**** BEGIN LOGGING AT Wed Mar 16 10:55:04 2022 Mar 16 10:55:04 * Morgan has quit (Quit: Leaving) Mar 16 11:04:03 * Morgan (~mads@news-iMac.lan) has joined Mar 16 14:17:19 * MollyK (~igloo@CrystabllesiPad.lan) has joined Mar 16 14:18:08 [Edward is here, he has the letter] Mar 16 14:18:31 * Morgan looks at Claudia Mar 16 14:18:33 excuse me Mar 16 14:22:01 *she nods* Mar 16 14:22:16 * Morgan heads down to his room Mar 16 14:23:44 * MollyK and Edward are stood outside the room, talking quietly Mar 16 14:24:09 * Morgan stops at a distance Mar 16 14:25:44 * MollyK spots her husband quite quickly. She speaks quietly "liebes herz" Mar 16 14:26:30 * Morgan approaches them, speaking quietly Mar 16 14:26:34 I didn't wish to intrude Mar 16 14:28:01 E: *he shakes his head* I have finished the letter to Alice Mar 16 14:29:52 That was... quicker than I expected Mar 16 14:32:25 E: It is important, it can be sent on the ferry back to Freiburg and then on to its destination. Mar 16 14:32:48 I'll take care of it Mar 16 14:33:17 * MollyK is now known as Edward Mar 16 14:33:45 I have not sealed it yet, I am sure you will want to read it Mar 16 14:35:59 * Morgan smiles slightly Mar 16 14:36:14 not knowing things does bother me. I won't alter it, you know that? Mar 16 14:38:08 * Edward frowns Mar 16 14:38:16 Did I suggest you would? Mar 16 14:38:32 *Molly tilts her head, watching the two of them* Mar 16 14:38:34 I'm not saying that... I am wishing to assure you Mar 16 14:39:16 * Edward nods "when you are done reading it, I will seal it and let you deal with sending it to wherever they are" Mar 16 14:40:06 I'll deal with it... I've a couple of things I want to tell her myself Mar 16 14:42:56 * Edward nods, handing it over Mar 16 14:43:30 * Morgan takes it, putting it in his pocket Mar 16 14:43:37 I'll get it to them as quickly as I can Mar 16 14:45:09 * Edward nods "they are in Avalon" Mar 16 14:45:13 ?* Mar 16 14:45:35 * Morgan nods Mar 16 14:46:10 It will take the better part of two weeks at least then Mar 16 14:46:37 * Morgan shrugs Mar 16 14:49:06 *Varick calls for Molly, so she goes in to the cabin* Mar 16 14:50:23 * Morgan watches his brother for a moment Mar 16 14:50:43 You know Mina loves you... you have no doubt of that, yes? Mar 16 14:51:03 Of course. Mar 16 14:51:40 But hearing her tell you... it feels good, even though she's only reaffirming what you already know... Mar 16 14:52:26 * Edward watches him "this is a sore subject right now, make your point" Mar 16 14:53:03 Thats why I told you I would not alter it. Not to suggest you thought I would. You understand? Mar 16 14:54:14 * Edward nods Mar 16 14:54:18 I do Mar 16 14:54:25 * Morgan nods Mar 16 14:55:43 Good. And you know I will not lie to you? Mar 16 14:56:05 * Edward nods Mar 16 14:56:19 good... that will be important. Mar 16 14:56:33 * Edward nods Mar 16 14:57:04 I know that though you want Mina and I together you will not sabotage the situation with Alice Mar 16 14:57:13 * Morgan nods Mar 16 14:58:26 I don't agree with you, but they are your principles, and I will respect that. I want you to know the only reason I have not told you where they are is because... I'm going to hold father to the same demands, and if you don't know where they are, you will not be forced to withhold it from him. That sits with me. Mar 16 14:58:56 They are safe though? My daughter is safe? Mar 16 14:59:14 * Morgan nods Mar 16 14:59:33 probably the safest place in all of Avalon, realistically. I would not put her in danger Mar 16 15:00:48 Why didn't you bring them? You summoned me to Freiburg, you could have brought them Mar 16 15:02:26 A few reasons... I was not willing to risk you trying to take her... I'm sorry I considered that. For the first time in a long while they have somewhere permanent they can call home, rather than always being at sea, and I wished to give them time to acclimatise to that. Mar 16 15:02:53 * Edward nods, looking serious Mar 16 15:03:22 I don't like that you thought that of me, but I haven't proven myself to you enough yet Mar 16 15:05:13 To have her in Sudlachenburg is what any noble family in Eisen would expect, and people like Trague give me pause. I knew you would not hurt her, but I wanted time to make sure you fully understand how deeply connected her and her mother are Mar 16 15:06:11 You think they are in danger? Mar 16 15:07:08 No, not at all... but I wasn't certain your, or fathers for that matter, desire to see what you consider proper could be tempered by sense. Does that make any sense? Mar 16 15:08:29 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:09:27 It is not easy to temper it. I didn't want any of this, but she is supposed to be in my house and under my protection Mar 16 15:11:42 I know. I'm so very proud and _grateful_ that you are trying so hard. I do not doubt your intentions, I want you to know that... as I said, I've not told you where they are so you don't shoulder the burden of keeping it from father. There is no other agenda with that, you will have a relationship, I don't hold that possibility hostage from you Mar 16 15:12:27 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:12:42 I am sorry you are put in a position between Father and I Mar 16 15:12:53 * Morgan smiles slightly Mar 16 15:13:44 No, I put myself there. I never thought we'd be close enough where I would, but I am glad we are Mar 16 15:14:52 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:15:06 I do not deserve it. Mar 16 15:15:39 You don't get to decide that Mar 16 15:17:08 I was not expecting any of this. I thought the urgency was that you were having a child and wanted to give me a warning. Mar 16 15:17:23 a warning? Mar 16 15:17:49 To not repeat the past Mar 16 15:17:58 * Morgan shrugs Mar 16 15:18:00 you wouldn't Mar 16 15:18:39 No, I wouldn't. Mar 16 15:20:07 Wouldn't even enter my head... I might give you _fore_warning, so you are not... distressed I suppose... Mar 16 15:20:20 * Edward smiles Mar 16 15:20:51 When you and Molly have a child, I will not be distressed, I will praise Theus and be elated. Mar 16 15:21:39 * Morgan watches him for a moment before nodding Mar 16 15:22:31 There is much to tell you about Florrie but... not yet. I would ask, though, that any advice I give you with regards to meeting and getting to know her is heeded. Mar 16 15:23:02 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:23:49 I will not promise I won't rail against you and call you all the names under the sun, but I will know you act for the happiness of your niece above all. Mar 16 15:24:11 * Morgan nods Mar 16 15:24:42 What I will advise will give you the best chance of a bond with her, and that is what I want Mar 16 15:25:46 What will _you_ do in regards to her, even if there is no accord between Alice and I about creating a family with them? Mar 16 15:27:31 As I explained to Alice, I wish to be in her life, and the only way I wouldn't be is if it were to protect her or if she wished no more contact with me. Mar 16 15:29:17 * Edward watches him Mar 16 15:29:25 You are attached to her. Mar 16 15:29:51 * Morgan nods Mar 16 15:30:01 She is my niece Mar 16 15:31:40 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:32:31 There is more to it, of course but... that is for another time. Mar 16 15:33:41 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:34:08 I have those letters from Father for you that he has been working on whilst teaching me about ruling lands Mar 16 15:34:25 * Morgan nods Mar 16 15:34:37 thank you. In truth, I'd more or less forgotten about that Mar 16 15:35:46 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:36:41 I have found it useful, not only for the future, but because it has helped Father regain his affection for me...and now I have disappointed him again Mar 16 15:37:45 I believe we will get through it and, if he isn't stupid, will know a loving, clever daughter Mar 16 15:37:54 * Morgan scratches his chin Mar 16 15:38:02 keep practicing your Avalonian... Mar 16 15:39:13 * Edward nods "If I am to live there, I will want to be more fluent" Mar 16 15:40:24 Regardless of where you live, she doesn't speak Eisen... and until she is comfortable with you, she won't learn. You should know, her mind works a little differently to most Mar 16 15:40:57 In what way? Mar 16 15:41:55 She can be very literal. The way she interacts with people is a little unusual, but she has an almost encyclopaedic understanding of plants and flowers Mar 16 15:42:46 She is young, she will blossom Mar 16 15:44:14 There's more to it than that... I have it on good authority that her mind works differently, she processes things differently. Its why you'll need to listen to my advice when you meet her Mar 16 15:44:32 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:44:47 I see. Mar 16 15:45:29 It'll be worth it, I promise you Mar 16 15:45:46 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:47:47 You like children Mar 16 15:48:27 * Morgan nods after a moment Mar 16 15:48:44 They aren't interested in your title, your politics... just whether or not you're kind Mar 16 15:49:08 * Edward nods Mar 16 15:51:51 I remember Varick at Florrie's age, I visited frequently then. He was very entertaining *Morgan knows this from Karsten's diary, it was the time in which Alarice was sleeping with him and stealing his seed from him to have a child he refused to acknowledge if she kept it* Mar 16 15:52:16 * Morgan nods Mar 16 15:59:21 *a call from the boy in question has Edward excusing himself, and brings Morgan back to his cabin* Mar 16 15:59:50 [do you need us to give you time to read it?] Mar 16 16:05:08 [Ideally] Mar 16 16:05:45 *Molly takes Varick up on deck Mar 16 16:06:00 * Morgan takes the letter out to read it, sitting on the bunk Mar 16 16:08:48 ACTION 's letter is good, starting with honesty and warmth. It expresses genuine surprise and remorse for what Alice has had to endure. He tells her that if he had known it was possible, he wouldn't have put her in this position, but that their child is an unexpected gift from God. He thanks her for her strength and dedication, and assures her Mar 16 16:08:49 that he has no desire to separate her and their daughter Mar 16 16:10:37 * Morgan grunts to himself, reading on Mar 16 16:14:38 ACTION then sets out his desire to do the right thing by Florrie, to provide and protect and nurture her, to live as a family and to show to her what a family should be. He expresses the desire to be a father to his child and to make up for the lost time and hardships they have endured. He explains that he will work around any commitments to Mar 16 16:14:38 location that she has, and that he is willing to live in Avalon if that is what she prefers. He tells her that he has thought of her and looked for her, and that he has every intention to be faithful to her if she will consent to wed him. Mar 16 16:16:46 *Lastly, he explains that he will respect her answer, and though he would prefer them to wed and make a good home for their daughter, if that is not her decision he will work with her to find a mutually agreeable way forward between the three of them. It is signed "Fondest regards to you both, Edward" Mar 16 16:18:37 * Morgan nods to himself, folding it back up and putting it back in his pocket Mar 16 16:21:24 *he can feel the smooth skimming of the ferry over the water, his cabin peaceful and for ten minutes he has some time just to sit quietly and put his thoughts in order. This is then interrupted by Edward briefly handing over the large amount of letters from Adalbrecht, who has clearly been committed to this task. The reading with take an hour or Mar 16 16:21:24 two at least Mar 16 16:22:06 * Morgan sighs, starting on them Mar 16 16:26:36 *they are surprisingly fascinating, making points and then illustrating them with little stories of Adalbrecht's decades as Graf, as well as quoted snippets from letters sent to Adalbrecht during the War from his father Penn, and even some taken from much older letters from Abelard and Lisette. The latter are often about religion and the people, Mar 16 16:26:36 unsurprising as it was in the earlier parts of their time as Graf and Grafin that they brought Sudlachenburg from Vaticine to Objectionist. They are full of both practicality and wisdom, and what may have seemed like a possible dry, tedious lecture is more like a series of documents to be preserved for future generations Mar 16 16:28:56 * Morgan rubs his face, putting the documents away safely Mar 16 16:29:47 *when he checks his pocket watch, two and a half hours have passed since Molly and Varick left* Mar 16 16:30:29 [Are you alright blossom?] Mar 16 16:30:51 [we are all fine, my love, just watching the view] Mar 16 16:31:02 * Morgan heads up on deck Mar 16 16:31:58 * Edward is the only one missing. The others are cheerful. HH gestures "You okay?" Mar 16 16:32:29 * Morgan nods Mar 16 16:35:06 HH: where y' been man, we thought mebbie you were downstairs crippled by seasickness Mar 16 16:35:38 reading letters from my father Mar 16 16:36:37 HH: sounds less fun than being up here Mar 16 16:37:46 Was remarkably interesting actually Mar 16 16:38:23 * Edward is now known as HH Mar 16 16:38:27 Oh? Mar 16 16:38:31 * Morgan nods Mar 16 16:38:43 I asked for advice on how to be a decent Graf Mar 16 16:39:07 Gotta admit, he has been Mar 16 16:39:32 * Morgan nods Mar 16 16:39:41 only a few things to improve upon Mar 16 16:40:04 Gonna be a hard act to follow Mar 16 16:40:27 * Morgan nods Mar 16 16:40:29 indeed Mar 16 16:41:14 Y' got an advantage though Mar 16 16:41:19 oh? Mar 16 16:41:30 * HH grins "me" Mar 16 16:41:52 easy to look good when compared to you I suppose Mar 16 16:42:15 * HH grins more Mar 16 16:42:29 Not accordin' to our wives Mar 16 16:42:40 * Morgan leans in, whispering Mar 16 16:42:44 someones lying to you Mar 16 16:43:14 Molly, about you being decent in bed. Yeah, guessed tha' Mar 16 16:43:46 * Morgan thumps his arm Mar 16 16:43:57 * HH laughs Mar 16 16:45:10 If y' need Varick watchin' for a bit tonight we can do that Mar 16 16:46:12 * Morgan nods Mar 16 16:46:18 possibly Mar 16 16:46:39 Gotta practice t' get better Mar 16 16:46:51 Do you want me to drown you? Mar 16 16:47:28 Keep dreamin', you haven' got a chance Mar 16 16:48:56 keep telling yourself that Mar 16 16:50:12 Serve you right if you dream about drownin' me now Mar 16 16:50:31 That'd be a nice change Mar 16 16:51:19 Thanks(!) Mar 16 16:51:34 * Morgan sniggers Mar 16 16:52:04 Mebbie dream of yer wife instead Mar 16 16:52:36 I'd like to not dream for one night Mar 16 16:53:37 You ever do that?! Mar 16 16:54:11 Once, I think Mar 16 16:54:26 * HH laughs Mar 16 16:56:47 I've had a few dreams about being an old time War Lord, beating off the ancient Vodacces tryin' to invade Eisen Mar 16 16:57:42 oh? Mar 16 16:59:03 That's about it really. Commandin' the men, ridin' around Mar 16 17:00:07 being glorious? Mar 16 17:01:35 Yep, 'ad my hair as long as yers, wore it loose. Women begged t' entertain me ev'ry night Mar 16 17:03:58 Now you know how life is for me Mar 16 17:05:46 * HH creases up so much that the others start paying attention Mar 16 17:09:18 *he speaks quietly* the hair works, does it? Mar 16 17:10:06 * Morgan shrugs Mar 16 17:11:18 Mebbie I'll grow mine, use it on Inga Mar 16 17:11:43 Doesn't work on the blind Mar 16 17:14:16 * HH has quit (Read error: EOF from client) Mar 16 21:13:19 * MollyK (~igloo@CrystabllesiPad.lan) has joined Mar 16 21:13:44 being glorious? Mar 16 21:13:44 Yep, 'ad my hair as long as yers, wore it loose. Women begged t' entertain me ev'ry night Mar 16 21:13:44 Now you know how life is for me Mar 16 21:13:44 * HH creases up so much that the others start paying attention Mar 16 21:13:44 *he speaks quietly* the hair works, does it? Mar 16 21:13:46 * Morgan shrugs Mar 16 21:13:48 Mebbie I'll grow mine, use it on Inga Mar 16 21:13:50 Doesn't work on the blind Mar 16 21:15:35 Not a nice thing t' say about my wife! Mar 16 21:15:41 * MollyK is now known as HH Mar 16 21:18:34 I'm horrible, we've discussed this before Mar 16 21:19:35 Mebbie it's my manly scent she likes, so seeing ain't that important Mar 16 21:20:02 just as well Mar 16 21:23:01 Ackshully, that is a bit weird. Sometimes she likes t' sorta curl up to me and sniff my armpits Mar 16 21:24:32 That is a bit odd Mar 16 21:25:16 Yep. Mar 16 21:26:08 *A strange looking old man approaches the women and Varick, dressed like an old fashioned fisherman* Mar 16 21:26:56 * Morgan watches him carefully Mar 16 21:30:37 F: Good day to ye, weary travellers. For a guilder, I'll tell ye some tales of times of old, and mythical beings that called this fair country their home... *he has a deep, melodious voice, and it reminds Morgan of being a young boy listening to some of the travelling bards who would occasionally pass through Sudlachenburg. HH looks at Morgan* Mar 16 21:33:32 * Morgan tilts his head, squinting at the man Mar 16 21:35:07 *he doesn't look familiar. Varick looks excited, Molly looks mildly amused and hands him a coin. Claudia rolls her eyes at Morgan and HH.* Mar 16 21:36:01 * Morgan shrugs slightly Mar 16 21:37:34 *The man sits down on the bench, and the others sit nearby. The first two stories are tales Morgan has heard several times before, but this man does tell them well, and the wives and Varick are well engaged. Even Claudia is getting drawn into it* Mar 16 21:40:12 * Morgan listens Mar 16 21:40:57 F: Once upon a time, there were two best friends. They had been fighting in a War, and were traversing Eisen's green fields to get home to their wives, when suddenly, as if rising from the very ground itself, one of the creatures who work the Dracheneisen, the ones we now call the Nieblungen, appeared. In its hand, it held a chicken Mar 16 21:41:45 $a chicken?! I tell some weird stories, but this is odd already$ Mar 16 21:43:04 $There's stories of them turning up with bowls of blueberries$ Mar 16 21:43:12 [the ones we _now_ call the Nieblungen...] Mar 16 21:43:49 [Interesting] Mar 16 21:46:50 F: It said to the men "Take this chicken, and every day it will lay enough eggs to feed you and your family. But you must share them equally, or she will stop laying". They agreed, for many parts of Eisen would have lost such livestock to the armies passing through. Together they took the chicken home, and built the pen where their yards joined. Mar 16 21:46:51 For many weeks, the chicken laid the eggs, and the men and their wives were happy. Mar 16 21:47:00 V: That's a nice story Mar 16 21:47:32 F: *he smiles at the boy* Ah, young master, our tale has just begun... Mar 16 21:52:46 F: One morning, after a few weeks, the man named Tomas came to the coop and found only one egg. He was angry, and took it to his wife Talia. "Pierre has stolen an egg! There are always at least four!". His wife tried to reassure him that it was just a mistake, but Tomas was angry. The next day, he took three eggs, leaving his friend just one. When Mar 16 21:52:46 Pierre told his wife Patti, she told him it must be an error, after all, there were only two eggs yesterday. But Pierre was cross with his friend. Early next morning, Pierre took all the eggs. Mar 16 21:54:46 Earlier and earlier they got up, to take the eggs, and hatred between them grew. Their wives urged them to stop, and watched with dismay as their friendship was broken. Soon they both stopped sleep, each sitting outside the hen house all the hours of the day waiting for the eggs. Mar 16 21:59:16 F: Then, of course, there was no food. They were not butchering the pigs, or tending the crops, or picking the vegetables. Their wives grew sad and thin, but still the men were obsessed with the eggs. One day, Talia and Patti told their husbands that the Lord of their land had asked for them, and grudgingly the men went. The Lord had not summoned Mar 16 21:59:16 them. By the time they were back, the hen was gone. Mar 16 21:59:37 V: *he looks to Morgan* where had it gone, Papa?, Mar 16 22:00:19 Nieblungen took it back I expect Mar 16 22:03:25 F: *he shakes his head, smiling* Oh no, young man, someone far more cunning. Talia and Patti told their husbands the hen had escaped and flown away. United by their upset at the loss of the eggs, the men were friends again. They all sat down together that evening, and the men were treated to their favourite meal... Mar 16 22:03:39 V: Was it roast chicken, Papa? Mar 16 22:04:56 Could be... Mar 16 22:06:18 F: No, it was beef. Their wives had traded the chicken for some meat, on the condition that they each got one egg a day. And they did, though their husbands never knew. But Tomas and Pierre were the best of friends, forever. Mar 16 22:07:06 F: Now, what do you think the lesson of that story is, boy? Mar 16 22:07:47 V: *he looks to Morgan* Don't let a friendship go for stupid reasons? Mar 16 22:08:23 * Morgan shrugs Mar 16 22:08:29 listen to your wife? Mar 16 22:09:18 F: *he smiles, looking at Morgan* You'd be surprised how few men and how many women get that right! Mar 16 22:10:25 * Morgan looks at the man Mar 16 22:10:29 what were they called before? Mar 16 22:11:18 F: They were once called the Firstlings. Mar 16 22:11:38 They were the first ones here? Mar 16 22:12:11 F: So some secret legends have it Mar 16 22:12:37 secret legends you are privy to? Mar 16 22:13:33 F: I have heard a few things, not so many though. The ancient times kept their secrets well Mar 16 22:15:26 I see Mar 16 22:16:19 *the breeze is picking up, and the light is starting to change a little, the sun getting lower in the sky* Mar 16 22:16:33 * HH is now known as Storyteller Mar 16 22:17:20 Those were the ancient times, before the first humans walked out of paradise and into the desert Mar 16 22:17:48 I'd be interested in hearing more Mar 16 22:18:33 What would you like to hear? A man as old as I hears many tales, and forgets at least two more than he learns Mar 16 22:20:39 I'm particularly interested in the Nieblungen Mar 16 22:21:06 Are you sure? I could tell you about the Vendel man and the Vodacce man who set out in a race to row their boats clear through Eisen from the channel to the great river, crossing the Sudlache one fateful day? Mar 16 22:22:21 Lets start with that one, shall we? Mar 16 22:22:27 V: Was there a monster in the Sudlache? Everyone says there are monsters in there? Mar 16 22:23:07 * Storyteller smiles at the boy "Young master, you will see." Mar 16 22:32:59 Once upon a time, there were two men drininking in a tavern in the middle of Eisen. One was a Vendel man, named Gerd, the other a Vodacce man name Guilio. Both were arrogant, devious, and proud. A wager was struck; as the rivers run from the Sudlache both north and south, a small boat could be taken from the Avalon channel, through der Rostrom as Mar 16 22:33:00 we are now, across the Sudlache, down the South River, and out into the great river between Eisen and Vodacce. The would each start at the end closest to their homeland. They would set off on the first of June at midday, and the winner was he who completed the voyage first, and the winner would get five hundred guilders from the other. Hands were Mar 16 22:33:00 shook, word was given. But both men were greedy, and so each set off early to cheat their opponent. If they had not, they would not have met in the same spot in the middle of the Sudlache, and they would not have been there when a creature so old it has no name rose up from the depths, its huge triple jaws filled with razor sharp teeth parting, and Mar 16 22:33:00 swallowing them, crunching their bones and boats to tiny pieces. So rare was its appearance that the world had forgotten about it, but every nine hundredth year it rises to the surface, looking for something to eat Mar 16 22:34:51 *Varick watches Morgan with eyes as big as dinner plates. HH looks as creeped out as one would expect a Child Of The Sudlache to look Mar 16 22:35:20 * Morgan shudders Mar 16 22:35:52 *Molly watches Morgan with the scepticism of Avalonian rationality* Mar 16 22:36:46 *Even Claudia looks slightly uneasy* Mar 16 22:37:12 Any chance that was, oh, eight hundred and ninety years ago? Mar 16 22:37:36 Noone knows... Mar 16 22:39:16 V: Wouldn't it starve to death if it has to wait for food for nine hundred years? Mar 16 22:39:55 *Molly smiles a little, watching the boy* Mar 16 22:40:25 I don't know... That is certainly something to ponder. Mar 16 22:43:41 * Morgan watches the man Mar 16 22:46:38 ACTION looks to Morgan "what would you like to hear now? I could tell you the tale of the leprechauns of Innismore, or the places in the world where the gaps between our realms and other realms become thin, our about the fearsome Vestennavmannjar Goddess who traps sailors with her net *the latter he is familiar with, having always had a curiosity Mar 16 22:46:38 about the Vesten* Mar 16 22:47:52 How about the places where the realms meet... Mar 16 22:58:36 Once upon a time, there was a little girl. She lived in the rolling meadows of central Montaigne. A lonely child, she was allowed to play and roam whilst her poor parents worked hard spinning thread and tending sheep. One day, she travelled further from the fields of her Comte, and into a tract of land unclaimed. The land was beautiful, the long Mar 16 22:58:36 grass filled with wildflowers. Here she saw a woman picking red poppies, her face sad. "Why do you cry?" The child said. "My little girl disappeared here, and she never come back. Turn away, when the double rainbow comes, and it lights the sky, then it will be dangerous. Do not come here, or you will one day disappear too." But though the little Mar 16 22:58:36 girl turned back, she was still curious. Every day she returned, but she never saw the woman again. When she was a year older, she saw the double rainbow, and ran for the field. To the birds on the wing, the girl vanished. She slipped into another realm, like our own but different, and there she was trapped, for years and years, yearning for home, Mar 16 22:58:36 until one day she saw a double rainbow, and came back through. She was older then, and she saw a little girl approaching as she picked poppies. "Why are you crying?" This little girl asked. Mar 16 23:01:08 *Molly, so unconcerned by the tale of the monsterous triple-jawed terror of the Sudlache, shudders at this* Mar 16 23:02:25 [Odd that that story bothers you] Mar 16 23:02:31 V: The woman was the girl? *the light is definitely fading now* Mar 16 23:03:00 [Being trapped bothers me.] Mar 16 23:04:15 * Storyteller nods "yes she was. Despite warning herself, she could not change her nature and curiosity " Mar 16 23:04:38 But if she had... she would not have been there to warn herself... Mar 16 23:05:15 And if she had not warned herself, she would not have returned when she saw the rainbow, Mar 16 23:06:01 * Morgan nods Mar 16 23:07:15 I: That is just a story though... there aren't really other realms or places like that Mar 16 23:07:36 *Molly watches Morgan's face* Mar 16 23:08:21 * Morgan looks dismissive Mar 16 23:09:10 There are many stories like this. Thin places in the world where people can disappear, or even reappear elsewhere on Theah Mar 16 23:10:53 You need to spend some time outside of Eisen my friend... Mar 16 23:11:10 Why is that? Mar 16 23:12:31 You might find they're not just stories... Mar 16 23:15:33 Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. But they are good stories, and nothing is more important than the stories we tell each other. It is how we keep the darkness at bay Mar 16 23:15:57 * Morgan shrugs slightly Mar 16 23:19:03 * Storyteller moves on to a story about a man who is given ten wishes, but due to a series of incautious words ends up with sausages for a nose, and culminates in the last wish being used to prevent him having any more wishes granted. By this point, crew are lighting lamps to illuminate the deck, and the sunset is near. It's turned cold Mar 16 23:20:27 [Best go inside and get warm I think] Mar 16 23:21:45 *Molly thanks the Storyteller, giving him another coin, and the others make their way below Mar 16 23:25:33 * Storyteller has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)