audio;

[dusk_and_dawn]

[It's a brilliantly sunny day, everyone. It's raining, of course, but not lightly enough to turn to mist and block the light, and not heavily enough to drive everyone indoors.

The cause for the brilliance is sitting atop the highest structure he could find near the center of the city, shining like a star. Best not to look at him directly. You might even want to buy sunglasses, although there's probably no one who sells them.

He's not illuminating the whole city, of course, but he's trying.]

Greetings all, 'tis Balder the Brave. If others can bring snow, I thought I might try to bring the sun. Let me know if it is too much. And if you would, entertain me with your best stories. I ask not that they be true, merely interesting.

Comments

[has_a_cult]

I think I like this better. I was starting to forget what sunlight felt like.

[dusk_and_dawn]

I would do it every day if I could, if only so the plants would grow again.

[has_a_cult]

I don't suppose you could banish the clouds for a while, could you?

[dusk_and_dawn]

I'm afraid the storm clouds are my brother's domain, and he is no longer here.

[has_a_cult]

Damn and hellfire. It wouldn't be that easy, would it?

I don't suppose this display of power is gratis?

[dusk_and_dawn]

I am not charging for sunlight, no. Except perhaps in stories.

[has_a_cult]

you want stories? What kind of stories?

[dusk_and_dawn]

The kind you drink to preferably, although I lacked the foresight to bring liquor.

[has_a_cult]

I don't think I have the kind of stories that most people would enjoy drinking to.

[dusk_and_dawn]

Then I shall take whatever you may offer. Do you not have any strange tales to tell?

[has_a_cult]

Believe me, I have seen things that would make your blood freeze.

[She looks thoughtful for a moment.]

There WAS the Beast of Banke Moor...

[dusk_and_dawn]

My blood is warm enough for a little chilling. Please, do not leave me wanting.

[has_a_cult]

It's not a particularly chilling tale. A few years ago, in the Appelican moors, near the town of Banke Moor, a rich family was "visited" by a shrieking demon of some kind, dripping mud and, if the tales are to be believed, eight feet tall and breathing gouts of blue flame.

[dusk_and_dawn]

That sounds like something we did as lads once as a prank.

[has_a_cult]

No such prank here. There really was a creature, if not an eight foot tall firebreathing one. No one ever saw it again, but I can tell you what happened to it none the less.

[dusk_and_dawn]

You can?

[Even though no one ever saw it again?]

[has_a_cult]

Unfortunately yes. The beast was me.

I knew less about humans then than I do now.

[dusk_and_dawn]

Ahhh. That does make sense. [He doesn't think this is odd at all.]

[has_a_cult]

I came expecting lowly and pathetically grateful servants. They saw a scrawny figure dripping with mud shrieking at them in an alien tongue and drove it off with torches and pitch forks.

It was a learning experience, and an artist's rendition of me was on the front page of the next day's paper. I remember because I used an issue as a blanket.

[dusk_and_dawn]

Humanity is not easily impressed, in my experience.

[has_a_cult]

Certainly not by me. I suspect your sunlight trick is working alright, though.

[dusk_and_dawn]

[He chuckles.] The last time I did this, one of them tried to shoot me. He did not seem very impressed.

[has_a_cult]

Well that's gratitude for you.

[dusk_and_dawn]

Ah, well, I wasn't trying to brighten his day. I was trying to call upon my comrades to repel the invaders.

You must admit, it does get one's attention.