middleofsomewhere | Wings of Wonder: NPC Interactions and Investigations

Any wishing to learn and experiment with the energies are welcomed to the Sage's House. A large circular building, the largest of all, that requires extra legs on an otherwise slope-and-hill terrain to support outward renovations. From the outside, the sali village is both simple in decorations, yet brimming with energies that can be sensed, if not defined. Stone markers are dotted around, clear stones glimmering, hangings around houses of stones too.

Not all of it is comfortable for those who arrive in the village, but some of that is eased away as they approach the house, come through its doors.

They enter into the main room quickly, led by a sali with horns kept short, stubs above their temple. The room is round, concentric in design. People in a various state of stone sitting around, as well of those who aren't. A firepit of some sort sits in the centre, incense burning beneath a pot that hangs above it.

"Sit," the sali - about the age of a young man - guides them, around the upper floor, where they come from. There are cushions for sitting on a mat under it, and the same sali continues to speak once they have, taking a seat at the far opposite side, so as to be facing them equally.

"We welcome you, visitors from other existences. We understand the problem you face with your energies, but what surprised us was the belief some among you carried they should work at all. We mean no disrespect by this surprise - but, we see that your own crafts have ways of manipulating yourselves and your surroundings into accepting you. We find this fascinating."

They pause, then offer, "Excuse me. Would our guests like refreshments?"

Lan Wangji admires the simple but efficient architecture of the village, they may not be as advanced as some but the Sali are not primitive. He takes care to avoid the white rocks after the one he found on the trail, uncertain if the dizzy spell will return.

The pressure of the foreign energy is greater here, meaning he's actually paler than before and had large bags under his eyes. He will follow the instruction to sit and stare at the interior.
"Tea please, if you have it. If you do not, hot water will suffice." He murmurs.

Once he has been given refreshment he can try to explain how he uses his own cultivated energy. He cannot answer for the train.

While Potato the Homunculus has been flitting about giving energy and getting snacks in turn, Emporio is here to more properly learn. He looks relatively nervous- particularly when the Sali remarks on how their energy probably shouldn't have worked at all- but otherwise shakes his head.

To perhaps little surprise- indeed, anyone looking at him can probably draw the conclusion- he feels a bit like his own nervousness would make him sick if he had something to drink or eat right now. So, he'll just focus on learning for now.

Elidibus appears to be managing his discomfort well enough that it doesn't show so candidly. People who have known him may see it. It might be sensed, but physically speaking he appears to have a good poker face.

But some of that may be as much because the vessel isn't his own and some things are easier falsify with a little effort. Maybe a little pale, might occasionally crease his brow with a passing pang of discomfort. But he settles in and waits for the sali to begin.

Those from the train who also join are given a nod.

"Thank you," he says when the offer of refreshment is suggested. "Water would be fine for myself." There is a pause when he glances at Emporio. "...And the child, once his nerves are settled. Cold, if it is fine." The last was added to clarify matters between what he asks for and what Wangji requested.

But once refreshments are arranged or settled, Elidibus does answer the remarks about energy manipulation.

"I myself was surprised to discover this world so fundamentally against outside influence even at its base level," he admits. No disrespect seems taken and certainly none is given; it is equal surprise. "The world I come from... my kind have been able to manipulate the energy that gives life and form to all things, what we call aether, since birth. Even when the advent of mortals occurred and they began to label it with different names for different purposes, it was still the same source."

There is a pause. "Even when I journeyed beyond the boundaries of my Star on our current voyage, the principle remained the same. Even here it is aether I see around me and through your people. But thus far only here has it ever been so unique." Earlier, he had a conversation with Lan Wangji and in it had been a question he'd yet found an answer for. It seemed a good opportunity to ask about it anyway.

"Do your people have traditions which speak of the world having a Will? Of a calamity which may have given rise to this world's rejection of outsiders?"

Edited 2021-09-20 22:37 (UTC)

As the request of the drinks come in, the sali nods their head to another on the upper ring of seating, saying, "Honlo?" and "Thank you" as they rise with a tip of their head. Their host sali then regards them again, listening as they speak.

And when Elidibus is done, there is a moment before the sali's attention goes to one of the statues by the centre ring. They close their eyes, and when they open their mouth-

"Calamity." The word repeated is with an older voice, fondly amused, reflected. "We turn stories of calamities into ones of perseverance. If the world has a Will, it would be to destroy us. I wonder? You may say that. I am Omerka, to your right." The younger sali motions a hand respectfully towards one of the Forever Ones, despite the dismissive tone of the introduction, apparently Omerka's own.

"Such interesting energies join us - it excites us! But it too is a sign of calamity. Ah, I like the words you bring. We see you speak not the same tongue as we do, and you expect this to be true, everywhere. Wonderful. But even our own lands - our people have expanded greater than it is now, died down to a handful, perhaps less than is in this room. A story that rejects outsiders? To you, I would say this world rejects all, everyone. If we did not accept this world into our bodies, do you believe it would let us call on its energies as we do?"

The young male sali's eyes close, and they start to speak in their own voice before they fully open: "There is much we have to learn about existence, I would say. Outside our islands, what exists outside our...world." A small smile creeps onto their lips. "It is not a word we often need. But the energies you have around you, keeping you safe now... there is much to learn."

From through a curtain, Honlo reappears, bringing drinks in wooden cups set on ringed coasters, setting them by them (or handing them directly, if they offer hands). The tea is a flower one, soothing, a calm scent to it.

"To perservere in the face of such resistance, from your very world, is admirable." Wangji is a little taken aback at how hostile the world seems, even to those who are its own. Frankly he's a little lost for words, so he sips the tea he's been handed.
It's delicious, and he hums appreciatively.

"On the subject of my own energy, in my world much of it is consciously sought after and perfected. You must maintain your body in order to create a core, this is what gives us the energy to do harder to perform movements or tasks, such as running on treetops. Once you have it you must choose to work to make it stronger to see greater strength."

He isn't surprised that the Sali have much to learn, only the forever ones seem to be able to look outside the islands they are on.

Awkwardly, Emporio takes the drink- he hadn't asked of course, but after Elidibus asked for him, he wasn't going to refuse it. And he listens carefully. This world rejects everything..? Everyone..?

He sips quietly, calmed somewhat by the scent. "...So then...even people born here had to create a connection...so then...the problem is we can't accept the world's energies normally..?"

It causes notable surprise to learn the Sali have had to adapt and draw the energy into themselves to be accepted. Not the act, but that the world itself considers them as much outsiders as anyone...

"Forgive me, I don't mean offense by this. But is your race not originally native to this world?" Sure they may be born here and have lived generations now but... If they were native, why would the world reject pieces of itself? That would be a very troubling condition.

Wangji's sentiment of respect seems reflected in the Ascian. The sali have adapted and overcome a considerable obstacle to their very existence. As to whom to address when speaking, the words are meant for everyone to hear and brief glances indicate this, though his focus remains on Omerka's still form for the most part. After all, that is whom is speaking to him.

"...My true form is not one which is corporeal. Perhaps you would call it a type of energy; I see such as aether, at their fundamental level. Even with the protections shrouding me, I feel the draw of this world intensely and it seeks to... hm." Elidibus pauses for thought. "Not just absorb me, exactly. But to change and become similar to it?" Because of the foreign 'language' of this aether, he can't say for sure.

"...It is difficult to explain. Mayhap it tries to draw me into its cycle and empower itself after all. My hope is to learn as much as I can teach in hopes of better understanding this world."

He seems confident there are many things he can teach and learn. Elidibus has no ill will toward the world; far from it. But for many reasons, not least his own safety and survival, it must be confronted and knowledge seems the best course.

Edited 2021-09-27 18:20 (UTC)

Wings of Wonder: NPC Interactions and Investigations

anyone else can join in, if it's an open offer. just tagging in now to set the scene.

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Also this is absolutely open to other VTers :D

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