[Stones of Farspeech] A Request or Two

[shatteredlenses]

I realize most of you are busy with the new island, but if I can, I'd like to borrow a moment of your time. This shouldn't interfere with new explorations, fortunately. It's actually rather dependent on them.

[Ignis has been very absent since Gladio was sent home last month. Even now, it's hard for him to reach out and exploring in this mindset is not the best of ideas, but he also can't allow himself to idle any longer.]

Shion and I have been discussing the creation of a list of questions we can ask each new deity we run across so we can compare answers to look for patterns and other things that may help us begin sorting out the greater mystery of this place as we learn about each island we come across. There are obvious general questions we can ask, but we wanted to see if there were any more specific ones people would like added to the list. If you have anything, can you let me know? Your help is most appreciated.

[There is a momentary pause where the only sound is Ignis softly drawing a deep breath as he steels himself for the next topic.]

For those who aren't aware, Gladio has been returned to Eos. Prompto and I are going to do our bests to keep the lighthouse workshop stocked and in good shape. We're also going to try and keep his projects on the farming islet going since they are of benefit to us all. We could use some help, though, if anyone can volunteer.

Also, if you were working on a project with him, can you let either Prompto or myself know? We don't want any of those to fall by the wayside.

[His voice gets a little softer as he finishes the communication.]

Gladio wouldn't want that either and I want to do this for him.

Thank you.

Comments

[motherfucking_ghost]

...Each new deity? As in. You guys have run into more than just Peter Rabbit. You just fuckin'...talk to random gods?

[shatteredlenses]

They generally refer to themselves as avatars, but they are the closest things to gods we've met so far so I feel the word fits.

[Okay Mr. Semantics.]

So far, most of the islands we've been to have had a deity much like the Storyteller on it. We even had to kill one. Fortunately, most encounters are calmer than that one was.

[RIP Bliss.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

That's...concerning. Most of what you just said is pretty concerning.

[shatteredlenses]

This is certainly not your mother's fantasy tropical island get away.

Is there one of those concerning things you would like to know more about than another?

[motherfucking_ghost]

Yeah, I couldn't tell after a giant plant dragon spat acid at me.

...Tell me more about killing god? The god. Avatar. That you had to kill.

[shatteredlenses]

Of course. Their name was Bliss, the avatar of...

[He laughs softly.]

Well, I think the name makes it obvious, no? They wished everyone to be happy, but something caused their powers to grow wildly out of control, so instead of just helping people be happy, they were trapping them in dream worlds that reflected their wildest hopes. Everyone was happy, of course, but it was false and those who lingered too long within their dream world died. We could move from dream to dream, so those who found themselves in more than one dream eventually realized something was wrong and set to waking others. It was difficult at best and heartbreaking at worst.

[Who wants to pull those they care about from their 'happy place,' after all? Especially when reality is so harsh?]

I wasn't at the final battle as I moved between several dreams and only barely awoke in time to keep myself from falling prey to Bliss' trap, but it was a difficult battle won only after the Storyteller lent us some of their power in the form of weaponizing the stories we told them. Once Bliss was defeated, the entire island crumbled and sank into the sea.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Ssssso some of these gods fight each other when their powers get too wacky. That's...yeah. That's very in line with how every other thing I learn about this fucking place is absolutely terrible.

[shatteredlenses]

To be fair, the Storyteller did not wish to fight Bliss. They were actually quite distressed over the whole thing, but realized there was nothing else that could be done.

[motherfucking_ghost]

But the other, uh, avatars, they're generally not out of control and wacky wild?

[shatteredlenses]

That is correct. Bliss is the only one we have had to go that far with. The avatar of Balance was out of balance for a short while, but that is something we caused accidentally, and we were, fortunately, able to fix things before it was too late.

[The Rejection Rooms were a painful experience, but for some, at least, they came out of the experience for the better.]

There is one god that the Storyteller seems to fear and that is the one tied to the island of Ai'tuoh and the Water. Ai'tuoh has been gone for quite some time now, and we have no idea if or when it will return.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I wouldn't mind meeting some avatars, I guess, other than Lucky the Rabbit, but I in no way should be someone to talk to them. Not the least of which being because I'm new as shit.

Haven't heard anyone say anything about one on Big Tree Person Island.

[shatteredlenses]

Duly noted. You can keep Ardyn company wrangling the chocobos.

[...

Is that really a good idea considering how much of an acquired taste dealing with Ardyn is?

Oh well, too late now.]

It's possible no one's found the temple yet, if this particular island indeed does have an avatar on it. For example, it took us quite some time to find Balance's temple originally as it was way across the island from where the original mana pool was.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Sure, so long as someone points out who Ardyn is and what the fuck a chocobo is.

's not a real big island, I guess, at least compared to the main one, though I guess if it's somewhere and even the trees don't know, it'd be one of the mountains? Mountaintops seem like a good temple-y place.

[shatteredlenses]

I'm sorry. You're from one of those strange worlds that ride dupl- horses instead of chocobos, aren't you?

[He. is. totally. serious. about. that. apology. Wow.]

Chocobos are large birds, similar in some ways to what I've heard people call 'chickens.' They are very friendly and when trained can carry a rider or supplies. They also come in many different colors.

[And Ardyn, well, it's easier to explain him by just having Church meet him at some point.]

I'm afraid I haven't gotten over there yet, but if there are mountains, then I would agree. That seems like a good place to have a temple.

[motherfucking_ghost]

So...like an ostrich? A tamed ostrich you can ride. Man, sounds like Big Bird never skips leg day.

[shatteredlenses]

[...]

What is an ostrich?

[And who the hell is Big Bird?]

[motherfucking_ghost]

It's a...big...bird--it's--it's basically the thing you just described? Big two-legged bird that I guess you could probably ride in theory.

[shatteredlenses]

What a strange name. Why not just call it a 'chocobo' then?

[Ignis.]

You will just need to stop by the cottage so you can see one and tell me yourself if they are anything like this weird 'ostrich' you speak of.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Wh- [Church makes a short choked sound.] Why not just call it an ostrich? That's just what they're called, we don't have anything called a chocobo, that doesn't even sound like English! ...Not that ostrich does, either! I don't know, it's probably something Latin, like, from the scientific name or something.

Maybe I will come by and see if your weird 'chocobo' is anything like an ostrich, or an emu, or a fucking cassowary or whatever.

[shatteredlenses]

[Latin? English? Emu? Cassawhatnow?

Okay. Never mind. Ignis is just going to ask one question.]

Do you have a favorite food?

[...

All right then.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

...What? [Sorry, his brain's tripped over the couple of railroad tracks over Ignis' train of thought seems to be on.] Uh. Food? Why, you gonna cook up your giant chicken?

Which, don't, I don't uh. ...I don't.

[shatteredlenses]

What? Of course not!

[Chocobos aren't for eating. Why, Prompto would never forgive him!]

However, it's rude not to offer a guest something to eat when they have come so far to visit you. I was merely trying to see what I should prepare.

[motherfucking_ghost]

...That's...really nice. [He says this with a tone that implies this is suspicious.] But, uh, don't, uh, don't make anything for me. I'm kind of a robot right now, so I don't...eat.

[shatteredlenses]

Oh!

[Ignis' surprise is clear, even in that one word.]

My apologies. I didn't mean to touch on something upsetting.

[Because Ignis caught that 'now' which implies he was not always a robot.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

What, no, it's not upsetting, it's just, y'know. What I am. [He's been in robot bodies longer than he was ever human. He thinks. He's pretty sure. But maybe don't think about that!] Trust me, if I had tastebuds, or a mouth of any kind, I wouldn't turn down a free meal.