WEEK 4

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 4


[It is late in the afternoon when the Titled finally wake up from their long, vivid sleep. What day is it? Maybe it doesn't matter.

They weren't awake when it happened, but the final set of doors have opened. The Intercessor hasn't emerged from their room. There is no sign of the grumpy old man. And, the Titled may notice that nothing has been cleaned up - including the remains of those who prompted the Investigation - since they went into the Debate Hall. No new food has been supplied in the Kitchen, either.

The only replenishing food supply is in the Conservatex - who knows when those'll get ripped out from the ground out of spite, though. Their captors certainly showed themselves to not be above petty revenge, unfortunately.

So many questions now swirl. Is the old man hiding? Is the Intercessor ok? What the hell happened with the dragon? What about that other group which the Titled have come to realize exist? What did their captors have planned? And...really, what the hell else is going to happen now?

Whatever it is, it's not going to be good.

So get ready, Titled.

There are nine (but perhaps only eight?...) strangers in this place.]

Comments

Strange Wall investigation

[bythewaves]

[ It has taken him all of the week to pull himself out of his grief - but Maedhros would have wanted him to keep going, for the young ones, if nothing else. So he's trying.

Once, a long time ago, his father invented a whole alphabet, to better capture the words that spun in his mind. Even today, Maglor suspects, they still hold the exams to join the Lambengolmor the same way that Feanor began. He himself once stood before them, reciting passages and arguing meaning and comprehension.

(They are the Eldar, the People of the Stars. But they are the Quendi too - the Speakers, the first to invent language, the first to argue over words, for the very joy of their sound)

He runs his hands over the letters and frowns thoughtfully, looking for anything obvious that might stand out. ]

[strangerpeople]

[There is, when he gets close enough, several runes that are glowing.]

[bythewaves]

That's interesting. What happens if he touches them? Do they feel like they can be pushed or pulled?

[strangerpeople]

[There is a strange sensation, for Maglor. The sensation that this word can be learned by someone still down here in the Depths. It almost seems to call. But its secret is not for Maglor. It seems to refuse to open comprehension up for the likes of him.

If not for Maglor, then for who?]

[bythewaves]

Huh!

What would happen if he brought the Intercessor here, he wonders.... MAYBE HE SHOULD GO SEE IF CESSY IS BUSY

[intercessing]

[Right now? Cessy is making potions. Lots and lots of potions.

They seem to be pretty good at it.]

Hm? Hello.

[bythewaves]

[ ... That sure is a lot of potions ]

I found something that ... I do not know, but perhaps it will be of interest to you. Do you have a moment?

[intercessing]

Of course.

[They go to follow Maglor. And bring some of the potions with them. Hey, they are pretty good at it, and just in case, right?]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor points out the glowing words ]

They are no language I know, and I know your own memory is spotty, at best, but... are these familiar to you, perhaps?

[1/2]

[intercessing]

I can't say I--

[2/2]

[intercessing]

[As they get closer, the words begin to glow a bright blue, with streams of light pouring into their eyes.]

??!

[bythewaves]

Intercessor!

[ Maglor tenses, trying to decide if it will be better to drag them away or let it be ]

[intercessing]

...Voices...I hear...!

[Yet they draw themselves closer, the runs brightening, almost searing themselves into their eyes.]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor is as tense as a coiled spring, but since the Intercessor seems to be coming to no harm... ]

Who?

[intercessing]

[The word shines brought one last time, before the glow lessens down to a cool blue. The Intercessor's eyes remain blue for some moments after.]

...SAH...

[


The Intercessor has learned a Word of Power: Phantom




...and they look very, very confused about it.

[bythewaves]

[ All the raised eyebrows ]

Are you alright?

[intercessing]

I...

I...yes?

...

I...this wall. The words look familiar to me.

[bythewaves]

[ ........ ]

From your own world, then? Does it tell anything useful?

[intercessing]

...........I know them and yet I do not. What it says is:

DAAR LOS MONAHVEN KOLOS FIN
LAAT DOVAHKIIN SAH KORAV LEIN AL ZIND
VOTH DINOKSETIID SO KOGAAN NIIN
AHRK VUS STAADNAU TIID

...I...do not know what it means, though.

[bythewaves]

Hm. [ Maglor turns the sounds of the words over thoughtfully to himself ]

The emphasis seems to be on that sah, so it clearly means something important. Usually, phrases written like this are one of three things - a warning, a spell or a hint to do something important, or a prophecy of some sort. Is the language familiar to you?

[intercessing]

It...feels familiar, yes...but I cannot quite grasp why.

[bythewaves]

[ A soft sigh ]

Which means it is probably important. I would write it down somewhere, and memorise it. It's almost certainly important for our fate down here, or yours at home.