Jaz's question seemed to elicit a flurry of response in her companion, their tattoos glowing blue before shifting red and settling into a gorgeous, swirling orange. The urge to touch her guest flared again. They almost looked... shy, and Jaz thought she caught a blush on their face.
“That’s a very good question…” Elk said. “I don’t know how long it’s been since somebody asked.” The tattoos began fading back to a pale blue, but their face aged slightly for a brief moment before they settled again.
Elk sighed. “It’s kind of you to ask, I have not enjoyed that particular luxury. At least, not within memory.” They gestured toward their head, and Jaz laughed good-naturedly.
Carefully, Jaz said, "Theoretically speaking, would you enjoy touch on your markings? Would that be welcome?"
--
((OOC: Sage is going to wait to post. We are figuring that her conversation with Toffee/Tigre took longer than the conversation so far with Elk/Jaz.))
--
After watching Sage come back to standing and head out toward her guests, Tigre took a deep breath. He hadn't known that Toffee had had experience with the fae or these new oaths before. But he could understand Sage's discomfort. Forcing someone into service was among the greatest crimes in the tell, requiring profound apology. And he had even greater sympathy for Sage's inability to control her translocation. Though Tigre had been working toward such a feat for a while now, he had not done it, though he had read many texts about elders who mastered the technique.
He was curious about how Jaz would respond to Sage's invitation into their order and the conversation that would follow. He had spoken to Sage on several occasions about the matter, thinking Jaz would be a good fit, and Tigre had agreed with her.
Tigre adjusted his own deep blue linen robe, looked at Toffee, and said playfully, "The excitement never ceases."
Part 1
Re: Part 1
Jaz was kind to laugh at a joke that wasn’t quite a joke after Elk gestured to their head, making a comment about their memory. Older than sin and memory, they hadn’t quite figured out how to flirt, and this left them with some tinges of orange warmth behind the ears.
"Theoretically speaking, would you enjoy touch on your markings? Would that be welcome?" Jaz asked, a bit slyly.
Elk regarded her for a moment, and then responded “I am particular about who touches me”, pausing for a moment, unsteady. “With you, it only seems fair to allow it. After all, I did take you with me on a kind of magick teleportation ride earlier.
… yes, I believe it would be welcome.”
—
((ooc: ok, seems perfectly reasonable to let these pace themselves together and reconnect.))
—
Toffee looked to Tigre, who looked to be in deeper thought than she. He took a deep breath, and seemed to be processing the various details of the day.
As he straightened his blue linen robe, Toffee heard him say, to no one in particular, "The excitement never ceases."
“No, it surely does not.” Toffee responds. “I had wondered when this day would come again. I was barely a cub then - that was many, many moons ago.
Have I ever I told you that story, Tigre? I would suppose not - it’s not a story that many of us like to retell….” She trails off, uncertain of where to begin.
"Theoretically speaking, would you enjoy touch on your markings? Would that be welcome?" Jaz asked, a bit slyly.
Elk regarded her for a moment, and then responded “I am particular about who touches me”, pausing for a moment, unsteady. “With you, it only seems fair to allow it. After all, I did take you with me on a kind of magick teleportation ride earlier.
… yes, I believe it would be welcome.”
—
((ooc: ok, seems perfectly reasonable to let these pace themselves together and reconnect.))
—
Toffee looked to Tigre, who looked to be in deeper thought than she. He took a deep breath, and seemed to be processing the various details of the day.
As he straightened his blue linen robe, Toffee heard him say, to no one in particular, "The excitement never ceases."
“No, it surely does not.” Toffee responds. “I had wondered when this day would come again. I was barely a cub then - that was many, many moons ago.
Have I ever I told you that story, Tigre? I would suppose not - it’s not a story that many of us like to retell….” She trails off, uncertain of where to begin.
Re: Part 1
Elk gave her a look. Something between confusion and disbelief. “I am particular about who touches me,” Elk said unevenly.
Rebuffed, Jaz thought, no problem. But then...
“With you, it only seems fair to allow it. After all, I did take you with me on a kind of magick teleportation ride earlier…"
Jaz felt a strange tingle in her back, making her pull her shoulders back a little to adjust.
"Yes, I believe it would be welcome.”
Jaz tilted her head, curious. Could she trust his yes, then? Or would he just be doing her a favor?
Or were they... just trying to flirt, maybe?
"You don't owe me anything," Jaz said seriously, her eyes widening, jaw forward. She then grinned and winked at them, turning afterward to look over her shoulder at where Sage had gone off to.
--
Looking up imploringly at Toffee, Sage felt defeated, shoulders low.
“Sweet girl, it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s not every day that one meets a child of the elder blood. That’s not a common honor, and these creatures, they work differently than you and I.” Toffee sighed and smiled. “It’s been many winters since I last met one--they are strange beasts, but gentle in their way. If you called so sincerely to them that they appeared before you, that’s an act of love and devotion mirroring your own commitment to our creeds.”
Sage blew out a breath, grateful and stunned by the compliment. And thoroughly curious about how Toffee knew about such a thing. Sage's eyes widened, and she allowed her to take in some of the perspective Toffee had offered her of herself. Act of love and devotion, Sage thought happily.
Gesturing to the door, Toffee gently said, “yes, please do as Tigre suggests and get yourself something to eat, sweet child. I’d like to speak with Tigre first, and then we will join you. Be along shortly.” Sage nodded, turning to walk back out toward Jaz and Elk, new perspective and curiosity in tow.
--
"The excitement never ceases."
“No, it surely does not,” Toffee said. “I had wondered when this day would come again. I was barely a cub then--that was many, many moons ago." Tigre's eyes widened. He knew that Toffee's history went back much further than his. He respected Toffee greatly, and he found her to be a person of exceedingly authentic generosity. He hoped she found him helpful, diligent, and knowledgeable in return.
"Have I ever I told you that story, Tigre? I would suppose not--it’s not a story that many of us like to retell…” She trails off, uncertain of where to begin. Now she really had his attention. It was an honor to witness a new story.
He shook his head, no, but also tracked Sage's progress out to the terrace. She had rejoined her guests. Tigre worried Toffee wouldn't have time to do the story justice.
But Toffee had already gotten that faraway look in her eye.
((OOC: Cue flashback??? We could start a new thread for it? New characters, too? Lol, just an option.))
Rebuffed, Jaz thought, no problem. But then...
“With you, it only seems fair to allow it. After all, I did take you with me on a kind of magick teleportation ride earlier…"
Jaz felt a strange tingle in her back, making her pull her shoulders back a little to adjust.
"Yes, I believe it would be welcome.”
Jaz tilted her head, curious. Could she trust his yes, then? Or would he just be doing her a favor?
Or were they... just trying to flirt, maybe?
"You don't owe me anything," Jaz said seriously, her eyes widening, jaw forward. She then grinned and winked at them, turning afterward to look over her shoulder at where Sage had gone off to.
--
Looking up imploringly at Toffee, Sage felt defeated, shoulders low.
“Sweet girl, it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s not every day that one meets a child of the elder blood. That’s not a common honor, and these creatures, they work differently than you and I.” Toffee sighed and smiled. “It’s been many winters since I last met one--they are strange beasts, but gentle in their way. If you called so sincerely to them that they appeared before you, that’s an act of love and devotion mirroring your own commitment to our creeds.”
Sage blew out a breath, grateful and stunned by the compliment. And thoroughly curious about how Toffee knew about such a thing. Sage's eyes widened, and she allowed her to take in some of the perspective Toffee had offered her of herself. Act of love and devotion, Sage thought happily.
Gesturing to the door, Toffee gently said, “yes, please do as Tigre suggests and get yourself something to eat, sweet child. I’d like to speak with Tigre first, and then we will join you. Be along shortly.” Sage nodded, turning to walk back out toward Jaz and Elk, new perspective and curiosity in tow.
--
"The excitement never ceases."
“No, it surely does not,” Toffee said. “I had wondered when this day would come again. I was barely a cub then--that was many, many moons ago." Tigre's eyes widened. He knew that Toffee's history went back much further than his. He respected Toffee greatly, and he found her to be a person of exceedingly authentic generosity. He hoped she found him helpful, diligent, and knowledgeable in return.
"Have I ever I told you that story, Tigre? I would suppose not--it’s not a story that many of us like to retell…” She trails off, uncertain of where to begin. Now she really had his attention. It was an honor to witness a new story.
He shook his head, no, but also tracked Sage's progress out to the terrace. She had rejoined her guests. Tigre worried Toffee wouldn't have time to do the story justice.
But Toffee had already gotten that faraway look in her eye.
((OOC: Cue flashback??? We could start a new thread for it? New characters, too? Lol, just an option.))
Re: Part 1
Jaz tilted her head as she looked at them, almost as though trying to determine Elk’s intent. Elk looked back at her with a welcoming look, unsure what the next step to this banter was. Shortly thereafter, she spoke: You don't owe me anything,", before grinning, winking, and looking over her shoulder to see where Sage has gone off to.
Elk closed their eyes, drawing themselves inwards. Realizing that Sage would very likely be back soon, they felt a need to put themselves together.
Jaz had plucked at a tender spot in them, and while they weren’t displeased, this creature was uncertain. Both of how to proceed, culturally, and socially. They welcomed touch, and yet were unsure how to invite it. These people seemed to do this with their words, when Elk had only ever known touch as a thing people just did, where they were moved by what moved them.
People were always so shocked by what they saw that they would reach out in touch without asking. This was the way of things, was it not?
—
Sage, having spoken with Toffee and heard her words, blew out a light breath. Toffee had the impression that her words landed with Sage and helped her feel more calm, at least, that’s what she’d hoped. Her own memories of spirits like the one she described was a difficult, tender thing.
Toffee watched as Sage departed to join her guests.
—
Looking at Tigre, Toffee had asked him if he had ever heard the story of her time with the Fae. He shook his head & she recentered herself in the moment.
“This is likely a story I should tell in front of our guests - before I do, whether or not you wish to join us, I feel you should know that the last time I saw a creature of this kind, they were sent to us a time of great need.
Many were dying, the land was corrupted, and the very essence of the ether we weave was coming apart. If we are in another such scenario, we desperately need their help & I only hope that we can act in time.” She said somberly, sadness in her eyes.
Toffee looked at Tigre, studying his face for a moment before speaking. “Shall we join them?”, she asked, gesturing towards where Sage had gone.
((OOC: I’m thinking I want to tell the story in front of our guest. This feels like a useful way to bring everyone up to speed while also giving Elk a chance for their character to learn/to remember.))
Elk closed their eyes, drawing themselves inwards. Realizing that Sage would very likely be back soon, they felt a need to put themselves together.
Jaz had plucked at a tender spot in them, and while they weren’t displeased, this creature was uncertain. Both of how to proceed, culturally, and socially. They welcomed touch, and yet were unsure how to invite it. These people seemed to do this with their words, when Elk had only ever known touch as a thing people just did, where they were moved by what moved them.
People were always so shocked by what they saw that they would reach out in touch without asking. This was the way of things, was it not?
—
Sage, having spoken with Toffee and heard her words, blew out a light breath. Toffee had the impression that her words landed with Sage and helped her feel more calm, at least, that’s what she’d hoped. Her own memories of spirits like the one she described was a difficult, tender thing.
Toffee watched as Sage departed to join her guests.
—
Looking at Tigre, Toffee had asked him if he had ever heard the story of her time with the Fae. He shook his head & she recentered herself in the moment.
“This is likely a story I should tell in front of our guests - before I do, whether or not you wish to join us, I feel you should know that the last time I saw a creature of this kind, they were sent to us a time of great need.
Many were dying, the land was corrupted, and the very essence of the ether we weave was coming apart. If we are in another such scenario, we desperately need their help & I only hope that we can act in time.” She said somberly, sadness in her eyes.
Toffee looked at Tigre, studying his face for a moment before speaking. “Shall we join them?”, she asked, gesturing towards where Sage had gone.
((OOC: I’m thinking I want to tell the story in front of our guest. This feels like a useful way to bring everyone up to speed while also giving Elk a chance for their character to learn/to remember.))
Re: Part 1
Sage walked back out onto the terrace, pausing for only a brief moment to take a deep breath and collect herself. Could she think about this oath as a gift? If it were a gift and not a requirement for them to fulfill, then... maybe it was a beautiful thing, even if it was coming during a time of great need. How soon did they have, Sage wondered?
She slipped out the alcoves and toward her guests, settling down near them again. When Jaz and Elk were silent, she said, "Food is coming. Tigre and Toffee will be out shortly." She didn't yet mention that she wanted to speak with Jaz. She wanted to make sure that Elk had other company first.
--
“This is likely a story I should tell in front of our guests," Toffee said. "Before I do, whether or not you wish to join us, I feel you should know that the last time I saw a creature of this kind, they were sent to us a time of great need. Many were dying, the land was corrupted, and the very essence of the ether we weave was coming apart. If we are in another such scenario, we desperately need their help & I only hope that we can act in time.” Tigre had rarely seen her so serious.
“Shall we join them?” she asked, gesturing towards where Sage had gone.
After such a revelation, Tigre was uncertain that he wanted to be in polite company. He reeled from all the possible implications, matching up too closely with the ways he felt when he had had the dream of fire and explosions. He blinked, though, trying to stay present to this moment and not get sucked back into the dream.
"I want to make sure that Sage gets time with Jaz, as she requested, and also rest," Tigre said, always a little fatherly of the young people of the vows. "But I suspect anyone would be happy to listen." He nodded, willing to follow Toffee where she chose.
She slipped out the alcoves and toward her guests, settling down near them again. When Jaz and Elk were silent, she said, "Food is coming. Tigre and Toffee will be out shortly." She didn't yet mention that she wanted to speak with Jaz. She wanted to make sure that Elk had other company first.
--
“This is likely a story I should tell in front of our guests," Toffee said. "Before I do, whether or not you wish to join us, I feel you should know that the last time I saw a creature of this kind, they were sent to us a time of great need. Many were dying, the land was corrupted, and the very essence of the ether we weave was coming apart. If we are in another such scenario, we desperately need their help & I only hope that we can act in time.” Tigre had rarely seen her so serious.
“Shall we join them?” she asked, gesturing towards where Sage had gone.
After such a revelation, Tigre was uncertain that he wanted to be in polite company. He reeled from all the possible implications, matching up too closely with the ways he felt when he had had the dream of fire and explosions. He blinked, though, trying to stay present to this moment and not get sucked back into the dream.
"I want to make sure that Sage gets time with Jaz, as she requested, and also rest," Tigre said, always a little fatherly of the young people of the vows. "But I suspect anyone would be happy to listen." He nodded, willing to follow Toffee where she chose.
Re: Part 1
Sage returned to the terrace, seeming slightly more at peace. Her body language gave Elk the impression that she was pondering something. Nevertheless, the young priestess addressed both both of her guests pleasantly. "Food is coming. Tigre and Toffee will be out shortly." Sage seemed to want or need something in the moment, though it was unclear to Elk just what that might be.
Time would tell.
—
Tigre reeled in front of Toffee, almost as though he’d been slapped with the revelation of her words. She felt a tinge of regret that this should come as such a shock to the system, and yet, it occurred to her that she was in a circumstance in which the truth would soon become self-evident. The aged priestess felt that she’d be doing a greater disservice to the wellbeing of those involved if she kept secret these things she knows so well. They were, after all, seared into her memory in bold, so marked had her life become from the journey this experience set her upon.
<in this moment, a quiet contemplater watching the threads of time expand and collapse, noticed and witnessed that the Fate Weaver had been called to this path then as she is now. This plaything was just as much a pawn as the faeblooded sorcerer of cryptic means.
The dark chittered to itself, in quiet, clicking tones. Barely perceptible.>
Tigre, after beginning to digest his experience, responded. "I want to make sure that Sage gets time with Jaz, as she requested, and also rest," Tigre said with a paternal air to his voice. "But I suspect anyone would be happy to listen." He nodded, and Toffee gestured to the door.
Both made their way to join Sage and her visitors.
((OOC: Sage, would you like to make the introductions?))
Time would tell.
—
Tigre reeled in front of Toffee, almost as though he’d been slapped with the revelation of her words. She felt a tinge of regret that this should come as such a shock to the system, and yet, it occurred to her that she was in a circumstance in which the truth would soon become self-evident. The aged priestess felt that she’d be doing a greater disservice to the wellbeing of those involved if she kept secret these things she knows so well. They were, after all, seared into her memory in bold, so marked had her life become from the journey this experience set her upon.
<in this moment, a quiet contemplater watching the threads of time expand and collapse, noticed and witnessed that the Fate Weaver had been called to this path then as she is now. This plaything was just as much a pawn as the faeblooded sorcerer of cryptic means.
The dark chittered to itself, in quiet, clicking tones. Barely perceptible.>
Tigre, after beginning to digest his experience, responded. "I want to make sure that Sage gets time with Jaz, as she requested, and also rest," Tigre said with a paternal air to his voice. "But I suspect anyone would be happy to listen." He nodded, and Toffee gestured to the door.
Both made their way to join Sage and her visitors.
((OOC: Sage, would you like to make the introductions?))
Re: Part 1
After a small amount of somewhat awkward silence, Toffee indeed came out onto the terrace, their robes blowing in the breeze. Tigre soon followed, possibly after having instructed some of the others to procure something of a meal.
Sage got up quickly, grabbing another cloth and spreading it out to make room for them. She wanted everyone to be comfortable. Once they were all settled, Sage said, "I've filled Toffee and Tigre in on what occurred out in the fields. They are elders in their vows. I thought I would make some space for them to speak with you," Sage said this primarily at Elk, though she looked at Jaz afterward, hoping for an opportunity to take Jaz aside.
She was tempted to provide additional context and perhaps start talking about the collective dream they planned for tomorrow, but she decided to see where Toffee and Tigre would take matters first.
Sage got up quickly, grabbing another cloth and spreading it out to make room for them. She wanted everyone to be comfortable. Once they were all settled, Sage said, "I've filled Toffee and Tigre in on what occurred out in the fields. They are elders in their vows. I thought I would make some space for them to speak with you," Sage said this primarily at Elk, though she looked at Jaz afterward, hoping for an opportunity to take Jaz aside.
She was tempted to provide additional context and perhaps start talking about the collective dream they planned for tomorrow, but she decided to see where Toffee and Tigre would take matters first.
Re: Part 1
Toffee exited the structure first, and Tigre came soon after. The breeze that arose caused their robes to sway gently in the breeze, and Sage kindly arranged another folded cloth for the two of them to join Sage, Elk and Jaz upon
"I've filled Toffee and Tigre in on what occurred out in the fields. They are elders in their vows. I thought I would make some space for them to speak with you," Sage said gracefully, leaving room for Toffee to speak.
Elk stayed seated, quietly acknowledging both newcomers with a nod. Saying nothing, they looked first at Toffee, then at Tigre, regarding both deeply. Tigre was very handsomely dressed in blue robes, and he seemed to have this deeply paternal energy to him, which pleased them deeply. This felt like someone who might understand some of what this strangely young-looking human felt and carried within themselves.
Toffee perplexed Elk, however. She felt so obnoxiously familiar, yet like an itch they couldn’t quite scratch, they found themselves unable to place her. This bothered them, as when their brain itched at them like this, there was something curious happening around them.
While Elk was trying to figure out what they were missing, Toffee began to speak, ignoring them briefly “Jaz, welcome to our temple. It is good to finally meet you. I’ve heard tell of your adventures.”
I hear our new guest has made quite the impression.” She said, gesturing to them with respect. “Can you please tell me more about what you experienced when you met this creature outside of the Tell? I’d love to hear your perspective.” Toffee then looked carefully at Jaz, awaiting an answer.
((OOC: Does Toffee know Jaz, or are they meeting for the first time?))
"I've filled Toffee and Tigre in on what occurred out in the fields. They are elders in their vows. I thought I would make some space for them to speak with you," Sage said gracefully, leaving room for Toffee to speak.
Elk stayed seated, quietly acknowledging both newcomers with a nod. Saying nothing, they looked first at Toffee, then at Tigre, regarding both deeply. Tigre was very handsomely dressed in blue robes, and he seemed to have this deeply paternal energy to him, which pleased them deeply. This felt like someone who might understand some of what this strangely young-looking human felt and carried within themselves.
Toffee perplexed Elk, however. She felt so obnoxiously familiar, yet like an itch they couldn’t quite scratch, they found themselves unable to place her. This bothered them, as when their brain itched at them like this, there was something curious happening around them.
While Elk was trying to figure out what they were missing, Toffee began to speak, ignoring them briefly “Jaz, welcome to our temple. It is good to finally meet you. I’ve heard tell of your adventures.”
I hear our new guest has made quite the impression.” She said, gesturing to them with respect. “Can you please tell me more about what you experienced when you met this creature outside of the Tell? I’d love to hear your perspective.” Toffee then looked carefully at Jaz, awaiting an answer.
((OOC: Does Toffee know Jaz, or are they meeting for the first time?))
Re: Part 1
Toffee greeted them all, offering a gesture of respect to Elk, but then surprised Jaz by addressing her directly.
“Can you please tell me more about what you experienced when you met this creature outside of the tell? I’d love to hear your perspective.”
Jaz balked and shifted backward slightly. Why did they want her perspective?
"They came out of the woods. I waved and invited them to the tell. And then..." Jaz hesitated, looking at Sage with some concern, "poof! I was elsewhere. On the next hill over with Sage." She closed her eyes, trying to find if there was anything else to remember.
Eyes still scrunched closed, she said, "During the... translocation... I thought I saw some kind of... opalescent shimmer in my mind." Jaz opened her eyes. "Or maybe I was just dizzy." She shrugged, hoping she could stop being the center of attention now.
“Can you please tell me more about what you experienced when you met this creature outside of the tell? I’d love to hear your perspective.”
Jaz balked and shifted backward slightly. Why did they want her perspective?
"They came out of the woods. I waved and invited them to the tell. And then..." Jaz hesitated, looking at Sage with some concern, "poof! I was elsewhere. On the next hill over with Sage." She closed her eyes, trying to find if there was anything else to remember.
Eyes still scrunched closed, she said, "During the... translocation... I thought I saw some kind of... opalescent shimmer in my mind." Jaz opened her eyes. "Or maybe I was just dizzy." She shrugged, hoping she could stop being the center of attention now.
Re: Part 1
Toffee had asked Jaz a question & gently, curiously awaited her response.
After a moment, Jaz responded. "They came out of the woods. I waved and invited them to the tell. And then..." Jaz paused, directing a glance at Sage with what appeared to be nervousness in her eyes. "Poof! I was elsewhere. On the next hill over with Sage."
Jaz closed her eyes, evidently attempting to remember the event clearly. Her focus was somewhat rewarded, and with eyes closed tightly, she added "During the... translocation... I thought I saw some kind of... opalescent shimmer in my mind." Jaz opened her eyes. "Or maybe I was just dizzy."
Jaz shrugged, having communicated all that she could recall, and Toffee paused, reflecting on the information she’d just witnessed. The comment about the opalescent shimmer caught Elk’s attention, and they pondered that Jaz might have glimpsed the Wellspring, one of the core fundaments of what Sage knew to be the Sky Mind.
Elk thought to themselves oh there must be more to this one than meets the eyes - only those of our blood & those who have been touched by our presence in deep, meaningful, changing ways have been known to see this….
Now, the aged wizard in a curiously young frame regarded Jaz with renewed intensity, apparently fascinated and confused in equal measure. These new details certainly add to the mystery - it was not known that humans were capable of travel in this way - not within Elk’s memory, and that was something they could actually recall in vivid detail. A past learning that stuck with them, perhaps as a result of trying - and failing - to translocate a human alongside themselves.
The thought, what little remained, made them shudder in a way that caused an involuntary twitch, both bodily and in their tattooes, which flashed the same opalescent light Jaz had seen.
This caught Toffee’s attention, and she found herself transfixed, just as when she was a little girl. This entity, whoever they were, happened to be exactly what they said, and they were in the presence of Divinity.
Toffee caught herself staring at Elk while simultaneously reliving written and unwritten memory. When she was a girl, she had encountered someone like them, at a time when the land was under siege by troublesome efforts and persecutorial energies from outside the system. No one quite had a word for them, but these entities were hateful, troublesome, unquiet, and yet waited patiently at the edges of of our cosmos, just waiting to be let in.
A tear rolled down her face, and she made no effort to hide it. Shuddering briefly and recomposing herself, Toffee elected to speak.
“I’d like to tell you a story - this comes from a time when I was a little girl, many many moons ago.” She said, quietly, addressing no one in particular. Elk regarded her carefully, recognizing that she saw it too. Why was this priestess crying? Why was she so moved? Has she met our kind before? They hoped the story might answer some of these questions.
Continuing after steadying herself, “When I was a child, a horrifying series of experiences began to happen in my village, and our order was in no position to do anything about it. I had just begun the very introductions to my training, and wasn’t even a fledgling member at this point. There was no structure that had invited me into itself at this time, and yet I was such close friends with the one of the head priests that I was around & heard tell of the musings of people, in and outside the order alike.” The very thought made her incredibly sad, as the memories of the time were a thing that she had tried so very desperately to forget.
“At this time, there was a spirit plague. All of the land was dying, and people who went in to try to tame the land, help the spirits, tend the berries, maintain the crops - they’d become corrupted for their efforts. They would go, become lost, and in their confusion become tainted every second they spent in these spaces.
At first, the harm was small, and hard to notice, but it seemed to spread like plague. Those who made it home were touched by something no one in the village had ever seen, and we were powerless to do anything about it. Children, mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers, and all those in between - no one was safe.
They’d be touched by this energy and then become lost. Waking void.” Tears now streaming down her face, with no efforts made to stop them. Toffee felt that this story needed to be told with emotion over detached, empty distance. She felt such conflict within, and yet this story demanded to be told.
“No one who became afflicted recovered. Some survived, if you could call it that, but they were never the same. The things that attached themselves to these poor, suffering persons would tear at the head and mind as though they’d undergone myriad harms. They acted as though they’d seen untold wars and become depraved through the glory of blood and gore. Even children would grow caustic, aggressive and hollow….they would do unspeakable things, to themselves and others, and every harm they did seemed to propagate this violence.” She continued, clearly moved by the memory.
Elk sat listening, remembering bits and pieces of the story they were hearing, perplexed by the lingering memory being tugged at in the back of their mind. Scarred tissue in the emotional network of their soul pulled taut over grit in barely-healed wounds, never properly irrigated by therapy or care.
Something about this drew at them, pulling at their mind and creating a distinctly poignant discomfort, and Toffee paused for a moment before continuing.
“At this point, nothing seemed to make a difference - there was just so much that we were overwhelmed. Sages, learned men, women & those in-between all tried, and all inevitably failed. Our prayers were unanswered, and as a society we felt truly lost.
Especially myself, as when my adoptive mother grew ill, I tried everything my young heart knew to try to save her. Everyone was worried that I would get sick, but I also couldn’t leave her there to die alone…. So I prayed night after night, day after day, moment to moment, while this woman who raised me from a young cub, came apart at the seams in front of me.” Toffee said with a heavy sigh, her eyes glistening. “Eventually, I gave up hope that she would recover, and instead I sat with her, night after night, burning offerings to ease her suffering & her transition.
This seemed to make her linger longer than others did, and one night, I was possessed to cover my face and as as I grieved, as I prayed. It was as though an inner voice guided me to do this, and so with my face, covered in ash, I made a call to that voice, the voices of our ancestors, to their practices, and to the blood of the earth.
Something within me asked the sky to remember, the Earth, to remember, the trees, and the blood….” she said, pausing to reflect upon those words. “I fell asleep atop mother, and that evening I had many dreams - I was told that something heard my prayer, and that something would be coming to help us. I saw that this being was full of love, willingness to help, and a strong, beating heart through which the faeblood flows.
When I awoke, my mother was gone. She had deflated somehow in the night, and though she spent the remaining days of her life in agony, it was us though that peace from my dream followed me somehow, imparting itself to her through me.
I went to my friend the oriest, my mentor, and told him of what had occurred, and he was naturally flabbergasted. He didn’t know what to believe, having seen nothing like this before… Our questions were answered wirh further questions when a young-looking person in tattered clothes, appeared that afternoon in the village square.
Their name was Y’rith Daeva & they were Nature’s answer to my call.”
At the mention of this name, something within Elk stirred involuntarily - it was as though somebody had picked them up, flung their very essence into the spotlight, and Elk’s skin began to glow. It was faint at first, and yet the blueish hues that appeared around their throat in answer were a dead giveaway. Unmarked space had been overcome by waves of ranging blues, circling around their ears and onto their face, creating a haunting framing for eyes that turned black & memories began to flood their mind.
Toffee’s jaw dropped, and it was as though they’d seen a ghost….
((OOC: Wanted to pause to give others a chance to interject and comment.
Edited to add.: I'm realizing I might need to break this up into a few different chunks to make this easier to respond to and storyline out. Open to perspectives, as I've been nervous about it since I wrote this a week ago. -Toffee)
After a moment, Jaz responded. "They came out of the woods. I waved and invited them to the tell. And then..." Jaz paused, directing a glance at Sage with what appeared to be nervousness in her eyes. "Poof! I was elsewhere. On the next hill over with Sage."
Jaz closed her eyes, evidently attempting to remember the event clearly. Her focus was somewhat rewarded, and with eyes closed tightly, she added "During the... translocation... I thought I saw some kind of... opalescent shimmer in my mind." Jaz opened her eyes. "Or maybe I was just dizzy."
Jaz shrugged, having communicated all that she could recall, and Toffee paused, reflecting on the information she’d just witnessed. The comment about the opalescent shimmer caught Elk’s attention, and they pondered that Jaz might have glimpsed the Wellspring, one of the core fundaments of what Sage knew to be the Sky Mind.
Elk thought to themselves oh there must be more to this one than meets the eyes - only those of our blood & those who have been touched by our presence in deep, meaningful, changing ways have been known to see this….
Now, the aged wizard in a curiously young frame regarded Jaz with renewed intensity, apparently fascinated and confused in equal measure. These new details certainly add to the mystery - it was not known that humans were capable of travel in this way - not within Elk’s memory, and that was something they could actually recall in vivid detail. A past learning that stuck with them, perhaps as a result of trying - and failing - to translocate a human alongside themselves.
The thought, what little remained, made them shudder in a way that caused an involuntary twitch, both bodily and in their tattooes, which flashed the same opalescent light Jaz had seen.
This caught Toffee’s attention, and she found herself transfixed, just as when she was a little girl. This entity, whoever they were, happened to be exactly what they said, and they were in the presence of Divinity.
Toffee caught herself staring at Elk while simultaneously reliving written and unwritten memory. When she was a girl, she had encountered someone like them, at a time when the land was under siege by troublesome efforts and persecutorial energies from outside the system. No one quite had a word for them, but these entities were hateful, troublesome, unquiet, and yet waited patiently at the edges of of our cosmos, just waiting to be let in.
A tear rolled down her face, and she made no effort to hide it. Shuddering briefly and recomposing herself, Toffee elected to speak.
“I’d like to tell you a story - this comes from a time when I was a little girl, many many moons ago.” She said, quietly, addressing no one in particular. Elk regarded her carefully, recognizing that she saw it too. Why was this priestess crying? Why was she so moved? Has she met our kind before? They hoped the story might answer some of these questions.
Continuing after steadying herself, “When I was a child, a horrifying series of experiences began to happen in my village, and our order was in no position to do anything about it. I had just begun the very introductions to my training, and wasn’t even a fledgling member at this point. There was no structure that had invited me into itself at this time, and yet I was such close friends with the one of the head priests that I was around & heard tell of the musings of people, in and outside the order alike.” The very thought made her incredibly sad, as the memories of the time were a thing that she had tried so very desperately to forget.
“At this time, there was a spirit plague. All of the land was dying, and people who went in to try to tame the land, help the spirits, tend the berries, maintain the crops - they’d become corrupted for their efforts. They would go, become lost, and in their confusion become tainted every second they spent in these spaces.
At first, the harm was small, and hard to notice, but it seemed to spread like plague. Those who made it home were touched by something no one in the village had ever seen, and we were powerless to do anything about it. Children, mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers, and all those in between - no one was safe.
They’d be touched by this energy and then become lost. Waking void.” Tears now streaming down her face, with no efforts made to stop them. Toffee felt that this story needed to be told with emotion over detached, empty distance. She felt such conflict within, and yet this story demanded to be told.
“No one who became afflicted recovered. Some survived, if you could call it that, but they were never the same. The things that attached themselves to these poor, suffering persons would tear at the head and mind as though they’d undergone myriad harms. They acted as though they’d seen untold wars and become depraved through the glory of blood and gore. Even children would grow caustic, aggressive and hollow….they would do unspeakable things, to themselves and others, and every harm they did seemed to propagate this violence.” She continued, clearly moved by the memory.
Elk sat listening, remembering bits and pieces of the story they were hearing, perplexed by the lingering memory being tugged at in the back of their mind. Scarred tissue in the emotional network of their soul pulled taut over grit in barely-healed wounds, never properly irrigated by therapy or care.
Something about this drew at them, pulling at their mind and creating a distinctly poignant discomfort, and Toffee paused for a moment before continuing.
“At this point, nothing seemed to make a difference - there was just so much that we were overwhelmed. Sages, learned men, women & those in-between all tried, and all inevitably failed. Our prayers were unanswered, and as a society we felt truly lost.
Especially myself, as when my adoptive mother grew ill, I tried everything my young heart knew to try to save her. Everyone was worried that I would get sick, but I also couldn’t leave her there to die alone…. So I prayed night after night, day after day, moment to moment, while this woman who raised me from a young cub, came apart at the seams in front of me.” Toffee said with a heavy sigh, her eyes glistening. “Eventually, I gave up hope that she would recover, and instead I sat with her, night after night, burning offerings to ease her suffering & her transition.
This seemed to make her linger longer than others did, and one night, I was possessed to cover my face and as as I grieved, as I prayed. It was as though an inner voice guided me to do this, and so with my face, covered in ash, I made a call to that voice, the voices of our ancestors, to their practices, and to the blood of the earth.
Something within me asked the sky to remember, the Earth, to remember, the trees, and the blood….” she said, pausing to reflect upon those words. “I fell asleep atop mother, and that evening I had many dreams - I was told that something heard my prayer, and that something would be coming to help us. I saw that this being was full of love, willingness to help, and a strong, beating heart through which the faeblood flows.
When I awoke, my mother was gone. She had deflated somehow in the night, and though she spent the remaining days of her life in agony, it was us though that peace from my dream followed me somehow, imparting itself to her through me.
I went to my friend the oriest, my mentor, and told him of what had occurred, and he was naturally flabbergasted. He didn’t know what to believe, having seen nothing like this before… Our questions were answered wirh further questions when a young-looking person in tattered clothes, appeared that afternoon in the village square.
Their name was Y’rith Daeva & they were Nature’s answer to my call.”
At the mention of this name, something within Elk stirred involuntarily - it was as though somebody had picked them up, flung their very essence into the spotlight, and Elk’s skin began to glow. It was faint at first, and yet the blueish hues that appeared around their throat in answer were a dead giveaway. Unmarked space had been overcome by waves of ranging blues, circling around their ears and onto their face, creating a haunting framing for eyes that turned black & memories began to flood their mind.
Toffee’s jaw dropped, and it was as though they’d seen a ghost….
((OOC: Wanted to pause to give others a chance to interject and comment.
Edited to add.: I'm realizing I might need to break this up into a few different chunks to make this easier to respond to and storyline out. Open to perspectives, as I've been nervous about it since I wrote this a week ago. -Toffee)