[Freezair]

The Trumpetter inhaled. "Alright. Where to begin? Well, I did use a name just now. 'Abyssal One.' That is not what they call themselves, but it is what my mother called them. They are... very, very old. I do not think they are older than Evelon, but I know that many of them have had lives longer than any of us can imagine. We share a certain... link between us, and I have seen memories drifting through the haze of our collective unconscious of apelike men still recoiling at the sight of fire. Most of the time, they are asleep, and I am alone. But every now and then, they get hungry. And they wake up with the need to feed."

[Freezair]

Ailbhe shuddered. "So... so they were tryin' tuh eat us, then?"

"Correction. They were eating you," the Trumpetter said. "The Abyssal Ones do not feed on flesh and bone. They eat... well, thoughts, for lack of a better term. The electrical impulses that power the brains of other living things. I'm sure you had visions when you were close to them. Felt unsettling and unearthly sensations. That was them quite literally preying upon your mind."

Ciara's wings flew up to cover her head.

[Freezair]

"You two were flying at quite a good clip. You didn't have much exposure to them, so you'll be fine. They don't literally eat thoughts--all your memories should be right where they left them. In small doses, it's actually quite harmless. I have seen surface creatures who've come to enjoy it as a means to hallucination--a drug, if you will. But, like any drug, it is dangerous in large amounts. It causes dangerous amounts of dendritic decay."

Ailbhe looked at Ciara. "Can yuh translate that into normal-person-speak fuh me?"

Ciara swallowed. "It... it literally drives you crazy."

The Trumpetter nodded. "It's not uncommon to see a few of the Abyssal Ones pop up for a snack every now and then, but this is the first time I've ever seen so many of them awake at once."

[Freezair]

Ciara looked out the window. "I suppose those qualify as 'dangerous amounts.'"

"Yes," the Trumpetter agreed. "They've been going to the surface to steal down Evelonians to feed upon. I regret to admit it, but fear and confusion are particularly filling emotions--they cause a lot of brain activity. They've been setting them free in the city to roam, so that they become as confused and frightened as possible and so as many of the Abyssal Ones can feed as possible."

"I think some Evelonians are helpin' 'em," Ailbhe said. "Our captain wus doin' these weird chants..."

"Speaking their language, no doubt. Summoning them near with magick. And as I said, it is not unknown for Evelonians to become entranced by the hallucinations the Abyssal Ones cause." He paused. "My own mother was one of them."

[Freezair]

"I'm jus' surprised those things can... uh... reproduce with normal creatures," Ciara said.

"She never told me the details," the Trumpetter said. "She was a scientifically inclined woman, and I've always suspect she decided to have me simply to see if it was possible. Well... it was. We largely lived upon the land, though I did discover a few... unusual parts of my heritage. The ability to go invisible, and to feed upon the thoughts of others. But we would often return here now and then when Abyssal Ones awoke. That's why I'm here now--to investigate."

"We wanted to investigate, too!" Ailbhe said. "An' if yuh done this before, s'means yuh know a way in an' out!"

[Freezair]

"I do," he said. "I would be happy to release you to the surface. I do understand these Abyssal Ones, in their way--like all things, they simply need to feed, and with consensual prey, neither party needs be harmed by the experience. But these creatures do not know how to ask for permission. They simply feed and feed, without regard to who they feed upon. I've been trying to educate and release as many of their captives as possible--"

"Thas' right! There's still about six othuhs here," Ailbhe said. "A coupla them are near, uh, the docks, we call it--they're sittin' there scared. But three othuhs went explorin' like we did!"

[Freezair]

"We don' wanna leave anyone behind," Ciara said. "Can yuh help us track down the othuhs?"

"I consider it my job to," the Trumpetter said. "Besides, I was intending to spend more time nosing around anyway. I still don't know why all these Abyssal Ones have awakened so suddenly."

"Thanks," Ailbhe said. "Hey, besides. We ain't even traded names yet. I'm Ailbhe, an' this is--"

"Ciara," she said.

"Err... well, if we're being honest. My name is, er... Horrorforged." He winced. "But most of my friends call me Rory."

The sisters smiled at him. "Nice tuh meet yuh, Rory," Ailbhe said. "Now let's go save some sailors!"

[Hunt Complete]