Arlie_B after the story, Arlie leaves the group and prays. "Father of Stories, I don't know if you can hear me, but I've heard that dedications and sacrifices make prayers stronger. I hope this reaches you. I wanted to thank you for your offer when I was died, but I want you to know that I am fiercely loyal in my Service, and would need to know more about you before I took such an honor. I wish there was so

Arlie_B me way we could communicate. Also, Sue, one of my bandmmates, is somehow now directly connected to the Father of Void. We need him in our quest to save the world, but I fear the Father of Void's influence will prevent us from saving the Summer Country. The Father of Void might release Sue if we can find the name of the Father of Nothingness, some god from Yay. This world needs the Summer Country in

Arlie_B order to survive, and you're the only God that's ever spoken to me directly, so I thought I would bring the problem to you first. Amen."

Dionysus As you sleep that night, you dream.

Dionysus You see the band as such:

Arlie_B yes?

Dionysus Arsul has multiple paths before him, but he always picks one & the others vanish. He guides you.

Dionysus Jack wears armor of sound, & appears to be a priest to you. He walks with music pouring forth. He rejuvenates you.

Dionysus Aurelia is two people: one beautiful, one cruel. They walk side by side, & bleed from the finger tips. The heart is missing from her chest, & within that hole is another person trying to get out. She fights beside you.

Arlie_B creepy

Dionysus Avery is blinded, but sees anyway. He rides a white stallion of unearthly aspect, & wields a bow with a jewel set in it. He wears a crown of dreams. He leads you.

Arlie_B neat.

Dionysus Magnum bears a flag you don't recognize, & he stands as a shield next to you. He protects you with his arm & an armor you can't see.

Dionysus Sue bears a black goat & black bird with him, trailing him, & he shapes sound with his void. He crafts objects from nothingness, & reads languages that don't exist. He acts as both maker & unmaker, scholar & fool. He balances you out.

Dionysus And finally, you stand amidst them, your magic & sword skill evident as you go. Events occur because you are there. You fight for them.

Arlie_B balances as in "complements" or "in conflict with?"

Dionysus Complements.

Dionysus You walk a winter wasteland.

Dionysus A black goat, much weaker than the one with Sue, stands in a plain. She has thousands of children.

Dionysus A monstrous plant lies within a forest, corrupting it.

Dionysus A scarred nightingale stands in a field, sucking out the happiness.

Dionysus A demon cavorts in a shack, making it dark & sinister.

Dionysus A village on legs stands frozen in place, & frogs cover it.

Dionysus A garden shows you what you most fear, & Avery, whole & with eyes, standsin the middle of it next to a woman of shaodws who exudes terror.

Dionysus A thick jungle wilts & dies as a green shadow poisons it.

Dionysus A lake of beauty turns ugly as a red child wades in it.

Dionysus And beautiful hills are covered in throns as a man of beauty & evil sits upon a throne of thorns.

Arlie_B Does any of this look like the Summer Country I once saw?

Dionysus Like the black mirror image thereof.

Dionysus And then you wake up.