Thah/Conversations
Accepting Landing Pads
Start
Ah, a stranger. Welcome to the hydropon. I am Thah.
GreetThah
Well met, =name=. Please forgive the, ah, austerity of our cradle. You may sup with us at our meager camp and rest under the shade of this Palladium shell. Sorry, as well, about the crowding.
SlynthWhat
We are called slynth, a people grown one by one from a hydroponic cradle containing a cutting of water lily and empowered by sunslag. We are but a handful of generations old, but kept no written history until I was grown, ah, some number of decades ago.
HowAreThings
Well enough. We drink the sun's rays, eat what we scavenge, rest under the shell, and it is. Enough.
I read and tinker. Some hunt. Others tend the cradle. Each day is like the next. Every so often, someone leaves.
We, ah, rarely hear from them thereafter. I hope they are all well.
Resentment
To be wholly honest, =name=, I grow frustrated.
We are a young species, grown one by one in yonder sun-touched cradle. Over years, we have increased, but not, ah, not. Not grown.
Look around you. You see it, yes? This hydropon is no settlement.
Helping
This is an existential conundrum, =name=, I'm not sure that it could-- ah, wait, no. I am reconsidering.
No, you could help. If you wished. I think.
May I explain?
Helping2
I don't believe my people wish to stay here, but we have had so little, ah, meaningful contact with other sapient creatures. We have no allies. We have nowhere to go but here.
Helping3
You travel far and wide, do you not? You have the air of a traveling hero! From the epics. As such, you have seen many settlements, likely ingratiated yourself to some.
Helping4
Surely, if you were to intercede on our behalf, some might welcome us? If, ah, let us say three settlements were to offer us shelter, this would grant us both direction and agency. Would you consider being our ambassador? Not unpaid.
Accept
Thank you, =name=. I have, ah, I have been crafting a personal project. Of sorts. I promise it to you for this task, and of course the gratitude of a young species.
Return to me after settlements agree to grant us refuge, and I will discuss them with my kin.
During Landing Pads
Start
Ah, =name=, Moon and Sun.
Any news of our future home?
If the candidates for the slynth are ready:
Start
Come, =name=. It is time.
Decision
LandingPadsCommentary
Ah! Let us discuss?
CandidatesReady
Wanderer, thank you! I will tell my kin of these places. We will convene and discuss, and we will, ah, choose. Please be patient in the meantime.
CommentaryJoppa
Joppa! An historic site. I wasn't sure if, ah, it still existed. As a village.
The quiet of the saltmarshes may be strange to my people, but some have voiced a wish for more peace than the Reef can spare. Thank you for this choice, =name=.
CommentaryMechanimists
The worshippers of Shekhinah? Fascinating. I, ah, don't know what to think of that.
It may be what my kin need, now I consider it. The Canticles make little sense to me but they are, ah, compelling. More compelling than me, certainly. I will discuss this with the others.
CommentaryBarathrumites
Did you say Barathrumites? So that's how it's pronounced.
Grit Gate is, ah... that's where Q Girl resides, isn't it? She wrote my favorite book, Disquisition on the Malady of the Mimic. I imagine such a home would have a positive effect on my kin. I will speak to them.
CommentaryKyakukya
Kyakukya? I didn't realize it had so many syllables.
That's where the, ah, faithful to the ape-god gather, correct? And the First Huntsman as well. I will present this possibility to my people and we will discuss it.
CommentaryEzra
Ezra is, ah, the village at the base of the Spindle, is it not?
The very cradle of history. Not that my kin have a strong taste for history, but perhaps living amongst fresco and bas-relief will change their, ah, collective outlook?
CommentaryMopango
Fascinating. I know nothing about these mopango, but any people whose love for learning and discovery defines them are, ah... good, in my opinion. I will discuss this with my kin, and see if they agree.
CommentaryPariahs
There is a sadness in, ah... choosing pariahs. Some of my kin dreamed of belonging, and the very word is the antithesis of belonging.
But then, if wanderers look after one another, there is a belonging in that as well. Even alone, we would not be alone. I will offer this choice to the others and we will discuss it.
CommentaryYdFreehold
The nearby settlement? The one, ah, founded by three svardym and a galgal? I've always been mortally afraid to go there, knowing even the barest facts.
But you say they will accept us? Perhaps I was wrong.
CommentaryHindren
Bey Lah is real? Stain me surprised to hear so... I, ah, believed the hindren exclusively diasporic.
There is an undeniable poetry in it, if the slynth should emigrate to a mythical and secretive village. I will discuss this with my kin.
CommentaryDynamic
I read a history once that mentioned village.name, taking note of their reverence for village.sacred and equal loathing of village.profane.
Will my kin accept a life of village.villageActivity? I will consult with them.
After Landing Pads
Start
Moon and Sun, =name=.
GiveStar
I've been crafting a kind of a relic, a piece of art that serves a purpose and that you can carry on your, ah, your person. I finally finished building it while you were away, and the opportunities you offered us inspired the finishing touches. I'd like you to have it.
DecisionJoppa
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: Joppa shall be the new home of the slynth. The notion of a lasting, peaceful life with, ah, purpose... this appeals to many of our number, and where better than Abram's very watervine marsh?
Our emigration party departs for the saltmarshes in the morning.
DecisionMechanimists
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: most of our number will join the Mechanimist faith, and reside at the Stiltgrounds at the edge of the Mogh'ra'yi.
Our emigration party departs for the Six Day Stilt in the morning.
DecisionBarathrumites
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: The new home of the slynth is among the disciples of Barathrum. My kin have agreed to dedicate themselves to the pursuits of learning and service.
Our emigration party departs for Grit Gate in the morning.
DecisionKyakukya
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: Kyakukya shall be the new home of the slynth. There are many ways to grow when one is planted in the very heart of Qud.
Our emigration party departs for the river in the morning.
DecisionEzra
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: The new home of the slynth is among the villagers of Ezra, harvesting musa alongside the banana ranchers and singing their songs.
Our emigration party departs for Omonporch in the morning.
DecisionMopango
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: the slynth shall become mopango, taking root in ancient rock and casting our gaze back toward the history that preceded us.
Our emigration party departs for the Tomb of the Eaters in the morning.
DecisionPariahs
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: The new home of the slynth is no home at all, but the floating fellowship of Qud's Pariahs. We were blessed with roots that need not fix themselves to the soil and have opted to use them accordingly.
We will split into parties and leave to meet with other wayfarers come morning.
DecisionYdFreehold
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: the slynth shall join the Yd Freehold, remaining in the reef where our cradle lies but mingling among other sapient creatures to learn their ways and teach what we know.
Our emigration party departs for the Freehold in the morning.
DecisionHindren
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: Bey Lah shall be the new home of the slynth. There is a familiarity to this tucked-away village, newly greeting the world; this is our gentle emergence from obscurity, and one not undertaken alone.
Our emigration party departs for the flower fields in the morning.
DecisionDynamic
After some discussion and deliberation, we have come to consensus: the slynth shall become citizens of village.name. We shall learn the practice of village.villageActivity, hold village.sacred dear and spurn village.profane.
Our emigration party departs for village.name in the morning.
SlynthResolution
Ah, one last little thing, =name=. About your reward... it's not quite finished, but now I know just what it needs.
Please return to the hydropon after my kin have safely reached their new home and I will give it to you. I will not leave the cradle.
LeaveJoppa
Yes, I've decided to stay. It's not that, ah, it's not that I wouldn't enjoy a life of farming. But the thought of leaving the cradle after decades of watching it... I couldn't.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you're welcome to rest here whenever you like.
LeaveMechanimists
Yes, I've stayed. I don't, ah, resent that my kin have found succor in the embrace of faith, but I don't know how to walk that path myself. Someone needs to watch over the hydropon, besides.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you're welcome to rest here whenever you like.
LeaveBarathrumites
Yes, I've stayed. I'd love to see the vaunted halls and, ah, bathe in the light of brilliant minds, but when I think about the journey my roots lock up. I feel, ah, unready. Someone must watch over the cradle, besides.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you're welcome to rest here whenever you like.
LeaveKyakukya
Yes, I've decided to stay. It's not that, ah, it's not that I wouldn't enjoy sharing knowledge with the mayor of our new home. But the thought of leaving the cradle after decades of watching it... I couldn't.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you're welcome to rest here whenever you like.
LeaveEzra
Yes, I've stayed. As fascinated as I would be to examine the statuary and bas-reliefs, my favorite mode of, ah, interaction with history is through the written word. Someone must watch over the cradle, besides.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you're welcome to rest here whenever you like.
LeaveMopango
Yes, I've decided to stay. The Tomb sounds, ah, cozy, but I cannot fathom making such a macabre place my home. Someone must look over the cradle, besides.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you're welcome to rest here whenever you like.
LeavePariahs
Yes, I've stayed. If I am entirely honest, the idea of a life on the road sounds, ah... unpleasant. To me, personally. I have grown accustomed to a life of collection, curation, and study that I don't care to abandon for adventure. Someone must stay to watch over the cradle, besides.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you're welcome to rest here whenever you like.
LeaveYdFreehold
Yes, I've decided to stay. I don't disbelieve that the Yd Freehold is as safe as you say, but the fears instilled in me when I first learned to read as a fresh sprout haunt me even now. Perhaps in time I will visit, but in the meantime I can look after the cradle, as someone ought to do.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you're welcome to rest here whenever you like.
LeaveHindren
Yes, I've decided to stay. The flower fields sound beautiful, and no doubt there is much to learn from the hindren. But the thought of leaving the cradle after decades of watching it... I couldn't.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you're welcome to rest here whenever you like.
LeaveDynamic
Yes, I’ve decided to stay. I’m sure village.name is a good home for my kin, but I have no particular loathing for village.profane and even less reverence for village.sacred. Someone must look over the cradle, besides.
The hydropon is even less a village now, but you’re welcome to rest here whenever you like.