felldenlogs | [november catch-all] open

[The Gods Wood was supposed to be off-limits until the crisis had passed. Well, as far as Lalli knows, it has, so here he is back at the edge of it and hoping to investigate--only to find it's still too overgrown to traverse.

That's... really annoying. And it's not gonna stop a guy from trying, either. Like he hasn't had to navigate overgrowth before. And this doesn't even have trolls in it! (Probably.)

He hasn't brought anything like an offering, because that would require awareness and forethought. He did bring the dagger, though. Remember that one, Lorelai? The one that can cut through almost anything? Including troublesome branches, Lalli's guessing!

In he steps--or tries to--trying not to feel like he's trespassing.]

[ Before Lalli is able to take more than two steps into the overgrowth, he will walk directly into a hardened, invisible barrier. No entrance here!

The local guard dog decides to make an appearance as well, coming into existence on the exterior of the Gods Wood between one blink and the next. ]

Otherworlders are not permitted in the Gods Wood. [ His voice is crisp, sharp, no room for nonsense. ]

[Walking straight into invisible barriers at the edge of forests is perhaps a weird thing to have experience in, but Lalli's life has been pretty weird by most standards. Which isn't to say that it wasn't annoying, but Lalli's jerk of surprise is maybe slightly less undignified than it might have been otherwise.

As soon as Azrail appears in front of him Lalli looks away, more out of reflex than anything else. Don't make eye contact with spirits was one of the first rules Lalli ever learned. Especially the ones that look human.

It doesn't keep him from talking, though.]

Why not? I know other people have been in here before.

They are not in here now. Nor will they be in the future.

[ Azrail's arms fold across his chest. ]

The Great Lord Death has no need for Otherworlders to step inside its domain.

[Lalli's face wrinkles at that. "Great Lord Death", he just bets.

Still, he remembers what Neria told him: don't make demands, which probably translates to be polite.]

Is Death the only one that lives here?

Death and its Attendants. [ There's only a brief pause in which Azrail considers explaining further. ] Myself and my sister, Lorelai.

[Three whole people! All right. Mostly he already knew that.]

It's called the Gods Wood. Why aren't there more gods in it?

[...It's a valid question, okay.]

The Wood is the birthplace of all Gods in this world and all Otherworlds. The name derives from that fact.

[ A valid question deserves an equally valid answer! ]

Okaaay.

[He sounds... dubious.]

If they're not here anymore, where did they go?

[And where should he look for them.]

[ Azrail stares at him for a moment, an eerie blankness to it. ]

They've gone to make the Otherworlds. A God is birthed, it departs Fellden, it creates the worlds that your kind call home.

If you are referring to the Gods of Fellden, those that are still worshipped exist on a plane separate to the mortal one that you and I stand upon. Those with closed shrines are dead. [ The easiest way of putting it. ]

[The effect is somewhat diminished by Lalli still avoiding eye contact, but it's still plenty. Azrail officially gives The Willies.

However...]

Dead.

But Death can bring people back whenever it wants. That's what happened to the leaders, isn't it?

So it's hiding them somewhere, or it's a different kind of death.

The faction leaders were a special circumstance. The Great Lord cannot bring back just anyone as it pleases: Death is the great equalizer.

[ There is a sigh, exhaled sharply.]

I am not here to be your sounding board for theories, child.

[Rude!]

Well if you'd just tell us things we wouldn't have to guess!

[Oh. Right. That probably crossed the line over to impolite.]

Fine. I want to talk to a different god. I guess that means I have to go somewhere else.

We share what information we are able to. By all means, continue to act as an ungrateful, petulant child despite my patience in answering your questions.

[ Azrail snaps his fingers. ]

Even when the Woods open again, you are not permitted to enter. Perhaps your different Gods will provide you another place to traverse that is not my home.

[ With that, Azrail disappears in a plume of black smoke. ]

[ you ever feel like you're being stared at? lalli might have that feeling now.

because he is, in fact, being stared at. by the other white haired tall beefcake muscleman, not nero. zero robot arms on this one, and zero visible weapons either. big pain in the ass energy, and a stupid outfit. and that look on his face?

supposedly, it's neutral. but to someone who is already predisposed to Not Think Well of Tall People, it might be perceived as judgmental. 'cause he actually is judging, internally.

talk shit, get hit. or maybe in this case, think shit, get hit? he's genuinely concerned that this kid is going to just trip on a stick and break both his arms or something stupid. ]

[Excuse you, Archer, it's Lalli's job to appraise random strangers and find them wanting for no reason except that he's easily annoyed.

He manages to ignore Archer for a bit, because he's good at that, but he's not good at being irritated, so after long enough of being silently Judged he just stalks right up to Archer with his hackles all the way up.

At first he just peers, like he's trying to figure Archer out, but apparently he fails, because...]

What.

[At least he doesn't mince words?]

[ well, lalli can keep that job! archer has entirely good reasons to find you wanting, broski. do u even lift? obvs not. ]

What?

[ "what." is not a full statement, dude. what what? ]

[Cool! This guy sucks!!!! Lalli is Full Mad already.]

Stop staring at me.

[ wow, and archer didn't even have to throw one of his carefully crafted instant fightin words insults at him. nice! guess the general smug bastard aggro effect is pretty strong on this guy. ]

Why? Are you hiding something?

[ why should he stop, huh? ]

[It sure is! Lalli is very easily provoked, congratulations. As such, he is only getting more irritated with Archer fucking with him.]

No! Don't stare at people, it's annoying.

[That's what everyone tells him. Why is it everyone else can do it?]

[ sounds like its time to toughen up, broski. ]

Hm. Let's hope not. [ witness, the unbearably smug n_n face he's just leveled at lalli. it's possibly even worse than just staring, because it is just. such a smug dick move. does he actually think lalli is hiding something worth prying for? no. does he think this is kind of funny? yea. ]

Is that all you've got for the maze?

[ there's a thoughtful, pointed stare at the rest of lalli's gear, which he's also trying to judge where he's missing things that might be supplemented with. HE MIGHT BE A DICK BUT LIKE HELL HE'LL LET THIS BRAT GO INTO THE WOODS IN NOVEMBER TO POSSIBLY FIGHT A GOD WITHOUT A REALLY GOOD SLEEPING BAG. ]

[Lalli looks back at what he has packed, which is basically just snacks and his spider-blanket. Definitely nothing like a tent or a sleeping bag. Look, how long are they even going to spend in there? It's just a maze.

He looks back at Archer, his eyes narrowed with apprehension, like he's trying to figure out his point.]

Yes?

[ ...archer pauses in his smug bullshit. then he stares into the camera like he's on the office. ]

You're going off to stick your nose into the revival of a god, and that's it?

[ ugh. idiot.

not even waiting for a reply, archer turns and walks away. brb gotta go project some shit for this kid. ]

[Lalli had expected some resistance when he arrived at the Moon Temple and managed to find his way to the prison, but apparently visitation is perfectly acceptable. It's weirdly disappointing. But it does mean he doesn't have to sneak in to see Bruce, and can walk right up to his cell door.

And stare at him. Expectantly.

If Bruce had thought Lalli wouldn't take his suggestion to come talk to him in person literally, he has another think coming. As well as the world's most awkward visitor to deal with.

Lalli won't even say anything until Bruce does, but his general demeanor seems to be asking Well?]

[november catch-all] open

edge of the gods wood (closed)

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pre-maze!

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a million years later

even more millions of years later!!!!

closed to bruce, during imprisonment