Journey Day 04 Noon The Voice
A bit over an hour later Syval is gently awakened by the touch of Jyslin's hand and offered his own wooden bowl filled with stew. The group sits and eats, and then prepares themselves to resume their journey. Another three hours and they will be in position to head south towards the mountains if they still intend to go that way.
Syval borrows Neosodos long enough to make introductions between the Eldritch Wyrm and Honoria, and the two proceed to converse as the journey resumes. The conversation remains polite and eager as Honoria welcomes having another to talk with, and the pseudodragon seems to enjoy getting to talk with her further, no longer just listening in on her conversations with young Syval.
During the journey, Jyslin does manage to scare up a few small prey by ranging well ahead of the group, and brings them back slung over her shoulder, obviously intending to keep them for dinner later that night.
Finally the group reaches a point where they are visibly directly north of the low-lying hills between the Weathering Heights and the beginnings of the rest of the Toadsquat mountain range. And just as the group turns, starting towards the mountains, a voice as mighty as the mountains and seemingly ten times as old booms not through their ears, but through their minds. << One so young as to be nigh nonexistent, yet touched with the Ancient, mortal yet blooded to the immortal, walks with one that should not be, gone lo many years past and bereft of all ties save that of faith and destiny. One of the children of immortal blood, older even than I, bonds himself to another who would hide all she is, all she knows, all she ever might be from everyone, even those closest to her. Indeed, sometimes most so to those closest. And another who has forgotten more than she may ever remember, her repetitious cycle at last ended having come fullest circle to walk glistening in the moonlight of her heart's deepest calling, bound with a love so deep there is no name for it but that. And what, then, would five such as these want here? Come then to unearth that which has remained hidden, perhaps? >>
And it is only as the voice fades, pausing at least, that Syval can come to realize that this mindvoice speaks, just like Neosodos' ... in that language he has never been taught, yet which his blood knows as true as sunlight.
<OOC> Syval says, "While I'm remembering it, something else I should have been doing along the way was jotting our daily progress on a map of the region I'm carrying in my scroll case."
<OOC> Syval says, "The little things you realize you'd be carrying (along with a lighter-weight travel spell book) when you dive into the equipment pages. :)"
<OOC> Syval says, "Not relevant here, just wanted to mention."
Syval stops abruptly and looks around the group once the voice finishes speaking, hoping to catch similar reactions of surprise, confusion, or worry. The young man's heard /dragons/ in his head recently and that was something even bigger. "Tell me the rest of you heard that," he bids nervously.
Each of the women, and the tiny dragon, each bob their head in answer to Syval's openly-spoken question, though Honoria is last as Neosodos translates for her. "< It spoke in a language I did not understand, and yet my mind insisted on hearing it in the Queens' Tongue. >" Honoria offers.
Jyslin bristles at this. "I don't know why, but my instincts say whatever 'said' that is a long, long way off. How or why would it, could it reach so far?"
Syval passes Neos a look, bidding the drake to translate for Honoria as he replies to both women together, "It must have spoken mind-to-mind, not just a telepathic voice or Message." The young man's gaze turns warily towards the distant valley. "Old dragons are supposed to be capable of speech like that from miles away - some of them. And it seems to know a /lot/ about us... Divination, hopefully."
The green-haired mage holds fast to his bardiche as he sighs a tense breath then turns to the witch-touched woman nearby. The normally stalwart wizard is rattled though he tries not to show it clearly. "Well Andie, would you like to answer it?"
Andie chuckles wryly and shakes her head a bit. "Being entirely honest, Syval? No. I would prefer not to answer it at all." Yet her tone of voice does seem to imply that she is not really convinced that is much of an option. After all, if it can reach out this far, can they even begin to guess how far away they would have to go to get away from it? Or how to block it from their minds. "What it already knows of each of us is far more than I find comfortable, let alone comforting." She is the one rumored strongly to be hiding many, many secrets.
Jyslin considers Neosodos, then Syval, and then turns to Andie. "Do you know of anything else, other than a dragon, that could reach so far?" she finally asks.
Andie makes an ugly face of displeasure. But she does not remain silent. "In truth? Yes. I do know of a few. None would be something at all safe, pleasant, or likely to ally with mere humans, whatever our potentials."
"Anything doing it's at least as strong as one, and seems to be toying with us," Syval weighs in as he shoulders his bardiche, regaining some of his composure while scanning the faces of the group. Honoria and Neosodos are given particular attention. "So do we carry on despite whatever that is, or turn our tails because a big voice asked a question? That 'X' isn't going anywhere but it will be a month or more before we return this way - if we can leave at all now. Either way it didn't give a name but it did say hello; I'll answer if no one else is willing. Better to be honest; it might know the answer already."
Honoria frowns momentarily. "< I may find no comfort or peace in the thing's conversation. But I too feel an answer must be given, for good or for ill. Nevertheless, I yield to the wisdom of others. I am no mind-speaker, no wizard, no witch, nor even a priestess. >"
Neosodos ruffles himself, clearly disturbed by the communication. << It feels great in power and presence, but though it sends thoughts in Draconic to me, and well-spoken, it does not feel draconic in truth. I cannot help the impression it is playing some game. >>
Andromeda nods. "I too feel that we must respond. But I also concur that it feels as though it is playing a shell game of sorts, half-exposing our own truths simply to put us off-balance and hide its own."
Jyslin frowns at that. "I have no idea. I just don't like it."
Syval snorts lightly and raises a brow at the witch's reply, agitation fueling his impatience. "Well then lets be done with it. If the fates are on our side it's more illusion than substance; if not we'll deal with our lot as it comes. Try talking back or think really hard. It asked a question - it has a way to listen."
Raising his hand for an incantation, the young wizard summons a magical lens before his eyes and looks round the group - searching just in case for something more nearby.
<OOC> Syval casts Detect Magic and does as written; looking around for anything magic that's not us within the 60ft reach of my vision.
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li should totally make the actual PC be the one to respond. But I will relent, this time. :)
<OOC> Syval says, "I was worried that might be your thought process... This party's got 5 PCs even if it's only got 2 players, think of it in mushing terms not tabletop. ICly we're all sentient and most of us (looking at you Neos) are sapient. And Syval looked to Andie twice because she's the group leader; this is her journey they're all along for their own reasons."
All of the group seems to concur, and Andromeda sighs. "I assume that to be very true." she opines. << Very well then. We are eventually headed to White Bog Wood. But we came across a map, one which indicated something to be found in the valley between the Weathering Heights and the Toadsquats. We were just starting in that direction to investigate when you reached us. >>
The mindvoice steps itself down just a bit, as if aware that it was engendering headaches unnecessarily earlier. << So intrepid, the explorers, to come seeking the unknown out of mere happenstance. Definitely an eclectic band, and so much moreso when led by a witch. So rare to find one willing to stand out front and point, rather than hiding behind them all and whispering in their ears to move her puppets forth. >>
Andie clearly looks furious at the implications of the message, for all that it may be a truth of a sort. << I travel with friends. What is it you want, then? You seem to know us all quite well, and yet you offer nothing of yourself in turn. Quite rude I should say. >>
A basso mental chuckle follows at that. << So, you wouldst spar with me of word and thought, young witch? Brave indeed. Perhaps almost as reckless as the young wizard already considering his path in the Art a mistake. >>
<OOC> Syval says, "Sorry. That came out crabbier than I meant it. I think I'm tired from work."
<OOC> Syval says, "Also, poses well done. Really nice intro for this voice. :)"
<OOC> Syval says, "Now is this a conversation we all hear or just Andie?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "All of you. Just as before."
"Reckless to take knowledge where it can be found, and make more progress in days than in years? The wizards at the academy wish they had my potential. Not all your barbs land true," Syval retorts, emboldened by his own conviction.
<< And what progress is it, young mageling? You finally discover and become aware of what has been your destiny all of your life, and you assume it is the only path ahead. Instinct and might are handy things. But they can be mere sand and chaff. The truest might is learning, wisdom and experience. >> the mindvoice intones.
Andie looks at Syval, and then at the rest as she weighs some option in her mind. But the first to respond is Neosods, as the diminutive drake intones, << I do think that is enough of teasing the boy. As you have already said, it is his path to discover. If you had the wisdom you claim you value so highly, you would know to get the Hells out of the way and let him find his own way. Light the many paths, and let him make his own choices. >> An answer which, perhaps, makes it clear just how the Eldritch Wyrm himself is handling Syval's awakening.
Meanwhile, Syval can clearly see that Honoria is bristling, visibly angry in a way she has never displayed before, not even in battle.
The green-haired wizard seems almost ready to pass another defiant rebuff to the ominous voice before he notices the knight at his side. He frowns with a look of concern. "<Honoria, what's wrong?>" he asides in their shared tongue.
Honoria turns and meets Syval's eyes, and then her own gaze unfocuses as her own mind-voice sounds within the conversation. << For one who pretends to great wisdom and insight, you clearly lack the truest measure of either. You insult and toy with others for your own amusement, and have not even the most basic honor to stand and face those you would insult and belittle. I have known the mighty and the impossibly wise, and never did they conduct themselves thus. If you wished to throw down the gauntlet of challenge, you have done so. And I am more than woman and knight enough to pick it up and bloody your lip in turn. >>
Neosodos snorts in amusement at this, clearly approving of the lady knight's audacity and ferocity of spirit.
Andromeda presses her fingers to the bridge of her nose and sighs. THen she lifts her gaze and looks across the group, meeting each person's eyes individually. Then her mind-voice is added to the conversation once more. << It seems quite clear you have a wish to antagonize us. I presume the intention is to draw us in so that you can attack us. Frankly, we are not interested. >>
That said, she looks to the group once more, and sits down, gesturing the others to gather around as she lays her staff across her lap, and then gestures with her hands, runes starting to appear, drawn one by one until they form a circle around which the group can gather. She then extends her hands outward to grasp hands offered to her, hoping it seems to close the circle of hands - and claws? - around the circle as a warm golden glow builds about her, then slowly creeping out and flowing over the others from her hands outwards.
The glow ebbs and twists, as the mind-voice is dampened but keeps 'shouting' more and more forcefully, yet that force is blunted time and time again as the glow builds. It seems pretty clear the witch intends to ward the party against the mind-voice and its taunting.
Nothing yet has been said, however, about their continued exploration.
Syval smirks in mirror of the drake at Honoria's sharp rebuttal and with that his concern evaporates. Turning to the witch he looks back, staring and waiting for the inevitable moment of insight from the woman. Instead, she sits down.
Tilting his brow at the curious display he watches the runes form of something not of the Art, then sits down at her side to take his place somewhat curiously, resting his bardiche upon his shoulder. Grasping hands to form the ring, the green-haired mage listens to the voice growing more violent as it's softened and deprived of audience. It's small, but Syval eventually lets out a sigh. "Nice spell, Andie. What say you - time to leave this big-mouthed headache behind?"
Once the spell is completed, Andie sighs and rolls her shoulders, relaxing. The warm golden glow surrounding everyone in the party slowly seeps down beneath the skin and takes residence there, as the mindvoice is muted entirely.
Then the witch finally looks up again, meeting Syval's eyes. "Glad you approve. I do not know truly what that thing would want, what threat it could pose. But given how it seemed intent upon manipulating us, and our emotions, I decided it best we make our decisions free of its influences."
Andie shrugs slightly. "Sadly, I cannot be sure in which direction it lies, where it would have tried to guide us. So we could stumble upon it entirely unknowing." A moment's wry, wintry smile. "But this way whatever decisions we make are our own. To your earllier comment, Syval, I am still curious what it is the likes of hill giants would feel compelled to make a map to that would be stationary enough to make a map at all worthwhile. But if we go, we do take on the risk that location could in fact be the source of that mental voice, whatever that may be."
Jyslin groans. "Can't say I much like anyone or anything toying with my mind. And what it said about me. About all of us." She shakes her head. "I'm not playing that game. But if we're going ahead, I think I should scout the way."
<OOC> Syval says, "Where is Neos at the moment?"
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li says, "He climbed down Honoria's arm, wrapped his tail around her wrist and wrapped his forepaws around Syval's wrist in turn as those two held hands. He's probably in the process, right now, of climbing back up onto the lady knight's armored shoulder."
<OOC> Syval says, "Hehe, now isn't that a cute image. Cat-dragon stretched out between them. Good drake, so he can still translate for her then."
Syval nods to Jyslin's assessment. "It knows more than it should, whatever it is. That wasn't simple illusions, and it did mention unearthing that which has remained hidden. We're still a full day's travel north of that mark. That's two days at least before we're back here - three perhaps before we're on our way," the young mage considers, looking back to Andie while weighing their options. "How long can this mute spell of yours last?"
<OOC> Syval says, "Goodness already past 8PM..." Andie nods. "I will have to renew the spell several times over that period. And while maintaining it, I cannot refresh my own spells daily as I would normally." So there is a definite price to be paid, here.
Honoria listens to the translations from the little drake on her shoulder and then speaks. "< This is not my world. Nothing that I knew then is going to help now. But from what I recall of our spellcasters during the war, it can be a most dangerous thing when they cannot refresh their spells. And to be fair, as curious as this map may be, it could turn out to be nothing any of us would value. >" Honoria clearly feels beholden to the group and will not suggest too strongly a course of action, but she does seem to be leaning towards advising they move on and just put the mindvoice behind them entirely.
<OOC> Syval says, "Phone again"
<OOC> Syval says, "Back again. ^_^;"
<OOC> Syval says, "Sorry about that. No accounting for timing sometimes."
<OOC> Jhiao Ting Li heh.
Syval frowns at the seriousness of Andie's warning. From one caster to another, the implication's clear. "It would be better if we could scry ahead or scout with a safe means of escape. Not refreshing your spells is the same as having no spells at all, and I only stand to get stronger the longer we travel..." Folding his arms across his chest the young man shuts his eyes and thinks deeply for several seconds before at last he opens them and addresses the group.
"I say we move on. We can come back later once we're better prepared. Something so deep in the mountains isn't going far."
<OOC> Syval hand-wringing on a decision that is at once simple and difficult.
<OOC> Syval says, "So few reasons to pursue that map yet it's still tempting."
<OOC> Syval was torn by a desire to have whatever valuable thing might be at the X but it lost to desires for other, more reliable things.
Andie is aware that it is her decision, but she clearly feels she wants to hear everyone's feelings. She nods to acknowledge Syval's reasoning, without trying to correct him. He's right, to an extent, but her spell repertoire is pretty hefty, likely more than he is thinking it is. And she has items which do not rely on her spell slots to function. Yet still his points are valid enough, if not overriding to her.
Jyslin shrugs. "If we all decide to go, I will scout ahead. But if we decide not, I'm very OK with that. I may enjoy exploring and learning more, but I can do that as much across plains as into the mountains and hills."
Neosodos looks around the group, and then nods his little reptilian head. "< Preferrrrrr we go. Leavvvvve voice alone. Ignorrrrre hill giant poop. >"
With everyone having spoken, Andie nods. "Very well, then. Let us move as far along our path as the remaining afternoon and evening allow."
