EQ_Theta

@Blitz Boom “Eh, no worries! I’m just messing with Sen. It’s not like I’ll do anything troublesome, right?” Lin shot a very mischievous grin toward her brother, attempting to keep him a little on edge. She even raised her brows, though it wouldn’t go any further than playful ribbing… probably. The longma got a good laugh out of it, so it was enough. As for Sen, this kind of teasing wasn’t exactly normal for his sister, but seeing her in good spirits was an upside, so he’d let her off with nothing more to add. It was time to go, though not yet for the longer journey ahead. Sen had to quickly grab something from their home before they headed off to their next stop. For the moment, it was just Omen and Lin at their grandfather’s hut, and a rather odd question was raised. Unexpected as far as topics could get, but it was still a grim idea. Even the elderly longma couldn’t find himself able to answer it adequately. He’d still try to keep up his spirits as if the question’s implications didn’t affect him, yet it was a reminder of what happened all those years ago. “Tch, I doubt the other elders would try anything against me. I mean, what do they have to gain by going after the elderly?” “It’s not something to take lightly, grandfather! You know mother and father were taken away from us. Going after you is not out of the question.” “If the elders will have any grievances, it will be directly related to you. The way I see it, you’re doing something new and pushing for something completely unknown. The harder you push, the harder the other elders will try to push back, maybe violently. It is why you should try helping them understand. The elders would not think to try going after me. I am old, and them trying anything on me will make them look incredibly petty. No reason to worry about them going after me; I will manage.” The elderly longma placed one claw over Lin’s and Omen’s shoulders, imparting his words to them as well as the assurance that they do not need to worry about him. To Zo, the elders would look silly trying to go after someone unrelated to the meeting between them and the siblings and Omen. They could try making something up, but it is up in the air whether anyone will take them at their word just because they said so. It wouldn’t be long until Sen returned, saddle bag resting comfortably on his back. Grandfather Zo didn’t feel the need to repeat his whole spiel on being careful and sending off his grandchildren in case they needed to do something elsewhere. That said, he stood by and waited until everyone was ready to go. “I’m back. I just needed to quickly grab some things. I was hoping we could visit Mother for a while and let her know what has been happening lately. And I also wanted to bring some things for her from the carnival we visited with Rosa.” “Sounds good. Looks like we’ve got our next stop, Omen. Shall we go?” Lin opened a gate to Mother’s realm before their grandfather’s hut once everyone was ready to step through. As much as things were already looking strange in the village, the elderly longma still couldn't get used to this feeling. He'd simply stand by to see everyone off, even awkwardly waving one claw in the air in an attempt to mimic what Omen did when she waved her hoof. The golems felt a kindly assurance from Rusty, and perhaps in this age as a whole. It seemed that there was a warmth in this time that was only fleeting in the years between now and their age’s extinction. The feeling was odd yet calming, a blessing in the form of accommodating souls. “There are times when we long for an age that can no longer come back, I consider this meeting among ourselves to be fortunate. We can learn from you as you hope to learn from us; that is always something positive to look forward to regardless of the ear. After all, nothing can change what has already come to pass, but changing what is to come is a possibility.” “That and being able to forge a path forward with those we meet keeps us grounded. We may not have all of our old memories, but I’d say making new ones is a fair and interesting trade-off.” With the mimic situation resolved, and the golems not having much more to add to their awkward history of violence in academia, they were just about ready to see more in the museum. A place like this didn’t exist in their time, but having such a building dedicated to preserving and understanding history was a pleasant discovery. Now an opportunity to learn about Equestria’s history? That is something the golems wouldn’t pass up. “We shall follow your suggestions, Rusty. The mural sounds like an excellent piece to see, and we’d love to hear more about the princesses and their history. Let us proceed, and Mystril? It was an honor to meet you.” The golems all bowed toward the griffon, delighted in their meeting and confident that the mimic was now in good care. “Truth be told, we have heard a little bit of Equestria’s history, though it involved Discord and his chaos taking the world. We haven’t learned much about the princesses. Is it right for us to speculate that Princess Celestia and Luna had a hoof in the unification of the equine races?”

@Blitz Boom “Thanks. I appreciate it.” “Aww, why do you have to ruin it…. Don’t worry, Omen; I understand if you don’t want to say it. Besides, not being able to sleep means I get to watch him with you while he sleeps! You’re not getting away that easily, Sen!” “Ugh… Please don’t make it awkward. I still have to sleep, you know.” Sen covered his face with one hoof, exasperated that this was something Lin would turn into an evening pastime. He trusted Omen with discretion, but Lin would probably turn this into a collection of embarrassing moments that she would hold over him. However, Lin was aware that Sen was plagued with nightmares for a long time, and that he developed a habit of talking in his sleep. What Omen said about the nightmares haunted him; making light of that was a low blow and a line she wouldn’t cross. It was bad enough for him to relive those terrible memories, and she wouldn’t add more to it by making light of his grief despite his nightmares lessening. “Honestly? I have no idea what will happen. Whether things go well or not… it may best to handle that when we get there. I don’t really want to jump ahead and decide, but yes, we can take my gates back home. It’ll be faster for us, and I’m sure Elder Ghilan would appreciate quick travel.” “If things go bad, we should be ready to act, but let’s hope things don’t go there.” Lin had some suspicions that things wouldn’t go smoothly, but it was more of an expectation. Complications were expected, but she didn’t have a high opinion of the elders in general; something going wrong was just par for the course. Sen’s more hidden prejudices toward longma authority could rear up, and the major obstacle for them, aside from convincing the elders to take their words to heart, was to keep their tempers in check. But this speculation was academic, and only time would tell if things would truly go well or devolve into something worse. “Hey, I appreciate getting to hear the news sooner than others, but I doubt there will be more to say if we all just stayed here and talked. Go on! I am certain you have other places to be.” With that, Zo was ready to part, wishing the group farewell. There would still be enough time for Sen, Lin, and Omen to go around town to secure some supplies or meet with anyone else in the village. The mornings were busy, and today was no different. One listening in to the chatter around the place had some commenting on a possible storm coming in, prompting some preparations from those present. Though the golems planned to explain, even come clean as to the truth behind their current condition and the history that led to them in their state, Scriniarii looked to the others and gave them a slight nod; no words needed to be said to let Scarcity just talk. It was sufficient to avoid bringing up the whole situation to Rusty, and he sounded convinced of what the mare told him. They had a cover story to keep, and they would just stick to it, though a few sprinkles of information wouldn’t hurt. “It was a trying time, returning to a conscious state without a physical form. Having to go through it again and again eventually caused us to no longer sense the passage of time normally. Even then, we felt our senses slip a little at a time that even memories and identity started to fade.” “I suppose it is fortunate that we can still remember aspects of ourselves when we awaken. Even when our old skills would not completely carry over, who we were remain.” The golems’ attention was fixated on the mimic now, with Magus carefully watching the creature as he lowered the barrier. So far so good, though the others were ready to act in case they were needed. Good thing Mystril was readily watching and moving based on the situation, as it was now firmly under control. Perhaps calling for security wouldn’t be necessary. “It is - was - an aspect of our time. Debates with other scholars were frequent; when we studied, oration was part of the curriculum, and we were sometimes expected to debate among students or teachers. Sometimes, grand symposiums were organized to discuss new ideas.” “Hmph, more often than not, those ended up devolving into shouting matches. Heated exchanges sometimes ended with one wrestling another to the ground in an attempt to disprove new knowledge. Do you remember that, Scriniarii?” “You should have seen it! Public symposiums ended up becoming spectacles in their own right when a crowd of onlookers showed up and made bets on the side. Even now I wonder how anyone could advance knowledge under those circumstances!” The golem let out a faint chuckle, causing the others to grow quiet at their own experiences. It didn’t need to be said, but the looks on their faces suggest that they may have seen… or have been involved… in their personal squabbles among other scholars. It was something unbecoming of them, but they were young and full of energy once. “It makes me wish for more civilized discussions. If you were to take one lesson from us today, Mystril, it is this: heated discussions about scholarly topics that end in brawls aren’t worth it. It’s not exactly effective or enticing academic peer review, especially when your peers are ready to fight you.” Scriniarii turned to Rusty, also addressing his fellow golems’ recollection to him as well. Things may very well be different in this era, though the mental image of dignified scholars beating each other up over academic disagreements could be seen as chuckle-worthy to some. An odd sight to be sure, but claims of the Hyracotherians’ society being a civilized one could be dispelled with this tale. “I suppose this means the mimic situation here is resolved, right? Maybe we could have a look at the exhibits. In your opinion, if there is one thing in the museum that all guests should see, what would it be?”

@Blitz Boom “It is the least I can do to help. I do not know what will happen when you will face the elders soon, but here is a lesson I learned long ago. When faced with something unknown, it is best to go in as prepared as you can get. I just hope I did enough to prepare all of you for what is to come.” “You did that and more, grandfather. Even we don’t know more to expect from the other elders, but you gave us some ideas.” “Then I leave the rest to you. I wish I could go, but at my age, maybe I should not push myself too much. So, how about you all do me a favor and be careful, all right? Who knows what you will encounter when you meet the elders? And let me know how it goes. Never thought I would live to learn young folks like you get to meet the elders in such an important event!” Though Sen and Lin were still harboring some doubts that things would go their way, it was good to know someone was backing them. He may not be there physically, but Zo placed his confidence in them and Omen. Regardless of anyone’s thoughts, this was a moment that could lead to big changes among the longma. What hopes he had now placed in them, the new generation. Maybe he might live a little longer to see it for himself; it would be something that their parents would be proud of if they were still around. Sen looked to Omen with a mortified expression, eyes widened at the mention of saying strange things in his sleep. He remembers the nightmares, the pained memories of reliving the worst experience of his life, but other things…. That one he does not recall, though he now wondered what else he might have said in his sleep. Lin, meanwhile, looked to her brother, then to the Ki’Nathar, with a very big grin on her face. Even she couldn’t help tenting her talons with a mischievous smirk. “I said many strange things while I slept? We’re not talking about those nightmares, are we?” “Ooh! Ooh! This has ‘juicy’ written all over it! You have to tell me! Was it strange, embarrassing things?” Lin just couldn't help herself upon learning about what she just heard. Even the thought of knowing something like this had her giddily jumping on the spot. “Sister, please. I don’t think I want to know. I mean, it’s nice to know Shrimp was sleeping on me, but if I did say embarrassing things, maybe let’s not anyone else know about it?” Sen tried to make himself appear smaller, hiding his face behind his claws. If Lin was pumping this kind of information out of Omen, he just hoped they had the privacy afforded by staying inside their grandfather’s workshop. Grandfather Zo watched and chuckled to himself, amused by this display. Despite seeing his grandchildren all grown up, there was still a hint of the young, playful selves that remained from days long gone. One could only wonder how things go at night when there is little to do… “It is good to see civilization advance with new findings, seeing how it grows and develops. We saw it now and again, but being disembodied meant we couldn’t interact with it. We were always at the mercy of whoever held our leash, so to speak. Not all of it was a terrible experience; there were times when someone found us and exchanged information. Other times, we were drawn to those we've met because of their curiosity or kindness. Those were some interesting moments worth their weight in gold, even if they were fleeting. But you are right. Time marches on, and what becomes of it later remains to be seen.” Vates wondered just how different the future might be if time continued on its current trajectory. Big cities, modern technology… it was all a curious matter. Yet she was just as curious about what would be left behind to be forgotten when the times change. What kingdoms rise and what fall, all were fascinating. “I’d much rather believe that there is a better term than ‘monster hunter,’ at least for those who seek to understand how such operate. Though I suppose they are a scholar in some respect, especially when they put their talents for positive reasons.” “Even now the trade for exotic pets continues? I would have hoped such a thing wouldn’t be around anymore, but maybe that was too much to ask for. The pursuit for wealth can lead one to undertake strange trades.” Magus pondered about what else might still be around, finding some commonality in this age and the past. The methods may be different, but the danger persisted. He looked to the mimic in the room with them, carefully considering the possibility that such things may be out there. Monster hunters may be knowledgeable about the dangers the creatures had, but the same could not be said for the buyers…. Scriniarii listened as Mystril took charge of the situation. Knowledge combined with initiative and conviction, all amounted to an impressive display of control over a potential crisis. Not many had all aspects covered, and that on display got the other golems to stand down and place their confidence in her. Magus dissipated his protective barrier, convinced that the urgent need for it had passed. The group didn’t have anything more to argue about, aside from Rusty’s well-founded concern. The golem approached the stallion, hesitating for a moment about whether to place one hoof on him for reassurance. As he understood, it was a gesture that may be more appropriate for close individuals. Perhaps it isn’t right in the heat of the moment, but he’d still step in to diffuse the growing tension. “Calm, Rusty. Mystril has the situation under control. Has she not shown sufficient knowledge of the mimic and the drive to care for it? I believe that the imminent danger has passed, and we can be assured of our safety here.” “What you did here, Mystril, reminded us of our fellows long, long ago. Scholars with conviction are rare, more so when it comes to standing up for what they believe in. They gave us some of the most heated discussions when our perspectives differed, but they offered valuable insight nonetheless. We believe that what is unknown, what we don’t understand, should be examined to dispel the fear surrounding them. If you will permit, maybe we can turn to you as a guide on these kinds of mimics?” He said his piece, smiling all throughout. He didn’t mind the griffon raising her voice and puffing her chest. This matter was important to her, and he knew it was in these moments that one could truly show who they are and what they stand for. It was respectable, at least to him and his fellow golems.

@Blitz Boom “I think it might be better to ask Elder Ghilan what might be safe to answer. The meeting will be unpredictable, so having some way to make things work in your favor is the best way to go about it. If you are considering it, speaking with him about what the other elders will ask is an option, but do so before you speak with the elders. We already had our debate, which should give you an idea of what some of those questions might be. However, you might want to do so discretely or when no one else is around to overhear you. There is no telling who might be listening in on you, especially if they disagree with Ghilan.” “And we’ll also be here to help you out when you are put in a difficult spot. If needed, we’ll cover for you if a question is tricky to answer. But, yeah, let’s try to avoid talking about what happened to the last elder unless they keep pressuring us for an answer. We’ll leave that one to Elder Ghilan.” “If you are lucky, maybe the other elders will not ask you the tough questions about the last elder Solasan.” It was becoming more evident that being honest was now clashing with winning over the elders. They viewed the latter as their way of getting them to see things in a new way, but that may come at the cost of honesty. And if the elders even catch a whiff of dishonesty, it would look bad on the siblings and Omen, possibly even worse for Ghilan. The current elder likely did his homework on the other elders when he was new, so he could provide Omen and the siblings with some advice on how to approach their line of questioning. If they could win over a few of them without compromising their subtlety, it could give them a much-needed advantage. Perhaps this could be a hint of political intrigue working on a smaller scale. The situation is different, but some of their key aspects are still present. The elderly longma grew more relaxed once Omen got his scent. It was an awkward affair at first, likening it to a curious animal sniffing something new, but this one isn’t an animal at all. Sen told himself that the strangeness would be something they had to get used to, but it was different knowing that even Zo would have to live with it. He may be joking about checking out of life early, but at his age, he may get scared easily. “Ah, well… you have noticed that the huts are just hollowed structures that we use for different purposes. My workshop here is also my home. Or rather, my home is somewhere in the back. If you happen to come around here or open a gate nearby, just call out to me. It should let me know you are nearby.” “Knocking is also a good idea. That might be better than popping up suddenly in front of anyone, but there are no doors here in the village, so to speak, Omen. Knocking on walls is an option though.” “Heh heh… Do you remember some time ago at Rosa’s home? I was sleeping, and you were just sitting in front of me the whole time? When I opened my eyes… you scared me good when I woke up. Had me just about ready to jump out of the bed.” Sen chuckled as he remembered one notable scenario back then. He may have been genuinely scared when it first happened, but it has become a kind of fond memory for him. At some point, he expected something like it would happen. Lin wished she could have seen it play out, though Grandfather Zo hoped he wouldn’t be on the receiving end of something like that. It was a surprise for sure, but scaring someone as an outcome may not really be his idea of a “surprise.” As long as they were setting some ground rules, he was fine. “The weather was a fact of life, but with so many having their faith questioned, one can imagine how they began to turn toward other means of coping with natural disasters. I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore, but thank you. In some ways, it is comforting to know there is a solution to the issue arising from severe weather, even if that came from another place and time.” There was an instance of a whole island being swallowed whole by the sea, the result of a particularly severe wave. It was around the time a volcanic eruption also happened, a bad combination of disasters. Vates once believed that to be a punishment from the elementals for abandoning faith and devotion to the old ways. To some degree, she still believed that to be the case, even when she long since signed up to be part of a project to preserve herself long after her body withered away. If there was still a sign that that island was around, scant remains would be all that’s left. It would be a miracle if someone rediscovered it beneath the waves of the Neighgean Sea, but neither Vates nor her fellow golems had hopes for that happening any time soon. However, there was something else that needed their attention now; the time for looking back on the past will have to wait. “Monster hunting as a profession is unfamiliar. It is natural to want to understand the world and the creatures that live in it, but hunting them? I suppose the pursuit of knowledge doesn’t have the same appeal to everyone, but engaging in the hunt for creatures…. It is complicated. Some may call it barbarism, and yet in these moments, some have gathered knowledge of these creatures that we call monsters.” Magus’s mind and speech drifted into philosophizing the monster-hunting profession, possibly even inadvertently stating his thoughts on the matter. As an academic, he detests the idea of uncouth methods of gathering and expanding knowledge, yet he would begrudgingly admit that there was some merit in the knowledge gained from hunting. If the perspectives were reversed, then those hunted monsters may see sentient creatures as the true monsters. He wouldn’t argue, seeing as it was academic, and Mystril returned with food. The golem did as instructed and lowered the mimic to her level. The barrier may be placed on the ground, but one could still manipulate objects inside as usual. It gave everyone a better look at what they had in the barrier, and some of Mystril’s observations were promising. The creature was relatively harmless, but its behavior was about as expected as a scared animal backed into a corner. “It still warrants the question of what kind of environment did it have before it was discovered… I suppose there are plenty of questions that can come about from this one. At least we are certain about what kind of mimic we have here, and some of our worries can be eased.” “But doesn’t it concern anyone that such a creature was kept in the museum for, I assume, a long time? Cursed objects or not, I think ensuring the safety of the building should be considered.” Scriniarii approached the griffon, carefully examining the mimic while impressed by Mystril’s knowledge about the creature and how she responded to the situation as it unfolded. It was a commendable effort at containing a situation that could have spiraled out of anyone’s control. Now that the current threat has been assessed, the request that followed was rather odd but understandable. “Knowing of mimics is one thing, but dealing with them is another matter. We have heard and compiled information on the classical mimics, but we… never actually fended off one before. Observing them was about as close as we got to having an encounter with a mimic. You handled yourself very well just now, and we will defer to you on how we should proceed; your knowledge of these mimics is valuable. As such, we will leave the mimic be, but we will keep the barrier up for the moment. So, what happens now? Will you take this mimic in and take care of it?”

@Blitz Boom “I only advise caution. The same goes for you too, Sen and Lin. Speak out of turn, say too much, and you may bring unwanted attention and questioning to yourselves. If what you will speak about does more harm for your case, it will be better to say nothing.” “And if we are put on the spot? What if the elders ask us things that will put us in a bad light and demand answers?” “Then it will be better to leave it to Elder Ghilan. He sounds like the type to know a thing or two about navigating the other elders. Turn to him for guidance, even if he looks inexperienced. You are all gathered together, and it will serve you all well to work together.” Zo wouldn’t admit it, but he was lacking in knowledge about this matter. No one but the elders attended their gatherings, and what goes on beyond their closed walls is only for them. However, some platitudes, however empty they may be, could still prove true for the siblings and Omen. He had an inkling that the other elders would not be convinced by the word of an outsider. Yet, the word of an elder may still carry some more weight, maybe just enough to shift things toward a favorable result. That and honesty can go far in this situation. Establishing one’s self as trustworthy where there is no reason to find trust is just as much of a play as being logically convincing. There are some options now on the table, but a wrong word can just as easily take those options away. The elderly longma took a step back from hearing Omen’s request. Sniffing him and getting his scent? An odd thing to say, but it sounded harmless. He then looked to Sen and Lin, who gave him a reassuring nod that it was safe. “I suppose there is no harm in getting my scent. And, you know, there is no need to rush in telling me if you found something. If anything should be a priority, the one you need to tell is Ghilan, just not around the time when everyone should be sleeping. No one wants to be disturbed from their rest; even if you don’t need it, others do.” “He’s right. We may not need sleep, but it’s rude to wake someone up if there is no good reason to do so. If it can wait until morning, it’s better to wait until then. And there is always the option to just talk about it among ourselves and figure out the best way to proceed.” “Just one thing, Omen. I am getting on in age, and I do not want to get scared to an early grave. Please take it easy and try not to come around so suddenly, all right?” Grandfather Zo chuckled at the thought of getting too scared, though he did mean it. Even if Omen did come around with sudden news, perhaps doing so without suddenly opening a gate near him. The risks to health were present, and while he possibly still had some years left in him, he wasn’t in a rush to check out of life so soon. That is especially so if there are Evegrown in the forest. It will be quite the revelation to learn they weren’t alone despite their isolationism. “That must be a nice feeling, not having to worry about the weather. Storms would ravage coastal settlements, leaving many places flooded and lives upended. It would take months to reestablish a sense of order and normalcy only for it to start once more when the next disaster comes.” “A vicious cycle… Some would find a sense of resiliency in it, but I do not believe that should be something to be proud of. Back then, many would find themselves in the temple to ask for a blessing from Aquans to be spared from the devastation. Whether their prayers were heard....” Vates didn’t continue further, mostly to spare some of the grisly details from her experiences in the temple. However, her dejected look betrayed her silence and attempts to hide information. Some did try to dull the storm’s devastation through prayer. Sometimes, the storms weakened and things didn’t turn out too bad. Other times, it felt like Aquans didn’t listen, and for some, that led to their faith being shaken. By then, there is only so much the diviners can do to offer comfort before their words would ring as hollow as their prayers. “A mimic… dangerous when loose but this one invites pity? This is unexpected indeed.” “I didn’t think it would be a mimic; I just gave an educated guess, but this one turned out to be right.” The golems approached the barrier to examine the creature further. Though the others looked on and attempted to form possible reasons or hypotheses for its creation, one has to wonder if this was an artificial construct or if there are naturally occurring instances of this creature. If it was the former, who created it, and for what purpose? For the moment, Magus only looked on, holding the protective barrier up. There wouldn’t be any tests on this creature for the moment, but he considered resuming them when Mystril returns. As for Vates, she stepped away, staying closer to Rusty for now to talk things over with him. The surprise that she was right was still setting in. These were rare creatures, and from what little is known to the golems, it may not even be enough information. Still, it was worth sharing some known details to narrow down what kind of mimic they had. Mystril already said as much. “It is difficult to say with this one. Hyracotherians’ experiences with mimics mostly originate from larger ones disguising themselves as chests or large trunks. Those have large, razor-sharp teeth, and they hide their limbs well. When they stand, they tower over anyone who encounters them, and they possess unnatural strength and speed despite their lanky legs. They aren’t venomous, or at least that is true for the kind of mimic that I described. This one doesn’t seem to have the identifying traits of the mimics familiar to the Hyracotherians. Mystril may be more knowledgeable about mimics than us, I’m afraid, but she is empathetic towards this one. Let’s see what we can learn; maybe there won’t be a reason to fear the mimic in our midst.”

@Blitz Boom That is pretty cool, having connected stories among different characters! And the mention of Earth Mother, I think I can work something out to give the longma a kind of commonality with the Evergrown. The longma believe nature is a kind of "living system" that looks out for them so long as proper respect and care are given. The thing is, they don't really know if someone is working through nature or if it is just how the natural world works. Isolationism and the longma's beliefs left them with one interpretation of their world, and I think it'll be a shock when they learn of something that says otherwise. Looking forward to how things play out when the Evergrown are introduced!

@Blitz Boom “Try telling that to the elders and see if they listen. They do not know your Mother, and they did not see what happened. As far as they are concerned, you fought back, and Solasan is not around now; Ghilan is in his spot as elder. That is as good enough as removing the former elder from his post and enough for the other elders to summon Ghilan for questioning.” “Omen is right about asking if the other elders knew what Solasan did. They should know that the real one was long gone and a fake was running the village.” “And how will you prove that? Will you go around looking for a long-decayed elder and dig up what is left of him for proof?” “Xin’s family was threatened by Solasan, and he’s coming with us. His word will carry weight with the elders.” “You better have more than just his word. Unless you know of other folks in this village who were threatened or saw what happened, one longma’s word might not be enough.” Zo’s words were true in a sense that more evidence was required. Sadly, there might not be enough time to go around interviewing the villagers for more solid proof of Solasan’s treachery. Tangible proof is in short supply, but there might still be something to work with. If one were to recall the golem scholars, their disembodied voices were stored in an orb that served as a repository, and that orb was, at one point, in Solasan’s possession. There might still be something in that orb, a recorded memory or some voices. Irrefutable proof that couldn’t just be fabricated, and fortunately, they’ll only need to borrow the orb for a while. It was that or bring Legion back from the realm Mother sent him to for punishment. For that, they’ll need to get him to admit the truth, but Sen and Lin weren’t going to stake the burden of proof on someone so remorseless. Lin thought about her options, then turned to Sen and Omen with a confident smile. “We know someone we can turn to for our proof.” “Honestly, do not let me stop you from trying to look, however way you will go about it. Just so we are clear, path going west of the village is where the travelers were coming from, and if I can guess where you are going soon, that is where you will pass as well.” “You know where we are going?” “My guess is Shii Cao’yuan. That is where the important gatherings happen so that place makes sense to me. You might not have enough time to investigate unless you get lucky and run into one of those Evergrown. If you do happen to see or meet one, let me know, all right? That is surely going to make you the most interesting someone in this village, Omen.” It may not be wise to bank on luck to find the Evergrown; there may not even be Evergrown in the forest. However, there may be just enough evidence to not rule out their presence. If the Evergrown are there, it might get the longma to rethink their whole isolationist stance when a group of intelligent creatures is just nearby. “That is true. And I know for sure my fellows are going to have to see these weather machines one day.” “Controlling the weather… I never thought I’d see the day something like that becomes reality. Nature’s fury, now leashed. It must be nice to not worry about severe storms. Or am I mistaken and those are still naturally occurring?” Scriniarii interjected, the thought crossing his mind. If the weather was now under control, then has that eliminated naturally occurring storms? Or is there a certain point where the pegasi allow the weather to simply be, no control required? Even then, one must wonder if the pegasi allow powerful storms to exist and if so, their reasoning behind it. It might not be a pretty answer. “The way you described its behavior, I am inclined to believe what we have here is not a curse. What if we are looking at this the wrong way and coming to the conclusion that it is cursed? Perhaps it could be a ravenous mimic masquerading as a necklace.” “Erratic flight, attacking visitors…. Perhaps its creators intended it to be such. Still, maybe there is something we can do to make sure we know what we are dealing with. We will test by aggravating this necklace first by using little bolts of magic.” Vates didn’t want to start things off too quickly, not when they could misdiagnose the problem. With the necklace now surrounded by a protection barrier, they could start by establishing what it was they were dealing with. Magus conjured a small bolt of energy and fired it right at the necklace to see how it would react. Rusty and Mystril won’t have to worry about damage though. The bolt of energy would not leave a mark, sort of like how rubber flicked against a wall; it will bounce off, leaving the object no worse for wear. If the necklace came to life again, then they could better study it up close and in safety.

@Blitz Boom “Elder Ghilan’s position is… unique. Normally, one village’s elders are left to run their villages without the involvement of other elders. Here, it’s a different case where what happened in a village is concerning enough that other elders have to learn about it. It seems your arrival and the whole mess with the former elder Solasan was big enough to get their attention.” “I guess leaving things where they were after Solasan’s gone wasn’t enough. I just wanted to be done with that.” “Maybe, but the other elders will not see it that way. If I were to guess, they would be pointing their claws at all of you and Ghilan. They do not know the details, and they will assume you had something to do with his disappearance. Now Omen, from what I remember, Solasan was about as average as you can get with an elder. He did not do much to stick out until what happened to your mother and father. Even then, the village hunters followed him, some even liked him. Guess he was just good at hiding his true nature until then.” “He made sure we were well-trained and the routes going through the forest were secured. Even encouraged the hunters to develop new techniques that could make us more effective trackers and fighters. But Xin told us he also threatened him, which was possibly true for those who didn’t listen to him.” “If you are certain, then that might help your case. But only bring it up when the topic comes up. Better to be safe than sorry.” Sen and Lin didn’t think too much about Solasan and would much rather prefer to blot out all memories of him. But now, all they had was that rage and sorrow, wondering what kinds of pain they’d wish to inflict on him, or rather, the monster that took his face. He wasn’t longma, but he presented himself as one, and from what he mentioned in the past, that creature took up his work. The real Solasan was just as responsible, and that was something the siblings would use to direct their ire toward his memory. They once heard that none should speak ill of the departed, but they’d make an exception for him. Recalling the time he was taken away by Omen’s sister, they can only hope she is doling out the kind of fate that makes him wish he could be released from that kind of fate, not that it will help. “Well… there is something like what you described. It is hearsay but there is a thick patch of trees in the forest that has grown going west. Most travelers go through it instead of around it, but there have been stories of delays lasting for at least two days. The lost travers arrived tired but fine, though they recall feeling like the forest is ‘shifting’ or the trees are ‘watching them.’ Creepy but no one is certain of the truth behind them. Most just accept that they got turned around before finding their way.” “And no one’s decided to investigate?” “No, or at least no one is taking this seriously. If the longma just waved it off like it was nothing, then I do not think it is anyone’s business to find enemies in places where there are none. Look, I know we were debating earlier but this might be important to you; sorry that we have to cut that short. We might end up arguing in circles if we kept at it for longer. I just hope that what we did helped you prepare. I take it this means you will try looking for these Evergrown?” Grandfather Zo didn’t seem to find the idea that there are other highly intelligent creatures in the forest to be enticing, but maybe the friend Omen mentioned would know more than him. As it stands, the Evergrown were an unknown, and that makes them a point of caution by default. They seemed to be content to keep their distance for the moment, which was nice, but sooner or later, an encounter would be inevitable. Perhaps it may be a little safer to have some confirmation, and that may happen with his grandchildren and Omen looking into it. “It is a stark contrast between invoking the divine and directly harnessing natural elements. We have heard about pegasi walking on clouds, and it is not so farfetched to believe they can do more with the weather. If magic exists, then we have to at least believe a lot of things can be possible.” Vates finished up her hoof reading, doing one last examination and going over the remaining lines on Rusty’s hoof. As much as she would want to examine each line, being out of practice meant she’d do more harm if she tried to examine every aspect of the hoof-reading process. Frankly, she was planning on abandoning that practice since no one found much use for it nowadays aside from the novelty. Still, she accepted the stallion shaking her hoof, content that something positive came from it. But back to the other matter… It seems there was more to the interest in curses than just professional curiosity. They’d all be led to another part of the museum, sectioned off as if it was hiding something sinister. Tied to curses, one would assume there was a whole section that just had cursed objects in storage. One specific piece seemed to be this necklace, ornate and gilded in different metals. “Place it on the ground, and we will examine it in safety. At the very least, having a protective barrier will prevent further harm to lives and property. Magus? I will need your assistance.” The two golems stood across each other, the necklace in between them. Magus didn’t need to be reminded of what to do, only that this procedure needed his magical abilities. He sat up, raised both front legs, and began making circular gestures with his hooves. Then, holding his catalyst, he began creating a large sigil mid-air, manifesting as a golden, six-pronged, circular sigil. He’d then direct the sigil to the ground, surrounding the necklace and creating the magical barrier as described earlier by Vates. It didn’t take long for the magic to hold, and soon they’d be ready for a battery of tests. “As sudden and unprofessional as this may be, there is a clear and present danger, so it must be addressed. Before we continue, can you tell us more about that incident with the visitor? Your recounting made it seem like the object was behaving rather beast-like.”

@Blitz Boom Much appreciated! I gotta say, this part's creepy; it's gonna spook the longma when they learn of it, but it will be interesting when the Evergrown show up!

@Blitz Boom I didn't really have any plans to bring back former elder Solasan, but mentioning him in dialogue when he gets brought up is all good. As for the Evergrown, I think having an encounter in the forest could be interesting. With the longma and Omen preparing to travel into the forest, meeting one could give them a little more information to work with when they meet with the elders. I'm thinking I can work with what Omen said in your post about a place in the forest where "plants grow very fast sometimes" as a possible starting point where the Evergrown can be introduced. After that, I'm up with what you've got prepared for the Evergrown!

@Blitz Boom The elderly longma sighed and wished he knew more about the workings of the elders. He can only go off on the impressions he gets when he sees one at work. Frankly, both Solasan and Ghilan work tirelessly on maintaining the village, though their beliefs on what is best for those they govern are different. In more ways than expected, he preferred Ghilan and his more lax views, pushing for progress in exploration and the preservation of findings. With what Omen said, it seems even his grandchildren also have similar sentiments or that they are in agreement with something about being less isolated. Unfortunately, that also came with the need to learn how to write, but he understood that oral traditions wouldn’t last if there wasn’t a way to keep them. That, and he saw the trappings of relying on oral accounts, including the possibility of malicious misinterpretations. “Running a village means overseeing what can be improved, but what form that takes is dependent on the elder in charge. An elder takes up their role for life, but an unpopular elder can be stripped of their position if the common villagers and the hunters agree that the elder cannot do the job properly. Without both groups in agreement, everyone will just have to put up with the elder until they willingly step down. You can already imagine how elders can take advantage of that kind of policy.” “Some elders may only see the need to keep up appearances to give off the impression that they are helping. Whether or not they actually do is another matter.” Appeasing one group is the easier course of action; as long as one group is favored, there can’t be a formal process to remove the elder. And from that perspective, appeasing the hunters is the course usually taken. They may be a smaller group, relatively speaking, but waving a little power in front of them ends up doing wonders for a very unscrupulous elder. After all, as long as the village can remain safe, common villagers wouldn’t feel the need to complain, especially if they can get a few concessions every now and again. Elders like Ghilan would scoff at the idea, but others would see how this can benefit them in the long term. “To the longma, asking for help among their fellows and using the resources at their disposal is no different from relying on themselves. This self-reliance comes from our beliefs in isolation, that creatures who are not longma care not for us. Worse, they may seek to use this moment of help to exploit us further, take things that we are in no position to give. That is enough to know that we should not rely on others outside of our own.” “Wait… what did you say? That last part… you said there are other creatures within our forest. Are you certain of that?” “It’s not something we have confirmed yet, but the possibility is there.” “Then you have to tell me more about it! If they are there, then how long have they been around?!” Grandfather Zo was getting rather focused in his response, now stepping into the counter-arguments that the elders would bank on for a response. In essence, he now touched upon the root of the arguments behind why the longma are the way they are. He wouldn’t dive too deep to give away an opening, but it was the starting point. However, that last part of Omen’s response caught his attention, something unexpected that diverted his train of thought, possibly derailing the debate. “I suppose we might be here for some time. Maybe I can spare a quick reading while we continue with our current discussion. From what I can gather, the modern age knows more about natural phenomena like wind and storms as an aspect of the weather. Back then, we believed them to be the movements of the elementals or interactions between more than one of them. For example, a storm was created when Aeros and Aquans were in disagreement with each other, causing water and wind to become violent.” “Today, I doubt anyone would believe in the existence of the elementals. The lack of empirical methods to study these natural occurrences meant that many would turn to the supernatural to explain how things happen, though I suppose that might still be of some value today.” Vates sat down and began with her readings, gesturing for Rusty to place one hoof for her to hold and examine. When it came to readings, the golem would examine lines along the hoof, which can give an idea of one’s state of fortune or health. For now, she examined the left hoof, a lighter shade than anticipated, but it meant clearer lines for reading. A line running the width of the hoof was a good first sign of vitality, though the presence of a shorter, frayed arc below it was something to consider. There were plenty of other aspects of hoof reading that the reader should consider, but Vates has already mentioned being out of practice; she could only draw upon the basics. For now, she’ll stick to reading Rusty’s vitality and health, a fairly solid starting point for divining one’s current and future states. “From what I can see, a long line on your hoof is a good sign of health. However, you may need to pace yourself, as your energies can be expended in shorter bursts and you can tire yourself out easily. It can become problematic, as those can become complicated health issues as you grow older. Now, you can argue that what I said are common platitudes that can apply to anyone, but whether or not you truly believe in this reading, I leave that up to you.” Admittedly, that sounded like a common disclaimer that absolves the reader of responsibility, but Vates has seen enough to know that belief plays a role in the readings as much as the lines on one’s hooves. How Rusty will respond to the golem’s admission remains to be seen. “Our approach was to learn of the nature of the curse before dispelling them. The prevalence of magic even in our day means extra care should be taken. If an object is cursed, purifying it through the burning of incense and an invocation of an elemental was how we went about it, but expelling the curse through magic was also possible. Now if a location is cursed, then the approach was to either construct a protection charm to traverse the area or use magical wards to minimize the effects of the curse to a smaller area for isolation and removal.” “The first part was important because curses come in different types. From least to most harmful, you have jinxes, hexes, and true curses. Jinxes are generally annoying but harmless; hexes cause harm and difficulties. The true curses are highly dangerous. As such, magical protection fields are erected to study the nature of the curse before further action is taken. To answer your question, Mystril, the process dangerous and a curse is treated with extreme caution, at least until it's true nature can be determined. A falsely identified curse can cause harm and property damage, amon other things.” Frankly, curses were a very difficult thing to handle. Each case is considered unique to each other, and one strategy for dealing with it may not always be effective for similar cases. The best course of action in their day was the protection field that can isolate a curse’s effects into a smaller area. No one usually talked about curses openly, but something about Mystril’s question got the golem thinking and reading far into the purpose behind it. “If I may ask, are you thinking about lifting curses from some objects in this museum?”

@Blitz Boom “I’m sure cooperating with the elders is allowed, especially if they ask you to get something for them. Don’t take it the wrong way. From what I’ve been hearing about you and our Elder Ghilan, some of the villagers see you as a friend to him. Regardless of what they say, you should ask yourself a question: who is Elder Ghilan to you? The elders are always working, even when they should be taking a break, and anything that can tarnish their image to the villagers they oversee could spell the end of their work. Unfortunately, you’ve caught on to the idea that they are unlikeable or stuck in the past, and it is unavoidable. I wouldn’t be surprised if my grandchildren have developed a hatred for elders or authority figures in general, given what happened to them.” It wouldn’t take long for both Sen and Lin to respond, scowling or sneering at their grandfather at what he just mentioned. The silence and lack of words were enough for him that he simply chuckled at having picked at their brains and figured them out in just a few moments. He didn’t mind it though, as it was understandable. Lin had developed a generally distrustful attitude toward her fellow longma despite her efforts to act amenable and friendly toward them. There were some exceptions, as she didn’t direct her prejudices against children or those who exhibited friendliness towards her, Sen, or Omen. After all, there were some good eggs in the village, and she couldn’t be angry at them. Sen… was a different story, and his first meeting with Elder Ghilan was already a testament to that. They got off on the wrong hoof, with Sen becoming uncharacteristically violent toward someone willing to help him for the sole reason that they were an elder. He may have mellowed out, but that prejudice could be a liability in the coming meeting with the other elders. For a moment, Zo pondered Omen’s retort. She had a solid point about the aspect of time and urgency, something that Lin and Sen would agree with. They were the ones who benefited from that kind of response. Still, playing devil’s advocate meant he would have to present something convincing as a counter-argument, and argumentative skills at his age meant he wasn’t going to have all the time in the world to respond. “The example you provided: buying medicine, what you suggested is an exchange built upon the understanding that one has to give a service or good to someone who pays for it. Giving help is not built on the same obligation, as another creature is not obligated to help, especially to someone they do not know. Instead, you now have to rely on someone else’s morals, something that is not easily determined. What you stated with the kitsune may not be true for other creatures; some will want to be compensated or demand payment that we longma cannot provide. It would be better for us to find the cure on our own, even if it is a slower process.” “Which leads me to my next point. If I were an elder, it would be my responsibility to know the village I oversee, including knowing whose expertise I can rely on to help a longma in need. We are not a stagnant kind who keep to ourselves and do nothing. This forest we call home has blessings that we can use for our benefit. If the cure lies in something we can find in it, then we will use it. After all, if we cannot place our trust in creatures beyond ourselves, then we can only rely on our fellow longma.” Sometimes, playing the contradictory angle means spouting things one does not truly believe in. Zo knows that this is just practice, but he cannot help but see the pained looks on Sen’s and Lin’s faces. The two couldn’t muster a reply now, the realization dawning on them that they could be hearing the same thing in just a few days. They couldn’t imagine that the longma’s pride and stubbornness would see their egos take precedence over life. Still, they would weather this, if only to understand and prepare for what is to come. The other elders may not be as nice… “Ah, well… I dabbled in divination, telling fortunes based on what was needed by those who came to me. The movements of celestial bodies were something I once tried, but I ended up performing more mundane hoof readings. I… umm, don’t suppose you’d consider doing one right now? Because after years of being a disembodied voice, I’m afraid I am terribly out of practice. I’d be wasting your time.” “However, I also tended to the temples where I performed other rituals. These comprised of offerings to mystical figures that, according to modern understanding, were the incarnations of natural phenomena. It may take a while to go over them all but as an example, a ritual involving healing through water would require invocation to Aquans and would happen along rivers.” There were plenty more of such elemental beings, but the gist was identical across the board. Invocations or incantations to a given incarnation of nature would need one to call upon their name, followed by a series of acts relevant to the ritual. Those that are higher in the hierarchy of incarnations would require offerings, usually of food. Other rituals required… sacrifices, but that was the domain of heretical practices, the kind that mystics or diviners never dabbled in. However, the rise in more focused studies eventually caused these more occult practices to fall out of favor, remaining around only out of tradition. Yet, some still find these ways a part of their lives and continued to last until the hyracotherian race came to an end. Though the conversation had begun with Videntor and his enthusiasm with recounting the past, it seems now Vates has highjacked the conversation. He didn’t mind it too much, as seeing his fellow golem also join in felt like they were now finding some common ground. There was a lot to discuss, though the excitement in Rusty’s response was a good sign that they could share more. “I understand you have a lot of questions. How about we take it one at a time? Vates? I believe you can shed some light on this aspect of our past.” “I have mentioned that I was a diviner, and at the temple, I conducted the rituals that took place there. If there wasn’t something big happening, then I just performed simple readings. But in this case, the incense and reliefs you see here are specifically for cleansing and purifying objects for blessings. The elemental Flaemis is invoked, calling upon the fire to purge impurities. In some cases, the ritual is performed away from the temple, usually in places touched by curses to remove them.” Vates would leave the floor open for more questions, though she may be up for a demonstration if there happen to be curses in need of lifting. Then again, the preparations could be lengthy depending on the availability of materials.

@Blitz Boom “You will be better off not offering anything as a gift. Your intentions may be good at heart, but they will come off as a bad thing to the other elders regardless of how you see it. Understand that, as elders, they are in a higher position than other longma, and even if others will be grateful at receiving things they can use, the elders are not simply any ordinary longma.” “We understand, grandfather, though we could always ask Elder Ghilan about this as well. As an elder, he may have some ideas on how the other elders think.” “Go right ahead. He is young, but if he is observant, I think he will say the same thing. I honestly have no idea how he will do, given his age, but a young mind may have ideas we older folks have not yet considered.” Though Grandfather Zo didn’t articulate it quite fully, he has his reservations about Ghilan. An older leader would have some of the necessary knowledge and life experience to guide the village based on its needs and shortcomings. However, a younger elder, an oxymoronic idea, could bring in a fresh perspective to old problems. What he didn’t state was how someone of his age and stature at the same time could be impressionable, open to new ideas but unaware of the pitfalls of those ideas. This becomes especially true with radical and completely novel ideas like becoming less isolationist. It may be an opportunity to learn some lessons along the way if those who propose it do get their way. Unfortunately, some situations may not leave enough room open to learning. Sometimes, the price of failure is so high that novel ideas without solid foundations and effective execution are not worth the trouble. That was one thing he hoped Sen, Lin, Omen, and Ghilan could learn sooner rather than later. Unxpected… Omen would begin with a rather sobering idea of illness, but knowing what she described earlier with Lin and how the Kitsune ended up helping, it was still within the realm of possibilities. Though grateful, he was still somewhat weary about the idea of other creatures helping, especially a lot of unknowns were tied to that help. Fortunately, the topic was something he could work with given its relevance, timely or otherwise. “I believe that it would be better for us to discover what that sickness is and how it can be treated. If more longma minds are needed to secure that help, then so be it. Let us be self-reliant in dealing with our problems.” “And you would rather let the sickness fester and spread rather than treat it immediately? What if the longma do not find the cure?” “Can you be certain that another creature’s help will be given freely? What if they demand something in return, and that is not given, do you continue looking elsewhere until someone helps? Not all creatures are kind at heart, and if they see curing a sick longma as an agreement, then that would still be time wasted negotiating instead of wisely spent on finding a cure.” The arguments may be a little underdeveloped, but he knew where to start. When he heard about Lin’s predicament, he had some assumptions that the deed was not done freely. The kitsune may have helped Lin, but there may have been some compromise from Sen and Omen’s end. Likewise, her current state left Lin looking not quite like a longma anymore. Was it the result of another deal with Mother? If so, then the cost of such an act, and its consequences, were something more knowable to Omen and Sen. The extent would only be known to Lin. “Hmm… I suppose the more distant members of the sirens’ civilization may be relevant to the tales our kind of have heard. Unfortunately, they will remain tall tales with no one to confirm their validity.” “All the more reason there was to map the coasts and waterways. With a better understanding of natural phenomena, even the weather could be studied to debunk myths and tales told by sailors.” “Yet you do not find some fascination in hearing those tales? It makes for an interesting study concerning the imagination and how unknown natural phenomena can be ascribed to something mythical or divine. I may have dabbled in the supernatural, but learning about the lines blurred by the logical and illogical interest me.” Vates was rather intrigued by how others thought, where logic ended and faith began. Her position in her distant life oftentimes veered into aspects and beliefs not dictated by reason, but even so, many sought guidance from higher powers when conventional solutions failed. Some might scoff at the idea, but it was a reality ingrained in their culture. It was better to work with what they knew, but divine intervention, however illogical, sometimes won out in the end. Videntor smiled, regained his composure, and followed Rusty with the others not far behind. It felt good to let out some pent-up emotions, even when those emotions were excitement. Something may yet live on from a bygone age, only needing verification. The golems came across a griffon who would be joining them in gathering information on recovered relics. Reaction notwithstanding, the five smiled and bowed, reassuring her that there was nothing to worry about. Once inside storage, the golems would set about examining the object contained within. Some were shards of ancient pottery, adorned with painted reliefs, though the shape they were in made it hard to tell what they were depicting. Other pieces looked like they were from columns of larger structures. However, they didn’t seem to be from the Hyracotherians’ time. Some loose pieces on the table were coins, arrowheads, and jewelry, but nothing appeared to point to the relevant period. There was also the occasional stone tablet, but their script was difficult to discern; they may be of the golems’ time, but it may take extensive study to be sure. It felt like a lost cause examining all of these recovered artifacts until a stone mural in the far corner of the room caught Videntor’s attention. He slowly approached it, looking through the faded depictions of quadrupeds marked in dried pigment. The figures were intricate and detailed, identified through their poses as if performing the steps of a ritual. Common among them was a shrine, golden despite the faded colors, with a shrouded figure standing before the worshippers and incense and smoke streaking upward. Vates noticed this too and approached, eyes widened at what she was seeing before her. “Eh, some of these things may not be related to the Hyracotherians, but some more time spent studying them could clear up the uncertainty surrounding these items. But this… it is a familiar sight. Where have I seen it before?” “It is a stone relief, a reminder made to all visitors about the rituals of the temple. This one depicts cleansing, I think. The faded colors make it difficult to be certain, but this one is undoubtedly one of ours. It was placed in the temple I where I conducted rituals, this I am certain, Rusty and Mystril.”

@Blitz Boom The elderly longma listened, breath held as he attempted to process what Omen said, and it made a lot of sense. Unlike her explanation earlier, he understood the merits of the arguments presented to him. There was proof: Lin and what she became were evidence enough. To the old longma, even Sen might have had something happen that necessitated outside intervention. It just made too much sense seeing it all before him. “I know there are things that the longma hold close, and I don’t blame them. Maybe it would be better if we just remained isolated, but it might not cut it anymore. Knowing what’s happened to us, our family, reaching out beyond ourselves was what we needed, even if it took years for us to realize it.” “As much as I hate to admit it, our exile was what got us on the path to healing. We saw that things could be better for the longma, us included. All the possibilities that we might have missed out on are out there if only we could reach out to them. We just want something better for all of us.” Sen and Lin made their cases heard, as did Omen, and grandfather considered. It may hold a biased view, but it was biased toward his family. He’d throw his support behind them no matter how strange they sounded; in this case, it wasn’t anywhere near the farfetched things he heard from other villagers. He’d take his family’s words, and if they vouch for Omen being worthy of trust, he’d follow their lead. It was simply heartwarming to see how they didn’t let a tragedy make them bitter, and Zo couldn’t help but flash a big smile at that. “You’ve convinced me, but I suppose it shouldn’t be so difficult if you’re family. Yes, that includes you, Omen. You made your case, and I see why it's good. Now you’ve got to convince the elders, and they’re trickier. I’m sure they are much sharper than me, and they’ll ask questions to see if you know what you’re talking about. I doubt my old bones could carry me around, especially so far away from home, but you have my support, wherever you are.” “That second thing you mentioned…. that is your proof. Convince the elders by making a claim backed with proof. If you can explain what you’re saying and show them what they stand to gain, the more you can win them over. The elders need to know what you’re talking about. It will be trickier for those who are too set in their ways, but there is always a chance to get them to come around to your ideas.” “However, what you just suggested there with… uh, gold, you say? Don’t try it, especially if you want to win the elders over. It may be a gift to you, but they will not see it that way. It will look like you’re trying to buy them off. They do not know what gold is, so it will look like you’re giving them something they cannot use, which is worse.” The siblings and Omen may recall the trinkets they each wear, especially the scales and the gemstones. Those are generally fine as ornamentation because they are familiar to the longma. But gold? It may appear as a simple metallic brick, nice to look at but worth little to those who can’t use it. What’s worse is that a simple gesture of goodwill could be misunderstood as a bribery attempt, and the elders wouldn’t look too kindly on that. What may be better was to recall the simplicity of showing respect. Though not simple in practice, the idea was still sound. Being given the chance to speak can open opportunities to learn about who they’re talking to and how to build rapport. That connection could be better than a gift, especially for the elders who may be interested in something… immaterial. “I’m sure you have plenty to say, but I suggest you take it steady. Plan how you’ll introduce your ideas and anticipate questions. Hmm… you know, while you’re all here, would you like a little test run for some practice? Give me a wild idea you’ll present to the elders, and I will try to counter your proposal.” “You want to debate us, grandfather? Are you sure?” “Of course! Besides, this preparation isn’t for me but for all of you.” Grandfather Zo chuckled, eagerly awaiting to hear the first idea proposed to him. He’ll try to play the role of stubborn, unconvinced elder to see how Sen, Lin, and Omen would handle themselves. “I may not be sharp, but it’s good for you to practice.” “Worry not. Even we may be getting our information mixed up. Old civilizations could have similarities with one another, and knowing how distant in the past they may be, it may be best to take some time to sort out that information.” “Speaking of which, this building and the displays make it appear that even history was sorted out for many to see and learn from. Underwater civilizations are rather interesting, especially in how they build themselves up compared to ours on the surface. To be honest, the sirens were considered a myth in our time; there were tall tales about sailors ending up in the thrall of the sirens’ enchanting songs until they ran aground of the jagged rocks. It is interesting to know that they are more commonly heard of by the average pony.” Magus didn’t lie about the golems and their lack of knowledge about certain groups. What may be common knowledge to ponies elsewhere were myths and tales elsewhere. That was true for the golems back in their day, though it was rather odd that the prevalence of such tales was still common despite having the means to travel far and wide. The sea may be vast but even then, their knowledge wasn’t so far-reaching. One can only imagine what lay beneath the waves of their populated islands if underwater civilizations were around in their time. For now, thoughts of what could have been would have to wait. Time spent within the museum could fill the golems in on what those civilizations were and where they were based. If other hyracotherians from their day were still alive, they might be astounded to learn of the things that were close to home but remained unknown. “Interesting that a dig has unearthed something. If it is related to the ruins of a city-state, whoever discovered it could have found the remains of Hyrakopetra, Heraklea, or possibly Aeonea. Those are the names of the most notable city-states of our day, large centers of trade, culture, and government. I-I’m sorry… it just all came spilling out, remembering names of places. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a chance to talk about home.” Videntor didn’t seem to be too hung up on the mention of an adventurer finding things from the golems’ time. Though he and his fellows have heard of treasure hunters and their ability to find things of differing value, what may be a significant find could very well be a mundane object. Then again, just being able to talk about this matter felt rather uplifting for the golem, as if he was releasing some bottled-up memories. The others didn’t mind; his words recalled the old days, of times when they could still see themselves in their old homes and cities. It simply felt nice to remember, even if those were from another lifetime ago. “By your lead, I… we would love to see what you have in storage. If you will permit, maybe we could offer what information we can provide? Anything to help sort your collection and expand what knowledge you have gathered.”

@Blitz Boom Ghilan left rather saddened by Omen’s reply; though he had hoped to impart some wisdom to a friend, there may come a time when the choice to lead may not truly be a choice. Or rather, the choice would be to take up leadership or leave things be to go to ruin. He, however, understood where that response came from. He too was in a similar position, unwilling to lead because of doubts. Those doubts could have led to more pain inflicted on those undeserving; yet he could not leave things be lest harm would come to more than just those who knew the risks. He understood her position, and maybe he should have expected that kind of reply despite having, according to him, positive influences. If time permits, this may be a possible source of a friendly debate between their viewpoints. It would be an interesting exchange of ideas. Alas, it will have to wait, bowing before heading off with Xin in tow. As for Grandfather Zo, he welcomed everyone inside, mess and all. He’d probably be getting an earful from his grandchildren about keeping things clean and tidy, but he wouldn’t have any of it. The mess was an odd way for him to remain in control of his workshop. No one would be touching it unless they wanted to get a nasty scolding. Then again, the siblings didn’t really know his system and would prefer to stay out of that. It was his mess, and if he wanted to clean it, he’d do it. Though the clutter in his workshop was preferred, the clutter in Omen’s reply left him quiet, slowly attempting to decipher what she just said. “You… said a mouthful. Sorry if I am not following but did you say something went into Lin’s head? A-and you were a… ball of… yarn? I don’t understand.” “She is right about things being strange, but it’s all right now, grandfather. There’s no need to worry. We wanted to visit and let you know what was happening. See, we’ve been… summoned by the council of elders. They want us to meet with them.” “They do? Does it have something to do with you going into some place you shouldn’t?!” “No, it doesn’t. It’s more about, well… us… coming home with these very… different ideas. About wanting the longma to be less… isolated. It’s difficult to explain but we hope it could lead to something better for the longma as a whole.” The elderly longma paused, unsure what to make of this development. He initially thought he’d be proud to know they were about to head off and do something big and unprecedented. Then, he imagined how all this could go wrong and how big of a mistake they were walking into. Knowing how things turned out for his own child, it may be too much to expect something good only to end up leading to a bad end. Now that he’s already getting on in years, he may even feel a little more powerless to change things. “I hope you know what you’re getting yourselves into. You know how it is with old folks, stubborn and unwilling to see things differently. You try getting me to take my herbs and I’d give you an earful about why it’s none of your business. That might be what you’ll get with old leaders, but what do I know? Maybe you’ll convince them. So, do you have what you need to get them to listen? Or do you also need some advice? I doubt I can be there with you, what with me and my old age, but I think I could give you some help. Something to help you pick at their minds could go a long way, right?” Grandfather Zo’s advanced age meant he wouldn’t make the trek to the meeting with the elders, but he wasn’t going to take this sitting down. Anything that could help his grandchildren or Omen could go a long way. That may be his only way to help, but he’d give them whatever they needed if it meant they’d succeed. Perhaps his stubbornness might be a point of commonality with the other elders, something Sen, Lin, and Omen could leverage to their advantage. “Machine parts? Ancient ones? Perhaps they could have originated from the Mekhanites? I’ve never seen them, and information that could point to them is sparse. They were supposedly from a primordial ‘god’ that was split into multiple pieces in an attempt to prevent it from coming back. An ancient canyon in a landmass west of the Neighgean was said to have been the product of that ‘god’s’ rampage. That could be of further study if only to confirm its truth or dispel it as myth.” “Aquatic civilizations are rather new to us, though it is interesting that they are around in one form or another. If time permits, maybe we’d like to see them. It’s all rather overwhelming, seeing this modern age and all that it has to offer. Something seems to pull our intrigue in different directions, inviting us to learn more. Maybe we could see some of it in this place?” Though somewhat limited, the golems did have some passing knowledge of other civilizations in their time. Or perhaps the more accurate thing to say was that their knowledge was limited to hearsay. Despite having some advancements in their time, the kind the modern age has would overshadow much of what they had long, long ago. Vates and Magus, specifically, had that knowledge, though blind spots in what they knew meant that their knowledge was closer to speculation. Still, it might be nice to be proven right or wrong and expand what they know. However, Videntor would use this time to pop the question and slowly ease the revelation surrounding himself and his fellow golems. “There is a specific period that I hoped this place might have some information on. Several thousand years ago, there was a civilization in the Neighgean Sea inhabited by the Hyracotherians. They were rather small for their size, about half as large as the ponies of today.” He paused, hesitated even. If it was normal for golems to feel some kind of knot in their artificial bellies, that might be the best description for what Videntor felt. As much as he was initially giddy to bring up his past, something tried to convince him to stop or reconsider. No, he got this far, and he has to go all the way. Scriniarii glanced back and nodded silently, acknowledging his fellow to get him to commit. “You see, my fellows and I… are the last remnants of that civilization. We just wanted to know if anything from our time survived to this day. A balm upon my soul it will be if even the smallest thing may have been discovered from the Hyracotherians’ ruins.”