The Forgotten Wish

"Oleaginous King of Fools, more likely."

Breldo Perception: 21

Asimi remains silent.

Perception: 6

The tabaxi gives Breldo a shrug.

"This one doesn't feel like a king."

Perception: 20

"Comedy..."  Khond rolls the name around his mouth for a moment, "I don't like that.  It implies there's also Tragedy about."

Perception: 9

Perception:  19

Nuria gives Breldo a stiff nod when he looks at her, and she stays close to him when the group meets the strange creature. She hadn't really noticed anything when thinking of the tabaxi at first, as despite the fact that he used to constantly say his own name, she never really put it to memory. The greasy cat makes her uncomfortable, so she usually avoids him. However, she grows more concerned when everyone else seems to have forgotten his name. How can everyone forget someone's name? How did this...creature take a name? She grips her bow tighter, but remains silent as Sylvera and the other elf lady ask their questions.

Perception: 7

Most look around, not noticing anything too special, perhaps too stricken with the fact they're dealing with something as strange as this. Only Breldo and Asimi take note of the fact that for a being so very "animated", it's staying... Rather fixed upon that one spot, right in front of the organ, not moving too far from it. 

Breldo notes one more thing beside that, too, as he glances back and sees Sylvera and Asimi stand side to side like this. He hadn't noticed from a distance earlier, but Asimi seems a bit... Off? Comparing to Asimi, the ear shape is just a bit different, and her eyes have this sort of hazy quality to them.

But then again, she's just probably a different kind of elf he's not familiar with.

And in the interim, Comedy continues.

"Well, let me just start with the big zinger first then. The obvious, if my presence here had not yet give it away. Magic... EXIST-"

There, Comedy lets his voice hang, intentionally dragging out the "t", but not adding the "s" that one would expect to follow at the end of that sentence. Until the sudden shift.

"...ed."

"I'm afraid that magic is now expired. Gone. Dead as a doornail. Extinguished. Ah, well, it is a bit of a misnomer, I admit. If magic was completely dead, I wouldn't be standing before you now, even if it is in this paltry form!"

"But needless to be said, while this world once bathed abundantly in our Father's blessing, I am afraid your lot has used up the entire well you had thought to be boundless! And now, it's all gone. Or mostly gone. There's so little of it left in your surroundings, that to even make a little light would prove difficult! I've had to resort to just a few tricks to stand here before you today."

"And so this world lies still and dead, except for those few times that just a gasp of breath air escapes from somewhere upon the realm. And then, briefly, the world breathes! Until it all gets used up straight again, of course. So many of your kind gobbling it up without even realizing! Things that should not be, coming to be. Things that should be sleeping, waking up."

"Little girls with dragon blood burning down an orphanage."

The creature laughs- Before it's laugh begins to stammer, and suddenly stops.

"...Actually, that's not very funny, is it?"

"But now, the short, a long, long time ago, when this started I took pity upon the residents of this place, and promised to try and help, should it be within my power to do so. Ah, I was so naive back then... How boring it'd all be! Now, Even if there was some life in the air, I had to use it when I could to help these lost souls instead of having some fun! Which brings me to the crux of the trade I wish to propose."

The lanky, tall, creature straightens up, trying to face the group as a whole as best as it can.

"Three weeks or so ago, something BIG happened. Such a deluge of magic, from somewhere far away! I held my promise, I get to have fun... And even managed to arrange for this meeting when I sensed your coming! Even if by now, there's not nearly enough left for much fun."

"And so, for the trade. On many of you, I can sense it. You have been VERY close to the source of all this fun. And so I'd ask you to indulge me. Tell me all you know! How little, or however much it may be. And in response to my one question, to each of you I will extend the grace of a question of your own. A grace I will extend even to those of you who will likely know naught!"

"A fair trade, no?"

Breldo glances towards Pallen and, against his conscious will, Sylvera. As much as he gripes about nobles and their ways, he's spent his life following orders from higher ups. Usually within a military hierarchy, but his commanding officers usually got their orders from someone with money and a family name. He knows he's no leader, and is likely to piss off this strange madman as anything.

Nuria was scared before, but now she's terrified. The hand on her bow quivers so much that any shot she took with it would fly wide, if she'd even be able to pull back an arrow. This...creature...he says magic existed...magic is real? No, no, no it has to be lying. It's clearly some crazed man acting like...whatever it's trying to be. Things that shouldn't be coming to be? That music box. The dream. With all the nonsensical words Comedy is spewing, and all it's theatrical motions. It's not surprising that Nuria doesn't notice anything off, since everything about this creature is off. She remains frozen behind Breldo, quivering in terror and unable to take her gaze off the creature's mask.

Just before the creature starts cackling, her breath catches. Icy claws seem to grasp hold of her frantically beating heart. Visions of flame dance behind her eyes, and the terrified screams of terrified children echo in her memory. "B-burned down...." She stammers in a voice so quiet it's almost inaudible. Those words had dragged up memories that she'd been trying and failing to forget for years. Memories so burned into her brain that have been haunting her dreams since that day. The reason she fears fire.

Her bow slips from her grasp and clatters onto the floor. She looks as if she may collapse at any moment as well by the looks of her shaking knees. "D-dragon's b-blood?" She squeaks, in a voice equally as quiet as before. Her dark eyes have grown even wider even as the thing quits laughing. Why did it say that? What does this thing know?

She seems to have gone into some sort of trance as the creature continues talking. She doesn't even seem to have noticed the fact that she's dropped her bow. The voice of the creature before her sounds as if it's underwater. She's only semi aware of what it's saying up until the end. It's saying magic is real, and they've been close to it. Without really thinking she responds in only a slightly louder voice.

"M-music box."

Sylvera stands stoically with her arms crossed and one finger tapping her elbow. She doesn't like this... Comedy character. All strange occurrences aside, she doesn't like his personality. Still, she can't let this lead, however crazy as it may be, go. 

After a moment of consideration she says, "Assuming I believe everything that just came out of your mouth. It might benefit you to say which of us you thing has been close to this... source of fun as you call it. I for one do not thing I can be counted among the group, unless this magic..." the word feels odd coming from her. It feels so wrong to talk about something like that in a serious conversation. But, then again, perhaps something like magic could be the only cure for this wasting. "...has something to do with younglings disappearing in the night and then returning unharmed but without memory of what happened." She has her doubts about that one, but it's the only thing she can think of that she's encountered that has gone unexplained. 

She looks to her companions, eying them as if doubting that they actually have any information on the subject--whether because they are peasants, or because she is struggling to believe anything Comedy is saying, is up to interpretation. Then she says to them, "The trade seems fair to me. Assuming whatever information you have on whatever he's talking about doesn't involve something that could cause harm to anyone." Fun could be used to describe several things depending on who is using the word, and there is no telling what this Comedy character considers fun to look like. Is he just a jester? Or could he be after something else? 

There are too many questions she needs answers to, and right now she doesn't like feeling like the one person present who is lacking the information that this creature wants. Then she takes notice of Nuria's shaking and shivering, as well as whatever words just came out of her mouth. Frowning, Sylvera says, "What do you mean music box? Stop shaking in your shoes and spit it out." 

Still standing dutifully at attention Asimi remained quiet as the others began to respond. Not that she had much to add, Comedy was fully aware of what she already knew. The being having been the one to converse with the elf within her dreams, it was by his orders that she found the means to summon him here after all.

And yet she couldn't help but grimace, everything before those dreams feels like a distant haze... fuzzy memories not quite right. Only vague images of some other structure were partially clear, this, combined with a heap of self loathing from some grave error, clouded in fog like the rest, she committed danced through her mind. Perhaps she could get an answer from him...?

Biting her tongue, she forced that thought down. There would be no stepping out of line.

Oren is thinking of how to respond to this Comedy, and then sees Nuria drop her bow and then after a bit answer with 'music box'.  Without thinking he nods when she states that.

Before he answers, he will wait to see what else the small Nuria has to say.  It will give him a few moments to compose what his answer to Comedy is going to be....and what question he will ask of him.

"That was all very exciting Comedy, but this one wonders if Comedy can return this one's name?"

Most of the party keeps quiet for a while, only Nuria briefly left trembling at what seems to be a very targeted statement. And, after finishing its monologue, it cannot help but remark on said fact.

"Ahaha- Do not tell me, was I right? Did that truly happen? Ahahaha- Oh, Fate remains a fickle thing, even without the first blood!"

It laughs, for a moment, then suddenly snaps out of it. Its voice seems different, more serious, when it continues addressing Nuria, as if having snapped out of a bout of mania.

"Do not blame yourself for what happened that day. This world is sick. Were magic truly gone, or if it would at least remain stable, these things should not happen. But when these spikes occur, now, strange things happen."

Its statement finished, it instantly returns to its more "jovial" self, as it turns to Sylvera trying to guess. The strange masked man waves his hand dismissively.

"Oh no, no, it's not that. I suppose I should say you three elves don't really seem to carry it, so I'm not expecting an answer from you. But I have already been most generous to allow you to say what you think you know, and you shall get a question in return none the less!"

To this, Pallen finally interrupts, gathering his wits to finally speak up.

"Wait- Please. Are you- You must be the reason this whole tradition started, then? You'd help us?"

"I'd complain you only get one question, but again I am promise-sworn when it comes to this particular matter, so... Yes. But alas, again, I'm afraid you're too late! There's not enough magic left for me to carry you to the promised land. But if you will rest here with the others, I shall-"

"But that's not right!" Pallen interrupts. "All these statues- They're still here! They're not gone, they're not cured!"

"Ah, but that is because most these statues are now but empty shells! Where I take my flock, they need to ferry only that immaterial little thing you call a soul. And in my promised land, they shall be provided with bodies of wood and leaf and string upon the divine melody, until one day they shall accept their new flesh."

Pallen clearly not understands the apparently intentional cryptic answer of Comedy. He just knows that in his own tirade, he knows what question to ask next.

"Then what about my wife? Where is she?! Did you save her?!"

The tall creature falls silent for a long moment as if gazing right through the desperate, wasting elf. When he speaks, its voice again misses that sense of joy.

"Oh. That is. Not funny at all."

"That really is not funny at all."

"Fate truly is cruel, to have you make it so close, yet so far."

"No. Your wife is still here. When the offer came to her in that deep sleep, her response was she would not want to risk leaving you behind."

"You could rest with her, and hope one day I shall ferry you both."

"...Or, if you choose the alternative way to go out, I think she would like for you to take her with, too."

While this answer understandably completely stuns the wasting elf, Comedy continues addressing the others. Moment before he turns to Nuria, curious to see just exactly what she would divulge, it has again switched on the drop of a hat to its more jovial self as the Tabaxi asks for his name back.

"Now that's quite rude, isn't it? Not only asking another question while not having provided your answer first, but then it is to ask back for a gift freely given, for nothing in return?"

"This one doesn't understand any of this Comedy. This must apologize,  but this one...this one can tell Comedy things for this ones name back. This one knows many things! Comedy wants magic? This one knows things! This one's name for that."

The tabaxi tries.

(Persuasion roll? Unless you think deception fits more for what this one thinks he's doing.)

 ((He's got something that might interest Comedy,  so no deception.))

Persuasion: 16

He gives his best sad kitty eyes.

"I, too, am curious about the music box.  All I recall is a sinking ship appearing on the horizon, ravaged by a storm which never was.  Nothing since then has seemed unusual to me."

Nuria doesn't seem to hear Sylvera as she stares at Comedy. Blame herself? Why would she....she's not the one who started that fire! Was she? She shakes her head unconsciously as the flames dance in her memory. The dark-haired girl opens her mouth as if to say something, but is cut off when Comedy's attention turns to the three elves.

That's probably for the best, as it gives her a little time to recover....sort of. Realizing she dropped her bow, she slowly bends down to pick it back up, vaguely aware of the conversation between Pallen and Comedy. If what the creatures says is true, then that means Pallen's fear of being trapped in stone for eternity may be real to some extent. That is horrible.

She stiffens when Comedy returns his gaze to her knowing that he would like more of an explanation. She feels that she should say something, though she's not entirely sure what question she'd like to ask it in return. He seems to know a lot of things. But what if she asks the wrong question? She grips her bow in both hands, glad when the greasy cat man starts speaking up again.

Once the name returning conversation is complete, she takes a deep breath and speaks up. She pointedly doesn't make eye contact with anyone as she hides behind her hair and stares at the floor. Surely at this point they won't think she's crazy anymore? Everything that's happening is just as crazy, so why should they think she's mad? Of course, they could group her in with this strange creature. She shakes her head slightly, best not to think about it and just spit it out. She can't exactly just leave them hanging after bringing up the music box.

"T-the music box. I heard it's song on that sinking ship. The ship looked like it was ravaged by a s-storm, though there was no sign of a storm before. When I heard the song, it was like nothing else in the world mattered. It was calm, and peaceful." She fidgets with her hair, and closes her eyes, "After the ship, I had a dream that night. I was underwater, and I saw a raven-haired teifling woman. I-I think s-she was dead. She was holding the m-music box. I wanted to destroy the box. To make it stop. S-so I touched the box." She grips her hair in a fist. "Then I heard a voice, I-I think it was the woman. She people to f-forget...something. I tried to talk to her, then the box....I saw things. T-the box, it holds both happiness and d-destruction. Just before I woke, i-it showed me another vision...a m-memory. The people there.....they said, s-something about the world....d-dying."

There, she said it. Well, a good deal of it. She'd left out a lot, but she has both forgotten some of the details, and also clearly has trouble lining up that many sentences at once. Falling silent, she looks up at Comedy, waiting to see his reaction.