#growingway

He is Growingway, he wants to show me the domiciles. That sounds fun and not stressful.

Unfortunately, the teleporter has been re-routed...

I am teleported conveniently close to where Urianger is having a private meeting with Livingway and her associates. Time to eavesdrop!

Livingway can tell that the Loporrits' efforts have failed to meet our expectations, and while this is disappointing, what is frustrating is that we're being too polite to tell them exactly what is wrong and why. She takes her responsibilities very seriously.

And here is the sobering reality. It's easy to forget how dire the situation is, with how cute the Loporrits are, and how earnest their efforts. But the Final Days are here. There is no time to abide by social graces. The Loporrits need correct information now. We don't have the luxury of our "preferred" foods or clothes. Thought the Loporrits will make things as comfortable for us as possible, this is about saving as many lives as possible.

Livingway wants Urianger to work with their collaborators to help prepare everyone for the migration. She's come to him because he's the only one who has not been wholly unsatisfied with the Loporrits' efforts and because she senses he's the kind of person who understands about the greater good. Now that he's seen all the moon has to offer, she hopes he can use the first-hand knowledge to assist.

Before I can hear Urianger's answer, I am found again by Growingway. He offers to take me for a walk through Greatest Endsvale by way of an apology for teleporting me off course. Greatest Endsvale is a "forest" made entirely of artificial "trees" and crystalline structures. At least it's got a water feature? Hey, Growingway, I don't suppose you can explain why all your robots keep attacking me? Y'know, one of the passengers you're supposed to be protecting?

Growingway tells me more about the Loporrits' history and how they came to be in contact with their collaborators. I also get a better idea of the timeframe we're talking about here. While they have only relatively recently become in contact with their collaborators, the Loporrits have been working towards their goals here on the moon for twelve thousand years.

Y'shtola and Thancred find me, and we are shortly joined by Livingway with Urianger in tow. Livingway has come to take Growingway away to an emergency meeting.

After the bunnies leave I fill my friends in on everything I've learned, and we commiserate over how difficult we expect it will be to convince people to relocate to the moon, especially when there are as-yet no signs of the Final Days occurring. (I dunno guys, we haven't been back to the ground since Zodiark met His end, how do we know shit hasn't hit the fan in our absence?)

Urianger begs his leave to attend to some unnamed task, and declines our offer of assistance when we offer it. We find this rather suspicious, so I decide to tail him.

He heads outside, and I follow.

When I catch up with him, it turns out he is pleased to see me.

Urianger is conflicted. He's distressed that his capacity for subterfuge and duplicity is so readily apparent that he keeps finding himself in situations where he is asked to do something behind the backs of others. And he can't help reflecting on the other times he has found himself on this path. He mourns for the friends we have lost, and can't help feeling responsible for those he had an influence in, particularly Minfilia and Moenbryda. It weighs heavy on him, the inability to save everyone he cares about.

This is a really beautiful scene. I wish the game would let me give Urianger a hug. I love him very much.

He is considering the Loporrits proposal, seeing that there is much to benefit from having a more open dialogue with them. But if he chooses to do so, he will be doing it openly and on the Scions behalf.

Hehehe... The Loporrits are spying, but can't hear what we're saying. Regardless, Livingway has a plan.

While assisting Urianger create a gift of ink for the Loporrits, we are approached by Livingway, who sets about separating the two of us on opposite tasks. I am unsure whether it is I or Urianger who is being gotten out of the way, but I am on my guard.

As expected, Y'shtola did not call for me. She and Thancred are being given the run-around by Growingway over purported knowledge of the Final Days.

When we finally get fed up and confront Growingway about it, he confesses the plan: keep us locked up here while Livingway takes Urianger to work with their collaborators. They fear we won't cooperate with being evacuated to the moon, and will put the plan at risk in a futile attempt to save our star and its reflections.

Oh no. They're going to make me fight the bunnies. I don't want to hurt them!

Outside, Urianger has gently confronted the Loporrits over what they're doing, and waves us back when we come to his "rescue."

Poor little Loporrits. All they want is to please and to help. They were born of love, and feel it keenly. They are doing their best, but what they really need is someone to help them.

Urianger will be that person for them. He will stay behind on the moon and assist the Loporrits in making their preparations, learning more about the people they want to save, and about themselves. It is reassuring to know he will be here, helping them, that if worst should come to worst we will be in good hands.

Meanwhile, the rest of us will return to Etheirys and attempt to find the answers behind the Final Days.

My flower is glowing a lovely orange-red, and it catches the eye of the Watcher, who has snuck up on us unnoticed. Lol, a great feat for someone of his height.

I really like the Watcher. I'm not sure if that's because I really like him, or if it's because he reminds me of Hythlodaeus, and I adore Hythlodaeus.

The flower is called an Elpis!!!

I know this name! "Elpis" is a place the hunt trains start at! I see it in the party finder and my linkshell sometimes!

It's one of the locations behind the "???" on my maps! Oh! I'm excited!! Do I get to go find more ancient ruins like those of Amaurot? Am I going back to the First?

Ahaha! The Loporrits' collaborators are the Sharlayan forum! That's hilarious. Do they even know they're talking to space bunnies? It makes sense though, of course the forum thinks they would know first if the world was ending: the Loporrits would tell them to prepare to evacuate! But I wonder... Do they know why? Do they know about Zodiark and Hydaelyn? About the ancients? How much did Hydaelyn tell them? Somehow I suspect it was the bare minimum and they're going to be in for a nasty shock.