-eyed as their hands find one another, folding tightly over their heart.

You have emoted: Gurashi smiles weakly.

For a brief moment, you feel the presence of the Urchin at your side, head just below your elbow. "You know what is at stake. Assist Me, in proving Myself, that their suffering might come to an end." She turns, and begins to walk away before you can fully acknowledge Her presence. "Do not fail Me."

You have emoted: Gurashi's eyes widen, and they look down to their side as if expecting someone to be there.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks off behind them, frowning slightly. "Will not. Promise," They say to nobody, voice echoing briefly.

Crickets sing their songs to you from the roadside.

You have emoted: Gurashi stands quietly in their spot for a time, not seeming to register Sutekh's presence immediately, calculating, concerned.

Sutekh gives you the once-over, eyeing you suspiciously.

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh says to you, "Can I...help?"

Still staring off, you say to Sutekh, "...peoples are capable of change. And, peoples came from sharded Divines. So," Slowly, they look at the kephera. "Divine can change, too... intentions, opinions... right? Would think."

Ramblingly looking at their feet, you say, "She has to see. Oh, how can show Her..."

With a deep reverb, Contemptible Sutekh murmurs, "I am... not certain. Of course they can, or there wouldn't have been such a war.."

You nod your head emphatically.

<-- and then OTHER non-order related things happened :O ! Another log! Another time!!