Spirits Within - RPLOG

Participants

• Ictus
• Nuku
• Selena
• Wulf

Date

23/6/476

Log

Arriving at the edge of the forest, following urge or what seems like the distant song of some unknown siren. The forest beckons the Gifted deeper into its embrace, traveling along trails that only seem to exist long enough for them to walk it, closing back to untamed wildness behind.

Wulf follows the song... call... beckoning, whatever it is from the camp that she and Selena, who is close behind, had set up by the lake not too far from this area. Wulf shoulders her musket some as she forges ahead towards the call.

Selena nudges the husky and furrows her brow as they continue along. "Wulf, any clue what we're heading after?" She asks a little perplexedly, though certanly aware of the pull as she makes her way along.

Ictus had been patrolling the forest edge as he heard the call, slowly moving towards the source as he looks around. He blinks at the two and nods in greeting, "Hey you two..." he looks towards whereever the call is cloming from and ponders as he walks along

Light trails through the thick bushes. It moves like will-o-wisps in faint, darting, bands that streak across the vision before darting back off into the shrubbery, leaving the song behind to draw them forward, deeper into the forest. The beasts of the place seem absent, leaving the Gifted to proceed without molestation.

Wulf shakes her head back to the pair and puts a finger up to her lips in a silence gesture. "Beasts aren't here, could be bad." This is all she says, shutting up soon afterwards and slinging her musket to bear moving towards the calling as quietly as she can.

Selena glances around the unusually silent forest, looking across at the apparition with a wary expression before nodding back to Ictus in greeting. "You seem to be showing up a lot lately; have you been following us?" She jokes, then gestures around the clearing. "Here to look for the lights in the forest too, then?" Wulf's comment then prompts the wolfess to fall silent with a sigh, keeping an eye on the husky in case something happens.

Ictus looks around at the lack of beasts curiously and nods to Wulf in agreement, "Indeed." he hmms? at Selena and shakes his head with a quiet chuckle, "No, I haven't." he says it quietly as he moves towards the call

Following the light, the group emerges from the thick brambles and bushes to a verdant clearing. Perched in the center is an eight foot tall deer like being with four arms. Its cyan fur has patterns of dizzying complexity in solid yellow hue. Like creator math, but very different for anyone with any amount of knowledge of mathemagic. Its height is understated, seated as it is with legs crossed. Its eyes rest on the group as they approach, but it makes no motion to rise or speak, yet. Its hands, all four, are clasped, giving the appearance of meditation or prayer.

Wulf stands at the edge of the clearing, not wishing to move in any further lest she set something off or the odd being in front of them running. "Well... I'm not sure now." The Husky clears her throat and calls out to the being. "Excuse me sir, I don't mean to bother you... but are you the one who led us here somehow? Like a call?"

Selena allows Wulf to do the talking, looking over the figure curiously and pacing a little to the side to get a better look at the odd being before murmuring; "I've never seen anything quite like you before..." Most likely to herself, though it's loud enough anyone could hear her if they were paying attention.

Ictus blinks at the being and tilts his head curiously before looking to the other two, "Any chance this being is the one who called us?" he speaks in a whisper before Wulf reveals their position, he sighs and shrugs before he looks to the unknown being as Selena examines him

The being exudes a quiet, patient, power. Terrifying in magnitude, comforting in its firm control. It gives no hint of ire or displeasure. With calm eyes that echo of ancient times, it looks from one gifted to the next, "You have met the Lost Ones. First to rouse, from a slumber of countless springs." It takes a moment to realize its mouth does not move. The voice seems to echo through the very body, as if the world quivered with the thoughts of this four armed... divinity, "Your plight pains us, you, who are lost children, looking with wide eyes to absent minded parents. Come. Sit. Sing with us." It is then that a physical sound is made. Its head leans back and it gives a low quavering note that has the entire clearing vibrating with that frightful power. Bones vibrate, and souls chill, not with fear, precisely, but simple magnitude. The song is one of peace and welcome.

Wulf slings her musket back over her shoulders and steps foreward just a bit, a bit shaky from the sheer magnitude of the sound. "Plight? Lost children? And wide eyes to absent parents? You speak in riddles sir... would you kindly tell me what ya mean?" She edges ever closer foreward, gesturing for the others to follow.

Ictus shakes his head at the sheer power of the being and blinks at the being as it 'speaks'. He hmms at what it said and nods to Wulf in agreement as he carefully steps towards the being, he's shaking a little from the sheer emormity of the beings power as well

Selena takes an apprehensive glance back at the odd being, particularly at mention of the old ones, though there's a vicious glare directed in its direction the moment parents are referenced, though the strange tones again have her holding her tongue for a few moments. "If we're lost, then I suggest you tell us how to fix that. I don't know what you are or where you're from, so pardon my skepticism." She replies flatly, an ear flicking back. "And for the matter of the Old Ones - since you say you know enough - do you have anything to say for my 'bond?" It would seem that despite herself, there's an air of discomfort about her, even with the strange song accompanying it.

"Your words are fast," speaks the patient presence of the soul, "Like your lives, they move so fleetingly. We do not know it, but we can feel you, and your question." The deer looks at Wulf pointedly then, regarding her with the full measure of its attention. This proves to be exhilarating and spine chilling in equal measure. Its attention moves towards Selena next, "How do you, clever child, inform an insect of its lost nature?" Two hands unfold, and are held up, palms forward, more yellow patterns visible there, "We know you are much more interesting than an insect, but think of it. Let us speak of what you know. You have met them. They are not Old, by us, but they are Ancient, by yours. They were first to rouse, and last to sleep. We lament this. Their prison, destroyed." A hand sweeps upwards to the sky, where the ruined streak of the moon rests, visible even in the day.

Wulf shudders and lets out a a sound almost like a moan but not quite. "Woah, thats weird." The Husky glances over at Selena a moment, just shaking her head a bit at her friends vindictiveness towards something that may crush her like a bug. The Husky turns back to the being and strides foreward, taking a seat near it. "I had a dream of the moon exploding at one time, a ship ran into it, creator in origin."

Selena mutters something and shakes her head, visible shuddering as the creature directs its attention to her. "Right. So your goals are utterly unfathomable. How about some bread crumbs, then? You can talk to us, that's better than trying to explain something to a skrith." She replies with a sigh - evidently taking quite a bit of self-control to keep her facade after Wulf's disapproval, moving over to the husky as the 'divinity' continues its commentary. "Right... What do you have to tell us that we don't already know, then? Enlighten me, if you will. I doubt you came here otherwise." She asks, voice considerably less severe than it was at first - and a lot more curious - though the uncomfortable tone still hasn't left it.

Ictus tilts his head at the being and hmms, "You... Are not one of the old ones then? Then... Who are you?" he looks curious and then looks up, "They... Were in Raquestia?" he ponders that a bit and shakes his head, before looking to Wulf, "Really?" he shakes his head and frowns before looking back to the god-like being

"Truly," speaks the deer god, "Your words bring clarity, and with it, you earn our favor. A vessel of the stars, set lose by your careless parents. You must bear their sin, but you have good souls. You will make amends," it speaks as if supremely confident in this matter, "The hand of time cannot easily be turned back. They are free, and are a blight on you. We come with hope. You have little hope to combat them with your small magic and frail metal. Obey us, know us as your guardians, and we will guide you against them. Learn the way of the pact, and we will be enriched. You will be our speed, we will be your strength. You will be our eyes, we will be your wisdom," speaks the being in solemn proposal. "We are Old, by your seeing. Older than any other you may know. Your parents were but infants when we slumbered."

Wulf lifts her eyebrow, leaning back and resting a hand upon the earth. "I have always found that a good round in the head will quell the blight. But it is simply one down among many. Tell me, what hope do you bring and what can you tell me about the creation of the shadow as we call them, why were they imprisoned on the moon and why did the ship crash? I'd be thankful for even that crumb of history." She looks up with hopeful eyes, tail swishing gently.

Selena blinks, sitting idle for a moment as something clicks into place in her head. "So you're referring to the creators as our parents. They're not, not by the definition of the word. Progenitors, maybe, but they are not my parents." She replies firmly, then leans in a little at the proposal, letting Wulf say her piece. "Please, indulge us. If you offer wisdom, it'd be better to show us you have context for it. And surely you know there are some old artifacts that have had noticable effects on keeping the blight at bay. I'd recall what happened at Heartfall for you if you'd prefer, but I imagine you already 'know'. And you'd know what I think the implications are."

Ictus blinks at that and tilts his head curiously, "Pact? What do you mean, exactly?" he looks to Wulf and nods in agreement, "Answers would be nice..." he ponders that and then looks to Selena, "True..."

The deer god seems to consider Wulf's question quite intently. "The Shadow. They are your kin, though you know them not. Brother and sister. Some of them are aware, we know this. Others desire for little save destruction. You will find strength in unity. Your past is mirrored, abandoned children. Your future, almost void. You have no idea how close it came to be. Every breath you draw is a miracle given to you." The deer pauses again, then focuses on Selena with what has come closest to irritation so far. It is like a teacher that feels a student speaks too loudly. Not actively hostile, but a flicker of impatience, "They are your parents. Their blood runs in you, forward. You do not believe us, we understand. They are here, ask them for yourself. When they do not answer them, test it. Make family with them, and you will know that we speak the truth of it. Your blood cannot be hidden from us." A moment of quiet, and those eyes close. Relief rushes over the three, tension running away that was easy to miss as its attention slides away entirely for a moment, only to return, "The pact is a promise, between you and one of us. A bargain to last as long as you draw breath yet. Tonight, we only give the idea of it. Consider of it."

Wulf nods at the being, trying to finangle the meaning of his words out of him before she nudges selena. "They created us Selena and they cannot have created us from nothing, does ash come from thin air? No, it needs a fire and fuel. We share a bond of blood to the creators whether you believe it or not." She once again regards the being waiting for him to continue."

Ictus blinks at that and shakes his head, "Kin? I do not understand, how could we be related in any fashion?" he the stares at the suggestion of 'making family' with their creators and shakes his head in disbelief before moving on, "Alright then... Tell us of this 'pact'? What would be required of us?" he looks curious before looking at Wulf, "The texts say that we came from animals on their world, do they not?"

Selena looks back to Wulf after the comment. "I'm still not sure that's quite being each and every one of our parents. I did not deny relation." She replies to the Husky - and by extension the divinity, noting the change in disposition and enjoying the moment's reprieve from its intense attention. "Is there anything else we should know about your pact? Other than being... Well, a pact, there's not much else we know." she asks with a sigh as the divinity's attention returns.

"That is a personal matter, but first, you must achieve a new knowing," speaks the ancient being. It pats its shin with a hand before clasping them back together, "Who of you will come forward. We will take nothing, but it will feel like everything. To see the truth, even a small handful, will frighten you. We mean no harm. Step forward and sit," His lap is patted lightly again, "If you wish. If you do not, we understand. To gaze into the light, when one has dwelled in darkness. We will wait. Time we have, even if it is something you do not."

Wulf twitches and pulls on her nose in a quick moment of thought before standing once more and stepping foreward. "I've had strange and terrible dreams each. Why not add something new to the list." The husky moves up to the base of the area where the being sits and waits for permission. "Ready when you are."

Selena puts a hand to her temple, rubbing it for a moment before looking over at the deer. "Better to know sooner than later." She replies, stepping forward tentatively. "I'll take your offer, if it'll help rid promise of the old ones." Selena looks over at Wulf and offers out a hand. "You can't lose everything if you're still with a friend, can you?" She quips, waiting for further instruction.

Ictus hmms at the being and looks to the other two, "Well... I'm curious..." he blinks as Wulf and Selena steps up, he shrugs and steps up himself, "Alright then..." he looks at the being curiously for instruction

"We knew we were right to call you. You who has sung both songs of your blood, bearer of the sin of your parents," it speaks to Wulf, "And you surprise us," this to Selena, "Despite your bold concern, you rush towards the light, heedless of the fear. Your courage may yet be your salvation." It reaches, gathering up all three and setting them down in the warm lap. Its many hands gently pet them as one might a treasured and beloved pet, "Close your eyes, be still, and think of nothing at all. Release yourself, and allow the knowing to come."

Wulf grabs Selena's hand before they are all scooped up into the beings lap, and she ponders for a moment. She has sung both songs of her blood and is a bearer of the sins of her parents? Interesting, something to ponder on later however as she closes her eyes to the night with a heavy release of her breath.

Ictus blinks at the petting and shakes his head gently as he closes his eyes, "I fail to see how this will bring knowledge... But alright." before he attempts to empty his mind of all thoughts

Selena smiles slightly and shakes her head at the comment. "There are things more important than my wellbeing." She replies simply, holding the husky's hand with as she waits for whatever's to come - apprehensive, certainly.

And then there is nothing. At first the literal sort, which may be annoying. Just petting, and quiet breathing, and waiting, waiting, waiting. As one lapses off into possible boredom, new thoughts gently pry in around the edges. The more distracted one becomes, the more they pry, until, with a snap, they burst in. All three find themselves hovering in void. Before them, a great many beings. Each radiates a similar sense of age as the deer, but their shapes and powers are quite varied. Some have great wings, some slither, and some defy earth biology all together, taking forms of clouds, liquid, or even proving difficult to classify vaguely. They are all looking, staring even, at the three floating presences. A smiling figure advances towards them. Chubby and jiggling with each step. It appears... male? It's hard to tell. "We are very glad you came to see us," it says, "We are many. There was once another people, before you came. They look up to us. We were...." it trails off. Another voice chimes up, "Gods." Another bellows in a lion like roar, "No! We are spirits. Spirits of the world." Soft murmuring ripples through the daunting crowd on the topic.

Wulf blinks in the ethereal sense, remiaining quiet and dumbstruck at the many beings in this plane. It is not until they speak of another people the Husky breaks out of her daze to wonder who they were.

Selena looks about the void disconcertedly, taking a deep breath and a few moments to attempt to orient herself in any vague sense of the word. "...What is this place..?" She eventually asks to nobody in particular with more than a little self-consciousness on her tone, looking back to Wulf for a little 'comfort' in familiarity.

Ictus sighs lightly at the petting and then furrows his brow at the thoughts, then he blinks at the void and looks around, "Woah..." at the being that approaches he blinks and nods, "I... See..." he winces at the roar and looks among the murmurers, before looking to Selena and Wulf with a shrug

"They are gone," speaks the chubby one. A soft ripple through the crowd. It feels as if they are missed. Gazing at one another, it becomes clear, in this place, everyone is... exposed. Clothing does not exist, only avatars of ones true self, naked and visible to all. "Your people have endured, and we are awake. Will you call out to us?" asks the cheerful looking chubby god... spirit... thing.

The source of the roar becomes visible, with a fierce set of teeth in a large snout, it glares at the visitors, "Will you dare to challenge us?"

The one that made a claim to godhood emerges, a female of striking appearance, almost a Creator, if not for her four eyes, "Will you court us? We offer wisdom, and power, if you will serve us in kind."

Wulf looks confused, is she supposed to do one thing or the other. The Husky steps foreward with her eyes drifting about lustily, sadly, before returning to face the three speakers. "Can we not do each? you speak as if we have three choices when there could be a fourth."

Selena flushes when she recognises the three of them were laid bare before the odd beings, looking back to the three. "What exactly do you mean, 'call out to us'?" She asks, evidently more interested in that than fighting or courting some phantasmagorical being.

Ictus blinks confusedly and nods in agreement with Wulf, "True, though I suppose they would not like that..." he ponders the options and shrugs, "What must we do to serve?" he seems curious

The deer being emerges from the crowd, "You will find knowing," it promises, "To any one of yours, you may find one of ours that fits well."

A soft pause, and the female speaks, "It is like a marriage," She purses her lips, "Sometimes open. But some of us are very jealous."

The chubby one laughs at this, "Some of us are not. You look tired, all of you. You have so much to think about."

Wulf lifts her eyebrow and opens her mouth to speak, only to find she has nothing to say. She has thuroughly been.... distracted by unraveling all these riddlesome words, closing her trap she contnues to listen.

Selena watches on with a sense of mild confusion. "That's not particularly illuminating." She observes, looking over at the others in the congregation. "So where do we begin searching? How do we know if we're calling to the right being?" Questioning to the end, it'd seem - tired or not. "And how do we find you again, if we need to solicit you for those other suggestions you make?"

Ictus hmms? at the deer and nods slowly, "Alright..." he looks at the Selena and nods in agreement, "Indeed..." he looks to the beings and hmms in thought, "I suppose you won't tell us straight though..."

"You will find knowing," echoes in the minds of all three. A soft breeze washes across them, like warm breath with the promise of something more, but it all fades away, leaving the three to awaken back in the clearing, with no sign of the deer, save for some antlers. One for each person, large and pronged.