018 Leaving Kwaidan, Delphi (A reconstruction)

[theseus]

The portal opens, and Nathan shows Delphi into the second black room. They wait as the portal closes behind them. “This room is like an air lock,” Nathan explains. “We have to wait until the outer portal is open before my magic will function again.”

As the outer portal opens in the opposite wall, Delphi feels a sudden onrush of dizziness.

Tendrils snake out of Nathan’s glowing spikard to ensnare Delphi in its web of forces. As power is infused into Delphi’s mind, the dizziness is replaced with a painful headache. In another instant, the headache also vanishes, leaving Delphi feeling normal once more.

Nathan smiles gently at Delphi, concerned for his travelling companion.

[PDelphi]

Delphi chokes as the effects pile upon him, "Mother Anh preserve me. What is this?" The outrage in his voice is clear.

As the balm of the grudgingly accepted aid soothes the suffering, he pauses, straightening from the initial bracing against strike. He adjusts his attire, hands patting, straightening and checking; checking he still bears all those little concealed and pocketed things he bore before.

Half taking that initial step, he pauses again, leaning towards Nathan, and says, terribly quietly, "Can you identify what it is you block here to protect me?"

[theseus]

“I haven’t quite worked that out yet,” Nathan admits. “It’s as if your own nature is directly opposed to that of Chaos. In this place, we are close to the Logrus, the greatest power source for Chaos. Being near it appears to be causing your illness. But I make no sense of my own theory. All things are descended from Chaos. I don't see how existence could give rise to something opposed to where, and of what, it came from.”

[PDelphi]

Delphi grunts, a particularly informative noise containing questions, mild irritation and acceptance, following it with the less useful, "Later".

He takes a deep breath, steeling himself, glances down at the bright ring on Nathan's hand and steps through the second doorway into the corridors of House Chanicut.

[theseus]

Tubble approaches from the right corridor as Nathan and Delphi leave the second black room.

As Tubble stops before them, Nathan gives him a nod of acknowledgement. “Thankyou for receiving us Tubble. We will be departing momentarily.”

Tubble returns the bow with the slightest of smiles, and replies “May you both be successful in your endeavours.”

[PDelphi]

Delphi acknowledges the Lord of House Chanicut enough, with a raised eyebrow and slightly shifting shoulder, to enquire as to the exit.

He then nods, a little more formally, and starts walking that direction, rounding a corner and beginning to concentrate upon finding Baku.

[theseus]

Nathan walks quietly by Delphi’s side.

The walls shimmer, turning into heavier and rougher stone. They come to an old wooden door. Delphi opens it, leading them into a similar red desert to the one they had traveled before. The desert sands are soon spotted with strange spiky green plants, and then scraggly trees and grass. Before long they are walking through a strange wood of low trees. The sky shades to blue, with a small scattering of clouds.

There is a trilling sound, and in a glow of prismatic lights, Baku materialises before them. The small creature whirls a dance about their heads, delighted to see them.

[PDelphi]

The small farmer lets out a rough guttural cry, strangely similar to the much higher song Baku is creating on the spot, and takes off.

Baku is almost immediately mere metres behind him, chasing, and playfully attempting to snap at him as they race through the trees, ducking around and under the unfamiliar foliage.

The next time Nathan seems them, the order is reversed, the man chasing his pet, forced to occasionally grab at trunks and even low branches to sling himself around corners after the far more maneuverable creature. At one point he even leaves the ground, running up a short series of low to higher branches and leaping, floating clumsily over the glass dragon, who easily dodges the inelegant attempt.

Continuing to walk Nathan comes to a small grotto formed from roots and branches, where he finds Delphi, flat on his back, his bare feet in a small stream, breathing heavily and trying to simultaneously hug and ward off Baku, talking to her in somewhat nonsense talk, begging some respite from the recent bout of exercise.

He sees Nathan and looks up, a twisted grin rapidly replacing a flash of shame.

"Not far I think, if I understand this travelling properly."

Retracing his steps somewhat, the farmer retrieves his staff from where it must have fallen during the furious games and leads on again.

The trees thicken, growing taller and broader as the three of them walk until soon the exposed roots of the giants surrounding them stretch taller than even Nathan's head. The trunks are a pale grey and glow faintly with their own life. Turning a corner, a surprise to Baku and Nathan, they come across another grotto within the trees. Curves of wood and stone, perhaps even ancient ruins surround a dark, still pool. The huge o'erarching trees are covered here in dark moss, the occasional patch of fallen or missing lichen showing as a star on otherwise dark, high walls. Light from the suddenly lower sun illuminates only the highest level of growth, creating a pale, sunny, halo far above their heads.

Delphi stops, and just breathes. He seems to gain a little strength from the dark water, green and granite in the air. After a minute, eyes shut and arms a little wide, he moves again, leading to the left along a small shelf that leads to a hollow in the rock that would clearly offer protection from the elements should they wish it, while not being too far from the water. Roots have cracked through the stones at the back of the space, leaving strange wavy cracks running along the remaining rock, the roots curling into a series of moss-covered curves and ledges.

A small rock flicks out from beneath Delphi's foot, causing him to stumble and almost pitch headlong into the pool. Wavering, he half leaps backwards, and ends up sitting on one of the curls of root and moss.

Looking up from where he sits a foot above the floor, he seems to beseech the spirits and then turns to Nathan.

"This is probably what I sought. I am exhausted however. Do you mind if I sleep before...?" He breaks off.

[theseus]

Delphi's story is continued in 019 Meeting in the Dreaming...

019 Meeting in the Dreaming