Halley & Myrri

Halley Meretoll earned the title "Sacred Architect."

Myriel earned the title "Fractal Bonsai."

[Secret to Halley Meretoll: Your new Title is a Feat, and so you gain a minor power associated with it. You are the Maestra Divine - the Aegis of Myriad, have an Assimilated Cult with Myriel, and have Myrri as your Elry. The through interleaving with you lends her mortal form a lot of stablity.]

She allowed you to finish tying her Obi for her, and then followed you to your Temple. She was mortal, and so had no better sense of direction than any tourist to the Valley.

The Cattedrale de Maestra Divina was partially underground, in order to access natural hot springs that had been cultivated into a public baths. Hot steam cloaked the area in aromatic mist, specially grown purple roses being the likeliest suspect - along with the trained Sakura trees, their boughs guided over windows to provide screening from the public.

The water - and thus the steam - was blessed. With perhaps a start - though you wouldn't be sure why - you may have realized that as a God with the domains of Meteors and Mist, they could be thematically combined into the domain of Celestial Water, which is what the Boledi had gone with here - a sacred place to recuperate from long journeys.

Myrri politely divested herself of her new kimono and slid first a toe and then the rest of her body into the water. She closed her eyes and relaxed.

"You know - I think I'll be here whenever I'm not with you."

"Go ahead and talk with the priests, or just announce yourself with your aura. However you want to do things, Halley."

She was, maybe, getting just a little spoiled. Maybe she deserved that.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:58, Mon 24 Dec 2018.

"Sweetie you deserve every right to spoil yourself. As an avatar of Myriad, as well as a foundation of the assimilated cult, I offer the Valley's bounties unto you whenever you want them. Because I know you'll never take more than you can give." she said.

"I only have one request - while you're free to spend as much time here as you like, I want you to take some time and explore Bolide. Talk to the people. See the sights. Taste the food. Touch and feel what I've spent centuries making for you. For us. I don't know how long you intend to leave Myriel in existence, so take this opportunity to grow your wisdom as a tree by growing your wisdom as an incarnated mortal-esque being. You'll find it's a very different perspective than what you're used to. But it's an important one, because you'll not only better understand my multi-tiered perspectives, but those singular small scale real-time of the lesser beings who live on your branches too." she said.

"Plus...seeing new things and sights and trying new food is so much fun! But you can consider this Temple your home base for now when you're not manifesting at the Sacrarium."

Halley then Flexed her Aura, the strength which was magnified greatly within the divine valley. Sakura trees in a 10-mile radius bloomed even when they were out of season, as did many flowers and plants. The flowers and trees on the temple grounds themselves glowed with a soft, gentle blue-white light similar to her coma (although it was just light, not actual cometfire).

"Well...they should know I'm back. I'll go see them - I will join you later but if I don't come back right away just wander as you please. I can always find you and my power will always be with you in the bounds of the valley, Mi Amore."

And with that, Halley flew out of the hotsprings area and into an open plaza area of the temple grounds proper, her coma trailing behind her but on a smaller scale than usual so as to not be harmful to her surroundings.

"Archon!"

The shout was was answered with surprise - the blooming of the trees, and then the unmistakable light -

Acolytes ran to and fro, and three higher-ranking priests - the Custodes - approached you.

The acolytes brought the three Custodes rolls of silk, which were rolled out before you - there were objects d'arte, jeweled daggers, cloth-of-gold scarves, bundles of Sakura notes -

and lastly, a small ornate casket of cherrywood - within, no less than 45 Holy Pearls.  An unbelievable fortune gathered over five centuries.

"Archon." The word was said with hushed reverence - they fell to their knees, bowed their heads.

A throng was onlookers was forming outside the temple, many doing a fluid movement with the hands - the sign for soaring, light, and surveillance, which had a rising and falling rhythm. Your name, you supposed. The Comet That Watches.

Halley's cometfire aura shrank so much that it was now "merely" wisps of blue-white energy coming off her body like flickering flames mixed with swirling mist (think the human torch). it was very compressed and kept close to her person, as she didn't want ti risk harming anyone although wanted her coma visible. She hated flying in the air without it even if she could if she chose, due to her memories of her time as a comet.

She hovered in the air about three feet off the ground as the custodes addressed her. And even for those Bolidians who couldn't yet see her but felt her and sensed her presence, she could "See" them clearly with her archon sight. And she looked out over the masses and the priests alike, and somehow - mystically - her voice was heard. Even by those not able to directly see her.

"Greetings Bolidians. It is I, Halley Meretoll. I wanted to let you all know I am still alive and well, and I apologize for having vanished from the public eye two centuries ago in the time of your recent ancestors. I know the Dream Weavers could sense I was alive, but still it was a level of separation I did not intend. But I...I was fixing things. I couldn't stand by while people were going insane or being killed. Like I did with the Sun-Dragon, I found and implemented a solution to the Dreaming Dark haunting the waking world here. But it took me two centuries to work with Myriad on this, but as you can see you are no longer plagued by it like your ancestors were two centuries ago. And as a side-result, Dreamweaving has flourished as well. Just remember - always be respectful of the Dreaming Dark, and never underestimate it nor approach it with arrogance for it only complies with my changes thanks to Myriad." she said to the people.

"Also, I want you all to know that Myriad has sent us a physical avatar of herself to grace us in the flesh - Myriel - in order to get a better perspective of the world, among other things. Please respect her personal space if she retreats to the sacred temple bathing springs, although if you see her wandering around Bolide and such feel free to tell her hi but please stay respectful about it." she continued.

"And I thank you all very much for the gifts and tithes you've gathered and contributed to my temple over the past five centuries - from the time I began creating the world with the Tree until now. Your kindness and generosity has not gone unnoticed or unthanked. I'll always have a presence here in the divine Valley as the Archon, but soon I'll need to send manifestations of myself out into the wider tree-world in order to explore, grow, and protect amidst all of the tree's boughs...and your gifts will help me accomplish that much easier. Thank you, everyone. I'm glad to see you have all survived and even flourished while I was away sealing off the Dreaming Dark."

Your message was received, and there was a generalized improvement in the mood of the city itself. You felt - beneath everything - the intimations of the realm itself, the Seed that fed the world responding to your presence.

The Valley Divine was yours - but not solely yours. The time would come when it would no longer have need of an Aegis, when the press of a hundred peoples filled the squares of a Valley that was one great city. Already the Boledi were a theocratic democracy - you got the biggest vote and could veto things, but the Boledi were developed and self-determining.

Ultimately, the work you had wrought would be a gift likely to outlast you.

There would be a festival to celebrate your return, assuredly - but your message having been heard, the crowd dissipated, and the acolytes returned to their work.

One of the custodes remained - an older woman. Her hair had faded to the faintest of purples. She made eye contact with you, but otherwise remained kneeling.

You felt a voice in your mind - she possessed the gift of blunt telepathy.

Chrysanthemums before you, Archon. There is much afoot.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:40, Wed 26 Dec 2018.

Halley was impressed with how the Divine Valley had continued to grow, even as she was fighting off curses and such. During it all, the people kept on growing. And right now, while she preferred to be fairly hands off despite her power and only occasionally voted and such, her ultimate goal was to get their society to a point where it would be entirely self-sufficient and could survive without her. In that distant future, she'd only intervene and exert her power if some sort of divine tier threat had come that the couldn't fend off, or if they were on the cusp of doing something that would destroy their species, or in any circumstance where they tried to encroach on the Sacrarium - that last one as much for the peoples' protection as for the Sacrarium's, because if Myriad lashed out there would be many deaths. But for now, she would guide and watch but over time, she would watch more and guide less. She'd always be the Archon, and there's always be a handful of things that she'd intercede on with the people but otherwise she want tending to the people just like she was to any other part of the valley: like a large meditative sacred garden if you will.

It had been a long time since something telepathically spoke to Halley that wasn't also a Nuldrak. But she could easily understand even thought-languages.

"Well met, Custode." she thought-spoke back in reply, with a grin on her face as she had hoped to surprise the woman a bit (in a good way).

"The Valley looks well, and the people are growing according to my grand design. You seem worried - please share your concerns with me. Although share your name with me first."

"I am Alcine. There have been Custodes, but never before have we needed to meddle in temporal affairs.

"Yet, there are shifts in power afoot, and many new Gods awakening. The Magistras have existed in harmony for centuries, but now there are tensions - the Waking Night brought many horrors, but the end of it has been worse.

"The Lady of the Grove repulsed the hands of some horror capably enough during the last year you flashed through the sky, but the cracks remain. The Magisters de Mystique want to study them; the Inferi want to close them for good; and Riftcrafters . . . not all enjoy the necessary worship and supplication. They want to draw strength directly from the Void.

"Holy Pearls are highest treasure of the land, and most of them originate from one city. The Magistra de Commercio doesn't like having to buy them at a market rate largely dictated by the Sindaco de Lyoni. They're hiring on mercenaries and leaning heavy on the Sindaco, who is rumored to have attained Godhood. If there were to be a war, there would be much death.

"I have heard that my gifts are no longer so rare. Psychic talents are dangerous, but I was born to it. There are many now, some with even stronger talents, and all acquired after birth. I know not if they are affiliated, but some have frequented the Cafe de Bolide as of late."

She massaged her temples. It seemed she was rusty with this.

Halley frowned, and thought-spoke back to Alcine.

Custode Priestess Alcine, well met. Thank you for reporting this to me.

I literally made the world in a manner of speaking, as well as the Bolidians - all for Myriad's sake. In the Valley, I am stronger than any normal god as the Archon...but yet, despite my power, I have tried not to meddle with the growth of the Bolidians much - I told them early on to get along and not genocide each other, and not to mess with Myriad and the Sacrarium, but otherwise watched from the heavens to see how you all grew...mainly descending to commune with you guys periodically, or tackle cosmic curses and such like the Dreaming Dark incident.

But it only makes sense that as you all - my chosen people - grow that you will grow in both social and technological development. And magic, and philosophy, and other arts. This is fine - and I'm pleased by it actually - but my commandment for you all to act as stewards of the divine Valley in my name still stands. And this much divisiveness is not good.

Halley considered.

I may have to intercede about the holy pearls. I was hoping the free market would dictate their worth, but if there are monopolies at play I will have to look into it. Because those pearls are gifts from me and from Myriad, and are in and of themselves not owned by any mere mortal.

But the cracks from the void incursion. That has to be dealt with. And while not all Riftwardens are bad people and some are even amongst the most humble of Dream Weavers, there are others whose ambition has grown too much. I will not abide those void-cracks to remain, nor will I allow Dream Weavers to try drawing power from the void. There is a reason supplication is needed for channeling magic from the Nocfturne. It is not some arbitrary whim of myself or Myriad. And if they try to use void energy to channel Dreaming Dark Magic...the karmic debt they would incur would be disastrous! Like lethally so after a while. You cannot cheat the Dreaming Dark. And Channeling the Void also is an invitation to draw metaphysical Madness into the Valley...something I'll never allow. It would hurt the tree and the Bolidians! I will hear the Riftcrafters out, but they'd need to give me an incredibly compelling argument for me to change my mind.

She considered.

Alcine - I'd like the Custodes to arrange a meeting between the Riftwarden leadership and the Inferni for me. Given tensions, we will have it in a plaza of my temple grounds as that way it is technically neutral to both sides. And their attendance is required. I will hear both sides and then issue my judgment.

Also, I want messages sent to the Magistra Commercio and Sindaco letting them know I will be hearing their case as well, and that they are not to attack one another in the meantime and that The Comet that Watches is watching their every move right now.

Time sped forward a year.

The appointed meeting was at hand, and the Sindaco had declared Lyoni a sovereign city-state in response to the pressure from the Magistra de Commercio to lower their prices. Your own missive had so far prevented outright war.

The Inferi were the first to arrive - and they were haunting. Tall, slender, in saffron surcoats and black scarves. They all wore ornate masks, depicting a wolf. None of them were mortal - all had five Geists bound to them through Mythcrafting, elevating to the same tier as a God. Should they die, they would be able to plead their case before Yami for a return from death.

Next were the Magi, who were considerably brighter in aspect. The women wore a deep blue, while the men wore purple. Those were just ceremonial robes, though - you could tell they were wearing their own clothes beneath.

In accordance to tradition, the temple plaza has set up for an enjoyable evening, with both wine and savory soup provided freely by the temple, sourced from donations.

Three long tables and a round central had been set up for the occasion, with no long table placed in front of the exist.

The acolytes and Custodes took care setting up the other two factions with food and drink, before doing the same for themselves. The leaders all brought their own food, a custom against both favoritism and poisoning.

Halley was unfazed. In the Divine Valley, she was individually stronger than a mob of lesser gods. The Forsaken Mist and her Archon powers assured it. This also was why she was the only one who had the power to force the factions to hold off on going to war. She also cared about the people as a whole, and was the only one fit to judge and mediate an issue like this.

She hovered in the air in the large open space between the three sets of tables. Wisps of cometfire played across her body although at a relatively subdued level, although the mists swirled around here like they had a mind of their own, defying physics and the prevailing breeze patterns.

"Thank you all for coming." Halley's voice said as it rang across the clearing.

"I am sure you all know why I have called you here, although as a reminder...we are here because the Bolidian people have splintered and become factitious during the time since I created the world. But I try my best to not interfere with the development of Bolidian society except on a need-to basis where issues of mass loss of life or harm to the tree are involved. And it has come to my attention that I have been too permissive with you all, and while I have been off watching from afar or fixing the tree to prevent horrible afflictions from befalling all of you...you all are now on the brink of faction wars and more. The magesteria have always worked well together, but now that they aren't...it seems I'm the only one able to arbitrate. And so here we are." she said firmly.

"The two main issues I've identified are tensions surrounding the holy pearls - which I will deal with later at another hearing between the two factions primarily involved - and tensions about what to do with the void-cracks in the tree. The latter is the subject of today's hearing. I will not render judgment yet. Instead, I will give each faction involved: the Inferi, the Riftwardens, and also the Custodes as well, a chance to argue for a course of action that should be taken and WHY that action should be taken. For the Custodes...I want your stance on this as a faction, without regard for your connection to me or what you think I want. I will NOT tolerate interruptions during these phases of the proceedings. I will then let each faction have an opportunity to provide a rebuttal speech. Then we will break for recess and I will arbitrate a decision." she said.

"The proceedings will go as follows..."

ooc: Ok, so here's how she wants things to go.

1.) Inferi present their case and their "Why."
2.) The Riftwardens present their case and "why."
3.) The Custodes present their case and "why."
4.) Inferi Rebuttal
5.) Riftwarden rebuttal
6.) Custodes Rebuttal
7.) Recess
8.) Halley's decision

"When the Infernale were founded, like every Magistra, our jurisdiction was explicit and absolute. Wheresoever there is Madness, the Void, or other hostile forces and beings to the well-being of the valley of supernatural origin, it is our right and duty to vanquish them. Any other organization is legally overstepping their bounds by interfering with the cracks or stymieing our investigation."

"Ahem. It is our forte to add to Boledian stores of knowledge and further our mastery of the arcane. Why did these cracks appear? What does it even MEAN that there are 'cracks' in our 'reality'? Are we only seeing the obvious cracks, and missing finer ones because we lack the knowledge to detect them effectively? If there is some enemy without - how will they react to us closing the cracks, if we even can, and what can we do to limit the knowledge our potential foe would gain about us?"

"It is known to the Temple that someday a great foe will return to - capture and exploit the universe. Those here who bear Riftmarks will know the fears of the Waking Night all point to this prediction. From the stance of the Temple, our enemy is certainly coming, and the need to forestall its advance while gaining whatever knowledge might prepare us to the future are equally concerning - and either way, the matter is urgent, and should have been addressed centuries ago."

Then it was time for rebuttals.

"The Valley is our heart. It is far too dangerous to allow the enemy to be on our doorstep for the sake of research. If we want information, fine, but we do it by sending a scouting force, not by welcoming the enemy into our home base! The cracks need to sealed and the Valley reinforced. Only the Valley's immense strength has kept the cracks from spreading for so long."

"Exactly. Sending a scouting force would be foolhardy and only lead to death - here we have a weak example of our foe's influence, in the heart of our power where our ability to control it is greatest. We should be building fortress-temples around each of the cracks, dedicated to research, and have loyal Inferi at the ready should any worrisome changes be detected in the cracks."

The Custode blanched. "A coalition effort? No. That which is holy cannot be turned to the study of the unholy. These cracks are a threaten. The cracks might not just 'widen' or 'change' - if the enemy strikes, it may shatter us completely. It is a weakness in our defenses, not a passive phenomenon."

Halley considered for a moment, and then responded to everyone.

"Before we break for recess, I want to tall everyone here something that may help clarify some things, as well as potentially alter some of the stances your factions have on the matter." she said.

"I actually have knowledge of what lays beyond the cracks. Well...in a general sense, anyway. But first, I will tell everyone here that the fears of the Dreaming Dark are all too real. There is a malevolent external force from beyond the Tree that seeks to one day attack, invade, and if it wins...corrupt the tree until it becomes a pathetic and twisted thing enslaved to angles and Madness. At which point, I would have to kill her - which may result in all of your deaths as well. Obviously, it should go without saying that the last thing I want to do after having spent centuries creating you all and the land we stand on if to destroy everything. This is a last-resort mercy kill of the tree, and is a fate I want to avoid at all costs - and I hope you all will help me in this as my custodians of the Divine Valley." she said, firmly and solemnly.

Such a fate would break Halley's heart, and was essentially a worst case scenario. That is why she had to beef up her people and the tree alike. It's why she didn't cut corners and such when she made the Valley - she went for double realness at the expense of some potential boons, and worked hard on the curses, to make the valley as anti-Mad as possible.

"I will not go into full detail about what happened to Myriad in the past, but suffice to say that great and terrible Mad entities - some as strong as gods or even stronger - hurt the tree but she fought them off until I came into the picture. If you all want to know exactly what happened and other secrets of the Dreaming Dark and Myriad, then you will have to study Dream Weaving and become master rank practitioners. For that intimate level of knowledge is a privilege reserved only for those who take the time and energy and supplication to become Masters. But suffice to say...the fears are all real." she said firmly.

"And also, it has come to my attention that some among you think that it may be easier or more convenient - or even more powerful - to try and draw the power needed to channel the Dreaming Dark from the void instead of supplicating Myriad. I will warn you all now that there is a REASON Dreamweaving and all its sub-disciplines work the way it does. Again, the specifics are reserved for master Dreamweavers who've earned it from the Dreaming Dark. But I'll tell you this: the Dreaming Dark is not a mindless stupid force. Its powers are channeled the way they are with supplication and mana combined because that is the safest, and only way to do it without horrible and hideous backlash. The void might work for you for a short time, but the dream debt you'd incur would multiply exponentially due to the nature of the void and the Dreaming Dark. And eventually, it will twist you, torture you, and then finally kill you horrifically. I am sharing this truth as well in case it alters any factions' perspectives." she said.

"With that said, I need to recess and let both myself as well as you all process things. I request that each of your groups quickly select one of your number to come to recess with me. I have to bounce some ideas and such off each of you as I make my decision. Choose your representatives, and we will go into my inner temple." she said as she began hovering slowly away towards her inner temple.

OOC: Halley is retreating to an inner part of the temple grounds, and 1 person from each of the 3 factions is to come follow her as she needs them to bounce some things off of while she decides.

The Custode you had spoken with before - Alcine - and a representative of the two Magistras - followed after to you.

The Temple was a place of comfort, and so the inner portions meant for gatherings were more like lounges than meeting rooms. Some of the Acolytes were working ahead of your instructions, and had set the table with hot fresh bread rolls in baskets, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and wine.

It was getting late.

Through one of the back doors, Myrri entered. She was wearing an entirely different outfit - a burgundy vest over a white dress, both of silk. "Oh! I was just following the smell of fresh bread." She snagged a fresh roll from a basket. "Am I disturbing you, Maestra? It feels somehow like I haven't seen you in a year," she said, winking. Of course - Myrri was mortal. She'd lived out the entire 'skip' apart from you, probably intentionally.

"The Capos de Magistras Infernale & Mystique. It speaks well of you both to come here yourself rather than delegating. I hope the discussion is fruitful." She said, curtsying politely. She then headed back out the door she had come through, unless you told her to stay.

Halley nodded.

"Myrri...wait." she said as she landed on the ground and in a flicker, vanished from sight before appearing beside the other woman. She gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Actually...this is a meeting I could use you at, as an incarnation of Myriad. We are discussing the fate of the large cracks that many-armed void thing tried to claw through when we dealt with the Dreaming Dark and the Realm Nocturne. I am withholding judgement to give the three main factions that have a stake in this a chance to plead their cases, but I'll be making a ruling soon before things escalate to a faction war. I need to bounce a few things off of you guys...and having you here will help."

Myrri blinked, the hot bread roll halfway to her mouth. "Oh, sure. The cracks aren't .  . they aren't really cracks, I'm an organic being. They're more like really bad stretch marks that started to split and bleed a little - in a little less than a century I'll scar over them fully. What these guys are doing is basically picking at my scabs and studying the infection - there's no way they can actually, like, come into contact with the Void through those wounds."

She sat down at the table, alongside the Capos and the Custode.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:47, Fri 04 Jan 2019.

Halley considered.

"So Myriel? You or your overself won't have any issue with them then setting up research castles and such then around them? she asked.

"And what was that many armed thing then? Is it part of the you-know-what that was expressing itself, or something else?"

Myriel knew intuitively, due to their archon connection, Halley meant that was the thing manifest trauma or even a bit of the Madness that was inside of her due to Sumaya, or was it something else. But that was sensitive and she wasn't going to voice it aloud. Even though everyone in the room probably was a master dreamweaver and knew the whole story.

"And do you think our people would gain anything from researching this, assuming Myriad is ok with it?"

"I'm Myrri - not Myriel, who is my higher self. She's busy organizing a party for our birthday right now. That's why I don't have any aura and why I didn't skip time when you did.

"It would be fine, but I'm not sure they'd learn much. I think reinforcing our defenses in those areas is a good thing. What came through - as I can recall, memory is weirdly hazy when you're mortal - was some kind of mad god, rather than old one per se.

"It came up from the Lower Haze, probably, which was created at the same time - it's like the Lower Ash in that it's a way for Myriad to harness Void energy. That's why Myriad was able to defeat it with elemental magic, rather than having to Act."


Just then, there was a scrabbling at the door, and then an Acolyte entered, desperately trying to keep hold of a tiny weasel that was wearing a little backpack.

"I'm wit da post office! I goes wherevers I needs ta!" the weasel said, before escaping.

Leaping until the table, the talking animal approached you. "I gotsa letter here for da Maestra - says yer invited ta a fancy dealie for Lady Myriel's birthday bash. Little parcel here too."

You were handed a very small letter the approximate size of a postage stamp, as well as a ring box. In your hand, the letter resumed full size, and surely enough it was a formal invitation to a godly party being held in Myriel's home of Phthia.

Delivery completed, the weasel left, and the acolyte as well, closing the door behind her.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:46, Sat 05 Jan 2019.

Halley nodded.

"Ok good - thanks Myrri." Halley said as she gave the woman a peck on the lips.

"Then I think it wouldn't hurt to do some sort of research facility fortress thing that is run as a collaborative effort between the Inferni and the Riftweavers. Myriad is going to seal the wound naturally in about a century or so anyway, but I don't see - given light of the new information we've received - any reason that this cannot happen. The Riftweavers and magi can help spearhead research, and the Inferni can do their own research and also act was wardens of the cracks on my behalf." she said.

"The one thing I will state up front is that I don't want anyone trying to channel metaphysical capital M Madness into the tree or the Valley. And I understand the Riftweavers' interest in trying to channel the void to try and circumvent the supplication to access the Dreaming Dark's magic. But it won't work. The Dreaming Dark isn't stupid or unintelligent. You master-level practitioners know what I mean as you know a lot of Myriad's Dreaming Dark hidden secrets. I'm warning you - I won't even need to police this. The Dreaming Dark WILL slap you with dream debt up the yin yang until you are finally and mercifully killed by it. After first having your lives turned into a horrorshow. The supplication system system exists from a time before you were born, and it exists purposefully. As it was one of the few ways I could get the Dreaming Dark to stop killing your ancestors. I am the cause of the supplication system, and I did it purposefully to give Dreamweavers a safe way to continue their craft. It's not there to purposefully restrict anyone. It's there because it';s the only way to avoid dream debt. You take from the Dreaming Dark, and try to sidewind it, and it will take from you twicefold.

She looked at the assembled leaders.

"What do you all think of this? Of running an Inferni-Riftweaver collaborative research bastion structure? You would only be answerable to me, Myriad and her iterations, and your own internal hierarchies. Thoughts?"

OOC: Halley, you're talking with the Magistras de Mystique & Infernale. Mystique deals in ordinary magic, not riftcrafting. They are the keepers of the Royal Tradition as per Dust, basically. The Riftcrafters aren't represented at the meeting because they are a loose non-governmental association with no leader. You also didn't respond to the delivery.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:25, Tue 08 Jan 2019.

I thought it was the Inferni who were fighting with the riftwardens about the cracks, not the Mystique? I thought the people at the meeting were both the riftcrafter leaders and the mystique as they were one and the same?

Or did you mis-represent the conflict and you meant it between the mystique and inferni?

Halley then took the letter from the merit weasel and read it, and looked at Myrri with a wink as she held the ring box.

"I'll make an appearance to the party hon. I want to resolve this issue first."

She opened the box and looked inside.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:34, Tue 08 Jan 2019.

OOC: I can see how you got confused, but the Riftcrafters are a seperate faction. Their desire to draw directly from the Void isn't really related to cracks, she's just telling you what's going on with those three factions. They didn't show to the meeting if you meant to invite them. I apologize for the lack of clarity! :P

[Private to Halley Meretoll: The ring is enchanted, and will glow softly in the presence of invisibility, illusions, and hidden doors.]

OOC: Ah ok...now that makes sense. I'm glad you understand how that was getting confusing lol. I'll have to deal with the riftwardens separately, but they WILL be dealt with. One way, or the other.

She looked at the assembled leaders.

"What do you all think of this? Of running an Inferni-Magi collaborative research bastion structure? You would only be answerable to me, Myriad and her iterations, and your own internal hierarchies. In this way, politics from external factions won't be able to interfere with the project. Thoughts?"

"If the cracks present no immediate danger to the Valley, then the Magistra de Infernale would be pleased to allow the Magisters of the college to conduct their research, with our protection."

The Cap de Mysteri echoed that of the Inferi. "A shared venture would be more easily afforded that independent action. Agreed."

The Custode Alcine smiled. "Very well. The Temple shall also solicit donations for this purpose, provided that a sacred tree is planted within each of these research stations, as a sign of solidarity."

Halley nodded.

"Then so be it. I consider the matter closed, and will leave it to you three factions to establish the fortress facility and get things going as needed. I also approve the presence of the temple there as well and the planting of sacred trees." she said.

She then grew more grim looking.

"Now...there is another reason I asked only faction leaders to join me back here, along with Myrri. Something that's not related to the issue of the tree cracks but that I need to discuuss with you all about, as it relates to secret knowledge about the tree. You see...each of you in this room is a master rank dreamweaver and thus has access to knowledge the dreaming dark and myriad granted you. And the crux of the problem involves that senstivie information." she said.

"Basically...it has come to my attention that the Riftwarden faction is trying to find a way to not only circumvent the supplication rituals for Dreamweaving and its sub-disciplines Thus, I probably don't need to tell any of you this but I will for the sake of completeness. But Most Bolidians think that the Bolidians are the ones who created the Dreamweaving Tradition. But the real truth is that I am the one who did it and that as your race discovered certain things, I was secretly weaving reality to make things work in a way it wouldn't get you all killed." she said seriously.

"The old lore about the Comet that Watches banishing the Dreaming Dark into the Nocturne is all true. But what most people don't know but you all do is that the Dreaming Dark isn't some alien hostile force, but it's actually a part of Myriad. A part that embodies a sentient amalgam of some of the best dreams and worst nightmares and rapes she has experienced. And of course, it gradually began to encompass the dreams of everyone in general after I made the Nocturne and put it there to rest." she continued.

"The supplication rituals are something I built into the tradition itself, as a way to offset the loss and pain and violation Myriad and thus the Dark side of the Dreaming Dark experienced. I knew I couldn't stop you all from stumbling onto Dreamweaving, so I used my power and made things so that you guys had a way to channel the Dreaming Dark's power (relatively) safely. Only myself and the Dragons have no risk - everyone else has a karmic tab that waxes and wanes over time. And While the Dreaming Dark is a  part of Myriad, is isn't her in her entirety and it embodies both intense love and intense anguish and rage...and it can and will lash out and punish those with karmic dream debts. The supplication rituals allow you guys to avoid accruing debt from the mere invocation of the power. Because honestly what you're essentially doing is asking a PTDS victim to give more of herself for free and to keep giving in ways she never initially intended...which when you think about it is immensely selfish of you all. But the supplication rituals resolve that, and instead of theft of power it becomes a sort of shamanistic gift in a sense. Mind you...a practitioner can always channel some amount of power but it enambles spells to be cast in and of themselves debt-free. It's what you guys do after that incurs or cleanses debt."

She looked around, making sure everyone was following.

"The Riftwardens want to try drawing on the void instead of the normal supplication rituals. Not only is this doomed to fail because even if it works mechanically, they'd rack up so much dream debt so quickly it could become lethal or maddening or both. But the Void is a window into metaphysical Madness. And we cannot let any more Madness come into the tree. It would harm Myriad and you all. So obviously I cannot stand by and do nothing." she said.

"So this is why I asked the leaders here to talk in the back room here. I need each of your guys opinions on this, and suggestions on how to resolve it."

It was years before the issue of the rogue Riftcrafters was able be fully addressed. Through study of the way Myriad healed the scars on the Valley, a new doctrine of dream-magic emerged - that of karmic debt collectors, the Inevitables, who were master dreamweavers that sought out and slew Riftcrafters that tried to make contact with the Void itself

While small, the Magistra de Abissale did its work with grueling throughness. While the Inferi concerned themselves with eradicating the external threats that managed to get into the Valley, the Inevitables functioned as a secret police - forming a network of spies to keep tabs on the Boledi and outlying regions and races for signs of contamination or Outer paraphernalia.

The Valley safeguarded as much as possible, Halley retired to the heavens - becoming the Comet-That-Watches, a light in the night sky that flared by every few years, and a sign of good fortune on days she was witnessed.

Myriad got a pretty boring job at the historic Cafe de Boledi, before opening her own cafe in the heart of downtown - The Meteoric Cafe, known for its lucky house-shrine and bonsai trees at every table, and Myriad's strange knack for always having a customer's order ready before they even spoke it aloud.

One night, while closing down the shop, Myriad looked to sky - where her love streaked across the sky. She smiled, then sat down for a good cry, before returning to custodial duties.