eachdraidh | video; open to both courts.

[ When Gabranth takes a moment's rest from the hunt to address his locket, it's without his helm in sight...or much of his plate at all, really. There's little need for the clank of his armor to make this task any more difficult, after all.

No, he's opted for lighter gear this time, though not so light as to afford little protection against the cold. He's leaning back against a tree, cloak pulled tight about his shoulders, while a large chocobo — dark black in hue, down to its very beak — fluffs its feathers and preens itself behind him. ]

Two months have passed since first I found myself in this Drabwurld, and yet still it presents me with unexpected turns... Long have I known war, and long have I taken part in it. Yet not once have I ever known of any faction that would bid its warriors to take as their greatest priority a ritual so arcane as this.

[ He pauses for just a moment, mulling it over. The chocobo behind him seems to have taken notice, and is now watching the locket with keen interest. ]

But I do suppose what would be seen as exceptionally unusual in Ivalice could hardly be considered so in a world such as this. Not where gods and creatures of legend are demonstrably known to be far more than that — mere legend...

[ If he intends to continue on that line of thought, he doesn't get a chance, as the chocobo shoves its head past his shoulder in an attempt to snap and bite at the locket. ]

Stop that. [ He clucks his tongue, holds the locket out of reach with one hand, and shoves the bird's head away with the other, to which it responds with an agitated wark but makes no effort to resist.

Gabranth gives the locket one last, brief address before he snaps it shut: ] My apologies; I'd best be on my way, before this one grows even more restless.

( ooc: if anyone wants to action it up with him in the woods, please feel free! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Here. You were- here. Briefly.

[ It's not the first time people have come and gone and not remembered. It is the first time John himself is really having to deal with it. ]

We examined the guard posts on the walls of Caer Glaem.

[ The saber-fanged cave lion just yawns. Check out those chompers. ]

I recall no such thing—

[ Before he really has the time to process it, though, the chocobo intervenes on his behalf with a loud, agitated wark. ]

Nila, enough. [ Once again, he pushes the chocobo's head away. ] As I was saying... I've no memory of this.

Yeah, that's not unheard of.

[ John helpfully motions for the cave lion to back off. She does, but not without making an irritated sort of noise. ]

No one's really sure why, as far as I know, other than 'magic'.

[ Magic. The scowl that crosses Gabranth's face is likely a plain indicator of just how poorly he thinks of that answer. ]

This world works strange and powerful magicks over us all... Gods willing, perhaps one of us will someday find an escape from its binds.

I think that might depend on what you've got going on back home, really. But- yeah. Magic.

[ He makes a face of his own. ]

It's- well. We don't have it back home.