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| Crusade in the Woodlands | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 3 2012, 09:42 PM (1,395 Views) | |
| Legend Blueshard | Sep 8 2012, 07:05 PM Post #41 |
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Miner
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Indeed, the village of Middlebrook was situated among the redwoods rather than carved out of nature by force. Trees grew against the walls of buildings and between them, forcing all paths through town to wind around. The apparent disorder behind the town's construction intrigued Legend. Whereas more modern human towns typically grew into rigid block patterns, nothing of the sort was present in the sheridan village of Middlebrook. The sheer absence of humans in this neck of the woods also grabbed Legend's attention. "Largo didn't have a gate, either," he reminded Aru. "And I'm pretty sure their neighborhood was more dangerous than here." His eyes continued to scan the portion of Middlebrook visible through the trees as Meila led the group onward. The further into the village they traveled, the more he appreciated how populous Middlebrook truly was; calling it a village seemed a crude misrepresentation. Rather, it seemed more like an extension of the Red Woodlands - an entire habitat supported by and supporting the forest, full of life both floral and horned. Shortly after their arrival, the other sheridans parted from the group, leaving only Meila as their guide. "This isn't what I was expecting," Legend admitted. Meila laughed heartily and tossed a smirk their way. "Humans don't often trespass here. You will be treated as honored guests once I explain the situation to the village seer." Before long, Meila showed them to the base of an unfathomable tree. Its trunk was easily a hundred feet in diameter, and even the lowest branches surpassed the rest of the forest canopy. The younger trees around it grew at abnormal angles to catch sunlight filtering through its skyward foliage. Legend felt his body sink a little as he cast his gaze upward. "Just how old is this tree...?" he murmured. Without addressing his question, Meila raised her hand to the humans. "Wait here, please, while I speak with the seer. He will consult Impa before suggesting further action." The sheridan bowed her head before venturing into an opening in the great redwood large enough to comfortably accommodate the tallest of Glandive's prized miners. Legend resisted the temptation to peer in after her. He turned to Aru and Oyster instead. "Living here must be nice..." he observed. Other than the deadly jungles of Lariona, he had yet to encounter anything so naturally stunning. Even the towering, sublime cliffs of northern Faust couldn't compare. |
![]() On the cusp between worlds I wait, Beckoning the storm to end all storms. | |
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| bobo_da_17th | Sep 8 2012, 08:38 PM Post #42 |
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Oyster tried to remain in the back of the group and keep his head down at all times in the town. He had a tough enough time walking through normal streets without causing suspicion of crime, yet alone in this town. People weren't supposed to go in, so he didn't. That was just how it was. He didn't know why, it just always was. He didn't feel comfortable, so it showed very obviously. The more he tried to hide himself the more obvious he looked. It was very awkward the way he was freaking out over a few looks, almost the way a young boy freaks out over the school dance. "So you think were gonna be safe right. This isn't like a trap where they turn and say kill all humans and boil us into a soup and then eat us as the feast that they are gonna have because of the humans showing up as like the main course..." He wanted to continue, but his breathing was getting very heavy and he had to stop talking for a second to catch his breath. |
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| Legend Blueshard | Sep 8 2012, 08:58 PM Post #43 |
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Miner
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That thought hadn't occurred to Legend. He examined the breathless Oyster with a glimmer of concern in his own eyes. Then again, no matter how foreign sheridan culture was, he couldn't jump to such wild conclusions. "I'm sure it'll be fine, Oyster," he reassured the man with a thumbs up. The faint hint of fear left his gaze. "And if not... We'll find a way out somehow." Not long thereafter, the blond sheridan Meila returned. An elderly man followed haphazardly after her with a gnarled wooden cane, favoring his left leg. His horns had grown beyond maintenance and spiraled in on themselves. At first glance, Legend was reminded of a billy goat. Fortunately, he kept that comment to himself. "This is the village seer, Krovlar," explained Meila with her head bowed. "He channels the sacred spirit of the forest, Impa, and provides guidance to our people. The seer is respected most highly in all of sheridan society, so I expect you will show deference." To a goat man, thought Legend. "Absolutely." "Impa has spoken," announced the raspy old seer. His eyes were practically invisible behind his thick, gray eyebrows and sunken skin. A tangled, snow white beard hanging from his chin fluttered in the forest breeze. "Tonight, we will celebrate your good deeds." "What about the other captives?" asked Legend with wide eyes. "Do we really have time for a party?" "Tomorrow," continued the elder. "We will address that tomorrow, but tonight, we party." "He's a lively fellow, isn't he?" Legend asked with a grin to Aru. |
![]() On the cusp between worlds I wait, Beckoning the storm to end all storms. | |
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| Aru | Sep 8 2012, 09:06 PM Post #44 |
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"Yes. He is alive!" Aru said with a similarly expressed smile, excited they would be taking a break for just a bit. Aru clasped her hands together, folded behind her back, standing tall next to Legend. Her metal bracelets hit one another, jingling softly against her back. "But, what is a party?" Aru asked, leaning in rather close to Legend. |
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| bobo_da_17th | Sep 8 2012, 09:18 PM Post #45 |
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As Oyster assessed the situation, he realized that he was the tallest one in the town. He slowly began to formulate a plan. With the announcement of a feast Oyster knew he needed to be able to get out of the city immediately if things went south. He decides to follow the group, but now kept his distance by about 20 feet at all times. |
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| Legend Blueshard | Sep 8 2012, 10:07 PM Post #46 |
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Miner
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The village seer retired to his tree house after that brief statement from the so-called sacred spirit Impa. Legend followed Meila down a winding dirt path through Middlebrook, still drawing plenty of stares from watchful sheridans. Their escort brought them to a community space near the edge of the village where wooden stools and tables had been arranged under a tarp made from countless vines and leaves. Many of the tables were already occupied as sheridan families indulged in a peaceful afternoon picnic. Meila guided them to a much longer, elliptical table near the center of this arrangement. "The celebration will begin soon," she explained. "I have only been to one of these before, but it is said that Krovlar's parties are the most unforgettable in Knives." Legend wondered what they had gotten themselves into. "I don't know how I feel about this, Meila..." he admitted. "Shouldn't we be on our way? We'll never catch up to the crusaders if we lose more time." "Nonsense," replied Meila, turning up her chin. "We can do no wrong by following Impa's will. She will protect the males in the meantime so that we may celebrate your heroism." She took a seat across from Oyster and pulled her hands through her hair. "If you say so..." Legend submitted reluctantly. He frowned at Oyster and Aru each in turn as his elbows hit the table's sanded surface. He certainly couldn't object to a free meal - considering both his current lack of funds and how many hours it had been since his last. At the very least, this band of ragtag heroes would benefit from a fresh dinner. They were joined at the table by a few dozen sheridans, including the seer Krovlar and those rescued from human capture. Food arrived in waves, beginning with a round of freshly baked bread sticks. After the first fifteen minutes, the day's finest veal and vegetables from the seer's private garden joined the table. By the time the main course arrived, Legend had gathered so many foods on his plate that he could hardly keep track. He demonstrated the use of fork and knife for Aru's benefit, of course, as the addition of pronged silverware was but another cultural hurdle. "And that's really all we did," concluded Legend after reciting the story of their rescue mission for the fifth or sixth time. The sheridans seated across from the trio seemed to shuffle every ten minutes so that everyone would have a chance to speak with the honored guests. Legend didn't mind the attention, but his heart was focused on his growling stomach, not their fascinated nods. He was grateful when the sheridans turned their ears to the elderly seer instead. "So far, so good... Right, Oyster?" he laughed. |
![]() On the cusp between worlds I wait, Beckoning the storm to end all storms. | |
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| bobo_da_17th | Sep 9 2012, 02:36 PM Post #47 |
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Oyster didn't mind that the others were having a good time, but he couldn't let that happen to himself. "I trust them, I just don't trust them" Legend had no idea what Oyster was talking about, but to be fair Oyster probably didn't either. He slowly looked around the room at all the tables. "It seems that every food group is covered. So I doubt they are going to use us to finish their feast, but you never know what kind of drugs of sedatives are in the food. I'm planning on not eating from anything that you haven't seen someone already eat from and I advise you two to do the same. Wether they're up to something or not, you can never be too careful." |
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| Aru | Sep 9 2012, 02:59 PM Post #48 |
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A mixture of saliva and food dropped from Aru's chin when Oyster started talking about how dangerous it could have been to not make sure it wasn't poisoned. Her attention was focused on the fork full of carrots and beans she had been ready to eat moments ago, but now her guard was up. Question after question began to pop into Aru's head as she stared longingly at the food on her fork. How much had she eaten? What had she eaten? What was everyone else eating? If it was poisoned, when would it take effect? Wasn't it safe enough, since most of the sheridans had already been eating? What about Legend? Aru's head quickly turned from the colorful plate of food to Legend. It looked like he had already been through multiple plates, which should have meant everything was fine to eat, but it didn't stop Aru from staring wide eyed at Legend. "L-Legend, am I going to die if I eat food in your world?" Aru asked, getting a little teary eyed. |
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| Legend Blueshard | Sep 9 2012, 03:23 PM Post #49 |
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Miner
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"Too late to worry about that now," Legend laughed, reaching for another forkful of veal. After eating from so many different dishes indiscriminately, he would surely be the first to collapse if Oyster's paranoia turned out to have any justification. If that grim fate awaited him, he decided to capitalize on his remaining time doing one of his favorite things - eating. A minute later, Krovlar stood at the end of the table and clanged his silverware together to grab the whole group's attention. Legend became aware of the crowd of sheridans standing at a distance. Some of them clasped their hands together as though in prayer, and a ring of floating flames with spherical cores appeared in the air around the table. These began to circle around the table steadily as Krovlar addressed his village. If Legend realized what a dream come true this display of magic was to Oyster, he might have swallowed his food for a moment to comment. "As many of you know," he announced in that raspy voice, "we are gathered here tonight to celebrate the heroic efforts of Legend, Aru, and Oyster, whom we believe are the first of many saviors described in the ancient writings." Legend's eyes narrowed. Holding a chicken leg by the bone in front of his mouth, he glanced suspiciously at Aru. "Impa has spoken!" shouted the seer. There came a round of cheering throughout the earthy pavilion. "These three will be permitted to come and go from Middlebrook as they please. Tomorrow, they will journey north to rescue our brothers in chains. Let us see them off happily, and may Impa guide them as her chosen heroes!" Another roar of cheers erupted, this time much louder. Legend set down his chicken, speechless. |
![]() On the cusp between worlds I wait, Beckoning the storm to end all storms. | |
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| Aru | Sep 9 2012, 03:32 PM Post #50 |
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Aru stared in awe at the display, childishly clapping her hands together. When the ancient writings, along with their names were brought up, Aru looked at Legend in shock. Her clapping subsided for a few moments, then the clapping resumed. This time she directed her joy toward Legend. "See?! See!?" Aru coo'ed, clasping Legend's hand in hers when he set the chicken leg down. "Like I said, your name is correct, Legend." |
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