if you're not comfortable being online today, we can move game to later, i don't mind. i'm not sure what the whole situation is but it seemed to be upsetting.
the absurdly quick summary, from my end, is: I was doing what I thought were routine moderation tasks, and one user got very, very upset and started vigorously defending themselves/attacking me (it got blurry, I'm not sure which)
and North, i'm not sure if you caught my whole thing with Gray in the Grove, but i am happy to report that tonight was a very nice sleep and i had normal dreams.
i guess nightmares are where you wake up and are like "oh, that was a bad nightmare, eek" but then you're fine. whereas night terrors are very vivid nightmares where you wake up still thinking you're in the nightmare
You didn't see any visible signs of nearing the temple at first, but as the fog and rain lets up a bit, you suddenly notice that the road is getting a little less dirt-and-rocks and a little more defined, with footprints and signs of people traveling this route before. You also notice that the underbrush is starting to get very, very overgrown, with thick bushes and leafy vines.
You feel a strange sense of both peace and unease.
You see that a ways up ahead, as you emerge through the trees, there is a heavily overgrown and half-crumbling stone temple, hung with moss and vines and carved with the stone images of leaping centaurs and dancing satyrs; there is an air of great age about the place. Druidic writing lines the pillars, and the soft flute music is filtering out from within; you hear a distant voice inside. The place is decidedly inhabited.
You play a very beautiful, slow panpipe solo, the kind of really deep, rolling bass that makes your ribcage shake a little. The flute music inside shifts so that the chords match your own.
Ink just looks at Astrid, mismatched eyes glistening slightly as the tune winds around , reverberating from the stones. He gestures for Astrid to go inside as he continues to play.
As you enter, the music fades and stops. You see a blue-skinned tiefling with curling ram's horns, dressed in druidic clothing, seated in the middle of a wide circle of flowers, druidic writing and natural objects, focused intently on the music; they stop playing and lower their golden flute and set it down, and smile serenely at you. "Welcome, Astrid, friend of Pan and friend of Efren. We were told you would be coming."
The tiefling rises gently, clasping their hands together and surveying you. "You have traveled far. There has been a shift in the air. Terrible things have happened, but Pan does not speak to me to tell me what. I am sorry for your trials."
The tiefling stills, and their golden eyes blink slowly. "Ah. Therrimyscithryx is dead..... I had wondered why the forest seemed so quiet. Pan grieves with you." They gesture. "Dark days are ahead. Please, sit. Let us talk."
"I am Serenity, speaker for Pan." They sit peacefully back down in their circle of flowers, and wave a hand; plants, berries and water appear before you. "Here. You must be tired. Pan provides."
Astrid selects some familiar-looing berries and pops them one by one, daintily. Then washes them down with a few sips. "Thank you, Serenity. What did you wish to speak about?"
@PrinceNorthLæraðr To you, Lae, this person seems trustworthy; you notice they seem only mildly interested in you, and keenly interested in Astrid. They do not have a clear discernible gender.
Serenity stills for a moment and looks in deep concentration, as though communing with something; then they relax. "No. He has not communed with Pan in some time. We fear he may have fallen to trouble."
"We will teach you of the natural world, and the true healing of Pan. There is much to learn." Serenity bows their head in deep concentration for a moment, then lifts it. "We will accept you, if you will accept us."
"You accept us, and we rejoice in you, Astrid of Pan." Serenity moves forward and gently places a hand on your forehead. "Pan speaks within you. We shall initiate you tonight. Come, let me show you our home."
Ink looks up and shrugs a little, too emotionally exhausted to do anything. His paw rests lightly on his Book of Shadows in a manner that seems like he was going to commune with it... but he also doesn't seem willing to even do that.
Serenity leads you gently down the winding, overgrown hallways of the temple and into a wide open-air garden that is full of flowers, vines, beautiful fruits and trees, and lush overgrowth. "This is the Garden of Prosperity," they say. "You are welcome to visit, meditate, and tend it anytime you wish. Please remove your shoes if you do."
Serenity suddenly stiffens, as though struck. They are completely still for a good minute, staring frozen off into space; then they snap back to reality, seemed unnerved. "Ah," they say, and lean heavily against the wall. "Forgive me. One moment. Pan is speaking to me with some urgency."
"There is a great darkness that Pan sees, creeping slowly across the world. A mother has lost her child, and is full of rage. She will tear apart everything." Serenity steadies themself. "Pan fears for his children. I must meditate on this."
"It is cursed by ritualistic magic. The gods shun it. Pan does not wish for his children to walk there." Serenity blinks slowly. "You are a fool, Læraðr."
"Yes. Come." Serenity moves down the hallway and shows you a few doors, each one decorated with small flowers and engravings. "There are safe lodgings here, if you wish to stay for the night. Astrid is to be initiated with us tonight."
"I must meditate now. The death of a dragon, and the darkness... these are grave things." Serenity bows gently. "Please meet us where Pan guides you tonight, Astrid. He will show you the way."
Ink kind of squats down to be closer to Astrid's level and flips through his Book and extracts a pressed and dried flower... small pink petals on a long stem, a flower not from around here... and he presents it to Astrid with the first words he has said since the cave: "Congratulations, friend Astrid. We will miss you."
(IC: Astrid is staring at the flower, unsure if she should take it) (OC: I was hitting myself on the head a lot and missed the bit with the gift in it)
Ink smiles wryly, "Travelling companions can be friends too..." He places the flower in Astrid's hand. "That doesn't change whether travelling or not."
As if on cue, Serenity re-emerges from the gates of the Garden of Prosperity, regarding the three of you gently. "I am a fool," they say. "What causes you to linger here, friends? Should you not be adventuring?"
Astrid's voice wavers "There are ways... to serve Pan outside of here, are there not? I'm not sure I can leave my.... friends, they're friends, my friends"
"Yes, we know. Your true destiny is out there in the world, with Pan watching over you." They smile gently. "We were foolish not to realize the truth, that you would not wish to stay. You go now with the blessing of Pan, my child... and with a gift." From behind their back, they draw a cloak made from soft leaves and flowers.
Serenity gently touches your forehead again. "While you wear this cloak, Pan is always with you. Bring peace to the lands, and walk with our blessing."
