Emral wandered back into his thoughts once Swillwort had responded, and the world seemed to blank out around him. Only the cigar, bitter, smokey, was present, and as he puffed away time slowed down. A moment later he was aware that everyone was moving and he followed along with them. There was a street, and then a door, and then Emral found himself standing in a paper shop while in another room he heard his companions and Marco arguing.
The cigar was gone, he noticed, but didn't remember what he'd done with it. A brief thought occured to him that maybe his flames had burned it up, and seeing the papers around himself his heart started to race with the thought that the whole store might catch on fire, and the rest of Daunton with it.
[sblock=Emral's head] THAT WON'T HAPPEN The words came from behind him, and Emral spun to see the speaker.
Standing behind him, floating mid-air was a genasi. His skin was covered in the etched lines other Genasi had, but rather than one element he was manifesting... all of them. Gouts of flame chased crackles of lightning across his muscled chest, and were themselves buffeted by a wind that surrounded him and blew the silken skirt girded around his waist. His skin changed from red to blue to gold, as did his body runes; the symbols on him were letters, Emral knew, in some dialect of elemental, spiraling out from a tiny hunk of rock in the middle of his chest. It was identical to the one Emral had in his own!
You... you're ...me? Emral worked out the words as the stranger landed on the ground next to him; although taller and more broad shouldered than Emral was now, it was undeniable.
I AM WHO YOU MAY YET BECOME, YES. I CAME BY WAY OF THE STONE WE BOTH SHARE, THROUGH THE MADNESS YOU CAN ALREADY FEEL, AND BY MY OWN MAGICS, TO GIVE YOU A WARNING.YOU MUST NOT ALLOW YOUR FRIENDS TO DIE IN THE turtledome! MUCH DEPENDS ON THIS, ON YOU, AND ON THEM
Emral reeled. Wow. Oh wow. I'm talking to myself from the future, and my future-self says I'm crazy. I've literally lost my mind. This is a hallucination based on my over-inflated sense of self, or compensating for a low self-image with delusion, isn't it? You're... symbolic of my belief that I'm some sort of demi-god, with power over the elements and... really sweet abs and pects. How...? I mean, I don't do anything to keep...
THE OIL OF OLAY the "visitor" intones. Emral's eyebrows quirk and his head cocks to the side, in need of clarification. THE DEMON OLAY, WHO LURKS IN A FOLD IN SPACE, REACHING THROUGH TO THE MORTAL WORLD TO DRINK THE YOUTH OF SLEEPING CHILDREN. YOU SLAY HIM AND BATH IN HIS BLOOD.
[color] Ah. Good for me then. So, I'm new at this: how long do these hallucinations normally last? I've got to get back to reality and my... friends.[/color] Emral's sentences drop off as he looks at the "apparition's" belt: a wide peice of leather about his waist, the front of it bears a minotaur's skull, shrunk down to fit in the center. Around it are three human-looking skulls, polished and inset into the leather. Is... is this what happens if I fail my friends? I thought we'd be raised in the arena if we died.
The other looks at the skulls as well, his expression sad but also very distant. ALL FRIENDS DIE, WHETHER NOW OR OVER THE NEXT FIVE CENTURIES, NOTHING CHANGES. ALL IMMORTALS HAVE LEFT ARE MEMORIALS. YOU DON'T... CAN'T, STOP THIS.WHAT I CAME FOR IS THIS BATTLE. ALREADY THE THREADS OF CHAOS THREATEN YOUR GROUP. FIRST MARCO, THEN THE OTHERS. IF YOU ARE NOT READY FOR turtledome!, LIVES WILL BE AFFECTED OTHER THAN THOSE IN THE ARENA. THEM YOU CAN HELP.
[/sblock]
Emral looks away, at the doorway where he can hear the others bickering. He turns back wait, who do you mean? How do I know this isn't just... but the figure is gone.
Emral curses under his breath, then wades into the other room. He pulls up short in front of Hadarai, as the Eladrin had turned to leave.
Ok, you can say anything if you smile. Charming, lad, charming. Hiiiiiii, guys! Did somebody say dinner? Sorry, I... I've been in my own head since I left Swillwort's mind. A bit-- a lot out of it. Crazy-crazy day, y'know?
Marco, I thought I heard someone say dinner. I know I've been acting strangely today, but is there a way I could help out? Maybe set the table? I owe you a lot for introducing us to your friends. It's been a bit crazy, and I'm sorry if we came on too strong.
Emral looks about for a cupboard or something to wipe the table with.
