A great sob wracked my body, just once, then I dried my eyes and stood. The Fortugnat - the poor unfortunates - would live or die without me. I had a family who loved and protected me, and so I would love and protect them too. But first i wanted to do something. I wrapped Crackle in a powerful hug, lifting him clear off the ground, then told him I'd rejoin the tribe soon. He left me, and I got to work.

I finished my work on the dicestone cliff at first light.

I left my stylus there with it - I'd make another if I needed it, but I hoped that it would inspire another to add onto it. I stood before it awkwardly, unwilling to pray but wishing to convey… something to whoever was listening. Then it was time to go to Chromeport.

-O-
After accepting the Quest, I took some time to look at the artisan stalls on my way to the Crystal Spires. I felt admittedly a bit nervous about going up there and about the Quest in general, and the longer I could stall, the better. I avoided the weapons for now - I'd had enough of war - and I was too nervous to eat… but some of the artwork had caught my eye. Of special interest was a crudely scribed Manga on a slab of Milkstone. I held it up to the light, turning it this way and that examining its translucent white surface. The shopkeeper must have caught something in my eyes, because he didn’t say anything when i broke it in my grip, let the pieces fall to the floor. I left a Glass bead on his counter, and kept moving.

Even through the clouds of melancholy fogging my view, I spotted something absolutely beautiful. Wrought of Silver and Glass, it caught the light unusually. When I lifted it experimentally, I grunted against the unexpected weight of it - offset, sloshing within it. Water. The cursed matter, trapped in a ball of Glass.

The Glasswork was crude, but the Silver wrapped around it in fine filigree, as though keeping the ball and the Water in a cage. I liked it. I loved it! I handed over the rest of my beads to the shopkeeper, a Silvurtle whose eyes fairly popped out of her head when she saw my offer. She called something else to me, but I was already on my way upstairs.

-O-
Along with the map, the Questgiver (I was thinking of him with capitals, for some reason) had given me a parcel. I couldn’t figure out what it was wrapped in - some sort of incredibly thin cloth? - but it felt pliable and stiff all at once. I dared not to open it, because I was on a Quest to deliver it, but I sorely wanted to know what it was. Finding the way to the Crystal Spires wasn’t hard - anyone I asked knew precisely where the stairs were. My first quest was shaping up to be a disappointment.

Two hundred stairs later, I regretted ever complaining about it being too easy. I also regretted that I had brought my Glass-Water-Ball, which weighed heavily in my pack. At very least, it prevented me from getting tired and falling over - the idea of it breaking and leaking was more than enough to keep me standing. The stairs seemed unterminable, and I was just itching to see what was in the parcel. But, no, I had my Quest, and I only had until nightfall to do it. I kept going.

What felt like ages later, I finally crested the last stair and fell to the ground panting on the Silver platform. The light was already fading, and the wind was fierce. The Spires shone dully in the failing glow, and a deep hum filled the air. The map said the package had to be delivered… there.

Right at the base of the Spires. Across the Mirror Lake. Across the Water. The Glass-Water-Ball resonated in my pack and scared me, so I gingerly unslung my gear and set it on the floor, where it vibrated in time with the hum of the Spires.

I walked right up to the edge of the Lake, ripples always pushing outwards, away from the Spires. I gingerly stepped across to the first Glass stepping stone - which rocked nauseatingly beneath my feet. I dropped into a crouch until the motion subsided, deftly avoiding any drops of the vile liquid. The next stone was just past my furthest stretch - I’d have to jump. I summoned up every bit of the grace I’d learned in my years with the Verre, and I leapt. I landed in an awkward skitter, slamming my shoulder into the slippery Glass. This time the impact kicked up a spray - and worse, the hum got louder. As though this wasn’t tough enough already. I rolled, catching the dew on my cloak; it would keep me safe for now, but I wouldn’t trust my chances if I fell in!

One more platform, and then I’d be there. Another jump, a softer landing this time. Parcel was still safe, wrapped in two sets of arms against my back, but the thrum of the Spires was making the platform shake beneath my feet, and I had burned myself on a stray puddle in my distraction. I tensed my legs below me and jumped, landing face first on the (blessedly solid) altar in between the Spires. I peeled myself off painfully, only now really looking around. The Glass here was unparalled in quality, bearing the direct touch of a God. The pulsing thrum in the air was uncomfortably loud, but it sounded like music. The real problem was that I had arrived, but the recipient for my parcel wasn’t here! I couldn’t believe all this was for nothing. The last of the light had faded, and the stars were growing visible. Nightfall. Too late. It turned to leave.

A beast from the Water! I dropped the parcel, groped for my pack, for anything I could use to fight - but no, it was on the other side! I dropped into a fighting crouch, one of my legs lashing behind me like a tail. I wouldn’t go down without a fi-

“Your Quest has brought you to me, little Shi. I have been expecting you.”

Confusion washed over me, along with a generous helping of terror. An Aqeau Hero! The one I had seen fighting the Tyrant King all those years ago. She could erase me in a heartsbeat, and she knew it. But she smiled down at me as though she had known me for years, and I felt my fear subside. I really looked at her. Giant and powerful, but old. The oldest Person I’d ever seen, or even heard of. She reached out towards me with a giant hand, and I flinched, but when she touched me it just felt cool and reassuring. She took the parcel, and I felt a strange sort of warmth spread inside me - Quest complette.

“Your life has taken many twists and turns, little Fortugnat, to bring you here to my doorstep. The Spires and the Song have told me of your coming, but not who you were. I know you - I saw you fighting when we cast down the Tyrant Deesix,” this she said with sadness, as though speaking of someone who had lost their way, “and now here you are, wearing the garb of the Verre, comporting yourself like one of the Glass People. This world is truly full of marvels!” She laughed, and her laughter shook Water up onto the altar, spraying towards me. A kind smile from her, and the Water froze in place, hovering in the air like bubbles, each crystal orb refracting the light of the stars.

“Little Shi, my time on this world is almost through - and yours is just beginning. You will live long - too long, perhaps - and you have the time I lack. I need your help.” A golden sigil burst into view above her head, glowing bright enough to blind me. “A great many wrongs have been perpetrated against your People. Many mortal wrongs, but many Godly wrongs as well. None vex me more, none stand more firmly in the way of your People’s destiny, than the great wrong of your Great Curse. My own God laid it upon you, many, many generations ago. You may know him as Illarin, as L’RN, or you may not know him at all. But I assure you, it was his Action that caused this. Before I perish, I aim to undo it. Shi - will you help me?"

• A I will!
  I will! I have to. The Curse has held us down for too long, made us too pliable. Even if I have turned my hearts to life among the Verre, I know they will support me in this. Working with Droplette will require me to be apart from my new People for long periods of time, but they can of course visit whenever they wish. I will learn very much from this experience - and will likely be around to witness the death of one of the great Heroes of our time.
  
• B I won't!
  I cannot accept it - the idea of living apart from my Tribe, even for part of the time, is intolerable. I will well and truly cut my ties with the Fortugnat with this action, allowing Droplette to toil on this task alone. I can tell she will not be angry, only disappointed. I will leave Chromeport with my People and we will continue our wanderings. It's all I've ever wanted, in truth. I will grow wild and free, slave to no one, master of my own life.
  
• C I flee!
  I do not answer - I merely flee. I flee the Spires, I flee the city. Perhaps I will flee from the Verre. A God has done this to us!? A God has cursed us!? Their petty and fiendish whims are simply too much. Worse, I am to be immortal, or nearly so? To grow giant and decrepit like Droplette, to watch those around me die of age while I continue in this God-haunted world? Then I will use my time to tear the Gods down from the sky. After all, I know that they can be killed - I saw it happen, all those years ago.
  
• D I fight!
  I roar in rage and frustration, launching myself at her. I know I will perish in the attempt, but I am sick of People trying to control me or presenting me with impossible choices. On the other hand, maybe she is too old, too weak to face me. I have learned some tricks in my time, after all. Perhaps it is worth the gamble!
  

Aabcehmu fucked around with this message at 03:53 on May 16, 2016

cat_herder fucked around with this message at 22:42 on May 16, 2016