Nawain/Logs/20240911

Full Log: A Place to Grieve

Nawain's perspective:

You somberly say, Thank you all for coming. Today we gather in solemn remembrance, standing in the shadow of a tragedy too great for words.

You earnestly say, May this shrine stand not only for the thousands of villagers, clansmen, merchants, and children who vanished in the wake of merciless attacks by malevolent forces, but for the uncounted souls whose lives were lost far beyond the reach of our sight, across the prov- no, the world, for all we know.

You mournfully say, We remember the missing, their love and faith, the quiet and simple lives they led, which were torn away without mercy.

You prayerfully say, Let us ask the Gods to protect our loved ones, wherever they may be. We are hollow effigies of ourselves as we await news of their fate and pray for their safe return.

Time slows and the air takes on a golden light.  Everything goes silent.

A butterfly serenly floats across the area, landing on your arm.  It flutters shimmering wings that leave dusky trails of sparkling golden light, and you feel yourself become disoriented!

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, firmly stating "You belong to Me."

Everything shifts...

You feel yourself being pulled away...

[Lyba Dael, Beginning]
A wide plain stretches before you, gentle breezes stirring tall grass which ripples between inky ebony black and nearly blindingly pearl white.  Flickers of memory crackle nearby, familiar scenes of the past briefly flowing and repeating.  Above, foreign constellations spiral and blink within the unnatural firmament.  To the north you can make out a massive tree.
Obvious exits: north.

You blink.

You peer north and see ...
[Lyba Dael, Precipice]
The terrain ends suddenly, a jagged demarcation beyond which lies nothing but inky darkness.  The wind feels colder here as it courses outward from the void.  A massive tree rises from the land, its roots extending outward beyond the cliff.  Swirling energies billow all around, diffusing into the land and over the cliff, the oddly glowing mist flowing with the wind.
Obvious exits: south.

You stand back up.

You gulp.
 
A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, demanding you to continue.

You lope north.

[Lyba Dael, Precipice]
The terrain ends suddenly, a jagged demarcation beyond which lies nothing but inky darkness.  The wind feels colder here as it courses outward from the void.  A massive tree rises from the land, its roots extending outward beyond the cliff.  Swirling energies billow all around, diffusing into the land and over the cliff, the oddly glowing mist flowing with the wind.
Obvious exits: south.

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "You mocked Us. You dared to call yourself Our equal."

You blanch.

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying You dabble in grotesqueries.  Your devotion to Us wavers in the name of your personal pursuits.

You stutteringly say, "N-no! I'm s-sorry! What d-did I - What can I - No! I d-didn't mean."

You whimper.

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "Remember your place.  Remember how We have watched over you, protected you and lent you Our grace."

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "We are all, We are the true guardians, We are the true protectors, We nurture and We alone..."

The voice echoes, a slight sob, withdrawing.  The tree begins to wither.

You say, "Yes, I... Mother, I'm sorry..."

You sob.

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "We alone care for you, for all of you.  Those within the Heralds grasp are still within Our grace."

Several butterflies flutter float along a warm breeze.  New leaves unfurl in the trees canopy, and it stretches strong branches to the sky.

(Nawain gazes in rapt attention and mute fear.)

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying, "Yet...  You fight for Us, and strike a blow against those which do Us harm, which do Us all harm.  You have purpose, and despite your audacity, we recognize your intent."

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying, "We recognize your desire.  Speak it now."

You say, "I am Yours... I... I will always be Yours. I will fight for you with all that I am, to make it right. I have much to learn, and far to go, before I can stand proudly in your Grace once more. But I will stand there again, some day. Small steps. Many, many small steps."

You say, "I am made for hard things. Imperfect tool though I am. And if I am never worthy of being Your imperfect tool again, let me be tempered until I am worthy of being Your imperfect weapon."

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying, "We concur.  And we are moved."

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "Nawain, a threat looms, and whether or not you intended, you struck a heavy blow against those that wish Us harm."

You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.

You give a slight nod.

A butterfly lands on your shoulder, and flutters gently against your cheek.  It vanishes in a golden haze.

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "They cannot abide the change.  They only know that which was, the purity that stands separate.  Growth requires the new.  Survival requires We adapt."

(Nawain closes her eyes and savors the touch, focused though she is on the message.)

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "Nawain, you must guide them.  You must show them what you are capable of, what you are all capable of.  You can make such wonders, craft marvels, shape what is to come in Our image."

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "We set before you a task.  Will you accept?"

(Nawain gazes up at the tree, her eyes full of tears. She nods, fist clenched. "I am Yours. I accept. Whatever you need me to be, I am, for You made me to so.")

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "In recognition of what is needed, We instruct you to go forth and teach them.  Teach them all.  They must adapt, they must embrace the blending of mana, and then and only then can We strike at our enemy.  Do you understand?"

You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.

A shiver runs up your spine.

You nod.

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "We name thee Our Repentant.  Breathe deep, remember well, and know that You are Ours, and We are Yous."

You take in a great breath of air.

You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.

(Nawain bows deeply to the tree, full of glorious purpose.)

(Nawain gazes at the tree, searing the moment in her memory.)

A lilting feminine voice echoes all around you, saying "Go forth, and guide them.  We are watching, and We will aid when the time is right.  You are Our sword, you are all Ours, and We will triumph."

A golden butterfly lands on your shoulder, and everything changes...

You feel yourself being pulled away...

A wild garden grows here with hawthorn and blackberry bushes that are plaited together by twisting vines of rambler roses.  Pale pink rose petals are strewn across the well-tended grass.  A stone urn filled with flowers sits on a pedestal in front of a wooden garden pavilion.
You also see a white dog that is sitting, a pink-checked cotton cloth with several things on it, a fluffy snow-white kitten wearing a sapphire uzil odaj and a marblesilk collar, a pile of blue irises and a pool filled with swirling water at the base of the waterfall.
Also here: Courtier Aerhys, Khozh Elizzibiana who is shadowed by the spectral image of a grey-eyed viper formed of fire and smoke, Mathematician Avrenka who is kneeling, Daerlynn, Sir Madigan, Fury's Touch Rejind, Tempest Knight Saragos who is kneeling, Dancer Vixonia who is trailed by softly glowing silvery-blue musical notes, Cateress Allye who is kneeling, Knight of Meraud Tirost who has a stony visage, Knight Errant Trajan, Heart Tender Kethrai who is kneeling, Danger Wizard Dasheek who has a stony visage, Strawberry Nurse Illiya, Trader Klausette who is surrounded by a colorful cloud of glitter, Firehawk Casari, Khhsath, Sublime Mender Kerennya who is kneeling, Vaerek who is kneeling, Sclerotia, Sofina who is covered with whitened ridges, Life Weaver Ysilda, Holy Vengeance Imroth, Ruea, Mageling Aerilia who is kneeling, Dawnsworn Briaen who is surrounded by a corona of fiery light, Novus Nevali who is surrounded by a purple cloud of glitter, Mythologian Aseanaecona, Sister Severei who is kneeling, Blessed of Katamba Laureh, Doctor of Kittens Sukidesu who is kneeling, Lady Knight Elurora whose figure is gracefully highlighted in a soft aurora of silvery-violet light, Enelne's Daughter Azume who is kneeling, Shadow's Touch Melindrha who is surrounded by multicolored cloud of glitter, Reverend Gragnel, Lord Knight Hebion and Desert Dancer Zersha.
Obvious paths: none.
Room Number: 11128
Room Exits: go pool, go garden pavilion