Eternal questions (Ithea)

[Anastasia]

Not really. I'm going to move you along now.

From there you part with Sylvie and go to get some rest, to put this miserable day to rest. On entering your quarters, you find 27 curled up on your bed. The badger-slaad tightly hugs a long pillow, looking up from it as you enter. "Hanna says anarch needs company."

[Merc]

"Maybe I do," Ithea says as she changes out of her armor and then flops onto the bed. "Trying hard not to think too much on Muirfinn and Lief, and now I'm seeing dangers everywhere, thinking I need to do more and not fail everybody else, and...ugh. Just ugh..."

"Stupid day."

[Anastasia]

27 slides up to Ithea, hugging her from behind. He can feel the gentle push of his heart-sword, his heartbeat a steady pulse on her back. "Anarch be okay. See? Anarch has a message." 27 puts a white envelope in front of Ithea. A familiar sort of one - she's pretty sure the dungeon slaad has sent her ones just like this.

[Merc]

Ithea debates putting on her armor again in case it's a summon but figures it's enough to have it on hand. Gathering her armor and weapon and sitting them on her lap, she opens the envelope and pulls out the letter to read it.

[Anastasia]

The letter reads as follows.

Greetings and salutations! I must again warmly congratulate on your successes in dungeon exploring. I have recently dealt with less gifted amateurs and find myself missing your deft touch more than ever. Unfortunately, it is not yet time to invite you to another dungeon. Instead, allow me to extend you an invitation. There is a particular magic shop in Dweomerheart, Ella's Star. Go there and tell the proprietor that you come in the name of magic. I assure you that you will have a superb time of it.

You may wish to bring a few friends. A healer would be wise.

[Merc]

Ithea sighs as she puts the letter on a nightstand, followed by putting away her combat gear as she lays back down on the bed. Tomorrow she'll consider worrying about that invitation.

[Anastasia]

Any plans for the next few days, Ithea?

[Merc]

Various! Not sure what needs to be handled in game and what's just considered handled.

In no particular order:
Ithea would be helping with the Glade construction (duh), checking up on Balyss, mentioning the invitation to Sylvie/Balyss, helping Tepen out on the chains research, talkign to Vul'ath to see if he had any insights into 27's words, debating permanency stuff, getting to know the new recruits, checking up on the tortles to see how their morale is doing (she'll feel responsible for them), checking up on the catfolk (which she -is- responsible for and hasn't checked up on in a while).

[Anastasia]

Glade will be largely covered OOC in nagging.

Ithea sleeps poorly. She tosses and turns, just barely staying below the level of waking up. It's a half lucid hellscape of forgotten images and distorted dreams. She only remembers what finally awoke her - the feeling of an iron chain wrapping around her neck and squeezing tight. She hurts all over. Her muscles burn and she lies in a pool of her own sweat. Her stomach is cramping and her mouth tastes of ashes. She shivers despite being under blankets and with 27 next to her. A chill that reminds her of a wound from an icy weapon, spread out through her body.

[Merc]

"Ugh..." Ithea mutters as she forces herself up, checking the time. If its early enough, she might head over to the Healer Ward and crash in one of the blessed beds to finish getting some proper rest without nightmares.

[Anastasia]

Aurora's current time is a few hours past midnight. Her stomach churns violently as she gets up, another shiver passing through her.

[Merc]

Ithea heads to the Healer Ward. Hopefully someone is there to give her a quick check-up for her stomach.

[Anastasia]

You find it's quiet there. There's only two people around, Hanna and Balyss. The former watches Balyss sleep. Said Lunatic is covered by a white sheet up to her chin and snoozes away. "Ithea?" Hanna asks without even looking up. "Nightmares and associated trauma?"

[Merc]

Ithea nods. "Restless as hell. Stomach feels like I ate something foul too. Was hoping to see if using the beds here will help, at least with the sleep part."

[Anastasia]

Hanna comes over, checking over Ithea. "It's also possible you've been spiritually poisoned or wounded in some way. Remember what happened after Abigor? For that matter, after Muirfinn and company came back from killing Athux, they all had varying degrees of that. Fortunately, it means we're experienced in how to deal with it."