Miskton/Logs/20210911 Visions

Event Name: Vision Meeting

Event Instance: Prime

Real Date: 2021-09-11

Game Date of Event: 439-04-33

Point of View: Miskton

You say, "Okay. It looks like we have a good group assembled, and I haven't received any word that someone is on the way, so I think we can get started." Ayrell smiles. Ezerak doffs his top hat. Ayrell curtsies gracefully. You exclaim to Ezerak, "Just in time!" You nod politely. Zynell nods to Nsar. Ezerak grins at you, his dimples flashing into view. You say, "So, thank you all for coming. We've got several vision to discuss this evening. To start, let's see..." You say, "Perhaps I'll go with one of the more dramatic ones, though there are certainly several that are quite eventful." Saragos says, "Evening, everyone." You turn a page in your astronomer's journal. You nod politely to Saragos. Tirost bows to Saragos. Ezerak shakes Saragos's hand. Maxilot nods to Saragos. You say, "I buried my feet in cool, silver sand, and breathed deeply of the ocean air. The night sky blazed above with clear constellations and the three moons traversing the heavens overhead. Waves crashed against the beach, glowing plankton swirled in the surf, and blinking constellations were reflected in the shallows. A shooting star streaked across the sky, catching my attention in advance of several more meteors that flickered between the stars. The arcs of light faded quickly." You say, "Gradually more and more arcs replaced the darkness of the night with light. One of these arcs fell in the distance, striking the waters before a brilliant sphere of fire erupted from the sea. Expanding as it burned, a concussive ring of churning cloud raced toward me, and I stepped backwards in surprise. The vision faded." You say, "I certainly hope that is not a literal vision of the future, though as metaphor it is still rather concerning." Yvela folds her arms across her chest. Angel nods at Maxilot, obviously agreeing with his views. Tirost nods to you. Angel says to you, "A Meteor shower that we have not seen yet. It is pretty though." Mazrian says, "That seems like a vision in which things will either work out or it won't be our problem." You say, "Pretty, up until they start landing. And from what was seen in the sky, that might only be the first one to do so." Mazrian winces. Anuril asks, "Something high, being made low. A change to the order of things?" Maxilot nods to you. Tirost chuckles. Tirost nods at Mazrian, obviously agreeing with his views. Yvela asks, "It foretells a great many walking the starry road, perhaps?" Apollys asks, "A conflict between celestial and elemental forces?" Zynell says to Mazrian, "That is how much goes of late." Angel says, "All three moons. So it could be tied to a season too." Angel says to you, "Recently being Spring, we saw them in close circulation." You ask, "Many people walking the Starry Road... And then someone managing to violently force their way back?" Elizzibiana chuckles. Maxilot ponders. Elizzibiana asks, "The witch?" Angel says, "Could be the raising of a Lich." Mazrian thoughtfully asks, "That should be impossible, but who knows?" Maxilot nods to Angel. Apollys says to Mazrian, "Tell that to the Shrike." Mazrian nods at Apollys, obviously agreeing with his views. You say, "Or the process catching the attention of something else moving around out there." Tirost says to you, "There was another recent vision to that effect, if I recall." Agalea nods politely to you. You say, "The shooting stars could represent some other process that starts out peaceful, then begins to increase in speed and go out of control. Though the idea of the starry road does seem worth considering." Yvela ponders. Agalea nods amiably at Nsar. You ponder. You say to Tirost, "There was a vision involving some stuff happening with the ocean, at least." Nsar gazes at Agalea in bright-eyed gratitude. Angel says, "There have been several visions with stars buring, actually." Maxilot smiles broadly as he grasps your lesson, encouraging you. Mazrian asks, "The metaphor of a person standing on a beach has occurred several times recently, hasn't it?" Agalea says to Mazrian, "It has become almost common." Telamont smiles at Agalea. You say, "The beach between the sea of grass and the ocean, the beach by the ocean that turned solid..." Tirost nods to you. Sliayyl nods to Mazrian. Maxilot says, "There is the assault, which does involve a beach I would assume." Angel nods to Mazrian. Angel says to Maxilot, "This is true." Tirost scratches his storm-grey cat. Maxilot nods to Angel. Tirost flashes a quick grin at Angel. Angel smiles at Tirost. Angel winks at Tirost. Mazrian nods in agreement. Sothios hugs Agalea, who wraps her arms around Sothios with a warm smile. Sothios smiles. You say, "Definitely worth keeping an eye on the physical sky, of course, to try to spot anything like this actually happening as far in advance as possible." Apollys says to Maxilot, "Hopefully for not much longer. I'd be overjoyed if the entire place was removed from the face of Elanthia." Maxilot nods to Apollys. Apollys rubs the back of his neck and looks around. Apollys rubs his neck. You say, "But if it's not related to people dying and walking the starry road, I would lean toward some process that doesn't seem to be a problem at first, but then escalates quickly." Angel nods in agreement. Maxilot nods to you. Anuril strokes his beard in thoughtful contemplation. Mazrian says, "Even a process that is natural, even normal, but simply violent." You nod. Yvela ponders. Mazrian says, "I'd say it sounds a lot more like something entering our context than something leaving." Agalea says, "Everything dies, its that cycle we are all trapped in." Elizzibiana stares intently at a majestic snow white mountain lynx with glowing sapphire eyes for a moment. Zynell grins at Agalea. Agalea praises Zynell. You say to Mazrian, "I suppose it depends to some extent whether the other stars are following the one that came crashing down or not, how to interpret that." Mazrian nods at you, obviously agreeing with your views. Maxilot says, "A leader possibly." Maxilot shrugs. You turn a page in your astronomer's journal. Mazrian says, "Certainly disruptive enough from our point of view." You nod in agreement. Yvela whispers something to Saragos. You say, "The next two visions are a bit less dramatic in scale." Tirost nods to Angel. Angel smiles at Tirost. You say, "In the first..." You say, "A man dressed in sapphire blue linen robes walked on a well traveled path through an open field, waist high grass on either side as far as the eye could see. Suddenly, a trio of bandits rose from the grass snickering as they approached with daggers drawn and a bow drawn. The man stopped and calmly inhaled slowly. One of the bandits stepped forward and reached for the man's bag, but the man exploded into action driving his index finger into the meat of the bandit's shoulder. The bandit grunted in surprise, the dagger clattering to the ground and his arm fell to his side limp. A second bandit charged, and the robed man side stepped and quickly jabbed the bandit twice in the neck. The aggressor fell to the ground, breathing, but otherwise unmoving. Firing an arrow at the robed man, the third bandit's shot went wide. The man smiled at the archer and continued down the path, leaving the bandit to his friends as they slowly regained control of their bodies. The vision faded." Angel whispers something to Tirost. Angel raises her voice in merry laughter. Tirost grins at Angel. Anuril quietly exclaims to Mazrian, "Oh that's mine?!" Mazrian flashes a quick grin at Anuril. You say, "I couldn't specifically recognize the man, and I haven't been able to definitively place those robes." Yvela ponders. You say, "It's certainly an impressive display of martial prowess, however." Maxilot ponders. Maxilot nods to you. Navesi nods politely. Mazrian says, "Rather impressively non-violent violence." Angel says, "Looks a tad like Rossman's to me. It could be a number of handsome mages walking through those reeds." Yvela says, "That specific color and the man's actions bring to mind the Crystal Hand monks." Angel glances at Tirost. Tirost says, "The manner of dealing with the bandits says much about his values." Apollys asks, "Handsome mages? They come in that variety?" Anuril nods to Yvela. Angel nods to Apollys. You nod to Yvela. Angel smiles at Apollys. You say, "No signs of their symbol, but it's quite plausible." Angel winks at Tirost. Angel just nudged Tirost. Tirost glances at Angel. Angel raises her voice in merry laughter. Tirost smiles. You say, "It may be that the man himself will have some important influence on the future, or it might be something about the skills involved." Maxilot nods to you. Angel licks her lips. Apollys says, "A path taken less violently." Mazrian asks, "Perhaps a prominent monk returning to society?" Apollys shrugs. You say, "If he's planning on sharing some teaching, I know I wouldn't mind picking up a few moves like that." You chuckle. Angel gazes thoughtfully at Tirost. Maxilot nods to you. Yvela smiles quickly. Eyst says, "His skill at unarmed combat and leaving his assailants alive reminds me of the Empath and Alfar we've seen in past visions." Tirost chuckles at you! Yvela nods to Eyst. Tirost says to Eyst, "I could certainly see an empath taking that approach." Anuril quietly says, "Well, one of the assailants got stabbed in the neck twice." You say, "The things he was doing to the bandits did look rather painful, even if non-lethal." Angel says to you, "Very controlling movements. Precise." Maxilot nods to Anuril. Apollys says, "Well, I'd rather wake up sore than dead at the roadside, for certain." Maxilot nods to Apollys. Agalea says, "Death isn't that scary." Agalea asks, "Is it?" Agalea raises an eyebrow. Maxilot says, "I guess it depends on who dies." Anuril says, "Oh, my mistake, the neck strikes were not fatal." Maxilot nods to Agalea. Agalea whispers something to Ayrell. Agalea smiles at Ayrell, revealing the dimples in her cheeks. You say, "The next vision... also concerns a robed figure being set upon by assailants, though the process ends up being rather different." You say, "A long hallway stretched before me, giving way to a dozen soldiers marching in formation with weapons drawn and shields raised. The squad guarded a tall robed figure, a golden sash his only adornment. As they progressed down the hallway, a section of wall shimmered and a whip lashed outward, coiling around the leg of one of the rear soldiers, pulling him into the wall. The soldier's screams were quickly cut off. Several more sections of the hallway walls shimmered, and shrouded figures in black lacquered armor stepped into the hallway through illusionary wall panels. A brutal and bloody fight ensued, and the soldiers lost handily." You say, "Holding a blade to the throat of the robed figure, an assassin flatly asked, "Any last words?" The man chuckled, untied his sash, and burst into flame, incinerating the assassins. The vision faded." Mazrian nods to Sliayyl. Ayrell glances at Agalea. Sliayyl nods to Mazrian. Tirost ponders. Maxilot raises an eyebrow. You say, "I've heard of armor not all that different from what the assassins wore before, but not as the particular symbol of a group. They seem to have some degree of Lunar magic, at least, from the illusions that were made." Maxilot strokes his mustache in thoughtful contemplation. Angel says, "Another fine man though. I see a theme here." Ayrell whispers something to Navesi. Agalea whispers something to Ayrell. Angel nods to Elizzibiana. You say, "The robed figure... is probably an Elemental mana user? But the sash did seem to be somehow tied into him bursting into flames, but I'm not sure exactly how." Yvela nods to you. Tirost nods to you. Elizzibiana chuckles at Angel. Angel smiles. You ask, "Was it preventing him from igniting? Or getting in the way of using an ability?" Ayrell nods to Agalea. Yvela says, "A Warrior Mage, perhaps. They are wont to set themselves and others on fire." Tirost says, "It could be the sash was a symbol of his office." Tirost nods at Yvela, obviously agreeing with her views. Tirost smiles slightly. Maxilot says, "It could be a disguise...." Mazrian says, "Setting ourselves on fire is generally not plan A." Maxilot shrugs. Angel smiles at Mazrian. Elizzibiana chuckles. You say, "He did appear to be someone of importance, both due to the escort of guards, and being a target of assassins." Anuril raises an eyebrow in Mazrian's direction. Angel asks Mazrian, "Can you though?" Yvela asks Mazrian, "Isn't there a spell for exactly doing that?" Sliayyl smiles. Yvela grins at Mazrian. Mazrian dryly asks Angel, "Set myself on fire?" Ayrell whispers something to Navesi. Maxilot grins. Mazrian says, "It takes a little doing." Angel asks Mazrian, "I more meant, it is a possiblity for a Warrior Mage to do that?" You say, "I did not have time to see if bursting into flames presented the robed figure with any problems afterwards. He may have been fine." Maxilot nods to you. Yvela nods. Anuril bows to Yvela. Yvela says, "Just so." Mazrian says, "That's not something I know how to do, no." Mazrian shakes his head at Angel. Angel smiles at Mazrian. Angel says to Mazrian, "And Moon Mages can explode ourselves, but not whip off a sash and burst into flames." Tirost says, "Mantle of Flame. It's not like what the robed one used against the assassins, but the robed figure was someone important, and perhaps had unique abilities." Maxilot smiles broadly as he grasps your lesson, encouraging you. Yvela says, "If not literal fire, perhaps it's meant to suggest that the assassins vastly underestimated their target." You ask, "Does the golden sash ring any bells for anyone? Or multiple figures in black lacquered armor?" Maxilot says, "Not I." Anuril shakes his head. Yvela shakes her head. Mazrian says, "The whip reminds me a little of the dragon priest zealots." Ezerak says, "That's a possibility, given recent events." Angel ponders. You ponder. You say, "I couldn't make out many details of the assassins, so that can't be ruled out." Apollys furrows his brow. Maxilot says, "They did have a thing for this place at one time." Agalea says, "Assassins, who would do something like that..." Maxilot says, "Anybody with a black soul." Maxilot nods to Agalea. Agalea ponders. Angel asks, "Zhakrhhn wore black lacquered armor. He was associated with the Standing Stones. I read it in a book on the study of the Stones. Could it be connected?" Tirost gazes thoughtfully at Angel. Anuril raises an eyebrow. Agalea says, "Violence is so uncivilized, it is usually a tool of those who lack the ability to have a conversation and sort out differences." Zynell grins at Agalea. Apollys says, "Not all violence is between two forces who are capable of speaking with one another." You ask Angel, "Perhaps. Did he have any followers who wore similar armor?" Angel says to you, "I honestly do not recall? But, I will go dig into that book again." Agalea says, "Conversation is always possible. What makes it impossible is when a person becomes so consumed with their own importance that they cannot see past their own pride." Angel chuckles to herself. Angel takes a sip of her brandy. You turn a page in your astronomer's journal. Maxilot says, "Violence comes when the talk is unsucessful." Ezerak whispers something to Ayrell. Mazrian dryly asks, "So the horse thief and the farmer should have a conversation and agree to settle on half a horse?" Apollys shakes his head at Maxilot. Angel shakes her head at Mazrian. Ayrell whispers something to Ezerak. Maxilot grins at Mazrian. Ezerak whispers something to Ayrell. Zynell says to Mazrian, "That is poor negotiation." You say, "I have two more visions to discuss this evening, both of which seem like they might tie back to some previous visions. Let's see, which to bring up first..." You turn a page in your astronomer's journal. Ayrell whispers something to Ezerak. Apollys says to Zynell, "It depends on if you're trying to eat half a horse." Ayrell smiles at Ezerak. Apollys flashes a quick grin at Zynell. Ezerak grins at Ayrell, his dimples flashing into view. Mazrian nods to you. Agalea says to Mazrian, "Or maybe we attempt to understand why the theif is acting the way he is. You know, what if she is just attempting to feed her child. The child hasn't had food in days..." Maxilot chuckles. Angel says to Mazrian, "The farmer should drive his index finger into the meat of the theif's shoulder." Maxilot nods to Angel. Angel says, "Thief rather." Zynell says to Apollys, "They do not make good cupcakes, so no." Agalea says, "But no, lets make another Orphan." Zynell grins at Apollys. Agalea says, "It is what everyone has become most skilled at." Maxilot nods to Apollys. You say, "I suppose I'll go with this one first. It's extremely similar to one from some months back." You say, "My prophetic senses chaotically howled with a deafening wrongness, and a massive form of shadow and violation slowly rose in the distance. Within the form I made out countless skittering maws, claws, wings and talons consuming everything and growing larger and larger. They reached for the skies, grasping at the stars and extinguishing them one by one. A shockwave reached me, a fetid wind pushing me back, burning my eyes and forcing me to wretch." You say, "A beacon roared, golden light cascading with clean lines and sharp edges, and it poured forth, evaporating the growing form with its righteous refusal." Mazrian says to Agalea, "Spoken as only someone without an interest in the horse could speak it." You say, "A beacon roared, golden light woven with the roar of pain of a soul burning." Ezerak frowns. You say, "A beacon roared, golden light raining from the skies, rewriting and commanding compliance." You say, "The sense of wrongness passed, and the vision faded." You say, "The previous vision..." You say, "My prophetic senses chaotically howled with a deafening wrongness, and a fetid wind assailed my senses, burning my eyes and causing me to retch. There was violation there, forms that defied the possible, creatures made from madness. Tooth and claw, frost and bile, and eyes and steel, and bramble and wire and they came, rending and tearing and howling, and they came, chaos in their wake, and they ca-." You say, "A beacon roared, golden light cascading with clean lines and sharp edges, and it poured forth, shackling the future with its righteous refusal." Maxilot chuckles at Apollys. You say, "A beacon roared, golden light cascading with the screams of a soul burning." You say, "A beacon roared, golden light cascading from the skies, eradicating and expunging." Mazrian blinks. You say, "The sense of wrongness passed, and the vision faded." Tirost folds his arms across his chest. You say, "Between the two, I have gotten the strong impression of something related to Paladins standing up against something apparently demonic in nature." Maxilot says, "I don't see anything bright and cheery with either." Maxilot nods. Yvela ponders. Angel says, "The previous being eradicating and expunging." Tirost nods to you. Apollys says, "It sounds as if it speaks towards the success of the coming assault on that retched den of necromancy." Mazrian nods to you. Zynell gazes intently into her sanowret crystal, and scintillating sparks of light dance across its surface. Mazrian says, "And doing it successfully, no less." Agalea says to Mazrian, "What of the horse? The horse is just a part of it all, the center of the Parable. For all we know, the horse is just there to be a catalyst." You say, "There have also been a number of visions of figures in golden plate standing up against twisted creatures." Apollys rubs the back of his neck and looks around. Nsar raises an eyebrow in Apollys's direction. Zynell smiles at Sothios. Agalea grins at Nsar, her dimples flashing into view. Agalea says, "It speaks of a conflict." Agalea says, "It does not speak of an outcome." Yvela asks you, "The same kind of imagery - twisted brambles, ice, steel - was used in the visions related to the chained lions, if I recall correctly?" You nod to Yvela. Apollys asks, "Pardon, chained lions?" Mazrian says, "Rewriting and commanding compliance seems fairly definative." Tirost quietly asks Yvela, "Do the wings, claws and skittering maws call anything to mind?" Agalea says, "The vision of the chained lions." Yvela nods to Tirost. Agalea says to you, "It might give some context to that vision." You say, "There were a number of visions some time back of a chained up lion fighting against a number of demonic looking beings, getting more and more injured as the visions progressed and finally being killed by... a lumberjack, I believe? I need to check my notes." Apollys says to you, "It may be useful towards something I have been looking into." You turn a page in your astronomer's journal. Tirost says, "The lion may represent Chadatru, and the devoring entity a great enemy to Chadatru's order." Mazrian nods at Tirost, obviously agreeing with his views. Yvela says to Tirost, "I agree with Miskton that it portends to the demonic. I've witnessed such creatures attempting to claw their way into our plane." Tirost gazes at Yvela. Eyst says, "I wonder at the description of the screams of a soul burning. The beacon is carrying the day but it certainly seems to cost it something." Agalea says, "The devoring entity could be any number of things." Navesi whispers something to Tirost. Maxilot glances at Apollys. Apollys says, "It... it's difficult for me to explain myself. But if I'm right, it may be extraordinarily useful to me." Tirost nods to Navesi. You say, "There were a number of visions of the lion, but I think one of the last was..." You say, "I saw a grove of twelve enormous trees, growing in a semi-circle. Their branches reached high into the sky, the stars themselves twinkling within their embrace, bearing leaves of every color I could fathom. A lumberjack approached, bearing a simple but sharp axe. From behind one of the trees, an ancient and scarred albino lion charged, issuing a deep and resonating growl that caused the very air to vibrate. The lumberjack swung his axe wildly, burying it in the lion's chest, but not before the lion raked its claws across the lumberjack's face, spraying his blood upon the ground." Frulle nods. You say, "Blood dripping from his face, the lumberjack savagely twisted the axe free, and with a grimace, spat on the corpse of the lion. Swearing under his breath, the lumberjacked turned and left the grove. The body of the lion decayed rapidly, and far above, radiant blossoms bloomed over the tree branches." Agalea asks Nsar, "The easy way of it would be to call that entity the Hunger, wouldn't you agree?" Mazrian blinks at you. Angel says to you, "I remember the one you are describing. I don't recall it being the lumberjack though." Nsar says to Agalea, "The Hunger, the Maw, the Glory." Nsar glances at an ichor drenched prayer tapestry embroidered with the image of a slender woman. Apollys shakes his head at Agalea. Frulle casually observes the area. Ezerak wrinkles his nose. Eyst gives a slight nod. You say, "I think there was another vision featuring a lumberjack around the same time, though I can't find it in my notes right at the moment." Agalea says to Nsar, "Entropy. It is the natural way of things." Zynell says, "The blooming blossoms is a bit like Eu, if that had not been mentioned." Elizzibiana takes a sip of her nectar. Mazrian asks, "Twelve trees, not 13?" Agalea grins, revealing her dimples. Apollys asks you, "I would like to speak with you more privately on those visions at a later time, if that is agreeable?" Zynell nods to Agalea. You nod to Apollys. Agalea says to Zynell, "Something that most would miss." Angel dusts herself off. You say to Apollys, "Certainly." Yvela asks Mazrian, "The lion stands apart as a protector of the others, perhaps?" Maxilot nods to Apollys. Mazrian nods to Yvela. You say to Mazrian, "Yes, twelve trees. Though that makes twelve trees and one lion." Mazrian says, "Could be." Saragos says to Yvela, "Might be." Mazrian says, "That doesn't seem to work out well for the lion at all. And yet, one gets the sense it's not a bad outcome." Maxilot nods to Apollys. Tirost nods at Mazrian, obviously agreeing with his views. Mazrian says, "More another iteration of something that happens now and again." Angel gazes at Tirost. Eyst nods. Zynell says, "It being an albino lion would be a bit different than i have seen." You turn a page in your astronomer's journal. Nsar asks, "A Lion hunting should be a warning, no? Isnt it the true power of the pack that the Lioness is the hunter? How bad must things have become that the Lion now stands alone?" Agalea grins, revealing her dimples. Tirost says, "In the context of the previous vision, it seems like too much order - represented by the lion - or a dying, decript order should be culled to bring forth something new." Agalea asks Nsar, "You mean, men, fighting?" Apollys says, "The Lion, I believe, is representative of someone." Agalea says, "What is the world coming too...." Tirost gazes at Apollys. Anuril taps a horn pipe that he is holding. Tirost asks Apollys, "A paladin?" Zynell gazes intently into her sanowret crystal, and scintillating sparks of light dance across its surface. Agalea says, "Let us all get some chairs and watch the men walk about puffing out their chests and doing that thing they do..." Apollys says to Tirost, "The paladin." Maxilot nods to Apollys. Tirost frowns thoughtfully. Navesi fidgets and looks about, not paying attention. Like any well-trained teacher, you resist the impulse to haul off and box her ears. You say, "I should note that the lion vision was seen several years ago, though of course visions from the Web of Fate can come down well in advance of the events they represent." Zynell ponders. Apollys nods to you. You turn a page in your astronomer's journal. Sliayyl smiles broadly as he grasps your lesson, encouraging you. Zynell asks, "Has that one not been marked as occured?" Zynell angles her ears forward, gazing curiously at you. You say, "All of the visions with the lion seem so metaphorical as to be hard to pin to specific events." Tirost takes a sip of his brandy. Saragos nods to you. Agalea says, "It is time for me to return home and sleep." You say, "I have one more vision to discuss this evening." Agalea says, "I wish for you all the best and that the fog of your minds will finally clear and you might see." Sothios smiles at Agalea. Agalea hugs Sothios, who wraps his arms around Agalea with a warm smile. Agalea winks at Zynell. Sothios hugs Agalea, who wraps her arms around Sothios with a warm smile. Mazrian says, "Offer still stands, if you want to pack up and take a vacation for a few months." Angel smiles at you. Navesi raises an eyebrow in Mazrian's direction. Angel slowly empties her lungs. Mazrian says, "Well, I suppose not." Mazrian dusts himself off. Zynell asks you, "Is it possible to make a list of the lion ones for review?" Angel nods to Zynell. Maxilot smiles broadly as he grasps your lesson, encouraging you. Zynell nods. Tirost whispers something to Angel. You say, "It will probably take a little time to make sure they are all accounted for, but it should be possible." Angel nods to Tirost. You say, "Anyway, the remaining vision..." You say, "A jungle stretched before me, lush vegetation drinking the humidity, the thick air rife with the droning song of insects and frogs. A nearby tree was particularly massive, pushing back the surrounding foliage and thrusting its upper branches through the canopy. A dense vine wrapped tightly around the tree's trunk, covering it in broad green leaves and brilliantly colored blossoms. Despite the vine's weight, I was left with the odd impression that the tree was somehow sustained by its companion." You say, "A caterpillar with black and gold stripes crawled across one of the vine's leaves, methodically chewing a wide arc as it went. The caterpillar then flipped itself beneath the leaf, and hardened into a chrysalis whirled with a series of sigils that wound around and burst into errant symbols." You say, "Time passed, and the chrysalis began to shake. From within, clawed appendages began pulling the chrysalis open, and the vision faded." Ezerak says, "Ah, the caterpillar again." Angel whispers something to Tirost. Eyst says, "I should be off. As always, thank you for hosting these." Eyst nods politely to you. You say, "There have been a few ideas tossed around about this one." You nod politely to Eyst. Mazrian thoughtfully says, "Black and gold wre Suulnir's colours." Tirost nods to Angel. You nod to Mazrian. Mazrian says, "Are, I imagine, still." Saragos nods to Mazrian. Navesi nods to Mazrian. You say, "Yes, and it does sound like she is looking into something that could be considered... transformative." Angel asks Mazrian, "But do we consider her a caterpillar about to turn into a butterfly?" Yvela ponders. You say, "Of course, she did not go into a great deal of detail about what they are seeking." Mazrian says, "No, definitely you guys." You say, "However." Mazrian shakes his head. Saragos says, "That's one interpretation." Mazrian says, "No reason to defend someone who wouldn't do the same for you, I'd think." Mazrian rubs the back of his neck and looks around. You say, "I've been informed that the symbols on the chrysalis are similar to ones decorating Sivroch's body. I have not had the, ah, opportunity to observe that myself, however." Ezerak whispers something to Ayrell. Zynell asks, "The last chrysalis was moths, no?" Ezerak whispers something to Ayrell. Sothios smiles. Tirost raises an eyebrow in your direction. Maxilot asks, "What about a new monarch?" Yvela asks, "Suulnir spoke about a "new dawn of magic". Perhaps that's what the sigiled chrysallis is about? Magic changing, or a new kind of magic altogether?" Ayrell nods to Ezerak. Mazrian nods to Maxilot. Mazrian nods to Yvela. Saragos says to Yvela, "She's certainly up to something." Yvela nods to Saragos. Saragos says, "Good or ill." Ayrell whispers something to Ezerak. Ezerak nods at Saragos, obviously agreeing with his views. Yvela says, "Something seemingly.. holy." Apollys asks, "Forgive me, but I'm unfamiliar with Suulnir. Who is that?" Ezerak smiles at Ayrell, revealing the dimples in his cheeks. Angel nods to Yvela. Navesi bitterly says, "I doubt it's good." Maxilot nods to Yvela. Navesi says to Apollys, "The Dragon Priestess we spoke to at our recent journey to the Spire." Saragos says to Navesi, "It rarely is." Mazrian nods to Navesi. Tirost nods to Navesi. Apollys frowns. You say, "I've also been doing some digging in my notes over the last few days, and I found another vision that makes me lean more strongly toward this vision being related to necromancers and Sivroch. Though of course recent events with the Dragon Priests are also quite worth of discussion." Mazrian says, "An Echlesiarch of the Dragon Priests, apparently the spiritual advisor of the Emperor." Navesi says, "The article is out now, though sadly I didn't get a copy of my own yet." Apollys asks, "I see. So pay her words very little mind. Did she die painfully?" Tirost says to you, "Please share it, if you would." Navesi says, "She died. I can't speak to her pain. But she rose again, alas." Mazrian says, "She did die, but it didn't seem to inconvenience her much." You turn a page in your astronomer's journal. Yvela says, "She died with a knife in her back, then rose against by the grace of a golden serpent." You say, "I awoke, covered in sweat, in a humid jungle. I was momentarily overwhelmed by the thickness of the air, the screeching of birds and clicking of insects, but after a moment, my heart steadied and I took stock of my surroundings, noticing the Old Man leaning against a particularly large tree a little ways off. Rising to my feet, I approached him, and saw that he was whittling a branch into the likeness of a man. He looked at me in surprise, quickly sheathing his knife and tucking the carving into a sleeve in one swift motion. After blinking at me a moment, he shrugged and with a sweeping gesture upwards, drew my attention to the canopy above. I looked up, and time slowed, my neck grew stiff, my eyelids heavy, and as my gaze swept up the tree, I found myself falling backwards, everything going dark. I caught the barest glimpse of a thousand people climbing the tree trunk before I fell into a deep sleep, and the vision faded." Apollys says, "It's long past time someone finally wiped that Spire out." Navesi nods to you. Nsar stands up. Angel asks you, "Are you referring to the ones about the twisted, grotesque form and the horrific statue or newer visions than those two?" Mazrian quietly says to Apollys, "I quite agree." Tirost glances at Angel. Angel says to you, "Sorry, I digress. I was speaking of Sivroch still." Angel blushes a bright red color. Angel stands near Tirost. Maxilot says, "Thousands climbing a tree...." Angel asks Tirost, "You were not yet back from the Islands when Sivroch was galavanting around, right?" Maxilot ponders. Maxilot says, "I got nothin..." You say, "In this case, not directly related to Sivroch, but the Old Man featuring in a vision with a very similar tree seems important." Nsar bows deeply, holding the position and quietly shuffling backward until he is a respectful distance away. Maxilot nods to you. Tirost says to Angel, "I have never seen her, though I returned just before the naval battle." Angel gives a slight nod. Saragos says to Apollys, "They've only ever been up to ill before, so you're most likely right. But we need to be sure they're really lying. Otherwise we go from defending Kermoria from threats to just protecting the way things are." Anuril smiles broadly as he grasps your lesson, encouraging you. You say, "This particular vision was also some time back, but the similarity of the setting stood out to me." Tirost whispers something to Angel. Saragos asks you, "Do you have noted how long ago it was?" Angel nods to Tirost. Apollys says to Saragos, "I disagree. It is a safe assumption that they are lying, at all times, always. They do not deserve the benefit of doubt." Mazrian gazes thoughtfully at Saragos. You say, "Just a moment..." You turn a page in your astronomer's journal. Apollys rubs the back of his neck and looks around. Mazrian dryly says to Saragos, "I think he's right on that one." Navesi quietly says to Saragos, "I think I'm with the young man, too." Mazrian says, "I mean, even taking everything she said at face value it's not exactly a comfort." Navesi says, "But we should continue this conversation after." Mazrian nods. Angel whispers something to Tirost. Maxilot says, "That is true." Tirost nods in agreement. Saragos says, "It's not for them we make certain. It's for us. We don't give people a way back from darkness, there won't be anyone turning away from it." Apollys says, "Unless and until their efforts are spent solely at mending the horrific creation of the coward Dzree and her kind, they deserve nothing but death." You say, "Looks like that vision was seen fairly early in the year 430." Maxilot nods to you. Angel dusts herself off. Navesi begins chortling at Angel. Mazrian says to Ayrell, "That is a beautiful lynx, by the way." Mazrian smiles at Ayrell. Saragos says to Apollys, "Most certainly. But we used to think there was no way back from Necromancy. And now there is. Things change, and it's not always bad - just usually." Navesi nods at Mazrian, obviously agreeing with his views. Saragos grins crookedly. Ayrell smiles at Mazrian. Navesi says to Mazrian, "A beautiful creature who knows how to just be herself." Tirost asks Ayrell, "Is that yours?" Ayrell says to Mazrian, "Thank you. Elursoye has been with me for many years." Mazrian smiles. Ayrell nods to Tirost. Angel snaps the top of her writing box into place. Mazrian says to Navesi, "Who is, ironically, not a lynx or any other kind of animal." Navesi waves her hand distractedly. Navesi says, "Semantics." Maxilot grins. You ask, "Anyway, that is what I had to cover this evening. Are there any questions, or anything else people would like to discuss?" Ezerak smiles at Ayrell, revealing the dimples in his cheeks. Navesi says to you, "Thank you and excellent work, as always." Ezerak nods at Navesi, obviously agreeing with her views. Maxilot nods to you. Apollys says to you, "I do apologize for speaking over you about matters unrelated." Apollys nods politely to you. You smile. Elizzibiana says to you, "Thank you for holding these meetings, they are most informative." You ask, "Well, perhaps not completely unrelated?" Tirost nods at Elizzibiana, obviously agreeing with her views. Ezerak says to you, "Yes, thank you for yet another interesting discussion." You say, "Anyway, thank you all for coming and sharing your thoughts." You smile.