un: songbird ; forward-dated to later in October

[windsongs]

hi everyone!

I know that unlife has literally been A LOT for just about everyone here, and if you're still trying to recover then I completely understand! but for anybody who has the brainpower, I have a very big and very important ask, one I can't anybody else! It's gotta be you!!

[ Attached to this post are some photos ]

this big boy needs a name and I am beyond bad at this kind of thing!! winner gets naming rights and something special from me~ ✨🎁

he's also got a bunch of much smaller siblings that are looking for furever homes! they're all really cute but they need more space to hop around than what I've got. if you're interested I can take some pics!

Comments

[windsongs]

I'm not TELLING you a thing~ 😉

[ Instead, Cedrik will receive a picture a few moments later. ]

1/2

[heavenstorn]

[ What a strange looking kitchen--NO NOT THE BUNNIES!! ]

2/2

[heavenstorn]

[ Wait--she wouldn't do that... ]

I have a few guesses, now. [ That do not involve rabbit stew, he swears. ] You're a culinarian?

[windsongs]

[ CEDRIK NO! She doesn't even like rabbit! Probably!! ]

nothing that fancy
but I did pick up some baking back when I was in high school and found I enjoyed it
I figured I'd make the winner something simple!

[heavenstorn]

[ 'High' school...oh, so like, a higher education? Yeah that makes sense... ]

More's the pity I fell out of the running so soon! But if you need someone to, say, taste test the prize...

[windsongs]

[ He's a lick the batter off the spoon type of person, isn't he? Cute. ]

I guess it would be good to have someone try out the prototype 😊

[heavenstorn]

I would gladly volunteer. Of course if you need an aid in the kitchen I can do that, too.

[ He'll earn his keep! He's a good bun! ]

[windsongs]

oh yeah? you cook?

unfortunately I'll have to pass on that offer
this kitchen's for private use only~

[ Existing behind her Door and all that. ]

[heavenstorn]

It's a skill I picked up out of necessity at first, but in more recent years have been able to freely enjoy the craft.

[ Being behind her Door explains why it's so nice looking, though Cedrik wasn't going to pry...everything he's been able to find out in Stygia is well-worn at best and broken down at worst, especially around the harbor. ]

That's a shame. It's certainly the cleanest kitchen I've seen in this place, so I understand why you'd want to keep it hidden.

[windsongs]

I totally get that! baking's pretty cathartic to me so I can relate

and I appreciate it. sorry about that!!
I'll make sure to bring you something good though~

[heavenstorn]

No apology needed, truly! If there's ever anything else you need that isn't culinary in nature, seek me out. My name is Cedrik Reede.

[ He will, in fact, take payment in cookies. ]

[windsongs]

it's nice to meet you, I'm Hibiki!
so what do you mean by "anything else"?? you've got me curious!

[heavenstorn]

Honestly? Monster slaying most often, but we adventurers are known for taking on any sort of job. If it's something you cannot do alone, that is what I am here for.

[windsongs]

oh hey a fellow workaholic! 🍺
also what kind of adventuring are we talking here? I wanna hear all about it!!

[heavenstorn]

[ 'Workaholic'...Hibiki is expanding his vocabulary so much! ]

Far too many to cover here! But let me see...

It began with things like uncovering a pirate den, clearing hostile giants out of a mine, stopping a cultist ritual hidden within a catacomb, that sort of thing. After that it was defeating the summoned primal Ifrit whose followers had been kidnapping local smallfolk...

Mostly primals, actually, for a good length of time. Sprinkled in with ending wars and liberating city-states.

[windsongs]

[ Hey hook her up with some of that How to Deal with Cults 101 knowledge, she might need that in the near future! ]

whoa seriously?! I didn't realize you were a badass!!
but I guess I should ask what a primal is

but wow it sounds like you're a real hero!
I didn't think people like that actually existed!

[heavenstorn]

The credit is far from mine alone! That is the trouble with these brief missives, it's difficult to tell the whole story.

[ Especially since Cedrik is incapable of shorthand. ]

But since you asked...a primal is a summoned being of pure aether that gains strength through worship. Because they require so much aether simply to exist, if left alone they will gradually drain the land of life. Worse, they are capable of enthralling the minds of mortals, gaining new followers who will continue to give them worship and summon them again and again. It's a cycle we've only recently been able to break...

[windsongs]

[ Don't worry, Cedrik, she'll have you texting like a pro in no time flat! ]

yikes! so like a false idol situation, if they also hurt the planet as well as their followers
how'd you pull that off? since I imagine just fighting it and taking it down once won't keep one of their followers from repeating the cycle

[heavenstorn]

Unfortunately, until very recently, repeating the cycle was all we could do. A small number of folk have a gift that makes them immune to the Primals' control, including myself, but those that do not and were enthralled...for a long time there was no cure.

Now that a way of reversing the process has been discovered, it's opened the way for peace between the city-states and tribes that had resorted to summoning. That's the true key. Folk only turned to summoning out of desperation. Mend those bridges and there's no longer a need.

[windsongs]

that makes sense. any port in a storm you know?
but I'm glad that you were able to find a cure. hopefully those relationships between people aren't too badly damaged

was that what you were doing before you came here?

[heavenstorn]

Helping with peace talks, you mean? No, that was best left to actual diplomats.

[ They'd be pretty bad peace talks if he ended up dead during them. ]

It was enough to help make them possible, but the star had larger problems that needed confronting.

Basically, the world was ending. That's what I was fixing before ending up here.

[windsongs]

whoa! talk about high stakes. I can't even imagine what that must be like, trying to fight against the end of the world

[ Editor's note: hahahahahahaha ]

so I take it you're more of a fighter than a talker?

[heavenstorn]

It was intense! It's also a very long story, but I am certain we put a stop to it, so I have no regrets.

[ He has so many regrets. ]

And yes, definitely more of a fighter. Though I try to give folk a chance whenever possible...what of you, Hibiki? Have you ever had to learn?

[windsongs]

to fight?
I've been doing that basically since I could walk! 💪😊
mom needed something for me to channel all that toddler energy into

[heavenstorn]

[ Oh wow, he...actually had assumed Hibiki was more a civilian type. He only asked in an awkward attempt to steer the conversation elsewhere. But when Cedrik thinks about it, it's a pleasant surprise. ]

Truly? It's a good skill to learn, even if one hopes they'll never need to use it seriously. Your mother made a wise choice!

Have you kept up your training?