Landing Events - 2019-04-18 - Black-maggot-mail (log)

Olaesta 18-19, 5119

by Leafiara Autumnwind of the [[::The_TownCrier|TownCrier]]

Summary

Heralded by tiny maggots moving throughout the Landing, Naimorai returns and confronts a group in the mayor's office. After briefly taking on the appearance of Silvean Rashere, she tells Mayor Lylia Rashere that the burden falls on the current mayor to keep those against her in line, telling her to keep out of her business--then sends a ruby and silver scarab, colored to match Lylia's wedding band, to burrow into her arm. With her threat made, Naimorai leaves, crumbling into a pillar of maggots.

Highlights

Pukk quietly says, "Maggots are just little babies that are unloved..."
Speaking to Pukk, Lylia says, "Not all babies deserve love."
Pukk [over the amunet]: "This just in. Lylia admits that babies deserve death!"

Falvicar removes a black-eared silver hedgehog from in his gossamer sack.
Falvicar gingerly sets a black-eared silver hedgehog on the ground.
Falvicar quietly says, "Eat it."
A tiny black maggot skitters along the ground.  Then another.
Falvicar quietly says, "Eat them."
Falvicar stares at a black-eared silver hedgehog.
Falvicar quietly says, "Eat them."
A black-eared silver hedgehog suddenly rolls onto its back, a small blade of grass clutched tightly between its two front paws.  The hedgehog happily munches on the blade of grass with its tiny, pink mouth.
Falvicar quietly exclaims, "Not the grass blades!"
Falvicar quietly exclaims, "The bugs!"

Balley softly says, "I wonder what she really wants."
Pukk quietly says, "She is a imp...what does a Kestrel always want? Trouble."

Speaking quietly to Raelee, Pukk says, "While you are a imp, you are growing on us...pretty soon...I might even be able to make you smile and laugh....but that is far off."
Speaking bluntly to Pukk, Raelee says, "No."
Speaking quietly to Raelee, Pukk says, "You say no but your eyes say......oh they say no too..."
Pukk quietly says, "Thought for sure...."
Raelee stares sternly down her nose at Pukk.
Pukk quietly says, "Aha...I think that was a almost smile."

(Xorus nudges toward the black maggot with his boot.)
Speaking in Faendryl, Xorus says, "It looks like someone lost their hair."
Gavrien stares at Xorus.
Gavrien scowls at Xorus.
Gavrien folds his arms tightly across his chest, clearly annoyed.

[The following two aren't shown in the log below since the discussion afterward went on for quite a while. Rather than editing it all, I just pulled these lines out...]

Lylia quips, "I have witnessed more than enough insects, after all. I used to deal with Demyse all the time."

Xorus says, "She said the burden was on you to keep them in line."
Xorus says, "You could wake Koar himself to do it and it would still be impossible to stop Thadston from going after her."

Log

More Maggots

[Town Square Central]

This is the heart of the main square of Wehnimer's Landing. The impromptu shops of the bazaar are clustered around this central gathering place, where townsfolk, travellers, and adventurers meet to talk, conspire or raise expeditions to the far-flung reaches of Elanith. At the north end, an old well, with moss-covered stones and a craggy roof, is shaded from the moonlight by a strong, robust tree. The oak is tall and straight, and it is apparent that the roots run deep. You also see an herbal remedy donation bin and some stone benches with some stuff on it.

A tiny black maggot skitters along the ground.

Shinann says, "That did not look normal."

[Town Square, East]

Here in the center of a broad plaza near the commercial area of the bazaar stands the impressive facade of the slate-roofed Moot Hall, where the citizens of Wehnimer's Landing hold various official, religious and social functions. Facing the square are some of the town's more prosperous shops, still doing business with the many customers who still frequent the streets at night. You also see a snow white raven that is flying around, the seaweed-covered Altheren disk, an arctic wolf that is sitting, a large purple wooden barrel and a bone-framed bulletin board.

Altheren darkly says, "I see it."

Ysharra says, "I did indeed."

Lylia says, "Yes. Vile things."

Altheren darkly says, "Tiny."

Pukk quietly says, "Maggots are just little babies that are unloved..."

Speaking to Lylia, Ysharra says, "Spikethorn is a bit messy. But fast."

Balley softly says, "I saw a black maggot run in front of me."

Speaking to Pukk, Lylia says, "Not all babies deserve love."

Pukk quietly says, "But the truth is....they are tasty."

Lazaryth quietly says, "Could have been faster."

Altheren darkly says, "There was just one here."

Thrassus says, "It was just a single one, however."

Altheren darkly says, "Just one...so odd."

Speaking to Lazaryth, Ysharra says, "I know."

Balley softly says, "Who is it following."

Leafiara muses, "Well, it's not too surprising. There could be a few strays elsewhere."

Balley softly says, "I saw it west of here."

Pukk: "This just in. Lylia admits that babies deserve death!"

Berkana says, "You know, they make a very satisfying pop when you step on them."

Lylia says, "Where there is filth, there are maggots. Clearly, we need to clean the streets more thoroughly."

Balley softly says, "At least I do not have blood red eyes today."

Speaking coyly to Balley, Leafiara asks, "Tempting fate?"

Altheren darkly says, "Hrm."

Speaking to Lylia, Ysharra says, "Corruption and decay, too."

Balley softly says, "Last night my eyes flashed blood red."

Bernadette softly asks, "Wheres the gnone an the brush?"

Altheren darkly says, "Maggots can also clean away filth and decay. Leaving the flesh to heal."

Lylia admits, "They serve their purpose, yes."

Zosopage says, "I sure don't want any more of them things inside me."

Falvicar quietly says, "Maggots make great meals for my hedgehog."

Speaking quietly to Altheren, Pukk says, "And they are tasty."

Speaking to Falvicar, Lylia says, "Good. Then let it feast."

Bernadette softly asks, "Do they do good fer fishin?"

Speaking quietly to Bernadette, Pukk exclaims, "Right!"

Falvicar removes a black-eared silver hedgehog from in his gossamer sack.

Falvicar gingerly sets a black-eared silver hedgehog on the ground.

Speaking to Bernadette, Lylia says, "Yes, they make excellent bait too, or so I hear."

Speaking quietly to Bernadette, Pukk exclaims, "They are good for fishing! I forgot about that!"

Falvicar quietly says, "Eat it."

Speaking quietly to Bernadette, Pukk exclaims, "They are good for fishing because they are tasty!"

Speaking to Gavrien, Ysharra says, "I was asking after your health, that's all."

Pukk quietly exclaims, "Do you all see the common theme? They are tasty!"

Speaking to Ysharra, Gavrien says, "Still kicking."

Speaking to Gavrien, Claede says, "Wear your third-least favorite boots, I'd suggest."

A tiny black maggot skitters along the ground. Then another.

Falvicar quietly says, "Eat them."

Balley softly says, "Yuck."

Altheren darkly says, "Ahh friends."

Madmountan exclaims, "Maggots!"

Thrassus says, "They are gathering."

Balley softly says, "MORE of these things."

Tarine mumbles, "Oh, not this again."

Berkana says, "Gross."

Saranja: "Any invasion signs?"

Falvicar: "Falvispike, the hedgehog won't eat them maggots and other bugs..."

Altheren darkly says, "They have their place."

Pukk: "We are being invaded by maggots!"

Leafiara: "Some tiny maggots, but no cause for concern... yet."

(Xorus nudges toward the black maggot with his boot.)

Speaking in Faendryl, Xorus says, "It looks like someone lost their hair."

Shinann says, "They do."

Gavrien stares at Xorus.

Gavrien scowls at Xorus.

Gavrien folds his arms tightly across his chest, clearly annoyed.

Balley softly asks, "Why are they still here?"

Speaking to Balley, Leafiara speculates, "Maybe they're new ones just birthed last night."

Lylia says, "A good question. And black. The usual color for such creatures is a pallid hue."

Falvicar stares at a black-eared silver hedgehog.

Falvicar quietly says, "Eat them."

A black-eared silver hedgehog suddenly rolls onto its back, a small blade of grass clutched tightly between its two front paws. The hedgehog happily munches on the blade of grass with its tiny, pink mouth.

Falvicar quietly exclaims, "Not the grass blades!"

Falvicar quietly exclaims, "The bugs!"

Thrassus says, "It's possible they are grubs and not maggots."

Caels asks, "So... why are we all gathered out here?"

Speaking to Caels, Leafiara says, "Enjoyin' the rain, of course."

Zosopage says, "To get out of the maggots."

Bernadette softly says, "We havin a discusshun bout maggots."

Speaking quietly to Caels, Falvicar says, "To feed Falvispike."

Lylia says, "I was just on my way in to see to some matters in the office when I felt something at my foot. I stopped to see, and..."

Berkana says, "Because we don't want the maggots to follow us into the Mayor's office."

Speaking to Caels, Ysharra says, "We're watching the maggots. It's better than some of the things we've spent hours doing."

Naimorai's Return

Passing through several people in the street, a slender woman walks through town, a green cameline cloak draped about her frame, its hood pulled back to reveal glossy midnight locks and slate blue eyes that scan the streets as she passes by. A wicked grin almost appears frozen on her face. She disappears among a crowd of passerbyes.

Berkana says, "They are hell to get out of her rug."

Lazaryth says, "Hm."

Balley softly says, "Who was that."

Caels says, "Oh... that reminds me, I gotta buy a floor for my home."

Altheren darkly says, "Frozen."

Balley softly says, "Who was that figure."

Xorus says, "I could have sworn that was Naimorai."

Balley softly says, "Did anyone else see her."

Balley softly says, "I have a bad feeling."

Neopuron says, "Aye, one stood out."

Speaking to Stormyrain, Ysharra says, "You always seem to be the premonition for the premonitions."

Berkana asks, "Can it be worse than birthing moulis?"

Speaking to Neopuron, Caels says, "No more birthing stuff for you either, Mister."

Speaking to Caels, Neopuron says, "I'm trying."

Lylia explains, "Naimorai is only one of her names. Some of you would know her by another."

Lylia says, "Rachel. Raznel."

[Presumably people continued talking, but at this point I broke from the group to search. I found nothing, but eventually all saw...]

From the window of the Mayor's Office of Moot Hall, a figure appears from within, pressing a blood-soaked hand up against the inside of the glass before stepping back out of sight.

[Moot Hall, Mayor Lylia's Office]

From a dais, the maoral desk and an ivory and velvet curule seat loom over two carved wooden chairs. Tapestry rugs cover the hardwood floor, their patterns complementing the arched windows flanking the desk. A stag's head stares at a panoramic fresco mounted opposite it. In a corner near the bar, a scarred witchwood perch rises to the high ceiling, while several feet away, a black iron stove rests against the west wall and is topped with a silver kettle. You also see a small maoral sideboard with some stuff on it, a maoral bookcase and a varnished modwir door.

Thrassus says, "Looks as tidy as usual."

A tiny black maggot crawls out from under the maoral desk then disappears into a crack in the floor.

Thrassus says, "Or not."

Lylia asks, "In my office!?"

Balley softly says, "Your office has bugs."

Lycurgus softly exclaims, "I knew it!"

Speaking to a snow white raven, Berkana asks, "Did Auntie Lylia put that perch in for you?"

Stormyrain murmurs, "That's not going to be easy to clean up."

Footsteps approach, seemingly from different directions.

Lycurgus softly exclaims, "The mayor's office is infected!"

Bernadette softly asks, "In the desk?"

Neopuron exclaims, "Oh there are bugs in here!"

Balley softly says, "Who is coming."

Lylia hisses, "You could at least keep them out of here. I was more civil to you, girl."

Berkana says, "Munin, look... yummy maggots."

Speaking to Lylia, Ysharra says, "Tea leaves and the Magister's assistance, perhaps."

Altheren darkly says, "Infestation."

Pukk quietly says, "They do look yummy."

Pukk quietly says, "Slimy yet tasty."

Balley softly says, "I am afraid to ask whose footsteps we hear."

Diamondelille says, "Ugh."

Balley softly asks, "Others heard them right?"

Lylia says, "Yes."

Seeming to emerge from the shadows themselves, a slender woman appears, draped in her green cameline cloak and her slate blue eyes staring forward, locking onto Lylia.

Bernadette softly says, "Aye."

Naimorai grins wickedly.

Naimorai gazes in wonder at her surroundings.

Xorus says, "Naimorai. You are looking well."

Speaking to Naimorai, Ysharra says, "It's been a long time."

Speaking mildly to Naimorai, Lylia asks, "You are many decades late with your lessons. Have you been reading well, and learning?"

Naimorai darkly asks, "Do you miss me...this way?"

Naimorai touches the side of her face, grinning.

Zaneon softly asks, "What in the weirdness is going on here?"

Naimorai darkly asks, "I wonder?"

Naimorai laughs!

Speaking quietly to Naimorai, Pukk says, "Oh hi! I have heard nothing but good stuff about you."

Naimorai cackles insanely, wild-eyed and drooling.

Speaking to Naimorai, Ysharra says, "I always did like the salorisa."

Altheren darkly says, "Hrm."

Naimorai darkly says, "Or would you prefer..."

Balley softly asks, "I have never seen you before, how do you normally look?"

Naimorai moves to stand in front of Lylia.

Naimorai leans forward.

Naimorai moves her hand from her face, her visage shifting briefly, to resemble Silvean Rashere, before her features return to normal.

Lylia breathes, "Oh, if you knew all you thought you knew..."

Naimorai darkly says, "The burden falls on you Lady Rashere....as the current mayor for now...."

Naimorai darkly says, "To keep those against me in line."

Naimorai cackles deep in her throat, her voice rising in chilling laughter.

Naimorai darkly says, "But..."

Lylia asks, "And whom do you believe is against you?"

Naimorai touches her arm.

Naimorai darkly says, "You might need some help..."

Naimorai leans forward.

Naimorai darkly says, "Keep out of my business."

Speaking to Naimorai, Shinann says, "No."

Lylia counters, "Then you should stay out of mine."

Falvicar quietly says, "Over my dead rotting corpse."

Naimorai reaches to her arm and her flesh peels open like a jagged wound and murky black ichor spills forth before a glistening dark scarab burrows out. She smiles wickedly, moving another hand over the scarab as it shifts and takes on a new color, that of ruby and silver, matching Lylia's wedding band.

Naimorai raises her hand up, and a ruby and silver scarab flies up out of her palm. The scarab flits directly toward Lylia, burrowing straight into her arm!

Naimorai laughs maniacally and slumps back, crumbling into a pillar of oily black maggots that break apart and skitter away in a dozen different directions.

Afterdiscussion

Berkana says, "Ew."

Izden quietly says, "Ew."

Neopuron says, "This place is going to be crawling with bugs."

Lylia says, "She is deliberately nettling me. Attempting to unsettle me. She has learned a few things, at least."

Speaking darkly to Lylia, Altheren says, "Careful of scarabs. They have a tendency of ending up in places they are not desired."

Speaking to Lylia, Thrassus says, "She just did more than that, I think."

Speaking to Lylia, Berkana asks, "What did you ever do to her?"

Neopuron says, "Maybe we can hire Maylan to get rid of them."

Balley softly says, "They make me itch."

Speaking happily to Lylia, Pukk exclaims, "Just think, next time you sit at your desk.....you might get a little maggot visitor that will want to crawl up your leg and keep you company!"

Speaking to Lylia, Caels says, "Don't mind him. He's thinking in terms of food, rather than creepy crawly."

Balley softly says, "Interesting."

Balley softly says, "I wonder what she really wants."

Balley softly says, "It was surely not to just visit."

Pukk quietly says, "She is a imp...what does a Kestrel always want? Trouble."

Zosopage says, "She's posturing."

Bernadette softly asks, "Why she feel the need to spread em bugs?"

Ysharra says, "She's seeking leverage."

Balley softly says, "At least she did not come because of me today."

Balley softly says, "I did not do it this time."

Lylia says, "It is not the first time someone has attempted to use my husband against me. Everything is a lever to some people, a means of moving others to their will."

Speaking to Lylia, Ysharra says, "It's not the first time they've made assumptions about your agency, either."

Xorus asks, "Cursed?"

Speaking quietly to Lylia, Izden says, "Don't let it bug you."

Speaking quietly to Raelee, Pukk says, "While you are a imp, you are growing on us...pretty soon...I might even be able to make you smile and laugh....but that is far off."

Speaking dryly to Pukk, Leafiara says, "Not in a human lifetime, no."

Speaking bluntly to Pukk, Raelee says, "No."

Lylia briskly says, "I am less concerned with what she does to me personally than what she intends for this town."

Speaking quietly to Raelee, Pukk says, "You say no but your eyes say......oh they say no too..."

Lazaryth quietly mumbles, "Stuffy in here."

Pukk quietly says, "Thought for sure...."

Raelee stares sternly down her nose at Pukk.

Balley softly says, "Interesting."

Pukk quietly says, "Aha...I think that was a almost smile."

[Conversation went on for a while, but a lot of it was whispered conversation.]