Thornmouthian Guildhouse - Name TBA

The Reading Room Old Guild Halls Old Thornmouth
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Every guild is doing it. So I have created this thread mainly for the sake of properly organizing all of our ideas into one definitive structure. This will be the Thornhouse. So let’s tackle this like true intellectuals and start discussing. My personal thoughts are below.

We had previously decided that a Lighthouse is highly appropriate to represent our guild. It not only has symbolic meaning, knowledge = illumination. It also bears a striking resemblance to our emblem. :thornmouth:.

It would sit on a cape. Right above a cliff. The sea crashing against the shoreline at the base of said cliffs. There would be a perpetual storm. An ancient protection spell cast years ago.

The visible part of the light house would be enormous. A giant round building with large round windows. Peaked with the housing that holds the mindflame. It would conjure the image of a rather stereotypical lighthouse, if you were to scale it up much more than nessecary.

The interior of the upper floors would be a giant library. The library would at least be 30 stories high. Each floor would be a ring. These rings would have bookshelves, reading nooks, and drafting desks everywhere. Dotted about in a manner that only the initiated could navigate them.

There would be a plush room directly below the Mindflame’s housing. It would be lavish, with a magical wine cooler and plenty of food. A communal room to discuss stories and what you’ve learned. Couches and cushions would be strewn about haphazardly. Allowing anyone to come in an lay themselves down in a manner that would relieve stress.

The ground floor would be clear of any books. Opposite from the north facing front door would be a card catalogue that would magically guide you to not only the books you want to read but also the books it thinks you should read. There would be two hearths the at the other two cardinal directions. these always would be lit, so travelers and Thornmaw alike could warm their hands by the fire.

Underground would be the dorms. Rooms cut deep into the rock, snakeing underneath the house and into the cliff.

Anything else. Ideas will be appreciated and suggestions for a name would be graciously accepted and then evaluated.

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I’ve decided against using one of the dorm rooms and have curtained off a nook under the stairs of the first library floor for my own use. I have a lamp, food stash, pillows, and access to books. That’s all I need.

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The first time I made it to the light house, I came up to the cliff face and had to climb it in the dark to get inside. I do not recommend that route. When I got there, everyone was having a Tome kindling session in the top and so the library was empty. I thought I was alone and settled in with a book. I heard noises and hurried into the shadow on one of the great staircases. I know im welcomed there now, but I still prefer to read and sleep in my little hideaway. Some of the others helped me clear out the dust and cobwebs and it’s quite cosy now. I’m considering hanging a string of magiq lanterns around the outside of my nook for safety reasons. It’s easy to mistake for an empty place in the dark and I don’t want anyone else sitting on me while I sleep because they didn’t know I was there.

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In the deepest part of the underground would be the archives where all the most rare and unique artifacts and relics are kept safe in a twisting labyrinth or corridors and shelf’s. Only the most adept would be able to navigate the archives. Anyone else who tried to enter would find themselves back at the main entrance to the lighthouse.

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At my initial arrival, I would stay in the dorm rooms, purely for getting accustomed to the place. But eventually, I would take inspiration from @Sellalellen and started moving bookshelves to make a sort of ceiling-less room in a less used part of the library, where I would spend the majority of the time.

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At my arrive, I would chose a dorm that had a view over the sea and there would be little decoration except writing from anicent texts lining the walls and bed and desk. This space would be a functional area were I do most of my research and spell work.

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Not entirely sure how I arrived in the world, feeling almost as though this is the start of a beautiful dream, I find myself following the scent of salt, the bite of the wind, and the sound of crashing waves upon rock. I come to find myself gazing in awe at an enormous lighthouse with a brilliant burning flame sitting atop a cove amidst a storm. Slowly approaching, with a large canvas and a small sheet of parchment enchanted to hover on my left and right, respectively, I enchant my cloak to float above me and shield myself and my work from the rainfall. I meticulously sketch every detail of the lighthouse and the cove on the canvas, and describe my artwork on my parchment. When I feel as though I have properly captured and catalogued the sight, I approach the door.
Upon entering the room I immediately pull out another set of canvas and parchment and do the same for this peaceful lobby. I approach one of the hearths, thankful for a respite from the cold. An enchanted card approaches me, it reads: “The Monarch Papers: Flora and Fauna” it then drifts away before I can properly capture it. Feeling compelled to follow, it leads me through a wondrous library to a well read tome.
I take the tome in hand and head up to the highest level, into the open air. I find myself in awe of the magnificent flame and meticulously inscribe it into my collection. I then turn my gaze to the sea and the storm, a great flash of lightning splits the dark sky. This is the moment I choose to capture for my records.
Once I am content that I have fully captured the beauty that this locale has to offer, I weave my sketches and descriptions together and place them into the satchel draped over my shoulder. I then lean against railing of the lighthouse, magically lift the well read tome up to chest height, open it and begin to read, hoping to gain a better understanding of this dream-like world I seemed to have stumbled upon.

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The dark storm raged on endlessly. The boat was tossed to and fro as if it was a toy in a child’s bath. I’ve been sailing for a week desperately chasing something I couldn’t even say for sure existed. An old tome called the guide claimed that it would lead to the light of truth: an entity that was said to know all things. And now here I was in the middle of the biggest storm I had ever seen on a small sail boat that was about to end with the stubborn captain going down with the ship. Some of the wave were 30 feet tall barreling down on my small vessel. I cursed myself under my breath. It will be easy. There is no need for intructions. How hard can it be to sail from point A to point B? The answer is hard. I’m an idiot and I’m about to be sunk. I pulled hard on the rig to set my life line. hopefully I won’t need it I scan the horizon for any sign that the storm will end. That were I saw it, I was bright enough to see through the storm. A beacon in the darkness. It meant there was land and hopefully safety. I pulled my crimison hair up and out of my face I ran to the bow of the and pulled the rudder to port toward the beacon. I made sure not to turn to much to prevent capsizing. It was almost over. That is what I thought at least until the largest wave I had seen, over a hundred foot easily, slammed right into the boat. I never stood a chance. It was over in a second and I was in the water getting swirled around like a rag doll. I tried to hold my breath for a long as possible, but I failed soon I was sinking into the murky water the darkness cover might sight the last thing I saw was that light in the distance before it all went black.
I was able to survive by a miracle and washed up on a beach. The storm had not died down since I lost consciousness. I soon found myself on a beach and surrounded by bird hoping they had found their lunch. I waved my arms sending them to take to the air. I tried to stand up but my right leg was shot with raging white burning pain. I must have hurt it. I could not stay out in the open like this unless I really wanted to die. I saw a long piece of drift wood that was not to far from me. I rolled over biting my lip to stop me from screaming in pain and began to army crawl over to the drift wood. Once I had it in my hand, I used it as a support for my weight. It still hurt like hell but it was barable. I look around for somewhere I could find some shelter. Luckily not to far on a cliff was what looked like an old light house. That look promising, I mutter to myself. I began the long and slow process of making my way to the lighthouse. I had walked all day and only made it half way. Lucky I found what was left of my ship. Including my travel bag, some food and water that I was smart enough to store in a water proof container and some medical supplies for my leg. After I finished bandaging my leg, I slept amongst the wreckage of my ship. The next day my leg was much better. It still hurt but no lognger felt like I was stabbing my own leg. The most shocking thing I found was that the storm had not died out yet. It continued to pour down rain and lightning with no signs of stoping. I continue the walk to the lighthouse and did not make it till nightfall. Now that I was closer I notice how run down the building was. Some of the brick was missing and the door had rotted off. I walk in through one of the missing sections of the wall. Hey this will do for now. The inside was very roomy. I was still a functional shelter for now. I collapsed in the center of the main hall and feel asleep. Tomorrow I would discovery the secrets of this building.
It was still night when I woke up to the sound of laughter, I quickly got to my feet. It sound like a little girl. “Do you want play?” I turned around to find a young girl with pure white hair. I was so shocked all I could say was “Who are you?” The girl giggling at me as if my question was the funniest thing, then turned and ran began to run down a hallway I don’t remember being their before. I charged after her. Her laughter echoed off the walls. We enter a room like the one we just left but it looked new. There were no missing sections and a complete stone staircase that spiraled around the room and up to the observation levels which was were the girl was going now I bound up the stairs after her. Once I reached the the last flight there was a heavy metal door that lead to the observation deck. Once I was through the door their she was. Between us was an a large hearth that was not definitely not natural the flame coming from the hearth was appeared to be changing colors. Red blue green yellow black purple white. The order was completely random. The girl smiled through the flames. “What would you do for knowledge? If were to be able to have the knowledge of a thousand men? You can have it if you want all you have to do is retrieve the medal from the flame and it’s yours.” I don’t know why but I believed her. In the center of the flame, there was a small silver medal. If I was quick, I could get it. I reached into the flame and found it was not hot. Bearly warm. The moment my fingers rapped around the medal a rush of heat over came me. My blood began to boil and my head filled with thoughts and ideas that were not mine filled my head. Knowledge and thoughts pour into my head like water into a cup and began to over flow. The world became full of the color of the flames. Suddenly, it stop. I was on my knees operation deck. The girl was gone. But I somehow understood. The medal was no longer blank. It depicted the top of the lighthouse. I understood from now on I was a Thornmouthian and nothing would be the same. One thing I was absolutely certain was that I was home.

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I spend most of my time exploring the environment and studying what wildlife I can find around the hall. No open space is left on the walls of my dorm between the bookshelves stacked with books written in various languages, many of which I don’t even speak, but I plan to.

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So there is this ps4 game called dreams coming out…I was thinking about making my headspace/inner world in it (I have DID), but also now this light house is really sparking idea’s in my head. The cool thing about dreams is it has virtual reality capability. I’ll definitely post what I come up with after I’ve made it though.

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You must let me know how the VR part is, most of the VR parts I have experienced so far have made me barf :confused:

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I use to get motion sick in vr too. You just got to stop playing whenever that happens and take a break. Then try again. After awhile the motion sickness will stop. You can also use different comfort settings to minimize the nausea. Also ginger candy helps.

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Thanks, I’ll have to try those strategies out next time I play VR.

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After receiving my campaign letter, I caught the night train across the archipelago to the port, and then the boat across the cape to the welcoming glow of the lighthouse. I had a package of fruit and pastries to snack on which was welcome fuel for when I had to lug my suitcase and backpack up to the entrance hall of the lighthouse- thank goodness my trunk of books had been delivered in advance!

Upon arrival, the first thing i noticed was the warm smokey smells wafting down from above, and up from what I imagine was the kitchen- mixed with the salty brine from outside. The sound of crashing waves faded and the oak door closed to the cold outside.

I was welcomed by a few cheery thornmouths sitting by the large open fire and pointed in the direction of the dorms- apparently a few of the end rooms in wing one next to the kitchen were uninhabited.

Heading down the spiral staircase, I made my way past the kitchen, which was piled full of fresh fruit and vegetables in crates, baked goods and bread ready for the mornings breakfast.

After knocking to check, I poked my head into a easterly facing room overlooking the main path into the lighthouse. Equipped with a comfortable looking bunkbed, shelves, a desk, lantern for light and a few necessities, it looks cosy enough and I clamber into the top bunk and pass out straight away, ready for whatever tomorrow will bring!

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The day I got my directions to the Thornmouth guildhouse, I threw my most magiqal items into a waterproof pack and raced to the nearest port, hoping to find a captain willing to ferry me to the mysterious lighthouse. It took some doing, but eventually I set off, a sea breeze tangling my hair and excited trepidation tangling my thoughts. It took the better part of twenty-four hours before the lighthouse came into view, a towering peak that promised warmth, safety, and above all the knowledge I had been seeking. I thanked the captain, paid her well and leapt onto the rocky shore.

I didn’t scramble up the stony path straight away - for a while I just stood there, staring at the light, my stomach clenching with anxiety. What if it wasn’t all I dreamed it would be? What if I would be an outcast among these people, these scholars of magiq? The wind picked up and the sea sprayed my back, almost pushing me toward the door. I squared my shoulders and stepped forward.

I soon saw that my fears were unfounded - my fellow Thornmouths were welcoming, not hesitating to point me toward a vacant dormitory and a fire to dry my sea-soaked clothes and hair. I unpacked my bag, placing the motley crew of books and notepad, all covered in sigils, on a shelf next to the bed in my ocean-view room. I changed into my other set of clothes and hung the others near the fire, before smiling out the window at the roiling ocean and heading off to seek a friendly face to point me to the library, where my research into magiq could at last properly begin.

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I was late. Again. I had been unable to resist finishing the book. I grabbed my bag and flew out of the door to be greeted with a morning song from the spring birds. As cheery as the melody was it could not change my melancholic thoughts. I trudged through the day feeling bereft as I normally did after reading an epic saga, the only solice being the book shop on my way home.
I breathed the enticing scent of words, letting them pull me towards the next world that demanded to be discovered. On the cover a butterfly seemed alive mirroring the fluttering in my stomach on the way to the counter. The moment the book belonged to me I opened it and began my journey. I trusted my feet to take me home so my eyes could read unhindered as they soaked up an intriguing tale.
The sky had darkened but it wasn’t until the rain drops fell on the page that I looked up, my heart skipped a beat when I didn’t see anything I recognised. A lighthouse stood alone under a roiling sky, as I walked towards it, it grew in disproportion to the distance I travelled. Both curiosity and and wariness warred within me just like the storm clouds that pushed me onwards.
I was greeted with a magiqbot holding a pile of dry clothes and a fluffy towel. As soon as I took them it turned and disappeared down the corridor. The three people rushed out of a side room to warmly welcomed me regardless of my dripping attire, I mumbled my apologies for the mess and state of mind. One of them pointed to the floor and I saw that I was stood upon a beautifully ornate metal grate, she explained that it allowed the rain water to run off elsewhere as everyone that came arrived in much the same drowned state. Then one of the others took my arm and guided me to a set of stairs leading down, he told me that I would find my own space and discover everything in my own time after I had changed.

I later discovered that the rain water was used as part of magiq, it collected essence from each new arrival and joined us together.

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It always seemed to make sense… until it didn’t. Mix the brew and listened, they always told you what to add, each leaf and branch and berry, they always knew. You mix the brew and listen why even the bonsai said this was an excellent tea for clarity! How could it ever be wrong!

The dreams had been more vivid lately, they were always vivid but these felt focused. The smell of fresh rain on stone, the flicker of light from some unseen fire, the feel of pages caressing finger tips. I could feel the place calling every time I focused on my breathing and let myself unravel; I could feel the world drift and turn as it took my awareness elsewhere. But each trip was brief as my ego and self awareness reasserted or worse I would slipped in to true sleep and those damned rabbits returned. Infernal things always watching and twitching their noses! But now there was a way. I had brewed and blended this tea just for this purpose. Even some of the very flowers and fungi had been crafted specifically for this tea.

Leaning back and sipping the last of the tea steadily I felt the weight of my eyelids like led curtains drawing them down, each breath becoming deeper and deeper as my very being began to unravel and the boundaries of my self began to dissolve. Just as my being become perception I heard the gentle whisper of the cherry blossom “you will want your umbrella friend” and softly took the handle of the well worn canopy. Feeling things twist and untwist I opened one eye and then the other. Then closed and opened each in turn again. Things were certainly…well wet. I was drenched to the bone and nauseous. I opened the umbrella with the satisfaction of knowing that it offered some protection to the rain along with the amount of water already soaking through my clothes making it feel impossible to take on more water. Slowly and with considerable squelching (Vans are not wet weather shoes) I made my way through the grey murky mist of rain towards the faint light ahead. After what felt an eternity I eventually reached the light seeing it to be an immense form of stone artifice shining a pale light across the land. Making my way to the ready open door I stepped upon the grating and knocked gently on the ancient wood as I heard voices debating and laughing up within the lighthouse. “… um hello. Would anyone have some tea? And maybe a towel?”

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It was a in the dark hours of the early morning when I first saw the glow of the Thornmouth guild house. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. Yes I had seen other light houses in distant lands, but non like this. The thornmouth lighthouse was a behemoth. It towered high above the cliffs edge, with a fire that not only acted as a guide for its members, but as a warning for any who dare try and disrupt the peace. Thornmouth was strong. During the last leg of mine and Grangers (my dog familiar) trip aboard the boat named Lady Fate, I scanned through the forum for the Thornmouth guild, reading about my new home. I have to admit, the lighthouse was more grand than I had ever imagined. I wondered about my new guild mates. Would they be welcoming? Or would they be cautious of the new arrival? Maybe both.

Before I knew it, the pup resting her head on my lap darted her head up and let out a little bark, letting me know she heard people skuttering about on the deck. It brought me back down from my wonderings and I realized we were at the docks. I gathered my leather bag, filled with trinkets and books to help me feel closer to home when the inevitable homesickness would come. I attached Grangers harness to her leash and we made our way off of the boat and down the busy dock.

Even though the sun had barely started to rise, the docks were bustling with fishermen and traders alike. The smell of the morning catch mixed with the incense of the traders boats. It was interesting to say in the least. Granger was darting side to side in front of me, trying to greet as many strangers as she possibly could. The little pup was full of energy and I cant help but smile when I look at her.

As we made our way from the dock, the path headed up a beautiful cobblestone road, with aged bricks forming walls on the side, only reaching a few feet from the ground. As I got closer to the lighthouse my stomach began to do flips of excitement. It really was amazing. The sea breeze mixed with the smell of food cooking. It was certainly getting close to breakfast time.

When we made it to the doors of the guild, I noticed the symbol on the stone arch. The symbol I had only seen on pins and webpages, but now it was here. In front of me. Carved into the doors of my new home. I stood there for a couple of minutes not knowing what to do……do I knock?..…or do I just walk in?..…what were the proper steps for something like this? Granger decided for me and let out three loud barks of excitement. Thats when I heard the knob turning and a purple haired girl was peering at me through the opening. She laughed at what must have been an expression of fear and anxiety making my cheeks burn bright red.

She suddenly welcomed me with a very strong hug and gave Granger some welcomed attention and belly scratches, pulled me through the door and called everyones attention to the new guild member. I made sure to say my name loud enough for everyone to hear and then introduced Granger who was letting out whimpers of excitement. After the introduction the purple haired girl pulled me by the arm and led me to a hallway to the right of the entrance.

“The majority of the dorms are downstairs, but for our members with animal familiars we have a hallway close to the entrance so that the precious fur babies don’t have to walk too far to go outside and relieve themselves.” She finished her sentence with a giggle. The hallways was filled with the noises of barking, meowing, chirping, and some other noises I did not recognize. How was I ever going to get a moments peace with all of this noise? She stopped me at a dark purple door with the number 48 marked below a peephole.

“This is it! Your new home! I’ll let you and Granger get acclimated and you can join us when you are all ready!” Before I could even reply she had turned on her heels and was skipping down the hallway.

The key was already in the door handle, all of the empty dorms had keys in the handles. I guess thats the best way to keep track. I gave the key and turn and pushed the door open. It was heavy. Once I crossed the threshold and closed the door behind me, all of the sounds form the outside world disappeared. This place was truly magic. Inside there was a single bed and empty shelves waiting to be filled with books and treasure. There was even a bed in the corner for Granger, although she probably wont be using it since she likes to sleep in the bed with me at night. I tossed my bag on the bed and took it all in. I had made it. This was the beginning of a grand adventure.

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I was thinking a lot about this thread and how much I have enjoyed reading everyones stories, and maybe it would be cool to use this as a kind of journal entry thread for us to explore the Lighthouse? I went ahead and wrote about my morning in the Thornmouth Guild!

Day 1 at Thornmouth -Morning-

I awoke to the sounds of Granger’s protective barks. I opened my eyes and it took me a few seconds to remember that I had made it to the sacred halls of the Thornmouth Guild Lighthouse. I quickly jumped up and fixed the knot on my head that was a man-bun before I had gone to bed. Once I was presentable, I made my way to the peephole. There she was. The same purple haired girl from yesterday. I opened the door a smidge as to not let Granger dart out into the hall.

“I came to give you your first tour of the lighthouse!”

It was a nice gesture. I was used to doing things on my own. I never went to a college orientation before either. I liked the ideas of exploring on my own and finding new things, but here she was and I wasn’t about to make a bad impression this early on.

I quickly rummaged through my bag and found some of Granger’s favorite bones that would occupy some of her time while I was on the tour. I would come back and take her around the Lighthouse later so she could explore a little.

Once I made it back out into the hallway I quickly locked the door and turned back to my purple haired tour guide.

“I never learned your name.” I said.

“Its Ravyn!” She replied enthusiastically.

How was she so juiced up this early in the morning. I had to suppress my morning grump.

We made our way down the hallway and into the main room of the first floor. It was beautiful. I was finally getting to live in one of the fantasy novels that I had grown up reading. There was a fireplace the crackled and sparked different colors of the rainbow. I could have gazed into the flames all day but Ravyn snapped me out of it.

She led me up the stairs and that’s when I took in a site that would give any book nerd heart palpitations. There were books upon books. With any topic that you could think of. It was the library of all libraries.

Along the shelves there were outcroppings and nooks used by other guild members for their research. Heck, even a couple of them seemed to have taken up a more permanent residence among the shelves.

Ravyn told me all that I needed to know about the sacred texts and all of the ways I could find the information that I desired. I mean….who needed the internet when you had a magical library.

As we climbed the stairs higher and higher (my legs were certainly going to be tone) we made it to a room that had round windows all the way around that were adorned with lush drapes that were dyed the colors of every gemstone. I was partial to the window that overlooked the ocean with emerald drapes. It was so pretty that it could be a painting. There was a cooler with wine and refreshments next to a buffet table topped with mountains of pastries, fruit, and breakfast food. Any that you could imagine. I grabbed a blueberry muffin that was still warm and walked past a few guild members that were having a passionate debate about some fragments of a riddle they had found. The tables on this floor were filled with people drawing, writing, talking/laughing. I got the anxiety of a freshman trying to find a friend on his first day of school. That’s when I noticed Ravyn waving me over at the stairway.

“Are you ready to see something absolutely amazing?” She asked

“Uh of course.” I said trying to keep the warm muffin in my mouth.

She lead me up the stairway and there I saw it. It was a huge white golden flame. The strange thing was that it wasn’t hot. My skin should have been sizzling being so close to a flame of that size, but what I felt was desire. I needed to learn. To learn anything and everything. To become a librarian to the magical world around me. The longer I looked into the flame, I could hear my inner voice pushing me discover new things and bridge realities.

Ravyn snapped her fingers in front of my face sand broke the trance. We laughed and she patted me on the back and lead me back down the stairs.

This new home of mine is truly something special.

To be continued……

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I had been here before, and I hadn’t.

I walked in almost as the meeting was beginning. I closed the door quietly behind me and stood by it, surreptitiously scanning the figures milling about in front of me. The more I could observe, the more I would know, and the more certain I would be I wasn’t making a misstep or causing an interruption.

Several were finding their way to seats (chairs, couches, cushions on the floor, or leaning against a wall or the card catelog) with their eyes transfixed on books; others spoke quietly, their thoughtful conversation occasionally accented with a laugh. There was clearly enough room in the gathering for me to join; as if to confirm, one of the guild members threw a glance backwards towards me over his shoulder, raised a hand in a half-wave, and curled his fingers forward to beckon me in.

As we all introduced ourselves, I noticed the common threads: people who like games, books, and picking up whatever knowledge and skills they can. I waited as long as I could, but eventually it was my turn.

“Hi all. I’m Tributary.” The name came effortlessly and truthfully, accompanied by a cascade of thoughts about water and contribution and size and place and form and language and association and allusion and deception and meaning and truth and “I’m still a bit new here, a bit lost. But I think I can at least give a summary of what I can and can’t do to help out around here.”

The words, and my thoughts, kept flowing.
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Weeks earlier, I found myself in my dormitory. Pages of stream-of-consciousness journaling were strewn about the surfaces and pages of sheet music were scrawled on and affixed loosely across the walls. I walked up to the door, tried to open it, and couldn’t build up the strength, the willpower, the nerve, the energy, too fatigued, too weak, too unfocused, too focused on the struggle and not enough on the wonder. I took a breath.

I took my necklace out of my bag, clasped it around my neck, opened the window, and began to sing into the storm.
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Mind control is fickle when the mind one controls is one’s own. See, we control each other.
///
Within a week of introducing myself, I had thrown myself into every conversation I could find a way to and every corner of the lighthouse I could find. Everything was magic. Everything was beauty. Everything was storied.

Everything was built on a foundation that no one could find.

So I kept reading.

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