Let’s go exploring for a bit, shall we?

The Place Where the Stones Sing

There is a place in the universe where the stones sing everlasting hymns to their creator. Never do they cease their song save it be to proffer wisdom to those travelers who know the humming tones of their earthen tongue.

So it is all over, save for in one place in the darkets depths where the stones rest in silent reverence, for in their midst is one of the fey who speaks with the dead, speaks for the dead, and tells the words of the dead to those who seek her. Travelers best beware, for the way to her domain is fraught with dangers, and the stones there will brook no irreverence. But one warning do they give, and they will give it only once:

“Hush, visitor. Have reverence for the Speaker for the Dead.”

The Place Called the Endless Shallows

There is a place in the universe called the Endless Shallows. There, a thigh-deep blanket of the clearest water extends out to the horizon in all directions as it refracts glittering sunlight into the soft sand below.

The only landmarks are the great black stones that cut jagged lines against the blue sky, and the inhabitants there like to leap from rock to rock, taking care not to cut themselves on each landing. Endless hours they play, seeing how long they can avoid splashing in the shallows, but laughing with glee whenever they do.

Cool is the tone of the water, gentle is its lapping against the rocks, still is its face but for tiny ripples and waves below the deep blue sky. Solemnity is its language, however long the rock jumpers may leap.

The Place Where a World Admits No Life, But…

There is a place in the universe where a world admits no life, but its three moons are full of vibrant foliage and endless varieties of creatures. Those who dwell on the moons consider their homes worlds, and the world above is a moon, though experts from other worlds would beg to differ.

That aside, the idea that there could be life on worlds other than their own is not so strange to the inhabitants of these moons. Stranger to them is the belief that no such thing could be. If asked, they’d say, “But of course other worlds have life! Look at our neighbors!”

The Place Where Squirrels Are Harbingers of Doom

There is a place in the universe where squirrels are harbingers of doom.

Where squirrels appear, trees always follow, and from the trees come the crawling shadows which spawn nightmares. These nightmares reach and crawl as the trees blow in the wind, stirring the shadows and giving them life.

Hence squirrels are spurned and hunted wherever they appear, for the people fear nightmares above all.

But nightmares will come.

They will always come.

The Astral Wanderer is brought to you by that empty sensation you feel on cold starry nights that whispers that you are utterly alone. But of course, you are not alone. Prove it by sharing this with someone you know. You’ll feel much better about your life. Really.