Chapter 4: The Will of The Gods
To start with I only referred to them OOC as Nothics. However, The Other actually indicated that the creatures with the one eye were called Nothics when he first started talking to you, so it's ok to know the name now :)
Celindara's expression darkened. "If this 'chained god' has anything to do with the Abyss, then he is not a true god, but a demon then. There are said to be six hundred and sixty six layers, each darker than the last, but I have not heard of anything chained there that was not the plaything of a demon, rather than a demon itself."
It was Goodwin that caught the next part of Meri's story. "Wait, so you were with The Shadow then? After? Well then, and there we were trying to use the stone to get his help you you. Well, I mean, no wonder things didn't work. I mean, they didn't, did they?" Goodwin looked to Nym. "I mean., Many seems worried about you for a moment, and you stopped talking, but, I mean, hah, you didn't see anything, did you? No... flames or red faced things saying 'fooled you' or... anything?"
Many meanwhile managed two way hug, eyestalks going both ways and head bobbing back and forth between the two magic users. He seemed happy once more, and all sniffles were forgotten. When Nym goes to move away, Many dismounts with an 'awwww' but happily goes back to buzzing around, apparently looking forward to seeing the falcon soar again.
[Private to Nym: As Nym says the words, there is an odd warmth for a moment. There seems to be just a reassuring sense, somehow, that everything is fine. Nym's fur for a brief moment prickles, as if some static - or low level magic - had just washed through the air.
OOC: Yay, so maybe the wish is granted. At the very least, if you distrust the wish giver, it's still a good meta move because you've effectively locked down the bad guy. He can't not grant the wish - or pretend to abide by it - without giving away who he is. So Meri is most likely safe from sneaky stuff one way or another. And hey, it could very well be The Shadow, cool ally, and so you've managed to get some actual cool protection for Meri. And hence,in a round about way, yourself.
Anyway, for a selfless action, and also for your diving in to Nym's origins, I think you deserve an Inspiration. And better yet, I will also give you one too! Cause it would be mean if I just sat here thinking you deserved one then was all 'anyway, what can I do... :)]
[Private to Meri: For a split second, there was an odd sensation in Meri's head. Like a tiny itch actually just at the front of her brain. Luckily, the sensation passed. It had been odd and disquietening.
Oh, oops, I accidentally used the word 'itch', and there's a cast member called The Itch. That was unfortunately worded, I mean you might start to suspect the two are linked. Wow, I mean I should go and correct that, but I mean I'm not sure how. I guess I'll just have to leave that where it is, and hope you don't get the wrong idea...]
Celindara broke any odd tension by speaking up to Meri's later question. "Blace and her 'friend' has ways to avoid my detection, it seemed. But now I know both their natures, they will not fool me like that again."
Celindara moved to put a hand on one of the branches that was cradling them all, and closed her eyes for a moment. She frowned, and then she took a step back, shocked.
"We didn't just lose a few hours!" she said, looking to the sky then touching the tree limb once more. "We lost an entire day. This is the second morning after the battle, not the first. Blace has had two days head start on us!"
Celindara sighed, but seemed to realise that after the miracle of both their success, and the tree, and the new hope for the forest, losing a day to catching up with Blace was perhaps a small price to pay. She still seemed put out though and took an extra moment to compose herself.
Then she took a step back once more, cursing this time. "No! I cannot sense the bard, but her 'friend' is still here. Not just here in the forest... he's at my tree!"
Dun dun dun!
Farren is back where Alynn was captured, at Celindara's home tree! That's... probably not good!
And yes, the trouble with facing off against a liar, and having multiples of the same person saying contradictory things, sort of does make it harder to know what to believe. I say believe everything! :D