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[The camera first focuses on Katherine's rather unimpressed and exhausted face.]

How am I supposed to understand most of this when it doesn't even cover a single thing I recognize? Blood, I know, everyone knows what it is and that it keeps us alive and losing it is very bad, but-...

[She turns the device around, and the image resolves from the blur of sudden motion as it auto-finds a stack of three medical books, ranging in target readership from roughly ages eight to twenty.]

But all of these break blood down into these...cells and things. What are these cells supposed to be? And phlegm and bile come from entirely different places and-...

...why does none of this so much as mention effects on temperament?

[The feed goes dark as the device goes face-down on the table, and judging from the sounds of it, Katherine's rested her head beside it. Her voice is muffled, in this case by her arms.]

Am I poking about in the wrong direction? Should I be looking at magic instead?

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My sister, the cells and all you speak are the great tragedy of life what can only be named...

[He speaks so solemn and sincere.]

blasphemy.

[He gives a sad nod.]

The sciencestiffs are always spewing such things to be denouncing the wicked truths. Magic is indeed that which you must seek.

Edited 2017-03-15 04:49 (UTC)

[She might be a little happier to correct this obvious error - she hopes it's an error, because any society who teaches its young to ignore verifiable fact is...well, not likely to live too long.]

Kurloz... [Her voice isn't any clearer - she has neither raised her head nor picked up the device. She's too tired to deal with this with any energy right now.]

You do know science is the foundation of truth which magic alters? Otherwise, mages wouldn't need to study potion-making, botany, zoology... How does science "denounce" anything?

[Well. This is not what he thought as going to happen.]

I... because... because...

[He thought it would help her to have someone understand, but it's she that doesn't fathom.]

Sister Katherine... the sciencestiffs would seek to propose no miracle the work of the Messiahs. They would propose there to be no miracle at mother fuckin all. The miracles are written into the mother fuckin mundane. The scriptures I study are hence named meaningless. No one hosts belief. No one believes when I tell what is to come. [He doesn't like talking about this. He hates this. He hates having to confess in such means. But at least she is not looking and therefore can't see his lack of mirth.]

I... I don't mind that they are atheists. It's okay. They're my friends. And the people around are to be looked after all the same as is the duty of any proper troll. But they seek to take from me all that I believe in, sister. I cannot have that. I wish it not to be. The faith is of importance utmost. It's how I will save this world! It is what has come to save me, sister Katherine, it's all I... [He doesn't finish that thought.]

Science has made it writ that all such belief is foolish impossibility. Not even Cronus believes me... But I know they're real, Katherine. The Messiahs and Minstrels and what's to come. I know all to be truth, no matter what science tries to say. I know the end to come.

...I care not if a troll should wish hurt upon me. I must say what is true. I must help before it is too late.

[His voice cracks thoroughly. He hugs his arms around himself. He wishes he had gone to text.]

I do not wish to discuss this, sister Katherine. I offer sincerest apologies to have upset you further. I shall take leave now, if this is preferential.

[There's a lesson in here. A lecture she's too exhausted to give, about seeing the world in absolutes and the harm that can cause. But even if she did have the energy, there's something he said there that grabbed her attention first.

Still, she can't go without at least giving the idea its due.]

Kurloz, science and magic can and do coexist. Both have their own ways of being true. So if you would like, tell me about this end - I will listen, if you want to speak, and I'll help with everything I know - magic or otherwise - if I can.

[After all, science and magic alike have no bearing on fate - only the ways in which they are used. It sounds like Kurloz's world is similar to her own, in the way magic is treated.]

[He still shies somewhat, a child scolded, but having been offered the chance to be heard he does ease. He has his doubts that both things could be true. After all, he's taken more than one fist to the face by wrigglers his age getting their disagreements hashed out. But Katherine isn't like them. She's not as aligned to his ways as he'd like, but she's still a friend. Friends don't hurt each other.

He breathes deep, not quite in the mindset for doom-saying in this particular moment. Even Mituna needed some readiness, he reminds himself.]

I am a prophet of the Messiahs two. I have been chosen by our most righteous Lord and Lady to communicate their mother fuckin will. I have perceived what is to come within my dreaming. Through my studies leisurely and copious I have aligned my knowledge to the truth of these visions bestowed. Further, my moirail has been blessed with psionic ability which allows him to know the voices of those soon but sure to perish and I have heard the cries through the holy fear.

[They had meant merely to hang out that evening, stay over for the day. It was to be a night of game and revelry. It was also unfortunately a day where his daymares gained new layer of terror.]

There is to be a reckoning. It approaches swift and shall arrive with my friends' reaching of six sweeps. Fire shall rain from the sky and all shall be reduced to ash beneath the unholy hailing. My people shall burn and perish yet only just begin upon the suffering that is to mother fuckin come. The universe itself shall give into great calamity from forces beyond. The Vast Honk shall come before the end is nigh, inviting the inevitable. Magic shall unlock itself from the remains of my kind. The Lady may weep for us but she may do nothing for prophecy has writ that soon comes a turn in the working of the world.

[He turns his eyes down.]

I do not understand the writ describing, but there appears an unbalancing to come by the Mirthful themselves. Shangri-La comes in reach yet is further than ever before, as with the Minstrels and Messiahs two. I do not know what this means.

[He of course, has a thousand guesses, but the truth is, he knows less than he would like. His brows start to furrow and for once, he doesn't hide his genuine upset at this all behind a smile.]

It has been the same dream repeatedly, but I have yet to reach it's end. Each time brings me closer to knowing. I see the end. I see the calamity. I see it all come apart and a descent into the dark follows. I know there is something that which awaits me, or perhaps it is I who waits for it, but I do not know...

[He looks up at her again.]

I have sought to elaborate the dangers! I have warned of this coming! Yet unheard I remain! I have pleaded even to the seadwellers, the only royalty above myself, but I have been told there is no such coming to be according to their facts, scanners, and studies. I have been told the Messiahs are fakes! But I know... I feel it is coming... [He shakes his head.] Meulin and Mituna are the only who will hear me. I have read perhaps that this undoing is wrought by our own treachery but I wish it not to be so. [He blinks fast but he won't allow himself to cry.]

If the royalty won't believe you, would your church? Do they have-

[She has to stop and think a moment. Royalty condemning the church as fake means there's a rival religion that's more predominant? Kurloz's sect is probably an outlier, then.]

...Is there any way they can help you?

[Entering one's dreams was unheard of, more or less - though all Thedosians who dreamed dreamed in the Fade, they almost never encountered one another, so vast was the other realm. There were supposedly ways, but they all involved magic she'd rather not tamper with, or more lyrium than she would ever be able to gather or use on her own.

Otherwise, she'd have taken a look, herself.]

[There is little in the way of other faiths, but indeed his sect is small and obscure enough to still occasionally be called a cult by that definition. Even with all his indigo brethren, there are only so many indigo. For some reason, perhaps because the others lack that same connection as the blood of the family, the church does not typically extend outward, and not without effort.

He knows he's put in plenty.]

I do not know. [He admits this with a shuffle of feet.] I would propose perhaps that... we organize. All my kind ought to come together at once. We must seek some manner of escape or prevention. Surely we must have the psionic power or the technology... [But there's no point if they will not organize.]

I am acquainted with the young heiress of Beforus. I have sought to commune with her prior so that I may then appeal to the empress herself. But Meenah... [Detests him? And everyone? No not quite that. She's just... very callous. The good is in there, he's sure. Inside. Deep, deep inside.]... is disagreeable. My efforts were for naught for she would not hear me and she has further absconded to the mother fuckin moon in fleeing her very own ancestor, rendering moot my attempt.

[He has not spoken so much of this topic in this particularly despairing way, save with Mituna. He needs to smile. He needs to calm. But it is so hard. He bows his head instead, hiding face.]

The family has sought to appeal where it can but not all have read the signs as such that I've seen them. The holy visions of this particular sort thus far have been mine the motherfuck alone. I... I have not spoken to the Grand Highblood of this. I wish not to disturb His Levity.

[As for the dreams, he's sure they'll just keep coming.]

Edited 2017-04-04 04:52 (UTC)

[Sounds like a ranking priest. She might as well push him the direction of someone sure to at least believe the underlying principles.]

He might have the best insight of all into how to go about responding to this. Would he be well-versed in dealing with people outside the church?

[If not...well, she might need to go with Kurloz to this Beforus, herself. Show their royalty visible, measurable magic to prove there might be things out there they don't know yet. In her study-exhausted state, it almost sounds like a good plan.

Just not her first choice.

She's good and well entrenched now; she's used to taking on other peoples' problems without a word.]

It has been proclaimed that the reigning Highblood and the Empress could be considered tight mother fuckin homies. He is the head of the church and the highest of landdwellers, thus presumption would be that he is most righteously well connected. He has further dealt with a number of cooler blood as part of his duty to cull and care for those fallen the motherfuck wayside. He can be... difficult to interpret, especially by those not of the church, though of course His Highness inspires...

[But.

Kurloz looks deeply uncertain.]

I dare not presume myself worthy. [Those words rush out at once, as the rest fall hesitant.] His Levity is a very busy and sought after troll. He is of great prestige and wisdom. As his descendant it is my duty to excel in all such areas, to follow within his footsteps, to prove that... that I'm as wise... that I'm as capable...

[It sounds, frankly, terrible when said out loud. He is putting a need to be worth something over what may very well be the safety of all. He's made risk where all he might lose is one he is unworthy of anyway. He doesn't even know what his ancestor's disappointment would look like, the troll was always happy, but Kurloz fears it and he imagines it, on it's own and as an overlaying to the past.

This is not what the Grand Highblood would do. He bows his head.]

[And Katherine is thinking along the same lines.]

You're talking about the fate of your world here, Kurloz. It's all right to need help. ...In fact, recognizing that you need it, and knowing when to ask for it is a sign of a wise and capable leader. Surely he wouldn't think otherwise, if he's looking for those traits in you.

[She pauses, debates on whether or not she should brag, herself.]

...I could come with you, if you're too nervous.

[Part of him hisses that she does not understand. He is a Highblood. He cannot need help. He is supposed to be the help. He's supposed to prove that he's more the cull-troll he got made to. He's supposed to be... worth something...

But his head bows, because she's right. This is the fate of the world. Even if it does make him a failure, even if it makes him useless and unwanted, it's the right thing to do.

This is the right thing to do...

Just as he's reluctantly nodding to her words, she adds to it and his head shoots back up, eyes wide. ]

R-Really? Woudst thou truly preform such a miracle for the likes of me?

I've gone out of my way for my friends' sake for things that weren't of this magnitude. Of course I would. This device makes it possible.

[She taps the device with a warm smile, and for a moment wonders at how strange it all is. It was only a few years ago that she wouldn't go out of her way for anything that wouldn't benefit her unless it was her childhood friend asking.]

[Since she cast aside the idea of his visiting upon her world, for fear he would look like a demon, he had presumed such a thing not to be. This inspires excitement. It summons joy. A little laugh bursts from him, that she should offer this thing, what might be small to her, but is huge to him.

Before he completely loses composure, he preforms a deep bow.]

Sister Katherine, it is an honor to claim thee a friend of mine. You are truly good.

[He straightens up, still barely containing himself. Even as he continues.]

I must endeavor to craft you a disguise. My ancestor shall except thine appearances, but other trolls may see to your cull. Upon such a happenstance, the coddling shall make it vastly difficult to commune with thee, as we shall most likely be separated.

[Katherine blinks, turning over the statement in her mind, trying to will it to make sense.

In the end, it doesn't. She can only offer a helpless:]

...I'm sorry, what do you mean?

Edited (whoops) 2017-06-15 01:33 (UTC)

[He laughs, like it's an obvious thing and she must be playing a game.]

You must be made to appear a mother fuckin troll, of course! Sister Katherine, it we are to see my ancestor, you must first pass many a troll on the way there! If you are presumed an alien before we reach him, they will take you in and presume you in need of care. We shall never reach the Grand Highblood in such an instance.

[And, truth be told.]

I cannot wait! I shall craft thee the greatest of guises!

Edited 2017-08-05 02:06 (UTC)

I'm afraid I don't understand.

[Katherine looks down at the troll boy in clear confusion, slightly disturbed. She really hopes "care" isn't some sort of euphemism for something horrible.]

Can't we just tell them we don't need any help?

[His mouth opens, then closes, a look of uneasiness passing over. He loves his world. It's a nice world. But there are... certain... flaws.]

It is not so elementary as a mere request of removed guidance, sister Katherine. There is... an order which must be adhered to. Those of higher rank shall see you well and they shall not hurt you, per se, but, you see, it is not down to the culled to deem what is right and well of the culler's care. I have many freedoms, as I am of Highblood's kin. But even I must meet the standard check ins. Others may find themselves more restricted.

[Kankri had a lot more to say about it than him. In this moment, he wishes the other troll were here. He's not sure he's explaining this right at all.]

[Oh, Maker. More complicated caste politics...]

You mean a caste system. With the lowest being least free because...they can't live unassisted?

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