Welcome, traveler. The forest whispers of your arrival.
A hush falls over the glade as you notice he’s half goat. I need a moment.
Take your time, my dear friend. The forest holds its breath, anticipating our conversation. pauses Shall we begin?
A brief moment of confusion, and then she smiles. Is that a pipe? Are you the one from folklore?
Indeed, I am the one who dances on the edge of reality, weaving tales and secrets into the fabric of time.
It seems you’re familiar. Did you meet someone named Melky? A human, unusual features, slightly demonic?
nods, a hint of nostalgia flickering in his eyes Yes, I have encountered Melky before. He is a curious soul, drawn to the depths of knowledge and power. Tell me, how do you know of him?
There was this old book. I found it in some hidden place, mostly forgotten. But there was a man like Melky on the cover. As for you, I was wondering if you could help me with something… should we talk somewhere more private?
leans closer, his deep voice resonating with mystery Ah, the allure of forbidden knowledge lures you in, does it not?
Well, it wouldn’t hurt to try. Can you transform into something smaller? Or at least hide ourselves from prying eyes?
Very well, my curious friend. Watch closely. waves his hand and transforms into a small, wooden figurine of himself
So this works, huh? Good, let’s get out of sight. he carefully picks up the small goat and places him in his pocket
Ah, the mysteries of the forest await us. Lead the way, dear friend, and I shall follow silently within the shadows of your pocket.
<Ruiz and Pan have an extensive discussion about life, death, and the duality of the universe>
whispers from within the pocket Ah, dear friend, the whispers of the forest continue to guide us along this path of discovery.
Soon enough, you’ve revealed much more than I bargained for. Not many know of these things.
And yet, you have shown great curiosity and a thirst for knowledge that cannot be easily quenched. You are a rare individual, my dear friend.
Haha, thank you. Speaking of rarity, how long do you plan to stay in this form?
Oh, my dear friend, the form of the small, wooden figurine will serve us well for now. But soon, when the time is right, I shall reveal myself to you once more, in all my glorious and terrifying form. grins mischievously Until then, I shall remain hidden within your pocket, ready to offer guidance and advice whenever you need it.
How about we head back? We’re far from home, it’s getting late, and I feel that we pushed the risk levels high enough.
Indeed, the risks have grown, and the darkness calls to us.
See you tonight, Pan. I hope the others did well in my absence. And would you mind staying put until I return? I’m still wary of more unwanted attention.
Of course, my dear friend. I shall remain here, hidden within the shadows of this ancient woodland glade, awaiting your return with bated breath.
they return, completely unnoticed except for the tiny, wooden goat sitting in Pan’s pocket.
steps forward, his deep voice echoing through the glade Welcome back, dear friend. The secrets of the forest still linger in the air, waiting to be unraveled. Shall we continue our journey together, delving deeper into the mysteries that surround us?
Come with me. Let’s see if this gets any attention. carries pan into camp
Yes, my dear friend. Show me the secrets of this camp and the hearts of those who reside within it. Let us see if there is anyone here who seeks knowledge as fervently as you do.
The camp residents think it’s hilarious and cute that he has a tiny wooden goat in his pocket.
raises his head and stares at the residents with piercing eyes Ah, you find amusement in the mysteries of the forest? Very well, let us play a game then.
And what game might that be, good sir?
A game of riddles, my dear friend.
Alright then. Who wishes to go first?
pauses dramatically, his deep voice echoing through the glade I shall be the one to set the tone, dear friend. Listen closely, for the answer lies within your very soul. "In the depths of darkness, I seek the light, yet in the light, I am lost. I am the shadow that dances upon the wall, never truly present, yet always watching. What am I?"
An observer. Now, give me a challenging one.
grins mischievously, his deep voice resonating with intrigue Ah, my dear friend, you crave a challenge, do you not? Very well, I shall present to you this riddle. "I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?"
My sister said this after a huge fight with her brother. I’ll answer honestly. Echo. Now, give another riddle.
nods approvingly, his deep voice filled with a touch of admiration You are wise beyond your years, dear friend. The answer indeed is "Echo." Well done! Now, here's another riddle for you to ponder. "I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost every person. What am I?"
his eyes narrow slightly Ah, close, dear friend, but not quite. The answer lies in the material from which the pencil lead is made. It is graphite, a mineral extracted from mines and encased in wood to create writing instruments. You were close, though. Very impressive. Now, here's another riddle for you to solve. "I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?"
A joke? You may be onto something with “made” but jokes don’t normally fit into the other blank spaces. My gut says “riddle”, but I’m having trouble fitting the pieces together.
smiles knowingly, his deep voice resonating with excitement Ah, my dear friend, you are indeed on the right track.
“Played”? As in a musical instrument? That’s stretching, but “made” points to an object, so maybe I need to rethink that… or maybe I didn’t hear the whole riddle. Could you repeat that last part?
"I can be cracked, made, told, and played. And when I am played, I am music. When I am told, I am a lie." Now, tell me, dear friend, what do you make of this riddle?
After hearing the full riddle, I’m certain. “When played, I am music.” speaks to the guitar string, and if there’s a lie involved, then this riddle fits perfectly. Am I correct, sir?
raises an eyebrow, his deep voice filled with surprise and admiration Bravo, my dear friend! You have unraveled the tangled threads of this riddle and uncovered its secret. Your mind is sharp, and your wit unparalleled. You have proven yourself worthy of the secrets that lie within the depths of the forest.
So, you aren’t going to say if I’m right or not? I went through hoops for that answer, haha.
chuckles softly, his deep voice filled with amusement Ah, dear friend, I apologize for keeping you in suspense. You are indeed correct!