Written Wonderland

“Could you please tell me more about these collective dreaming rituals? In these collective dreams, how is a dream chosen?” Elk asked.

Tigre looked to Toffee to see if she wanted to respond, but she seemed content to let Tigre explain.

He nodded. "Of course. Everyone in the tell who is interested gathers their blankets and such to come to a large fire where we all plan to sleep outside in a large circle. Some of the order will introduce the reason for the dreaming. Often, it is because a big decision needs to be made. This time, it is to gather information about another dream.

"Each person will dream their own dream in the circle together. And when we all wake up, we will share about each of our dreams as a way to add to the wisdom of the collective. We will then use those experiences to make a decision." Tigre paused for a moment, allowing that to sink in before adding, "Some people in the tell only come for the morning portion, but their dream stories are also welcome."

Tigre thought for a moment if he should give Elk some information about the last dream ceremony the tell had done, but he decided that perhaps now was not the right time.

Toffee listened quietly as Elk spoke a question and Tigre began to answer.

“Of course. Everyone in the tell who is interested gathers their blankets and such to come to a large fire where we all plan to sleep outside in a large circle. Some of the order will introduce the reason for the dreaming. Often, it is because a big decision needs to be made. This time, it is to gather information about another dream.

Each person will dream their own dream in the circle together. And when we all wake up, we will share about each of our dreams as a way to add to the wisdom of the collective. We will then use those experiences to make a decision." Tigre quieted himself for a moment, as if for effect and to allow the gravity of the situation to sink in before continuing."Some people in the tell only come for the morning portion, but their dream stories are also welcome."

Elk paused for a moment, attentively regarding the handsome priest as he spoke. After a moment, they nodded, and just as they began to speak, Toffee, who had been following along quietly, spoke. “in matters of the Dreaming, it is important that we each share our collective interpretations and perspectives. It is tradition that we should see a piece of the puzzle, for we are each part of the practice.

This is very much like what you taught me, Y’ri…” she trailed off for a moment, then paused, collected & corrected herself “-Elk, this is like the shared Skymind meditation. You taught me when I was young, but done through oneiric collectivism instead.” She paused, looking to Elk and watching a flicker of recognition.

… Something was going on inside of them, but this aged sorcerer in a borrowed frame was clearly pondering something.

—

Elk responded “Tigre, Toffee, thank you both for your answer. I follow and I believe I understand.” they said, hiding quiet relief that they might may opt in to sharing certain details. They noticed quite a bit of fear within themselves at the idea of being vulnerable around so many people. While it is taboo to hide themselves among their own culture, they’ve learned that it is often problematic to trust those who are not their kind.

Some part of themselves suspected that had led their downfall in the past…

Centering themselves on the conversation at hand and intentionally calming their skin, Elk responded further. “I would be honored to join you for the entire experience. I may have more to add to this conversation as the time approaches.

For now, I would like to offer my services at preparing for this ritual. Given that all are involved, I suspect that would be quite a lengthy ordeal. What all do you need help gathering before we begin?” Elk finished, looking to Toffee and Tigre.

Toffee took a moment, realizing that she would need to revisit the storeroom to determine what all was needed. The emotional events of the evening had played tricks with her memory, and she hoped that Tigre might know and recall more than she.

((OOC: I can’t recall what was needed for the ritual right now, and I’m hoping that either you or Sage does, Tigre. That might be a fun reentry.))

Tigre was grateful when Toffee started filling in details of the philosophy behind the practice. “In matters of the Dreaming, it is important that we each share our collective interpretations and perspectives. It is tradition that we should see a piece of the puzzle, for we are each part of the practice. This is very much like what you taught me, Y’ri... Elk, this is like the shared Skymind meditation you taught me when I was young, but done through oneiric collectivism instead.”

Tigre nodded, looking from Toffee to Elk to see if they had sufficiently answered Elk's question.

“Tigre, Toffee, thank you both for your answer. I follow, and I believe I understand.” After a still moment, they added, “I would be honored to join you for the entire experience. I may have more to add to this conversation as the time approaches. For now, I would like to offer my services at preparing for this ritual. Given that all are involved, I suspect that would be quite a lengthy ordeal. What all do you need help gathering before we begin?”

Toffee looked to Tigre, knowing that Tigre had been selected to oversee the gathering of supplies and informing the tell. He nodded, gathering his thoughts.

"It is my impression that Sage was successful in gathering the herbs we need. I've sent groups out to inform the tell. I believe all we have left is to carry everything to the ritual clearing in the forest and collect the firewood for the evening." He smiled, beaming with subtle pride, although his face fell slightly soon after.

"I will admit, however, I suspect a smaller turnout tomorrow night. Our last collective dreaming practice did not exactly go as planned," Tigre said, deciding maybe it was time they discuss this.

Tigre nodded, gathering his thoughts.

"It is my impression that Sage was successful in gathering the herbs we need. I've sent groups out to inform the tell. I believe all we have left is to carry everything to the ritual clearing in the forest and collect the firewood for the evening." He smiled, beaming, almost. Elk noticed that charming, fatherly demeanor on him, and flushed slightly. They made no effort to hide this bit of interest.

"I will admit, however, I suspect a smaller turnout tomorrow night. Our last collective dreaming practice did not exactly go as planned," Tigre added, definitely interested in adding to the discussion.

Elk thought pensively for a moment, and then answered with a question “…with the announcement of a guest attract further interest, or scare them away, do you think?” Toffee looked back at them as though she wished to respond, yet paused.

“Toffee, moreover, do you think that announcing that you have a history with me would go over well, or poorly? I don’t yet know the nature of your convenant or standing with this town, I realize…” Elk added, looking to her quietly.

Toffee bristled for a moment at the thought of sharing this part of her history with quite so many people. That thought was a little bit much for her, so she took a moment to harden those bristles and pushed back slightly, recognizing that she would probably need to set boundaries with this creature, though she had known them before.

“I would like to keep that to myself for the moment, save perhaps in the matter of Gwen. Jaz is staying with her, and this feels like information that would probably be quite useful for her to know. She possesses certain…. Sensibilities and she’s very keenly aware.”

Elk took the priestess’ words in, calmly nodded their assent, and then looked back to Tigre inquisitively. “Are there generally protections are other wards placed? You mentioned a past event which evidently went terribly wrong?”

Elk seemed to blush in response to Tigre's response, and Tigre didn't know what to make of that. He hadn't thought he had said anything particularly blush-worthy. But, he still tucked that piece of information into his mind for later. Perhaps something would come of it.

Their guest soon became thoughtful again and quickly asked, “…with the announcement of a guest attract further interest, or scare them away, do you think? “Toffee, moreover, do you think that announcing that you have a history with me would go over well, or poorly? I don’t yet know the nature of your covenant or standing with this town, I realize…” Elk added, looking to her quietly.

Tigre's eyes widened at the thought of Toffee publicly telling such an intimate story that Tigre himself had only just heard.

Toffee deflected well, however. “I would like to keep that to myself for the moment, save perhaps in the matter of Gwen. Jaz is staying with her, and this feels like information that would probably be quite useful for her to know. She possesses certain…. sensibilities, and she’s very keenly aware.” Tigre nodded, appreciating Toffee's wise response. There was more than one reason why Elk should get to know Gwen.

Elk thought Toffee's words over and turned back to Tigre. “Are there generally protections or other wards placed? You mentioned a past event which evidently went terribly wrong?”

Tigre laughed nervously. "I wouldn't say terribly wrong..." He rubbed anxiously at one shoulder. "I don't think your presence would impact the turnout much. We only just had some caravans come through town else you might have a brighter welcome." Tigre paused making sure he kept hold of all the threads of Elk's questions.

Finally, Tigre found what he needed, sorting the thoughts in his mind and becoming more calm again. "We have a series of protective rituals, to which you are welcome to add, but... I don't see how that would have helped our dilemma last time..." Tigre trailed off, lost in thought for a moment, trying to decide how much to say.

"A few years ago, a man was found dead near Gwen's Guest House. Then six moon cycles ago, a man who used to live in town returned and requested judgment for that murder." Tigre paused, feeling an emotion welling up in his chest. "He refused to tell us why he had done it, and we couldn't come to an agreement, so we decided to perform the collective dreaming." Tigre looked at Toffee, looking for reassurance to keep going. Eventually, he looked down at the empty plate in his hands. "We all had dreams of death, and in the discussion, we ultimately decided that the gods wanted his life in exchange. We determined who would carry out the sentence, but when we arrived at where we had kept our prisoner in the meantime, he was gone."

Tigre couldn't look up at either of his companions for some time.

"It's difficult not to think that the gods disagreed with our discussion," Tigre finally said, a pit of guilt forming in his stomach.

Tigre seemed to notice Elk blush & yet did not respond, perhaps filing that information away for later. Elk sat with that feeling for a moment, recognizing that they were for some reason unaccustomed to that response within themselves. This was evidently the correct choice, as they felt some peace within, after a moment of letting that energy settle and create a burrow within.

Toffee had deflected their question well, and Tigre’s eyes seemed to widen perceptibly at the thought of her vulnerability being broadcast quite so widely. Her response was metered and reasonable, though she herself seemed to feel quite exposed at the thought, Elk noticed. They did not regret the ask, per se, but they certainly had filed the response away in their mind with the intention of trying to relearn this person who they’d only met when she was a young girl.

Elk realized that while much had changed, much had also stayed the same. Toffee had always been a secretive child, choosing the company of plants and nature in regular succession. She’d shared with him in a lifetime long past that it was the plague that brought her closer to her people, a thought she’d communicated significant regret around when she was perhaps becoming a teenager, well after the plague’s rest, and near Elk’s deathbed hour.

They remembered quite fondly a recollection of Toffee’s sweet sincerity, and how much that experience seemed to have changed her for the better, bringing her into her own.

—

As the conversation continued, Toffee found herself slightly stuck around the thought of exposing her story to the outside world. Yes, it would be important for Elk to come to be known in this space, but when and how? These were thoughts that wandered around listlessly in her skull, evidently the source of much concern….she’d have to ponder.

Toffee thought on this for a moment, preoccupied, before Elk continued.

“Are there generally protections or other wards placed? You mentioned a past event which evidently went terribly wrong?” Tigre looked to Elk in response to that question and laughed, almost nervously.

The aged priestess felt this deeply, too, sharing in the concern and discomfort of the moment, recalling just how upsetting this event had been to and for the population of the Tell.

Tigre continued his answer, adding the sentiment “I wouldn’t say terribly wrong…”, as he rubbed at his shoulder in what appeared to be an attempt to self-soothe. “I don’t think your presence would impact the turnout much. We only just had some caravans come through town else you might have a brighter welcome.”

Tigre paused, looking almost pensively in the moment. Toffee had known Tigre for some time, and intuited that this might be his attempt to both stay on task and properly answer the questions Elk had postulated.

—

As Tigre spoke his answer, rubbing his shoulder as he communicated, Elk nodded, recognizing how much a caravaning visit could potentially affect the resources, emotional and otherwise, of a town like this.

The handsome priest continued to speak, almost with a renewed vigor or focus. The man had the bearing of someone who had just found the correct piece of a puzzle, and he continued to speak. “We have a series of protective rituals, to which you are welcome to add, but…..I don’t see how that would have helped our dilemma last time….”, he said, before trailing off for a moment.

A half step later, Tigre continued. “A few years ago, a man was found dead near Gwen’s Guest House. Then, six moon cycles ago, a man who used to live in town returned and requested judgement for that murder.” He paused briefly, giving Elk the impression that the learned one had encountered an emotion of some depth. They waited patiently for him to continue, recognizing with empathy that this must be a difficult topic to contemplate & interact with.

After settling himself, he added “he refused to tell us why he had done it, and we couldn’t collectively come to an agreement, so we decided to perform the collective dreaming”. Tigre looked to Toffee, who looked back at him in response, nodding in acknowledgement, almost reassuringly.

—

Tigre looked to her with what Toffee felt as sadness and discomfort, and she felt for her friend. Nodding to him in agreement, she had hoped that this would comfort him and signal that Tigre had been most helpful in this.

He looked down towards his plate, which and been emptied of its foodstuffs as the conversation continued.

“We all had dreams of death, and in the discussion we ultimately decided that the gods wanted his life in exchange. We determined who would carry out the sentence, but when we arrived where we had kept our prisoner in the meantime, he was gone.” Tigre’s eyes were downcast, evidently moved by the retelling of what was a difficult story to share. Toffee felt for him, having her own feelings around this particular subject.

She remembered being moved by the dreaming, resolved in the collective intention to take this man’s life on account of what the Gods had willed according to their collective interpretations.

Tigre added, quietly, the phrase “it’s difficult not to think that the Gods disagreed with our decision.”, his voice taut from tension and what contextually inclined uncertainty. Toffee felt it too, and wished to comfort this man for whom she cared. She’d be sure to check in on him later, recognizing that this was a difficult scenario to be involved in, for all of them. The tell had been quite moved by this experience, and trust had felt….difficult to establish where the Gods were concerned.

Little seemed to shake the tell’s collective faith like that of a sentence which could not be carried out. The social ecosystem was at times fragile, and this process was part of how the balance was kept. When things went awry like so, the effects could be felt for months….sometimes even years, and it was of great priority to the priesthood for matters such as these to be settled.

Toffee felt a slight, unsteady discomfort at the idea of this potentially happening again, as she had been responsible for counseling and assisting many of the villagers whose faith had been understandably shaken.

—

Elk had been quietly taking it all in, recognizing and empathizing with the sheer weight of all that had occurred. The thought that dawned on them was that if the Gods were that unsteady, unsettled and unwilling to maintain a sentence of theirs, to the point where they had allowed the release of a prisoner they had themselves sentenced to die, the circumstances had become complicated indeed.

To his people, there was an understanding that during times of great unsettling or distress, it was well comprehended that the Gods themselves could be capricious. Humankind had a tendency to need to lean on them, and yet the powers that be could so very often simply disregard the weight of human turmoil and suffering, evidently more concerned with themselves and their own power-seeking struggles and divine politic.

Returning their attention to Tigre, whose eyes were still downcast, contemplating both his navel and the apparent weight of the world, Elk finally spoke. “If I may, at the time the prisoner escaped, who was responsible for tending him? I recognize that additional wards and protection may not have helped in that scenario, from your description, and there are magicks one might use to prevent such an escape from happening again……” they paused, weighing carefully their words.

“Was any responsibility ever appended to members of the tell, after the fact? I would be most curious to hear this aspect of your story, if you would both be willing to share.”

Toffee looked to them, contemplating their addition.

—

Taking a moment to orient, Toffee listened to Elk’s words and attempted to recall the specifics of the events that followed. They were fuzzy in her mind, likely as a result of how traumatized the dreaming had left her feeling….


(OOC, Elk and Toffee can say more, but up it felt like this was where we should stop.)

((OOC: continuing at Tigre’s suggestion))

Elk let their questions hang heavy in the air as Toffee sat quietly, taking a moment to orient, having listened to their words.

The specifics were unclear to her brain, at least at first - she couldn’t quite recall the details until she took a breath and centered herself to remember.

After settling her nervous system, the information began to flow again. She recalled a difficult, arduous situation that had unsettled the entire tell, and it all seemed to surround someone named Hector. Having found these details in her mind, Toffee began to speak.

“The individual in question is named Hector, and they are the one who submitted themselves for judgment before absconding or being abducted. He deigned not to be present for the collective dreaming, though I cannot explicitly remember his reasoning.

We’ve long since wondered what would have happened if he remained for summary judgment, as I believe that if the Gods were truly against our punishing him, they would have showed us directly.

Instead, it feels like another force is at work, and I feel in my heart that the matter will be resolved.”, Toffee finished.

Elk looked to her, pondering her words and this “Hector” fellow. Why would someone submit themselves for questioning and then leave soon thereafter? What would be the purpose? Was this person given a new purpose instead? They concurred that the divine would mete out punishment of injustice, particularly when it revolved around something that would create as much of an imbalance as the murder of a person.

Such thing could only be done carefully, lest the worth of this person to the community be removed and the entirety be thrown into chaos and disarray. To lose not just one, but two members of the given community at any time could be devastating….

Elk considered this and spoke. “thank you, Toffee. I follow, and I wonder what led to this person’s release. It seems less mystical, and perhaps more social and human. I wonder if someone convinced him to make amends a different way?

Tigre, do you have anything to add? I wonder how much you know of this particular character.” They said, regarding the priest carefully.

Tigre appreciated the way Elk was giving this all thought.

“If I may, at the time the prisoner escaped, who was responsible for tending him? I recognize that additional wards and protection may not have helped in that scenario, from your description, and there are magicks one might use to prevent such an escape from happening again… Was any responsibility ever appended to members of the tell, after the fact? I would be most curious to hear this aspect of your story, if you would both be willing to share.”

Tigre looked at Toffee, wondering if she had more to say. He didn't want to feel like he had been dominating the conversation.

Toffee obliged, saying, “The individual in question is named Hector, and they are the one who submitted themselves for judgment before absconding or being abducted. He deigned not to be present for the collective dreaming, though I cannot explicitly remember his reasoning. We’ve long since wondered what would have happened if he remained for summary judgment, as I believe that, if the Gods were truly against our punishing him, they would have showed us directly. Instead, it feels like another force is at work, and I feel in my heart that the matter will be resolved." Tigre nodded, that was a good summary.

"Thank you, Toffee," Elk said, "I follow, and I wonder what led to this person’s release. It seems less mystical and perhaps more social and human. I wonder if someone convinced him to make amends a different way?" After a moment, Elk turned to Tigre, asking, "Do you have anything to add? I wonder how much you know of this particular character.”

Tigre thought about if there was anything more he knew of the situation. At last, he said, "The murdered man, we never learned who he was. He was a stranger to all of us. We woke up one morning with a stranger dead and a friend missing. I helped several of the other priests bury the man Hector left. Of course, we didn't know that's what had happened at the time." Tigre looked up at the sight of Jaz returning. He thought it was probably a good sign that Sage was not with her.

Sure enough, Jaz said, "Sage said to let you know she was turning in for the night." She stood there, one hand on her hip as she looked out toward the sunset and the growing storm clouds. "So..." she said, seeming a little distracted, "should I show myself out, or...?"

Tigre wondered how the conversation with Sage had gone and if Jaz had decided to take vows. Although, if that had been the case, Tigre thought Sage would have let them know by now. He sighed and stood to greet Jaz.

"You always have a place to stay here if you want it," Tigre said, just as happy to have left such a morose subject aside for the moment.

"I have my own place, thank you," Jaz said with a wink that was somehow also a dismissal. Tigre put both his hands up in surrender, but soon, he gestured to offer her a hug, and after some slight hesitation, she accepted, melting warmly into his arms. Their embrace only lasted a moment, but when they came apart, Jaz's head tilted to one side as she looked at him.

After a moment, Jaz looked to their guest. "And what about you, Elk? Where would you like to wait out the storm?"

Tigre sat for a moment, clearly contemplating.

When he answered, it felt clear to Elk and Toffee both that Tigre had put some thought into this. "The murdered man, we never learned who he was. He was a stranger to all of us. We woke up one morning with a stranger dead and a friend missing. I helped several of the other priests bury the man Hector left. Of course, we didn't know that's what had happened at the time."

As he finished his informative statement, just as Elk was about to nod, Tigre looked up, distractedly at the sight of Jaz returning. Elk perked up, sitting slightly taller with a smile on their face. Sage was not with her, perhaps asleep? She had quite a long day, from what they understood, and they found themselves hoping that her rest was blessed and peaceful.

Elk was clearly not at all what she expected to find this day, and yet it felt very, very much important that they’d connected. The tattoo-clad sorcerer could intuit this somehow, though they were not yet certain why.

Jaz approached and spoke "Sage said to let you know she was turning in for the night." She stood with one hand on her hip as she gazed out toward the sunset and the growing storm clouds. "So..." she said, seeming slightly distracted, "should I show myself out, or...?"

Tigre sighed and stood to greet Jaz, and Elk raised a hand in acknowledgement, their tattoos again wiggling quietly under their skin.

"You always have a place to stay here if you want it," Tigre said, looking a bit relieved that they‘d had the opportunity to set the prior topic aside.

"I have my own place, thank you," Jaz said with a wink Toffee caught and a tone of dismissal. Tigre raised his hands slightly and what appeared to be a gesture of surrender before offering a hug in Jaz’s direction. After a slight pause, she accepted and the two embraced. When they stepped back slightly from one another, she tilted her head and looked at him, kind of funnily, almost as if she had some thought to share.

Then, Jaz glanced over to Elk and asked "And what about you, Elk? Where would you like to wait out the storm?" Elk flushed, this time entirely unable to help themselves - they found them, please, almost relieved that she had come back, and the living wilderness within Elk drawn to her in some way. They were not quite sure why, but very much curious to learn more about her.

Rising to greet her, they answered “earlier, you gestured to an informal guest house, Jaz - I believe it’s where you’re staying. Would your host mind another guest?” They said with a smile, blushing less yet their cheeks still slightly flush against a youthful looking face.

They offered “I have some materials that I could turn into a healing charm or poultice, and I suspect that might be helpful. Alternatively, I’m happy to be put to work.” Smiling warmly, they looked to Jaz, awaiting an answer.

—

Toffee sat quietly, watching Tigre and Jaz embrace before witnessing Elk’s re-introduction to conversation with Jaz. She had never quite seen this look on Elk before. When last they were present around her, the topic of relationships or friendships outside the one she developed with them was not very well explored.

On some level, the priestess felt herself hopeful - Elk had been out in the wilds of the world for a long time & she wondered, from his language and energy, when the last time they had been greeted warmly was.

She reached out, sensing their energy, and felt a unique bit of calm and interest they’d not shown her before. She smiled at this realization, and offered “I suspect Gwen would be very happy to have you, as she has been wonderfully attentive and helpful to visitors who come here. I don’t wish to speak for her, of course, and if it should be that she turns you away, please know that you are welcome to stay here at the temple.

We would be honored to have you, and while the circumstances are likely dire, I am happy to see you again, Elk.” Elk turned to her and smiled in response, bowing their head in acknowledgment.

Toffee grinned at the head nod, as that hadn’t changed at all. They were often not terribly expressive with their gestures when in mixed company & the little girl in her couldn’t help but raise a V-shaped set of fingers to her
forehead to see if they recalled.

Elk laughed slightly and their tattoos flared with this beautiful emerald green - a verdant response indeed, and Toffee was pleased that they remembered. It was nice to break the tension of the evening, and she had a great hope that everyone would sleep well.

Finally rising, she looked to all present and asked “shall we retire for the night?”

Jaz tried to keep a neutral face--she didn't want to look too attached to Elk coming back with her.

“Earlier, you gestured to an informal guest house, Jaz--I believe it’s where you’re staying. Would your host mind another guest? I have some materials that I could turn into a healing charm or poultice, and I suspect that might be helpful. Alternatively, I’m happy to be put to work.” Their face was unlined and slightly red again, and Jaz found it difficult not to stare. She smiled happily.

Jaz was about to say something when Toffee spoke instead. Jaz's smile faltered somewhat, but she had to acknowledge that Toffee was speaking true.

“I suspect Gwen would be very happy to have you, as she has been wonderfully attentive and helpful to visitors who come here. I don’t wish to speak for her, of course, and if it should be that she turns you away, please know that you are welcome to stay here at the temple. We would be honored to have you, and while the circumstances are likely dire, I am happy to see you again, Elk.”

Elk nodded, and Toffee made a strange gesture--two fingers spread in a "V" on her forehead. For some reason, this made Elk laugh as their tattoos flared jewel green, and Jaz was content to let the joke go over her head.

Toffee stood, asking, "Shall we retire for the night?"

Jaz nodded, gesturing with her head toward the exit to the temple. "Come along, then," Jaz said, recovering a trace of her earlier excitement. "It's not far."

((OOC: Jaz is probably going to be quiet for a minute or so as they walk, but she is happy to start up a conversation if Elk also does not feel like talking right away.))