31 - [video]

[stargathering]

In the year I've been here, I've never had something like these pains and bouts of insomnia last this long. It's really making me wonder if there's something going on that's bigger than a curse. Aside from that time people had memory lapses a few months ago, every other time something weird like this has happened, it's been because of something

Comments

audio;

[antimafioso]

When did they start? I've only just arrived, so I'm a little behind.

audio;

[stargathering]

Ah, I first noticed them near the end of last month... Strange things had been happening before that, but the pains and my friends' sleep problems started around then...

How long have you been here? I'll try to catch you up.

audio;

[antimafioso]

What sort of strange things?

Would you? I appreciate it. It's been six days. I've read a little about harpies, if that helps.

audio;

[stargathering]

Six days... The harpies coming here were the "highlight" of the past month, but... All right. [ There's a sigh and slight shift that means story time. ]

Before the barrier fell and the harpies came, there were little things like pets running away and animals disappearing from the city proper, sometimes there were weird noises when no-one was around... Not really noteworthy.

About a week later, though, there was this tower at one of the other buildings that turned to sand and collapsed, leaving this stench for a while... Some time after that is when the insomnia and pains started showing up, and then the barrier disappeared and the harpies attacked.

...Any questions so far?

audio;

[antimafioso]

[ During story time, he keeps quiet, listening. This sort of explanation only yields more questions, but -- ]

Not that you can answer. If you knew why the tower turned to sand, you'd have said so, right? It looks as though the barrier's been restored, and the harpies taken care of...?

audio;

[stargathering]

That's right. The barriers returned about a week ago, and that made wiping out the rest of the harpies significantly easier since they couldn't simply increase their numbers by flying in here anymore...

As for the whys, I can't give you any definitive answer; all I have is speculation, and to be honest, it's usually better to not ask why some of the things that happen here occur at all.

audio;

[antimafioso]

How curious, that outside there should be, of all things, harpies.

Better? Because you aren't bound to get an answer, or...?

audio;

[stargathering]

Yeah. There are probably other monsters, too, but the harpies might at least be the most mobile of what's there...

Because you're not likely to get an answer. You can blame a lot on the deities, but that still doesn't answer 'why'.

audio;

[antimafioso]

And the closest.

I wonder if even they know 'why'.