He might have had second thoughts about this request he had made of Ludo now that time had calmed some of his initial fears, but even if he had been a fool, he was going to be a fool who saw things through. For that reason he made his way through the Greatwood on wandering feet, following Isuma as she chased bugs and hunted mice until the wood turned darker and spookier in spite of the cheerful Longheat afternoon.
From there the path grew more familiar to him, over bony roots and rich, loamy soil, wending its way towards the pillar-trees with their lanterns and candles. Isuma chirped excitedly when she realized where they were, and Jigano smiled fondly down at her as he moved to light the white candles with flint and tinder.
He placed a handful of sparkling stones upon the shrine in offering, collected when he had met Sunjata at the Whispershore for a Midnight Party gift. These were the finest of those he had found, roughly cut to bring out their glitter but polished to a high gloss to let their rich blues and purples gleam in the candlelight. In his pack he carried the rest of what he had brought: the small jar of Ascended fluid, the bracers Deimos had crafted him for LongNight, and the star charm Amalia had given to him from her necklace.
Isuma settled politely beside him as he knelt and bowed his head in prayer, but her little body quivered with eagerness as she looked forward to seeing her favorite spooky rags again.
" Ludo ?" the bard called softly into the stillness of the shrine. "I've brought what you suggested. Please, will you come? And... tell me if I'm being a bigger fool than usual?" An admission he would make to few, at least not with such sincerity. But with Ludo it was easier to be honest - with himself, and with the masked god, more than any other.
Ascended fluid: obtained from Sam in A drop in the bucket
An item from someone dear to him: star charm given by Amalia in A spoonful of sugar
Protective item: bracers made by Deimos in Before the storm
From there the path grew more familiar to him, over bony roots and rich, loamy soil, wending its way towards the pillar-trees with their lanterns and candles. Isuma chirped excitedly when she realized where they were, and Jigano smiled fondly down at her as he moved to light the white candles with flint and tinder.
He placed a handful of sparkling stones upon the shrine in offering, collected when he had met Sunjata at the Whispershore for a Midnight Party gift. These were the finest of those he had found, roughly cut to bring out their glitter but polished to a high gloss to let their rich blues and purples gleam in the candlelight. In his pack he carried the rest of what he had brought: the small jar of Ascended fluid, the bracers Deimos had crafted him for LongNight, and the star charm Amalia had given to him from her necklace.
Isuma settled politely beside him as he knelt and bowed his head in prayer, but her little body quivered with eagerness as she looked forward to seeing her favorite spooky rags again.
" Ludo ?" the bard called softly into the stillness of the shrine. "I've brought what you suggested. Please, will you come? And... tell me if I'm being a bigger fool than usual?" An admission he would make to few, at least not with such sincerity. But with Ludo it was easier to be honest - with himself, and with the masked god, more than any other.
Ascended fluid: obtained from Sam in A drop in the bucket
An item from someone dear to him: star charm given by Amalia in A spoonful of sugar
Protective item: bracers made by Deimos in Before the storm
