(no subject)

[unabatedly]

Back into the fray again, I suppose--

[Neria's voice echoes across the network, wry. She sighs.]

Welcome, new Travelers. I trust you can hear me. Wherever you are in Liminal Space, if you should require aid, you need only speak up or call out to the other Travelers around you. Though we're all strangers, I assure you that we're here to help.

[Which is your standard welcome, by all accounts. But she has a specific reason for requesting people's attentions this time.]

You might notice the portals that are leading out of Liminal Space. I would advise you be cautious until you've listened to what I have to say.

We are in the middle of an excursion into another world, something we do here very frequently. We have been tasked with aiding the realm of Dolorosa, a kingdom fraught with trouble. There is a missing queen and knights abound, with dragons and murderous barons. [She chuckles briefly.] I know it may sound fantastical and strange, but this is a reality you will be facing very shortly. I would caution you to ask your fellow Travelers, the other Veterans, about Dolorosa and how you can prepare, what you can expect, before moving on.

Rest assured, we will do all we can to help you.

I have but one request of all of you gathered here: should you find any herbs or anything of use, please collect them and bring them to me. I am one of the few here capable of healing injuries and my stock is low, a very dangerous thing considering what has transpired recently. [Her tone sounds almost bitter, colored with bemusement.] I would be highly grateful if you could bring me whatever you can. I cannot pay you, but it will certainly come in handy should you be injured along the way.

Oh, and do try to be inconspicuous. I've found that spouting inane babble about portals and other worlds tends to lead to trouble and a possible stay in a cell.


[Veteran Lock;]

We've spent a month in this place. What have we learned, and what's our next goal?

Comments

[tealeafs]

I don't know if there'll be anything to find here, but I'll keep an eye out. [ She does have some knowledge of herbs and stuff like that, even if it's just a little bit.. but she's picked a few things up from her father along the way. The problem is more that the area around Flamegard is.. well, pretty much scarred. Good luck finding life there, let alone herbs.

.. that part about the cell though.. ]

You didn't get into trouble, did you..?

[unabatedly]

I appreciate it, Chizuru.

[There's a brief pause and then Neria begins to laugh. It's a short sound but entirely genuine.]

No, no. But I hail from a world not unlike this one and I know what would happen to people talking nonsensical. Pray that no one among us attempts to speak of portals and a mindlink between us all.

[tealeafs]

[ Phew. If there's such a thing as a mental sound of relief, then it can definitely be heard right now. Her heart had gotten a little bit tight with worry over the idea that some of them had managed to get into trouble that badly already - even if they did all get thrown into jail last time around, but that was different, they didn't even really cause anything back then. ]

I'm glad.. I'm sorry if I sounded like I doubted you, Neria-san, I know you're smart enough to keep yourself out of trouble. [ But you never know with these places.. ]

.. Although I think even the new people probably understand it's not smart to talk about all this in front of people who know nothing about it.. right?

[ It had come pretty natural to Chizuru, anyway, but maybe it's since she's kept her demon powers a secret for so long too. Talking about supernatural things can never bring anything good. ]

this is so late so if you don't feel like continuing, no worries!

[unabatedly]

You have every reason to doubt me, should I want to advocate for such activities. [She laughs.] As I said, I'd sound like a madwoman. But I understand; you were concerned.

[There's a small, noncommittal noise from Neria.]

I remember there was...someone-- [It hurts, aggravates her, that she cannot remember a name or even a face.]

I... A young man, if I recall. He was overly excited at the prospect of new worlds. He almost gave us away. We were in a much more modern world and the people around him deemed him insane. He was almost taken away from us.

[She snorts.]

Amusing, at first, but it quickly became a rather dire situation. Joscelin was in quite the tizzy about it.

no sweat, i'm totally okay with late tags!

[tealeafs]

Oh! [ Despite it only being a thought, Chizuru does literally move her hands in front of her mouth for a moment in surprise at the very thought of it.. she knows she's not the best at acting natural in these different worlds, but she's at least trying her best to keep everything a secret. To think someone got excited and then that almost happened to them.. ]

I'm glad it didn't end badly for him.. I can only imagine what the people of that world might have done to him. [ What if they would keep them somewhere where they couldn't return with everyone else to Liminal Space or something? Or.. geez, it just sounds worrying. ] I can sort of understand why Joscelin-san would be worked up though. I mean-- it's probably because of people discovering who we are, too, but I think the thought of losing anyone from our group is really sad too..