Stranger Danger And You

Tridemon · December 2019

The sea breeze carries with it the soft sound of weeping from the Blue Cathedral.

You blink.

In the alcove of Raziela.

A calming warmth suffuses the surroundings, indicating a healing shrine of Valtreth nearby. This

location is flooded with shallow, crystal clear water. A white marble statue of Raziela, the Loving

Radiance is placed on a sturdy, wide pedestal. A glass globe lies here on the ground. A merian child

stands listlessly, an unhealthy grey tingle to his scales. A kinswoman of New Celest goes about her

business here.

You see a single exit leading southeast.

You blink incredulously at a wan merian child.

You say to a wan merian child, "Hello."

The soft lambency of passing hummingbirds filters in from outside, shedding light on a dark night.

A kinswoman of New Celest kneels before the statue of Raziela, praying "In your return, Lady, bless my

son. May this illness lift from him. Let this time of your renewal be a renewal for him. By your Love,

I beg of you."

p child

Gills breathing raggedly, a merian child stares listlessly at the ground. Apparently too miserable to

display much energy, the child is clearly ill. Though his fins and skin bear no injuries, his scales

are tinged with grey. His is wearing a simple tunic and trousers, and his webbed feet are bare.

A wan merian child appears to lack strength.

He weighs about 28 pounds.

He has a moderate weakness to fire damage.

He has a moderate resistance to asphyxiation damage.

He has a moderate weakness to electrical damage.

He is loyal to the Holy Grand Duchy of New Celest.

You cannot see what a wan merian child is holding.

It has the following aliases: child, merian.

A wan merian child offers a clumsy bow of greeting to you.

Unitos enters from the southeast, emanating an aura of immense power.

"Oooooooooh!" A kinswoman of New Celest says to Unitos, eyes wide with wonder.

A kinswoman of New Celest exclaims, "Greetings, blessed one!"

It is now the 5th of Juliary, 547 years after the Coming of Estarra.

Starknight Unitos says to you, "Is this the source of weeping?"

You say to Unitos, "Evidently. The child is apparently suffering from an ailment."

A kinswoman of New Celest brushes hurriedly at the tears on her cheeks. "Forgive me, I did not mean to

cause a distraction in this time of trouble. But my son has been ailing for some time, and little of

what I have done has helped."

You have emoted: Tridemon turns his attention back to the child, kneeling down to take a closer look at

him.

The soft lambency of passing hummingbirds filters in from outside, shedding light on a dark night.

You say, "Hmm. No immediate sign of physical injury. Distinct scale discoloration, shortness of breath,

and lack of energy..."

A wan merian child shuffles a little beneath the scrutiny.

You remove 1 dust, bringing the total in the rift to 3578.

You give a wafer of purity dust to a wan merian child.

Starknight Unitos says, "Has he been anywhere out of the ordinary recently?"

You say, "Try eating that first."

You say, "I'm aware you've likely attempted this cure before, but I need to see."

A wan merian child nibbles at the wafer of purity dust, but his colour does not improve.

You say, "Hm."

A kinswoman of New Celest says, "We have, yes. And some herbal suggestions, but nothing seems to have

had much effect. At first I thought he was simply trying to get out of his chores, but he began to grow

paler and paler."

You say, "This is probably a job for a Celestine healer... but Aquamancers do have our own small

healing magics."

With an outstretched palm, you murmur ancient words of power, inviting waves of cold seawater to surge

from your open hand. As you complete your incantation, a glacier rises from the depths of the flooded

chamber, showering you with a comforting ocean mist as it reaches ever skyward.

You stamp your foot beneath the water, opening a vent beneath the waves that sends out a healing

current to aide your allies and chill your enemies.

Waves crash together, sending gouts of salt spray up into the air.

A current of warm water flows past you, the soothing warmth easing your pains and healing your wounds.

An invigorating sea breeze carries restorative mists around Unitos.

Unitos blinks.
(Edited out a bunch of aquameld spam. You're welcome.)

A wan merian child closes his eyes, plainly enjoying the effects of the restorative mists, and his

colour does improve slightly.

Zeasha Novikei calmly enters from the southeast before settling down into a meditative lotus position.

Unitos nods his head at Zeasha Novikei, Hymnodist of Raziela.

You say, "Ah, some effect... It would seem that it is not an affliction of the aura, then."

You remove 5 sparkleberry, bringing the total in the rift to 725.

Zeasha Novikei, Hymnodist of Raziela nods a greeting as she enters, looking curiously about at the

gathering. "I felt the breezes from the Gardens. What is happening?"

You say, "This child has been sick for some time, and attempts at conventional curing available to the

general populace have been ineffective. The waters of the healing spring seem to be helping, though."

The Mantle of Starlight shimmers and twinkles as the starlit darkness that it is formed of continues

its eternal motion.

Unitos snorts and snuffles at the air through a ridiculous pig nose.

You give a group of 5 sparkleberries to a wan merian child.

Zeasha Novikei, Hymnodist of Raziela steps closer to the child, and reaches a hand out to him. "May I?"

She asks the mother.

You say, "Try eating some of those. They're very good for restoring vital energies."

A kinswoman of New Celest watches, concern evident, though she nods at Zeasha Novikei, Hymnodist of

Raziela.

A wan merian child begins to munch on one of the berries, with somewhat more enthusiasm than he had

shown for the wafer.

Zeasha Novikei, Hymnodist of Raziela presses her hand to the child's forehead, her expression intent.

Zeasha Novikei, Hymnodist of Raziela says, "And this began, when? Has anyone else been showing such

symptoms?"

A kinswoman of New Celest blinks. "He started complaining of being tired and listless roughly a twelve

day ago. I thought at first he was simply wanting to get out of chores. We had spent a lovely day by

the sea before, and I thought it had maybe spoiled him. But then he grew worse and worse..."

You ponder the situation.

You say, "Did he end up playing with any strange sea-life that he didn't recognize? Some of the

creatures in the Inner Sea are potently venomous, though usually they avoid contact with people."

A kinswoman of New Celest shakes her head, though she glances a question at the child. "I hope he knows

better, though who can say, Tel?"

Singing drifts in from outside, faintly muffled.

A wan merian child hurriedly finishes the berry he has been chewing. "No, mother." He says finally "I

didn't play with any strange fish, or anythin'. An' I wasn't bitten or stung."

Starknight Unitos says, "And where was this? Within the city, or on the beaches nearby?"

The Mantle of Starlight flows gently against your form, twinkling stars shifting across its surface as

the starry infinity continues its eternal motion.

A kinswoman of New Celest says to Unitos, "On the beaches, a little southwest of the city. A few of us

went and had a day of it."

Unitos nods his head at a kinswoman of New Celest.

A kinswoman of New Celest frowns at Unitos.

Starknight Unitos says, "I'm going to take a quick look for anything out of the ordinary. In the

meantime.."

Starknight Unitos says, "The warmth of the Light can soothe the body. I'll leave some for you."

Muttering prayers to himself, Unitos slowly raises his arms up from his sides towards the heavens, and,

as he does so, bright rays of holy light rise up from the ground.