(my apologies my missive was so long it had to be continued...)


You follow Shokufeh north to Peaceful haven.

Shokufeh lifts her hands, palms skyward, and she smiles gently.

Peaceful haven (indoors).
This large, open chamber is inhumanly picturesque. The grey stone walls have been smoothed into a
near-reflective state and, rather than the rock or sand floor one might expect, green grass
flourishes underfoot. From a large opening overhead, a shaft of virginal light bathes the space in a
blanket of warm white light, highlighting each blade of grass as the breeze causes it to dance and
sway. Along the northern face of the cavern a natural trough has formed, filled with crystal clear
water that trickles down from a small hole five or six feet up the side of the wall. Brindolyn
Xanatov, Merchant Librarian is here. She wields an efflorescent deep sea fishing pole in both hands.
Shokufeh is here.
You see exits leading south and west.


Shokufeh says, "On the east wall, next to the water wall and the trough. That is where the door to
the oasis is. It is not currently open, and is vacant."

Shokufeh sits on the grass in the virginal light despite the night outside. She smiles and invites.

You nod your head emphatically.

Brindolyn removes her boots and sits in the grass.

Shokufeh abruptly stands to check something in the corner of the cavern.

Shokufeh moves to a corner of the cavern, where a semi-circle of five bivalve shells have been set
into the grass, evenly spaced apart. There is, on the left, a lavender crassatella. To its right is
a grey cockle, then a white lucine, and then a tan coquina. At the right end of the semi-circle is a
pink tellin.

Shokufeh returns and sits again in serenity.

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "If I understand this properly, when we fail to see the stars at
night, we should come find you here."

Shokufeh says, "Be welcome here. Speak. My lips have moved far too much to the point of rudeness."

Shokufeh says, "Yes. That would be a help to all of us here, I think."

Shokufeh nods softly.

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "What symptoms have you observed accompany having our power
leeched? Do people lose memories, skills, experience? power? Would we even notice?"

Shokufeh says, "There are amny who know of this threat to us. Many also come and go over the decades.
"

Shokufeh says, "There mifght be subtle signs, but also please realise that I have never personally
experienced it. The Many Colours described a feeling of being trained, followed by a boost and
exultation, with a euphoric feeling of accomplishment."

Shokufeh says, "I would guess that a rapid, universal increase in gain might be a sign."

Shokufeh says, "Grander promises of accomplishments, and an increase in wars---anything that gets
people to -spend- power--."

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "In your opinion how imminent is this threat? Because we do
expect a rapid universal increase in gain in three short months as the divine have promised us
improved results to our hunting."

Shokufeh says, "I understand. Because of that understanding I very recently went to the Wall in
Hashan, and enterted the darkness of the nearby ether. I drifted. I detected no sign whatsoever of
the threat which I describe."

Brindolyn says with a thick, Dwarvish accent, "But these all sound like things happening every day.
Training and feeling accomplished. Every novice as they learn their skills. More wars. The wheel to
spin, granting GREAT gains to some indeed!"

Brindolyn nods at Shokufeh's words, visibly relaxing a little.

Shokufeh says, "A number of p[eople aided me back in 555AF, at the confluence of the ficve fives,
anticipating a development. Nothing occurred."

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "You said all these gains were false. If I tell people 'you may
see an increase in your power' they may be tempted to take advantage of it. Are you saying that
should we ever bore the Lost Name and it leaves, that gained power would be lost? In other words,
the temptation to grow in power is weakened by a promise that it can be robbed from them or taken
once freed."

Shokufeh says, "Indeed, nu-me Brindolyn. The Lost Name is insidious, and purposely replicates the
patterns of the locals, to avoid suspicion. Nearly perfect, in my view."


Shokufeh says, "But I see no evidence that we are in any immediate danger. Truly. My vigil has been
long and empty, but I have no complaints as the event would be far worse, and my value remains
intact."


Shokufeh says, "I walk last, with no regrets. it means that I never have to look behind me to see if
anyone got left behind."

Shokufeh lifts her hands, palms skyward, and she smiles gently.

Brindolyn hrmphs. "Could we just send Babel to visit Lost Name, and let them destroy each other deciding
who gets to suck all the life out of us?"

Shokufeh says, "Curious idea. Once upon a time I thought my beloved Oneiros, the deity of peace
whose temple was right here, was immortal. He perished in 611 AF, and here I am still. So I think
that we should not be fooled into believing that deities themselves are indestructible."

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "I know of many who would gladly allow the Lost Name to feed upon
them if it meant they grew rapidly in power. What is the risk to them? You said they would not die.
This sounds very attractive to people, if they retain their power."

Brindolyn nods at your words.

Shokufeh says, "The Lost name is not of our form, or mentality, or substance, however. And yes,
there would undoubtedly be those who would cast their lots with the Lost name for power. A concern."

Brindolyn says with a thick, Dwarvish accent, "A very BIG concern!"

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "What is the downside?"

Shokufeh says, "I will not wish to dictate to others the courses of their lives. I can only offer
what I have without judgments."

Brindolyn says with a thick, Dwarvish accent, "So what is the cost if someone throws in with The
Lost Name? to them?"

Shokufeh, to answer, goes to the wall with the trickle of water and places the flat of her hand into
it, searching for what sound like ancient messages.

Shokufeh says, "Four times the Gomnaam's awareness washed over me, as if slightly irritated, but He
had no regard for things that exude no power of the type that he desires. He continued his work time
upon time while I was there, and essentially He has developped a fragment of His Realm as a copy of
Achaea, complete with lesser entities of our lands such as vendors, who seem to be nothing else than
empty shells in His realm. There is no Minia, nor Valley of Lodi for example, though, in keeping
with the idea that he has no interest in who and what does not have power. Maya Oda's hand and grace,
of course, do not reach there, either. Third Touch."

Shokufeh says, "It was 544 AF in the Achaea when I left in order to determine what the Lost Name
Gomnaam was planning in detail. You must understand that regarding Proteus Oda of old, Entropy and
Dischord, the Forsaken Realm is likely not entirely distinct from Creation, and neither physical.
Therefore, I expect that I am in some way still in the Divine Lands--to a degree. My sleep pattern
and need for it seems to confirm this. I departed from the Chamber of Peace, so that is where my
body should be. Second Touch."

Shokufeh says, "It is quite good, actually, the replica that is. No, replica is not quite the word,
because it must come from us, overlap us, or someway be interconnected. Alternate? Co-domain? But
there was no night or day, only blinding white at variable intervals of time and jet black in-
between. Had there been a Moon, it would have illuminated the darkness. With no known possibility of
return to Creation and Achaea, acceptance of condition must become pervasive at last for those
brought there. The Gomnaam stood gazing over his crop of ripe snappy dragons. Fifth Touch."

Shokufeh says, "12th Eros 549 A.F. Friends have determined that the oasis overlaps the Chamber of
Peace. It means that that is where you will find me. There are three doors here, and three there, if
I recall, and one locked, as it is here--the way back to the Forsaken Realm. Friends use the trough
of water on the wall to aid in our communication. Try it!"

Shokufeh concentrates, bring old-messages-in-bottles to the surface.

Shokufeh says, "Rorri me ht nis ihturt 32."

Shokufeh murmurs, still searching, concentrating. Words in other tongues float.

Shokufeh says, "I will wait here as long as I deem that I should, in order to hold the door open
which leads back to Achaea, should the Moonrise Prophecies with the Gomnaam come to pass. Perhaps
this task was constructed by our loving deities to validate the value of each and every blessed life,
regardless of power or achievement, rank or species or station, or complete lack thereof. But I
think that love and friendship are validations in their own rights too! Nevertheless does one door
empty from the Forsaken Realm to here only, a second door leads from here only back to Achaea, and
the third--it is for me. I do not know to where it goes, but it is for me, this I know. It will open
when the issue of the Prophecy involving the Gomnaam and Moonrise is closed, whether it comes to
pass or not. The date must be the 5th of Fifth month in 555 AF, the Five Fives. It is possible that
anything may happen regarding the prophecies before that date, but that is the time that the third
door will open for me, and I must tarry no more at the oasis, because I believe that this Respite
will cease to exist after that time. I am so very glad of your being with me, and I smile with love
for you at all the wonderful things that you will be and do with the life breathed into you. Take
care. Peace. Moonset. Signature Touch."

Shokufeh withdraws her wet hand, very tired.

Shokufeh says, "The moonrise prophecies. Forgive me now, I am exhausted."

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "My problem here is that in communicating your message, some will
hear the solution and safety and others will hear, if I stay I will become very powerful and cities
will remain unprotected. It would be like Logosmas to those people. If I hear your memories I
believe the downside is an eerie reproduction, a loss of reality. For me it would be the loss of the
stars. I think there are those who would embrace this alternate reality. Therefore in the telling of
this encounter with you I must be wise and discerning in whom and how I share it. I thank you for
your sharing it with us. I do not know that you could have picked a more apropos audience as my love
of Nature combined with my peaceful attitude makes me very grateful of your offer."


Shokufeh smiles a fatigued smile, very softly.

You say to Brindolyn in a calm and quiet voice, "I should fetch some water for Shokufeh."

Shokufeh says, "Blessings upon the adom and the nu-me. Your ears have given service to your friends
and all the Divine lands. The words, of course, are for you to reflect upon and to do with as you
wish. peace."

You give a snow blossom vial to Shokufeh.

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "Drink, replenish."

Shokufeh says, "There are allies in this thing who know. They will aid."

Brindolyn leaves to the south.

Shokufeh takes a long draught of champagne.

Shokufeh gives a snow blossom vial to you.

You laughingly say in a calm and quiet voice, "It's a little stronger than water."

Shokufeh says, "Thank you, adom. It is not for me, though I tasted it."

Shokufeh smiles apologetically.

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "I thank you for your service to our kind, and for your message
and I will endeavor to communicate it wisely."

Shokufeh says, "I think it is a matter of no immediate concern, but there is this: I have had
whispers of late, especially since the loose conduits, the elementals and the tash'la, that I should
"abide.""

Shokufeh says, "I will not wish to become complacent, deegeh. Thus."

Shokufeh says, "Be welcome here to come visit, for my vigil is lonely at times, and I am in the
world but not of it. You understand, Lord Alessandro adom."

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "I do."

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "Thank you."

You have emoted: Alessandro bows slightly.

Shokufeh says, "Thank you. may the eastern stars give you bounty in life and in spirit. Moonset,
until our currents flow together again."

You say in a calm and quiet voice, "Before I leave, will you be okay? safe? I hate to leave someone
in such a weakened condition."

Shokufeh dips her chin, smiling.

Shokufeh grows still and her lips begin to move silently.

A distant song wafts past your ears; a perfect melody that enchants and captivates. You close your
eyes for a moment to savour the Orphean serenade. When it finally ends, you open your eyes and
regretfully return to surroundings mundane in comparison.

Shokufeh is enveloped in translucent fire for a moment and is gone, her soul safe until she returns
to Achaea.

=======================================
summary:

There is a non-imminent threat to all of Achaea. The symptoms are that we no longer see the stars in the sky, and also maybe that Minia and youngling areas disappear. Also likely are sudden an unexpected power gains. When this happens, Achaea is in danger and the solution is to find Shokufeh, enter with her help into a safe Respite realm until the danger passes. Fighting the danger will only make it stronger, the solution is to remove ourselves from their attention. Shokufeh can help with that.


Penned by my hand on the 8th of Chronos, in the year 768 AF.