[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/acCZCUg.png[/img][hr]Jocasta [@Force and Fury], Yalen [@pantothenic], Ysilla [@Pirouette], Zarina [@YummyYummy], various NPCs.[hr][b][color=7ea7d8]Event:[/color][/b] Hugo's task [b]|[/b] [b][color=7ea7d8]Location:[/color][/b]Bedroom, Tethered Refuge, Torragonese High Desert.[hr][hr][/center] After another late evening and a sermon by Yalen, Ayla spends the opportunity to collapse upon the bed and start to sleep. The girl was barely out of her clothing as she crawled upon the top of it, sinking into the duvet. It seems like forever since she had the luxury of a good night's sleep, and with the promise of further disruption in the morning, perhaps she had a very real temptation to lock herself away completely for the night. Life has taken some unusual turns and in such a small space of time as well. The life of the student at the academy was active in the extracurricular department. Though, for now, she is at home in this room, with this comfy pillow, and nothing to do but rest and sleep for a long peaceful moment. [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePHnn3aU7jc[/youtube][/center] [color=C0C0C0][color=6B4D8A][i]Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.[/i][/color] Ayla grumbles as she is disturbed by it. [color=7ea7d8]”What is this noise?”[/color]. [color=6B4D8A][i]Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.[/i][/color] The repetitive ticking of a bell and wood coming together was relentless. Begrudgingly, she opened her eyes as she turned to look on the bedside cabinet next to her, peering at a pint-sized Ysilla looking down towards her, the workings exposed as it moved around in a manner similar to a marionette. [color=7ea7d8]”Oh, Ysilla, you surprised me.”[/color] She looks up towards her as the marionette puppet shifts its posture and expression as it communicates towards her. [color=6B4D8A][i]Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.[/i][/color] Ayla offers her a questioning look, [color=7ea7d8]”Fine, but it better be important to disturb my sleep like this”.[/color] She picks up the puppet within her arms as she makes her way towards the door and steps through it to enter the balcony back in Varrahasta. [color=7ea7d8]”See? Everything is how it should be.”[/color].[color=6B4D8A][i]Tock. Tock. Tock.[/i][/color] The puppet cranes its head as it appears upside down as it looks up towards Ayla, its arm rising in a stilted manner as it points in the distance as a dark ominous cloud seems to obscure the sky as it travels towards the docks. Ayla could feel a breeze upon her face as she swept the hair to the side, as it fluttered behind her. On the dockside she notices something, someone, a figure dressed in an usual blue. She starts to walk off the balcony towards it. As her feet walk through the air, she experiences a strong vibration sensation tickling the skin, the feeling as if she was standing on a piano during a concert. As she makes her way down these invisible steps, instinctively knowing where the next one is, hopping between them with a light bounce. Feeling mischievous, as she realises what is happening, she tries to step off the set route, soon distracted and misstepping to fall flat upon another platform. She looks up to the disapproving look of Ysilla glaring down towards her. [color=6B4D8A][i]Tick. Tick. Tick.[/i][/color] [color=7ea7d8]”You don’t have to give me [i]that[/i] look. It is not everyday you are walking on sound.”[/color] She starts to pick herself back up again, brushing herself down. [color=7ea7d8]”Since you are in one of those moods, let me show you something.”[/color] Ayla slams her foot down as the platform erupts in a bass drop, the pair of them propelling through the air, as Ayla waves her hands, smashing through platform after platform, feeling herself accelerating as she flies at increasing velocity. Ysilla cannot contain her excitement as her cog head continues to spin around in circles. [color=7ea7d8]”See? Knew you would like this.”[/color] The pair seem to grow heavier, a sensation as if they were turning into a solid lump as they were approaching some kind of invisible barrier, the air whipping around them. The platform ahead was now simmering to an extent that they could not clearly see through the other side. As they impact it their bodies seem to feel as if they were morphing into liquid as a massive eruption of sound breaks around them, then being flung forward faster than the speed of sound itself. At this point, Ayla is unable to communicate at all with Ysilla as the puppet seems to cling onto its hat. The water around her eyes evaporates, everything goes blurry and dark, passing out during the transit. Ayla suddenly shudders violently as almost falls backwards in her chair. The crowd of people looking towards her in a disapproving manner. King Sancho claps his hands together, [color=FFD700]”Glad you have returned to us, Señora Arslan, we still have important matters to attend to.”[/color], the others in the room laugh as she takes stock of what is going on around her. She only appears to know a few of these individuals by their reputation alone, but these are all powerful and influential figures of Torragon, including her own father and brother, positioned near the head council. It appears they are looking over a map of Sipenta, one that seems to shift as seasons pass. From what she can see, it appears that the world is truly at war as the borders are constantly shifting and changing. [color=6B4D8A][i]Tick. Tick. Tock.[/i][/color] The last rung is slower and sad. Ysilla puppet is sitting on the map where Virang is, showing a creeping line of a Torragonese advance. What is surprising is the sudden surge from Duque Frannemas, as he waves his hand as he seems to be almost suppressing Virang himself single-handedly, occupying the Hexiac nation. The Duque moves his hand over to place it upon Ayla’s knee, lifting up a glass in celebration, [color=CD7F32]“There is one who should truly take credit for this, my dear Arslan”[/color]. She looks up and around to see eyes are fixed towards her, a shadow cast over their faces, her father and brother… even the King. Duque Frannemas removes his hand with a condescending smirk, as he raises his arms as those present kneel down before him. As the Duque gloats in his accomplish, it was this moment the Ysilla puppet starts to wobble, moving in a very clunky marionette manner towards him as it falls apart, a white snake uncoiling and slithers towards the edge of the table, lunging forward to bite right into the man’s jugular, as he begins to wither and collapse upon the floor, gasping for his breath. Ayla hears sounds around her, parseltongue accent. [color=39b54a]“Silence brethren”[/color], [color=00a651]“Silence.”[/color], [color=39b54a]“The Sleeper has awakened”[/color], [color=00a651]“The Sleeper”[/color]. She looks around only to see herself surrounded in darkness. [color=7ea7d8]”Who are you?”[/color], the girl feeling very unnerved, as a rhythmic hissing and rattling permeates the air. The spice of the sand wyrm penetrates her nostrils. [color=39b54a]“We are those who slither in the dark”[/color], [color=00a651]“Slithering”[/color], [color=1a7b30]“Those slithering”[/color], [color=39b54a]“The dreamer must continue to sleep”[/color]. Bright blue serpentine like eyes appear in the darkness, glaring towards her.[/color] Ayla shifts her position as she turns, also turning the pillow over in the process. Pillow had dampness from her mouth as she appeared to be drooling. She sighs as she buries her face into that softness. [color=C0C0C0]She now finds herself in a greenhouse filled with a rich herbal aroma, a cup of Zeno Bucks coffee in her hand. [color=6ecff6]“You'n trippin on me already?”[/color], she turns to face a strange Yasoi woman. [color=6ecff6]“You’re in for a right doozy.”[/color] She feels herself passing out again. Ayla is walking through the dark cloud as she is overlooking the world below. [color=71100f]“Nid yw pethau byth yn newid”[/color], a strange blonde woman, the one from the docks earlier, is standing next to her seemingly taking observations below her. She turns to face Ayla, briefly examining the female before continuing on, [color=71100f]“Mae'n ymddangos eich bod yn anghywir”[/color]. Ayla is unfamiliar with this language, trying to indicate and return her speech in Avincian, [color=7ea7d8]“Who are you?”[/color]. The woman pauses for a moment, seeming to be almost as perplexed as Ayla looks yet somehow able to hold a stoic quality to her expression, as she seems to be pressing on some kind of board in front of her after this development. [color=71100f]“Aeronwyr. We have not had a speaker in here before.”[/color] The blonde continues to press upon her board as the glass below appears to disappear into darkness as she walks off to the side. [color=7ea7d8]”So… where are we?”[/color] as she looks expectantly towards her. The woman, Aeronwyr, seems to show the briefest of smiles before adopting a formality in her posture. [color=71100f]“Who, What, Where, When and Why”[/color]. She moves over as she seems to continue examining a strange array of all weird and wonderful objects. What Ayla notices most of all is a persistent buzz in the air, a sound that is ever present and unrelenting. [color=71100f]“The short answer to your question. You are not meant to be here.”[/color] Ayla rolls her eyes as the woman seems to state the obvious, [color=7ea7d8]”We were down there.”[/color], she gestures towards the blackened windows, the Ysilla puppet twirling its head around as it is sat upon the desk, its features missing vital panels though it appears as if it had tried to partially re-assemble itself. Aeronwyr puts down the board, as Ayla can see the colourful moving pictures upon it. [color=71100f]“You never existed. Because of the meddling, you came to be. All is not lost, the breach can be repaired”[/color], Aeronwyr seems to be pressing upon the board in a rather enthusiastic manner. [color=71100f]“You have to ensure the traveller doesn’t succeed. You have to take his towel. I cannot explain further.”[/color] Even the Ysilla doll looks terribly confused with its expressionless face at this revelation. [color=71100f]“May the Tridecagon be preserved. Sister protect.”[/color], Ayla tilts her head to the side to ask the most important question, [color=7ea7d8]“The Tri-what?”[/color]. Ayla is amongst a field filled with flowers, a canopy of colours similar to that of a rainbow. However, Ysilla has now fallen beyond repair next to her, the bell is not even giving its chirping ticks. She feels sad as she starts to brush away the dirt, making a hole where to place the disassembled pieces. [color=7ea7d8]”Thank you for always being by my side.”[/color] The puppet looks up with her expressionless face, though emotion in the air is sombre as the world responds to her. As she covers the puppet up, the remaining pieces unfold to reveal a seed which is watered and the earth patted down. The seed sprouts as a green shoot rises up into the sky, the stem forming bark as it grows width and mighty with the tree sprouting seven branches. Jocasta moves next to Ayla, looking up to admire the sight with her, [color=ffdead]“This is the earth tree, Ysdrasilla”[/color]. The girl moves her hand to point towards a little bud blossoming into a flower adorning the third branch. [color=ffdead]”That is you, my dear Ayla.”[/color] Ayla looks up at the tree in amazement and awe of its size, especially as five great trunks weave and intertwine amongst the branches. [color=7ea7d8]”What do those represent?”[/color], as she points them out to Jocasta. The blonde seems to demonstrate a blush as her cheeks grow rosy, [color=ffdead]”Well, a girl is allowed to have secrets.”[/color] [/color] Ayla shifts her position yet again as she senses the light already pouring into her room as the rays lay across her face, turning her back on them. She curls up under the sheet as she pushes back against the world. [color=C0C0C0]Yalen is sitting there reading a book as she looks up towards him, [color=7ea7d8]”How long have you been there?”[/color] she questions. The blonde boy continues to read after seemingly his chapter has finished, placing in a bookmark between the pages and closing it. [color=#FD5E53]“I have come bearing a prophecy.”[/color] The boy makes the sign of the pentad hourglass, placing his hands together in prayer. [color=#FD5E53]“You must eat your greens. I have spoken.”[/color] The door opens as an oversized tree of broccoli bursts through it. [color=007236]“TOOO LATEEE….!”[/color], if Broccoli had a mouth, it would show a very menacing right now, especially as she could feeling the murderous intent as it is now charges towards her, the world fading into darkness [color=C78A2C]“What is it with you and the blondes, kitty cat?”[/color], Zarina stands there looking towards her with those wide eyes and glossy thick black mane. Ayla moves over to stroke the horse along its neck in gentle affectionate caresses. [color=7ea7d8]”Apparently to save the world, one needs a towel and a stick of broccoli”[/color]. Zarina the horse gestures with its head for Ayla to heat up the coffee jug as she continues to listen. [color=C78A2C]”It is a problem. Where are you going to find a stick of broccoli in the desert?”[/color], Ayla has never considered this possibility before, turning inwards with her thoughts for the briefest of moments. [color=C78A2C]”Don’t stress too much, otherwise I would need to carry you on my back again.”[/color] Zarina gives a big neigh as she bumps her head into the side of Ayla. [color=C78A2C]”Get pouring that coffee.”[/color] [color=f49ac2]“Sand Wyrm’s use chemical magic to create a psychoactive dust cloud to confuse prey and predator alike”[/color], the mysterious figure walks around the bed as he seems to be pointing out various features of Ayla’s body as she is lying there asleep. [color=ed145b]“It is my belief that this specimen is suffering from short term exposure.”[/color], one of the others seems to be taking a closer look, [color=f6989d]“This one does appear to be healthy. At these levels of concentration, it shouldn’t affect her”[/color], [color=f49ac2]“Now that may be conventionally true, this one appears to be drug-naïve.”[/color] Other individuals appear to be taking notes as Ayla is watching the demonstration from afar in an out of body experience. [/color] Ayla grumbles as the morning bells within the refugio are ringing as her senses start to demonstrate some clarity, the vivid nature of reality overloading as everything appears to be crystal sharp and in focus as she drags herself from the bed and starts to make her way to the bath to prepare for the day. As the plans are starting to unfold, she does find herself in the centre of things to come within this facility. [color=7ea7d8]”Perhaps the children will distract me from those bizarre dreams…”[/color], as she walks out she notices something, a gift, seemingly left out for her on the bedside cabinet. [color=7ea7d8]”Huh.”[/color] [hr][hider=TL;DR Summary] Ayla is dreaming. See Collab entries in Force's post for story progression. [/hider][hr][hr]