aefenglom | Network: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

You truly do sound like a faun. I've not seen some of those here, but I'll check in with the flower shops to see if they may just be non-native to this area.

[The faun thing is based mostly on observation. Even those without an interest in plants seemed to develop a much stronger one once the hooves and horns started growing in. Still, she does make a mental note of flowers. She's always looking to expand - why not take suggestions from others who appreciate flowers?]

My favorite flower does not grow here. They are called Lumenflowers, and they resemble pallid sunflowers which glow softly in darkness. So, I grow sunflowers in their stead, and other magical varieties that have their own luminescence, though I am still new to magic flowers.

Oh? Magical flowers?

[There's definitely faun curiosity in there but Maria doesn't hate plants normally either. She'd probably end up curious no matter what.]

I don't believe I've ever heard of flowers with magical properties. Are there many of those here?

There are quite a few, actually. Nerissa grows some very rare varieties that I've seen. There are also some roses I received from an expedition out beyond Dorchacht, plus some information of them from a book I received as a gift.

This world is magical, you can most definitely find flowers that match.

Mm, I wasn't here for long but I certainly remember how magical this world seemed to be.

[She laughs just a little, gently.]

I'm almost sad I haven't had the chance to thoroughly explore it. And your garden as well, of course.

Well, for as long as you're here, would you like to? It's still growing back in from the winter, but some of the flowers are starting to come up.

I'd love to!

[Ah yes, that faun enthusiasm for nature. She looks so pleased by the idea though.]

It seems like a lot of the gardens around here are in the early stages of blooming. It's nice to see spring everywhere like that.

Yes. Though were you to venture into the depths of the Wildes, you would find that it is autumn, and things are settling down for the winter. It's an interesting phenomenon.

[Oh! Maria can't help the sound of surprise there.]

How intriguing! Are the Wildes set in a different time then? Or a different reality in some way?

I'm not sure. I think it's simply a difference in time, via the magical influence of this world. Perhaps even the Cwyld? It may be worth asking at the Coven, if they have the information. I've not pursued that yet; too many other curiosities to discover.

There must be an awful lot of curiosities then! I don't believe much was known about anything when I left unfortunately.

I don't think we really have such a great grasp on everything, still. But there have been a few more answers given, I suppose.

Discovering things a little bit at a time? I admit, I'm not sure I have the patience for such a slow pace! I'm more of the charge forward and ask questions later sort according to Richter.

[Brother-in-law? Brother? She's not entirely sure how to speak of him family-wise.]

With the nature of the Wildes, and how they hide most of the secrets here, that seems like a way to get onesself killed. Even I wouldn't attempt it.

[And this is one of those deathwish-having sorts of Hunters. Except it's lesser to die for a stupid reason, than die at least getting something accomplished.

... Also, someone here is slowly domesticating her, in a way. At least, it's making her think twice about being so reckless.]

But we've definitely made progress even there. Even found one of the Dragon guardians of this world.

Oh! So there are dragons here?

[She looks so keenly interested now, much like she had at the talk of magical flowers.]

Ah I wish I could have seen it!

Yes. Well, there are quite a number of Mirrorbound who are dragons as well, but this one seems to be... trueborn?

[Or so she assumes. She supposes the dragon from Dorchacht is also true born, as well, but the impression she's getting is the dragon in question is a bit more like an ancient or precusor type. Or something more powerful than Morgana's old "bonded".]

Or very powerful, either way. Unique, even among their kind. We know the dragon is alive, or at least presume to... I've not seen it yet, but the one I heard it from has apparently communed with the creature.

[Maria looks more than a little surprised.]

What, the Mirrorbound can be dragons too?!

[This is a stand up and slam her hands against a table moment... if she had a table.]

Well that's no fair! Where do I request a form change!

[Ah, communed with it.]

At home my powers derive from Guardians I can speak with. Well, in a way. I can't feel them or hear them here and one of them is a dragon.

[Maria sighs wistfully.]

Ah, it sounds nice, communing with a dragon~.

They can be, yes. I don't think you can... reassign yourself so easily for something like this.

[Sorry, Maria, you're stuck with hairy legs and horns.]

Perhaps it is, but I haven't had the chance to venture out and verify it. In fact, the Mirrorbound I heard it from is a dragon himself. I'm not sure you can keep your ability here like you did from home, but you may want to look into it, if you've a nose for adventure out into the Wildes.

That does sound intriguing. I didn't get to explore the Wildes as much as I would have liked before.

[Or learn overly much about them then either.]

There haven't been too many troubles, have there? From the Wildes or elsewhere? I don't expect peace given the Cwyld and such but I do hope you haven't been through too much here.

[Or elsewhere. Though she imagines Lady Maria has more than a few stories to tell.]

Hm... the Cwyld has slowed its spread, based on what the Wilders like to say. We've also succeeded in setting up another outpost, further into the Wildes, to help combat the spread of the infection. On that front... no, things haven't been too terrible.

[She pauses, thinks about everything that has happened since she first arrived - and it is a lot - and tries to think of the last time she talked to this one. She'll address the elephant in the room of "been through too much" later, simply because she is still reeling from the things which happened the previous month.

Catching up with an old acquaintance is mostly a welcome distraction.]

Were you here for everything with Dorchacht?

I'm afraid not. What happened there?

[The pause is brief before Maria is quick to add:]

You can just summarize if that's easier. I can only imagine it must have been something big for you to bring it up so readily anyhow.

There was a dream about a city on this continent where Monsters were treated as slaves and traded openly in markets. We traveled to this place, and found that... Monsters were certainly oppressed and traded like slaves, though it wasn't nearly as dynamic as the dream would have had us believe. Things happened, and the Mirrorbound may have given the city the courage to overthrow the ruler - the leader of the Coven - and free the city. Now there is a second place we can visit, if you'd like a different city.

[One that honestly kind of reminds Maria of her home in Yharnam: Tall, pointy spires, and dark, dreary colors.] ... Also, all the Wildes outside of there, as well.

[Maria's grimace goes unseen but it's certainly reflected in her voice.]

I'm glad it worked out in the end but what a terrible place. Have the Monsters adjusted to the change? Or the town itself?

It's a work in progress, but the Monsters seem keen on them. After all, they have their freedoms now. The whole city is sort of having to learn to be independent again, though. Monsters, Witches, and all. And there's the matter of sympathizers to the old ways, and a few other hot spots that crop up from time to time.

Either way, they see us as kind of heroes. [And this Maria is really not used to being considered really any kind of a hero.]

I suppose that's good... in a way.

[Because being seen as a hero has definite drawbacks, doesn't it.]

It must be a lot of pressure on the rest of you though.

[She's had a front row seat to what the pressure to live up to an image looks like with Richter after all.]

Depends. Many have found some purpose in defending, and helping the refugees. I think they more like helping than reveling in the heroism, as it is. Some, like me, care nothing for either. I helped what I needed to, their lives are their own now, and I care little what happens from here.

[She tends toward the 'keeps to herself and doesn't really care about many others', though, just by nature.]

Network: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)