[God Quest] the stars still shine above

DEIMOS

the ocean does not apologize for its depth
and the mountains do not seek forgiveness

There was far more of an ease to his stride upon approaching the glorious and celestial location. No apprehensive measures. No fortuitous calculations. No foreboding entanglements. Halo had completed their latest mission – ensuring the springs had been wholly replaced, and now, to render them into mending, assuaging purposes, to heal individuals seeking its refuge and sanctity.

None of it could’ve been done without his citizens, nor Safrin, so this time, instead of marching towards the altar, he knelt before the starlit portions themselves – placing the offerings near the water’s edge, so they might also catch the luminary beams and warmth. From the compatriots of their wintry threshold were balms of wrapped lavender and sage, tied and knotted with inscriptions and writing of the goddess’s wisdom and beauty, and delicate pictures rendered from children in their best paint of Safrin herself. From his own contortions, he extended crafted mirrors, all ornate and finely-detailed, with images of the herald in heavenly filigree – depictions of her powers and ethereal convictions. All the while, even in the background, the luxere snorted, clearly waiting on something to occur. He tossed them apples nearby for good measure, before ensuring the water from Frey's Breath was situated nearby.

Then he spoke, the deep and familiar rumble exuding forth; with pride, with contentment. “Safrin, Halo has completed their quest.”

--

Turning in Halo’s regional quest, found here: strength for tomorrow to add healing into the hot spring waters.

Tasks. There is no time limit. There are currently 10 active Halovians. This means 5 unique characters have to participate. Characters can participate more than once. Deimos must participate in at least 2 threads.

1. A thread of 3 Halovians visiting Frey's Breath and bringing back a significant amount of water with them:
(Iskra, Noah, Deimos) - [RQ] water you want

2. A PQ of 4 (or more) Halovians, gathering a herd of luxere to assist with #3. The PQ must start in the Greenwing, move through the Hollow Forest, and end in the Citadel. The thread will be split every time they enter into a new board).
(Deimos, Amhran, Noah, Marcus)
Greenwing: [PQ][RQ] antler-taining the thought
Hollow Forest: [PQ][RQ] [split] antler-taining the thought
Citadel: [PQ][RQ] [split] antler-taining the thought

3. 2 threads of those with healing magic, or other light-based magic, purifying the hot springs and the area around it. Each thread must have the luxere heard with them. (must be done after 2)
(Thread One: Amhran, Marcus) [RQ] just two boys doing what their dads say
 (Thread Two: Deimos, Erebos) [RQ] we look at the world once

for the space they take
and so, neither shall I

sweet dreams till sunbeams find you, sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you

The Mirror answers before she does. What had been a gentle twinkle beneath the open night deepens, starlight within the waters brightening as though the heavens themselves have leaned closer, curious. Ripples skate across the surface without wind or touch, each one catching light until the pool gleams like liquid constellations spilled carelessly into stone. Safrin steps forth from the glow as though drawn out of reflection and starshine alike, her form coalescing from brilliance rather than shadow. Moonlight clings to her skin, to the fall of her hair, to the precise and radiant curve of her smile, one worn openly now, unguarded in its approval as her gaze settles upon Deimos and then the offerings he'd brought.

Her hands rise instinctively, palms pressing against her chest as if to steady a sigh that escapes her anyway, soft and pleased. For a moment she only looks, eyes tracing the care in the mirrors’ filigree, the reverent inscriptions, the bundled scents of lavender and sage steeped in devotion rather than mere craft. And then she kneels, robes whispering against stone, drawn unerringly to the children’s paintings scattered near the water’s edge. Her fingers hover, reverent, above them. "These," she murmurs, "are lovely."

At last, her gaze lifts, meeting Deimos’s once more, fondness softening the starlight in her eyes without diminishing its intensity before she rises and her attention turns outward. Her hands lift and the Luxere respond as if they have been waiting for nothing else. Light pours from their antlers in graceful streams, threads of radiance weaving together as they are drawn toward the vessel of Frey’s Breath. The water accepts it eagerly, shimmering brighter as the gathered glow sinks in, until, at her unspoken command, it spills forth into the hotspring itself.

For one suspended moment, the entire pool ignites with starlight. The water radiates, warmth deepening, magic settling into place like a promise fulfilled and made stronger for having been kept. Safrin’s attention returns to Deimos then, her approval no longer merely implied. "Well done".

---

Halo has completed their RQ and the waters of Safrin's Mirror now have the following property:

Safrin's Mirror | The waters of Safrin's Mirror possess Mastered-Level healing waters. If bottled, this water can be used to heal while in Halo. Once removed from Halo's borders, it becomes regular water.

but in your dreams whatever they be, dream a little dream of me

DEIMOS

the ocean does not apologize for its depth
and the mountains do not seek forgiveness

His gaze flickered to the mirror as it alternated; a brightening expanse ignited along its twilight exposure. Caught in the glow, he wasn’t surprised to find Safrin unfurling from it, granting a small grin at her display of power and prestige amidst the waters of her namesake. He nodded, granting a lower bow of his head at her gratitude, acknowledgment, and proffering respect to her continued workings within Halo, the platitude of her contentment over the offerings.

Then there was everything else – the luxere’s lights, radiance tied and embedded into the waters of Frey’s Breath’s springs, before flowing into the springs. He watched with attentive ease, pride filling his chest as everything wove together, and then his grin chiseled its way into his features when the approval was noted, freely given. He would do much the same. “Thank you again. We could not have done it without you.” From there, the rest of Halo would be able to rejoice – the portions of their mended ease returned, salvaged, all over again.

[FIN]

for the space they take
and so, neither shall I