Laremy Andrei
I walk into the forest with a backpack as Madison suggested ,and the ring which is the catalyst of my adventure. “Wow. . . It looks just how he showed me. . .” I say amazed by the beautiful forest.
minotaur21560
Isolated, with no before and after, a lifetime burning in every moment
minotaur21560
what are you seeking here?
Laremy Andrei
“Agh!” I let out surprised at the sudden appearance of Minotaur. “What i am seeking? Thats a very personal question!” I say rambling nervously.
minotaur21560
as general of the army I am charged to defend these woods. Somewhat on edge of late, so forgive my vigilance, I do not mean to give offence.
Laremy Andrei
“Oh. I completely understand. Im the intruder here. I was seeking to connect myself with nature or a magical side of myself. Madison recommended this place to me.” I say as i look at my hand.
Garras
Leaves rustle up above and then there are gleams in a sky bereft of stars in the grey fogswaddled canopies of the forest. An eye and a mouth. A throaty chuckle. "Now here is a surprise." Arms slowly descending, the bear laying on his stomach, blunted white claws stark against his sable fur. "Language -is- magic."
minotaur21560
once one said, when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance...
Laremy Andrei
“Gah!” I say reflexively as another member of the forest comes out. “Okay. . . I think this is a normal occurrence around here.” I say holding one of my hands to my chest.
minotaur21560
If you are here, you do not intrude but have been admitted, and there will have been a reason.
Garras
The bear leans his head down and indulges his ear in a bit of scratchrustle 'pon the branch he lays and then let his head lean against the bough. "How loathe I am to think that this forest with mysteries woven upon its fabric could be delegated to such drab confinements. That thump in your chest is exactly why you're here."
Laremy Andrei
I say rubbing the back of my head. “. . . That bear is very wise.” I say with a smile.
Garras
"I'm not concerned with being wise. I'm more concerned with whys." The bear snickers softly before forming a moue with his maw. "...To answer your question, I don't know. Ply me with your wares merchant. For I am half blind, and I do not see that which is in front of me."
Laremy Andrei
“Wares. . ?” I say a bit thoughtfully. “Well im selling my services as a human if thats anything.” I say a bit sad that i don’t have anything else to offer. “Well. . . I also have a ring that was shoved into my possession about a week ago. . . It has powers apparently but. . . I still haven’t figured out what it is yet. I thought that coming here would help me atune to something or just help me discover what really lies within it.”
Garras
The bear listens with interest and lets his dark brown eye pore over those expressions before having his attention drawn to your ring. "Maybe it has been speaking to you all along. A ring on your finger. What do you suppose it's for?"
Asclepius
(materializes in assembly but listens intently)
Laremy Andrei
“I don’t really know. . . I just find that it has many mysteries around it. I can tell it has magical powers. . . At one point it released a pink light in the middle of the night. . . And the way that it came into my possession is what worries me the most. Why would anyone want to get rid of a ring with powers unless something is wrong?” I sigh.
minotaur21560
The wind blows.... something is different. The general stands, crouches warily, checking edges of the clearing. "Someone is here..."
Asclepius
(disappears not yet ready to reveal himself)
Garras
The bear slowly recoils his paw to scratch at his jaw, the white fur rustling and melding with his clawtips. "A pink light you say..." The bear scrunches his snout. "What a peculiar thing to do. A beacon perhaps. So visible. Perhaps someone is trying to make sure you can be found."
minotaur21560
And was it connected to the apparition?
minotaur21560
You felt it too? *the General asks the traveler, and then also, the Bear.
Garras
Hmm? *looking at Minot* what are you talking about?
Laremy Andrei
“Apparition?” I say a bit confused.
minotaur21560
*frowns* maybe i imagined it. *sits down, bare assed on a large round stone. Takes off helmet to check the visor..
Garras
The bear tilts his head feeling like this might be the first time he's seen Minot bareheaded. "What did you sense brother Minot? My attention was elsewhere."
minotaur21560
like a blast of air... but a presence. It was over there *points*
Garras
Follows that finger and squints. "Forgive me brother but I am half blind as you well know. How did it make you feel?"
minotaur21560
"That's just it - discomfited"
Garras
The bear frowns again. "Hrm. It must be a shy thing then." He snorts softly. "How curious though.. I do scent.. Something." The bear shuts his eye and sniffs. "Hmm.. There is a kind of.. Presence. A mantle." The bear opens his eyes. "Curious for the forest to call to such an echelon."
minotaur21560
Yes, exactly. But neither the Defiant nor his Son... Something else.
Laremy Andrei
“A mantle?” I say turning my head to the side. “I dont feel anything.” I say pretty much sure its because im a normal human.
minotaur21560
Well it has passed now. We just stay vigilant from now on...

Later

Carbonel: I awake on my tree limb, and notice that the jungle man has gone again while I slept. There are remnants of words in the air, a sense of a (familiar?) presence passing through. I climb down and begin to hunt through the woods, following.... what? ...a scent? ...a gossamer whisper of presence?
03:34 Laremy_Andrei: After reaching the entrance of the forest where i met the General and the bear, i decide to explore further trying to find a lake thats just filled with the so called “mana” that Madison talked to me about. “It has to be around here somewhere. . .” I mutter to myself as i look around.
03:48 Laremy_Andrei: Eventually i stumble upon a very beautiful and extensive lake. “This has to be it. . . It looks just how he showed me. . .” I say closing my eyes and remembering the image. “Its even prettier in person.” I carry the ring in my finger and as i approach the lake it lets out a bright light just like it did a few days ago. “Oh!” I quickly take it off to see if it does anything else but nothing really happens. I sigh and sit down in front of the water looking at my reflection.
03:56 Laremy_Andrei: “I guess i should dip it in. . .” I say looking at the pink ring. As i dip it in it shines brightly again and a black smoke comes out of the edges as if it was being purified. “W-woah!” I say struggling a bit as i feel my hand being tugged in a few directions. After a few seconds the light becomes brighter and the smoke stops. “Thats intere-“ Im interrupted as i start to watch my hands disappearing in front of me. “WOAH- m-my hands!” I look in panic as it keeps spreading up my arms. Although i can’t see my arms i can still feel them. I yank the ring out of the water and my arms return back almost in a flash. I almost gasp. “That was. . .”
04:05 Laremy_Andrei: I think to myself about what just happened. “Black smoke. . .
08:52 Rawul_Saturnus: Comes to see what the Kindred of Forest is doing...shimmering blue as I enter and look around
08:52 Rawul_Saturnus: You are not logged in.
08:53 Garras: Stopping in his tracks, the black beast suddenly alert.
08:54 Rawul_Saturnus: Chest out , brazenly here. scent of bear.
08:55 minotaur21560: Suddenly also I wake... a sense of nervous uncertainty
08:55 Rawul_Saturnus: "I am here in peace and friendship.... for now."
08:55 Rawul_Saturnus: sensing the tension in the beings nearby
08:56 minotaur21560: I get up move outside... glance up at the bear on his branch, look around for the source of the blue
08:59 Garras: The black bear lets air fill his lungs once more and slowly descends from the branch before moving towards the beast. A sable mass off muscle and fur pocked with stormy white brows.. A dusting on his chin.. A blaze of white on his chest. "...Hello brother ursus." The bear looking head on with a dark brown oaken right eye, his left scarred over by an eyepatch.
08:59 Rawul_Saturnus: Fore arm hand clasp. "You ... you are known to me. You look good."
09:00 Rawul_Saturnus: "We met in the Midnight Market, before the Grove games..."
09:00 Rawul_Saturnus: "I am Rawul Saturnus."
09:00 Garras: His brows read confusion but that hand.. That he understands and he grasps that forearm and then its like a flood of memories rips through him. "It's you."
09:01 Garras: He breathes a little heavily.. Swallows. And then nods. "You are welcome in these woods Rawul."
09:01 Rawul_Saturnus: "Thank you... I know of great gatherings happening... is there War?"
09:03 Garras: The bear shifts his eye aside for a moment. "There has been talk." The bear rolls his shoulders. "No flesh to enemy though. Not yet."
09:01 minotaur21560: The general hangs back, watching the two beasts recalling the past... but seems to relax as the Bear bids the blue one welcome...Stepping forward, dropping to one knee to salute the Blue One
09:02 Rawul_Saturnus: "Rise ... I am here to meet. Wha is your name?"
09:03 Rawul_Saturnus: Takes a moment then nods to Garras
09:04 minotaur21560: "And I am Minot, Dark General and Bear Warrior, here to protect the forest... "
09:04 Rawul_Saturnus: "Well met..." clasps your arm."
09:05 Rawul_Saturnus: "I am Guardian of the Blue peaks, the edge of the sky."
09:05 Rawul_Saturnus: "There are stars and portents."
09:06 Rawul_Saturnus: "Who gets this message?"
09:06 Garras: The bear looks grim, his jaw a set line. Then forcibly shaking himself loose. "I will receive it."
09:09 minotaur21560: *I look from one creature to the other, as grim as the bear. Behind me I hear my soldier emerging, Gruff the Wild. I signal to him there is nothing to fear from the Blue giant.
09:09 Rawul_Saturnus: "Hail the Wild. I am Rawul Saturnus from the Blue Peaks."
09:16 Rawul_Saturnus: I am from the Blue Peaks. We hail the edge of the sky. There are Stars, signs and portents."
09:17 Rawul_Saturnus: Turning to Garras.... "Orion rises early now. This is well, he is expected. A tailstar moves though, aims for his heart"
09:17 Rawul_Saturnus: "A warrior will die in service"
09:19 minotaur21560: *whispers* "... the scorpion..."
09:20 Rawul_Saturnus: My lips purse together and cover teeth
09:20 Garras: The bear nods solemnly before scratching his jaw in consideration. "I do not doubt you. And there are many patterns interwoven as things stand." His eye looking across the horizon, flickering. "Is there more?"
09:21 Rawul_Saturnus: "Yes, he must die - you fill feel him hard. The forest gains from his sacrifice."
09:21 Rawul_Saturnus: "If you chair authority here, set your heir."
09:21 Garras: "When one of us bleeds, we all bleed." His voice thin and papery.
09:21 Rawul_Saturnus: "I wouldn't dare argue that Garras. Wise."
09:22 Rawul_Saturnus: "Take this message to your people that need to know."
09:23 Garras: "Of course." But the voice is absent minded almost. Hollow.
09:24 Rawul_Saturnus: "I will come to your people in two weeks. We have the other eclipse coming... this time just in the southern pole"
09:24 Rawul_Saturnus: "The faint sun will be filtered. Not a huge effect, but we need to see that."
09:25 Rawul_Saturnus: accustomed to star-messages to have no thanks in receipt, I bow preparing to go...
09:26 Garras: Bows his head. And a bear well known for expressing his gratitude finds no words.
09:26 Rawul_Saturnus: -exits through the red shimmering gate-
09:27 minotaur21560: I incline my head in silence.

Later Still

Garras: The bear scratches his jaw for a moment. "I'm actually glad you're all here. I consider you all well within my confidence and it must be said. I have been thinking about Rawul's message to our woods."
02:31 minotaur21560: *turns to the bear with a serious demeanor
02:34 Carbonel: Sits down ,in my beast-man form
02:36 Garras: The bear creases his stormy white brows as he folds his arms across his chest. "I do not think that my ursine brother would have come from his home in the peaks without reason. The message he carried was dire. Important. I was and am struck.. To think we will lose one among our number. You are all my brothers. It sits within my heart like cold river stones."
02:37 minotaur21560: "could he have been speaking metaphorically? Of a need for penance or purification rituals?"
02:38 Carbonel: "I went and reviewed the records, thank goodness they are written so quickly. It seems to me the message was clearly about the death of one of our own.
02:40 minotaur21560: He said "A warrior will die in service"
02:45 Garras: "And that the forest would gain from their sacrifice. That authority should chair their heirs." He shakes his head, tapping a claw to his forearm. "I just don't like it. I do not know how Rawul's clan divine their messages.. But that they felt need to send us one among their number.." He exhales. "...I do not aim to lay leaden burdens. I only ask that you all keep alert. That we may be each others eyes and ears.
02:46 Carbonel: "There was a presence this afternoon, a strong evil. Both Asher and I smelled it."
02:48 Carbonel: It did not manifest to us here. It was in the forest for certain, but I could only smell it.

Published: 2021-11-20, viewed 47 times.