[ NPC Open ] Hands of time will wring my neck.

[itsjustabaddream]

Who: Dr. Neil West (itsjustabaddream) & YOU!
What: Ocularum recruiting and meeting, his office, hardware store, research
When: Late May, early June
Where: Oh you know, around
Warning(s): Content warnings will be on specific threads!

Moments pass.

[ The doctor is in. ]

As usual, you can easily find Neil in his makeshift office, reading or writing as he awaits his now more abundant appointments. Maybe you're here for yours, or perhaps you'd like to make one. The door chimes as you enter, and the room is filled with the smell of coffee and pastry. Can one of his little enchanted pots offer you a hot beverage? A teapot and a coffee carafe with dopey faces and tiny legs toddle around on the refreshment table, waiting to serve.

"Hello there! How may I help?"

Shattered glass.

[ Recruiting ]

A flyer hangs on a lamp post outside each trolley station in town.

"Interested in esoteric knowledge, demonology, or wizardry education? Looking to discover the truth behind the barrier? Seeking proactive solutions to the problem, rather than biding your time waiting for the goddesses to act? The Ocularum needs sharp, progressive minds to aid in the effort of deciphering this mystery. Come to Northwest Hollow and look for the open eye."

The symbol of the Ocularum marks each one. Perhaps you catch Neil posting them and can ask him about this. But if not, you can always see him at the meeting...

Hands of time.

[ Ocularum Meeting ]

If you follow the instructions on the flyer at the time and date listed below the main text, and find the open eye symbol above the door to West Dream Analytics, you will find that Neil has gathered his people in his office waiting room. Once everyone has gathered and the appointed time chimes, Neil will lead everyone past the threshold of his catty-cornered desks and open door frame, past his treatment office and living space, down into his basement.

Red wallpaper lines the walls and dark hardwood paves the way. The walls of the room are full of arcane artifacts and scientific or magical equipment, as well as shelves and shelves of books on the occult. In the center of the room, there is a table. Grab a seat, Neil will happily share the Ocularum's objectives--- unobstructed truth. A task force to seek a solution to the barrier that relies on people, research, magic and science, not gods. He hands out pamphlets on local demons and leaflets about the local magic system, offers magic lessons. "And for those interested in more hands-on research, or even providing protection to those performing it, I have a few projects lined up..."

Care to study some paranormal life? Learn some magic? Want to ask him a question? Dr. West is an open book--- to an extent.

Where's that chime?

[ Hardware store ]

It's pretty uncommon for Neil to come all the way into town. He's pretty far out and not always a particularly popular person. Besides, he lives near the farmland, so he's able to buy most of his groceries directly rather than go to the store. But today, he has to go to the store because a teenager broke his window with a rock. Again.

In a rare moment of vulnerability, you can find Neil West at the hardware store trying to purchase some supplies to patch the broken glass until his new window is made, looking incredibly lost. Help.

Close your eyes and you'll leave this dream.

[ Wildcard ]

Attend one of Neil's research projects studying the Paradesium ruins, Brutoks, Lake Sal-Co-Penn, the Tristitia, the Whispering Trees, stardust, ghosts, or anything else. Or throw something at me! I'm open to anything. DM me on Discord!

Comments

Moments Pass

[redlightgreenlight]

It had been some time since their first conversation, and since then she's barely seen the dreamwalker around except at the potluck and perhaps once or twice around town. But now her nightmares are being soothed by a white horse who seems...amused, or perhaps irritated by her, and as Neil is the dream expert she hopes he may know something.

"Well," she replies to his greeting. "I have a dream issue and you claim to be the expert."

[itsjustabaddream]

"Oh?" Neil closes up whatever he was working on to give her his full attention. "I'd be happy to. How can I help?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Sensing he's interested, she moves deeper into the room.

"My kind don't dream, there's a reason for that. There's also a reason for why I do, but they are never happy dreams. Lately a horse has been...chasing them away."

Perhaps this sounds crazy, but she's sure it's not the craziest thing he's heard. Dream are a strange landscape, even when they aren't filled with monsters.

[itsjustabaddream]

"A horse?" Neil chuckles, finding the idea cute. "In what way?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis can't help but feel he wouldn't be chuckling if he knew what the horse was chasing away.

"It just...takes over whatever is happening, causes it to fade away. Then it just stares at me and snorts, like it's amused or perhaps chiding. I can't tell which. It won't reply to any questions I ask of it, but I know it's...not part of me."

Only something on par with the Void could drive it away.

[itsjustabaddream]

"Are there any other noteworthy recurring aspects to the part of the dream where the horse appears?" He pulls out a piece of note paper to have all this on some kind of record. He hasn't started a file for Valdis yet, but he will after this, surely.

[redlightgreenlight]

She is suddenly reminded why she hates therapists, they pry too much, but Neil doesn't have the history her friends have, so is less likely to panic from fairly normal events.

"A seven headed serpent."

[itsjustabaddream]

"That's the subject of your nightmare?" He furrows his brow. "Or that's something the horse brings in with it? I was asking after the latter."

[redlightgreenlight]

"No, the horse just...snorts at me. Though it brings a sense of peace with it, I sleep deeper after it appears."

Not like she's ready to wake at the slightest sound.

[itsjustabaddream]

"I see." Neil taps his pen on the desk. "There are many entities associated with horses, though here you'll find that Mortanne is the most common. She's also associated with dreams. Other symbolism for Mortanne includes snow and mourning garb, which is why I asked if there was anything else. If it is Mortanne, I would posit that she is being... cheeky."

[redlightgreenlight]

Snow...yes. There had been snow.

"So your goddess of Death is being cheeky at me."

She does feel she should try to reach out to Mortanne, as a creature of death, she should fall under her domain, even as corrupted as she is.

"Have you ever spoken to the Goddesses?"

[itsjustabaddream]

"Mmm, not personally, no. Nor do I feel terribly inclined to. But there are several members of the Ocularum who have, chiefly Jean and Jon," Neil muses, reclining in his chair as he thinks. "I do believe Annabel Lee has as well, briefly. And I suppose any offworlders would have spoken to Mortanne at least once to gain entry, from what I understand."

[redlightgreenlight]

No denying their existence. It doesn't seem like anyone does really, they just have varying levels of belief.

"Ocularum...I've heard that name around town, usually with the tone of...disgust attached."

[itsjustabaddream]

"Lovely," Neil grumbles sarcastically. "Well, the Ocularum is my group. As I've said, I'm not a particularly popular person, so."

[redlightgreenlight]

"In my experience, people tend to cling to the divine when they are afraid, or when they feel they have no control. Seeing you keep your head when all of them are crying out to their gods without answers would if course cause them to dislike you."

It's said matter of fact, without any of her own disdain.

"Sometimes it's easier to blame another than your own idleness."