01 [video]: the heart of the forest(?)

[topslug]

Name: Yako Katsuragi (un: katsuragi)
Date: May 25-ish
Format: Video

[ The young woman on the watch gives the camera a small smile, though her expression is also a touch uncharacteristically serious for those who’ve met her before. ]

First of all, for anyone who was badly affected by the full moons, I hope you’re feeling better now. If you need any medical attention or want to learn how to help keep others from going feral when you’re not Bonded to them, you should ask the Coven.

[ PSA done, she clears her throat, brushing her hair away from her face. ]

There’s something else I’d like to share. When we first came here, some people mentioned having a dream about being in a banquet in a forest. I had the same dream, too. I don’t know how much other people recall, but one of the the things I remember hearing while I was in it was the name of the place: Dewaint.

Anyway, I did a little looking into it, and it seems like I’ve found it. Or at least, um, something used to have that name.

[ That’s her cue to move, turning the watch to face ... a map. For those who’ve already seen a map of Geardagas, it will look pretty familiar, but it’s large — taking up most of a wall, and Yako has to take a few steps back to take it in its entirety — and it’s clearly old, preserved from being tampered with by a layer of glass. Yako continues speaking as she steps back in closer, panning her camera slowly as she points out areas of interest. ]

The librarians said this map is about five hundred years old. This is where Aefenglom is today, near the coast. And where Dewaint Forest was is...

[ She focuses on the dark spot towards the center of the map, right by the river (since she’s a little short, this takes a lot of standing on her toes, so the video goes a little wobbly before it straightens). The inscription scrawled over it bears a script similar to what might be seen in places around the Coven — and on the protection charms that were offered in the bonfire ceremony when they first arrived. Though the script might resemble Irish Ogden runes in form, for those who recognize such things, it’s clearly a different language. ]

There -- in the center of what The Wilde covers today.

[ Yako pauses, letting the camera linger. ]

To be honest, I’m not sure what this all means. I haven’t been able to find out much else about it, though some books said something about leylines passing through it and called it the heart of Geardagas. [ Although it’s a heart that most people seem to have forgotten. ] All I know is that it doesn't feel like a coincidence.

[ Spiel done, Yako turns the view back to herself. ]

I'm still trying to see what I can learn, but this is what I have right now. I thought other people might find this interesting too. I asked some people about this already, but if you have access to Parliament Records, the librarians and Miss Nessie think they might have more. So if you would like to help with that or with looking through some more books and papers, please let me know! If you’ve found anything related, I'd like to hear about it too.

Comments

[topslug]

I see...

[ She gets the distinct feeling like Nel is leaving out an important detail or two here ... hopefully Nel let sleeping dragons lie. ]

Um, did you happen to try talking to it?

[guillotine]

It reacted poorly to our presence, so we moved on. I'm sorry to disappoint you.

[ Yeah, moved on. That's certainly a phrase Nel can use to mean a quick but painful death. Nothing about her mild tone suggests a lie, though a carefully omitted truth leaves her explanation sparse. ]

An inquisitive mind should still reap the rewards of investigation. I can tell you that where the forest's sickness was worst, all of the organic matter bled together into gray mud. It was like... melting snow. Everywhere.

[topslug]

[ She still feels like Nel’s leaving something out, but she can’t quite place her finger on it. ]

That sounds ... terrible. Do you think it was the Cwyld, or something about the dream itself? [ Oh, and— ] Um, if you ran into the dragon so deep in, does it mean it was affected by the Cwyld too?

[guillotine]

[ Here, lying by omission isn't at all necessary. Nel is pleased to reply candidly and without saying anything which might upset (or unsettle) this bright girl. ]

You know, it flew away from the corruption as fast as it could. Much of the area was in darkness and we couldn't see signs of illness, but I must admit that the creature was beautiful. We initially mistook it for a natural formation, and real gemstones lined its back.

It might have been the only beauty left in there.

[topslug]

[ That's kind of poetic ... so Nel has this side to her too, huh? ]

That does sound beautiful. I wonder how it managed to avoid being infected.

[guillotine]

[ Mmmaybe.......... don't tell!! ]

Perhaps the infection looks different in something so ancient and powerful.

[topslug]

Maybe ...

I'm pretty sure now that the creatures you destroyed in the dream were fae corrupted by the Cwyld, or some form of it.

[guillotine]

Oh, without a doubt.

What you did then, have you learned how to replicate it? A girl of your skills would have undeniable use in the wilde.

[ hey nel this isn't the queen's army stop recruiting people to that shit ]

[topslug]

[ An uneasy side-glance isn't really something that's audible, but some of that comes through in Yako's voice anyway, sheepish as it is. ]

Errr, sort of? It wasn't exactly the same, and it felt a lot easier in the dream ... though I wouldn't be able to go out into the Wilde without a Bond anyway.

[guillotine]

You certainly can.

[ uh oh! ]

If we're permitted to form a temporary connection, you and I are fully capable of traversing the Wilde.

[ the time to backpedal is yesterday if this is not going in a direction Yako likes ]

[topslug]

[ ?! ]

I’d heard about the temporary Bonds, but isn’t that more dangerous if you’re both Witches?

[ She doesn’t wanna explode, Nel ... but it’s not a ‘no’ either. ]

[guillotine]

So we're told. We lack sufficient reason to doubt it, particularly with the histories and past experiments readily available, but a shorter period of time should mitigate that risk. Wilders know the way.

In any case, a temporary arrangement is vastly preferable. I would rather not introduce you to the creature I bonded with.

[topslug]

You’re already bonded?

[ Things Nel probably didn’t want Yako to take away from this conversation: that. Yako doesn’t know if a ‘congratulations’ is in order, exactly ... Nel doesn’t sound happy about it for some reason. ]

[guillotine]

For the next month or so, whatever turns out to be convenient. It’s a matter of practicality. Don’t worry about it.







Though you should really establish one for yourself. Are you suffering from any... maladies?

[topslug]

[ Why does that make it sound like Nel is asking her about venereal diseases... in any case, after a moment of internal debate, she decides to leave the topic well enough alone for the moment. ]

Er, nothing that I’ve noticed. Learning magic seems to use it up readily enough. I’d be willing to try a temporary bond with you, though, Miss Nel.

[guillotine]

[ It's a disgusting topic, and Nel should never have brought it up. ]

Yes... though, hm.

Yako.

Would you be opposed to an introduction to bladed weapons?

[topslug]

[ UHHHH. ]

You mean like knives and that kind of thing?

I guess I don’t have anything against it in principle ... it would be nice to know some self-defense.

[ LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW... ]

[guillotine]

'And that kind of thing,' correct.

If you aren't otherwise spoken for tomorrow evening, come to my residence. [ It is important that this be specified, since the alternatives are glorified closets (lairs) spread out across the districts. ]

Dress... comfortably.

[topslug]

All right. I'll see you then!

[ And thus what Yako thought was going to be a simple self-defense lesson turned into Time For Fun Forest Adventures With Nel. ]