Event Twenty-One

[awashmods]

Sometimes I feel happy, Sometimes I feel sad. Sometimes I feel curious, Sometimes I feel mad. Sometimes I feel silly, Sometimes I feel surprised. How many feelings, Do I have inside?

t's another regular, normal day in the Town. There's absolutely nothing to show that anything could possibly be wrong; the birds are chirping, the sky is bright, and everything is absolutely, entirely wrong. This time, though? The problem is internal. Slowly, bit by bit, people are going to stop feeling entirely like themselves -- or maybe even stop feeling at all. And suddenly that nice, bright day doesn't seem quite so nice and not quite so bright any longer after all. Welcome to Awash's Twenty-First event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event! If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

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[noholdsbard]

Tristan listens on, eagerly absorbing that poetry with a glow to him that few people in town have seen. And had he been his usual self, he might’ve lit up the same way regardless.

“How beautiful,” he sighs, once Thancred finishes his verse. Rather than the stars, however, the words of the poem make him think of his beloved when they’d both set out to sea together for the first time, so many long years ago.

“And how romantic…but I suppose the sea makes romantics of us all. You’ve quite the gift, my friend.”

[wordsinthesoul]

Thancred ducks his head for a moment, a little embarrassed but also pleased that Tristan's enjoyed it. "Thank you," he says, and adds, "The sea has been an inspiration for many verses. Something about the play of the waves, perhaps. Have you any compositions inspired by it?"

[noholdsbard]

“Quite a few, in fact. I grew up close to the sea, and traversed it many a time.”

But some of those maritime recollections of his aren’t exactly pleasant, come to think of it. With an apologetic smile, he adds, “But many have deemed my compositions far too morose. Is that not strange? I do not even remember what it feels like to be sad.”

[wordsinthesoul]

"Ah? Then that would seem another thing we hold in common."

Thancred shakes his head. "I do not believe so. The sea holds many wonders, but so too can it reveal stormy depths, or strange creatures from the deep." But then- he frowns. "You do not remember? But- how is that possible?"

[noholdsbard]

Imagine sailing with a fellow poet like this! It’s thrilling to meet someone who understands the beauty and the tragedy of the seas. And yet…something feels hollow here. Tristan musters an apologetic smile.

“I do not know.” He’d sigh, if he remembered his sadness. “But when I think back to your lovely verse, I feel as though I cannot experience it in its entirety.”

[wordsinthesoul]

A trip like that…. Certainly they'd find someting grand to make of it, even on a quiet night.

For now, though, he frowns. "As though you cannot experience all the emotions held therein? Is there anything you think might have brought this on? Might another verse help?"

[noholdsbard]

“If there is some magic in your verse beyond its poetry, then it might.”

But magic and magecraft in general is kind of a slippery slope for him. He tends to stay out of that messy business more often than not, despite being a magical construct himself.

“I suspect that this strange void I feel might be the result of this realm’s tricks upon our emotions. Haha, how troublesome!”

[wordsinthesoul]

"Ah," Thancred says, with a somewhat embarrassed smile. "Only the ordinary magic of any verse to move its listener, I think- I'm not trained in much more." As far as magical music goes, anyhow.

"Very vexing indeed," he agreees. "Is it likely to last a long time?"

[noholdsbard]

“Perhaps not.” He wouldn’t normally be this optimistic, but the situation being what it is…

“But there seems to be little point in dwelling on things we cannot change.” He cocks his head with a smile. “And I think that the company alone is worth such a trifle.”

[wordsinthesoul]

"That's true enough," Thancred agrees, and lets himself relax almost completely. He smiles back- surprised for a moment, but settling into something genuine. "Hah- that's usually my line. But I quite agree! It's truly a pleasure to have met you."

[noholdsbard]

“My name is Archer,” he offers at last, thoroughly pleased at having met a kindred spirit here. But after all, there are still plenty of people in town he’d yet to meet, but that in itself is something to look forward to.

For now, however: “Might I have the pleasure of your name as well?”

[wordsinthesoul]

Something he's been very glad of as well, and he thinks it speaks well of the rest of the town. "A pleasure, Archer. As for myself- I am called Thancred."

[noholdsbard]

“Thancred. Are you a newcomer then? I confess that I have yet to make the acquaintance of the entire town.”

And here a pang of his usual sadness arises, brought back by his growing attachment to this man he’d just met.

“After all…it seems that many have the unfortunate tendency of vanishing from it.”

[wordsinthesoul]

"I've been here only a short while," Thancred confirms. "Ah… I assume there are many I have yet to meet, too."

He frowns, at that. "With no sign? That's most unfortunate- especially if you couldn't say farewell."

[noholdsbard]

“Yes…farewells are truly difficult in this realm. How sad…” Better get used to his real self, Thancred. “You are indeed fortunate to have not endured such loss yourself in your brief time here.”

[wordsinthesoul]

He's a little bemused by the change, though not yet convinced it's how he is. "I suppose so," he agrees. "Though- I imagine I'll be here some time yet. Might I ask how long you have been here?"

[noholdsbard]

“Some eight or nine months or so, by my reckoning.” There are no calendars here; only the turning of the seasons and his own calculations to get him by.

But it’s still a pretty damn long time.

[wordsinthesoul]

"Most of a year, then. That's quite a period of time." He has to frown at that, wondering. "Might I ask- can you tell me about what's been learned of this place in that time?"

[noholdsbard]

“Precious little, I’m afraid.” Ever the pessimist, this one. But it’s mostly because this world doesn’t play by the rules he’s familiar with, and he’s hard-pressed to make sense of its inner workings.

“From what I gather, this world once thrived with people and color, before some unknown disaster has come upon it, thus leading to the state of affairs you see before you now.”

[wordsinthesoul]

"Ah- that's unfortunate." Still, he listens- there must have been something, mustn't there? And this does seem to be something. "It is rather a dismal state," he agrees. "Then- are we here to aid the world now? To rebuild- even if we've come from different places?" And have their own lives?

[noholdsbard]

“I…do not know.”

But Thancred seems to at least have been around long enough to browse the network and be apprised of the situation—such as it is—from the cryptic stories of #FFFFFF, so Tristan will refrain from taking that line of inquiry. Instead, he can only look to himself for answers.

“It is my duty as a knight to aid the weak and the helpless. Surely that extends to the plight of this world—but others need not take up such a burden upon themselves.”

[wordsinthesoul]

Those tales have seemed as much a riddle as anything- perhaps an example, or a warning. Certainly bearing some relevance, though he's sure the meaning could be teased out further. "We'll need to do what he can, then," he says, and blinks, surprised. "You're a knight as well? I'm impressed!"

[noholdsbard]

Despite himself, he can’t help but smile a little at the “we” part. To think even a newcomer like Thancred is already willing to assist in aiding the plight of this world…

But he waves off that compliment to himself regardless. “It is my primary vocation, yes; but I am hardly a man of renown.”

[wordsinthesoul]

Since he's been drawn here- it only stands to reason to do hat he can, doesn't it?

"Ah- then one of those who support those better known?" he asks. "I'm sure you are a man of no small amount of aid."

[noholdsbard]

“Indeed, that is where my strength lies. But it is of small concern at the moment.”

There is no danger here that wants a knight’s skill anyway, hence only the bard remains. And this bard is deeply interested in the newcomers who enter this world and the vast experiences they no doubt must hold.

“You are a sailor and a poet both—doubtless you must have had many a fine experience before arriving in this forsaken realm.”