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Post by Ancelas on Dec 21, 2022 9:52:58 GMT -5
The Refuge was quickly attaining a more festive atmosphere in the wake of Valor Company recovering the last of their abducted residents, unharmed save for the strange comatose state he was in the midst of. As the Company began to split up, Felix and his friends rushed by to check on Conifer and Mirrai walked Taliesin over to one of the dinning hall tables to sit and unwind as the other Travellers began to organize an impromptu victory feast.
Mirrai seemed changed somehow. There had been a fluid grace to her movements before that spoke of someone comfortable in the wild with weapon in hand, but now there seemed to be a confidence that she had lacked before. Her green eyes seemed brighter, more alert, taking in more of her surroundings, and her expression seemed more... reserved.
Rather than head directly to a table, she moved over to where the hall held food and drink available throughout the day to poor some water for herself and Taliesin.
"Your hunt was successful, then," she observed. "A hostage rescued, communications restored... and a dragon irritated. What happened there? Everyone's been wondering why Ferrovax took off this morning only to return to sleep through most of the day. That offering had the look of an apology about it."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Dec 21, 2022 10:54:53 GMT -5
Taliesin followed Mirrai in silence. The changes in her demeanor weren't lost on him. In the past such a change might have elicited an obvious reaction, but after everything he was simply content to see her awake and seemingly well.
He was a little surprised as she handed him the first water she poured. He took it gently."Thank you." He seemed mildly confused as he spoke again. "Hunt ..." He paused, considering all the actions taken and seemed to come out of the minor daze. "That is certainly a fair description."
He looked back towards the way they came for a second. "That, funny enough, was not my doing. Sae communicated with Ferrovax and either poorly chose her words, or had not considered implications." He shrugged softly. "Normally I'm the one in that position."
He took a sip and continued. "It's a little liberating to have someone else doing it and getting flak for once."
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Post by Ancelas on Dec 21, 2022 11:23:44 GMT -5
A smile briefly flickered across Mirrai's face as she took her mug and made her way over to a table. "There's a word for that, I think, but I cannot recall it. Mistakes happen - at least this was rather easily rectified."
She sat down and lifted her mug, arching an eyebrow. "If there is a lesson to be learned, perhaps it is that sometimes it is best to be patient rather than rush ahead with one's desires, less one anger a dragon."
Despite speaking of dragons, Mirrai seemed to be lacing her words with another meaning, though she did not appear particularly perturbed.
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Dec 21, 2022 11:53:41 GMT -5
He nodded and followed Mirrai to the table she chose. He sat down after Mirrai. He took a drink as she spoke. Her choice of words had not been lost on him.
A sheepish expression was hidden behind the mug, but melted away. "Certainly. Or some ancient nested curse." He offered back, calling himself out.
"You look well rested." He set the mug down and looked off towards some of the changes underway around them. A part of him wondered if some of his ramblings permeated her sleep. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but quickly lifted his mug for another sip to stop himself.
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Post by Ancelas on Dec 21, 2022 13:53:06 GMT -5
"Not ancient. Just... abrupt."
She lowered her mug and looked down into it. "The further away planes are from one another, the more difficult it is to move between them. The most common side effect is the loss of memories. They can be restored through various means, but... sometimes they can have... other effects."
She glanced over her shoulder, toward the hall that led to the open rooms. "The gnome... I caught his scent as he passed. He reeked of the Far Realm. The dark-skinned elf, there are traces clinging to her as well."
Mirrai looked back at Taliesin, her expression serious. "What did you encounter out there?"
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Dec 21, 2022 15:07:00 GMT -5
Taliesin turned and looked back to Mirrai. He nodded, acknowledging her explanation. He quickly connected the statement she made to her own condition previously.
He followed her gaze away and made a sound of curiosity at her statement regarding the scents. He turned back. "Well, what indeed. I could try to explain it ..."
He reached up towards his earring, but then let his hand drop back down. There was second-guessing going on.
"Something not of this world that claims the gods stole this world from them. It's difficult to properly describe." He said with a sigh. "I can show you, but it would require you trusting me and following me through a faerie door."
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Post by Ancelas on Dec 21, 2022 15:11:17 GMT -5
"I believe you - you don't need to prove anything to me. And sometimes the creatures of the Far Realm are best left there." Mirrai shivered and took a sip of water.
"Besides, I'm still recovering from my last brush with planar travel. I'm not sure if crossing through a faerie door is a good idea for me at the moment."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Dec 21, 2022 15:19:43 GMT -5
Taliesin nodded. "Giant floating skulls with red orbs around them ... robed figures whose extremities turn to mist ... " He shook his head. "If other locations are doing similar things ..." He trailed off.
He took another sip from his mug. "Well, not a real faerie door. It is just that how it was created last, in the middle of a forest not attached to anything." He took another quick sip and set down the mug again.
There was a pause. "I've no idea what that symbol you made means." He said softly. "I tried figuring out, but I am not as well traveled on Mobius, and certainly not in other planes ... that I recall anyway."
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Post by Ancelas on Dec 21, 2022 19:58:15 GMT -5
Mirrai stiffened in Taliesin's retelling. She studied him closely, her gaze intense, and looked down into her mug. After a moment she looked up at him again.
"Symbol...? Oh." She dipped a finger into her mug and traced out the arrow and the circle on the table. "That. I'm sorry, I was... confused at the time. That is the symbol of the plane I left behind - the city I left behind. Sigil. The City of Doors."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Dec 21, 2022 20:29:43 GMT -5
Taliesin missed her initial response in his quick and rough description. He honed in to catch her looking down into her mug.
"Oh ... I wish that I knew something to place it." He flashed a small unsure smile. "Now that you have your memory back-" He looked into his own mug for a moment. "Are you generally the same person I met, just with memories now?" There was something to how he was looking up at her, but it wasn't immediately clear.
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Post by Ancelas on Dec 22, 2022 8:21:21 GMT -5
"Mm? I should hope so." Her expression softened a little, grateful that he hadn't pressed immediately into things she wasn't certain of discussing just yet. "I don't believe anything about me has changed... I suppose I just have a bit more context to work with, now. And a greater understanding of the state of this world, and the war you're fighting.
"From... from what I gather, I've lost... quite a bit of time. The Shepherd has shared some history books with me, but... even the oldest of them reference events I have no knowledge of." She sighed and looked back into her drink. "I'm... not sure how I'm going to complete my mission now, but... I think I'm in the best position to accomplish it regardless. If that makes any sense."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Dec 22, 2022 9:49:32 GMT -5
Taliesin watched Mirrai, but let things be surface level. No need to over-analyze anything yet. "Well, that's good to hear. Don't have to be concerned overmuch about Cu'Chu then." A smile showed again, but it was a tired one.
"Mission?" He leaned forward a little arms resting on the table."Finding your mother?" He asked gently. He recalled her saying something to the effect of being in search of her. "Or is there another mission you have that you didn't remember earlier?"
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Post by Ancelas on Dec 22, 2022 10:11:46 GMT -5
"My mother," she confirmed with a nod. "Things were... are... difficult in Sigil. Dangerous. My father believed it was time to reach out, so sent me to find her. I... I have reason to believe that I should still be able to find her, although it might require more research than I expected. There would have been something written about her that can point me in the right direction."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Dec 22, 2022 11:05:11 GMT -5
Taliesin became a little uneasy thinking about the implications. She had said that her mother was an elf. But if she expected her mother to still be alive after all this time, there was much more to her. He took a slow deep inhale carefully shaping his next words, hopefully.
"That is certainly a tall order. Do you have a name to share? Possibly where she was supposed to have lived on Mobius?" He stopped and awaited a response. He had thoughts on who or what might be able to help, but he didn't want to jump the gun and say things only to give disappointment.
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Post by Ancelas on Dec 22, 2022 11:21:30 GMT -5
Mirrai was quiet for a moment, eyes studying the wood grain of the table, as though choosing her words carefully. When she spoke, it was slow and careful.
"At the moment, I'd like to see what I can find myself... but I intend on seeking help from you and your companions, depending on what I find. I... would rather not share too many details right now. I know what I've said must have raised many questions... and I swear to you, I will answer them at some point. But for now... I'd like to keep certain things... unsaid."
She looked up at Taliesin. "Would that be okay with you?"
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