Elthana watches wordlessly as Vin and Nef follow Gewyn out. She's glad of it, as things were starting to unravel fast. She wondered if Morris knew more than he was letting on, but didn't ask as Muir was getting rolling.
She sat back and pondered her own thoughts as the talk of Gods escalated.
"oh long before the closing of the gates, it was wars amongst the first people of the material plane, the tribal animal folk.
Though if there is a person who hears the words of Hermes upon your realm then it is likely he will be needed soon enough, and I suppose a cleric would be a good choice, devout and such like..." Morris begins. Before then turning to Elthana. "As a newfound cleric yourself, do you have any thoughts on the duties that myself and the other aspects fulfill?"
Elthana looks surprised as she is brought into the conversation. She was still reeling from the revelation of Vin and what all that could possibly mean. Her eyes turn a bit hard as she regards Morris, "You speak of how you're only here to assist and that your hands are mostly tied when we ask for this assistance. It seems to me that you only look to gain, gain stories from us so that you don't have to wait for our demise. I don't know if Vin's death started this hunger as you realized what we were and what we are facing, but to lie and tell him you had no idea, but then say that this prophecy had you come running."
She continues to stay seated, but she does not look comfortable, "Last visit, you did indeed assist us, knowing the battle we had in front of us. What about this time? The stakes are still high, higher than what we realized when we were here last time." She pauses, visibly trying to hold back her anger at the situation, looking towards the door that her friends left through hoping they know that she and Muir were still with them. "Always" she whispers, though she doesn't really realize she said it outloud.
"Thoughts on your duties?" the elf finally thinks to his actual question, "Honestly, I don't know. I thought it strange when I first heard about it, but there are so many things in this world that are strange. What do you collect these memories for? Your own enjoyment? Because at your own account, you don't talk to living people such as us, so the common practice isn't using this information to help the living in any way, so why?"
"hmmmm... I do it because it is my duty... would be a correct answer but I don't think that is what you are looking for, I certainly started taking vin's memories as a fulfillment of my duty, but when I realised what he was... I admit I was terrified... The real answer to your question is complicated, Before we split into three we were one, as you know, the Raven Queen... the reason we split was a protective measure, away from our throne we are weakened, after imprisoning Nectyran we needed to divide and delegate duties, we could not be death 'whole cloth' as one might say... memories are collected and catalogued because mortals cherish them. Cherish memories, tell stories, live in the past, and so that is what I became, the same with your fascination with sanctifying and ceremonialising dead bodies, or souls... we exist because you want us to... without us you'd still die, but we would no longer be of service to your wants, needs, and beliefs. you ask what the point is? but you and your people made me." he thinks for a moment and sighs, looking to the door. "I spend my existence looking into the past Elthana... I wanted to hear stories from you all because I want to know what you are doing, where you are going, I wanted a glimse into the future, should I be judged so for that? for crossing a line that I know I shouldn't just to help you all? you mortals get so offended when a god lies but you do it to eachother all the time, you lie to protect and to serve others as much as you do for selfish reasons, but you cannot understand why one would lie to you?" he stands and walks to the door, "...We should go, I think Vin is going to need you both after all of this and clearly I'm not going to be able to help in this regard... Though as for the powers you derive from the boon I gave, I hope it helps you, for everyone's sake... Come." as Morris stands it feels like the room itself is breathing in and out readying itself to collapse into nothing once more. (muir and elthana can have a final say before they are ushered out.)
Turning back the clock five minutes, As Vin and Gewyn exit the side room they are greeted by the scene of a squealing Boris the boar, standing on his hind legs with Ingram trying to calm him, acorns rain down pelting the boar from the armoured celestial squirrel in the rafters, "ah! can you two help?" Ingram asks as the boar almost bowls him over and continues squealing at the ceiling, "I think the boar and the squirrel had a disagreement!"... Morris stands at the bar also looking to the rafters and apparently scolding the squirrel in a celestial tongue, but stops when Vin enters, looking at the boy, deep in thought trying to think of what to say, and after a moment "Vin... I... I meant what I said... I know it's still fresh but, your life is a choice, remember that... I meant what I said, you are using what you have been given as a tool for good."
Vin follows Gewyn through the door into the bar area, pausing for a moment at the scene of the giant boar squealing at the armoured squirrel.
"Where did the....never mind", he mutters, giving the boar a wide berth as he makes his way around the room back to the booth where he had been reading his book. He is not in the mood to wrangle a giant boar, that is for sure.
It hadn't occurred to him when he left the other room, that Morris would be here as well. And as the old man speaks to him, he looks across, taking in the words but not replying. He turns to look out at the golems, checking to see if time outside is still slowed.
"Is it safe to leave?", he calls up to Ratosk.
Neferox pads behind him, a little more interested in the boar situation, but ultimately moving to sit next to Vin.
Muir looks at Elthana and then back at Morris "Indeed we are well versed in killing and lying...sadly....However each of them...Gewyn and his connection the fae, Elthana and her connection to this realm, Sam to the earth, Vin to Fire and Celestial, and if I had to guess the one whose spot I took has a connection to water....they were pulled together because of their destinies, which I am sure you know. So trying to prevent Vin from fulfilling his destiny seems foolhardy. If you won't tell me the prophecy that is fine....I am sure I will come across it. We should talk about what we came for with the others present....defeating Nivara."
Muir will leave when Elthana leaves and rejoin the others.
Gewyn looks at the scene playing out before him and sighs. Not now, he thinks. "Spyro, can you pacify Ratosk?"Spyro uncoils from around his shoulders and shoots up into the rafters. Then Gewyn starts to play a soothing melody on his pipes to try and calm down the boar. He raises an eyebrow at Ingram, querying after what happened.
Spyro does his best to pacify the celestial squirrel, but with a bit of a language barrier, spyro's calming tones fall upon deaf ears, though he does succeed in distracting the squirrel from pelting more acorns for whatever that is worth. Boris on the other hand is very much calmed and soothed by Gewyn's music, The boar settles and moves to one of the booths to chill. Music continues and Ingram tries to explain as much as he understands, which seems to be very little, as he manages as far as, "I think the squirrel taunted the thingy... Elthana's pet thingy... well they just went mad and started squealing at eachother, I think the thingy smelled food maybe? Can animals swear at eachother?"
By way of response to Vin's question, as he looks out the high windows, He sees the golems starting to slowly pick up the pace in their efforts to pick themselves up and form back together. This, in vast contrast with how they were moving a moment ago as if in super slow motion.
Vin watches as the golems start to speed up, and realises that he isn't going to get any verbal answer. Ratosk doesn't speak a humanoid tongue. It was a shame, because if Ratosk was indeed celestial then he might be able to answer some questions he has.
Perhaps Muir can help me with that when he returns.
As he sits and listens to Gewyn play, the music meant to soothe the giant boar seems to also start to melt away his own bad mood. He sits and mulls over what he has learnt as the music plays and the golems do a sort of dance of reconstruction. That is exactly what I need to do. Pick myself up and put myself back together. Whatever the prophecy says about me, I am still in control of my own destiny. Aren't I?
In his blood he has a mix of celestial and fiendish blood, but other than feeling a small spark that might be celestial in nature, the only real power he has comes from Neferox. Well, Roxs'hian. And that was only a fragment of the power Roxs'hian wielded in the past, so how much damage could I do? And he doesn't want to do any damage anyway, except to perhaps Nivara, right now. And he could do with some of that anti-god power to take her on.
He looks down to the hell hound lying next to him. She has spent more than a decade unable to tell me she is my mother. Holding on to that pain, and the pain of the memories of what happened to my father.
He pictures his father's face in his mind, smiling as he protects both mother and newborn son from hellish fire. Selfless and full of courage.
I will make him proud. I will make them both proud.
He jumps down from his chair and buries himself in his mother's fur, wrapping his arms around her neck and giving her a big hug.
Gewyn eyes Vin as he soothes the boar, smiling softly. He's going to be okay, he thinks.
Then, he slides his pipes back down into the front of his shirt and starts making his way behind the bar nonchalantly, as if he belongs there, looking to fix himself another drink while watching Morris out of the corner of his eye to see if there is a reaction.
With the boar successfully soothed, Ingram is able to back off a little. The goliath looks a little confused at the exchange that Morris attempted with vin and then hesitates a little as vin asks for time to resume it's normal pace. "Uhhh, shouldn't we keep the outside moving as slow as possible? I'm just saying... The Isle of Duun moves further away from us minute by minute, so if we want to expedite our return and make this meeting of the djiini happen sooner then don't we want to keep the realm slowed until we're ready to go? Right?" Trying as hard as he can to be gentle with the suggestion, it is obvious that there is a larger question in his head, one Vin knows is there even if left unsaid, 'what happened in there' is written plain as day in the confusion on Ingram's face.
Vin stands up and looks across at Ingram, his expression now set and determined.
"You are right, the mission comes first", he replies.
He once again looks up at Ratosk, "Sorry Ratosk, false alarm. If you can understand me, can you slow it down outside again, please".
He then looks over at Morris. "Will the others be long?", he says matter-of-factly. His friendly demeanour with the aspect of the Raven Queen gone, at least for now.
Elthana emerges as well, stoic as ever and heads over to Boris seeing that the place was a bit more in disarray then when she left it and figured it had something to do with the giant boar. She looks around and sees that everyone seems alright - all things considered and nods as Muir suggests planning their next steps.
"Oh, never mind", Vin says, waving off his question to Morris.
"Sounds good to me, the sooner we do that, the sooner we can head out", he replies. "What do we need to know beyond the fact we want a meeting of Djinn in person? We settled on the plan for Ö to take the burden of the realm and hightail it to Lumithor, right?".
He wanders over to Muir. "By the way, is your ability to talk to animals a spell? I was wondering if you could spare it, would you cast it on my ring? I have a few questions for Ratosk before we leave. Probably best to sort it later, ok?", he asks quietly. Not a whisper that others can't hear, he just doesn't want to interrupt things too much.
As Muir and Elthana emerge, they are followed by the other Morris who closes the door behind him and then it is gone. 'Other* Morris goes behing the bar and steps into the first version of himself and then there is only one, Ingram screws up his face in a little disgust at the implications of doubling ones-self but turns to the group regardless, "I don't know if I'll have to go back to collect my griffon but I'll be good to go as soon as you all are", "You're welcome to stay as long as you like of course..." Morris interjects and then goes back to cleaning a glass.
Muir smiles at Vin "I hope you are feeling a little better getting out of the room. My spell comes from my staff. I know the spell but don't have it committed to memory since my staff does the work for me. Does the ring work with a staff or would you like me to talk to the Ratosk for you?"
Muir talks to the group once he is done answering Vin "The meeting with all the Djinn is imperative. I believe Shenoh would be best to make that happen with the help of the teleportation from...oh my his name seems to have slipped my mind....but on the other hand if they are cleaning up from the attacks maybe it would be easier to teleport to the main chamber of ...Ginro! That's his name....Anyway we must hold this meeting and figure out a plan to stop Nivara. What do you all think?"
Vin nods but his expression is still a little solemn.
"It shouldn't matter how you cast the spell, as long as you cast it into the ring", He replies. "Could you try, please?".
He then listens as Muir details his thinking about the meeting with the Djinn, and nods.
"Am I right in thinking we have a scroll of sending, for contacting Kohso? If we are to have a council, should we not invite those from the Shattered Isle? Actually, wasn't Kohso meant to contact one of us anyway? In five days. How long has it been since we left there? I hope she didn't contact Sam", he asks, as thoughts of the elder jogs his memory.
Elthana was starting to feel antsy. She agrees to a meeting of the Dijiin, "Would be nice to discuss all of this and get a real plan going. I don't know of anyone else we are to gather to our cause, they might have some ideas. The more the mightier and all that." she pauses and smiles at Vin, "I'm sure she didn't contact Sam."
She looks to the two readers to see if they are ready to leave and get a move on, as they seem to have enjoyed the time slow down.
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Elthana watches wordlessly as Vin and Nef follow Gewyn out. She's glad of it, as things were starting to unravel fast. She wondered if Morris knew more than he was letting on, but didn't ask as Muir was getting rolling.
She sat back and pondered her own thoughts as the talk of Gods escalated.
"oh long before the closing of the gates, it was wars amongst the first people of the material plane, the tribal animal folk.
Though if there is a person who hears the words of Hermes upon your realm then it is likely he will be needed soon enough, and I suppose a cleric would be a good choice, devout and such like..." Morris begins. Before then turning to Elthana. "As a newfound cleric yourself, do you have any thoughts on the duties that myself and the other aspects fulfill?"
Muir waits to hear Elthana's thoughts....He wonders if she will let Morris have it or be diplomatic about the whole Vin situation......
Elthana looks surprised as she is brought into the conversation. She was still reeling from the revelation of Vin and what all that could possibly mean. Her eyes turn a bit hard as she regards Morris, "You speak of how you're only here to assist and that your hands are mostly tied when we ask for this assistance. It seems to me that you only look to gain, gain stories from us so that you don't have to wait for our demise. I don't know if Vin's death started this hunger as you realized what we were and what we are facing, but to lie and tell him you had no idea, but then say that this prophecy had you come running."
She continues to stay seated, but she does not look comfortable, "Last visit, you did indeed assist us, knowing the battle we had in front of us. What about this time? The stakes are still high, higher than what we realized when we were here last time." She pauses, visibly trying to hold back her anger at the situation, looking towards the door that her friends left through hoping they know that she and Muir were still with them. "Always" she whispers, though she doesn't really realize she said it outloud.
"Thoughts on your duties?" the elf finally thinks to his actual question, "Honestly, I don't know. I thought it strange when I first heard about it, but there are so many things in this world that are strange. What do you collect these memories for? Your own enjoyment? Because at your own account, you don't talk to living people such as us, so the common practice isn't using this information to help the living in any way, so why?"
"hmmmm... I do it because it is my duty... would be a correct answer but I don't think that is what you are looking for, I certainly started taking vin's memories as a fulfillment of my duty, but when I realised what he was... I admit I was terrified... The real answer to your question is complicated, Before we split into three we were one, as you know, the Raven Queen... the reason we split was a protective measure, away from our throne we are weakened, after imprisoning Nectyran we needed to divide and delegate duties, we could not be death 'whole cloth' as one might say... memories are collected and catalogued because mortals cherish them. Cherish memories, tell stories, live in the past, and so that is what I became, the same with your fascination with sanctifying and ceremonialising dead bodies, or souls... we exist because you want us to... without us you'd still die, but we would no longer be of service to your wants, needs, and beliefs. you ask what the point is? but you and your people made me." he thinks for a moment and sighs, looking to the door. "I spend my existence looking into the past Elthana... I wanted to hear stories from you all because I want to know what you are doing, where you are going, I wanted a glimse into the future, should I be judged so for that? for crossing a line that I know I shouldn't just to help you all? you mortals get so offended when a god lies but you do it to eachother all the time, you lie to protect and to serve others as much as you do for selfish reasons, but you cannot understand why one would lie to you?" he stands and walks to the door,
"...We should go, I think Vin is going to need you both after all of this and clearly I'm not going to be able to help in this regard... Though as for the powers you derive from the boon I gave, I hope it helps you, for everyone's sake... Come." as Morris stands it feels like the room itself is breathing in and out readying itself to collapse into nothing once more.
(muir and elthana can have a final say before they are ushered out.)
Turning back the clock five minutes,
As Vin and Gewyn exit the side room they are greeted by the scene of a squealing Boris the boar, standing on his hind legs with Ingram trying to calm him, acorns rain down pelting the boar from the armoured celestial squirrel in the rafters, "ah! can you two help?" Ingram asks as the boar almost bowls him over and continues squealing at the ceiling, "I think the boar and the squirrel had a disagreement!"...
Morris stands at the bar also looking to the rafters and apparently scolding the squirrel in a celestial tongue, but stops when Vin enters, looking at the boy, deep in thought trying to think of what to say, and after a moment "Vin... I... I meant what I said... I know it's still fresh but, your life is a choice, remember that... I meant what I said, you are using what you have been given as a tool for good."
Vin follows Gewyn through the door into the bar area, pausing for a moment at the scene of the giant boar squealing at the armoured squirrel.
"Where did the....never mind", he mutters, giving the boar a wide berth as he makes his way around the room back to the booth where he had been reading his book. He is not in the mood to wrangle a giant boar, that is for sure.
It hadn't occurred to him when he left the other room, that Morris would be here as well. And as the old man speaks to him, he looks across, taking in the words but not replying. He turns to look out at the golems, checking to see if time outside is still slowed.
"Is it safe to leave?", he calls up to Ratosk.
Neferox pads behind him, a little more interested in the boar situation, but ultimately moving to sit next to Vin.
Muir looks at Elthana and then back at Morris "Indeed we are well versed in killing and lying...sadly....However each of them...Gewyn and his connection the fae, Elthana and her connection to this realm, Sam to the earth, Vin to Fire and Celestial, and if I had to guess the one whose spot I took has a connection to water....they were pulled together because of their destinies, which I am sure you know. So trying to prevent Vin from fulfilling his destiny seems foolhardy. If you won't tell me the prophecy that is fine....I am sure I will come across it. We should talk about what we came for with the others present....defeating Nivara."
Muir will leave when Elthana leaves and rejoin the others.
Gewyn looks at the scene playing out before him and sighs. Not now, he thinks. "Spyro, can you pacify Ratosk?" Spyro uncoils from around his shoulders and shoots up into the rafters. Then Gewyn starts to play a soothing melody on his pipes to try and calm down the boar. He raises an eyebrow at Ingram, querying after what happened.
Spyro does his best to pacify the celestial squirrel, but with a bit of a language barrier, spyro's calming tones fall upon deaf ears, though he does succeed in distracting the squirrel from pelting more acorns for whatever that is worth.
Boris on the other hand is very much calmed and soothed by Gewyn's music, The boar settles and moves to one of the booths to chill.
Music continues and Ingram tries to explain as much as he understands, which seems to be very little, as he manages as far as, "I think the squirrel taunted the thingy... Elthana's pet thingy... well they just went mad and started squealing at eachother, I think the thingy smelled food maybe? Can animals swear at eachother?"
By way of response to Vin's question, as he looks out the high windows, He sees the golems starting to slowly pick up the pace in their efforts to pick themselves up and form back together. This, in vast contrast with how they were moving a moment ago as if in super slow motion.
Vin watches as the golems start to speed up, and realises that he isn't going to get any verbal answer. Ratosk doesn't speak a humanoid tongue. It was a shame, because if Ratosk was indeed celestial then he might be able to answer some questions he has.
Perhaps Muir can help me with that when he returns.
As he sits and listens to Gewyn play, the music meant to soothe the giant boar seems to also start to melt away his own bad mood. He sits and mulls over what he has learnt as the music plays and the golems do a sort of dance of reconstruction. That is exactly what I need to do. Pick myself up and put myself back together. Whatever the prophecy says about me, I am still in control of my own destiny. Aren't I?
In his blood he has a mix of celestial and fiendish blood, but other than feeling a small spark that might be celestial in nature, the only real power he has comes from Neferox. Well, Roxs'hian. And that was only a fragment of the power Roxs'hian wielded in the past, so how much damage could I do? And he doesn't want to do any damage anyway, except to perhaps Nivara, right now. And he could do with some of that anti-god power to take her on.
He looks down to the hell hound lying next to him. She has spent more than a decade unable to tell me she is my mother. Holding on to that pain, and the pain of the memories of what happened to my father.
He pictures his father's face in his mind, smiling as he protects both mother and newborn son from hellish fire. Selfless and full of courage.
I will make him proud. I will make them both proud.
He jumps down from his chair and buries himself in his mother's fur, wrapping his arms around her neck and giving her a big hug.
Gewyn eyes Vin as he soothes the boar, smiling softly. He's going to be okay, he thinks.
Then, he slides his pipes back down into the front of his shirt and starts making his way behind the bar nonchalantly, as if he belongs there, looking to fix himself another drink while watching Morris out of the corner of his eye to see if there is a reaction.
With the boar successfully soothed, Ingram is able to back off a little. The goliath looks a little confused at the exchange that Morris attempted with vin and then hesitates a little as vin asks for time to resume it's normal pace. "Uhhh, shouldn't we keep the outside moving as slow as possible? I'm just saying... The Isle of Duun moves further away from us minute by minute, so if we want to expedite our return and make this meeting of the djiini happen sooner then don't we want to keep the realm slowed until we're ready to go? Right?" Trying as hard as he can to be gentle with the suggestion, it is obvious that there is a larger question in his head, one Vin knows is there even if left unsaid, 'what happened in there' is written plain as day in the confusion on Ingram's face.
Vin stands up and looks across at Ingram, his expression now set and determined.
"You are right, the mission comes first", he replies.
He once again looks up at Ratosk, "Sorry Ratosk, false alarm. If you can understand me, can you slow it down outside again, please".
He then looks over at Morris. "Will the others be long?", he says matter-of-factly. His friendly demeanour with the aspect of the Raven Queen gone, at least for now.
Muir reappears and smiles at everyone. “So shall we plan our next steps while the world has slowed to a stop?”
Elthana emerges as well, stoic as ever and heads over to Boris seeing that the place was a bit more in disarray then when she left it and figured it had something to do with the giant boar. She looks around and sees that everyone seems alright - all things considered and nods as Muir suggests planning their next steps.
"Oh, never mind", Vin says, waving off his question to Morris.
"Sounds good to me, the sooner we do that, the sooner we can head out", he replies. "What do we need to know beyond the fact we want a meeting of Djinn in person? We settled on the plan for Ö to take the burden of the realm and hightail it to Lumithor, right?".
He wanders over to Muir. "By the way, is your ability to talk to animals a spell? I was wondering if you could spare it, would you cast it on my ring? I have a few questions for Ratosk before we leave. Probably best to sort it later, ok?", he asks quietly. Not a whisper that others can't hear, he just doesn't want to interrupt things too much.
As Muir and Elthana emerge, they are followed by the other Morris who closes the door behind him and then it is gone. 'Other* Morris goes behing the bar and steps into the first version of himself and then there is only one, Ingram screws up his face in a little disgust at the implications of doubling ones-self but turns to the group regardless, "I don't know if I'll have to go back to collect my griffon but I'll be good to go as soon as you all are",
"You're welcome to stay as long as you like of course..." Morris interjects and then goes back to cleaning a glass.
Muir smiles at Vin "I hope you are feeling a little better getting out of the room. My spell comes from my staff. I know the spell but don't have it committed to memory since my staff does the work for me. Does the ring work with a staff or would you like me to talk to the Ratosk for you?"
Muir talks to the group once he is done answering Vin "The meeting with all the Djinn is imperative. I believe Shenoh would be best to make that happen with the help of the teleportation from...oh my his name seems to have slipped my mind....but on the other hand if they are cleaning up from the attacks maybe it would be easier to teleport to the main chamber of ...Ginro! That's his name....Anyway we must hold this meeting and figure out a plan to stop Nivara. What do you all think?"
Vin nods but his expression is still a little solemn.
"It shouldn't matter how you cast the spell, as long as you cast it into the ring", He replies. "Could you try, please?".
He then listens as Muir details his thinking about the meeting with the Djinn, and nods.
"Am I right in thinking we have a scroll of sending, for contacting Kohso? If we are to have a council, should we not invite those from the Shattered Isle? Actually, wasn't Kohso meant to contact one of us anyway? In five days. How long has it been since we left there? I hope she didn't contact Sam", he asks, as thoughts of the elder jogs his memory.
Elthana was starting to feel antsy. She agrees to a meeting of the Dijiin, "Would be nice to discuss all of this and get a real plan going. I don't know of anyone else we are to gather to our cause, they might have some ideas. The more the mightier and all that." she pauses and smiles at Vin, "I'm sure she didn't contact Sam."
She looks to the two readers to see if they are ready to leave and get a move on, as they seem to have enjoyed the time slow down.