( video ) [ BACKDATED TO LATE ON 4/9 ]

[heelies]

[ What broadcasts over the network is the picture of a peculiar pair: Achilles and Helga, serious of countenance both, as is each's modus operandi. The metallic shell of the submarine's curved insides serves as their backdrop. ]

I should like to call to assembly the members of this crew, and I understand that this is the best means by which to reach the ears of all men, although it is more to my liking to see those to whom I give these words. It is Achilles, son of Peleus, who wishes to speak to you: I have journeyed, with a crew led by gold-clad Gilgamesh and fair-haired Kida, to the darkest reaches within the sea, which lie beyond where the imagination of men can fathom. I shall tell of that to which we have borne witness.

Down there dwells Ryba, the goddess of the sea, who is Nalanni's sister. She knows not to where Nalanni has gone, for her eyes cannot see beyond that over which she presides - but we have her reassurance that Nalanni who delights in volcanoes has not vanished in full from this land, for she would know if such a calamity has come to pass. We are told that sea and rock are anchored one to another, as life is to death: either both must make this land, or nothing at all remains. Therefore, hope has not scattered to the wind.

Wave-ruling Ryba soon grew weary of our audience, and although she welcomes supplications the price she demands is steep. It is imprudent to test the generosity of the gods. Thus we parted with little solved: still, the answers she granted ought to be shared among all.

[ Helga looks as if she would have loved to interrupt him a fair few times already, but she kept quiet in spite of herself until now. Achilles, for his part, looks none too thrilled at having to share the floor thus. ]

Ryba has not been straightforward in her answers.

[ Surely, she hasn't shot a sideway glance at Achilles when she said this. ]

What we gathered from her is that the Dakal have been driven to (or near) extinction by the Nalawi during the war between them. They had been "sent to the bottom of the sea", either literally or figuratively. It checks out, if I'm allowed to hazard a guess: on our way to Ryba's lair, we came across plenty of wrecked submarines, none of which seem to fit in with the near complete lack of technology on Komo and the other islands.

The goddess mentioned one specific Dakal, who sold her soul in order to return to the surface world. In the process, she may have been granted powers by Ryba herself, but we do not know what became of her, what those powers were, or if she did anything with them.

I have been told by the Nalawi innkeep that minor gods exist alongside Nalanni, albeit no one worships them here. Ryba proves that they are tangible to the point of concern, so I urge all of you to take great care during your exploration.

Comments

[dishearten]

There's got to be some way to contact her. Unless the Nalawi are right, and she's drained as much as the rest of us.

( it's a confusing conundrum, and he'd like to provide an answer, it just doesn't seem quite that easy. )

The price of a soul. I've heard of those being used as magical payments, that's dark magic by the definition of my world.

[heelies]

Indeed, it is one thing to spill the blood of men upon the nourishing earth when in the grip of battle, but it is quite another matter to slit the throat of woman or child upon the altar, that their blood - or the essence of their life, as the case may now be - can be offered up in payment for the benison of the gods. Such a sacrifice is cursed.

[Never mind that he maybe kinda sorta accidentally decapitated a dude in Apollo's temple. Totally different.]

By what other means can one contact a god, when prayer and supplication yield nothing?

[dishearten]

It seems to me you managed to talk to Ryba. Surely there's a way to speak to Nalanni, too.

( it just means getting to the volcano, and that's easier said than done. )

[heelies]

Indeed, but only if in her volcano she remains. Ryba could not confirm thus, but nor could she confirm to the contrary. Believe you that she still dwells in her volcano, although none have heard from her? Or perhaps she has hidden herself away in another volcano to recuperate while plague befalls the land.

[dishearten]

I have no idea, unfortunately.

( still, if one goddess had confirmed her existence, Nalanni had to be somewhere. maybe they just hadn't been looking deep enough. )

[heelies]

Perhaps there is among the cloven-footed Nalawi a seer gifted in prophesies and interpreting the signs of birds. All have been silent in this time yet surely there must be one who is skilled thus, and he might divine for us the intentions burrowed deep within immortal minds, or within the workings of fate itself. Could it be that such gifts too are depleted by this curse which drains the land?

[dishearten]

I'm not sure, but that's a good question. In my experience seers see nothing but a way to capitalize on fear, but I could be wrong.

( he doesn't have a lot of faith in Seers but frankly, he's never met one of decent repute. )

If the locals had a way to contact their goddess, though, surely they'd have done so already.

[heelies]

You misunderstand the nature of seercraft, far-shooting Graham. Although the gift is bestowed upon mortal eyes by Phoebus Apollo, it is not a means by which to contact the gods directly as one would when offering up prayers and supplications. Rather, those who are gifted in such a way gain insight as to what certain signs portend, that we may then know what approach to take - or they may be gripped by visions that tell of what has been and what must be as decreed by fate.

[dishearten]

Right. That might be the case in your world, but I'm not sure it is here.

( and it certainly wasn't in his. plenty of fortune tellers would be happy to take money in return for their "visions", which really weren't much of anything. )

If they had seers here, I'm sure they'd be utilizing their skills already. We'll have to think of something else.

[heelies]

Would that we knew more of this nation. As guests we are left in the dark as to the history of the Nalawi, the strife that in generations past has gripped the hearts of this race in its fierce jaws, the wars that have colored the nourishing earth in the blood of fallen heroes, the calamities that have rattled these volcanoes and battered the shores: of this we know but little. In these struggles perhaps lie more answers.

[dishearten]

(achilles, he loves you bro, but goddamn you basically have to set your whole day aside to have a conversation with you. )

The natives aren't entirely averse to conversation. They might be able to give us more insight. You're right, though, I wish there were a more reliable source of information we could turn to.