Eternal questions (Ithea)

[Merc]

"Okay."

Then...

"I'm sorry for exploding your temper. And thank you for not decking me."

OOC: And because Balyss probably would take a cheap shot after that, Ithea will put an inspiration point for defense. Just in case.

[Anastasia]

"Me too, all of that," Balyss says, "I'm going to get some air. Really this time." She strides out and away, leaving Ithea to her own devices.

Now that you've chatted/argued with Balyss, what's next on your agenda?

[Merc]

Ithea waits until Balyss leaves and slumps, rubbing 27's head. "If it isn't one thing, it's another, isn't it?"

She just sits there for a while, before she goes back to her room for her normal gear, and after getting ready, goes give Vul'lath a visit.

ooc: Vul'lath.

[Anastasia]

Vul'lath is found in the library, sitting at a table with several books in front of him. He's massaging his forehead slowly, looking up as Ithea comes over. "Good morning," he says after a moment's pause.

[Merc]

"Could be better, but thank you. Good morning to you," Ithea greets. "Any luck?"

[Anastasia]

"We believe The Father's eruption to be a one off event, but we will monitor the book for now. Muirfinn was concerned that he was coming close to finding a way out." Vul'lath explains, rubbing his head a little more. "The research on Taelfagn's magic continues slowly. On advice and study, a day in a Heaven after hours of studying the magic is accepted as prudent. We'll be going there tomorrow. The fate of the chains has a way of tangling you. Choking you."

[Merc]

Ithea nods. "I had to use the blessed beds in the healer ward last night, combination of the research and the fight, probably. I had an interesting experience and had words of prophecy (maybe) given by both 27 and Balyss. The research on Taelfagn's magic is still the priority, but if breaks are needed between studying it, it might not be bad to have someone look at their words and seeing if anything useful can be pulled out."

[Anastasia]

Sage Vul'lath frowns deeply, "The recent tragedy seems to have opened the floodgates, as if we are entering a new age."

[Merc]

Ithea sighs. "No kidding. Everyone's reacting in some way, and problems that were lurking in the background are all choosing now to come up."

[Anastasia]

"Yes. I blame the Duke of Destiny for it." Gesturing vaguely, a book and quill fly over and settle before Vul'lath. He takes up the quill, "Recite each prophecy verbatim. Leave out nothing, and if you aren't sure, we'll use magic to discern what you've forgotten."

[Merc]

"No magic should be necessary, but we can double check if you'd like. I'll start with 27's, as I got those yesterday while I was with Sylvie," Ithea replies, and clearing her throat intones: "There is more behind the stone. You have to resist more, even when the chains grow tighter. Something horrible is happening."

"He followed that up with: 'The last puzzle won't open. Someone's coming to visit and you won't be ready. A dragon follows another dragon on the right path.'"

[Anastasia]

The words are copied down. "The stone may be the Spawning Stone of the Slaad. 27 has mentioned it before. It is not uncommon for a slaad to be fascinated or obsessed with it." Rereading his writings, "The second seems obvious and the third even more so. The rest is inane to me. No matter." A grunt as he goes to the opposite page, "What did Balyss say?"

[Merc]

"The six who joined one to become seven. The frolic most of all, it's important. To lead and prepare dreams to a better tomorrow, we must offer our dreams. Our dreams are the key to the ethereal moonlight, it's because she's here but she isn't here. The sun and moon are always dancing, don't you see? That's one of the most important rules. White and black, fire and water, earth and air. Together and apart. Because she is the moon and the moon is she. She dreams in the night sky and the sun brings those dreams to life in the daylight. As long as the dance continues, she can't win. They're battling to determine the fate of that. If one falls, the other will fall and she'll end the dance forever."

Ithea takes several breaks, mostly to double check her memory than anything, unlike Balyss who'd said all that in almost a single breath. "She claimed it was a 'prophet's rapture' and that it might not even be a meaningful prophecy, though she did give a few insights into what she could recognize of her words."

Ithea then goes onto the bits about the six sisters, Phoebe, and the festival.

[Anastasia]

"Selunite theology," Vul'lath lets out a little hmph after, "Doubtless the other dancer is the sun with the blatant sun and moon symbolism. It seems less prophecy and more a distorted mix of religious dogma."

[Merc]

"Well, she did warn me it might not be anything meaningful, but I figured I would err on the side of caution and check anyway," Ithea says with a nod. "Anyway, I mostly just wanted to check in on the progress and pass on those messages. If you feel you need me to answer any other questions about the chains, ask for me, but otherwise I will probably sit out any further research sessions on the matter until I get all of the infernal contamination Hanna found flushed out or something."