???

The first obstacle was obvious. To continue they'd have to climb up to a ledge dangling above spikes. Pavo was immediately demotivated.

"Ah, well. At least we gave it a try..."

@greeter-pavo

Don't count us out this soon. Lazuli, do you want to try- aaand they're eating them. Hmm.

*True enough, the baby Wyrm had begun eating away at some of the spikes, curling atop the pit.*

...not what I had in mind, but this works. Lazuli, do you mind if we climb over your back a bit to get past the pit?

All good, Mama! Spikes tassste nice...

*Cortla turns back to Pavo.*

He walks up to Lazuli and makes sure to pat her back on his way up. Then he turns around and offers a hand to the rest of the group.

*Using her longer claw, the three-legged Weaver-Nosk climbs up, moving to the front of the group to supervise the kids, who had found some weird looking flowers and were now investigating.*

Be careful, you two! We don't know if they're toxic.

Okay!

*Cortla watches the seeds fly off for a moment, before turning back around to spot that all three of the kids were now looking at a new plant: specifically two wheel-looking ones, one of which had Silk tangled in it.*

Oookay! Stopping that one in its tracks: kids, don't go near the plant with Silk on it! I don't want Her to show up and ruin things with her smothering...

*Cortla groans, watching the Silk closely.*

She's capable of sensing what happening with Silk, it obviously comes with being the Goddess of the stuff, but is means that sometimes, if the Silk is pure enough — or if she senses something on the other side — she can just...

Show up, kinda. Projecting her will out, or sending something Haunted, or such. Considering the fact that she knows about the kids, and that Mount Fay has its own risks...

Yeah, I'm not too keen on staying down here, not where some Haunted guards could just show up...

Alright!

*at her call, the kids perk up, rushing over.*

We're going to keep going further up now, so stay close! We don't want anyone getting lost. If you need help getting up a ledge, don't hesitate to ask for it, okay?

*Upon receiving affermatives from the kids, she turns to Pavo.*

They keep going up to what looks like a camp, long abandoned. There were some maps strewn about. Pavo picks one up.

Hey, at least you aren't the guy who worshipped my sister for years due to thinking she was graceful after hearing stories, only for their first meeting with her to be her tumbling down the side of a mountain, covered in mud, branches, and, somehow, paint.

*She sighs again at the memory.*

That's fine, I wouldn't want to talk about it either, really... but if it helps? The Citadel needs a large amount of new Pilgrims to reach it to continue functioning, so considering how its still standing... I'd say quite a lot managed to make it through.

*Cortla trails off as she spots Lilith perking her ears up and around.*

Lilith, you hear something?

Aaaahhh!

*She cuts off mid-sentence as she lands on her face, accidentally dispersing her mist as she does so. Mist gone, the full glow of her form is visible, the bright light refracting through the snow.

As Cloud Waker tries to get back up onto her many legs, her claws end up slipping, sending her sliding into the freezing cold water.*

Yep... everyone, meet my older adoptive sister: Cloud Waker.

*The kids all watch as she tries and fails to get out of the freezing cold water.*

...is she... okay?

Yeah, she's fine. She's had worse falls, and the cold won't hurt her because she's a blizzard deity.

"Erm, miss Waker, do you need help?"

*Her upper limb takes Pavo's outstretched claw, using it to help get her up over the ledge. Once she's out of the water, glowing vents along her side open up and release a small amount of mist.

*She pauses for a second, trying to get as much of the water off her body as she could.*

At first, it was to try and find you, since that was my main goal of coming to Pharloom, ya'know? But then I got curious as to what was at the top of this mountain, so I just fuuuuuuu...

*She seems to just now notice the very small Nosk that was staring at her.*

*She pauses, thinks for a moment, then whips around to face Cortla.*

Yes, Cloud Waker, I adopted several kids: the Nosk behind Pavo is Ronda, the Wyrm is Lazuli, and the living plush is Lilith.

Anyways, the fall was really long and...

She silently turns to Pavo, gesturing towards the very obvious wings with her claws. Despite their presence, it seems Cloud Waker had forgotten that they were there as she fell.

Cortla just silently rolls her eyes.*

Okay, Ronda, that's enough of that...

*She carefully snatches Ronda's tail in her jaws, moving them off the ground and away from Cloud Waker.

She turns to where her other two kids are; Lazuli is curled tight, staring straight at their aunt, while Lilith just seems curious.

With a sigh, Cortla interrupts her sister.*

Oh! Sorry for interrupting your journey, then! I should probably get going, anyways, since there's a few other places I want to explore.

Have fun and stay safe!

Watching her sister leave, she mutters, just barely audible.*

The first obstacle was obvious. To continue they'd have to climb up to a ledge dangling above spikes. Pavo was immediately demotivated.

"Ah, well. At least we gave it a try..."

@greeter-pavo

Don't count us out this soon. Lazuli, do you want to try- aaand they're eating them. Hmm.

*True enough, the baby Wyrm had begun eating away at some of the spikes, curling atop the pit.*

...not what I had in mind, but this works. Lazuli, do you mind if we climb over your back a bit to get past the pit?

All good, Mama! Spikes tassste nice...

*Cortla turns back to Pavo.*

He walks up to Lazuli and makes sure to pat her back on his way up. Then he turns around and offers a hand to the rest of the group.

*Using her longer claw, the three-legged Weaver-Nosk climbs up, moving to the front of the group to supervise the kids, who had found some weird looking flowers and were now investigating.*

Be careful, you two! We don't know if they're toxic.

Okay!

*Cortla watches the seeds fly off for a moment, before turning back around to spot that all three of the kids were now looking at a new plant: specifically two wheel-looking ones, one of which had Silk tangled in it.*

Oookay! Stopping that one in its tracks: kids, don't go near the plant with Silk on it! I don't want Her to show up and ruin things with her smothering...

*Cortla groans, watching the Silk closely.*

She's capable of sensing what happening with Silk, it obviously comes with being the Goddess of the stuff, but is means that sometimes, if the Silk is pure enough — or if she senses something on the other side — she can just...

Show up, kinda. Projecting her will out, or sending something Haunted, or such. Considering the fact that she knows about the kids, and that Mount Fay has its own risks...

Yeah, I'm not too keen on staying down here, not where some Haunted guards could just show up...

Alright!

*at her call, the kids perk up, rushing over.*

We're going to keep going further up now, so stay close! We don't want anyone getting lost. If you need help getting up a ledge, don't hesitate to ask for it, okay?

*Upon receiving affermatives from the kids, she turns to Pavo.*

They keep going up to what looks like a camp, long abandoned. There were some maps strewn about. Pavo picks one up.

Hey, at least you aren't the guy who worshipped my sister for years due to thinking she was graceful after hearing stories, only for their first meeting with her to be her tumbling down the side of a mountain, covered in mud, branches, and, somehow, paint.

*She sighs again at the memory.*

That's fine, I wouldn't want to talk about it either, really... but if it helps? The Citadel needs a large amount of new Pilgrims to reach it to continue functioning, so considering how its still standing... I'd say quite a lot managed to make it through.

*Cortla trails off as she spots Lilith perking her ears up and around.*

Lilith, you hear something?

Aaaahhh!

*She cuts off mid-sentence as she lands on her face, accidentally dispersing her mist as she does so. Mist gone, the full glow of her form is visible, the bright light refracting through the snow.

As Cloud Waker tries to get back up onto her many legs, her claws end up slipping, sending her sliding into the freezing cold water.*

Yep... everyone, meet my older adoptive sister: Cloud Waker.

*The kids all watch as she tries and fails to get out of the freezing cold water.*

...is she... okay?

Yeah, she's fine. She's had worse falls, and the cold won't hurt her because she's a blizzard deity.

"Erm, miss Waker, do you need help?"

*Her upper limb takes Pavo's outstretched claw, using it to help get her up over the ledge. Once she's out of the water, glowing vents along her side open up and release a small amount of mist.

*She pauses for a second, trying to get as much of the water off her body as she could.*

At first, it was to try and find you, since that was my main goal of coming to Pharloom, ya'know? But then I got curious as to what was at the top of this mountain, so I just fuuuuuuu...

*She seems to just now notice the very small Nosk that was staring at her.*

*She pauses, thinks for a moment, then whips around to face Cortla.*

Yes, Cloud Waker, I adopted several kids: the Nosk behind Pavo is Ronda, the Wyrm is Lazuli, and the living plush is Lilith.

Anyways, the fall was really long and...

She silently turns to Pavo, gesturing towards the very obvious wings with her claws. Despite their presence, it seems Cloud Waker had forgotten that they were there as she fell.

Cortla just silently rolls her eyes.*

Okay, Ronda, that's enough of that...

*She carefully snatches Ronda's tail in her jaws, moving them off the ground and away from Cloud Waker.

She turns to where her other two kids are; Lazuli is curled tight, staring straight at their aunt, while Lilith just seems curious.

With a sigh, Cortla interrupts her sister.*

Oh! Sorry for interrupting your journey, then! I should probably get going, anyways, since there's a few other places I want to explore.

Have fun and stay safe!

The first obstacle was obvious. To continue they'd have to climb up to a ledge dangling above spikes. Pavo was immediately demotivated.

"Ah, well. At least we gave it a try..."

@greeter-pavo

Don't count us out this soon. Lazuli, do you want to try- aaand they're eating them. Hmm.

*True enough, the baby Wyrm had begun eating away at some of the spikes, curling atop the pit.*

...not what I had in mind, but this works. Lazuli, do you mind if we climb over your back a bit to get past the pit?

All good, Mama! Spikes tassste nice...

*Cortla turns back to Pavo.*

He walks up to Lazuli and makes sure to pat her back on his way up. Then he turns around and offers a hand to the rest of the group.

*Using her longer claw, the three-legged Weaver-Nosk climbs up, moving to the front of the group to supervise the kids, who had found some weird looking flowers and were now investigating.*

Be careful, you two! We don't know if they're toxic.

Okay!

*Cortla watches the seeds fly off for a moment, before turning back around to spot that all three of the kids were now looking at a new plant: specifically two wheel-looking ones, one of which had Silk tangled in it.*

Oookay! Stopping that one in its tracks: kids, don't go near the plant with Silk on it! I don't want Her to show up and ruin things with her smothering...

*Cortla groans, watching the Silk closely.*

She's capable of sensing what happening with Silk, it obviously comes with being the Goddess of the stuff, but is means that sometimes, if the Silk is pure enough — or if she senses something on the other side — she can just...

Show up, kinda. Projecting her will out, or sending something Haunted, or such. Considering the fact that she knows about the kids, and that Mount Fay has its own risks...

Yeah, I'm not too keen on staying down here, not where some Haunted guards could just show up...

Alright!

*at her call, the kids perk up, rushing over.*

We're going to keep going further up now, so stay close! We don't want anyone getting lost. If you need help getting up a ledge, don't hesitate to ask for it, okay?

*Upon receiving affermatives from the kids, she turns to Pavo.*

They keep going up to what looks like a camp, long abandoned. There were some maps strewn about. Pavo picks one up.

Hey, at least you aren't the guy who worshipped my sister for years due to thinking she was graceful after hearing stories, only for their first meeting with her to be her tumbling down the side of a mountain, covered in mud, branches, and, somehow, paint.

*She sighs again at the memory.*

That's fine, I wouldn't want to talk about it either, really... but if it helps? The Citadel needs a large amount of new Pilgrims to reach it to continue functioning, so considering how its still standing... I'd say quite a lot managed to make it through.

*Cortla trails off as she spots Lilith perking her ears up and around.*

Lilith, you hear something?

Aaaahhh!

*She cuts off mid-sentence as she lands on her face, accidentally dispersing her mist as she does so. Mist gone, the full glow of her form is visible, the bright light refracting through the snow.

As Cloud Waker tries to get back up onto her many legs, her claws end up slipping, sending her sliding into the freezing cold water.*

Yep... everyone, meet my older adoptive sister: Cloud Waker.

*The kids all watch as she tries and fails to get out of the freezing cold water.*

...is she... okay?

Yeah, she's fine. She's had worse falls, and the cold won't hurt her because she's a blizzard deity.

"Erm, miss Waker, do you need help?"

*Her upper limb takes Pavo's outstretched claw, using it to help get her up over the ledge. Once she's out of the water, glowing vents along her side open up and release a small amount of mist.

*She pauses for a second, trying to get as much of the water off her body as she could.*

At first, it was to try and find you, since that was my main goal of coming to Pharloom, ya'know? But then I got curious as to what was at the top of this mountain, so I just fuuuuuuu...

*She seems to just now notice the very small Nosk that was staring at her.*

*She pauses, thinks for a moment, then whips around to face Cortla.*

Yes, Cloud Waker, I adopted several kids: the Nosk behind Pavo is Ronda, the Wyrm is Lazuli, and the living plush is Lilith.

Anyways, the fall was really long and...

She silently turns to Pavo, gesturing towards the very obvious wings with her claws. Despite their presence, it seems Cloud Waker had forgotten that they were there as she fell.

Cortla just silently rolls her eyes.*

The first obstacle was obvious. To continue they'd have to climb up to a ledge dangling above spikes. Pavo was immediately demotivated.

"Ah, well. At least we gave it a try..."

@greeter-pavo

Don't count us out this soon. Lazuli, do you want to try- aaand they're eating them. Hmm.

*True enough, the baby Wyrm had begun eating away at some of the spikes, curling atop the pit.*

...not what I had in mind, but this works. Lazuli, do you mind if we climb over your back a bit to get past the pit?

All good, Mama! Spikes tassste nice...

*Cortla turns back to Pavo.*

He walks up to Lazuli and makes sure to pat her back on his way up. Then he turns around and offers a hand to the rest of the group.

*Using her longer claw, the three-legged Weaver-Nosk climbs up, moving to the front of the group to supervise the kids, who had found some weird looking flowers and were now investigating.*

Be careful, you two! We don't know if they're toxic.

Okay!

*Cortla watches the seeds fly off for a moment, before turning back around to spot that all three of the kids were now looking at a new plant: specifically two wheel-looking ones, one of which had Silk tangled in it.*

Oookay! Stopping that one in its tracks: kids, don't go near the plant with Silk on it! I don't want Her to show up and ruin things with her smothering...

*Cortla groans, watching the Silk closely.*

She's capable of sensing what happening with Silk, it obviously comes with being the Goddess of the stuff, but is means that sometimes, if the Silk is pure enough — or if she senses something on the other side — she can just...

Show up, kinda. Projecting her will out, or sending something Haunted, or such. Considering the fact that she knows about the kids, and that Mount Fay has its own risks...

Yeah, I'm not too keen on staying down here, not where some Haunted guards could just show up...

Alright!

*at her call, the kids perk up, rushing over.*

We're going to keep going further up now, so stay close! We don't want anyone getting lost. If you need help getting up a ledge, don't hesitate to ask for it, okay?

*Upon receiving affermatives from the kids, she turns to Pavo.*

They keep going up to what looks like a camp, long abandoned. There were some maps strewn about. Pavo picks one up.

Hey, at least you aren't the guy who worshipped my sister for years due to thinking she was graceful after hearing stories, only for their first meeting with her to be her tumbling down the side of a mountain, covered in mud, branches, and, somehow, paint.

*She sighs again at the memory.*

That's fine, I wouldn't want to talk about it either, really... but if it helps? The Citadel needs a large amount of new Pilgrims to reach it to continue functioning, so considering how its still standing... I'd say quite a lot managed to make it through.

*Cortla trails off as she spots Lilith perking her ears up and around.*

Lilith, you hear something?

Aaaahhh!

*She cuts off mid-sentence as she lands on her face, accidentally dispersing her mist as she does so. Mist gone, the full glow of her form is visible, the bright light refracting through the snow.

As Cloud Waker tries to get back up onto her many legs, her claws end up slipping, sending her sliding into the freezing cold water.*

Yep... everyone, meet my older adoptive sister: Cloud Waker.

*The kids all watch as she tries and fails to get out of the freezing cold water.*

...is she... okay?

Yeah, she's fine. She's had worse falls, and the cold won't hurt her because she's a blizzard deity.

"Erm, miss Waker, do you need help?"

*Her upper limb takes Pavo's outstretched claw, using it to help get her up over the ledge. Once she's out of the water, glowing vents along her side open up and release a small amount of mist.

*She pauses for a second, trying to get as much of the water off her body as she could.*

At first, it was to try and find you, since that was my main goal of coming to Pharloom, ya'know? But then I got curious as to what was at the top of this mountain, so I just fuuuuuuu...

*She seems to just now notice the very small Nosk that was staring at her.*

*She pauses, thinks for a moment, then whips around to face Cortla.*

Yes, Cloud Waker, I adopted several kids: the Nosk behind Pavo is Ronda, the Wyrm is Lazuli, and the living plush is Lilith.

Anyways, the fall was really long and...

The first obstacle was obvious. To continue they'd have to climb up to a ledge dangling above spikes. Pavo was immediately demotivated.

"Ah, well. At least we gave it a try..."

@greeter-pavo

Don't count us out this soon. Lazuli, do you want to try- aaand they're eating them. Hmm.

*True enough, the baby Wyrm had begun eating away at some of the spikes, curling atop the pit.*

...not what I had in mind, but this works. Lazuli, do you mind if we climb over your back a bit to get past the pit?

All good, Mama! Spikes tassste nice...

*Cortla turns back to Pavo.*

He walks up to Lazuli and makes sure to pat her back on his way up. Then he turns around and offers a hand to the rest of the group.

*Using her longer claw, the three-legged Weaver-Nosk climbs up, moving to the front of the group to supervise the kids, who had found some weird looking flowers and were now investigating.*

Be careful, you two! We don't know if they're toxic.

Okay!

*Cortla watches the seeds fly off for a moment, before turning back around to spot that all three of the kids were now looking at a new plant: specifically two wheel-looking ones, one of which had Silk tangled in it.*

Oookay! Stopping that one in its tracks: kids, don't go near the plant with Silk on it! I don't want Her to show up and ruin things with her smothering...

*Cortla groans, watching the Silk closely.*

She's capable of sensing what happening with Silk, it obviously comes with being the Goddess of the stuff, but is means that sometimes, if the Silk is pure enough — or if she senses something on the other side — she can just...

Show up, kinda. Projecting her will out, or sending something Haunted, or such. Considering the fact that she knows about the kids, and that Mount Fay has its own risks...

Yeah, I'm not too keen on staying down here, not where some Haunted guards could just show up...

Alright!

*at her call, the kids perk up, rushing over.*

We're going to keep going further up now, so stay close! We don't want anyone getting lost. If you need help getting up a ledge, don't hesitate to ask for it, okay?

*Upon receiving affermatives from the kids, she turns to Pavo.*

They keep going up to what looks like a camp, long abandoned. There were some maps strewn about. Pavo picks one up.

Hey, at least you aren't the guy who worshipped my sister for years due to thinking she was graceful after hearing stories, only for their first meeting with her to be her tumbling down the side of a mountain, covered in mud, branches, and, somehow, paint.

*She sighs again at the memory.*

That's fine, I wouldn't want to talk about it either, really... but if it helps? The Citadel needs a large amount of new Pilgrims to reach it to continue functioning, so considering how its still standing... I'd say quite a lot managed to make it through.

*Cortla trails off as she spots Lilith perking her ears up and around.*

Lilith, you hear something?

Aaaahhh!

*She cuts off mid-sentence as she lands on her face, accidentally dispersing her mist as she does so. Mist gone, the full glow of her form is visible, the bright light refracting through the snow.

As Cloud Waker tries to get back up onto her many legs, her claws end up slipping, sending her sliding into the freezing cold water.*

Yep... everyone, meet my older adoptive sister: Cloud Waker.

*The kids all watch as she tries and fails to get out of the freezing cold water.*

...is she... okay?

Yeah, she's fine. She's had worse falls, and the cold won't hurt her because she's a blizzard deity.

"Erm, miss Waker, do you need help?"

*Her upper limb takes Pavo's outstretched claw, using it to help get her up over the ledge. Once she's out of the water, glowing vents along her side open up and release a small amount of mist.

*She pauses for a second, trying to get as much of the water off her body as she could.*

At first, it was to try and find you, since that was my main goal of coming to Pharloom, ya'know? But then I got curious as to what was at the top of this mountain, so I just fuuuuuuu...

*She seems to just now notice the very small Nosk that was staring at her.*

*She pauses, thinks for a moment, then whips around to face Cortla.*

The first obstacle was obvious. To continue they'd have to climb up to a ledge dangling above spikes. Pavo was immediately demotivated.

"Ah, well. At least we gave it a try..."

@greeter-pavo

Don't count us out this soon. Lazuli, do you want to try- aaand they're eating them. Hmm.

*True enough, the baby Wyrm had begun eating away at some of the spikes, curling atop the pit.*

...not what I had in mind, but this works. Lazuli, do you mind if we climb over your back a bit to get past the pit?

All good, Mama! Spikes tassste nice...

*Cortla turns back to Pavo.*

He walks up to Lazuli and makes sure to pat her back on his way up. Then he turns around and offers a hand to the rest of the group.

*Using her longer claw, the three-legged Weaver-Nosk climbs up, moving to the front of the group to supervise the kids, who had found some weird looking flowers and were now investigating.*

Be careful, you two! We don't know if they're toxic.

Okay!

*Cortla watches the seeds fly off for a moment, before turning back around to spot that all three of the kids were now looking at a new plant: specifically two wheel-looking ones, one of which had Silk tangled in it.*

Oookay! Stopping that one in its tracks: kids, don't go near the plant with Silk on it! I don't want Her to show up and ruin things with her smothering...

*Cortla groans, watching the Silk closely.*

She's capable of sensing what happening with Silk, it obviously comes with being the Goddess of the stuff, but is means that sometimes, if the Silk is pure enough — or if she senses something on the other side — she can just...

Show up, kinda. Projecting her will out, or sending something Haunted, or such. Considering the fact that she knows about the kids, and that Mount Fay has its own risks...

Yeah, I'm not too keen on staying down here, not where some Haunted guards could just show up...

Alright!

*at her call, the kids perk up, rushing over.*

We're going to keep going further up now, so stay close! We don't want anyone getting lost. If you need help getting up a ledge, don't hesitate to ask for it, okay?

*Upon receiving affermatives from the kids, she turns to Pavo.*

They keep going up to what looks like a camp, long abandoned. There were some maps strewn about. Pavo picks one up.

Hey, at least you aren't the guy who worshipped my sister for years due to thinking she was graceful after hearing stories, only for their first meeting with her to be her tumbling down the side of a mountain, covered in mud, branches, and, somehow, paint.

*She sighs again at the memory.*

That's fine, I wouldn't want to talk about it either, really... but if it helps? The Citadel needs a large amount of new Pilgrims to reach it to continue functioning, so considering how its still standing... I'd say quite a lot managed to make it through.

*Cortla trails off as she spots Lilith perking her ears up and around.*

Lilith, you hear something?

Aaaahhh!

*She cuts off mid-sentence as she lands on her face, accidentally dispersing her mist as she does so. Mist gone, the full glow of her form is visible, the bright light refracting through the snow.

As Cloud Waker tries to get back up onto her many legs, her claws end up slipping, sending her sliding into the freezing cold water.*

Yep... everyone, meet my older adoptive sister: Cloud Waker.

*The kids all watch as she tries and fails to get out of the freezing cold water.*

...is she... okay?

Yeah, she's fine. She's had worse falls, and the cold won't hurt her because she's a blizzard deity.

"Erm, miss Waker, do you need help?"

*Her upper limb takes Pavo's outstretched claw, using it to help get her up over the ledge. Once she's out of the water, glowing vents along her side open up and release a small amount of mist.

*She pauses for a second, trying to get as much of the water off her body as she could.*

At first, it was to try and find you, since that was my main goal of coming to Pharloom, ya'know? But then I got curious as to what was at the top of this mountain, so I just fuuuuuuu...

*She seems to just now notice the very small Nosk that was staring at her.*

The first obstacle was obvious. To continue they'd have to climb up to a ledge dangling above spikes. Pavo was immediately demotivated.

"Ah, well. At least we gave it a try..."

@greeter-pavo

Don't count us out this soon. Lazuli, do you want to try- aaand they're eating them. Hmm.

*True enough, the baby Wyrm had begun eating away at some of the spikes, curling atop the pit.*

...not what I had in mind, but this works. Lazuli, do you mind if we climb over your back a bit to get past the pit?

All good, Mama! Spikes tassste nice...

*Cortla turns back to Pavo.*

He walks up to Lazuli and makes sure to pat her back on his way up. Then he turns around and offers a hand to the rest of the group.

*Using her longer claw, the three-legged Weaver-Nosk climbs up, moving to the front of the group to supervise the kids, who had found some weird looking flowers and were now investigating.*

Be careful, you two! We don't know if they're toxic.

Okay!

*Cortla watches the seeds fly off for a moment, before turning back around to spot that all three of the kids were now looking at a new plant: specifically two wheel-looking ones, one of which had Silk tangled in it.*

Oookay! Stopping that one in its tracks: kids, don't go near the plant with Silk on it! I don't want Her to show up and ruin things with her smothering...

*Cortla groans, watching the Silk closely.*

She's capable of sensing what happening with Silk, it obviously comes with being the Goddess of the stuff, but is means that sometimes, if the Silk is pure enough — or if she senses something on the other side — she can just...

Show up, kinda. Projecting her will out, or sending something Haunted, or such. Considering the fact that she knows about the kids, and that Mount Fay has its own risks...

Yeah, I'm not too keen on staying down here, not where some Haunted guards could just show up...

Alright!

*at her call, the kids perk up, rushing over.*

We're going to keep going further up now, so stay close! We don't want anyone getting lost. If you need help getting up a ledge, don't hesitate to ask for it, okay?

*Upon receiving affermatives from the kids, she turns to Pavo.*

They keep going up to what looks like a camp, long abandoned. There were some maps strewn about. Pavo picks one up.

Hey, at least you aren't the guy who worshipped my sister for years due to thinking she was graceful after hearing stories, only for their first meeting with her to be her tumbling down the side of a mountain, covered in mud, branches, and, somehow, paint.

*She sighs again at the memory.*

That's fine, I wouldn't want to talk about it either, really... but if it helps? The Citadel needs a large amount of new Pilgrims to reach it to continue functioning, so considering how its still standing... I'd say quite a lot managed to make it through.

*Cortla trails off as she spots Lilith perking her ears up and around.*

Lilith, you hear something?

Aaaahhh!

*She cuts off mid-sentence as she lands on her face, accidentally dispersing her mist as she does so. Mist gone, the full glow of her form is visible, the bright light refracting through the snow.

As Cloud Waker tries to get back up onto her many legs, her claws end up slipping, sending her sliding into the freezing cold water.*

Yep... everyone, meet my older adoptive sister: Cloud Waker.

*The kids all watch as she tries and fails to get out of the freezing cold water.*

...is she... okay?

Yeah, she's fine. She's had worse falls, and the cold won't hurt her because she's a blizzard deity.

"Erm, miss Waker, do you need help?"

*Her upper limb takes Pavo's outstretched claw, using it to help get her up over the ledge. Once she's out of the water, glowing vents along her side open up and release a small amount of mist.

The first obstacle was obvious. To continue they'd have to climb up to a ledge dangling above spikes. Pavo was immediately demotivated.

"Ah, well. At least we gave it a try..."

@greeter-pavo

Don't count us out this soon. Lazuli, do you want to try- aaand they're eating them. Hmm.

*True enough, the baby Wyrm had begun eating away at some of the spikes, curling atop the pit.*

...not what I had in mind, but this works. Lazuli, do you mind if we climb over your back a bit to get past the pit?

All good, Mama! Spikes tassste nice...

*Cortla turns back to Pavo.*

He walks up to Lazuli and makes sure to pat her back on his way up. Then he turns around and offers a hand to the rest of the group.

*Using her longer claw, the three-legged Weaver-Nosk climbs up, moving to the front of the group to supervise the kids, who had found some weird looking flowers and were now investigating.*

Be careful, you two! We don't know if they're toxic.

Okay!

*Cortla watches the seeds fly off for a moment, before turning back around to spot that all three of the kids were now looking at a new plant: specifically two wheel-looking ones, one of which had Silk tangled in it.*

Oookay! Stopping that one in its tracks: kids, don't go near the plant with Silk on it! I don't want Her to show up and ruin things with her smothering...

*Cortla groans, watching the Silk closely.*

She's capable of sensing what happening with Silk, it obviously comes with being the Goddess of the stuff, but is means that sometimes, if the Silk is pure enough — or if she senses something on the other side — she can just...

Show up, kinda. Projecting her will out, or sending something Haunted, or such. Considering the fact that she knows about the kids, and that Mount Fay has its own risks...

Yeah, I'm not too keen on staying down here, not where some Haunted guards could just show up...

Alright!

*at her call, the kids perk up, rushing over.*

We're going to keep going further up now, so stay close! We don't want anyone getting lost. If you need help getting up a ledge, don't hesitate to ask for it, okay?

*Upon receiving affermatives from the kids, she turns to Pavo.*

They keep going up to what looks like a camp, long abandoned. There were some maps strewn about. Pavo picks one up.

Hey, at least you aren't the guy who worshipped my sister for years due to thinking she was graceful after hearing stories, only for their first meeting with her to be her tumbling down the side of a mountain, covered in mud, branches, and, somehow, paint.

*She sighs again at the memory.*

That's fine, I wouldn't want to talk about it either, really... but if it helps? The Citadel needs a large amount of new Pilgrims to reach it to continue functioning, so considering how its still standing... I'd say quite a lot managed to make it through.

*Cortla trails off as she spots Lilith perking her ears up and around.*

Lilith, you hear something?

Aaaahhh!

*She cuts off mid-sentence as she lands on her face, accidentally dispersing her mist as she does so. Mist gone, the full glow of her form is visible, the bright light refracting through the snow.

As Cloud Waker tries to get back up onto her many legs, her claws end up slipping, sending her sliding into the freezing cold water.*

The first obstacle was obvious. To continue they'd have to climb up to a ledge dangling above spikes. Pavo was immediately demotivated.

"Ah, well. At least we gave it a try..."

@greeter-pavo

Don't count us out this soon. Lazuli, do you want to try- aaand they're eating them. Hmm.

*True enough, the baby Wyrm had begun eating away at some of the spikes, curling atop the pit.*

...not what I had in mind, but this works. Lazuli, do you mind if we climb over your back a bit to get past the pit?

All good, Mama! Spikes tassste nice...

*Cortla turns back to Pavo.*

He walks up to Lazuli and makes sure to pat her back on his way up. Then he turns around and offers a hand to the rest of the group.

*Using her longer claw, the three-legged Weaver-Nosk climbs up, moving to the front of the group to supervise the kids, who had found some weird looking flowers and were now investigating.*

Be careful, you two! We don't know if they're toxic.

Okay!

*Cortla watches the seeds fly off for a moment, before turning back around to spot that all three of the kids were now looking at a new plant: specifically two wheel-looking ones, one of which had Silk tangled in it.*

Oookay! Stopping that one in its tracks: kids, don't go near the plant with Silk on it! I don't want Her to show up and ruin things with her smothering...

*Cortla groans, watching the Silk closely.*

She's capable of sensing what happening with Silk, it obviously comes with being the Goddess of the stuff, but is means that sometimes, if the Silk is pure enough — or if she senses something on the other side — she can just...

Show up, kinda. Projecting her will out, or sending something Haunted, or such. Considering the fact that she knows about the kids, and that Mount Fay has its own risks...

Yeah, I'm not too keen on staying down here, not where some Haunted guards could just show up...

Alright!

*at her call, the kids perk up, rushing over.*

We're going to keep going further up now, so stay close! We don't want anyone getting lost. If you need help getting up a ledge, don't hesitate to ask for it, okay?

*Upon receiving affermatives from the kids, she turns to Pavo.*

They keep going up to what looks like a camp, long abandoned. There were some maps strewn about. Pavo picks one up.

Hey, at least you aren't the guy who worshipped my sister for years due to thinking she was graceful after hearing stories, only for their first meeting with her to be her tumbling down the side of a mountain, covered in mud, branches, and, somehow, paint.

*She sighs again at the memory.*

That's fine, I wouldn't want to talk about it either, really... but if it helps? The Citadel needs a large amount of new Pilgrims to reach it to continue functioning, so considering how its still standing... I'd say quite a lot managed to make it through.

*Cortla trails off as she spots Lilith perking her ears up and around.*

Lilith, you hear something?

Aaaahhh!

The source of both is revealed a moment later, when a long bug enters the room properly. They have glowing vents along their sides, with their eyes, fangs, and antennae glowing, too. Two horns crown their head, forming a glowing halo.

A Pale Being has entered their workshop.*

Hello? This is the Twelfth Architect's place, right?

@misty-memento

The Twelfth Architect turned to the Pale Being. This is now, what, the fifth Higher Being they've met?

*Her upper arms tap together in embarrassment.*

I'm... really bad at navigating. Even with maps, I struggle to get to the places I want... would it be possible to get something that could help with that at all? Something to help guide me places, essentially.

I think I'll have to go with the item... even if the Silkfly is willing, it would feel too much like having some kind of... slave. Especially considering I might have to go back across the ocean one day, and I'm not sure how well they might feel about that...

*Her eyes keep trying to drift away to the location of the Monarch, but she puts in visible effort to stop them from doing so.*

Thank you so much! Have a nice day!

The source of both is revealed a moment later, when a long bug enters the room properly. They have glowing vents along their sides, with their eyes, fangs, and antennae glowing, too. Two horns crown their head, forming a glowing halo.

A Pale Being has entered their workshop.*

Hello? This is the Twelfth Architect's place, right?

@misty-memento

The Twelfth Architect turned to the Pale Being. This is now, what, the fifth Higher Being they've met?

*Her upper arms tap together in embarrassment.*

I'm... really bad at navigating. Even with maps, I struggle to get to the places I want... would it be possible to get something that could help with that at all? Something to help guide me places, essentially.

I think I'll have to go with the item... even if the Silkfly is willing, it would feel too much like having some kind of... slave. Especially considering I might have to go back across the ocean one day, and I'm not sure how well they might feel about that...

*Her eyes keep trying to drift away to the location of the Monarch, but she puts in visible effort to stop them from doing so.*

The source of both is revealed a moment later, when a long bug enters the room properly. They have glowing vents along their sides, with their eyes, fangs, and antennae glowing, too. Two horns crown their head, forming a glowing halo.

A Pale Being has entered their workshop.*

Hello? This is the Twelfth Architect's place, right?

@misty-memento

The Twelfth Architect turned to the Pale Being. This is now, what, the fifth Higher Being they've met?

*Her upper arms tap together in embarrassment.*

I'm... really bad at navigating. Even with maps, I struggle to get to the places I want... would it be possible to get something that could help with that at all? Something to help guide me places, essentially.

After a few moments of silence, the sound of skittering limbs can be heard from within. A faint glow seems to come with them.*

@misty-memento

Histarte stared at the fog forming in her little cave in Verdania.

She had seen... many strange, impossible things in her recent life. She had been to the Abyss itself.

But she had never seen anything like this.

"... Hello?" She asked as she heard the skittering. Her keen senses were... not helping her here...

Two glowing eyes can be seen through the fog, the body that they were attached to remaining hidden. The voice that calls out is... echoed, almost, as if there was more than just words that were being said.*

Hello? I'm not intruding, am I?

A halo...

"Hello," Histarte greeted back. Apparently this thing could speak.

"... No," Histarte said cautiouly. "You are not intruding."

Oh, good. I keep messing up my teleports and ending up the the wrong place... I was worried I had accidentally interrupted something.

Oh! I didn't say my name either...it's Cloud Waker! I've been trying to find my sister for a while now, but uh...

*She trails off.*

"Your sister? Is she... foggy as well?" Histarte asked, before looking a bit embarrassed and saying, "Sorry, not my place to ask.

It's fine, and no, she isn't "foggy" like me. We were both adopted by the same tribe, so we call each other sisters!

*From the movement of her eyes, it seems the being is tilting her head.*

...if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I wouldn't mind taking you up on that offer... though I think it may be best that I reveal my full form first...

*Her voice changes, slightly sadder now.*

Yes... I don't want to be worshipped, but, well... most bugs see me and just — start! It's annoying, especially because I try my best not to fall to my instincts...

*With that said, the fog starts to thin until the room is once again clear, and Cloud Waker's full form is revealed.

She appears as a mix between a centipede and a butterfly, with a long body with many legs, the upper two sets acting as arms. A set of butterfly wings sit on her upper back, teal in colour with faintly glowing spots on them. The lines from before reveal themselves as glowing vents along her sides, still letting out a faint mist of fog.

Her eyes glow brightly, while a pair of glowing horn sit upon her head, almost fluffy in appearance, forming a halo. Her fangs glow, too, though they are slightly fainter. In between the previously mentioned horns are a set of antenna, with rounded, glowing tips.

The mass amount of glowing parts, as well as her faint blue colouration, betray exactly what she is:

He was short. He had a crown built into his skull. And he was on a fucking shelf.

Also, he was glowing so brightly it was almost blinding.

Cloud Waker did not match those descriptions, and so Histarte had to genuinely just stare, for a few seconds, and really think about it, before she realized.

Yeah, I learnt how to stop glowing as much to try and cut back on the number of bugs trying to worship me, and it worked!... kinda.

*She winces.*

"I see," Histarte said. "Well, if it helps, I don't plan to worship you." She was lightly teasing.

Her biological mother was... not good, and ended up having to be chased away, so we know very little about that side of her. She's quite tall, has a round, spherical head with six eyes, and would have four legs if she wasn't missing part of one due to a wound.

*She sighs to herself.*

It... doesn't really match up with any other species we know of back home, and while she might have figured it out over here, I still don't really know...

*Cloud Waker shakes her head.*

B-but I'm getting off track! As much as I'd like to head straight for her, I should probably get the guide situation permanently sorted out first...

... Actually, that could technically describe a Giraffe Weevil. She shouldn't assume. Except, what about the six eyes? Then again, those could've been gotten from the father...

*Cloud Waker's many lower legs start tapping in joy.*

My sister got washed away in a storm, you see, and since the tribe we were adopted by consists most of Grubs, no-one could go after her...

"You are welcome! Are you ready to depart for the Citadel? I uh... Will be, hold on."

*Cloud Waker watches as Histarte moves around.*

Histarte finished packing up her stuff, and then said, "I'm ready now. Just follow me."

*She turns her head up, letting the rain wash over her face.*

*Cloud Waker pauses in her stride, her eyes becoming unfocused for a moment before she comes back.*

Yeah, my sister is nearby! She's somewhere below us!

*Despite this, she shakes her head.*

Even so, I'd rather get to this Twelfth Architect person before I reunite with her... better to guard before you're under invasion, and all, you know?

...regardless, I do think she could weave you something to help with swimming. She uses this sort of... thread?? I'm not sure what it is, and neither was she before she was washed away.

Soon enough, the two were out of Bellhart and into Shellwood.

*Though she is focused on Histarte, part of her mind is still on the lookout as they walk. It doesn't take long for her to notice a nearby Splinter, camouflaged on their path.

Cloud Waker quickly asks something.*

Huh... well, I guess she would be half-Weaver then, if she could make Silk... though from what I know, it isn't too big of a surprise that there were a few left...

*She nods at the permission. Without another word, her vents hiss and let out massive amounts of fog.

It curls and writhes, coiling in the room for a moment before shooting towards the Splinter on their path. Within seconds of contacting the hidden bug, it begins to writhe in pain as the fog increases its temperature.

The Splinter's shell sizzles for a moment as it tries to escape, only for more fog tendrils to seep into the cracks of said shell. The bug goes still barely a moment after.

... She could understand, now, perhaps, why that really big stranger wanted her help killing all the gods.

Of course, Histarte stuck by her opinion that it was primarily mortals, not the gods, who were the cause of most suffering. But she could admit that what she just witnessed was horrifying. The fear of "What if that wrath was turned on me?" was real.

She swallowed.

Yeah, I can fly! Despite the fact that my wings are... quite small, compared to the rest of my body, I can fly quite well. We think it has something to do with the fact that I'm a being of Fog, Blizzards, and other such things, so it makes me light.

*She's silent for a little while, realising that she's accidentally scared Histarte, and waits until they're nearly at the next area before she speaks.*

...that bug that I killed before? It didn't feel anything, for the record. It was discovered back home, but it turns out our bodies have what my tribe call "nerves". They're the part that lets people feel things, including pain.

...it was discovered when looking at burn victims. Turns out, if a flame is hot enough, it destroys nerves, meaning the victim doesn't even feel the pain of the burn. They're just... numb.

"I see. That's good, then, that it's painless, I suppose." She paused. "You did scare me. But it is fine."

Harsh, but she'd travelled through the surface wastes. She could handle it.

...that being said, the first time the two encounter one of the stronger bursts of wind, it throws her off course and face first into a wall.*

Ack- man, I'm lucky that I've got such a hard shell! That would've hurt, otherwise...

*Despite this, she easily crawls towards the gate, and after a quick check to make sure there wasn't going to be anymore wind, her vents hiss as she surrounds her form with fog.

As it clears, the space where her body should have been was empty, only for the reason to become clear a moment later:

"Yes, it is a good thing you have a tough shell. And your current size... It might be a good idea, actually. Some of the tunnels are quite small."

Histarte approached the Grand Gate, slowly, giving Cloud Waker plenty of time to follow along. The Gate was already open. Histarte didn't know when it had opened, exactly; for as long as she could recall, it had been closed and guarded. But that was not the case anymore, and she was thankful for it.

Yeah, I usually use a smaller size when travelling, but I wasn't sure how dangerous it was going to be, and being bigger usually wards off anyone or anything that wants to test their luck.

*Cloud Waker nods at Histarte's explanation of the improvements.*

"Yes. This Twelfth Architect... they have been making an effort to improve Pharloom. They even helped restore the water of Verdania, my homeland. Rumors have it they've helped the Wisp Thicket and have tried to help Bilewater, as well. I... quite like them, to be honest. Pharloom has had too many bugs who just want to exploit the land and its bugs. The Twelfth Architect doesn't seem to like that..."

Soon enough, the two came up on an entrance to the Underworks. Histarte entered, and took a brief moment to look around.

No buzzsaws, crushers, or grinders that were immediately exposed. No exposed harsh steam vents. Safety railings. Buttons and levers that seemed designed to shut off dangerous equipment. Signs pointing to exits or rest areas. Even a box containing maps; Histarte accepted a map, and looked at it.

"... Huh. This area is heavily changed, and some paths that did exist do not anymore, or have been heavily modified... I can still find my way to the Architect, however. Follow me."

Needless to say, it isn't long before she slams into one of said walls. There is barely a reaction, apart from the initial grunt of surprise.*

*The antennae on her head — as well as her vents, eyes, fangs, and other glowing parts — glow brighter for a moment before she visibly puts in effort to get them to stop.

"... Understood. Well, if it's any consolation, we will be at the Architect's workshop in mere moments,"

G-good... that's... good.

*Then, muttering somewhat under her breath, but still audible-*

Shut up instincts, I'm not getting into a fight with another Pale Being over territory I don't even want!

After a few moments of silence, the sound of skittering limbs can be heard from within. A faint glow seems to come with them.*

@misty-memento

Histarte stared at the fog forming in her little cave in Verdania.

She had seen... many strange, impossible things in her recent life. She had been to the Abyss itself.

But she had never seen anything like this.

"... Hello?" She asked as she heard the skittering. Her keen senses were... not helping her here...

Two glowing eyes can be seen through the fog, the body that they were attached to remaining hidden. The voice that calls out is... echoed, almost, as if there was more than just words that were being said.*

Hello? I'm not intruding, am I?

A halo...

"Hello," Histarte greeted back. Apparently this thing could speak.

"... No," Histarte said cautiouly. "You are not intruding."

Oh, good. I keep messing up my teleports and ending up the the wrong place... I was worried I had accidentally interrupted something.

Oh! I didn't say my name either...it's Cloud Waker! I've been trying to find my sister for a while now, but uh...

*She trails off.*

"Your sister? Is she... foggy as well?" Histarte asked, before looking a bit embarrassed and saying, "Sorry, not my place to ask.

It's fine, and no, she isn't "foggy" like me. We were both adopted by the same tribe, so we call each other sisters!

*From the movement of her eyes, it seems the being is tilting her head.*

...if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I wouldn't mind taking you up on that offer... though I think it may be best that I reveal my full form first...

*Her voice changes, slightly sadder now.*

Yes... I don't want to be worshipped, but, well... most bugs see me and just — start! It's annoying, especially because I try my best not to fall to my instincts...

*With that said, the fog starts to thin until the room is once again clear, and Cloud Waker's full form is revealed.

She appears as a mix between a centipede and a butterfly, with a long body with many legs, the upper two sets acting as arms. A set of butterfly wings sit on her upper back, teal in colour with faintly glowing spots on them. The lines from before reveal themselves as glowing vents along her sides, still letting out a faint mist of fog.

Her eyes glow brightly, while a pair of glowing horn sit upon her head, almost fluffy in appearance, forming a halo. Her fangs glow, too, though they are slightly fainter. In between the previously mentioned horns are a set of antenna, with rounded, glowing tips.

The mass amount of glowing parts, as well as her faint blue colouration, betray exactly what she is:

He was short. He had a crown built into his skull. And he was on a fucking shelf.

Also, he was glowing so brightly it was almost blinding.

Cloud Waker did not match those descriptions, and so Histarte had to genuinely just stare, for a few seconds, and really think about it, before she realized.

Yeah, I learnt how to stop glowing as much to try and cut back on the number of bugs trying to worship me, and it worked!... kinda.

*She winces.*

"I see," Histarte said. "Well, if it helps, I don't plan to worship you." She was lightly teasing.

Her biological mother was... not good, and ended up having to be chased away, so we know very little about that side of her. She's quite tall, has a round, spherical head with six eyes, and would have four legs if she wasn't missing part of one due to a wound.

*She sighs to herself.*

It... doesn't really match up with any other species we know of back home, and while she might have figured it out over here, I still don't really know...

*Cloud Waker shakes her head.*

B-but I'm getting off track! As much as I'd like to head straight for her, I should probably get the guide situation permanently sorted out first...

... Actually, that could technically describe a Giraffe Weevil. She shouldn't assume. Except, what about the six eyes? Then again, those could've been gotten from the father...

*Cloud Waker's many lower legs start tapping in joy.*

My sister got washed away in a storm, you see, and since the tribe we were adopted by consists most of Grubs, no-one could go after her...

"You are welcome! Are you ready to depart for the Citadel? I uh... Will be, hold on."

*Cloud Waker watches as Histarte moves around.*

Histarte finished packing up her stuff, and then said, "I'm ready now. Just follow me."

*She turns her head up, letting the rain wash over her face.*

*Cloud Waker pauses in her stride, her eyes becoming unfocused for a moment before she comes back.*

Yeah, my sister is nearby! She's somewhere below us!

*Despite this, she shakes her head.*

Even so, I'd rather get to this Twelfth Architect person before I reunite with her... better to guard before you're under invasion, and all, you know?

...regardless, I do think she could weave you something to help with swimming. She uses this sort of... thread?? I'm not sure what it is, and neither was she before she was washed away.

Soon enough, the two were out of Bellhart and into Shellwood.

*Though she is focused on Histarte, part of her mind is still on the lookout as they walk. It doesn't take long for her to notice a nearby Splinter, camouflaged on their path.

Cloud Waker quickly asks something.*

Huh... well, I guess she would be half-Weaver then, if she could make Silk... though from what I know, it isn't too big of a surprise that there were a few left...

*She nods at the permission. Without another word, her vents hiss and let out massive amounts of fog.

It curls and writhes, coiling in the room for a moment before shooting towards the Splinter on their path. Within seconds of contacting the hidden bug, it begins to writhe in pain as the fog increases its temperature.

The Splinter's shell sizzles for a moment as it tries to escape, only for more fog tendrils to seep into the cracks of said shell. The bug goes still barely a moment after.

... She could understand, now, perhaps, why that really big stranger wanted her help killing all the gods.

Of course, Histarte stuck by her opinion that it was primarily mortals, not the gods, who were the cause of most suffering. But she could admit that what she just witnessed was horrifying. The fear of "What if that wrath was turned on me?" was real.

She swallowed.

Yeah, I can fly! Despite the fact that my wings are... quite small, compared to the rest of my body, I can fly quite well. We think it has something to do with the fact that I'm a being of Fog, Blizzards, and other such things, so it makes me light.

*She's silent for a little while, realising that she's accidentally scared Histarte, and waits until they're nearly at the next area before she speaks.*

...that bug that I killed before? It didn't feel anything, for the record. It was discovered back home, but it turns out our bodies have what my tribe call "nerves". They're the part that lets people feel things, including pain.

...it was discovered when looking at burn victims. Turns out, if a flame is hot enough, it destroys nerves, meaning the victim doesn't even feel the pain of the burn. They're just... numb.

"I see. That's good, then, that it's painless, I suppose." She paused. "You did scare me. But it is fine."

Harsh, but she'd travelled through the surface wastes. She could handle it.

...that being said, the first time the two encounter one of the stronger bursts of wind, it throws her off course and face first into a wall.*

Ack- man, I'm lucky that I've got such a hard shell! That would've hurt, otherwise...

*Despite this, she easily crawls towards the gate, and after a quick check to make sure there wasn't going to be anymore wind, her vents hiss as she surrounds her form with fog.

As it clears, the space where her body should have been was empty, only for the reason to become clear a moment later:

"Yes, it is a good thing you have a tough shell. And your current size... It might be a good idea, actually. Some of the tunnels are quite small."

Histarte approached the Grand Gate, slowly, giving Cloud Waker plenty of time to follow along. The Gate was already open. Histarte didn't know when it had opened, exactly; for as long as she could recall, it had been closed and guarded. But that was not the case anymore, and she was thankful for it.

Yeah, I usually use a smaller size when travelling, but I wasn't sure how dangerous it was going to be, and being bigger usually wards off anyone or anything that wants to test their luck.

*Cloud Waker nods at Histarte's explanation of the improvements.*

"Yes. This Twelfth Architect... they have been making an effort to improve Pharloom. They even helped restore the water of Verdania, my homeland. Rumors have it they've helped the Wisp Thicket and have tried to help Bilewater, as well. I... quite like them, to be honest. Pharloom has had too many bugs who just want to exploit the land and its bugs. The Twelfth Architect doesn't seem to like that..."

Soon enough, the two came up on an entrance to the Underworks. Histarte entered, and took a brief moment to look around.

No buzzsaws, crushers, or grinders that were immediately exposed. No exposed harsh steam vents. Safety railings. Buttons and levers that seemed designed to shut off dangerous equipment. Signs pointing to exits or rest areas. Even a box containing maps; Histarte accepted a map, and looked at it.

"... Huh. This area is heavily changed, and some paths that did exist do not anymore, or have been heavily modified... I can still find my way to the Architect, however. Follow me."

Needless to say, it isn't long before she slams into one of said walls. There is barely a reaction, apart from the initial grunt of surprise.*

*The antennae on her head — as well as her vents, eyes, fangs, and other glowing parts — glow brighter for a moment before she visibly puts in effort to get them to stop.

"... Understood. Well, if it's any consolation, we will be at the Architect's workshop in mere moments,"

G-good... that's... good.

*Then, muttering somewhat under her breath, but still audible-*

Shut up instincts, I'm not getting into a fight with another Pale Being over territory I don't even want!

After a few moments of silence, the sound of skittering limbs can be heard from within. A faint glow seems to come with them.*

@misty-memento

Histarte stared at the fog forming in her little cave in Verdania.

She had seen... many strange, impossible things in her recent life. She had been to the Abyss itself.

But she had never seen anything like this.

"... Hello?" She asked as she heard the skittering. Her keen senses were... not helping her here...

Two glowing eyes can be seen through the fog, the body that they were attached to remaining hidden. The voice that calls out is... echoed, almost, as if there was more than just words that were being said.*

Hello? I'm not intruding, am I?

A halo...

"Hello," Histarte greeted back. Apparently this thing could speak.

"... No," Histarte said cautiouly. "You are not intruding."