Ocean's Breath Plateau john barleycorn was dead

idk being really vague about who's here and why, backdated to yesterday evening

the impact roused him from deep slumber. one moment, the earth was still. the next, everything shuddered. he rose unsteadily to his feet, reminded all too well of past tragedies—the fire on the plains, the storm at parivaar. he looked wildly around, searching for his daughter, and whomever else had chosen to call this place home.

aditya pulled himself to the southern edge of the territory, where the plateau rose above the trees. there, in the distance, smoke blanketed the sky. something. . .had struck a mountain, he thought, and squinted, trying to make sense of it.

it gave him an eerie feeling, like when he wondered too much about the collar around his neck. troubled, he sat back and lifted a hind leg, scratching at the thing. he wondered if it had anything to do with the hazy memories of that time. there was then. . .and there was now. before he'd been yoked, and after.

but even if it wasn't, something was wrong. the air smelled of brimstone, and his eyes darted, seeking the ominous flicker of wildfire.