four | dictated.

[kethedammit]

[You know what gets boring fast? Camping. Mildmay has recited all the songs and riddles he knows to himself, but, when you've got a magic talking book, those pursuits loose their flavor fast. Instead, itching curiosity dictates...]

Any of y'all got stories where you're from? [And, in case people are from places where this isn't an understood practice...] I'll trade, if'n you got any I ain't heard.

Comments

[eat_me_beat_me]

[You know what else gets boring fast? Being stuck with a broken leg.]

I could probably tell you a few. What kinda stories you looking for?

[kethedammit]

Any kind. I ain't picky.

[radiantwingedone]

There are some histories turned fairy tales that I am familiar with.

[ His voice might be vaguely familiar from that disastrous meeting, but ah well. ]

[kethedammit]

Either's good. I'm game.

[radiantwingedone]

[ He doesn't have a great storyteller voice, but he can try to ... not sound as bland as usual.. ]

In the days before the empire, a great cataclysm occurred that plunged the world into ruin. Countless lives were lost as the people struggled to stand against the oncoming disaster. Energy all but spent, humanity seemed to have lost hope before the arrival of a pair of siblings. This brother and sister fought the calamity together, and saved the world from annihilation. The sister they named the Child of the Full Moon, and after the struggle she stayed with the earth. Her brother they named Brave Vesperia, and he ascended to the skies to watch over the world.

[ There's a pause, and he continues. ]

There is a short version that is phrased like... prayer, or something similar.

[kethedammit]

Huh. [Well, he's never heard this one before. And that's certainly worth an incomplete story and a dull voice telling it.] This from your, uh, religion?

[onlythefishiest]

Oh, I know some!

I could tell you about the Empress and the Summoner, or I could tell you the story of the heiress and her maroon-blooded matesprit, or I could tell you the story my lusus used to whisper about the demon who exists beyond time and space.

[radiantwingedone]

Empire has tried making it into one, likely to give them something of 'divine right' in ruling.

[ He's vaguely amused. ]

Children of the Full Moon are a... people, one that the remnants of become a bloodline that had formed the empire's royal family.

[kethedammit]

Huh. So it's one of those stories that're trying to explain real stuff?

[radiantwingedone]

Yes. Inaccurate but vaguely close to reality.

[kethedammit]

You talk like you know what's 'accurate'.

[kethedammit]

Uh, sure, okay. Whichever one you wanna tell most, I ain't heard of none of 'em.

[radiantwingedone]

Both made a study of it, and ... Had a friend, who watched us rebuild from the cataclysm.

[kethedammit]

And the studying actually got you someplace?

[radiantwingedone]

... It let me know and attempt to warn the empire of what their actions would lead to. History happened to repeat.

[kethedammit]

No, I mean... not that I done a lot of it, but from what I seen, studying up don't usually get you answers. Just more questions.

[radiantwingedone]

[ That's a good point. ]

Books held less than full knowledge, although there were places where humans do not ordinarily reach that held more, and some who remembered the time prior that could tell of it from a non-human perspective.

[kethedammit]

Oh, so you cheated, is what you're saying. [That... is a joke. Sort of.]

[radiantwingedone]

... If it helps, I studied first.

[ Vaguely amused. ]

[kethedammit]

Eh, I ain't one to judge. Anyway, you want a story back?

[radiantwingedone]

.. Please.

[ You did offer- ]

[kethedammit]

Sure, okay. D'you like happy stories or spooky stories better?

[radiantwingedone]

... Spooky.

[ He flipped a mental coin, okay- ]

[kethedammit]

Okay. You ever heard the one about Laliel's ghost twin?

[radiantwingedone]

I have not heard of any human-ghosts prior to arrival.

[ He hasn't. ]