He listened with rapt fascination to the picture that Harper painted of his world, different and yet sometimes similar to his own. Demigods and god-like beings weren't unfamiliar to him, but 'gods of alternate worlds' were... unless, of course, one counted gods from other stars, though the question of just how to classify Unity had always been a strange one. His lips quirked into wry understanding at the difference between those Harper had fought beside and fought against, dipping his head in acknowledgment and feeling a twist of nostalgia at the memories the acrobat evoked.
"Pear? Jigano asked his companion with a grin, reaching into his sleeve to produce the fruit, like a stage-magician utilizing simple sleight of hand and not mastered earth magic. He offered it to Harper and repeated the trick to make one for himself if the other man accepted. He burnished it against his tunic thoughtfully at the more serious turn of questioning, tilting his head in a not-quite-nod. "I know bits and pieces," he said, though there was a hint of caution in his voice. "Not the whole story, and not the whole truth of it but... some yes." He exhaled, looking up to the branches above as he considered his words. "You mentioned demigods and godlike beings... well, over three hundred years ago some humans grew very powerful. Powerful enough to combine magic and technology to raise themselves to the level of gods. I don't know the specifics, but the Voice is the one who remains. Then... things get murky." He grimaced, offering Harper an apologetic shrug. "We don't know who started it, but the gods began to war, and their followers joined in or got pulled in. The Old Gods chose not to kill her - maybe couldn't - but they did imprison her and her followers. And possibly a number of innocents along with her... again, we just don't know. Either way, they put up a magical barrier around this region that kept everything trapped inside, along with the youngest of the old gods, to help the people within and keep an eye on the Voice." He looked back towards the Spire and the Settlement beyond, frown remaining for a moment. "The barrier was tied to the Voice's Spire, and when it went up... well, judging from the path of destruction, it sent a shockwave out from that point. Smaller buildings were destroyed, larger ones were damaged. Rebuilding has happened on an as-needed basis, as I said."
The dark history of the Hollowed Grounds stole some of his zeal for talking of circuses, and though he found a small smile for Harper's traveling troupe, he let the topic fade away for the moment to focus on more imminent threat's to the young man's survival. "I don't see why not," he agreed to the idea for tricking Wicker Women. "Though once you see one you should be able to recognize others. At last they're fairly rare here, compared to the Greatwood." Where regular 'routes' were a pipe dream unless you were Fae... though perhaps Harper just didn't know it yet?
"Pear? Jigano asked his companion with a grin, reaching into his sleeve to produce the fruit, like a stage-magician utilizing simple sleight of hand and not mastered earth magic. He offered it to Harper and repeated the trick to make one for himself if the other man accepted. He burnished it against his tunic thoughtfully at the more serious turn of questioning, tilting his head in a not-quite-nod. "I know bits and pieces," he said, though there was a hint of caution in his voice. "Not the whole story, and not the whole truth of it but... some yes." He exhaled, looking up to the branches above as he considered his words. "You mentioned demigods and godlike beings... well, over three hundred years ago some humans grew very powerful. Powerful enough to combine magic and technology to raise themselves to the level of gods. I don't know the specifics, but the Voice is the one who remains. Then... things get murky." He grimaced, offering Harper an apologetic shrug. "We don't know who started it, but the gods began to war, and their followers joined in or got pulled in. The Old Gods chose not to kill her - maybe couldn't - but they did imprison her and her followers. And possibly a number of innocents along with her... again, we just don't know. Either way, they put up a magical barrier around this region that kept everything trapped inside, along with the youngest of the old gods, to help the people within and keep an eye on the Voice." He looked back towards the Spire and the Settlement beyond, frown remaining for a moment. "The barrier was tied to the Voice's Spire, and when it went up... well, judging from the path of destruction, it sent a shockwave out from that point. Smaller buildings were destroyed, larger ones were damaged. Rebuilding has happened on an as-needed basis, as I said."
The dark history of the Hollowed Grounds stole some of his zeal for talking of circuses, and though he found a small smile for Harper's traveling troupe, he let the topic fade away for the moment to focus on more imminent threat's to the young man's survival. "I don't see why not," he agreed to the idea for tricking Wicker Women. "Though once you see one you should be able to recognize others. At last they're fairly rare here, compared to the Greatwood." Where regular 'routes' were a pipe dream unless you were Fae... though perhaps Harper just didn't know it yet?
