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Lore:Ecdysis: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "{{Verbatim}} thumb|300px|right|Ecdysis '''Ecdysis''' is a Lore book introduced in ''Joker's Wild''. It tells the story of the Awoken Titan...") |
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She is standing in a crowd of thousands when Mara Sov tells the Awoken about the dying world they abandoned. The idea sucker-punches her—one crippling jab to every tender part of her. For four sleepless nights, she can scarcely draw a breath without gulping. She holds her silver jar to her forehead, focusing on its cool constant weight, and knows that she must leave. | She is standing in a crowd of thousands when [[Mara Sov]] tells the Awoken about the dying world they abandoned. The idea sucker-punches her—one crippling jab to every tender part of her. For four sleepless nights, she can scarcely draw a breath without gulping. She holds her silver jar to her forehead, focusing on its cool constant weight, and knows that she must leave. | ||
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She does what she can. In quiet hours and fragmented conversations, she becomes an unconventional counselor to the would-be queen. | She does what she can. In quiet hours and fragmented conversations, she becomes an unconventional counselor to the would-be queen. | ||
When the first fragile attempts at rebuilding society run afoul of the Long Unquiet Night, then the discovery of the Traveler and the Fallen, and then inevitably turn to riot and desertion, Nasan goes to Mara again to pledge her services. "Let me go after them," she begs, not a day after the proclamation that they all hear in their skulls instead of their ears. "I don't mean to change their minds or convince them to come back. I just—" | When the first fragile attempts at rebuilding society run afoul of the Long Unquiet Night, then the discovery of the [[Traveler]] and the [[Fallen]], and then inevitably turn to riot and desertion, Nasan goes to Mara again to pledge her services. "Let me go after them," she begs, not a day after the proclamation that they all hear in their skulls instead of their ears. "I don't mean to change their minds or convince them to come back. I just—" | ||
"Then what DO you mean to do?" Sjur asks curiously. Mara watches her with ageless patience, waiting for her to find the words. | "Then what DO you mean to do?" Sjur asks curiously. Mara watches her with ageless patience, waiting for her to find the words. | ||
Nasan purses her lips. "I want them to understand that you are—that you—that you are good. That you aren't what they think." Seeing Sjur bristle, she holds up her hand. To her relief, Mara makes a slight warding gesture as well. "And if they know that and still wish to live apart from us on Earth, that's fine. That's their choice." | Nasan purses her lips. "I want them to understand that you are—that you—that you are good. That you aren't what they think." Seeing Sjur bristle, she holds up her hand. To her relief, Mara makes a slight warding gesture as well. "And if they know that and still wish to live apart from us on [[Earth]], that's fine. That's their choice." | ||
"I don't need them to understand that," Mara says softly. There is the faintest husk of grief in her steady voice. | "I don't need them to understand that," Mara says softly. There is the faintest husk of grief in her steady voice. | ||
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On the day her [[Ghost]] resurrects her, she asks him for a name and he calls her Orin. He asks her for a name and she calls him [[Gol]]. Marrow-deep instinct drives that decision; she could not declare its etymology if someone held a knife to her throat. | On the day her [[Ghost]] resurrects her, she asks him for a name and he calls her Orin. He asks her for a name and she calls him [[Gol]]. Marrow-deep instinct drives that decision; she could not declare its etymology if someone held a knife to her throat. | ||
Gol explains that there is a settlement a few days' walk to the east, that there is no road, and that the wilderness is regularly patrolled by | Gol explains that there is a settlement a few days' walk to the east, that there is no road, and that the wilderness is regularly patrolled by roving aliens who will try to kill them both. As he speaks, Orin looks around. They are surrounded by a young forest vivacious with birds and clouds of gnats. It is impossible to imagine that a deadly alien might be lurking somewhere nearby. But Gol found her. Gol knows more about the world than she does. She trusts him. | ||
She scavenges the leaf litter until she finds a fallen tree limb. "Will this help?" she asks him, testing its heft. He twists his wings, puzzled. "...Against the aliens," she elaborates. | She scavenges the leaf litter until she finds a fallen tree limb. "Will this help?" she asks him, testing its heft. He twists his wings, puzzled. "...Against the aliens," she elaborates. | ||