festivals and mur--ahem, investigations 🎊🔍

[beleos]

COMMUNION WITH YIMA

After given some time for recovery and for Yima to hear reports of what transpired at the Tree of Life last month, a Communion message gently flows through the minds of each Shard-Bearer. They will have to choose to accept this message, and once they do, they will be greeted by Yima’s voice resonating pleasantly in their heads. She first apologizes for their harrowing experience with the Dryad, and that she hadn’t anticipated such a violent reaction from the Tree; she believes that their experiences point to an imbalance within the Tree itself, most likely brought about by the soon-to-come arrival of the Oracles.

She has spoken with Cyrus, and they have jointly decided that an investigation into the matter - and potentially the destruction of the Dryad - may be required to purge its influence from the Tree. Yima requests that any who would willingly seek out the Dryad volunteer to do so and will be outfitted with a ward against any tampering to prevent them from falling into the creature’s clutches a second time. It will take her a bit to fashion enough of these wards - but she anticipates being ready toward the end of the month.

She concludes her message with another heartfelt apology for your suffering, that she would not have sent any into such a situation she believed were truly dangerous. That being said, she takes responsibility for your ordeal and asks that if there is anything she can do in recompense, you have but to ask.

Yima will be available for Communion chatter here!

FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE - HIGHSTORM

Takiltu is a month cycle the natives of Kenos regard with some amount of reverence and a hearty helping of excitement: the first part of the month (November) is spent reflecting on and celebrating the differing cultures and worlds each Kenosian represents. The second part of the month (December) is spent celebrating unity and togetherness, to come together with friends and family, to be kind to others and share in one’s wealth - whether that comes in the form of knowledge, monetary gains, or the exchange of gifts and one’s time.

Each city celebrates differently, the flavor of their festivals a reflection of their people.

In Highstorm, the first thirty days of Takiltu are spent in Remembrance. The city is decorated with string lights, paper lanterns, candles, and torches to illuminate the streets in beautiful colors and shimmering magical illusory shapes. The focal point of the festival takes place in The Court, where the reflecting pool has been especially decorated with arrangements of flowers and lights. Festival stands erected around the Courtyard peddle paper lanterns as well as refreshments, fanciful decorative items, and enchanted jewelry that is said to make one’s recollections of the past temporarily clearer.

The pool itself is the main attraction, here; citizens who approach its waters and gaze into its depths will find its normal abilities to reflect memories enhanced. The images are surreal for their clarity, vivid - and normally, one is requested to look into the eyes of those most precious to them whose souls remain lost, to pay homage to their memory and sacrifices, and to wish them rebirth in the new world to come. A purchased lantern is then lit and sent skyward where it floats into the moonlight, joining the others hovering above.

But this year, there is an addition to the usual fanfare. Emet-Selch has been asked to assist with the festival; as long as he is given permission, he can recreate the memory displayed in the reflecting pool. Yima has granted him a temporary blessing which enhances his natural creation abilities - a gift for their people she is grateful for. Your character can choose what it is they see in the water - whether it’s a place, a person, or the feelings of a certain point and time, he will temporarily recreate it around you. Everyone will be able to see this conjuring and interact with it while it is functional. It will last between 15 to 30 minutes before dissolving into beads of light that slowly trickle skyward before disappearing. You’ll be told to light a lantern, send it adrift, and that this will give peace to the part of you and your Shard that surely aches. But does it…?

Elsewhere in Highstorm, the High Theater has been painstakingly decorated and aglow with magical floating motes of light; the interior has been transformed into something of an Art Gallery. The pieces within are dedications to parts of worlds long gone, as well as the people in them; some are beautifully painted landscapes of exquisite, far-away places beyond the imagination. Some are more mundane and familiar snapshots of life in a home world not too different from your own. There are portraits of families, loved ones, and those the Zenites long for most. This is their time to mourn, to grieve, and to appreciate their pasts - the pasts that will lead them to a brighter future, one day. They must move on into the future, but treasuring that which came before is equally important to them.

Should you touch any of the motes of light that are around the art pieces decorating the Gallery, you will find yourself able to feel, hear, see, and taste a piece of the world the piece represents. Some of these are warm gatherings over a dinner table with family; others are heart-wrenching expressions of loss and bitterness and pain. Be cautious which you choose. Oh, and do be careful not to stand too closely with someone else when you touch one, or one accidentally touches you - the experience is absolutely contagious through Communion.

CELEBRATION OF CHERISHMENT - SPRINGSTAR

While Highstorm’s Festival of Remembrance is a more demure and reflective time, Springstar takes a much different approach to the season. In true Meri nature, the Celebration of Cherishment encapsulates celebrating life in all forms - and that means parties! The Psychagogía is the main hub of excitement considering, but festivities can be found in almost every single district of Springstar. Wherever you go, something is happening and someone is trying to rope you into having a good time.

The city has been decorated with bright and colorful multi-purpose magical ivy-like vines that sprouts buds that bloom over the course of the month into gorgeous flowers. These flowers are considered sacred, and their blooming is a momentous time of joy and good fortune. Each flower is left intact; disturbing one is tantamount to a war crime by the natives, so don’t get observed if you try to pluck one!

The Psychagogía is incredibly lively, teeming with people and events; almost every venue is peddling some kind of ‘Cherishment’ celebratory sale or discount. The first portion of the month includes what the locals call “the meri-ment” (and seem quite chuffed about that pun), in which Kenosians are encouraged to go bar hopping and taste the wide variety of specialty ales and liquor unkegged only around this time of year. Participants are highly encouraged to share stories of their worlds and cultures, to tell those they mingle with tales of the worlds they will one day return to and why they’re special, unique - to celebrate their one-day return.

Alongside this comes a great deal of outdoor grilling, fresh meats and vegetables sending tantalizing scents everywhere you go once the evening hours arrive. Some of these food and drinks can cause… interesting… effects if you consume them in excess, especially at the Emotional Damage - so try to show restraint. It would be a bit embarrassing to find yourself strangely infatuated with the first person you lay eyes on after your fifth night out on the town, or feeling compelled to express warm feelings aloud you wouldn’t normally commit to another. Luckily, it only lasts a short period of time - but beware the wicked hangover afterward. Strangely enough, if you’re suffering, you feel oddly compelled to seek out a little TLC from someone else - someone with whom you might have some unresolved feelings toward, positive or negative. Is it longing? Anger? Jealousy? Unspoken affections? Love? Whatever it is, you're more likely to seek them out for some care.

At the Coliseum, nightly brawls between Meris take place and the usual assortment of monsters are temporarily taken out of offer. This part of the festivities is one where each Kenosian is encouraged to settle any differences or misgivings with others and to get it out of their system, cleansing them of bad mojo - “leave it in the ring,” as it were. Despite beating each other bloody at times, most combatants willingly stop before it gets too serious and fighting to the death is not permitted. You must embrace your adversary before you leave, and your ‘bad blood’ will be considered purged and settled so you can start anew.

The Empório district is celebrating consumerism, because of course it is! All the usual goods are on a considerable discount, and for a brief time, gardening tools and supplies are free! The reason for this is that Springstar’s citizens are encouraged to plant one seedling in the gardens in Katoikitikós once the flowers lining the city have gone into full bloom. It is said this honors gods across cultures and time as well as invites good fortune. You are encouraged to plant a seedling in a group or pairing, as space is limited - and there are superstitions regarding this togetherness resulting in more favorable results. Should you plant a seedling with someone else, you might indeed find that something is beginning to blossom between you… Based on your Aspects, you might find yourselves feeling closer and more connected - or repulsed depending on your compatibility. This effect will last through the month after planting. Should you check on the seedling later, its health will be reflected in the state of your relationship. Friends will find the little plant thriving; enemies will find it is sickly and dying.

For those Shard-Bearers who have already harmonized with the Meridian or who have quarters in Heliopolis, you will find the communal meals much more lavish and indulgent than usual. There may even be a taste of home waiting for you among the spreads on offer, or some comfort food you haven’t had in a while. It is encouraged to share anything to your taste - or even to share why it is meaningful to you via Communion. Or you can just eat. You do you, man.

Once the flowers have bloomed and the festivities reach their peak, one might find the city loud and boisterous and sleep a little more difficult to come by. Springstar is absolutely thriving and alive - and you, too, feel more invigorated and energetic despite any lack of zzz’s. Should you leave the city, however, this effect will vanish and you might find yourself unnaturally fatigued and in need of more rest than is customary. Returning to Springstar will slowly build up your stamina again. This effect lasts until the end of the month.

THE MYSTERY OF ALENROUX

Once celebrations are in full-swing in the cities, some characters (i.e., any characters that choose to participate in this prompt) will be contacted by Cyrus or Yima, depending on their faction or whichever they feel a stronger inclination towards if they are currently Unharmonized. Both will explain that there’s something that they’d like you to investigate, but also to prepare and be careful, since this request doesn’t come without danger… A Shard has been lost in Alenroux, and they both hope you’ll be able to retrieve it.

MERIDIAN

“I’ve gotten word that a Zenith Shard-Bearer was sent to Alenroux a little bit before you arrived, and they haven’t come back yet. Normally, none of our business, but based on what some of the farmers have been saying, I think they’ve gotten hit by Discord. If it gets high enough, well… You don’t really have your mind anymore. We can help them through Purification. Even if it’s just for long enough to calm them down, it’s better than them being trapped in madness. It might be easier to dissipate them first, though, then Purify their Shard. They were last seen heading to the Northern forests. Let me know what I can give you to help, and make sure to help each other. Good luck.”

ZENITH

"Please heed my request, though I do not ask this of you lightly... One of the Zenith's children has been lost among the fields of Alenroux come nightfall and I fear the worst has befallen them. There are dangerous elements attracted to the presence of a soul, and the likelihood our brethren has been lost... it is great. Seek out the Shard - and if you are able to retrieve it, please do so. If it has suffered corruption too great to be saved or would place you in too great a danger to take back, then... I trust you to make the merciful choice. I place this in your hands and will give you whatever you require to see it through. Look out for your fellow Zenith and work together, as I do not want to lose more of you. Be well."

Both factions will offer their recruits access to standard weaponry and armor/protective clothing. If a character asks for more, they’ll be given a weapon or a piece of armor with minor magical properties which would normally cost 1 AC token to purchase. Magical weapons are on loan however. If your character takes these and/or chooses to keep it, please note this in your Committed Actions! If they choose to keep standard weaponry, Cyrus/Yima will just be disappointed in your dishonesty. :(

When you arrive during the day cycle, you’ll also find horses and magic hoverboards to use (they go the same speed tbh), because heading North to the forests is a bit of a trek, and you might not make it there in time on foot! As the sun starts to set, you’ll see the people in Alenroux start to leave, going clearly your opposite direction. Once night falls (Nov. 9th OOC), it doesn’t take long for things to change.

There’s just a sliver of a crescent moon in the sky, which makes the rolling hills and forests much more ominous than they were during the day. And as the stories say, it only takes an hour or two before you start to run into strange creatures. Closer to the Cornerstone, there are indeed strange creatures, and while they may not all look scary, they might present different kinds of dangers such as…

• A light in the dark looks like a fairy, but stare at it too long and you’ll find yourself hypnotized by a ghastly fish will lead you to a body of water to drown you.
• An innocuous puddle may form up into a mass of corrosive goo, complete with the bones and items of the last person it came across. When you slice it, it simply creates a copy of itself, so hopefully you realize this before you’re surrounded.
• A strange straw poppet (sans pins, of course) that possesses you once you touch it and will use your body to try and fight anyone else while your consciousness is trapped inside the doll. To be freed, you only have to destroy the doll, but you’ll feel the pain of how its destroyed even if you don’t bear any injuries from it.

However, as you get closer to the Northern forests, they become significantly more fearsome…

• With a roar, a massive, multiheaded beast descends, and each of its mouths is perfectly capable of taking a bite out of you. Watch out for the snake’s head in particular, since its venom will cause you to hallucinate your worst fears.
• As you come face to face with an odd creature, bioluminescence lights up on its skin, and the spins on its back quiver with a sound like a rattlesnake’s. As the spines quiver, you find it exceptionally difficult to take your eyes off them and move as it stalks closer slowly. You can fight blind, right?
• Diving in and out of larger shadows like its water is a slimy beast that’s incredibly fast. Its teeth may be small, but its tail is a razor-sharp whip that could remove a limb if you’re not careful.

These are just examples, however. There are many creatures lurking the wilds of Alenroux, so feel free to create your own monsters with unique effects.

It's a difficult trek North, and you may be tired from hours of running, fighting, or both… But eventually, a few people do find what they were looking for. They might have even missed it, if not for how their Shards suddenly felt like they were burning. From the shadows, a twisted creature of roots and lights which what looks like many crystals in a glowing mass appears and one of its eyes locks on you. It looks like now is your chance.

NOTES

Weather summary for the first 30 days of Takiltu (NOV & DEC):

Highstorm is in late fall, early winter season. Some flurries may occasionally fall and it is getting considerably cold out there! Bundle up!

Springstar is in the throes of early summer; the weather is climate and pleasantly warm for outdoor celebrations (but not sweltering). There are occasional afternoon showers, but they don’t last very long.

Notable city changes:

If you wander the Markets in Highstorm, you might notice some of the peddlers seem a bit wary of you. Hm, guess something happened around here! Probably totally unrelated, but Silco and Vander (or anyone with them) will be treated with nervous suspicion.

Similarly, if you're traveling with Set (or you're Set) in Springstar, you might occasionally find yourself getting strange looks. Ask Set why.

Faction updates:

There are no explicit changes in faction behavior at this time. This will be a staple in all future event write-ups to catalogue the fluidity of the conflict as it progresses, though, so we're including it here for posterity!

Event Notes:

The Reflecting Pool in the Courts of Highstorm can be observed normally with no addtional effects or can bring your memory to vivid life thanks to the help of Emet-Selch (and Yima). If you grant him permission (which can be handwaved), he will breathe life into whichever memory you have chosen to view! If this includes any NPC’s or interactive elements, you will be responsible for playing them out in any tags until they disappear. Please see Emet’s toplevel for any interactions you’d like to thread out with him as a part of this.

For the Gallery in Highstorm, the art depicted in and scenes experienced through the pieces are up to you to create! Feel free to go wild with any associated NPC's in the scene and worldbuild as you see fit. Highstorm holds a variety of citizens from across the multiverse, so you could feasibly go fantastical places, or experience something distinctly profound and beyond your imagination...

The drinks and refreshments in Springstar can be enchanted in just about any way you’d like, including bringing upon minor physical changes of the cute, fun, and flirty variety! Feel free to get creative (as long as you get permission from your thread partner), the Meris would also merrily insist growing extra fluffy, scaly, etc bits during the celebration will only help you party harder! 🥳

As reminders for Alenroux, once night falls, a character is not able to leave until sunrise, which is 24 hours later. If your character is dissipated, you can have a PC retrieve their Shard or the respective Faction they're allied with will send out a search party to find it. Remember to report character deaths!

CODING

Comments

[lachtara]

[ As soon as Sebastian is done with his little imitation, Emet-Selch sets his drink aside and gives a dainty little golf clap in appreciation. That is certainly a delightful - and quite nostalgic - impression! ]

Oh, I wouldn't call it merciful. [ He shrugs and continued with an amused tone. ] All of them perished afterwards. A shame, really.

[cutlery]

[ Ah. Well, consider him surprised, but delightfully so. Just because of the tenor of their conversations so far, he had assumed a level of what Sebastian would call rectitude. It was nothing meant negatively and was more in the realm of casual observation of how Sebastian tended to categorize the people he met… But he certainly would not have guessed that this sort of topic would be spoken of with amusement. ]

…My, my! It does sound it. [ Sebastian’s tone also carries amusement and just a hint of delight. It’s a rare thing indeed to stumble across such understanding, at least in his experience. ] Well, I do understand it. My work tended to send me on more… individual pursuits, shall we say? There are no heroes amongst thieves and sinners, that sort of thing. But when push came to shove, I could hardly call myself merciful.

[lachtara]

[ He sips his wine again, then holds out the glass as if to ask for another helping. It seems that this has moved from a formal conversation to a casual chat between like minds. At least he's having a good time! ]

Come now, you cannot say something like that without elaboration.

[cutlery]

[ With a nod, Sebastian reaches for the bottle and pours another glass for Emet-Selch with the same amount of formal elegance as he explains. ]

Well, it is related to why I find the use of your skills of creation rather admirable. I certainly do not use it on behalf of my people, true, but it is indeed something I generally use for others’ sake.

[ He sets the bottle down next to them since it does indeed seem that they’re pleasantly in the realm of interesting conversation, so he doesn’t expect to leave soon, at least. ]

In short, I granted humanity’s desires, though my work and power came at a high price. If a human had the means and the want to summon me, then I would give them anything they wished. They could become a king, win the heart of an unrequited love, live in luxury for the rest of their days, take revenge upon those who had wronged them… [ He trails off on that last one, but it does come with a slight quirk of his smile ] Things of that nature. Sometimes my master’s wish requires nothing more than clever words, but other times, spilling quite a bit of blood is necessary.

[lachtara]

Summon that which they place their unyielding faith. All in the hopes of bending the laws of nature to their whims.

[ He takes another sip of this new glass of wine.

What a familiar concept. This description sounds similar to the thrall of a Primal. Would the price of such services be comparable? ]

And what "price" would they pay for this arrangement?

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian’s expression cools as he swirls his wine in his glass idly. It’s the expected question, but how people react to the answer is always interesting, especially here. It had once been predictable, but over the years, humans had responded to the price differently. And here, in this situation of multiple worlds… He hasn’t gotten the same one twice. ]

The highest price there is, technically. My work does not come cheaply.

[ He laughs gently and softly as he brings his glass to his lips to take a sip. As he lowers it, his gaze is on Emet-Selch’s with curiosity. ]

Their soul.

[lachtara]

[ Emet-Selch's expression breaks into a faint smile and he lightly snickers at the answer. The price of their soul, is it? His reply brings with it the same touch of amusement. ]

Oh? My condolences for the paltry choice of souls thrust upon you. You know what they say: [ He rolls his wrist through the air. ] Beggers, choosers, and the like.

[ And he sips his wine as if nothing is amiss. ]

And what do you intend on doing with the souls that are pledged to you?

[cutlery]

[ And this is precisely why he’s always so curious when he gives his answer. It’s still unexpected for it to not be met with abject horror, but when it’s also met with amusement, my! Be sill his heart, etc. (Not really, though) ]

Oh, the selection is not so bad, actually. At least in terms of what I am interested in.

[ He gives a little shrug. His expression is still largely controlled and curious, but there’s a touch of amusement in his own as well now. ]

I eat them. Mortal souls are my food. [ Though as he always does when he explains that portion of it, he waves a hand dismissively. ] Infrequently, mind you. I do not need to eat nearly so often as mortals, rather luckily.

[lachtara]

[ He turns considers the arrangement as its explained and his expression turns a little less jovial. As amusing as the situation is at the outset, there are also the implications of it that he finds... unfortunate. As a keeper of souls, he can't help but relent a sincere sigh at it all. ]

Souls are the single most precious thing that they have. They're a gift from the planet itself, and they so willingly trade it away for temporary comforts.

It's a shame, really.

[ He rolls a wrist in the air. ]

Not a shame for you, mind.

[cutlery]

[ The sincerity of the sigh doesn’t go without notice. In truth, that sort of reaction is more what he expected at the outset, but he’s glad to be incorrect. It’s predictable for his diet to be considered rather foul, but it’s always the boring part to focus on. Luckily, Emet-Selch doesn’t. ]

They are not always temporary, to be fair. Some are a bit wiser in what they ask of me. They are more cognizant of the fact that they inherently will have little time to see the fruits of their effort, if at all… But there are the more unwise folk that wish for material comfort and then only realize after that a quickly granted wish is an incredible waste.

[ He shrugs gently after he explains. That’s the more practical portion of it, but the first part is much more interesting to them both, he thinks. ]

It is interesting, though. I do not know if there are many in the human world I would visit that would consider a soul a gift from the planet. [ Not in the portion of the world that he would visit, at least. ] Most would consider it something divinely created. A thing born of light to which my darkness is inherently opposed.

[ A reference comes to him, and with a wry smile, he tilts his glass towards Emet-Selch ]

Pleroma and kenoma, as it were.

[lachtara]

[ He grimaces at that. Evoking the comparison is something he can certainly do without. ]

And so do they perpetuate their eternal war against the dark.

Yet I have seen worlds filled with light. When all the foes were defeated and all the darkness banished it was all that remained. Then - Light began to devour them body and soul. So they would beg for darkness to return and hide in their petty indulgences.

[ Such a tiresome thing.... ]

People are so fickle.

[cutlery]

[ He nods sagely at first with a smile of amusement, but it’s quick to turn to a open curiosity as Emet-Selch continues to explain. ]

My, my! How well-traveled… [ That’s the first thing he focuses on, even though it’s definitely not the most important. He may have technically been a traveler of worlds himself, but only the two. As someone who craves novelty, it therefore makes Emet-Selch’s experiences with multiple worlds impressive to him. But of course, more importantly: ]

That is interesting, though. There is much thought given to what the world is like when filled with darkness, but little to its opposite… Why, I would have simply assumed that was “heaven”, at least in their conception. Clearly not. [ An idea that he does find funny, naturally. ] Though I cannot complain for their fickleness myself, I admit. I find it rather charming, in its way.

[lachtara]

Charming.

[ Oh, he must scoff at that description. "Charming", really! Hear the same things over again, and experience the same mistakes over again, it becomes so much less charming to witness. ]

Someone enjoys the suffering of others, I gather.

[cutlery]

Me? Never.

[ There’s mischievous stress put on that never that makes it clear that yes, absolutely he does. But there is a bit more to it than a touch of sadism (though that’s a part of it). ]

It is something I find fascinating about humanity. It is a bit of what we spoke about in Horos, where they do not learn from their past mistakes… But how could they, when their lives are so short? It is why their wonders are impressive to me. Even with only a few short decades, if that, they can do marvelous things.

[ But. That’s technically a bit off-topic, so with a slightly dismissive wave of his hand, he continues. ]

Regardless… The way they aspire to always have more interests me. There is a professional interest since that is precisely what I sell them, but that sort of fickle dissatisfaction drives them to creativity I do not possess. Would it not interest you to see a creature express something novel?

[lachtara]

Oh, it would certainly be novel.

[ There have been so many times that he's given people the benefit of the doubt. How many times has he tried believing in them, only to have his hopes dashed by their shortcomings? ]

They live short lives, that much is true. They learn and write down their histories only for those who come after to repeat those same mistakes. They opt to tear down their creations and start anew rather than improve. Over and over they would be their own undoing. It's such a tiresome cycle to see repeated.

I wish it were different, I do. But they seem satisfied with languishing in their own suffering.

[cutlery]

Precisely so. I suppose it is simply a cycle I have yet to find tiresome… Or, to immediately undo my being playful about the matter, there is likely a part of my nature that is just drawn to their suffering.

[ He shrugs languidly, admitting now to that sadism as easily as if they were talking about the weather. It makes him laugh slightly as well, because of how odd it is to be able to do so. It’s a bit novel, and in that, he can’t help but find it amusing. ]

But who knows? I may indeed find it less charming if it were the sort of thing I saw mirrored across worlds as you have. Confined to one world and one people, it is a sort of charmingly poetic flaw. Past that, I can easily see how it would become a bore. I did find my own so boring that I am willing to be collared by humanity, after all.

[lachtara]

[ Emet-Selch narrows his eyes just a little. That is a very clinical way to think about it, like he was looking at himself from a purely objective point of view. Self-aware, certainly, but removed all in the same. ]

You think of your people as so uninteresting?

[cutlery]

…Well, largely. I admit, I have been thinking of it more since we spoke in Horos about it. Until you brought it up so, I do not believe I thought of us as a people outside of more than passing fancy. We share our roots in being creatures shunned from the Light and drinking in the dark instead, but otherwise…

[ Sebastian hums out a drawn out, thoughtful note, but his gaze settles on the wine in his glass as he swirls it idly. He has to think about how to explain it, because how do you explain such an absence? But he seems to settle on something, since after taking a drink, he continues. ]

Perhaps it is because we lack things like empathy. We are purely selfishly motivated, so there is no cohesion amongst us beyond doing what is necessary to obtain or guard our pleasures. You can never know another demon since lies, deceit, and treachery are as common as breathing. I have never wanted to, but nor has any other.

[ But even if that might sound depressing, Sebastian just laughs easily as he shrugs. ]

I suppose that makes us a bit interesting, though. It is still something I am considering through a fresher perspective, as if I were looking in.

[lachtara]

[ Again, an evaluation with a purely subjective outlook. Nothing affectionate when referencing these people and nothing positive for that matter.

But he listens with interest, holding his glass of wine at attention. Far be it from him to expect that every long-lived person be noble in their pursuits. He looks off cheerlessly as he makes an observation of his own. ]

You are more like the people you covet than you may realize.

[ Being fulls of lies, deceit, treachery, and guarding their own pleasures and possessions - It is all too much like many he has known in the past.

His gaze flickers to Sebastian. ]

Such an evaluation of you and your people would make one wonder what your reason is for being here.

[cutlery]

[ The first comment gets him to laugh, almost cheerful instead of pensive. It’s just inherently funny to him still to have run into so many people without the trappings and understandings of the religions of “his” humanity. To even have to explain them is, well. It’s amusingly blasphemous from him in particular. ]

Well, there are a great many texts that say that my kind are the root of all evil, the progenitor of all of mankind’s sins, the alluring darkness that causes them to stay from their Creator’s light… [ But it’s all said with a touch of dramatics again, and he waves it off with more of a flourish. ] But I assure you, they possess these qualities without our interference.

[ But, joking aside… He simply shrugs as his demeanor slips cooler again. ]

In part, I suppose it depends on what you mean by “here”. But in Horos or Kenos, I have wondered what the answer to that question may be often. It would have been a better deal for either the Regent or Lady Yima to have summoned me. With a Covenant to bind me, I am my master’s loyal slave. Their will is my own, as pursuing their desires is a mutually beneficial agreement. And yet, they gave me my freedom. It is a curious choice when, indeed, I have no world to covet, no people to miss, no investment really at all in what happens one way or the other. Were I not principled, it could be a ruinous choice.

[ He pauses to finish off his glass, and with the same ease and elegance, pours another as he continues his answer. ]

But I am enjoying my freedom. To move freely, to speak as I wish, to pursue my whims without worry. It is a dreadfully mundane answer when there are worlds at stake, I know, but it is an experience so novel and so impossible where I am from that I never considered it to be something to want in the first place.

[lachtara]

I can assure you, the troubles of the world are a collaborative effort.

[ One could wager that those same texts proclaim the evils of darkness without barring the details of what good it does. As so many do.

His posture relaxes, and he looks on with a sort of quiet consideration.]

What I mean is why are you here, Sebastian? Here in this place, sitting where you sit, gracing me with this gift of wine. By your account, it means you want something from me. Or is one of those very 'whims' you speak of?