You hear soft crying coming from the bushes, then two small sylph children are suddenly running in fear away from you. A sylph ele, perhaps their mother, shouts in fright for the children. They look over their shoulders as they run, plainly terrified of the unearthly specters that have materialized from thin air.
Gabe darts over to the frightened children to keep them from running blindly. Barely me than a whisper, "Please stop, we aren't going to hurt you... We didn't mean to frighten you either. Please return your... mother?"
The sylph ele emerges from the bushes, face paler than pale from fright. She seems young to be a mother, an older sister seems more likely now. She has not heard your quiet assurances to the children. Struggling to keep her voice even, she says, "From what I've heard, you Moon-creatures and new gods prefer willing sacrifices." She glances at the cavorting mushroom-people behind Abnaki. "If I become your servant, or spill my blood willingly, could I have your word to spare my siblings? I cannot live any longer if I lose another family member."
The children have stopped dead in their tracks, unwilling to run from their sister, but unable to say a word. The stink of their fear is acrid.
"Ha! And who would take care of your siblings then? Besides, one who is coerced isn't exactly willing, are they? No, you have the good fortune to stand in front of enemies of Moon and Gem." Samen ponders for a moment. "And possibly Volcano, now that I think of it, but that conflict hasn't arisen yet. We are emissaries of new gods, but none that you have likely encountered."
He points to himself, Gabriel, and Abnaki, "Respectively, we are servants of Sun, Shadow, and ... Abnaki the Storyteller."
"Frankly, I'm relieved to find living and sane Sylphs still exist in these parts. Last time I was near here, things were going poorly. We are here to gather intelligence on the situation, to determine how or if resistance to Moon in these parts should proceed. No doubt you've been through much, but, may I offer you a brief solace?"
He holds out his hand to her in offering. If she is willing, he will cast remove fear on her.
She tentatively takes your hand, emboldened by your kind tone.
With the heavy burden of fear gone, she begins weeping. She beckons the children over to receive your touch as well, and they all embrace you, for the simple elen (or human) comfort of a friendly hug.
When their tears begin to dwindle, she says, "I'm Moira. We don't have much, but the forage is good in these parts with so few around." She gestures to one of the more intact stone dwellings. "Will you join us for acorn and potato stew?"
Samen smiles warmly at the three of them as he proceeds to the shelter. "I thank you for your kind hospitality, but it seems rude to partake of your scant resources when we feasted last night. Please, allow us to pitch in some of our trail rations."
"How many are still around? I assume the breathless valleys took many of those who didn't fall to Moon's madness in Light, but what other threats have manifested?"
"There are six families scattered around this area but it is...difficult to trust." Her eyes flick up toward the dead Sky, and an absent Moon. As she spreads out the rations and adds a small amount of her stew, she continues, "I know of no other threats, but we were witness to a minor miracle - an el with the head of a bird led us through the Valley. He told us not to breathe, to believe in the air in our souls, and we traveled through without dying." Her voice takes on a faraway tone, and her two younger siblings look toward the horizon dreamily, as if they might see the miracle again.
The little sister pipes up, "We think one of the families turns to monsters on Fallenday!"
Moira gives the girl a glare to quiet her, and says, "Don't bother the els with your stories, Laila!"
"Shifting elens? Hooray!"
Hush, Qizz, the phantom admonishes (with a trace of fondness.
Samen looks to the chastened Laila. "It would not be possible for you to bother us! I love tales of monsters, and my friend is practically made out of stories. He's magic, because all the stories he tells become true!"
The children immediately rush over to Abnaki, their shyness forgotten. They tug on his hands, asking for a story.
Gabe smiles warmly while giving a warning, "Careful now young ones, you need to be mindful of this one's stories. He could tell of a rainbow and it could appear like magic. Or a swarm of insects and you'll hear the buzzing... maybe even feel their stings! But there is no doubt that you would hear a good story at least."
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"It's true you know," Abnaki says in mock grave tones, "I have to be very careful what I say, less it come true!" He pretends to think. "A story you say! I've got a good one for you. It's about how me and my friends helped save Hearth!" Abnaki makes little illusions to accompany his storytelling, but makes sure to cut down on some of the visceral details to less scary ones, like removing the Els that had their flesh bubble away in a great fire.
"... and after that, the Declarative herself couldn't focus on making our arrows go astray. It was teamwork that took her down, me distracting, Samen casting, and Gabriel with his fists of fury!" I got lost in dreams for a while after that, but don't worry children! Your pal Abnaki told himself a story of a path back to his own body out of dreams! He followed that path, and came back to help fight against the Gems! Rumor has it that the path I left behind is still there, as long as you go looking for it! So if you start having a scary dream, just remember to look for Abnaki's path, and you can find your way out a nightmare! I made sure to leave it there for all the good little boys and girls, so that they can always find their way out of a scary dream! Just repeat after me, "Abnaki's Avenue Allows Absolute Access Across Apparition And Actuality." It sounds a bit better in Sylvan, but let me hear you repeat it back!" After coaching them through it a couple more times, Abnaki adds, "Now you've got a nice way to walk through the scary dreams if you need an escape. Just remember it my little friends, and it'll keep you safe when the bad thoughts come in!" He gives each of them a kiss on the forehead to show to any else that walk on the road that they are under the Thrice Slain's protection.
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Kallik sinks far back into Qizzlvutz's mind, lost in memories. Should be prime time to get up to something but the Storyteller has another tale to tell. And Qizz runs along with the children to listen just as ensnared as they are with what is clearly a legend in the making.
Bright blue bubble seep out with their quiet repetition of Abnaki's assurance of stumbling words that lead to safety. Smiling, though its far to wide for an elen, at the children. The elen closer to Qizz's size and likely their age. Trying to respect their phantom and behave but they are nearly vibrating with the want to play. To try to get the children to laugh and seem alive like they did during Abnaki's story.
Glancing around and speaking softly to the youths, "Qizz have stories?" And they are patting their chest, "Share?"
Qizz, the children tell their own stories to you, though they are clearly imitations of Abnaki's, talking of magic roads and special houses that go through dreams and bad places and always end with families happy and safe.
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I don't think I meant to do that, Abnaki thinks to himself. Unless I did? And he gives it no further thought.
Samen smiles again toward Moira. "As you can see, we're mostly benign folk. While he represents himself, I am here representing Sun and humanity. Sun was a powerful god of ages past, who has been wounded and cut off, much like Sky. Humans belong to him, but we are not elen. We have been cleansed of the accursed 'gifts' of all the gods, and instead are blessed with natural magics of the mind."
"But please, you care nothing of our antics. Tell us of your problems, so that they can become our problems. I get the impression that young Laila spoke a version of the truth."
Moira fidgets at the mention of problems, but under your patient gaze she eventually says, "As I said, it's difficult to trust after seeing so many sylphs falling to madness. It's easier to survive her with all of us gathering food, but...it's survival. Nothing more."
Twisting a cheap tin ring on her finger, she continues, "At first, we wanted to get closer with other families, but once a week there are the most awful noises. Laila and Rowan always hear it first, and sneak around to see if the others are alright. They have good hearts." She rolls her eyes to Sky as if to say, but not much sense.
"There's always at least one family missing during all the noise, and in the morning there's food missing, or a water barrel destroyed, or a stack of firewood burned to ashes."
She shakes her head. "It makes no sense. It doesn't seem like these attacks have a point beyond terrifying us and making our lives worse. I don't want to believe that one of these families is to blame, but Laila and Rowan find the same thing every time."
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While the myco priest of chaos and revelry entertains the children, the priest of madness and truth goes to find other converts. They are oh-so-helpful and ready to please. Qizz, the children take your hands and lead you in a game of 'ring around volcano'.
ring around volcano
praying for the pain, oh
to disappear
please take our fear
and light the dark, volcano
A brief crease of worry crosses Moira's brow, but she seems unable to worry for long - Abnaki's beguiling presence smooths over any ruffled feathers.
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Gabe looks on, smiling, as the children sing and play even in the face of the challenges their families face. He ignores the nagging warning in the back of his mind that something isn't quite right about the whole situation. Something to deal with later, not worth the trouble right now.
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Samen shudders against the cold, pulling his cloak tighter around himself. "If I had to guess, I would suspect that the guilty party is unaware of it themselves. That seems to be a common symptom of Moon-madness amongst Sylphs. If you can assemble everyone, I may be able to search your minds for gaps and answers for everyone."
He hesitates for a moment, wanting to ask something more personal, yet unsure if this is the time. In the end, curiosity overcomes discretion. "I don't suppose you saw any twinkling lights as you were led through the valley? Perhaps a couple of Sylphs, a male with a stupid hat and a female with bright red hair?"
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Bouncing along with the rhyme mindlessly but the phantom gives a spike of fury to spice up the grief. Tall dark buildings and cruel priest leak out of the dead elens mind. And a young sylph calling them Sissy. Pain gone good? Blowing a stream of brown bubbles upwards to drown out Kallik's growl.
"Volcano.." Drumming their long fingers on their head, "Volcano hero?
Qizz, you seem to get five different responses from just the two children. The answers range from yes, to yes but scary, to no way, and at least he’s stronger than Sky, and then the arguments shift to whether simply being stronger makes someone a hero. Even two sylph siblings can’t agree on the subject.
Samen shudders against the cold, pulling his cloak tighter around himself. "If I had to guess, I would suspect that the guilty party is unaware of it themselves. That seems to be a common symptom of Moon-madness amongst Sylphs. If you can assemble everyone, I may be able to search your minds for gaps and answers for everyone."
He hesitates for a moment, wanting to ask something more personal, yet unsure if this is the time. In the end, curiosity overcomes discretion. "I don't suppose you saw any twinkling lights as you were led through the valley? Perhaps a couple of Sylphs, a male with a stupid hat and a female with bright red hair?"
Her eyes take a faraway look. ”It’s difficult to remember most of that time, but now that you say red hair…there was a sylph I think, and she was arguing with the lights floating around a wizard staff. Kind of reminded me of siblings fighting.” She looks with fondness over at her younger brother and sister, who are still bickering about the finer points of heroism, and demeaning the other’s intelligence in that mean-but-loving family way.
Turning her attention back to Samen, she says, “I think I can get everyone together tonight, we were planning on a ‘town meeting’ soon anyway.”
Samen lets out a long slow sigh, suppressing a tear. "Indeed. That may be meaningful at some point, but for now, proximity makes them no closer. Best to focus on what we can do right now."
Samen considers the possibility that this is merely normal elen criminal mischief, not the usual dire monster stuff he's become so accustomed to. Surely if he thinks hard about it enough, he can come up with a way to handle this diplomatically and effectively.
Abnaki and his acolytes have no trouble sweet-talking the various sylphs from the surrounding areas to join together for a feast. They all bring one small dish, and Abnaki's very words multiply the offerings until there is indeed a feast before you.
Qizzlvutz (smells) the sweat of frightened children, but does not (understand) why. Food (is) good? Talking (is) good?
"Who's hungry?"
Qizzlvutz is overcome by a sudden trembling - maybe the children are right to be scared! The shadows about the simpe table suddenly seem threatening.
Qizz's fear seems to amplify the fear of the sylphs, and the food is pushed aside as elens look at one another with wide, nervous eyes. The conversation dies down.
Samen senses the change in mood and decides now is the time to speak out.
"Calm yourselves! We are no threat to any of you. We called you all together to learn more about the threats between here and Light, for we intend to free it. We have bested Moon's forces on multiple occasions. We have purged his claims across the land, and freed the Fey from Gem's oppression. And we will free Light as well. But I'm told that there is mistrust and suspicion amongst yourselves. Should you collectively consent to it, I could ferret out any troublemakers in your midst. What say you?"
There are murmurs of agreement. "We're sick of living in fear!" a few from the group call out. Despite their obvious trepidation, they want to try something new. Their hope, for the moment, outweighs their terror.
"Very well then. Keep an open mind. I'm going to investigate you all one by one. If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about."
"Enemies of Moon have nothing to fear/After all, your salvation is here. Abnaki, Samen, Gabriel too/Qizz and mycos all are stronger than you. Standing with us, you shall stand tall/but if you serve Moon, we will make you fall."
Unsure as to the cause of the mood shift, Gabe readies himself for an ambush. But these are friends... well, non-combatants at least. Why would they attack after offering food?
Figuring the sylphs may have noticed something out of habit from living here, Gabe turns his attention to noticing details.
Samen, you briefly feel one extra mind amongst the sylphs - as you try to follow it, it jumps from elen to elen, trying to evade your detection.
Abnaki and Gabriel, you see scared sylphs that simply want to feel safe again. A few of them show odd tics and twitches as Samen's gaze quickly travels around the group, but they are only momentary.
Clever. But hiding will only delay the inevitable.
Samen, you feel the mind touch yours briefly, like cold water slowly creeping up your ankles. You control your breathing, and the feeling recedes. The atmosphere immediately lightens, and all the sylphs begin to breathe more easily.
Samen scowls seriously as he turns around, looking for it. "There was an unseen visitor amongst us. It jumps from mind to mind like a flea, spreading discontent and fear in its wake. I have chased it away for the time being, but it will not leave you until it is defeated. Surely one or more of you know about this entity. Tell me, while you are free of its influence."
There is an obvious reluctance to speak, but finally one of the children speaks up, one you haven't met yet. "The bird head. He took us through the valley, but now he eats up our nightmares. It's a vulture head."
Some of the other families clutch their heads, remembering things they do not wish to remember. "I can't sleep, I can't go back!" they murmur and cry.
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"A hassle to my beloved dreamers, eh?" Abnaki huffs heartily. "Well now, we can't have then. Samen, would you help me... exercise this spirit? I'm going to call to it when I go to sleep tonight, much as I once did the Dream Crow, and together we will catch and kill it."
"Dream Crow or Dream Vulture... what's the difference? Sounds like this one is getting rid of these els nightmares that they didn't want anyway."
Samen frowns. "That would work, but that would also be fighting it on its strongest battlefield. Unfortunately, I have no better idea how to nail it down."
"An interesting position, Gabriel, but this parasite is inducing nightmares in order to consume them. Were it less greedy, a symbiotic arrangement could possibly be achieved, but its evasiveness proves its unwillingness to negotiate in good faith. I'd be willing to change this position if the information at our disposal changes, but I'm afraid we must fight our nightmares tonight."
You feel the tang or fear --real, not manufactured -- taint the air. The sylph families shift and mutter among themselves, worried that you will bring the wrath of the Night Carrion upon them all.
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"I like crows," Abnaki says, as if that settles the matter. "Fighting something on it's own turf... now where have won that before? We shall pluck this pesky bee from our minds, lay the nightmare bare, and parade it through the town to be mocked. Once they see how powerless it is, they will never have cause to fear of it again. Or-" he adds brightly, "If it's not powerless, it's another stepping stone towards carving a kingdom of dreams for ourselves."
Abnaki turns to address the crowd. "Be not afraid citizens! You are all under our protection. We have faced far deadlier foes than a dream too cowardly to show it's face, and we're still here to tell the tales of it! In fact," he continues, "This reminds me of the time that Samen, Gabriel, and myself faced down a being that dealt only in comprehension through vivisection. Do you know how we defeated it? Well first we invited it to have a cup of tea..." Abnaki finishes his tale about meeting the Observer, making sure to emphasize the funnier parts, and skim over the very real danger of being burned to death he was in.