[Day 2, Night - A House South of Town]

[direstnews]

[Written into the ground alongside one of the houses to the south of town tonight are a series of strange letters, forming a rough circle near the wall. A figure of approximately Loki's build, not there during the day's exploration, leans against the wall at the corner. The door to the house is open.]

[Some hours after the sudden switch from day to night, Loki stands in front of the door, a candle before him, a kitchen knife in one hand and a spoon in the other. He checks the mirror set carefully in the darkness, nothing yet visible in its surface. Then he strikes the knife with the spoon's handle, and he holds his breath - and he waits.]

Comments

[direstnews]

[R-rubs at his ear but is kind of just looking at you.]

The creature had been cheated recently in its dealings, by one who's done me wrong, as well. I'd the ability to grant it what was promised.

[soul_sister]

And that'd be?

[direstnews]

A tale. It deals in tales.

[soul_sister]

So what's the catch?

[direstnews]

There is none. It would have had its tale and I mine.

[soul_sister]

[A sigh.]

And the thing that did come through? Any ideas about it?

[direstnews]

Its power must have been immense. The Tellers... they dwell beyond the tales we live. They craft the stories of ones such as us.

[soul_sister]

So you're telling me something sort of took over a thing that creates reality.

[direstnews]

As you say.

[soul_sister]

And you were going to trade stories with it.

[direstnews]

Had it the tale I needed.

[Stepping back out of ear-pinching range.]

At the outset, though, I'd hope that the Teller but suffered some passing ill.

[soul_sister]

[It really looks, for one dangerous moment, that she was going to lunge for it again. Instead, she stretches widely.]

Come on, lets get you cleaned up.

[direstnews]

[Shakes his head.]

I've things yet to see finished.

[soul_sister]

Like?

[direstnews]

I would see the circle gone.

[He goes to rub it out with his foot.]

And take in those things yet left behind.

[soul_sister]

[Yeah... she'd already taken a good part of it out to let her tinydemon out.]

Hey... you know we're here to help, right?

[direstnews]

It's not as though I've carved it in stone.

[He begins to wipe it away with a foot, made faster because you've done some already.]

Behold: success.

[soul_sister]

....

Uh huh.

[direstnews]

I've a remarkable talent for erasing words written in soil.

[soul_sister]

[You get a snort of laughter as she lets it go. She drops a hand on your head and ruffles the cowl.]

All right. Hurry up, hurry up. We need to beat midnight back.

[direstnews]

[Going to get what's left of his stuff that you guys didn't break and then attempt to retrieve the torso, to end up with Shader carrying it, instead. That done:]

That's the whole of it.

[soul_sister]

[Is helping to steady Tempest at the moment. She nods at you at that.]

[direstnews]

Have you strength enough to hold her?

[soul_sister]

That and then some. I may not look it, but I'm pretty impressive.

[direstnews]

Then I leave her to your hands.