{Earlier than expected because of reasons.<blockquote class="uncited"><div>In short "Now" in relative to your possible actions is not where the thread is, but rather where it's been since your last post, and you're freely able to take actions at any point in the "relative now" even if they retcon events. For example cutting someone off mid sentence or even something that completely invalidates a chain of events like making an attack to disable Elanna by force. </div></blockquote>This is exactly correct – I think waiting for everyone round-by-round would quickly get frustrating. So we're letting time run on a bit longer than the usual in single posts (outside of combat, anyway). This means that you may have to jump in part-way through someone else's post, and that's okay. As a rule of thumb, let's say that a jump-in should make changes no more than five or so posts ago (we should adjust this based on our ongoing experience). Also, anyone can poke me if they feel left out and I'll try to put in some openings for their character. Or if you want to change some features of your character we can do that, if some features aren't working. I'm very relaxed!}<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Prinne (Ria): "What's 'happening'? What's going on...?" </div></blockquote><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Aethon (Jermayan): As he hears the Adept begin to hammer on the door, his head snaps around at her words. "It's 'happened'? This woman could be dying, and very likely it's your House's fault with this botched teleportation! Tell us what you know, quickly!" </div></blockquote><br/><br/>But the Adept just looks at you with fear-widened eyes, and continues to beat on the door. “I don't wanna<span style="font-style: italic">die</span>,” she moans, “I'm not<span style="font-style: italic">food</span>.”<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Jules (Bright): "From what I can tell, she's more or less starving to death at a heightened rate. This shouldn't really happen normally, but there's a ..." He paused slightly to find the right word: "...a dark feeling I get from around her. Like there is a dark aura around her." </div></blockquote><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Linda (Anime_Chaos): "Aethon! The Devourer is trying to take hold of her. As a Vassal of Balinor I'm sure you want that to avoid that just as much as I do." Considering that the situation has managed to get more dangerous after calming the raging woman Lina grabs Elanna's sword as she backs away from the situation so at least she isn't armed in the event she becomes fully possessed. </div></blockquote><br/><br/>{see, you guys don't need<span style="font-style: italic">me</span>, you're doing perfectly well on your own<img alt=";-)" src="./images/smilies/wink.gif" title="Wink"/>. Great RP, incidentally.}<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div> Bellicious (Reizu) "What?! What do you mean?! What's happened? I have food, too if needed but will someone please elaborate?" </div></blockquote><br/><br/>{though someone might want to offer a direct in-character response to this}.<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Xarces: Holding Elanna's hand tightly in his own he would look to Jule's as he examines the woman, hoping that he could shed some light on her suffering.</div></blockquote>If I've understood correctly, you're kneeling right over the collapsed Elanna, therefore-<br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Though he would entertain the notion, reaching into his pack with his free hand to pull out one of his trail rations. "I do happen to have a handful of these....." he says looking to the adept as he said so.</div></blockquote>Elanna twists, sniffing despite the depressing pre-packaged smell of the rations. It takes a firm grip, her wrist to your arms and yours to hers, for her to sit. Despite the pain and her willowy physique, you can feel the strength in her fingertips. She leans forward, and takes a great bite of the trailration in your hand, teeth flashing as she rips it in two, chews for a moment, then swallows, a sizeable – for a human – and intact bulge visible in her throat. Then she leans forward and takes another bite. Then another and another and another. In a few seconds, she's eaten half a weeks worth of rations. Crumbs spatter as Xarces hurriedly pulls more from his pack, unwrapping and passing them only barely faster than Elanna can eat. In moments, all ten are finished and gone.  “It helped,” Elanna tells Xarces, as she swallows the last of the rations down. There are crumbs on her chin, spattered down her chest... and covering Xarces's hands. “It ground the edge,” she continued, leaning forward. note that this will take a round, so others now have the opportunity to dive in and supply Xarces with more rations or take over feeding Elanna, or to try whatever else they'd like to try (exorcise the Devourer's taint, maybe, given the prior discussion?) PS hint – what is the purpose during manufacturing/repair of grinding the edges of, say, swords?}.<br/><br/>{In the next round:} Elanna's lips picked the largest crumb from where it rested on Xarces's finger, leaving a warm wetness of saliva behind. She whimpers softly, as she tilts her head slightly back, and you can hear the excess saliva in her mouth as she swallows the tiny morsel, no more larger than a fingertip. When she leans forward, its her tongue that chases the smaller crumbs across Xarces's fingers and palm and wrist. “It's funny how the little bits taste better than the bulk,” she says, lapping another crumb. “Really good.” She pauses, then her tongue flicks out to touch a part of Xarces's palm that you'd swear she'd already cleared of crumbs. She moans, and it trails into a whimper. “What's happening to me?” She asks, as her fear-filled eyes eyes meet yours {Xarces's}.