[ STONE BROADCAST ] - JUNE 16TH

[aftrnpc]

Story-walkers! [Munin’s voice booms out of everyone’s stones in unison. And booming, in this instance, meaning a grizzled but chipper shout. Her cheerful volume does not lower for even a second as she continues.]

Ha! These stones - very clever! Perhaps my people could make use of them, too.

But I am speaking to you for another reason. There are those of you who do not know of the Jormun. If if you come across my people on your beaches, do not fear us, for we are sworn allies of your kin - churned in the waves of battle!

But there is no battle for us to join forces in, not now. We are here to conserve those the Storyteller would call…kaleidoshells. [She falters on the word, her accent thickening.] Schorvalsh is a better name.

You are all welcome to assist if you have the time. The schorvalsh have been receding in numbers, and now that we have reconnected with the land, we are able to protect their hatchlings, and bring them back as we did the sun!

We also owe you greater hospitality than what we have given in times past. We shall have a proper celebration if our joint efforts triumph, shall we say…in three noon's time? We shall bring our finest entertainment for you all.

[A wet, faintly fleshy smack, as Munin pounds her chest with a webbed fist.]

And you shall tell me of your land-dwelling practices, so that we may partake of those as well! The one named Connor - will you bring your greens?

Of course you will.

[You goddamn fool.]

Comments

[tuskenlancer]

[ Her people, maybe - the people who were brought here? But not her. Definitely not her.

She frowns, squinting up into the bright sunlight. ]

The sun died?

[aftrnpc]

As part of its life cycle, yes. It rose again after the week of perpetual night.

[This, evidently, does not come as a shock to her. She speaks of it as easily as one might the weather.]

[tuskenlancer]

[ Suns don't have life cycles. Not like that. She opens her mouth to say as much, then shuts it again. ]

Does this happen...often?

[ Maybe it was an eclipse? Something like that. Something explicable. ]

[aftrnpc]

It was an occurrence my people have seen before, though it was the first time I myself bore witness to it. [Perhaps you can hear it, CT, through the stone; the animal head-tilt as Munin takes in the palpable confusion emitting from the other end.]

Are you new to this world, fingerling?

[tuskenlancer]

[ It's probably not an annual occurrence, then, unless these people have very short life spans. Could still be an eclipse. She'll have to see if she can ask someone about it later, someone who might interpret things through more of the same lens as she does. ]

...Fingerling? [ Should she be insulted? What does that mean? ]

Yes. I've been here...a couple of weeks, almost. [ Pause. ]

Uh. Ten...day-cycles?

[aftrnpc]

[Without the visual aid, Munin seems to have assumed that CT is...a good deal younger than she actually is.]

You are new. But you are allied with the other story-walkers, who fought beside us?

[tuskenlancer]

[ OOPS well that's fine probably. ]

Yes. [ Yes? Probably. Not that she's met most of them, but Ardyn's whole thing aside, they seem like they're okay overall. ] I'm allied with them.

[aftrnpc]

Then you are allied with we, the Jormun.

[It's simple transitive property. She is allied with the other story-walkers and the Jormun are allied with the other story-walkers, and ergo, she too can be considered an ally.]

Then you would not have been here for the death and re-emergence of the archipelago's sun, no. Rest assured, it was a mighty battle.

[tuskenlancer]

It sure sounds like it.

[ Epic fight by starlight to bring back the sun? Yeah, she can see it. ]

Good. I could use a few allies.

[aftrnpc]

[Munin utters a rasping, gravelly noise; perhaps equivalent to a cat's purr, if a cat's purr sounded like stone grinding over stone.]

Hostility breeds strength in a warrior, but it is a cruel way to live.

[tuskenlancer]

[ Dear god what was that. Suddenly she's (more) glad that they're having this conversation over the stones, and not in person.

She blinks, surprised at the sudden...morality lesson? ]

...Sometimes it's the only way to live.

[aftrnpc]

[It's an assurance: one warrior to another.]

You are not alone in this world any longer, story-walker. Your kin is our kin. [It's paired with the wet, meaty smack of a webbed fist against her chest, a display of solidarity.]

[tuskenlancer]

...Thanks.

[ She hopes that wet sound hadn't been Munin sacrificing a fish or something.

But it is nice, to hear that she's not alone. ]

I'll...try to be a good ally.

[aftrnpc]

[ wow what do you take her for :\ ]

What manner of celebratory enjoyments do land-dwellers such as yourself indulge in, in the event of celebration?

[tuskenlancer]

[ She doesn't know yet!! ]

Um. You mean, like...parties?

[ Parties aren't really CT's thing, but at least she knows what they entail. ]

Food. Music. Dancing. Alcohol.

Games and stuff, I guess, but the music and booze is the important thing.

[aftrnpc]

[Everyone keeps saying that - alcohol and music. This must be vital for land-dwellers, she must simply assume.]

Then we will supply all in good faith, in celebration of our conservation efforts.

[tuskenlancer]

[ Maybe not vital, but honestly, pretty close. ]

Oh.

[ Well, if nothing else, it'll be interesting seeing what these creature's ideas of party music and drinks are. ]

Uh...thank you.

[aftrnpc]

Of course! [The Jormun are a naturally generous people, when they have forged bonds on the battlefield.]

You will be aiding us in our attempt, yes?

[tuskenlancer]

Yeah.

[ It'd be pretty stupid to say no, after all this talk of alliances and parties thrown in gratitude for their help. But she'd been planning on it, anyway.

She is a warrior, after all. ]

I'll be there.

[aftrnpc]

I expect I shall see you soon, ah...

[She...does not know your name, land-dweller.]

What title to you go by?

[tuskenlancer]

[ Title? She freezes, expression going blank as an unexpected flashback completely overrides her train of thought.

"Welcome to Starfield Penitentiary, Inmate Number 24110. Your title is Champion Whistleblower."

A moment later, it's gone, and she shakes herself, stuttering awkwardly. ]

Uh...CT...just CT's fine.

[aftrnpc]

CT.

[She has to sound it out carefully, unfamiliar syllables jammed up behind overlarge teeth. It emerges a little bit hissing, but eventually, she manages it.]

Well met, CT!

[tuskenlancer]

Yeah, you too.

[ Good job, weird...snake...creature. ]

What do I call you?

[aftrnpc]

Muninshhashvark.

[Gesundheit.]

...though I have heard some story-walkers refer to me as "Munin," if that is simpler on your land-dwelling tongues.

[tuskenlancer]

[ The mental image she gets from "land-dwelling tongues" is...an interesting one. ]

Munin.

Yeah, I think I'll...stick with that, if that's okay.