Overgrown Shrine

“You carve and build and dwell in your cities of stone. Before this, you sat in your caves and fashioned tools by beating your rocks together. Still, you dig up your ores and stones from the earth to create and decorate. Granite and flint. Marble and limestone. It is your nature as surely as water is the nature of the fish.”

She spoke slowly, her voice soft and mellow in the silent jungle. Her tone and manner was less like a teacher lecturing students than like a patient parent explaining the same lesson to a child yet again. “When first you came to Lhesa, the land was young, and the Sons of Stone were young as well. Your Speakers knew the spirits of the land and sea and sky. You called them by name and treated them with reverence. They spoke to us on your behalf, and with our aid, you made your home here.”

The deep green eyes passed over the two men again, and for a moment, it seemed as if she could look into their souls. “Your tools have grown strong, but your Voice has grown weak. The spirits no longer hear you. The jungles have forgotten you. Your mother, the Stone, may welcome you back, but the jungles do not know you. Your numbers will not ease the way.”

Seeing that the dryad is not a threat, Voidclaim eased himself a little. He still had questions in mind and tried to do his best to ask them in a more subtle manner. He still didn't know what the creature wanted, except for answering their querries. He prepared another inquiry, but Thalric spoke first, and he asked the questions that troubled him still, except for one, which's answer he thought important.

"Can we learn to speak to the spirits once more?" He asked inquisitively. "And if so, how can it be done?" He added at last.

Thalric's expression did not change as she spoke, and after a long moment of hard consideration, he answered.

"I would be wrong to say that it isn't peace. Of one kind, but I suppose not the one I was referring to," he replied evenly, keenly growing aware of this being's perceptions of reality. "But not all of us are ready to return to the earth. Not yet."

He regarded Voidclaim and looked back to the dryad.

"I think my curiousity sated, for the moment, and humbly thank you for your wisdom," Thalric told her, giving her a courteous half bow before stepping backward but not away. Voidclaim seemed more interestd in this than he now; Thalric had enough to contemplate.

“You will find in the jungles what you bring with you, Child of Stone. If your dead do not speak their secrets to you in the city, they surely will not in the jungles. Let them lie still, in what peace they have found without the walls.”

She swayed slowly as she spoke, like a flower in a gentle breeze. The movement was incredibly graceful, but entirely alien at the same time. “They do not share your goals. But their enemies are long gone, as forgotten as they are. They will not speak to you here, but if you lie with them, perhaps you will understand as they do.”

Voidclaim was not happy about such suggestions.

"I do not wish to join the spirits in
their rest. My work here is not done."

Seeing as there was nothing else he could take out from the discussion with the dryad, he wanted to end this conversation.

"Is there anything you want from us?"
He asked.

Thalric let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding before the sound slowly returned, in bits and pieces; the sound of a bird, the rustling branches, the biefly lived breeze.

"Well. I suppose that answers part of what remains here. Not certain of yourself, young man, but...I'll not be disturbing her further," he said to Voidclaim. "Not today, at least. Best to report this back in the city. Make sure the rest of the watch is aware if we send patrols this way. Maybe let the adventurers be aware. Venture here at their own peril."

He did not appear to be an ambitious or curious man, any thoughts of travelling deeper into the shrine well and gone. Or hardly there to begin with. He was already turning his way back to head down the stairs, but he did not let his guard down. Not yet.

"Can't recall if it was said or not," Thalric replies, still keeping a wary eye about him as he descended more steps, smirking slightly. "Frankly, son, I don't think this place much cares about your expectations. I have the feeling it's weathered worse than your disappointment."

He'd spare a glance around them still, the dryad's disappearance seemingly not enough to convince him of their safety. "I'll be heading back to the group I traveled with, let them know what's here. More than welcomed to join us on our trip back if you'd like."