Bed. Rest. Sleep. Ithea thinks all of those things as she heads to her quarters, glad to rid herself of responsibility for a time. No devils, no missions, no Balyss and Sylvie drama, no nothing. But on coming to her quarter's door, she finds a basket sitting in front of it. A folded piece of paper rests atop the basket, which is covered up.
Ithea stops and closes her eyes and sighs, counting down from ten, before opening her eyes and grabbing the piece of paper. It's almost certainly Stille trying to be sweet, but if he wants some kind of picnic date, he's going to be disappointed tonight.
Opening the piece of paper and glancing through it, Ithea reads its contents.
It reads as follows:
Dear Ithea
Enclosed is a light meal and a small token of my affection. Rest well.
Love,
Stille.
Okay, points to Stille for not making it a date and knowing she wanted to rest. Smiling a bit more warmly but still tiredly, she grabs the basket and enters her room, setting it on her desk and peeking at the contents after greeting whichever pets happen to be in the room, whether they be flame cats, badger slaads, or slaad cats.
All three are in the room - and curled up on Ithea's bed, fast asleep.
Checking in her basket, she finds a small bouquet of roses along with a simple meal of finger foods.
Ithea pops one of the items into her mouth as she eyes the bed, wondering if she can get into a comfortable position herself with them all on her bed right now.
Probably, if you don't mind having two cats and a slaad curled up next to you. Food's good, too.
Ithea gulps one more finger food item, and then slides into the bed next to the three creatures there, and closes her eyes to rest.
> roll 1d100
<Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=87 ]{87}
Ithea soon falls asleep. Her mind drifts into dreams. Mmm. She's warm. So warm and comfortable, warmth all around her. She feels an urge to rise and stretch.
She does so!
You're lying in a misty, indistinct room. A bedroom and on a massive, soft bed. Sunlight comes from a skylight, a warm sunbeam all over Ithea. Next to her is a black and white cat, curled up and purring. "Mmmm," it murmurs, a he from the decidedly masculine and human sound of his voice. "You're stirring." He opens one feline eye and gazes at Ithea.
Knowledge check to identify?
K:N.
[22:32] <Merc> roll d20+42+5+6 K:N+Collector+Inspiration
[22:32] <Kobot> Merc rolled d20+42+5+6 K:N+Collector+Inspiration --> [ 1d20=3 ]{56}
It is a cat. A talking cat. Mildly unusual, but cats connected to Sharess usually can talk. Suffice to say, Ithea knows all about felines and that this cat is probably tied to the Dancing Lady in some way.
That or you're having a strange lucid dream.
Well that it was connected to Sharess -was- pretty obvious, but Ithea can't think of any particular male talking cats. "Yes, I am. I'm Ithea. And you are?"
"Cat," He answers, pausing to lick the back of his paw and wash his ears. "You were calling very much for relief and joy, so I came here."
"Ah. Well that's kind of you. I'm Ithea," Ithea responds, looking around the room. "Am I still dreaming or did I get summoned somewhere?"
"Oh, this is a dream." Cat says, standing up and starting to lazily circle around Ithea. "A chance to unwind. You see, Sharess has her eye on you. She's so proud of those that don't forget that the cat has claws - far too many lose sight of that. But she doesn't want you running yourself down to nubs, either. This place can be controlled by your mind. You can see whatever you want, be where you wish and see whom you wish. You can even choose how they act."
"Oh," Ithea notes, having been slightly more excited at first, but losing a little bit of it at the cat's last words. Still, she could see the valleys of Lifasa, her old home, again. See her family and friends (as best she could remember them now, unfortunately) and what could have been if the devils had never invaded and she was just an irresponsible young girl without an idea of her future, a lazy genius without direction instead of a general crushed by responsibilities and expectations. A bit of a fantasy indulgement, but who could fault her?
"So...so I just think of what I want to see?" she asks, still a bit hesitant. "How long does this dream, this fantasy, last after that?"
"It lasts until you awaken," Cat says, settling back down and curling up.
Ithea nods and focuses on her faint memories of home, trying to imagine what it used to be like.
Before Ithea memory becomes reality. A warm, verdant valley spreads about her. A river runs through it, eye-achingly blue and with fish leaping from it. The sky is a paler blue and clear, the sun above wonderfully bright. Houses are about, her lost home becoming reality once more. Nearby is her own home, beautiful and undamaged. She can her voices in there, voices she hasn't heard in too long. The sounds of friends and family, chattering away as if the world was still as it should be.
Cat is still there, "Go. But know that this is only a dream. An escape, not a reality. Remember that you do have to wake up."
Ithea nods and heads for her old home. Her hand drifts towards the door knob, and she hesitates as she hears the voices. Drawing her hand back, she turns towards the giant oak tree to the left of her home, the tree where she used to play with Rukkig (the goblin, not her cat) as a much younger and innocent catfolk. Maybe she'll feel a bit more ready to face her parents (or at least her memory of them, given what the cat said about them) after seeing her old friend first (or again, at least her memory of him).
The oak tree's just as Ithea left it. It's in full green bloom, a familiar face lying beneath it. Rukkig's napping beneath it, resting against the tree and snoozing away. He snores softly, not a single worry in the world marring his face.
Does he look my current age, or however many years younger since Lifasa got enslaved by devils?
He looks like he did before it all went to Hell.
Ithea pulls out her glaive and uses the pole end to poke at the sleeping goblin's foot. "Hello!" she says in greeting. Followed by poking him again with the pole end. "Hey, listen!"
The poke stirs the goblin, who cracks one eye open and gazes at Ithea. "Whaaaat?" he asks, devolving into a yawn.
"Morning sleepy-head," Ithea greets with an amused look. "Shouldn't you be at work? Your mom's gonna whack you for leaving her alone minding the store again."
"Whatever, nothing ever happens here," Rukkig shrugs, yawning and closing his eyes. "Should take a nap too."
"Who says I'm not, and I'm just dreaming of you?" Ithea asks, sounding philosophical, but actually being truthful.
"That sounds stupid," Rukkig laughs after that, "What's with you today? Restless?"
"Hrm...a bit. Didn't feel like doing what I was supposed to be doing, took a nap myself, then woke up. Just...felt like walking around enjoying what we have here, y'know? It's such a beautiful valley, with so little trouble, right?"
"Yeah, nice and boring," Rukkig retorts, "So quiet you can hear the grass grow and the birds sing."
"Boring's nice, honestly. Don't put much stock into the stories of fighting devils being exciting stuff. Sure, someone has to do it, but why us?" Ithea asks rhetorically. She follows that up by pressing the pole end against the goblin's side and rolling him over. "Besides, I'm the one with weapon and magic training of the two of us, so if anyone was going to dream of excitement and fame, should be me, dontcha think?"
This finally gets Rukkig up, enough to dust himself off and give Ithea a dry look. "Sure, sure. Go save some princes somewhere," he says, "I'll leave that to the heroes. This here isn't bad. Got a house, got food, got a good time of it. Why ruin it?"
Ithea laughs. "Exactly! Even I won't see any princes, honestly. I'll probably end up just being some bored village sentry here and only have to deal with some bandit once in a blue moon. But that's not that bad!"
Ithea leans closer to Rukki, leaning down a bit since he's smaller and adds in a whisper, "Also, I think it's funny when everyone blames you for me not having bigger dreams."
"I'd say it means I gave you perspective," Rukkig grins back, whispering a little too loudly. "Who wants to be a hero? Right pain in the ass it is, and you end up camping out more than living a good, happy life."
"Yeah...but I'd still be a hero if I absolutely had to be. Not sure what or who I'd be saving... But if someone was relying on me? I'd get my act together, right, Rukkig?" Ithea asks, somehow unsure how it works with asking a question like that. Cat said they'd say what she wanted to hear because they weren't real...what was it she wanted to hear here, really?
"Yeah, I guess so," Rukkig finally amdits, "If you don't have a choice, you don't have a choice. Why, someone not giving you a choice?"
Ithea smiles at his response.
"Oh? Do I look particularly heroic to you right now?" Ithea teases before looking wistfully at the oak tree behind Rukkig. "Just thinking of odd stuff, and decided to bug you about it. I might just head back to practice at the school...or maybe I'll go bug my parents too. Don't really know yet."
"Sure you are," Rukkig smiles, "You're too young to be looking like that, you know. You look like some sad old woman who is missing her best days."
Ithea stumbles dramatically, clutching her heart. "How can you say such an evil, evil thing to a beautiful girl like myself? You...you monster!"
"Oh no, the goblin insulted you. You have no future," Rukkig shakes his head and grins, "How about we see if we get a late breakfast somewhere?"
"Hrm...sure, why not? Any preferences?"
"Where ever. Maybe see if your folks feel like cooking?" Rukkig suggests.
Ithea laughs again. "Ah, so we get to the truth of the matter. You just wanted to scam a free meal. Very well, you rascal, let's see if they do in fact, feel like cooking."
Ithea begins to lead the way.
It seems like mere moments that you stand in front of your old home. It's just as Ithea remembers it, Rukkig heading inside before Ithea. As he does, she can hear her mother's voice call out, "Oh Rukkig, what are you doing here? Ithea's out right now." It sounds just like her, a sea of memories washing over her and a shiver running up her spine.
"I'm back, actually," Ithea says as she enters the house again, taking a moment to stare at her mother before giving her a good strong hug.
Her mother's just as she remembers, starting to say something before Ithea sweeps her into a hug. "Well hello there, little kitten," she laughs, rubbing Ithea's back. "You're in a fine mood today."
"I guess so. Where's dad?" Ithea asks as she lets her mother go after a few seconds.
"I'm out back," Dad's voice, as strong and familiar as ever. He shouts out from the back.
"Out back," Mom says deadpan, "Do you and Rukkig want something to eat?"
"That'd be great. Do you need time to cook something? I can help dad out with whatever he's up to out back in the meantime."
"I do. Hmmm, there's some fresh fish there, and I have some eggs," she murmurs to herself, going to do that. "Go out back and play, dear."
Ithea heads out back to greet her father as well.
Ithea's father is there, chopping wood. He turns and smiles, "Hey there," he greets. A hug follows, Ithea laughing. The dream becomes indistinct, family and friends joined by good laughter. Ithea slowly awakens, finding her bed still occupied. The three are asleep and Ithea feels better, a smile coming unbidden to her lips.
"Thank you," Ithea says quietly outloud towards the sky. Sharess will probably hear it.
Anything else to do or ready to move along, Ithea?
Seeing as everyone else is locked, definitely move on.
Locking this thread. New one will be up tonight sometime.