Berrybottles' Travel Guide to Terra

Day 3.75

Observation Journal Entry #7

Early Evening, Light Rain

Snack: Bonewood Herb Cheese, Ruby Grapes, and Moon Rose Wine. If you guessed this was a gift from Prince Lann of Bloodbriar, you're totally right! If you also guessed that I ate it all in front of him, instead of gracefully accepting the kingly gift basket and putting it in my room, you're not only right about that too, but you completely understand my vibe. I'm basically feral when it comes to food, especially if cheese is involved.

Hello Travelers,

So, we last left off with Prince Lann of Bloodbriar wanting to talk to me. That was completely unexpected. I thought, maybe he wants to check on me. But instead, he said, "Zora said you were a Watcher."

"Oh, um, well, a descendant of Watchers, your Highness," I gave him a Terran bow of respect.

This is done by lowering my head and holding my palms in front of my face like a mask (pinky fingers touching). Then I dip my hands down and up again, as if I had taken off my mask and replaced it.

This form of bowing is highly respectful, and done when someone is recognizing their better. It symbolizes how I'm taking off any guise, because I wouldn't dream of being fake with someone I look up to, or believe is better than me. I want you to see real me, and not the me I give to others. And nothing, in Terra, is more respected than truth.

The more common, less formal, bow is a one hand mask, and more of a wave than a full dip of an extension.

"I'm on my Star Follow, so, I'm not officially a Watcher yet," I said when I had finished showing respect.

To my surprise, he lowered to his knees with grace and elegance, then he crossed his arms upon his chest, paused for two seconds, before he made the hand mask, lowered his head, and dipped his hands to touch his kneeling knees before bringing them back up.

I could have fallen over in surprise. Not even Emperors get the highest respect bow unless they do something extremely heroic. Like save an orphanage full of babies and puppies from a Volcaknow or something.

(Oh, and that Fractured is pronounced like Volcano, and comes from the words, Volcanic and Knowledge. A monster created from magic that's utterly exhausted. When someone over works themselves, like with studying, training, or working too hard, their magic can break and cause an ablation. Since Volcaknows are caused by burnouts, they then seek to cause everything to burnout as well, and then they feed on the ash and brimstone. But heat alone, isn't their only danger. They also use psychic powers that drain and weaken concentration. So, self-care people!!! Get some rest! Only you can prevent Volcaknows!)

I had no idea what to do. Why was he showing me such honors? I didn't even do anything heroic! I fell! I vomited! He saved me! What of that deserved any kind of respect!?

He then offered me a beautiful basket of the aforementioned snackies, and said, "I need your help."

"Okay," was my response, because my only friends have ever been books and plants and animals, and none of them ever told me how much of a nerph-ball I am.

"You have the power to tell any story ever told, ever written, ever dreamed, right?"

"Your Highness..."

"Please, Watcher, call me Lann."

"Oh, oh wow, um, oh that feels really, really wrong," the very thought soured my stomach, that was already looking forward to those goodies.

"Everyone I trust calls me informally by my name."

Oh. That was unexpected. First respect, and then trust? Just what is going on with him? "Wait, you trust me? Why? Because I'm a Watcher?"