dreamcrystals | Dream 1: The Tower

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Dream 1: The Tower

Sender: Madhuri
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive Dream Recording

The moon was gone from the featureless black sky. That's never happened before. It always watched over her, guided her through the night, but she'd learned that what she knew was a lie. Nhaama never spoke to her. Not once. It was all Hydaelyn.

Was she the fool for never asking? Or did she wonder some days, but was too afraid to learn that her smallest happiness- her faith- didn't actually mean anything?

"Why would my Nhaama speak to you, let alone BE you?" A haughty, masculine voice. One that made her jaw clench and her eyes burn.

When lightning struck the ground beneath her feet her body pitched, toppled from an edge that wasn't there a moment before. As she fell she saw her perch hurtle up and away from her, the top of a massive black tower that emitted a horrible red light that shot skyward. She'd seen these towers before... too damned many of them. Madhuri couldn't see the ground, but she knew it had to be down there somewhere, and she didn't wish to learn precisely when.

The panic grew, and she fought to swallow it back. She needed to fly, now! Could she make a song here?! She needed to change. Change. Swirling winds... fury... wait, she's got one!

"Falling too far from the light,
deeper into the night,
lost here inside my own hell,
I am a broken angel...!"

It felt like extra limbs sprouting from her body, mottled wings bursting from her back, the fine silks and leather over her body tightening into soft and feathery adornments. Her fall slowed as she twisted her newly-shifted body to right herself, resembling some form of harpy. ...Or something a little more familiar.

But only one crisis was averted. Clutching the tower and watching her now was a great horned beast, tendrils of smoke leaking between bared fangs. Its horns and scales gleamed a soft violet. To gaze into its eyes always made the blood rush, sent a pleasurable shiver up the spine. It always endeared, always intoxicated...

...Always hungered.

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[G'raha had been wrapped up in his research that he hadn't noticed this right away. But it didn't take long for it to catch his interest. He had no experience with how dreams worked here yet, but it warrented enough concern to check up on her.]

Madhuri. Are you okay?

[And then there was a momentary pause until another message will come get way.]

... I'm sorry.

[Did he cause this by telling her about the Echo?]

[Her response could only come as words flitting to mind. If she spoke, she may scream.

This was easier.]

I'm peaches and cream.

Never apologize for the truth. If anything, this Mothercrystal owes me the tale of why She spent over twenty of my summers in silence before I find some way to wrench Her damned ear.

[She could say that, but he'd never intended to conflict her like this. To make her realize her beliefs had been a lie. He had just wanted to give her any answers he could when she had asked for them.]

For what it's worth, She seems to be absent in keeping people in the know. If it makes you feel any better, it's been silent for my friends as well for a while. [So not just her.]

Odd... A silent deity is a forgotten one. Don't they swing into imbalance and go berserk, in that case? Or maybe that's just the kami.

...

I thought I'd done all I could to learn of western customs. I'd read the books, listened to the stories... I feel just an itty-bitty-bit foolish. Not your fault, though! It's- it isn't. Thank you for telling me. But it doesn't stop the feeling of a dash of cold water to the face.

There are many things about Hydaelyn that we still don't know about.

[Aside from the whole primal thing...]

Silent and secretive...? But why? I could tell anyone all about Azim and Nhaama...!

She doesn't seem to want to interfere with the matters of men openly. Not like the others.

I suppose I should resign to the fact that I may never understand Her.

She seems to enjoy giving me images like these, though. It's never been shaped like Ifrit before... usually it just looks like me.

I cannot speak from personal experience, but it seems strange that She would send images such as that.

They've always been this way: Omens told in tales of symbols, as best as I can interpret them.

The inner beast hasn't been that big before, however... I need to come up with a plan.

Omens...

[Her next comment just added onto his worries.]

Does this have anything to deal with the missing job crystals? Is there anything I can do to help?

[He hasn't let it go, okay?]

[Shit. He remembered. It would be a little while before any form of response. A minute, maybe two.]

Job crystals contain the memories of past specialists in their chosen art. With warriors, it comes with myriad ways to handle their inner beast. Thus far I've managed to remain positive with Starlight preparations, which can help keep it calm for a time. But like any animal, it needs to be fed. Warriors that don't manage their beast are no different from a frenzied animal.

Of course, this makes me sound potentially unhinged, but everybody has an inner beast. You have one, too. Those of warriors just happen to be... needier.

[Yep. There's no escaping this. He was fairly silent on his end he read her message. So that's why she had been so frantic then. He can't help but sigh a little to that. She wanted him to feel like it wasn't a big deal back then, but this was certainly important.]

And there are no alternatives? The priority is finding that job crystal, but until there, there has to be another solution to keep it in check.

[Does he have to make it his life goal while in Reverein to make sure she's always happy. He will try his damndest if so.]

What are the lasting effects if it goes too far without being addressed? [Just to know what to look out for.]

I suppose in a way it's sort of like aether: If there's too much, it needs to be expelled somehow until there is a balance. My running theory is to utilize dreamscapes to craft old memories and tap in.

If it goes too far without being addressed? I'd been told of stories where warriors would fail to remember periods of time and 'awaken' elsewhere. I suspect the beast decided to take a stroll and didn't care to involve the neglectful warrior. What kind of "stroll" they'd take, I can only imagine, as beasts don't make friends. Everyone is a target.

[That was definitely not good. Keep a close eye on her and check in with her periodically. Got it. He wasn't going to follow everywhere she went or anything, but the moment she felt worse, that was the time he wanted to be there for her the most. If not for her, then for whoever might become an unfortunate target for her. He was a little lost in thought for what he could do to help and it showed by the delay of the response. Eventually...]

... We'll find a way to make up for what's lost for the time being.

[Because he's not letting her deal with it alone. If it means putting more work into his already busy schedule, so be it.]

The only thing to do is to test your theory.

Yes. I should learn to more competently enter and leave dreamscapes so the dollhouse doesn't happen again, so that'll bear considerable benefit.

Besides, learning to manage it without the stone would be fantastic news to bring back home. I do miss giving something a good old Fell Cleave, though...

We could both do with practicing that. I confess I have done very little for dreamscapes so far and in order to really understand better, I need to become more acquainted with the ins and outs.

[Which could be partially for the aetheryte project too.]

Oho, an epiphany!

Two yol, one buuz: If there are some nasty beasties in your dreamscapes, I can tear them into confetti.

That would indeed work. It would also provide you with a chance to let loose when necessary.

Let loose...

I'm actually quite relieved to hear things like that, really. Gets a little tiring when it isn't just Garleans calling you 'savages'.

Well, if it's necessary to deal with the inner beast then it's better than nothing. Just... don't go too crazy.

More importantly, take care of yourself.

Please- the men like to be very messy when they let loose. I'm the most ladylike warrior you'll ever meet.

[What does that even mean]

I intend to. Still, I'm sorry you had to see all of that. Knowing my omens can be transmitted now is going to warrant a lot of explaining in the future.

[That is... an excellent question. Maddie, do you care to explain?]

There's no need to be sorry. If anything, I'm sorry that this seems to be a normal thing for you. It must be tough.

Ah, well, I've had it for as long as I can remember. It sometimes helps, it sometimes perplexes. Puzzles and riddles are nice, but not when lives could be at stake.

Still, nothing about you or Alisaie have popped up yet, so everything's peachy there. If that changes and it somehow doesn't come bursting from my dream lantern, you'll be informed.

That would be appreciated [And then a pause before another message shows up] You don't have to shoulder the possible burdens alone, you know.

[But he'll let it go for now. He just wanted to make that clear.]

Ha... one day, I'll remember that. But thank you.

I should probably fix myself something strong and try this whole 'sleeping' thing again for tonight.

May you dream pleasant dreams this time around.

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Dream 1: The Tower

Sender: G'raha

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