Unanswered Questions

The Spiritual Travelers have been experiencing some wacky dreams lately, and when they wake up they tend to be, well, somewherewhenwhowhatwhyhow else. These dreams seem to be related to a "mutual friend" according to Simol, which means it is likely either Tympi or Ilven.
More recent visions are definitely confirming that it is related to Tympi in some way. These spirits seem keen on devouring her through spiritual or philosophical means, and they intend to take the Spiritual Travelers down with her.
These spirits seem to be what the Writer documented in his Field Guide: Unanswered Questions.

Curent Event

Daulok 28, 308 - The Spiritual Travelers at last returned to their physical forms. Tympi woke up, Ilven was ecstatic to see her, and the group was blessed with her protecting light against the Spiraling Dark.
It would seem that this chapter in Tympi's life has been closed.

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Plot points/Scenes

Nurend 30-31, 308 - Where am I?

During the evening of Nurend 30, 308, the Spiritual Travelers had some unusual dreams. These dreams involved them playing the parts of a forest as plants or animals. One of these animals was a caterpillar, lost and hungry in a strange new land. Upon awakening, they found themselves to be in a hallway somewhere inside a maze, likely the same Labyrinth that The Writer found himself in 50 years ago. They defeated the Wheredigo that was manipulating their perception of Location and were returned to the forest, though nowhere near where they fell asleep.
Simol spoke on these dreams when visited by Agave during the downtime that followed shortly after this encounter.
“These dreams are not mere surreal adventures…they’re a glimpse at the mind of our dying mutual friend. Each vision is a memory, and you’ll need to perform them to the best of your ability. Though…i think those are only the beginning, the true challenge will be awhile from now, as she struggles with her last breaths and last thoughts against a sheet of oil that would hope to drown her.”
Is the "mutual friend" Tympi, or could it perhaps be Ilven? Both are currently not entirely themselves as Tympi is currently asleep and slowly recuperating from a 50 year sentence inside a jar with The Unblinking Sein while Ilven is one with that same spirit. Both of them began as Caterpillars in a strange land.

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Nurend 42-Daulok 02 - When am I?

Between the evening of Nurend 42, 308 and Daulok 02, 308, the Spiritual Travelers dreamed and fought a Whendigo. The dream this time around did feature a small, multi-legged creature much like the first one, but the creature was not visible from any of their perspectives. Despite this, their perspective was both from their own, normal view and from the view/mindset of this creature. It felt loneliness, despair, and Hunger above all else.

The dream featured the death of a world, likely the world that this caterpillar is originally from. The Spiritual Travelers were able to watch as this world was drawn into the gaping maw of some cold celestial body high in the atmosphere. Before it was being destroyed by...whatever this thing was, the world was already dead as there was nothing growing, living, anywhere at all besides this single caterpillar.
After their dream, the Spirit World itself, or at the very least Tympi's Forest, seemed to be in a state of ruin as well. An old man attempted to eat up as much of their time as possible before revealing himself to be a Whendigo. When it was defeated, this Whendigo revealed some new information:
"She has a lot of Unanswered Questions. The Uncertainty that you feel during these trials will continue to hurt her. If you continue to have Uncertainty during these trials she will die."

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Daulok 07, 308 - Who Am I?

The Spiritual Travelers encountered another spirit, the Whodigo after more strange dreams. The dreams, this time around, did not feature a caterpillar, but both Tympi and Ilven were there.

It started with a question of "Who am I?" asked from the perspective of the Spiritual Travelers. This question was answered with assurance that they are who they are, but they were also dragged away into the darkness by several unseen tendrils. After being dragged away, they "woke up" to the sight of a canvas tent above them and the sound of a fire being lit in their camp nearby.
The campfire was started by their good friend, Tympi, and hey had each assumed the roll of a history-absent version of Tympi's friends. Each of them had something to say to her to remind her of who she is, and as they were reminded of this they each felt like they were falling backwards into their bodies. As they did, they experience extreme tunnel vision, sounds became muffled, and soon they were completely inside their bodies which slowly began to dissolve until all that remained were the tiny versions of themselves.
These tiny versions of themselves looked the way their normal bodies would, but something inside them felt different. Each Spiritual Traveler seemed to have exchanged abilities with another, and they were tasked with again figuring out who they were. While trying to do so, however, the Whodigo slowly began to appear before them, they vanquished the beast, and it vanished while leaving behind a jagged bone locket with a cameo inside of whoever was looking at it.
The Whodigo, in its defeat, said, "You have come far in this endeavor, but many of us still remain. She will perish along with yourselves as we continue to devour her."

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Daulok 22, 308

Visions within the Black Pear Roots

On Daulok 22, 308 (Rotting Gate Time), the Spiritual Travelers encountered another vision while traversing the roots of the Black Pear Tree. While there were no spirits matching the description found in the Field Guide, they did experience a historical event through the eyes of Tympi and her sister, Ilven.
During their journey through the roots themselves, the Spiritual Travelers experienced unusual feelings of melting, reforming, merging, and tremors that they seemed to understand meant "A Mountain Moves, but not for you. A joy only we can feel, Movement is our own free will. See the light that was taken, and think on who was Mistaken. The journey has ended, then why even start? Why are you here? Why ever part?" A light would occasionally flash, and it soon became more permanent though Kaswink knew that it would be gone soon enough.

Light tends to mean "exit", so they rushed forward with great haste before emerging in a tundra. A cliff extended out over a crevasse of impossible to determine depth, beige-pink clouds filled the below area, and the sky was strangely clear. It matched the description of Ulunor's Cliff from the Field Guide down to the strange Orb of swirling Light and Darkness. Tympi knew that she was here to see this orb, but she didn't know why. Despite this, she pressed forward while Ilven voiced some doubts over the whole ordeal.
Looking at the orb was like looking at one's self, or the World in general, and Ilven understood this to be something often referred to as "Ulunor". Tympi and Ilven got a bit too close to the orb, put their hands through, and were transported through the swirling mass before arriving back at their starting location on the cliff. It was disorienting, but it helped them hear the weeping that existed within each pulse of light. They learned of Ar'en'el and of her lost love, Vsevolodrik. He was apparently taken from Her and is kept hidden somewhere that Her light cannot reach. She gave Tympi a piece of her light to carry with her and shine on Vsevolodrik when He was found. Tympi agreed and the vision began to fade.

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Why am I?

The Spiritual Travelers ventured forth to investigate a mysterious orb at the request of Ohrsecte, The Beetle King. This orb was apparently made of light and was capable of consuming anyone that touched it into itself as they were most likely disintegrated. Upon arriving at where the orb ought to be, they found nothing but a strange plant and a dead end. While investigating this plant, several arms reached out from underground. They were long, incredibly thin and looked as though they were mummified while also bending in random directions with too many joints. The arms were defeated, the plant continued to slowly bloom, and a light was eventually revealed. This was likely what they were sent to investigate.

They managed to communicate with the light some, learned of its desires a bit and were planning on how to get it out of the dark tunnels when one of the previously defeated arms suddenly appeared again and took the orb. From behind the plant appeared a strange, emaciated creature with a vaguely humanoid frame. Its face was similar to a vulture, and it had three extra arms that extended out from its back, long, bending in random directions and just as thin as the rest of it. Weird afterimages were left both behind and ahead of the creature as it moved, and it quickly began to consume the travelers' reasons for being here to begin with. While causing some existencial issues for most of the party, it slowly started to devour another reason that they were there: the orb of light. It seemed capable of devouring large pieces of it at a time without issue and even healed from the action.
When the Whydigo was deafeted it did not leave behind any loot, save the sand that its body became, and it provided no additional wisdom like some previous Unanswered Questions did.

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Daulok 24-25, 308

Ilven's Offer

During the day on Daulok 24th, the Spiritual Travelers visited Ilven to gather information about this Spiraling Darkness that threatens to cover the Spirit World. She didn't have much insight beyond speculation, but she did have a concern that her sister would be consumed by it if the Mothlight Trees continued to be covered in the darkness. She worried that it might drag her out into the darkness, piece by piece, and that her unresolved issues could wander the land beyond. She also revealed that her sister was dealing with yet another beast...

“There is something I must tell you as well, travelers. There were times when I slept that I felt your presence…times that I felt my sister’s mind was in peril, but you were always there to pull her out of it. I am awake now, I cannot tell what she is experiencing, but I feel her journey back to us is not yet over. With the Spiraling Dark outside worsening, consuming Mothlight Trees, her condition will likely only worsen, and the parts of her consciousness that are still yet recovered may wander the land beyond. I don’t know entirely what that means, but if there is any guidance I can offer it is this: When I at last awoke, she was struggling with something particularly jarring… a beast made of tendrils that surrounded her entire journey up to this point. All the battles won or lost, the conversations she’s had, the memories she has relived…even ones that have not been experienced yet are all wrapped within this beast, and she is now, um, content within its maw. It devours her even now, swallowing who she was and who she could’ve been.
"I could help you reach her, but you may find yourselves battling your contentment along the way. Unraveling the complicated tendrils and freeing yourself from its maws to arrive at Tympi’s own peril… It will be dangerous, frustrating, and probably confusing, but you would be doing everyone here a service by finally freeing her. You would certainly helping yourselves along the way if you plan on going into that darkness. If I were more focused with her awake, I could shield you, at least partially, from corruption. Will you do this?”
After explaining this, she revealed that she could protect these travelers against the darkness. She claimed she had experience with such darkness, and she felt as though she might know how to keep them from being corrupted while inside. However, she was distracted, worried about her sister, and she would need help freeing her before she can perform the ritual. Tympi also being safe would be a bonus...perhaps she can provide even more protection or information. The travelers agreed to enter Tympi's mind and performed some light downtime activity until it was time to sleep.

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Dreams? Perhaps Not

Daulok 24-25, 308 - Idyllic Moments - Each of the Spiritual Travelers are currently experiencing a perfect, idyllic moment in their lives. Something that couldn't possibly be better, something that suspends any disbelief to the point that Ilven's words are almost completely lost. Phrases like "This is too good to be true..." and "This is just a dream..." are shuffled with Ilven's instructions to free Tympi, and each fades into the back of their minds like a slowly forgotten dream. A question meets them with each "day" that passes in this glorious time and place, "How did I get here?" or perhaps "How has it come to this?"
And Contentment Answered, "It Matters Not."

Hysteria - You felt the gentle, tingling pleasantness within your meditation. Your body felt weightless and drifting as you cut through the throats of so many people. Orders were fulfilled, tasks were accomplished, awaiting more orders, completing them...but these memories slowly started to fade as they were wrapped up. Similarly, you found yourself waking up wrapped in a comfortable, soft blanket and stretching as the sun rose on another day. Looking around the room, there was no need for the weapons hanging on the wall in display cases, but hanging next to them was an apron with splashes of flour on it that you instinctively got out of bed to put on. You could hear the bustling of people outside, customers with feet crunching through the snow. The windows were frosted over, and you could see some elvish writing with words that you recognized to be the name of your bakery, "Sweet Meat Pies".
The bell above the door rang as an elf walked in. You recognized him to be your employee with an apron already equipped and a look of determination on his face. He walked around the counter, asked what was needed and completely understood the most minimum of orders immediately. Perfect harmony between the two of you...and this went on as your life, as it should be. Memories of the previous day fading into the back of your head as if from a dream, perhaps a recurring dream you've experienced for many nights, but it fades just like all the others.

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Frode - You feel the comfort of a pillow beneath your head as you wake up. The light of day pouring through a nearby window past some curtains that shift from a gentle breeze. They create shadows on your walls, and the light is soft and blue like an early morning should be. Birds chirped, wind blows through some trees, and laughter could be heard down a hallway. The laughter of children grew louder as they moved down the hallway towards you, and you recognized your wife lying in bed next to you as well. Everything was alive, always had been, everything is perfect and beautiful as it should be. The children arrived in the bedroom, hopped on the bed and shouted "Daddy! Daddy! What're we doing today?!"
Frode answered, "Make fried potatoes!" The children cheered, excited about this Frode delicacy that only dad can make... Your life continued on like this with memories and concerns of how this even came to be drifting away as if just a dream you had that night before waking up into the proper reality.

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DAN - Each of your bodies were fading into this light, drifting, tingling sensation into a dream. It's hard to tell exactly what the noises are at first. There were birds, leaves rustling, cartwheels turning and a distinct third snore as the first body wakes up. You could tell that you were inside the usual traveling accommodations you would have in your circus before all this Spirit World nonsense started, though, perhaps this is after? You aren't really sure about the series of events that led to this moment, and concerns over such things fade just like the dream you woke up from. You could see a comforting presence on the other side of the cart in a fourth hammock turning, stretching and meeting your own gaze. He looked at each of you as you all finished waking up, pulled out some hatchets, torches, and other juggling implements as he spoke.
"Well, brothers, ready for another day? Looks like we're about there!" You responded with a meek, "Yep, Alright." which was met with some concern from Steve. You explained, "This is gonna sound weird, but it feels like it's been so long since you've been like this." Steve laughed this off, "Well, drinking that much'll do that to ye."
The cart had stopped, the circus was being prepped and customers were already lining up. Circus friends could be seen, everything was normal as it should be, and you could see Steve standing in the usual spot as he started the routine, ready for you to join in. You inspected the juggling gear you had on hand, shrugged and enjoyed the moment. Thoughts that this was an illusion, that there was something wrong with this, it all faded like a dream into the back of your mind. Each throw in the juggling routine was like another perfectly normal, though idyllic, moment.

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ALT - The same strange, tingling, weightless sensation also surrounded you. You could feel your arms moving with, well, not the usual necessity of maybe needing to do something because there is something needing to be done, but each movement of your arms is instead done with a sense of purpose...a sense of reason. You know exactly why you're doing all these things is something not just thrusted upon you by someone else, by some creator or whatever spirit might've inhabited your body, no, it is something you chose to do. It's coming into focus as some fog or mist is clearing, and you could see that you were on some assembly line. You aren't sure what got you were, what led you to this point, all you have is the reason that you're supposed to be doing this and that is that you chose to do it. As you make adjustments to fit pieces together, you realized that there are more people here with their own part to play in this manufacturing process.
You chose to fit a few more pieces together before stopping, looking around and then climbing up a shoot at the end of the assembly line. At the top of this shoot was another assembly line with smaller bits being assembled by more workers. Memories were fading as if they were a dream or perhaps a malfunction in your programming. It was something that shouldn't've been there, and it was slowly being forgotten. You got the sense that you should be working, but instead continued climbing up shoot after shoot to see smaller and smaller components until reaching a point where there were no more shoots to climb... instead there was just a tube with a steady stream of powder pouring out of it. Mechanical assembly line arms released arcs that turned chunks of powder into the most diminutive of bits.
You chose to climb up this pipe to find another level with far larger bits, likely the end result of this series of assembly lines, and you saw the final product. Something...something that ALT knows. This invention, whatever it was, was being broken down into this powder to be reassembled into itself. A cyclical thing and one that ALT will enjoy for many days to come.

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Agave - You found yourself sitting in a very familiar place that you do not recognize. It's somewhere that you know you should know, but it is something that you lost. You felt wet with soaked through fur...cold, and a strange thought that there were two people that should be there with you sharing a drink. You didn't know these people, and you didn't know how they were lost to you, and you certainly didn't know how you got back to where you are. Concerns with that faded with each drink, with each compulsion to throw back another ounce, and the memories of these two lost people didn't get any clearer. They were as cloudy as the skies that took them away, and the only shape that they can take in your mind is more rain.
Bobcat - You had a slightly more cheery dream, a more cheery day-to-day life. Memories of Ilven and the new friends you found were fading, and you were standing on a very tall desert rock formation in the middle of a rather large crag. There were four gang members which were recognized to be your friends, and there were two villages: one on either side of the crag you found yourself in the middle of. You had your pick of who to loot, and the revelry was about to begin.
Additionally, you could see a few spirits floating nearby. They were only partially opaque and they had unusual, long, tubular bodies with rows of tendrils that lined their bodies on either side. These tendrils looped and wrapped around each other, through the air and phased through each other at times. The only other thing really known about these spirits was that they seemed to encourage feelings of Contentment.

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Structure

Exposition

After freeing Tympi from the Jar, she seemed to be incredibly exhausted, barely hanging on, and losing her ability to see. She went completely blind during the journey back home, and after an encounter with The Unblinking Sein she helped the Spiritual Travelers get inside the Mothlights to safety. She collapsed and passed out in the middle of town as swarms of Mothlings came to her aid.
She is currently resting in Her House in the Mothlights, and shortly after this the Spiritual Travelers experienced something they had yet to see even in the Spirit World. The strange dream of a caterpillar lost in a strange land led Namina to believe it may have something to do with either Ilven or Tympi. The encounter with a Wheredigo only raised further questions, and a meeting with Simol confirmed that it is a "Mutual Friend" that is in trouble.
The next encounter they had was after another strange dream and involved a Whendigo which explained that, as it died, "she" has many "Unanswered Questions", that Uncertainty will harm "her" and that there will be much more Uncertainty to face in the "coming trials".

Theme:
Soundcloud: Unanswered Questions
Youtube: Unanswered Questions

Completion Date
Daulok 28, 308

Parent Plot

The Succession of Tympi's Forest

Related Characters

• Ilven, The Misguided High Priestess
• Tympi, The Lost Magician

Related Locations

• Howdigo
• The Labyrinth
• Ulunor's Cliff

Related Session Reports

• Session 35: "Where am I?" thought the Caterpillar.
• Session 43: "When am I?" thought the Caterpillar
• Session 49: "Who am I?" thought the Moth
• Session 57: So Long, Stinktown!
• Session 59: "Why are We Here?" thought the Adventurers.
• Session 64: The New Dimension of Fun
• Session 65: Bobcat's Desert Heists
• Session 66: Agave's Drowned Memories
• Session 67: ALT's Idyllic Simulation
• Session 68: Hysteria's Languid Bakery
• Session 69: Through the Halls of Madness
• Session 70: DAN's Intoxicated Carnival
• Session 71: A Long Winding Hallway of Suffering
• Session 72: Frode's Quiet Home
• Session 73: Tympi's Abandoned Creation
• Session 74: Finally Free

Related Spirits:
Wheredigo
Whendigo
Whodigo
Whydigo
Howdigo
Whatdigo