- Location
- Somewhere.
We're still a Bloomling, or else Deific Fragment Harvest would not have included us. Probably.
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It's a Girl's World -- And Lilly wants Adventure
- Thread starter Slyvena
- Start date
- Original Mature Fantasy Action
- Location
- Europe
I don't think you have to be anything to have a Deific Fragment. But, because we are bloomlings, we were born with one. Also, it may have been fused with our flesh due to Evie's actions.
- Location
- Somewhere.
You don't have to be anything to have a Deific Fragment, plausibly, but we got one by being a Bloomling, and I don't think that anything Evie did necessarily changed its nature, rather than the expression of it.
- Location
- San Ramon, CA
Auntie Aurora: I'm sorry that I've disappointed you, dear, but I want you to know that I'm still so proud of you for trying to do the right thing. Here, have one of my hearts to help you along your way. Good luck!
Mother Flower: Rejoice, for you are now in the prescence of the Infinite branching petals of Conviction, The Bloom which touches all, Her glory transcends, Her beauty unrivalled: Flower. ...You may kneel now.
- Location
- San Ramon, CA
Lilly: ...Look, can you give me some explanation for what the hell is going on?
Flower: All in due time, child. First, you must prove your dedication to my cause, in the hopes of being declared my Champion. Your first quest shall be-
Lilly: Oh, hells no.
Flower: ...I'm sorry?
Lilly: Hello, my name is Lilly Silas, and unlike with my mother and whoever else you've done this spiel to, meeting you is NOT the biggest thing that's happened to me. My first miracle was being ripped apart and put back together right before I got my first Ethos. My first sense of fathomless mystery was seeing Essence for the first time. I've met Evie, the Child, that black spirit that was inside Valerie. and, oh, right, the Goddess Aurora. If you were hoping to just coast by on just "showing up", then I'm afraid you're mistaken. Now, if you want to HELP me, I'm willing to talk. But if you're just going to give me the runaround, expecting me to play along in the hopes of gaining your "divine favor", the answer is No. I've got a lot of things to do, and very little time to do it, so what can you do to make this worth MY while?
Flower: ...Interfacing with me for our conversation will grant you two expansions for [Dream within a Forest].
Lilly: ...I'm listening.
Edifier
Trusted within thoughts.
- Location
- Court of Moon Wizards
The one line that guarantees the grinding of Lilly's teeth, certenly. Even had a chance to pick up one of those Manoth inverted ethos related to it.
It's what she has been told her whole life. It'd certainly push her buttons. Also reminds me that that is also what the guard captain told Lilly when she asked what he was planning. But as votes are going, Lilly will confront him with that in the next meeting.
Edit: thinking about it more. Flower might be Lilly's best bet for her questions about ehoses, their destinations, inversion, tower, foundational things, sources, concordance, end of the world, what it means to be a bloomling, what it means to be a demigod, paths to bringing back Micha and its obstacles, Valerie's situation, the world beyond Harrumph, maybe even details on Sebastian Waters, helping Evie. Potentially teach Lilly spellwork and how to properly use her powers, or give hints and instructions on how.
Major factors being how long Lilly has with Flower, if she wants to help, if she wants things in exchange, if they can even properly communicate.
Thinking about Lilly's character. She values knowledge, so she would in theory be willing to do a lot for it.
Accepting NULLERROR's game, being given a practical lesson on the inner workings of concordance definitely was a major part why she ended up agreeing. Win or lose, one of her hearts desire get satisfied.
Shame Lilly can't ask Flower about him. That would definitely piss him off since he asked his involvement be kept secret.
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Edifier
Trusted within thoughts.
- Location
- Court of Moon Wizards
Actually... I think he is MAW's sublet. Like Evie, a child he said.
Like we suborned the Soul Maw into Hybrid Syphon. Which was probably like a mark of allegiance to the maw source, or whatever entity governs it.
But from Evie's actions Lilly became an independent entity of her own.
In the end spoiling the game the 3 had going on.
Lucky for Lilly that it's more interested in being entertained rather than doing what it ought be doing. Much like lil Evie in that regard.
So Lilly now has a trial, a quest, a heroic ordeal by the MAW's sublet. If my guess is right. And be rewarded generously if she passes.
As for the poem, what if it refers to the entities themselves? Tho I bet it's nothing important as he said.
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- Location
- Head in the clouds
So - uh hi. I read through the thread marks all in one day - though I did start skipping the discussions so I'd actually finish today. Going to be going back to see what's up. Probably should just bring a notebook with me as I do that.
So - yeah.
Also it says everything about how the day went that informing everyone that Mynah needs a place to stay is so far down the list of concerns. We kinda just invited Mynah and would be convincing the parents to go with it. But uh - yeah.
So - yeah.
Also it says everything about how the day went that informing everyone that Mynah needs a place to stay is so far down the list of concerns. We kinda just invited Mynah and would be convincing the parents to go with it. But uh - yeah.
Oh wow
Welcome, and don't worry. I think we all had similar reactions when we first picked it up, and it's something that I'll feel at the end of every new chapter. Though I can only imagine how that feeling grows, as the story lengthens and people read it all in one go.
I'll just say that it's not a bad thing if you feel a little lost and overwhelmed. We're all aboard the Lilly!Train, and it's full steam ahead for the foreseeable future.
Thebigpieman
I've got this, I think.
- Location
- United States
Welcome to the deep end. It's uh... good stuff but a terribly unpleasant situation all around.
Interlude 2.2 - Paved with Good Intentions : Part 1
Slyvena
I don't like pie.
- Location
- Pie Shop
Interlude 2.2 - - - - Paved with Good Intentions : Part 1
2 Moons Ago
"The deep maroon shading across the lake's surface symbolizes both the depth of the House Nireile's strength as well as our willingness to spill our blood in the defence of the realm," Valerie said with a haughty tone, "Or some hogwash like that."
The girl broke into giggles as Thomas gooed and ahhed at her face, completely ignoring her spiel (taken verbatim from her mother) and instead trying to put his sister's hair in his mouth.
"No Thomas, gross," she chastised her baby brother, bouncing him on her hip as they walked away from one of the many alfrescos that decorated the halls of the Nireile family manor. Going between all the more exciting paintings and sculptures could occupy the better part of two hours, even though Valerie was reasonably sure she'd memorized every brushstroke and divot through sheer repetition.
Valerie wasn't allowed to leave the grounds alone, ever. And it seemed like the only times her mother considered it worth her time to go anywhere else (accompanied of course) was to Plays or Balls or other similar tripe. She wasn't old enough to actually participate in a dance anyway, so it amounted to standing next to her parents looking 'oh so refined' and doing nothing for what felt like two thousand hours.
Was she envious that the opposite would be expected of Thomas? A little. He'd be expected to continue the martial tradition of the family, and not be some forgotten caretaker or administrator as her function would likely be.
It was funny to imagine her baby brother as some powerful warrior or mage, holding back the Goblinoid menace with flame and steel. His innocent wide eyes took in everything around him as she waddled (he was getting a bit big to carry) between the various corridors and rooms. The murals and depictions of her family's great past the closest she'd ever get to living them.
It all came down to Ethea. Valerie was late. Thirteen and a half with no inkling of one approaching. Officially, they could come as late as sixteen (or perhaps even longer) and everyone was sure she'd receive an excellent Ethos. Unofficially, father had already stopped paying for the Lotusing ritual six months ago, she was no longer a prospect worthy of the cost.
No, she'd be married off into some bastard branch of the family and politely not mentioned by anyone ever again.
Squirming with frustration, Valerie couldn't clench her fists properly when she was carrying Thomas, but that was sort of the point. Just about the only time that she could let go of her anxiety these days was with her brother. Aside herself and Thomas, mother and father had five children before Valerie. But none of them wrote her from the academy anymore, it was clear they could see the way the wind was blowing and were distancing themselves too.
So the only immediate blood relative that didn't look down on Valerie as an embarrassment was currently trying to chew her hair again. She didn't bother to stop him, the melancholy had firmly set in.
Perhaps the worst thing was the knowledge that Thomas would learn the way things were in the fullness of time too. Whatever closeness the growing boy may feel for his sister now would eventually wither on the vine as the weeks turned to years.
'Oh well,' Valerie thought to herself as they meandered through the last unexplored wing of the manor for today. 'I'll still be of high birth, and perhaps having a husband won't be so bad.'
Technically, it was unbecoming of a lady for Valerie to be carrying for her brother herself even for an hour or two; that was the wet-nurse's job. Her Governess Shallia would certainly forbid it (already had in fact) had she known, but Valerie knew a secret she didn't think anyone else in her family quite understood.
'The Help' were people too.
Of lower birth, sure. But they were still human.
It was quite amazing what one could get away with when 95% of the people in the manor all conspired to help you. Just about all the commoners liked Valerie and she was rather partial to some of them too. So Shallia would never find out that Thomas' wetnurse was having a break, because neither she nor they would ever tell the woman. Valerie did need to be careful, she didn't actually have the run of the place, but she did have enough small freedoms to stop herself going insane.
"Okie dokie, I think it's time to get you back where you belong," she whispered in her brother's ear, booping him on the nose much to Thomas' squealing delight and laughter. "Can't have anything out of place when mother and father return."
She knew when her parents were expected home merely because she was expected to be there to present herself any time they returned to the manor, that their frequent absences helped her have times like this to freely roam the halls instead of practicing the numerous skills and duties necessary to shape her belated Ethos was a detail she was happy to leave known only to herself.
'Sigh,' Valerie let out a long breath, 'Eventually I'll be married and lack even this little freedom. Hmm, at least I won't have to see Thomas learn that he should forget about me. This really is as good as it will ever ge-'
Hello Valerie.
2 Moons Ago
"The deep maroon shading across the lake's surface symbolizes both the depth of the House Nireile's strength as well as our willingness to spill our blood in the defence of the realm," Valerie said with a haughty tone, "Or some hogwash like that."
The girl broke into giggles as Thomas gooed and ahhed at her face, completely ignoring her spiel (taken verbatim from her mother) and instead trying to put his sister's hair in his mouth.
"No Thomas, gross," she chastised her baby brother, bouncing him on her hip as they walked away from one of the many alfrescos that decorated the halls of the Nireile family manor. Going between all the more exciting paintings and sculptures could occupy the better part of two hours, even though Valerie was reasonably sure she'd memorized every brushstroke and divot through sheer repetition.
Valerie wasn't allowed to leave the grounds alone, ever. And it seemed like the only times her mother considered it worth her time to go anywhere else (accompanied of course) was to Plays or Balls or other similar tripe. She wasn't old enough to actually participate in a dance anyway, so it amounted to standing next to her parents looking 'oh so refined' and doing nothing for what felt like two thousand hours.
Was she envious that the opposite would be expected of Thomas? A little. He'd be expected to continue the martial tradition of the family, and not be some forgotten caretaker or administrator as her function would likely be.
It was funny to imagine her baby brother as some powerful warrior or mage, holding back the Goblinoid menace with flame and steel. His innocent wide eyes took in everything around him as she waddled (he was getting a bit big to carry) between the various corridors and rooms. The murals and depictions of her family's great past the closest she'd ever get to living them.
It all came down to Ethea. Valerie was late. Thirteen and a half with no inkling of one approaching. Officially, they could come as late as sixteen (or perhaps even longer) and everyone was sure she'd receive an excellent Ethos. Unofficially, father had already stopped paying for the Lotusing ritual six months ago, she was no longer a prospect worthy of the cost.
No, she'd be married off into some bastard branch of the family and politely not mentioned by anyone ever again.
Squirming with frustration, Valerie couldn't clench her fists properly when she was carrying Thomas, but that was sort of the point. Just about the only time that she could let go of her anxiety these days was with her brother. Aside herself and Thomas, mother and father had five children before Valerie. But none of them wrote her from the academy anymore, it was clear they could see the way the wind was blowing and were distancing themselves too.
So the only immediate blood relative that didn't look down on Valerie as an embarrassment was currently trying to chew her hair again. She didn't bother to stop him, the melancholy had firmly set in.
Perhaps the worst thing was the knowledge that Thomas would learn the way things were in the fullness of time too. Whatever closeness the growing boy may feel for his sister now would eventually wither on the vine as the weeks turned to years.
'Oh well,' Valerie thought to herself as they meandered through the last unexplored wing of the manor for today. 'I'll still be of high birth, and perhaps having a husband won't be so bad.'
Technically, it was unbecoming of a lady for Valerie to be carrying for her brother herself even for an hour or two; that was the wet-nurse's job. Her Governess Shallia would certainly forbid it (already had in fact) had she known, but Valerie knew a secret she didn't think anyone else in her family quite understood.
'The Help' were people too.
Of lower birth, sure. But they were still human.
It was quite amazing what one could get away with when 95% of the people in the manor all conspired to help you. Just about all the commoners liked Valerie and she was rather partial to some of them too. So Shallia would never find out that Thomas' wetnurse was having a break, because neither she nor they would ever tell the woman. Valerie did need to be careful, she didn't actually have the run of the place, but she did have enough small freedoms to stop herself going insane.
"Okie dokie, I think it's time to get you back where you belong," she whispered in her brother's ear, booping him on the nose much to Thomas' squealing delight and laughter. "Can't have anything out of place when mother and father return."
She knew when her parents were expected home merely because she was expected to be there to present herself any time they returned to the manor, that their frequent absences helped her have times like this to freely roam the halls instead of practicing the numerous skills and duties necessary to shape her belated Ethos was a detail she was happy to leave known only to herself.
'Sigh,' Valerie let out a long breath, 'Eventually I'll be married and lack even this little freedom. Hmm, at least I won't have to see Thomas learn that he should forget about me. This really is as good as it will ever ge-'
Hello Valerie.
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- Location
- Who Knows Where
Valerie, you poor thing.
I wonder if Thomas and the rest of her family are still alive.
Interlude 1.1 suggests Governess Shallia is probably a goner. Possibly her parents too, not sure.
Edit: The part of her narration about 'The Help' implies Aboleath perverted Valerie's natural talent for getting along with others. An Inverted Oath Ethos feels more and more likely.
I wonder if Thomas and the rest of her family are still alive.
Interlude 1.1 suggests Governess Shallia is probably a goner. Possibly her parents too, not sure.
Edit: The part of her narration about 'The Help' implies Aboleath perverted Valerie's natural talent for getting along with others. An Inverted Oath Ethos feels more and more likely.
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Thebigpieman
I've got this, I think.
- Location
- United States
Oh no.
grommile
nasty-minded old cynic
- Location
- NERV-Mercia
- Pronouns
- Traditional/Animate
I'm not sure what word you were intending to put here. "nonsense" would be a good one.
"trollop" means "prostitute" or sometimes just "vulgar woman".
Probably "Tripe"
- Location
- United States of America, Michigan
Hmm since he's expected to fight the goblins I assume this means Valeria and her home are somewhere in Loilsv since that's the major human nation bordering the goblins and I doubt any other nation would really care about the goblinoids preferring to think of it as a Loilsv problem. Would wager they in the part of Loilsv closer to the goblins than not too for similar reasons.
The family motto referencing a lake makes me think they'll have one in the Nireile family lands. Maybe the lake near Faelin and Rosetak? Farther away from the goblins than I would expect but there isn't any other lakes in Loilsv than the one further north near Ricelelight and Vanlake but that'e even further away and away from both Goblins and Lily which makes me doubt it's the lake in question
- Location
- PA
That's no good. I bet the Maw had her maul the entire manor and the surrounding towns...Which almost offers a potential hiding-spot for us- if we can track her trail backwards, we might be able to mysteriously set-up shop in the borrow-show she left behind.
ESPECIALLY if we manage to do so without anyone tracking us there (Waters needs dealing with before then or he'll just blow our cover!). Now sure I could see some random merchant stumbling upon a once depopulated town suddenly repopulated speaking about some kind of Goddess but that's just our heads up it's time to leave.
ESPECIALLY if we manage to do so without anyone tracking us there (Waters needs dealing with before then or he'll just blow our cover!). Now sure I could see some random merchant stumbling upon a once depopulated town suddenly repopulated speaking about some kind of Goddess but that's just our heads up it's time to leave.
- Location
- San Ramon, CA
And now it's time for today's Terrible Thought.
Valerie is trapped within the Dreaming Tree as {Rest State} slowly peels back the layers of self-modification. These memories reenter her mind. Oh, she's aware of what happens next, of course. Retaliation against the governness that only saw her as a problem to be managed. Revenge against her parents that would reduce her to coin for political capital. The promise of greater purpose ahead. But it's been a while since she recalled a memory from back then so vibrantly. All the little details start to fill in, like a faded painting being refurbished, or recognizing a song that you hadn't heard in a while.
...Strange, though, why wouldn't she remember that she had a baby brother?
Valerie is trapped within the Dreaming Tree as {Rest State} slowly peels back the layers of self-modification. These memories reenter her mind. Oh, she's aware of what happens next, of course. Retaliation against the governness that only saw her as a problem to be managed. Revenge against her parents that would reduce her to coin for political capital. The promise of greater purpose ahead. But it's been a while since she recalled a memory from back then so vibrantly. All the little details start to fill in, like a faded painting being refurbished, or recognizing a song that you hadn't heard in a while.
...Strange, though, why wouldn't she remember that she had a baby brother?
Edifier
Trusted within thoughts.
- Location
- Court of Moon Wizards
Aboleth tempted her into murdering away her problems, and when murder caused emotional pain, mind wipe away the memories that cause the pain. Simple enough.
I wonder if NULLERROR's poem talked about Valerie and her family.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
You know that, and I know that, but did Past!Valerie know that?
Who would tell her?
It depends. It sounds like Aboleth had her making a beeline for, well, us, or at least our general direction. And Valerie's powers got rapidly worse and wilder as she went along. And I'm pretty sure she couldn't use her power on herself at the beginning, either, so she might have been only inflicting ghastliness on people she didn't like at first, given that she didn't totally melt down right out the door.
I infer. I think. I speculate.
This is a viable hypothesis, though I'm not 100% confident of it unless the QM says "confirmed."