>>6099371“Anyways,” Volka continues, her voice even <span class="mu-i">more</span> confident now that she’s educated you on the many facets of Skog culture, “Crossroads is still really nice too! There are these boxes that tell you about shops and sales, and there are roads that feel different when you walk on them to tell you which way to go!”
“Yes, always walk on the left side of the road.” Morook adds. “It takes some getting used to, but-”
“I just forget sometimes, okay!?” Volka pouts with a clank of her unseen armor, “And it’s usually fine as long as you say you’re sorry afterwards!”
“Here, take these back.” You feel your <span class="mu-s">PARCHMENT</span> get pushed back into your hands. “This bump writing is known as ‘<span class="mu-b">BUMOT</span>’--a collaboration between Gnok, Mox, and Durher. Everyone can read and write it, so you’ll have to rely on a guide for the time-being.”
Thanks, you nod, but why’d he give these back right now?
“Because the roads in Crossroads are all carved in Bumot.” Morook explains, his disco ball eyes glimmering. “If you read with your claws as you walk you’ll know where you’re headed.”
“Some of the characters are pretty similar, so watch out!” The warrior laughs. “Not for me, though. I know Crossroads like the back of my claw!”
“You’ll do fine.” Adds the ranger, his eyes shimmering reassuringly. “Oh, that reminds me…” You feel something metal and damp slip into your hand. A moment of fiddling with it tells you it’s some kind of <span class="mu-b">RING</span>...
“This is a <span class="mu-s">RING OF ECHOS</span>. Try it on.”
As you slip the jewelry onto your favorite finger, every sound seems to <span class="mu-i">LEAP</span> at you! The crackling fire, the faint creaking of Volka’s armored joints, the whispering in the wind… and you can almost <span class="mu-i">see</span> the sounds too!
Woah…
“It’s a bit overwhelming in cities, but these rings draw attention to the sounds around you, however small they may be.” Begins Morook in a slightly amplified voice. “It should help a bit if you get separated from Volka or run into trouble.”
“Not gonna happen~”
“Just be sure to take the ring off if something loud approaches–brigands, monsters, Volka…”
“Y’know, some people <span class="mu-i">like</span> how loud I am!” Volka retorts as you instinctively remove the ring, “They find it comforting! Like the smell of a home-cooked meal... or a warm fire!”
“You’ll have to introduce me to these people one of these days…” Replies Morook as he cocks his head to the side.
>CONTD. 