The Boys Are Back

Eritheyl

A continuation of the story that began here.

Part One: We Just Got A Letter!

(This message has been scribbled in messy handwriting, and carries with

it the faint scent of stale alcohol)

You don't know me.

You do know my brother, though, and...well, I don't really know how to

tell you that you saved my life when you talked to him. I suppose I hit

a real low after our folks died, and once he was old enough and pretty

enough to get his own food...I kinda decided to bugger off.

In layman's terms, that made me a bit of an arse.

I didn't much care, there was comfort to be found on the breast of a

stranger and in the bottom of a cup, and I didn't have to face anything

other than the next party. I hit a low, and then I pulled out the

shovel. Grinding xoqil, okorushi, cactus weed, and whatever else I could

get my hands on was easier than having to answer a question about what

came next. Than having to look at his face and tell him that...I didn't

know. He depended on me, and it was too much. I couldn't look him in the

eye, and so I didn't.

But when you can't feel anything -- (this small piece has been struck

through and rewritten several times, with each erred sentence finding a

deeper gash drawn through the letter) -- well, you can't feel anything.

While I was looking to escape my pain, I couldn't feel the good things

in life any more either. I drove my brother away, and if it weren't for

you talking to him, then I probably would have had my guts worn as

garters from a fight I picked in the back rooms of the Palace.

Akuanri didn't give up on me, though, and he limped his way into that

room and dragged me out. The way he yelled at me...it reminded me of

mum. I saw a little bit of her fire, and her passion, and I felt...bad.

But...it felt good, to feel bad? It's...god, I want to drink writing

about this, but I promised. I PROMISED. I'm not going to drink again

like that. Instead, we're going...to follow mum's footsteps.

Enlightenment is...confusing. It's something that I don't understand,

and maybe never will, but maybe he saw a little bit of it when he was so

angry. Maybe I saw a little bit of it when I was drunk. Maybe it means

something different to everyone. I don't...I don't really know.

I hear the city's been missing some dedicated ponderers of

Enlightenment, but once they heard who our mum was, well...the Masters

decided maybe they could give a drunkard and his brother another chance.

So thanks, I guess, for saving my life by taking the time to care.

Okay, that's it.

(there is an incredibly messy signature here)

A pilgrim who was once Shib.

Eritheyl

Part Two: Count to Ten

(Gaudiguch): The Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries says, "Let us
consider the lizard who sought to escape the sun in the comforts of the pond. The lizard was so
entrenched he could not see the sun diminish the lake until he was dry once more and his
clutchmate dragged him to the shade. Thus did the lizard seek enlightenment with its twin. Let
us meditate upon this."

Now, we were in the middle of throwing a party in Crumkane's temple as this happened! I made
it a point to remember for after, but then I...ultimately forgot. But the letter reminded me, and
made things make a lot more sense in retrospect!

So I grabbed my trusty @Rekath and flew around the city, counting initiates as fast and badly as
I could. When that still didn't sate me, we ran over to the Temple of Meditation to ask the BMOC
himself, Yiratcho Chum.

A barren, echoing spherical abode.

Sparks of violent cosmic energy tinge the air crimson spiraling out from a war shrine of Ein nearby.

Throughout the location, small dancing flames flicker and spark. Head bowed and his feet tucked 

beneath him, the Insightful Yiratcho Chum sits atop a three-legged chair in the centre of the abode.

You see a single exit leading east.

With a melodic lilt, Caliph Rekath Ryseni of the Sand-sea says, "Hello dear Yiratcho."

You have emoted: Eritheyl wheezes as he rushes in, doubled over and panting.

You whisper to Rekath, "I never know how to act around the Masters, they're all so...calm."

The Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries opens one eye, just a tad, and gives

you a glance over. "Greetings as well, young master."

You have emoted: Eritheyl stiffens, standing at rapt attention.

The Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries's gaze flicks towards Rekath and he

repeats the greetings, "Greetings, young master."

Rekath folds his arms over his chest, staring at you with a blank expression. "You going to explain

what you were counting so desperately?"

Proudly waving the letter clutched in his hand, you say, "Initiates, brother! The brother's brother 

- not you brother, the other brother - has sent me a missive! And I mean to find my way to the 

bottom of this most delectable revelation of revolutions."

Rekath sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, splaying his fingers as he holds his hand to you.

"You know what. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but that's less coherent than usual, so I'll just 

observe and let you do your thing."

The Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries's eye closes and he nods very slightly,

"Indeed. Did you not hear my meditation upon the aethers?"

You have emoted: Eritheyl says, "I did!" Then, dropping his voice just a bit, he repeats, "I did.

But we were in the midst of a party, and so I summarily gorged myself on snackfoods and completely 

forgot."

With a melodic lilt, Caliph Rekath Ryseni of the Sand-sea says, "I believe I caught, briefly, but I

was half-asleep you see."

You recite, "The lizard who sought to escape the sun..."

The Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries's eye closes and he nods, slowly,

listening to the recitation that you provide.

You have emoted: Scratching his chin, Eritheyl seems to skip the bulk of it as he offers, "...thus

did the lizard seek enlightenment with its twin. So they have found their way, then?"

You give an elegant white letter to Caliph Rekath Ryseni of the Sand-sea.

Rekath ponders an elegant white letter thoughtfully, looking it up and down.

Rekath raises an eyebrow questioningly.

With a melodic lilt, Caliph Rekath Ryseni of the Sand-sea says, "Ah."

You say to Rekath, "It's a bit of a story, I don't know that I ever had time to settle down and tell

it to you properly. Tonatiuh seemed the most prudent to inform, and so I likely stopped there."

You say to Rekath, "No one, least of all you, can tolerate my storytelling."

You wrinkle your nose and sniff.

Rekath holds the letter out delicately, pinching the top of the page between two fingers, and

peering at it as if it were something unpleasant. "Whomstever this person is has the most absolute 

atrocious penmanship." he says, offering it back to you. "We both know who inherited all of the 

storytelling skills of the family, after all."

Rekath gives an elegant white letter to you.

You nod solemnly to Rekath.

"I remembered Cheni, a very sweet girl. She passed in meteorfall, much the same as many of our

citizens..." the Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries sighs slightly, his chest 

rattling slightly as he does. "Her sons should have been brought here, and it was the correct thing 

to allow them to seek Enlightenment."

A darting shadow slips through the edge of your vision as a reptilian tail disappears into the haven

of some obscure corner.

Rekath refolds his arms as he regards Yiratcho. "Enlightenment is not for everyone. Some take it a

bit too far, as it were. They are much like her?"

You have emoted: Eritheyl's ears perk at the mention of the name, and he fastidiously scribbles it

down somewhere in his sketchpad.

Kihr enters from the east, emanating an aura of immense power.

With a shake of his head, the Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries says, "No,

no. Cheni cared for we masters in our meditations, that we would not waste away. She did not seek 

enlightenment herself, for she did not wish to. It is a deeply personal choice to look for answers 

in the mysteries of the universe, young master."

Comprehension flashes across Kihr's face.

Kihr leaves to the east, emanating an aura of immense power.

You caress the thoughts of Kihr Ryseni, the Ignited Mind as you whisper, "You can stay, learn

something."

Kihr enters from the east, emanating an aura of immense power.

Rekath ponders the situation.

You whisper to Kihr, "The soft boy and his rebelling twin have found their way back."

You give an elegant white letter to Kihr Ryseni, the Ignited Mind.

Utterly entranced, Kihr emits a long "Ooooh."

Rekath glances askance at you.

With a melodic lilt, Caliph Rekath Ryseni of the Sand-sea says, "I am, as ever, out of the loop on

all matters Gaudiguchian. A bit ironic at this point."

With a hint of a smile tugging at his lips, the Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant

Reveries says, "Perhaps you, too, could serve with meditating on the true meaning of Enlightenment."

Optimistically, you ask, "We should expect that they will join the other initiates in their

pursuits, if not their mild wanderings past the Temple from time to time?"

Rekath chuckles softly, and shakes his head. "Perhaps. Perhaps. I find myself with more pressing

matters to tend to for the time being, but I shall keep that in mind."

The Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries pauses and turns his head towards you,

"The one with the staff, who lingers looking for visions of truth, perhaps? It is seldom that the 

young masters understand the truth within our koans."

Simply, the Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries says, "They have already

begun."

You smile broadly and say, "Ah."

You say, "The one with the staff shall be overjoyed, I think. I will leave it to him to share the

good news...and perhaps seek his truths with more fervid desire. He deserves the closure, and the 

spring back in his step as it were."

You have emoted: Eritheyl's little tail flutters with delight.

Rekath stares implacably at you.

The Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries says, "Perhaps in time, we shall see

joy return to the face you seek. Perhaps we shall not. In this knowledge, we know peace."

You nod solemnly to the Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries.

Waving his hand vaguely, the Insightful Yiratcho Chum, Keeper of Clairvoyant Reveries says, "Not

now, Eritheyl. I must contemplate the way to enlightenment."

Hastily, you say, "Ah, yes. Yes."

You settle to the ground in a cross-legged position, inhaling deeply. As you bring your hands up to

rest open-palmed at either side, you exhale, clearing your mind.

You whisper, "If your peace ought not be disturbed further, Master Chum...thank you. Shall we away,

Rysenis?"

And with that, Gaudiguch finally has all ten of its initiates of meditation back!