Quest Catch a Falling Star

Aerius, Faradae, Clyde Sullins, Sayana

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While Sylira is by far the most civilized region of Mizahar, countless surprises and encounters await the traveler in its rural wilderness. Called the Wildlands, Syliran's wilderness is comprised of gradual rolling hills in the south that become deep wilderness in the north. Ruins abound throughout the wildlands, and only the well-marked roads are safe.

Catch a Falling Star

Postby Faradae on May 26th, 2017, 10:56 am

Faradae
The creature watched and judged them; its eyes darted back and forth between each member of their party. Then, finally, it made its decision and approached. Faradae wondered whether her attempt at pacification had played any part in this, but at least it did not seem to have hurt. As it came closer, Faradae spotted more details of its curious appearance. It was a very colourful mixture of multiple species of animals she had heard of or seen, reminding her of a person who could not decide what to wear in the morning and ended up with a completely unfitting combination of different styles.

She stood still and watched the animal as it fixed its eyes on a point behind her, slowly waddling towards its new destination. She was almost certain that it was not about to attack her. She did not, however, count on the sensation that hit her when the scales on its back came into contact with the bare skin of her dangling arms: For a moment, her lungs would not obey her, and the air caught inside could not escape. The experience lasted only for a tick, but it was enough to make her gasp for air when the creature had passed. Her heart frequency shot up with a surge of adrenaline, and she was frozen on the spot for a moment while she tried to regain her posture. What had just happened? Was the creature coated in some sort of poison? Was it the effect of magic?

She turned around slowly to find the animal feast on the fried slugs Clyde and Sayana had left scattered all over the ground. Unlike the others, she had no way of seeing its aura, but the fog gathering around the small creature and the fact that Clyde stood with closed eyes in obvious concentration told her that something was not quite normal here. As interesting as the creature was, however, she preferred to watch it from a distance now that she had experienced its touch. It still seemed to be half-alert, looking up from its meal from time to time. It was hard to tell whether the bright colour of its eyes was natural or a reflection of the fire.

She tore her eyes from the animal, content to let it clean away the slugs and take the fog with it. Instead, she returned to Sayana. The woman had set up one of the tents and miraculously dried the area from half-a-swamp to only slightly damp ground. Fara was too grateful for a bit of dryness to question how she had done it. Underneath her old, wet clothes, she was beginning to shiver, now that the excitement wore off.

If her memory served her correctly, there had been more than one tent the last time they had set up camp. She approached the horse once more and, after a bit of digging around, found what looked like a second tent, smaller than the first. When she spread the material, however, she noticed several large holes in the tarpaulin, courtesy of the slugs. “Shyke”, she muttered under her breath and threw the ruined material aside.

She had just spied the edge of the third and last tent under a pile of spare clothes when the horse whinnied, angled its ears and pranced backwards, clearly startled. Alerted, Faradae watched for the cause of its sudden discomfort, and it took her a moment to realize that something – or rather, someone – had landed in front of Sayana’s own horse, a few steps away. The packhorse was not directly affected, but the earlier commotion with the slugs, the arduous track of the day and a general lack of training had the poor animal on edge. Faradae patted its flank reassuringly and the horse snorted and twitched its ears irritably.

The tent forgotten for the moment, Faradae went to help Aerius up, but the nuit was already back on his feet when she reached him. There was something off-putting about the man. He was quiet and detached, but differently so than Clyde was, and Fara had never had a good chance to talk to him since she had met the group. She did not bother to ask where he had been; she herself spent as much time away from the group as she did with them. She just nodded at him and ignored the fact that he was covered in mud and a few stray slugs. The last tent belonged to Aerius, and now that he was back, she’d leave it to him to set it up.
Last edited by Faradae on July 9th, 2017, 10:55 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Catch a Falling Star

Postby Sayana on May 27th, 2017, 3:24 pm

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Sayana still found herself peeved by the gloomy and dark weather but at least the bugs weren’t bothering them so much anymore. The buzz of a mosquito could be heard near her ear and she clapped at it instinctively. Well, at least the creepy slugs were not. They had been drawn to Clyde’s fire to perish and sizzle. Or enough that her newly set up tent was not infested.

The Eypharian was seated just at the entrance of the tent and fortunately her rear was not getting sopping wet from the mud, after her bit of ‘tampering’. Both Clyde and Faradae seemed fascinated by the little creature. It was only now that Sayana had the time to stop and squint through the fog to try to see what the animal actually was.

It was reasonably small and appeared to be a mish-mash of all kinds of animals. Something one might see in Sahova as a failed magical experiment. In some ways it was reptilian with a smooth blueish green head, hard protective shell layers, and spikes. But in other ways it was kind of fish-like with tentacles on its chin. But what Sayana paid more attention to was its behaviour. It was uncertain of its movements, sometimes it stumbled and there was this naïve curiosity about it.

“If it’s a baby, it doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous.” Sayana cautioned knowing full well that baby desert vipers could kill just as readily as adults with their poison.

“And then the question comes: Where is its mother?”

The little creature seemed to scurry over to where Faradae was and in the process, the kelvic seemed to be stunned momentarily. Sayana quirked an eyebrow in question and was suddenly reminded of the thorn hares of Sahova that had various ‘escape mechanisms’. But the bird seemed fine and instead Sayana looked to Clyde who seemed completely lost in something, more than likely a magic.

Sayana gave a frown and watched as the creature darted over to where the bugs were. It didn’t seem particularly scared and was rather adventurous compared to most animals faced with people. Clyde had said there was something different or unique about this animal, long before he had properly seen it.

She took a moment to calm her mind, closing her eyes at the same time. Breathing in and out slowly she drew at her djed and focused the magic around her eyes. As she opened them, traces of foggy light could be seen as she looked about, but instead of glancing at her surroundings she focused her concentration on the creature. The aura seemed to be the size one might expect for an animal, reasonably small. However, it burned with heat and intensity like a roaring fire.

Startled, Sayana broke out of her use of auristics, almost afraid that she had picked the wrong aura. But no, it was just that it was surprisingly strong and maybe that was what had drawn Clyde’s interest to begin with. The fog was also strange. It gathered near the reptilian creature. Had the reptile brought it on?

There was a sudden commotion as the nuit rushed in to the scene. Stardust, Sayana’s white mare, reared slightly and hooves kicked out before the horse thudded down upon the ground once more. Had it been anyone else, the horse might have kept its calm, but the unnerving feeling of the nuit permeated the area. Sayana quickly got to her feet, but was glad to see that Faradae was already there with her horse, calming the mare down. The hypnotist sent out a soft encouraging suggestion to her mare to trust, stay calm, and know that the woman was a friend. The nuit however…

“Where the petch have you been? And don’t bother my horse like that.” Sayana spoke sharply.

The nuit was filthy and covered in the slugs. Sayana stepped over swiftly to grab the reins of her horse. The mare had been standing pawing at the ground with discomfort and the Eypharian quickly led the animal away from the dark wizard.
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Catch a Falling Star

Postby Languish on June 2nd, 2017, 11:42 pm

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Almost as if it were his cue, when Aerius came crashing in, the creature leapt up to stand on two feet once more. It gave a warning sort of growl which escalated in volume slowly but surely. Its hackles raised as it hunched over, and its lunch was abandoned on the ground. The aurists could feel the anxiety if they looked, as clear on the creature's aura as on any humanoid's.

He was startled, but the anxiety overwhelmed him, and he became much too nervous to attack. Instead, the creature ran off to take shelter behind the front flap of one of the already-constructed tents. It peeked around the corner and growled irritably at Aerius on and off while it stayed. If unperturbed, the creature would let out a much louder, much angrier howl within a few chimes.

It could be considered that the creature had taken to Faradae due to their shared animalism, as this howl could be easily identified by any beast. This was not the cry of a triumphant predator, nor the cry of a defensive inhabitant. No, this was the cry of a lost and frightened child. It then would sit in the doorway of the tent, watching the group as if waiting for an answer.

In the distance, a weak cry could be heard. It was similar to the young one's, but it was also faint, and much less frightened. It was the roar of a distressed (but not upset) parent. Upon hearing its answer, the creature would immediately attempt to race off into the lower parts of the forest. In the creature's target direction, moss and muddy water pooled stagnant. The upper edges of the forest were thicker, but at ground level, there was little to be found, so it was clear to see the short creature scurrying and slopping through the mud even with the plain eye.

A stronger, magical eye would reveal another aura far from the campsite. It was as powerful and intense as the child's, but also more fragile. It was unsteady, almost wavering between two strengths, and two emotions; harsh hatred, and a gasping fear.
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Catch a Falling Star

Postby Clyde Sullins on June 3rd, 2017, 7:42 pm

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In Clyde's fractured attention, his mind found calm. Slipping most of his aura focus into the peripheries, he flitted from one to another for a few moments, only sticking on one and digging deeper when he found it of interest. His companions were known entities, and while he kept aware of them all and their position relative to himself he didn't focus on them. It was a skill he was working on steadily, and always learning new tricks to work better at.

His main focus ended up on the small strong aura of the slug eating thing, once he found a roundabout way to look at its aura and examine it.

Getting a good first look at its mundane visage within his aura sights sense was a bit odd, rather like looking upon a mishmash or confused thing that was mid morph or change.

Clyde's mind flitted for a moment to the mouthless beast he'd run into, which had been able to change shape and heal, but while both had strong aura's this wasn't so strong and the mouthless thing hadn't been colorful.

The slugs dead Clyde let the flame on his res die off, its bit of warmth and light fading until only res remained. Then with an idle thought Clyde willed the res, for himself, to return to himself to be reabsorbed into the greater Clyde that was he.

Focused on his task as he was Clyde hadn't noticed his wetness at first, though as his attention narrowed and broadened, leaving him more of himself to focus on himself, he noted his wet skin and soaked clothing. He knew he could fix it easily enough, a small bit of res of water attraction to pull out the wetness and leave him dry, or to block out the rain above and guide it around him. For the moment it wasn't a problem, but he knew he'd need to do so eventually.

Speaking to the not nuit, Clyde let out a short and flat statement. Not threatening, but making his position and expectation of what was to be done amply clear. If he had to he would take charge, and the last thing he needed was for the not nuit to do something foolish or rash that could have been prevented by a bit of strong leadership. In Clyde calmed state his statement/threat would be amply clear, though not quite threatening.

“Air, if you go about attacking this new thing or doing something equally foolish, I will remove your fingers so you can't wave them around doing any more foolish bits of stuff you think is Reimancy. Understand? ”

Aware of his wereabouts only through his aura sight Clyde didn't bother to look at the mage as he spoke, keeping turned towards the small beast and with his aura sight intent upon it. Disecting and examining, noting all of its features and oddities as only a skilled observer could. Noting its turns, twists, abutments, colors, textures. The touch of its skin/surface with a secondary touch awareness through its aura.

From its actions combined with Sayana's comment, Clyde felt it could be a child as she had noted, not seeming to act as an adult of any type would.

From his awareness of Sayana by her aura he felt the small tingle off of her as she began to cast a spell, in his peripheral awareness. As it wasn't a threat and she did as such quite often Clyde didn't bother to focus more on it nor to see it as a threat.

Clyde could see the heightened emotions emanating off the creature, though what the emotion was he couldn't say so easily. Since it occurred in reaction to the not nuits arrival he assumed it was fear or such, when combined with its physical reaction he could see. Such feeling and assumption was one reason Clyde had stated his statement/threat/directive.

The sounds it made which he could hear with his mundane ears, oddly muted in his aura sight, combined with other statements, began to make Clyde believe some action might be required. If it did call its mother/parental unit, that might feel they were a threat and force and encounter. Clyde didn't doubt he could fight off or even kill anything that might threaten them, but he preferred to examine and learn of the thing rather than to kill it at the moment.

When a similar cry rang out from afar, Clyde's assumption seemed proved true, its parental unit was looking for it.

In response the small beast ran towards the source. Clyde pulled back his main focus from the small beast, keeping it only in his peripheral location awareness, seeking out with another tendril to find the source of the cry. If it was similar to the small one, Clyde reasoned, it would also have a strong aura and thus be easy to find.

The strength of the aura tied in with the emotional state rolling off of it made it easy to find, and Clyde quickly began to inspect the new aura anew. As always he'd first gain an awareness of its mundane qualities, sight and touch, taste and smell, though he'd also gain an awareness of its location in proximity to himself. Similar to how one knew where their right arm and hand was in proximity to the rest of their body. Not having to think but knowing as it moved to a task.

Beyond such simple surface things however would he find more, along with the strong emotions perhaps other qualities which might explain its strong aura.

The aura of the new beast was similar in some manners to the first smaller one, but different at the same time.

“I believe you are right Say, there is another one, much bigger, off in the direction the little one is going.”

“If its wants to go, let it. The last thing we need right now is a fight, we have more important things to focus on, our mission.”

Once more taking command and issuring orders, this time to everyone in general (though Clyde knew to himself likely only the not nuit needed to be reminded not to start a fight like he had with the odd bird), Clyde made his position clear.
Clydes Stuff

I am actually in RL a super intelligent hamster from Rhode Island, with a 7 year plan to take over the world.

Update 6/2/18- 1:10AM EST: His 7 year plan a success, and several weeks ahead of schedule, Clyde leaves to oversee the world he has taken over.

No new threads after end of Spring 518-Will still be checking for PM's occasionally, but focusing on a new character.

Graders note: :
Please be aware Clyde is a master Magecrafter. He therefore should not be gaining full xp(or possibly shouldn't gain any at all) for simple tasks related to this magic, such as low level MC items, particularly for repetitions of creations he has done before. Feel free to contact me if unsure of a instance of his magic use compared to his skill level.
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Catch a Falling Star

Postby Faradae on June 5th, 2017, 8:38 pm

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The horses were calming and Aerius was fine, but the small animal that had sent a shiver down her spine earlier was obviously startled. It jumped at the ruckus, and by the time Faradae had her hands free and Sayana was tending to her own horse, she could see it peeking out from behind the Eypharian’s tent, making less than happy sounds. She crouched a little lower this time to offer minimal threat, and approached it again. This tie, however, she was far more careful not to touch the animal. Some part of her could not bear to leave the child alone in the rain, whichever species it may belong to. It was lost, lonely, and surrounded by strangers. It had dangerous abilities, but it did not seem aggressive. They had no good way to communicate, so she just sat down against the tent on one of the dry spots Sayana had created and watched the animal with a calm gaze. If it was afraid of them, why was it still sticking around? Why was it not fleeing back into its burrow or joining its family? It had eaten; it had studied them, what else may be keeping it here, when it obviously felt so uncomfortable?

When nothing changed, she got up with a sigh and went back to unpacking. She never felt safe starting campfires in the middle of the forest, and she did not need them per se, but perhaps they could scrape free a safe area of earth, find a bit of dry material and maintain a small flame, just to dry themselves down… But only once it had stopped raining. She glanced up between soaked hair strands, but what little sky she could see was grey and darkening in the twilight. It kept on pouring.

She secured the saddlebags once everything required had been taken inside the tents to make sure no water could spoil their contents, and then she aided Aerius in setting up the last of the tents. With one tent ruined, she might have to find a spot in the trees tonight. It was colder up there, but she was used to sleeping tugged between the branches. She often did it while travelling. Early experiences with yukmen had taught her that above was always safer than below. If you did not want to be eaten, you stayed in a group or you raised yourself above the ground. The rules were simple. For the time being, she sat in the entrance of Sayana’s tent, shivering. Clyde was still outside, seemingly unconcerned by the rain. As long as he did not require the dry spot, she was happy to keep it.

A cry of frustration rang out, and the little creature waddled into the tent’s entrance, settling down on the opposite side, watching them. A small puddle collected beneath its feet. Faradae sat frozen, looking back. She did not move to touch the child again.

Finally, another call sounded from the deeper forest, summoning the child. The little creature perked up in attention, then hobbled off into the rain. Clyde called to let it go, and Faradae agreed with him. If the little one’s mother was out there, it was better to let it leave. If any of the others had been interested in catching it, they would have made their move by now. Personally, Fara would not keep a kit from its mother. On top of that, the frightening experience she had made when being touched by the child were enough to convince her that she did not want to feel a fully-grown specimen’s wrath.
Last edited by Faradae on July 9th, 2017, 10:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Catch a Falling Star

Postby Sayana on June 19th, 2017, 10:47 am

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Sayana laid a couple of comforting hands on her horse and made sure she stayed between her mare and the nuit. Whatever unsettling feelings she got from the nuit, at least she could take it but it made her horse restless.

The little creature seemed to fare little better, and as Sayana steered her horse towards the tent she had set up, she saw it peeking out from behind the flap. The Eypharian grimaced and squinted in the rain. It was starting to get to that point where it was so wet, it hardly mattered if you were under shelter or not. Beads of water coated her horse’s fine fur, and muddy stockings were beginning to stain her mare’s legs.

Sayana didn’t go nearly as close as Faradae, and instead took a cautionary stance several yards from the little creature as it howled in dismay. She was half tempted to calm the pitiful thing with a soothing touch of hypnotism and she even started reaching for her own djed to do the deed. However, partway through she stopped abruptly, recalling the intense and rather abnormal aura the creature had. Could it somehow be capable of magic? And how much offence would it take to a bit of calming?

Even as she pondered the questions, it let out another howl. But this time there was an echo. Faint and in the distance, came a second cry. Not waiting a moment, the creature darted off.

Well that settled it. She didn’t have nearly enough interest to go after the little critter, particularly if there was a much bigger one out there.

“I agree with Clyde,” Sayana vocalized. “I don’t particularly want to meet up with an angry or protective parent. And if we do… depending on its mood I’ll either try to calm it or send it running with its tail between its legs.”

Wiping away droplets that ran down her face, she looked over the scene. It was dark still raining and with this fog that seemed to come and go. Hardly good travel weather.

“If it were my call, I’d say to cease travel for the day. Unless you enjoy traveling in the rain or think it won’t let up tomorrow. And Clyde? Would you be a dear and keep an eye out for that mother creature? I don’t think Faradae is well suited for scouting in the dark and fog.”

Although she was pretty sure the mage would anyways, it was still a comfort for the Eypharian, and probably the kelvic, to know they wouldn’t suddenly be set upon or ambushed by the creature.

OOCSorry for the woefully late post
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Catch a Falling Star

Postby Zeva on September 6th, 2018, 2:32 am

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faradae
 
Skills
Observation- 5XP
Scouting - 2XP
Socialisation - 2XP
Leadership - 2XP
Logic - 2XP
Botany - 1XP
Acrobatics - 1XP
Investigation - 4XP
Tactics - 1XP
Unarmed Combat - 2XP
Intelligence - 2XP
Endurance - 1XP
Acting - 1XP
Animal Husbandry - 1XP
Wilderness Survival - 1XP
 
Lores
● Faradae: Prefers flying to riding horses
● Scouting: Using bird eye view to spot rest spots, fresh water and shelter
● Logic: Knowing when to stay out of the way
● Scouting: Finding shelter from the storm
● Acrobatics: Ducking an oncoming blow
● Luminous markings: Harmless to horses and can be seen in the dark
● Luminous markings: What attracted the bugs?
● Strange insect army: Appeared out of no where
● Tactics: Devising a course of action to stop the insect invaders
● Unarmed Combat: Wing and beak attack
● Strange insect army: Split and multiply unnaturally
● Strange insect army: Drawn to light
● Strange mist creature: Physical characteristics
● Acting: Non-threatening posture
● Strange mist creature: Takes the breath out of your lungs when touched
● Animal Husbandry: Trying to calm a scared animal
● Wilderness Survival: Looking after your equipment
● Wilderness Survival: Setting up a tent
● Wilderness Survival: Wary of fires in forested areas
 
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-1 linen shirt and a pair of breeches (riddled with holes)
_________

Lovely work! So sorry this had been left ungraded for so long.

Aerius, Sayana and Clyde:
Grade withheld due to inactivity/character being on hold.
If you would like your grade then please pm me.


Thanks for the read! Do let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade and don't forget to delete/edit your request in the grading queue.
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