[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

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

Why?

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

I'd imagine the one who crafted it has some fondness for dogs.

How should I know?

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

You are the one claiming to communicate with animals.

But enough distractions, I think.

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

Only the ones that speak.

And what I'm claiming is to have found an ersatz dog that works.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

Yes, fascinating, but I want to know more about what you've summoned.

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

It's in my room, you know.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

What you've summoned? Unlikely.

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

The dog.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

Also unlikely.

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

I thought we'd discussed the impossible already.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

And yet you would be the first to successfully bring an animate object with you, ersatz or otherwise.

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

He's not a product of my home. I came across him in one of the houses south of town.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

And why were you there?

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

...to prepare for this night's events.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

Which were?

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

I wished to speak to a creature known as the Teller of Tales. I called it here to me.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

Teller of Tales?

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

Beings that dwell beyond the tales we live. They craft the stories of ones such as us.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

[ ...... that's a weird ping ]

And? You can communicate with such a creature?

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

[Nods.]

By means of an ancient spell.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

Show me.

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

You saw the aftermath. Would you have me cast it again?

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

Hardly. But surely you can describe the process.

Re: [Some time later]

[direstnews]

The words I derived from an ancient tome. At the time of casting, they are carved upon the ground, and then metal is touched to metal. The one who would converse with the Teller concentrates to make it so, and then the creature arrives in answer to the calling.

Re: [Some time later]

[beeductionist]

What does one typically offer such a creature?