[MU] - I'VE HEARD YOU SCREAM IN YOUR SLEEP

[story_teller]

[The night of May 27th, in the familiar avenue of your dreams, you will finally receive some manner of explanation for the catastrophic mishap that has struck the local network of Stones of Farspeech.]

[The Storyteller is, unsurprisingly, harried in their delivery of this news. Perhaps their stress will be evident in the shape they have currently chosen to assume.]

- stories. I need stories to fix this. I'd not realized things had grown so dire. The monthly upkeep was not enough to sustain this ever-growing, ever-changing fabric, and so I'll require your stories. They may be past or present - it does not matter, but the sooner you can offer them, the sooner I can fix this! From as many different people as possible! Variety is critical. One story from ten people will be more helpful by far than twenty from one!

I...I will fix this. I can fix this. I only need your help to do it. The more I can accrue...

[A moment of consideration, and then - ]

Ten. Ten at the minimum. Ten should stabilize this. Twenty-five will ensure it will remain stable for the next three months. Fifty, and it will remain stable for the rest of the year.

Without your aid, I will be unable to make this right.

[If your character wishes to donate, they may comment to the corresponding top-level below. To ensure that no one goes bankrupt, we will impose a five story limit per character - and only two stories can be used to stabilize the network immediately.

If your character wishes to converse with the Storyteller, they may also do so.]

Comments

[deathfindsaway]

[He exhales a sigh, something feeling like the tail end of a bitter laugh.]

I... had that experience, as well. The younger self that ash made me... remembered my parents faces. Names. I had sisters I don't even recall existing now.

[He's recalling the memory of memories, the retelling of what Ren told him that he parroted to her from a place in his mind he can no longer access. It stings, but he has tried to ignore it. What hope does he have of getting them back?

Kravitz thinks it would open more wounds than it would close.]

It is the nature of time. But even that sorrow has it's place. If... even if it was not meant to happen. I have seen much grief, but all anyone can do is work through it without trying to break open a world.

[story_teller]

[...what?]

[If there is a blip in the static fabric of a world like this one, it is soon smoothed away, like waves rinsing over a sandy shore. Soon, there is no sign whatsoever that it was ever there.]

[You said it yourself, Kravitz.]

[It is the nature of time.]

I know well the nature of such a thing. But a world like this one cannot endure under such stress. Not with all that it must hold together. Not with all that I...must hold together.

[deathfindsaway]

[What, indeed.

It's like he feels it instead of seeing, or remembering, a hitch in a sense given by a god, a stumble-step through universes, like his soul went somewhere his body didn't. What just... happened, what was that--

He takes a breath, tries again.]

Must you hold it together alone? Is there anything we can do to lift the burden? There are even fellow gods on other islands, or magic we have found-- surely, there is something.

[story_teller]

You are already aiding me, by offering your stories. Merely by living, you are doing much more than you know.

[That is the one thing that dead memories cannot do.]

The others can...help, to an extent, but only to an extent. Few of them specialize in stability, and it requires my power and attention to bring them into a state that can be communicated with as well.

[deathfindsaway]

Right... right.

[He is so used to turning to a powerful deity when his magic fails him- but it's just them, running this show. It's not the kind of reprieve he wanted to give.]

If there is anything I can offer- even just a place to grieve- I am more than welcome to provide. I have overseen the passing of millions of souls, and while I'm sure there are differences in our worlds, I am happy to assist.

[Not happy to be... sad, of course, but. He's trying.]

And uhm, of course, providing stories as we go.

[story_teller]

It is kind of you to offer.

[They don't...suggest one way or another that this is an offer they will accept or not. Perhaps they are still undecided. Or perhaps they don't mean to impose anything in the short term when they cannot say with confidence whether they will require it.]

I suppose we will have to wait and see. As always.

[deathfindsaway]

Of course.

[He wants to keep them as healthy as he can, with whatever is in his power. It's just... better for the world, not to mention all else.]

Please, let me know if there's anything else I can do. even just to lend an ear. And I will donate to this cause, as well. Best of luck getting this resolved.

[story_teller]

Thank you, Kravitz.

The doors to my temple are - I hesitate to say "always" open. [After all, the last event proved that they would not always be.] But under most circumstances, they are.

The offer is mutual.

[deathfindsaway]

Of course. I will endeavor to visit more frequently.

[That's not a question or a promise, just a fact now, aka expect him every 7 days or so to just come make sure they're cool and also I got you this from the Denny have a story GREAT. Kravitz, you're becoming the bird mom now.]

I'll see you soon.