CLOSED.

[nysan]

Who: Barthala (nysan) & Diana Cavendish, (fiendennor), Jim Kirk (1701), and Juno Steel (stuns).
What: An audience with the Goddess.
When: After investigating the disappearances.
Where: Deep within the woods.
Warning(s): N/A

[ Against all odds, these three have resisted the effects of the metamorphosis, despite prolonged exposure to the forests. That, more than anything else, makes the goddess curious, and as they traverse the wooded grounds they may feel as though they are being watched. Small woodland creatures stop and study them curiously, heads tilted to one side in an all too human motion, and the goddess watches these visitors through their eyes.

The more she sees, the more curious she becomes.

Eventually, they find that no matter where they walk, the paths lead only to one place. Not back to Dranbu, but to a deep, secluded thicket, overgrown with all manner of exotic plants. A pair of eyes, faintly glowing, peers out at them through the shadows, and an ages-old voice echoes around them. ]

You... [ There is the sound of a soft sigh, and a light breeze ruffles their hair and their clothing. ] The three of you... There is something special about the three of you.

Comments

[fiendennor]

[Under every rock, more questions than answers.

It's so obvious that the root cause of whatever is happening to all those people is in this forest. Magic permeates every tree, every bush, every stone. It reminds Diana of Arcturus Forest in how it feels: primal, powerful, and ancient. She can feel it in every inch of her body, a buzz in the back of her mind.

It also wreaks havoc on any spell she casts to identify the source of the magical power here; she may well have cast a spell to find sand in a desert. Diana thinks she's on the right path, following a slightly more potent stream of magic than the others, but it's entirely possible she's imagining it.

Diana isn't sure why she hasn't turned like the others have. Perhaps it's her warding spells, but she finds the idea that her magic could truly stand against the power here somewhat dubious. Perhaps it's blind chance. Though, encountering two others who, like her, haven't been affected makes that "blind chance" theory less likely.

Especially once the path they're on seems... closed off. Isolated. If they try to go anywhere else, they just wind up here again.

The two-pronged tip of Diana's wand glows green, a faint pulsing heartbeat of magic as she holds it out in front of her, sensing the flow of magic. Honestly, she might as well put it away, but it feels nice to have something to guide as the three of them enter the thicket.

Eyes. A voice. Diana glances briefly around the shaded thicket before looking back on those eyes, her grip tightening on the wand.

This seems like the place.] Special? What do you mean, something special?

Is that why we weren't changed?

[1701]

[ Jim's been all over this place, as far as he can tell, and it's a small miracle he hasn't disintegrated into sweaty nonperson sludge. What a fantastic state to be in, to meet a goddess. (Or whatever she is.)

He exchanges a look with Juno, thinking they probably look like Diana's weird bodyguards - and also thinking that if there's something different about them, it might be that the forest couldn't provide for them. I want answers isn't as easy to manifest as somewhere to sit down, or something to drink.

The young witch seems like she's got the best grasp on whatever contemporary power is at work here, so he doesn't interrupt. ]

[stuns]

[ the look juno returns to kirk is just as hungry for answers of some kind. juno's pretty much had enough of this damn forest - changes to those he knows and all. there's a frustration coursing through him over the lack of answers he's getting despite having trekked through enough trees and underbrush to last him a lifetime. never mind that the entire place is magical.

but maybe it's a good thing they've managed to merge together. the only thing that's pretty much keeping juno feet rooted to the ground instead of tearing through the brush is how she's directing her attention to the eyes glowing in their direction, her wand held aloft. for once he'll wait.

he tucks his hands into his coat pockets, but stands firm, maybe intending to strengthen the appearance that they're flanking her for a damn good reason. if they're so special, then this weird set of eyes better be quick to elaborate. ]

[nysan]

You are special... because you were not changed.

[ There's a rustling of leaves, and the glowing eyes vanish for a moment — only to reappear a moment later, peering out at the group from inside a knothole in a tree. There is a long silence, and another sigh followed by a rustling of wind. ]

Why do you resist...? Those who have changed... they are happier, no? They are safe here, within these woods.

[fiendennor]

[Diana keeps her wand at the ready. She's not holding it in an aggressive stance just yet, having it just forward enough to not be at her side, but it's where she could cast a quick protective-- or aggressive-- spell if need be. The way the eyes suddenly vanish makes her inhale softly, eyes darting around the thicket until she finds them again in the knot of a tree. Not a physical being, then... at least, probably not. Even if she's the only magic user of this trio, it's nice to have the two others with her. It does make her feel a little more secure as she steps slightly forward, moving warily in the direction of the tree trunk.] Being happy should not have to involve changing who you are. You're the one who was changing them, then?

[1701]

[ Jim's calm as Barthala shifts around, used to encountering beings without traditional physical forms. And honestly, something with the power to change people in all the ways they've seen doesn't seem like it'd be weak to phaser fire, so he's not making any moves to arm himself. ]

There's a degree of truth that most beings like us need in our lives, [ he says gently, tone agreeing with Diana. ] I'm not resisting anything.

[ No temptation was involved for Jim, really. Don't you want to sit down and rest? Nah man not really he had stuff to do. The curse of the workaholic paramilitary commander was cast on him long before he arrived on this planet, prompting whatever spell in here to merely glance off him. ]

[stuns]

[ there's no safety in these woods that juno feels anymore - no shelter in this place that'd tried to lure people into embracing it. so the moment barthala tries to justify the changes, saying everyone here is so much happier for it, he bristles all the more, fingers curling into his palms. ]

And if you are the one who's changing them why go through all the trouble of changing everyone?

[ because it seems like way more trouble than it's worth. goddess or no, retaliation is obnoxious to anyone. ]

[nysan]

[ One of the tree's branches shifts upward, just a tick; when the goddess speaks again, there is an almost incredulous tone to her voice. They might imagine her staring directly at them with one brow raised. ]

My dears...

[ Then there's a sound that almost sounds like a tsk. ]

There is so much... suffering outside of these woods. If I can take the souls who wander here into my protection... do I not have a duty to do so?

[ With great power comes great responsibility, or some such cliché. ]

[fiendennor]

Offering them your protection is one thing. Forcing it on them is another. [Diana says, softly. She's trying to not sound aggressive or judging. That's difficult.

Instead, she'll take a new tack.] Who are you?

...what are you? Some sort of spirit of these woods?

[1701]

[ Well meaning but patronizing; it reminds him of the Natha, which tracks with the curiosity he floated to the other two as they'd been walking, earlier. This level of power, if it is indeed generated by one being and not some collective effort of an 'enchanted forest', seems unprecedented for native magic. Could whoever's out here be one of the Orbiters, left behind? Something related?

He leaves Diana to it - her line of questioning is sensible. ]

[stuns]

[ god the little "tsking" sort of note in the disembodied voice makes it even worse on top of the fact that this strange entity is definitely not something you can just point and shoot right at. for now, he'll keep his eyes trained on the pair looking down at them, theia tracking every movement carefully.

the tone of diana's voice, carefully chosen but... strong is something juno knows he can count on at the very least. being out of his depth isn't a place he enjoys being in after all, but hopefully diana's knowledge of magic is going to get them somewhere in terms of what this being is and how exactly she works into this forest, what part she plays in this world. ]

[nysan]

[ A soft noise of ... confusion, perhaps, comes from the knothole in the tree, and then the softly glowing eyes vanish once more.

The grass at their feet rustles, and when the voice comes again, it seems to come from below them. Should they look down, they will see the faint image of a woman's face in the grass, eked out by the breeze. ]

I am every leaf, every flower, that grows in these woods. I am the trees themselves, I am the creatures that thrive here.

I am Barthala.

[ The face in the grass looks puzzled. ]

And who... or should I say what, are you?

[fiendennor]

[Diana's eyes dart from the knothole in the tree when the voice comes from below them, and she takes a half-step back in surprise to see the woman's face in the grass they're standing on. It reminds her so much of Professor Woodward, of her own ancestor, Beatrix-- but this spirit is not just an ancient, powerful witch. No, she seems like so much more. An embodiment of an old forest. Familiar yet not at the same time. Diana nods her head, inclining in a polite bow, and hopes that the men with her will follow suit. Whatever this thing is, they don't want to anger it-- her.] My name is Diana Cavendish, the last descendant of Beatrix the Kind. I am a witch who seeks to understand what is happening to my friends and compatriots and to return them to normal, if possible. We mean you no harm. [Best to be respectful when dealing with something like this.]

[1701]

Captain James Kirk, of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, [ he says, as polite and formal as he would meeting any dignitary. ] Though I'm a mechanic and member of the Coalition here on El Nysa.

[ Times change. ]

[stuns]

[ juno peers over diana's shoulder the moment she makes it clear that there's something on the ground. the movement of the grass is irregular, shaping itself into the shape of a face that addresses them. he squints a little before squaring out his shoulders. ]

Juno Steel.

[ half a beat: ] Private investigator. [ he'd say it's a pleasure, but.......... ]

[nysan]

[ There's another sound, and this time it is one of interest. ]

A witch, a captain, and a private investigator... Ah, what a fascinating grouping. It sounds as though the world outside these woods has... changed.

[ The goddess sounds willing to listen to them, at least, although her expression in the grass does not change. ]

Tell me of El Nysa's Coalition.

[fiendennor]

I imagine you aren't accustomed to changing much yourself. [Diana says, not breaking eye contact... with the ground. Gods, that's weird. But something like this, something this old, almost certainly isn't the type of entity to change at anything more than a glacial pace. The question, though, makes her pause. She's been busy with her own research, so hasn't paid more than cursory attention to political relations.] Well, it's... it's doing all right, I would say...? [She says, glancing over her shoulder at the men. Ball's in your court, guys.]

[1701]

[ Jim addresses the ground, and steps back a bit to facilitate ... something, her physical comfort doesn't seem like a relevant factor, but it feels polite not to step directly on the image of her face. ]

The Coalition was formed during the height of tensions between Wyver and Olympia, [ Jim explains. ] Proposed by someone like us, displaced from afar. It's meant to be a way to come together and cooperate, to forge peace for everyone. It's definitely taken a hit lately, but I'd like to believe we'll carry on with that ideal.

[ If Jim has anything to say about it, anyway, they will. ]

[nysan]

Ahhh... quite the interesting concept...

[ Barthala, for her part, sounds equal parts curious and confused about the very idea. ]

In all the years before I slumbered... such a thing was never brought about. [ From the sound of it, she missed a lot of things while she was sleeping. ] Do you believe that this Coalition of yours can protect those who have wandered into my woods...?

[fiendennor]

[Thanks, Jim.

Diana's brow furrows, and there's a slight edge in her voice when she speaks again. There's a contraction in what this entity is saying...] "Protect" them? You were talking about how the people in your woods were happy, earlier-- but now they need to be protected?

[A brief pause.] Protect them from what?

[1701]

[ Protect them from being abducted and transformed or memory-wiped?

--would be a rude question. Jim decides he'll hold back and wait for the answer to that, as it's an important distinction. Happiness is not safety, and if there's a specific threat, maybe they can help. ]

[nysan]

They are happy, here... protected from the dangers far from these trees.

[ The breeze rustled the grass at their feet, causing the impression of her face to disappear for a moment or two. Another breeze, and she was back. ]

...if I am to release them, to return them to the lives they lived before, as you are asking of me... I must know that they will be safe in your care.

[fiendennor]

[Diana glances back at the men, and it's clear right now that she's frowning.] I'm sorry, but-- with all due respect, what gives you the right to make that demand of us? We are not the lords and rulers of Olympia or Wyver or Nadril, or even our fellow refugees. We are travelers who sought information and found you. That the three of us might earnestly wish for the safety of all our compatriots doesn't give us the power to guarantee you this thing. Did you ever ask any of them? Did you offer them a choice between sanctuary or freedom?

[1701]

[ When Jim chimes in it's gentler, but still firm: ] We're not asking you to release them into our care. We're asking that you release them for themselves. You've taken their identities from them.

[ She asked them who they were, and was intrigued by them. Their distinctiveness and individuality was presented, and accepted as interesting and - important? Hopefully that counts for something.

(Meanwhile, he half-glances towards Juno, because if this is going to go south it's probably going to be now.) ]

thanks for your patience!!!

[stuns]

[ the half glance is met, just barely, because really this isn't a bargain. these people aren't barthala's to just scoop up and decide she wants to save. ]

He's right. They're only happy here because you went and changed them yourself. You've got to give them the choice because I bet if you do, some of them are going to say they were better off before you decided to take them.