"You always were a bird. That's not an affectation, you are a proper bird, aren't you?"
Of course I'm a bird. What do I look like?
There is a timeless bit of awkward silence, as the black bird stares at the human-like creature. Several times he starts talking and then almost immediately stops.
"Ahh, well.. I'm afraid I've got something to explain to you. An offer."
The human pulls out a chair and seats himself at the table, eye to eye with the bird. There is no fear this time. Outside there would be fear, fear of humans. but in here, in this room, there is no fear.
"And I must beg for forgiveness. I've brought you here by mistake. I was trying to bring that dying human here, the one you were near to. Did you touch his amulet?"
The bird gives a single caw.
"Connor was to head to a new world. A different place, very different from the world you're from. And now thanks to that amulet, you've got his trip, and his opportunity. Do you want to go someplace new? Explore a new world?"
Another caw.
Sure. Why not?
"Good. I just need to lay a few things out for you. This is an entirely new world. Once there, you can do anything you want, no obligations. It's a bit different than your old world, in that things have powers and abilities. What many humans would call magic. Some will be very strong and powerful, so you need to be careful.
But there's no need to be too worried about that. If the worst should happen, you'll simply return here, and you'll head back home. This is your one chance, so you should make the most of it."
"There's just one thing left to do. I need to give you a new body."
"Caw?"
"That's not your actual body. In this place, you are what you imagine yourself to be. None of this is real.. we're still in transit to the new world. Think of it as a lobby, or a carriage or something."
"I'll need to make you a proper body, made of the stuff of the world you're going to. Now, you're a bird, so.."
To the human's left, two wooden perches appear. On them are two more birds. Although perhaps 'avian' is the better term, as neither one is a species of terrestial bird.
"This is a hooded gryphon", the human says, beginning with the larger of the two animals. It's much bigger than the bird, but still quite a bit smaller than a human. It has a short, tearing beak, and spotted yellow and black fur in place of feathers. The wings are properly feathered, and it has short claws on each foot. The human is pointing these features out on the immobile, inactive creature, showing it off like some sort of circus act.
The act is ended by saying it's not a very powerful avian, but it should be enough to stay alive, while remaining within the limits of the bird's soul. It'll be still weak, but much stronger than the crow was in a previous life.
Wait, soul?
"Yes.. umm.." The human shifts position for a moment, trying to come up with the best way to say this.
"You're.. um.. young. About two years old, right?"
Yes.
"Well.. young creatures don't have strong souls. In the new world, the strength of your soul determines the strength of your body. And.. well.. young creatures don't have strong souls. So the bodies I can make for you, that you can live in aren't going to be very strong."
After that, the human then follows up by pointing out how the smaller, more colourful avian, somewhat close to a parrot but with insect antenna is a more magical creature, with some basic supernatural abilities. The sales pitch is all for nothing, as the bird's decision has already been made.
I'd rather stay like me. Can you make me a body like mine?
"I could, but a proper terran-style body doesn't take advantage of the forces of the world. If I give you a body just like the one you had, it won't be very strong, and you won't be able to use magic."
Yeah, but you said the strong body was pretty weak, and the magic body didn't have very much magic. The best you can offer me is still weak and fragile.
"It's relative. Pretty weak is still several times as strong as a crow body would be, and the magical one is still far more powerful than a body created to be as familiar to you as possible."
Eh, if it's my body, I'd like it to be my body. Especially if I'm only going to get one chance at this. Why would I want to be anything other than myself, even if it means I'm a bit weaker?
"You always were a bird. That's not an affectation, you are a proper bird, aren't you?"
Of course I'm a bird. What do I look like?
There is a timeless bit of awkward silence, as the black bird stares at the human-like creature. Several times he starts talking and then almost immediately stops.
"Ahh, well.. I'm afraid I've got something to explain to you. An offer."
The human pulls out a chair and seats himself at the table, eye to eye with the bird. There is no fear this time. Outside there would be fear, fear of humans. but in here, in this room, there is no fear.
"And I must beg for forgiveness. I've brought you here by mistake. I was trying to bring that dying human here, the one you were near to. Did you touch his amulet?"
The bird gives a single caw.
"Connor was to head to a new world. A different place, very different from the world you're from. And now thanks to that amulet, you've got his trip, and his opportunity. Do you want to go someplace new? Explore a new world?"
Another caw.
Sure. Why not?
"Good. I just need to lay a few things out for you. This is an entirely new world. Once there, you can do anything you want, no obligations. It's a bit different than your old world, in that things have powers and abilities. What many humans would call magic. Some will be very strong and powerful, so you need to be careful.
But there's no need to be too worried about that. If the worst should happen, you'll simply return here, and you'll head back home. This is your one chance, so you should make the most of it."
"There's just one thing left to do. I need to give you a new body."
"Caw?"
"That's not your actual body. In this place, you are what you imagine yourself to be. None of this is real.. we're still in transit to the new world. Think of it as a lobby, or a carriage or something."
"I'll need to make you a proper body, made of the stuff of the world you're going to. Now, you're a bird, so.."
To the human's left, two wooden perches appear. On them are two more birds. Although perhaps 'avian' is the better term, as neither one is a species of terrestial bird.
"This is a hooded gryphon", the human says, beginning with the larger of the two animals. It's much bigger than the bird, but still quite a bit smaller than a human. It has a short, tearing beak, and spotted yellow and black fur in place of feathers. The wings are properly feathered, and it has short claws on each foot. The human is pointing these features out on the immobile, inactive creature, showing it off like some sort of circus act.
The act is ended by saying it's not a very powerful avian, but it should be enough to stay alive, while remaining within the limits of the bird's soul. It'll be still weak, but much stronger than the crow was in a previous life.
Wait, soul?
"Yes.. umm.." The human shifts position for a moment, trying to come up with the best way to say this.
"You're.. um.. young. About two years old, right?"
Yes.
"Well.. young creatures don't have strong souls. In the new world, the strength of your soul determines the strength of your body. And.. well.. young creatures don't have strong souls. So the bodies I can make for you, that you can live in aren't going to be very strong."
After that, the human then follows up by pointing out how the smaller, more colourful avian, somewhat close to a parrot but with insect antenna is a more magical creature, with some basic supernatural abilities. The sales pitch is all for nothing, as the bird's decision has already been made.
I'd rather stay like me. Can you make me a body like mine?
"I could, but a proper terran-style body doesn't take advantage of the forces of the world. If I give you a body just like the one you had, it won't be very strong, and you won't be able to use magic."
Yeah, but you said the strong body was pretty weak, and the magic body didn't have very much magic. The best you can offer me is still weak and fragile.
"It's relative. Pretty weak is still several times as strong as a crow body would be, and the magical one is still far more powerful than a body created to be as familiar to you as possible."
Eh, if it's my body, I'd like it to be my body. Especially if I'm only going to get one chance at this. Why would I want to be anything other than myself, even if it means I'm a bit weaker?
