synopsychic | (no subject)

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Magic... I must confess that I find myself dubious, but given the situation it seems quite unwise to go so far as disbelief.

[Despite his words, there's still a note of doubt in his voice, but he moves on quickly.]

It is uncommon in many worlds, I confess, but not so strange to some here. The Illuminated are strange creatures here, human and not, fae and unknown. No one knows their true origins.

[Shuu considers this for a moment. A part of him does keep protesting at the existence of magic, at the whole fantastic situation even, but on the other hand there doesn't seem to be any harm in assuming everything he's heard thus far is true. At best he avoids trouble, at worst he feels like a fool. Shuu would rather keep his feathers whole.]

More and more complications... Are the Illuminated related in some way to whatever it is we are meant to be doing in their world? So far their origins and the missing queen have been the most obvious mysteries that I have noticed.

It's very possible. I don't have any evidence intertwining the two events in any coherent way. But I imagine if we asked questions...

Hmm...I see.

Setting aside the question of the Illuminated, what is known about the queen's disappearance so far?

Little on my end.

The queen vanished some years ago and her cousin is the only one left of the original bloodline, though no one seems to want him to be on the throne. Baron Stonegard, Snow, has been guarding the throne while the other barons squabble for it.

It seem quite obvious that she must be dead, then. That, or otherwise unwilling to rule. Why has no successor been chosen?