Spending so much time in the woods, it was hard to keep track of the stars sometimes. The thick canopy of trees usually provided a sense of security and respite. Out in the open fields there was none of that.

Galvynn found himself slowly walking through the fields of Stargazer Valley, catching a glimpse of the stars as the night started to settle in. Where those stars new? He could hardly tell as he stared up into the air. Things seemed much brighter than he remembered.

When was the last time he bothered to chart the stars? Living in nature, Galvynn knew how to use constellations to help with navigation but more often than not he did not care what particular destination he was going to. If he needed to be somewhere then She would guide him. If he wasn't needed, then where he was going didn't matter.

He crouches down as a rabbit passes by, "Hello friend, do you have a warren around here?"

Rabbit noises.

"Would it be OK to follow you there? I would like to ask your family some things."

Affirmative rabbit noises.

"Thank you so much, this will be an incredible help." Galvynn grins as the man starts to follow a rabbit through the fields.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Study the Stars
Participants: Two or more
Location: Moonglade
Post Requirements: 4 posts per person, 200 words per post
Reward: +1 Renown
Description: Charon has been struggling the last year with many, many changes to its world view, the most jarring being the changes to weather, the environment and the star patterns above which were used for navigation. With the veil of the Sol Stone dropped, new stars, constellations and cosmic markers have been popping up, revealing that not only is the world bigger than once thought, but so is the sky. The crown is asking people to help record and study these new heavenly objects, to help better understand our location in the cosmos. Spend an evening studying and watching the stars, recording what you see.

Taki had enjoyed gazing up at the night sky, even as a youngling. As she grew older, she began to study their nightly dance and it's quizzically slow and methodical pace. It was like the heavens kept themselves at great distance from the time, space and happenings of the mortal realm. It was strange to draw parallel between that sensation and visiting the realm of spirits, but the two shared similarity.

When word began to circulate around the Mage's Guild about the Crown funding research and new studies into the cosmos, the shaman eagerly jumped at the chance. She planned to share and distribute what she was learning of the changing cosmos anyway, might as well get the ruling body to fund some nice equipment and a few scribes to do all the copying and filing. In addition to a set of finely crafted surveying tools, the shaman commisioned a large telescope that could be transported via her magic or companions. She planned to donate the tools to the Guild for novices and apprentices to use in the future, but until then she would gaze skyward into the darkness and learn it's secrets.

With the preparations complete and everything in order, Taki loaded her gear and set out for Moonglade. Stargazers Field was an aptly named area, with few villages dotting it's edges and wide open fields with gentle hills. On clear nights, one could look up at the stars and almost forget they where they were. Landing in the middle of one such field, she made camp atop a short hill and began to set up her equipment. As she was working on the various instruments for her research, she could sense a myriad of life and spirits. More than a few came to visit and sate their curiosity, giving the shaman a brief pause in her setup.

What surprised her most was the large colony of rabbits living around the area, families gathered in burrows that wove an intricate network of tunnels beneath the hills. It almost reminded her of a termite mound, or ant colony, complex and interwoven upon itself while making good use of the soil. Taki shared a few of the things from her garden with them when she had lunch later that day. The telescope and other instruments were set up for the night ahead, now all she need do is take a break and rest.

In her searching of the fields, Taki would eventually notice a large congregation of rabbits near a cluster of of wildflowers. Betwixt all of the rabbits was a man who seemed to be deep in a conversation with them. Small bunnies gather in his lap into an indistinct ball of fluff while the adults gather around.

Galvynn, for his part, is nodding along to the noises of the rabbits. Whatever noise they seem to make he seemingly understands while he remains careful not to move too much lest he disturb the sleeping younglings. He smiles as he speaks though.

"Several moon cycles ago huh? I wonder if this has anything to do with why She has encouraged me out of the woods.....Oh no I don't live in a warren." He chuckles softly. "I sleep in the open air."

This is the most impressive thing some of the rabbits have heard. They could never imagine being exposed like that. Then again none of them had a rune badger with them, nothing could match the ferocity of Bucky who slept beside Galvynn as rabbits tried to jump over him.

"Many stars huh? Well, I am glad all the light makes you feel so safe." He smiles brightly again, though inside he knows something is wrong.

It was the type of problem he dreaded, one that required him to talk to people. The rabbits could help confirm things were different, but rabbits make for terrible astronomers. Which meant he was going to have to interact with another humanoid, something he was already dreading.

The warm oranges and reds of the setting sun greeted Taki as she stepped out of her tent. She scanned the area and noticed a young man congregating with a group of the local rabbits. She looked up to the sky, noting that she still had a good hour or more before the stars began their march. Contemplating for a moment, she fixed herself a cup of tea and stretched her many limbs before taking a stride across the hill.

She made no effort towards stealth, walking over towards the group in plain view. Her outfit that evening was a kimono patterned with various orchids, on a silken base of lavender color. Tied together with a wide sash of darker purple, and covered with her spidersilk cloak, she looked strangely elegant as she approached the young man and his gathering. Each of her six arms folded into the wide sleeves of her kimono, she stopped several paces of the group and bowed politely to them.

"Good evening to you, Ser. I am known as Shitakibo, or Taki if you prefer. Might you be here to participate in the study of the stars that has been commissioned by the Crown?"

Taki did her best to greet them in a pleasant and calm tone, through the soft hissing and sharp accent of her Orochi tongue. Whether or not they would be participating, there was a curiousness to the situation that reminded her of her own youth. Perhaps this person had some similar connection to nature and animals, as it wasn't a common occasion to see someone gather so casually with wild animals.

Some of the rabbits flee on instinct, they don't know if the sound coming is friend or foe and they are quick enough to just get out of there. Bucky slowly raises to stand, shaking and stretching his body. The badger is far from aggressive, but the hubub woke him from his nap. So, now he was curious as to why.

Galvynn doesn't move lest he disturb those sleeping in his lap. He can't help but laugh a little at just how undisturbed they are. The parents of said bunnies remain close to keep watch over their babies.

"Commissioned to do the what by the who?" He tilts his head like a dog hearing a high pitched whistle. "No, I was following Her voice...She had said something was strange with the stars so I wandered here.....my friends tell me things started changing a few moon cycles again..the sky got brighter which helps them feel safer at night....which is good and bad."

The druid pulls a very crude chart of the stars from his inner jacket pocket. It is smudged, stained, ripped, and crumpled. There is little in it that is useful for this kind of work. Then again his eyes and heart are usually tethered firmly to the ground, a funny little oddity that he would know little of the stars. You would think a wanderer would know how to chart them, but Galvynn is a true wanderer. There is no path or guidance, only the pure freedom of movement.

"Anything changing like that is bound to mean something more though....what exactly is the question I suppose."

"Indeed so, that is what I'm here to find out... would you care to join? There's no pressure, but if you'd like to explore the stars in greater detail you're welcome to make use of my instruments and information."

Taki sat down and relaxed, taking a cursory glance at the chart. While it was indeed simple, it held the major constellations and other basic astronomical features that could let one gain their bearing looking up in the night sky. She pointed out a few of the things she was familiar with, sharing Orochi stories about the heavens. While they did not have the extravagant mythos of other cultures, the stories were simple and gave life to the patterns dancing across the night.

When she finished her story, she stood up and readied herself to head back and begin her study of the stars. Hopefully the lad's curiosity would be spurred on, even just for the sake of learning or the experience. They hadn't given a name in their reply, so she stood awkwardly not quite knowing what to say or how to address them. Taking a deep breath, she bowed politely once more.

"A good evening to you all either way, may the spirits bring gentle whispers to your path."

With that, the shaman returned to her instruments and various materials. She set up the various measuring devices and went about calibrating each to ensure accuracy. When she finished, she adjusted the telescope she'd commissioned and ensured it's various mechanisms were moving freely.

Passing on introductions may have been one of the druid's worst habits. Most of the animals he interacts with don't have names except for the ones he gives them, so sharing his own name never comes to mind. Even when others introduce himself the thought doesn't cross his mind. A habit that would regularly confuse others endlessly.

He did quietly listen to the stories with great interest. Galvynn didn't really have a shared culture with anyone, so hearing about communal stories and myths was fascinating. The priests of the temple didn't have much in ways of stories about the stars. This was all entirely new him.

The druid is about to respond when Taki is already getting up to go. He blinks slightly.

"Gentle whispers? Do you hear Her voice too then or do you mean the spirits of the world themselves?" Ever so slowly and gently he begins to slide the bunnies from his lap and return them to their parents. Each little ball of fur is encouraged forward despite their protests which makes it even harder for Galvynn, but he must.

He does not bother to wipe the grass, fur, or dirt from his clothing, "No one I run into can hear any of the spirits, let alone Her voice."

Taki smiled softly at the lad's questions, understanding all too well the experience. Few people were attuned to the world in such a way, and fewer still embrace the gift.

"Those who wish to share their voices, spirits great and small, have been doing so since my youth. Is there a specific spirit you refer to as Her? A name perhaps for either yourself or your patron?"

Soft oranges faded into deep shades of reds and purples across the landscape as the last sliver of the sun slid under the horizon. Taki lay back on a chair of woven bamboo strips supported by a pole framework and sketched the pattern of the stars overhead as they revealed themselves. The task at hand wasn't a taxing one to the shaman, so she settled into an easy pace. Above, like the lamps of some great city that spanned the sky, the stars shimmered and flickered through the deepening gloom.

She couldn't help but marvel at the scene just a little, the profound scope of the display and the myriad of ideas they inspired. Some said it was lights of the gods themselves, others that they were distant realms, and many more. An idea came to mind to help give some credence to the shaman's words, so she took a deep breath and cleared her mind. With the brightest stars reflecting across the surface of her crimson eyes, a soft glow swirled around them briefly. As it trailed off like a wisp of smoke, another glowing shape formed beside her¹. A medium sized feline creature with soft, silvery fur with teal patterns swirling down the side.

"Good evening, Keta." Said the shaman to her Guardian, scratching gently behind her ears until the spirit thrummed with it's purring.

---

1: Spirit Guardian

"Your question sort of answers mine." He laughs gently as they plod up the hills, Bucky more content to sniff for snacks and enjoy the flowers. "Síochánta, not a spirit or a patron...She just is...it is hard to explain to others that don't hear Her. I've never been as good as the priests at explaining anyways, I don't feel Her as a part of a story or something so distant that I have to pray to Her, I can just talk with Her."



He settles back to lean against Bucky when the rune badger finally decides to join the pair. The druid sinks back into the fur as his companion is happy to be a chair.



"This is Bucky and right supposed to shair my name too, Galvynn." He gives a little smile.



The brightness of the sky is something to behold. Whether or not you have knowledge of the stars, it is beautiful to look at even if something is a little wrong with it. Galvynn supposed the real question was if they were supposed to be worried about the influx of stars? It was hard to tell if this could throw off the balance of nature which would be his main concern.



It was a benefit to some it seemed, like the rabbits, but certainly it would have negative impacts somewhere. But where? His attention pulled from those thoughts when he saw and heard the arrival of the spirit.



"So, they come as natural to you as folks like these seem to come to me?" Galvynn places a hand on Bucky's head to give it a little scritch.

"Since I was young, I have known the presence of spirits. Being on such friendly terms with them is something of a skill that takes time and effort to develop. It's not common amongst my kin, but occasionally one of us is gifted with such a connection."

She continued her observations, using the various instruments to verify changes and record them accurately. The boy spoke of a name she was unfamiliar with, though the name reminded her of the Druid tongue. She'd not encountered many since departing from their circles herself, so it was unusual to say the least. Perhaps he wasn't associated with the organized circles, but rather a practitioner in some manner of isolation. Taki definitely wasn't put on alert the way she had been around the formal circle members, so perhaps this lad's calling was like her own gift.

She smiled to herself, hoping the pure curiosity and innocent reverance for life was allowed to flourish. She knew all too well how easily such things could be battered by the world at large, but there was no good way of preparing someone for such uncertainties. Taki was glad there were still some folks out there who loved nature, and life, and the various cyclic patterns that made it beautiful.

"It's nice to meet you both, Galvynn and Bucky. I'm afraid my familiarity with the name of your companion spirit is limited, though the name does ring of Druidic... vaguely."

"It seems like connecting with things outside the norm isn't common for any kin." He smiles gently as he ruffles a hand through Bucky's hand again. The badger sniffs and plods around Taki, but is very careful not to step too close or disturb her work.

Galvynn too was content to not bother her too much, though his curiosity was peaked. It seemed like it was rare for either of them to find someone who understands their connection to the world. Even if they interact with the world in a different way, there is a familiarity between them anyways.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised the world is so fragmented, when you grow up knowing something so deeply it is strange when no one else knows about it." Galvynn grins, having grown used to Her name being unknown. "I have been told by the other priests at Her temple that She is nature itself...She can be heard everywhere, babbling brooks, leaves rustling in trees, grass swaying in the wind, that's all Her trying to talk to people...but it seems for whatever reason I'm the last person left that can truly hear Her voice."

There was a soft twinge of sadness at the last bit. Whoever this spirt or person was clearly meant a lot to the druid, but it's not easy being the singular person to keep something alive. It seems to quickly pass though as he turns his attention back to the stars.

"So....how strange are the new stars?"

"Some have moved, while others have begun to appear in the spaces between. Come, see these two charts." Taki pointed to a large pair of drawings mapping the constellations. They were from the night sky over her home in the Isles, pulled from her personal archive to reference for this excursion.

"The first, the oldest one, was recorded just after my home was completed. The second one was done on the same day, one year later. There is a touch of guesswork, as I've had plenty of remote jobs and can't be home every night to sketch the stars. The charts should have numbered stars for those known already, and colored stars for those who've recently appeared in the skies."

The first of the two charts had a smattering of stars concentrated in a wide band that ran on an incline to the horizon. There were thick clouds of stars grouped near the central plane that slowly dispersed as one looked further away. Several hundred stars had been circled in colored ink and numbered in columns from left to right. The second chart had the same axial dispersion, but contained many more stars that filled in gaps. The same numbering seemed to mostly align with the previous chart, while many other stars were highlighted in a separate color.

"Strange is a good way to describe what is happening..."

Taki looked up at the sky, wondering if her discoveries would be helpful to other scholars and astronomers with their own studies.

It was hard not to see that Galvynn was doing his best to pretend he understood. His mind and focus was on terrestrial matters entirely, so what was happening in the cosmos was new to him even on a normal night. But he was doing his best to try and listen, he could only hope his own ignorance didn't discourage Taki.

Galvynn was good at getting his friends to talk about their interests and share things, but his friends were mostly animals who didn't often have someone like him to take to. Another person was a different story, but efforts are being made.

"Something is tipping the balance of the world....not hard to see that, even for me." He smiles softly, "But that it should reach the stars is a concern. And from what you say it's more than just a few new lights in the sky....like fireflies gathering in the meadow, but more terrifying because of how unknown it seems."

The gaze slowly drifts back up to the skies and stares for a moment. More stars in the sky.....what could that mean for the world? Was it an after effect of whatever happened near the volcano? Is this just the harmless remains of a god dotting the sky....or something recognizing the absence of something powerful? Like a young predator coming in after the leader leaves and taking over a pack? Things were never going to be easy were they?

"I should probably let you return to the work hm? Probably slows you down having to explain it all to me." Galvynn smiles with a bright laugh. "Whatever is going on is important, you'll do a lot more to help figure this out than I will."

"It's no trouble to share knowledge with those who are curious, but I won't keep you from following your own path. I do hope you travel safely, and if you're ever in need of aid or respite, feel free to make your way to my home in the Crescent Isles. If you can't, send a message to Spirit's Retreat and I'll make the journey."

Taki could see that the subject was not something the youngster was familiar with, but their demeanor was pleasant enough. She always did enjoy sharing in fascinating subjects with those who might want to learn. With a peaceful smile and determined posture, the shaman returned to her studies of the night's sky. She couldn't help but marvel at the engineering prowess of the Guild's artisans and crafters, the precision and accuracy of the instruments they'd crafted at her behest. When this job was over, the shaman would be sure to visit them all and thank them profusely.

A sly smile teased across her face for a moment when she thought about the student's faces lighting up, learning that all these instruments would be available for any and all to use (under supervision of course, such instruments were finnicky after all). Still, this was a trip of endurance and Taki was prepared to spend many nights tracking the changes.