Quest Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

How I wonder- what the petch?

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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.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Prophet on June 19th, 2017, 1:15 am

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The people of this strange village seemed to do their best to ignore the shouting, cheering, the threats and the sobs as members of each party were placed into peril. The Ebonstryfe laughed as Clyde killed his man and began hurling insults about the god of peace though the Sylirans simply prayed and silently plotted. Several of the scholarly looking fellows were trying to reason with the treefolk while the rowdier group either sobbed in anguish over their presumed fate or used every curse in the book to try and incite a reaction from their guards. The ones near Sayana kept a close watch on her as she waded through the outburst but they seemed disinterested for the most part. Even the one who had appeared to be intrigued by Faradae wandered off once she sank to the ground though it didn’t stop him from looking back just once.

In the cage, Clyde found himself standing over a dead knight. One of the short people ran and retrieved the stick that he had thrown out and waited near the cage’s door. The Ebonstryfe soldier was brought forth and given the weapon then jammed inside. The woman drew back her hood to reveal that she was quite beautiful with caramel skin, green eyes and brown hair. Everything about her was cold from the piercing way she stared at the mage to the chiseled lines formed by her cheekbones and jaw. With a practiced hand of black mail, she twirled the club against her palm repeatedly as her feet crossed and uncrossed in a sideways arc that lead the warrior around the dead body of the knight. All the while, her eyes and grin never strayed from Clyde.

“I do know you.” The bright alto chimed. She broke her perfect posture to lean forward as if to push the whisper across the space between them. “You’re one of us!” Her idle hand touched her black armor but before she could say anything else, the woman froze and looked around outside the cage. A cadre of the villagers had formed around the cage with bows drawn; the leader ad returned and he was looking more like a tired old man.

“Cast out your weapons and exit peacefully or we will kill you. It has been deemed that no one else needs to die.” The wind whipped through the huge trees and for a moment –there was calm. Clyde and the warrior woman would be returned to their respective groups and bound once more. There seemed to be a lot of activity going on in the town center and a group of women dressed in clothing woven purely from foliage appeared. This group was given wide berths from their own but also deep bows of respect. One by one, these important individuals broke off from the main group and stood before each of the different search parties. Each woman produced a plate with some kind of pile of items upon it at the feet of the captives.

The trio from Sahova was approached by a young woman with red hair and freckled skin. She was adorned in vines of deep green leaves that were woven into a tunic that had been adorned with nuts, flowers and small animal bones. Her face was placid like a frozen lake but she bowed to each of them before setting down a large semi-round dish made of petrified tree bark. On it was a set of nine pieces of wood. For the most part, these pieces were square logs but some had right angle bends and some had holes while others had round pegs. It was clear that they fit together to create some kind of object but there were no markings to indicate alignment. The old man spoke as these plates were being distributed.

“One of you will be unbound from each group to complete the puzzle. The others may help you but only one can touch the puzzle.” The tree warriors came to stand closer to the groups as more of them filtered into the main square. “The group to complete its puzzle first will be fed and will decide if the other groups will receive any food as well.” He did not seem happy about this but his vivid eyes flew up and into one of the massive trunks as if to communicate with another being but the gaze didn’t last long.

The attractive blonde man came up behind Faradae and blushed as he gently began to untie her wrists. His big, strong hands would help her to her feet but he would hold her arms until a signal was given. The breath he allowed to fall on her neck was almost ragged as he struggled to maintain his composure with the pretty kelvic. His hands suddenly let go when the old man’s voice rang out.

“Begin!”
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Clyde Sullins on June 19th, 2017, 1:52 am

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Clyde remembered. Clyde remembered fighting. The feel of the wooden weapon in his hand, the sight of the knight, his calmly facing death. Clyde did not understand his reasoning, rejected it whether in his current state or a more normal non-centered one.

Choosing to die, to not place value on ones own life, to not fight to live... It was as foreign to him as it was for a fish to imagine breathing air while living their entire life below waters surface. It was like trying to explain the ocean to someone who'd never seen more than a small pool of water, a mountain to a man who'd never seen more than a hill.

For a half moment Clyde tried to understand, to put himself in the mans shoes so to speak. To understand why he'd done what he had done. At that moment Clyde looked down upon the knights body, and knew he would not ever understand due to its foreignness to his nature. He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing once more on the moment at hand.

A few moments later the Stryfe member was pushed inside, holding the weapon Clyde had tossed aside. With her motions it was clear she was trained in the particular weapon, knowing how to handle it and fight with it. Clyde would not surrender though, would fight to the last. Surrender, giving up, letting himself die, was just as foreign as what the knight had done. Similar, but different.

As the woman neared, professing the fact that Clyde was as she was, their fight with an all to likely ending was interrupted by more men with drawn bows.

The fighting apparently ended, it took a moment for Clyde to understand he wouldn't have to fight. Once he did her surrendered his weapon, only to be dragged back to his group in reverse fashion to how he'd been sent to the cage.

With nothing else to do, Clyde focused on examining and observing his captors, puzzling out any bit of intelligence and information that might be of use. Their dress, their motions, their mannerisms, their weapons, anything.

A woman clothed in plants and bones approached with a plate made of tree skin, setting it at their feet. Her face was smooth like Clyde's, calmed and centered.

Oddly enough upon this was more wood, nine pieces. Straight pieces cut squarely, bent pieces, one with holes, all mixing into an odd group.

Once the instructions were given Clyde took them in a new light, examining the curves and pieces more closely. Trying to work out connections and alignments and how it all fitted together.

Once it was clear Faradae was to be in charge of moving the pieces, Clyde watched the kelvic to see how she'd react. Panic? Purpose? Motion? Spoken in his bland calm tone, Clyde did his version of a pep talk, albeit a more honest one than most pep talks and decidedly lacking on the pep aspect.

“Do not worry Far, you can do this. Just focus on the task at hand, and we will complete the task. Examine what's been given, show us each of the pieces, and then we'll work out how to fit it together, alright? Calm now, now is the time for calm.”

It struck Clyde then that their tests so far, for their team at least, had fallen upon those least suited for the task. Clyde was ill suited for combat, Faradae was not known for her mental might and studiousness... But then, between the three of them surely they could work it all out, and succeed and survive.
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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.

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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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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Faradae on June 22nd, 2017, 7:19 pm

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Faradae was busy mourning her loss while the battles in the cages ended, but she did notice Clyde’s return to the group, and when the plant-clad women appeared and the treefolk’s leader began to speak once more, she forced her eyes from where they had been transfixed on the ground, despite how awful she still felt.

No clear winner was announced from the first trial that had ended so abruptly, and it was not mentioned any further. Apparently, what had happened would have no direct consequences for either of the groups. Certainly, some of the rivalling parties had lost a member, but if the challenges were all designed to be executed by one, the loss of a comrade was an emotional loss at the moment, but it did not mean losing all chances to win the prize. The idea sent her wondering how many challenges were waiting for them altogether, and how many of them would live to see the end of them.

She was shaken from what had transpired, and flinched a little when one of the women of the tribe approached their trio. Many of the other treefolk – those pointing arrows and watching the star-seekers – all took small steps back or cast their gazes down when the lady passed, and that was enough to make Faradae weary. If they were capable of quelling all magic without any visible effort, of taking a side of her as an afterthought, if they decided their fates, life and death, upon a whim, they were dangerous. Faradae understood none of this, and wished herself far away, safe and sound with wing and feather and without a star, and cursed her own curiosity for the first time in her life.

The woman stopped in front of them and bowed, but Fara did not return the gesture. She would hardly show politeness to people who had taken her prisoner without asking questions, as much as she marvelled at they city they had built.
The lady dressed in green and bone set down a pile of wood in front of her – several individual pieces, logs and curves and holes. Some had round protuberances that she figured might fit in the holes, but the entire pile made little sense to her. She knew some children liked to occupy themselves with this sort of puzzle, but she had never been one of them. Much as today, Faradae had not been able to sit still for long as a child. She preferred exploring to chewing on the same logical problem for hours.

The second trial was as much a competition as the first one had been. It was less lethal, but it unlike Clyde’s trial, it had repercussions for the entire group if they failed to complete it before the others did. She wondered what would happen if nobody managed to complete it at all.

The woman returned to her group and was replaced by a shadow approaching from behind. Faradae tensed, still crouching as much as she was standing, and awaited what might happen. She hated it when she could not see whom she was facing. An old instinct told her to turn, but with her wrist’s bound, she could not.

There was a breath – too warm, too close – that made the fine hair on the back of her neck raise. A man’s finger’s fumbled with her restraints and untied them with surprising quickness, but he held her arms firmly together even as he helped her up, and she did not attempt to break free, not after what Sayana had tried before. Still, she arched her neck forward a little, away from the discomfort of the breath she had no face to associate with.

Then the hands let go, and Faradae was free – more or less. Had she been complete, she would have shifted right then and taken her chances, but the idea was hopeless. Instead, she looked over her back to spy a man she thought she had caught a glimpse of before, earlier, before the fighting. He was pretty, despite the large scar blemishing his profile. The tiniest smile crept across her face – to find a spark of something beautiful in the least hopeful situations.

Then, she refocused her attention on the task at hand – the wooden puzzle sat where the lady had left it, and she was the one chosen to attempt it. Oh well. At least she had two smart people to talk her through it. Clyde was already warming up with words that were probably supposed to encourage her. He could have been more enthusiastic, but she gave him credit for trying. The gods knew how hard it must be to have your chances relying on the attention span of a bird.

She crouched down and examined the pieces in detail – she spread them out and counted nine of them, smooth and seamless, beautiful crafts of wood. She held each of them up, first against the sunlight, then for the others to see, but never to touch. She felt the surface, the holes – her fingers fit into them, but just so. They were unmarked, uncarved, unpainted. Whatever object they formed had to speak for itself. The pegs fit into the holes, but she had no idea which belonged together. Puzzling the pieces together without knowing what the end result was supposed to look like would be hard.

“What might this form?”, she asked the others. “If it’s an object we don’t know, we won’t know when we get it right, will we? It has to be a familiar shape, I think.” Several themes presented themselves as obvious choices: “Trees, leaves, nuts, bark, bones. Something related to the star – no, not a star. We don’t know it’s shape.” Or perhaps this puzzle was much older than their quest and had been there long before their revival.
Perhaps this entire assortment of tasks was a ritual that was performed with each group of arrivals these people had seen over the ages. “Or maybe it’s what we least expect.”

She tried several options, but and while some fit, they never seemed right. Taking the pieces apart and spreading them evenly over the bark plate they had come with, she presented them to Sayana and Clyde again. “Any ideas?”

The other groups were still in discussion, it seemed, but she did her best to ignore them. She needed her concentration for her own puzzle, letting herself be distracted would only slow them down and slim their chances of succeeding. She cared for dinner, and she felt like some of the other groups would deny the others to share food, should they finish first.
Last edited by Faradae on July 8th, 2017, 9:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Sayana on June 25th, 2017, 4:40 pm

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There was a resounding lack of response to Sayana’s efforts to replace Clyde. He was set up against the Syliran knight regardless and the only true benefit of the situation was the knight’s stately resolve not to fight. Even as Sayana attempted to bargain and make a deal, her words were met with turned heads and apathy. Partway through the charade, she ceased her actions because it was clear that Clyde was stuck fighting the knight.

Despite the anxiety she felt and the building helplessness of the situation, the Eypharian watched as the mage brutally struck at the knight. She didn’t expect any less of Clyde and she was relieved at the short and rather one-sided ‘fight’.

She felt somewhat silly for having made such a fuss earlier. Yet there had been a need, such a strong desire to intervene in any way possible. Yet she had failed. Had the knight suddenly changed his mind, Sayana could have done nothing to keep Clyde safe. Not if the deciding factor had been a matter of ticks, rather than chimes. The whole situation was starting to come down hard on her. She couldn’t use magic, neither could Clyde. Her attempts at using words were falling upon deaf ears. She had clearly misjudged the small treefolk entirely. They were clearly not there to watch a fight for pure enjoyment. The leader had said that no one else needed to die.

In her somewhat panicked state of feeling all control leaving her, the Eypharian found herself clenching and unclenching her hands, even while bound to Faradae. The kelvic didn’t seem to be faring much better. She seemed to have a different set of feelings of panic, rage, helplessness…

A whistle of wind through the trees above caused Sayana to look up briefly. But it was only the wind through the leaves. Now that Clyde’s life was no longer in immediate danger, Sayana vowed to get a grip on her feelings and start being productive. There had to be a means of escape, and she had to know her captors better than before. She had obviously misunderstood their intents earlier. A mistake that could have cost somebody’s life.

No one else needs to die. No one else needs to die… She kept close to the kelvic trying to make sense of the situation. Why had there been a need in the first place? There hadn’t been any cheering from the audience of treefolk. The leader was stately but not inspiring. He held a long wooden staff almost like a walking stick, but he clearly didn’t need it for mobility. There was no glee or smile on his face from the cage trial. Instead there was a reverent calm.

It was as if he was a priest. Calm, stately, seemingly wise. What if there was some religious need for all of this? What if these trials were not something for entertainment but had religious implications or had stemmed from a religious practice? Suddenly a lot more of the situation seemed to make sense. From the irrational need to test the groups, the cage fighting without any real entertainment for the treefolk, the lack of will to negotiate or bargain. Faith could be stronger than any sort of reason, but who did these treefolk believe in?

When the women approached and moved through the crowd, again there was a sign of devout respect from the other treefolk. Priestesses? Again it was orderly, ritualistic, and as if they had done it many times before. But how often did a star fall from the sky? Perhaps they had conducted similar rituals in the past and followed similar protocol.

Sayana, for her part, now stood calmly rather than attempting to disrupt the proceedings. She didn’t like her lack of influence and keen lack of importance, but she had decided it was best to hold her tongue in the meantime. Yet her eyes never stopped roaming as she tried to take everything in.

They came with carved pieces of wood and she was reminded that there were multiple ‘trials’ set for them. The situation of trials made marginally more sense if there was a religious meaning behind it. If they had completed one, they were in a reasonable position to complete the rest and continue playing their game. Yet, she didn’t trust them enough not to change the rules suddenly.

Sayana watched the old man explain that they were to solve the puzzles before them. Again there was a slip in his expression as he stated something he was clearly unhappy about. But this time she watched as his eyes darted to one of the massive trees immediately after speaking. She recalled being trapped in one of those trees earlier, how they got in and out she had no idea, but she suddenly wondered if these rituals were in some way to appease the giant trunks.

As the bonds were untied, Sayana was momentarily relieved that she wasn’t the one to figure out the wooden puzzle. She smiled at Clyde’s words of encouragement, even though they weren’t meant for her. If nothing else, she could see the mage getting them through this trial as well.

Sayana peered over and took a seat near Faradae, but purposefully held her hands behind her back to indicate she wasn’t about to touch the wooden objects. The kelvic seemed to be taking a systematic approach and the Eypharian chimed in, “They attached a lot of importance to the trees. But some of those angles don’t look right to form a tree. Branches don’t usually stick out sharp like that.”

Then she noticed something interesting about the pegs and holes.

“But look Fara, some of them are square and some are round. But the holes only look to be round. Try seeing what can fit into what hole, and the square ones might fit better with other squares… What if it’s one of their buildings up in the treetops?”

She was mostly making random guesses but she was also trying to make sense of the distinctly carved angles compared to the round parts.
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Prophet on August 15th, 2017, 9:35 pm

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The puzzle was meant to be a tree. The holes and pegs didn’t always form connections but could be recesses or branches. The trunk was not round but rather a hexagon thus revealing some complex thought in the design. Each tree was unique in some way since everything was hand carved. Despite valiant efforts on the parts of the groups, the mental fortitude and extensive knowledge of the Zeltivans won the trial. They would finish well before everyone else but the treefolk would not interrupt any who wished to complete the task. While this was taking place, the revered woman amongst the scholars was discussing something in whispers.

The old man with the staff moved with grace and dignity to the victors and conferred with the priestess. She held the completed tree carving in her hands and the two of them whispered back and forth with the disheveled looking educators and researchers. After a few moments, the grey braid whipped around to face the rest of the groups. “The victors have declared that those who have not taken life shall be allowed to share in their bounty.” The group of ruffians from Sunberth not only protested but their movements became so violent that one of them broke free of his restraints. He was instantly taken down by a trio of arrows all fired from a different bow. This sent the remaining members into a frenzy and led them to the same fate. It was gruesome but efficient and once again the bright eyes of the leader turned up towards a shadow high above the forest floor. Several of the Ebonstryfe soldiers were laughing including the woman who had approached Clyde. Her taunting stare was pointed directly at the man as the dimples formed on her cheeks.

A callous wind ushered in leaves and debris which served to realign the focus around the cart within the center of the clearing. One all of the puzzles were completed, the women who brought the trinkets took them away. Food was brought out by younger folk though they didn’t seem to be children. The smaller statutes could lead one to reason that this new batch might be adolescents. The banquet of gourds, nuts, berries and some kind of meat was served on massive pieces of bark that had been worn smooth by some force. The gentle grooves suggested a repetition of water or wind as opposed to some kind of hand-driven force. The bindings of those still present were slowly undone but not without a visible showing of force as archers absent-mindedly twanged on their bowstrings. The knights, the Ebonstryfe, the scholars and the batch from Sahova all found themselves with a bit more freedom. The man with the staff looked tired but it was his doing. Perhaps he felt that the almost instantaneous slaughter of the rowdy Sunberth crew was enough incentive for his ‘guests’ to behave.

A shrill call like some kind of bird pierced the air but it was brief and no one seemed to pay it any mind. That is to say- no one except the bright-eyes old man. He looked up to the shadowed heights and gave a nod. Slowly but with purpose, he made his way over to the only group that wasn’t fed. He regarded them coolly as his eyes went from one gaze to the next. The man was certainly intelligent. Only one who stares at inked pages can possess such an even demeanor. The messy hair belied the even regard which took in his surroundings. The small brunette seemed young. Fear and wonder combined in her eyes as the uncertainty of the situation plagued her mind and mixed with the defeat in her trial. He cracked a polite smile but revealed much more than manners. His face curled the grin in a way much like that of a grandfather.

Finally, he turned to the dark-skinned woman with six arms. Dark skin was known to him – some of the treefolk even bore a deeper shade of melanin – but they all were limited to one set of arms. His head inclined downward as was the way of his station but the look in neither his eyes nor his tone was condescending. “I have an offer to extend.” His voice was quiet but confident. “In exchange for a meal to be shared by your party, there is someone who would like to meet you.” Before any arguments could be made, he held up his palm towards them while his peaceful countenance was maintained. “No harm will come to you unless you try to spoil the peace established here.” He looked from Sayana to Clyde and then back again awaiting a response.
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Clyde Sullins on August 16th, 2017, 12:31 am

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Clyde took in a breath. Then he let it out. He took in another, and in time let it out as well. Breathing was all that existed but for the task at hand. Calm, was all that existed. He knew that he'd have time to be emotional later, for now he simply needed to do what it took to get them all out alive.

A small part of his mind fell to Cha, his hand itching to grab at her, to feel her in his hand, but he suppressed that line of thinking as an obstacle to getting her back.

He kept focused on the puzzle while they worked at it, but in the end they failed and were not the first to finish.

Clyde eyed the Zeltivans, or who he was fairly certain were Zeltivans, inspecting their group. Distance made this much trickier than it would have been from up close, or if he'd been able to use his Auristics. He compared this to the various people he knew from Zeltiva, students, teachers, shopkeeps, and others he'd met or interacted with. He had been a teacher after all for a time in the school of djed, perhaps he'd met some before? But then recalling particular people of little importance had never been one of his better skills, though he tended to at least vaguely recall a face.

He watched them as they decided that Clyde wouldn't get to eat. He didn't think the tree people would poison them, not after all they'd done and could have done, but a small side of his mind pondered it and wondered if perhaps not eating wouldn't be better. But then, not being fed, they'd be that much less suited for the next task...

As the odd rowdy group died, Clyde checked the others, noting the stare the Ravokian was giving him. He simply met the gaze, keeping a calm and even expression which gave nothing away as he pondered at her.

Next Clyde was left to watch as the puzzles were taken and in there place food was brought out... Brought out to most. If nothing else their bindings were loosed, giving Clyde a bit more motion and a chance to rub at his wrists. Though their hands were freed there chances of escaping or fighting were not changed, still targeted by numerous drawn bows as they were.

After a sound and some time the elder man approached their group, Clyde examining him and gazing back calmly at him as he approached. Perhaps something was to happen, if the mans approach could be seen to imply that. When the man spoke Clyde wasn't surprised, and considered his offer. So far he'd no reason to believe these people liars, and regardless if they wished him dead he could have been dead long ago.

If they refused the offer they risked angering their "hosts". However if they took the offer they had a chance for something to happen, and to get a chance to eat. Now worse off by accepting, it seemed simple enough a choice. When he answered Clyde did so in the same calm tone, and speaking honestly enough.

“I am fine with taking your offer, and meeting whoever you are intending. And I have no intention to harm anyone, unless I feel I have to. So far today that's not happened, except when you made it happen. If that doesn't happen again, I doubt I will have any reason to spoil the peace. The same goes for trying to escape.”

This last bit was spoken with a glance to Sayana, an attempt to make it clear that the woman shouldn't try anything.

Once more Clyde's hand twitched, for a moment taking the form it commonly held when holding Cha, a ghost of longing and loss flickering on his face for a moment before calm resumed.
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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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Faradae on August 20th, 2017, 6:07 pm

Faradae
Despite their effort, Sayana’s, Clyde’s and Fara’s wits combined had not been enough to solve the puzzle before the Zeltivans did it. Or perhaps it had been Fara’s fault alone – she had been in charge, she was the only one allowed to touch the pieces. Had Clyde or Say been allowed to move them around and try them out, they might have found a solution faster. Her sharp eyes could spy the Zeltivans’ finished construct: A tree, one of the shapes she herself had considered earlier, but been unable to piece together. Still, she fumbled with the pieces a little longer, even as it became clear that they had lost this challenge, until she had a wooden tree of her own. She was upset about her failure, and her mouth settled into a straight line of determination as she finished the puzzle, albeit belatedly.

The message, when it came, sounded loud and clear across the clearing: Those who had not killed would receive food. Fara cast her eyes down, unwilling to see the expression on her companions’ faces. She had not killed, personally, but Clyde had, and while she might not be the greatest supporter of his methods, she could not deny their efficiency. In the end, she was the one to blame for their misery. She had not really felt hungry until she focused on food, and tried to remember the last time she had eaten. It was hard to determine, since she had been unconscious two times for what might have been bells just as likely as days. But now that she did concentrate on it, her belly was certainly growling, and the prospect of watching everyone else eat was not too promising.

The crew from Sunberth seemed equally put off by the idea of not having dinner, but their show of aggression was simply cut down by the treefolk. Faradae was not really surprised, not after the warnings they had gotten earlier, not after having weapons trained on them for all this time. It had been a stupid way to react. Still, she did not really feel relieved to have one less group to struggle against – if one of them miss-stepped, her or the others, the same fate might befall herself.

A bird called, but she paid it little mind. She listened to birdsong instinctively, like any other bird would, but ever since they had entered the deeper parts of the forest, other avines either refused to speak to her or they spoke what could only be described as a different language – she had no idea if it was the usual chitter-chatter or something more important, and for the first time, birdsong sounded to her like it did to the others – a background noise, something easily ignored.

The elder approached them, and took a moment to look at each of them. He spared Fara a smile, and she smiled back ever so faintly, just a tug at the corners of her mouth, like one would smile to a great-uncle at a family get-together while wondering what said uncle’s name was and which horrendous childhood story about oneself he was about to tell. He extended an offer, but it seemed to be directed and Clyde and Sayana primarily, and she was not sure if she was even part of the proposition. If she was, she saw no reason to decline it. Unsure of whether a reply was expected of her, she simply nodded in agreement as the mage gave his answer.
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Faradae
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Sayana on August 23rd, 2017, 2:05 am

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While the puzzle pieces hadn’t seemed to match that of a tree, it was clear that the scholarly folk wielded them like magic. For a moment she wondered if they had indeed used magic for the task, but then she was reminded with a jolt that no one seemed to be able to use magic. Was it the trees? The star? She again wondered what could be so powerful that would prevent her and the others from drawing upon their djed. There was only one man who stood out, the leader of the strange tree folk. He and his staff made Sayana wonder whether he was just as subject to the nullifying effects.

But with the puzzles completed, or uncompleted, the scholars deemed that those who had not killed could eat. For a moment, Sayana wondered whether that meant having not killed today, or not during her lifetime. She recalled fondly the deep satisfaction she had ended the life of a zith. And not just one, but two.

A squabble broke out within the ragged group and in mere ticks, arrows were flying and putting the men out of their misery. In a moment of irony, she wondered if the archers would eat. But as the leader of the tree people approached, it occurred to her that the statement might apply to the groups as a whole, not to individuals.

By now her stomach was starting to show its discontent. She had tried to ignore it earlier. Thinking back, she had no idea when it was since she had last eaten. Hunger was something she had once fought against in Sahova, but it was intentional. Still, it was not the worst of fates. One only had to look over to the ruffians who lay dead upon the ground. It was strange that the groups remaining seemed to eat without any true sadness for their lost companions.

The unbinding of the cords was a blessing, but she didn’t speak out about it, nor try to flee. Despite her deep discomfort about being held prisoner, she had also learned the lessons of those that were now on the ground with arrows in them. As the old man approached without any hint of food, it became clear that it was their group that wasn’t getting any.

However, as Sayana prepared to reconcile with that fact and tough out the gnawing of her stomach, he instead proposed an alternative. The rules of the game were changing. She wasn’t sure if she liked it, but this time she was going to play along. It was better than stuck with arrows.

Clyde has also clearly made up his mind, and she nodded simply to the elderly treefolk. With a slight curtsy and a head bow, the Eypharian stepped forwards. “I will take your offer as well. I will gladly meet this someone if they so desire to exchange words. It is words, not violence, that win the biggest of victories. And sometimes mutual ones.”

While she should have been glad of the chance to negotiate, perhaps, she still found herself bending to the strength of these small people. They still miraculously held magic hostage.

With the tree elder’s palm still extended as an invitation, Sayana reached out her right high hand to place delicately in his. Whether it was their custom or not, she let him lead the way hand in hand, and hoping that it wasn’t intimidating enough to warrant an arrow in her neck. Compared to her earlier outraged reactions, she now held herself with the poise of dignity, letting her eyes roam about the scene but not lingering on anything for too long.
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Prophet on September 4th, 2017, 1:08 pm

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The elder statesman of the treefolk grasped Sayana’s hand gently but firmly. He turned and waited for her to come along his side before walking and also made a single motion with his staff that must’ve served as some kind of signal. An escort formed around the rest of the group and wordlessly ushered Clyde and Faradae in line behind the man and their companion. The quartet was then flanked by three warriors or, at least, well-armed citizens. It was hard to tell what these people did for a living. They all looked very similar aside from basic facial features and each seemed to be in possession of multiple weapons but such a remote and small settlement was certain to not be oft-bothered by bandits or other unsavory types. It was clear to see that the forest also provided its own levels of defense in aid of this strange culture.

It was not a very long walk to one of the massive trees. As the ensemble approached, the presence of a carved doorway became obvious. One of the armed entourage hustled forward and opened it wide and went so far as to hold it open. The thickness of the entry was over a foot and the various chisel marks indicated a great deal of effort went into creating the portal. The treefolk would not enter the tree but the leader would release Sayana’s hand and wave his hand forth indicating they should proceed on their own. Inside was a wide set of stairs, big enough for three or four people on each tread, carved against the inside walls and spiraling upward into darkness.

The door was closed behind the trio and darkness consumed them to the point that they wouldn’t have been able to see their hands in front of their faces. The period of being immersed in utter black night was brief, however, as vegetation in the form of mushrooms, moss and other forms of vegetation began to glow in lights of soft white, yellow and orange. The stairwell was clearly lined along the walls and it seemed to go upward farther than the guests would be able to see even with the dim illuminations. The climb would be relatively easy since the treads were so large provided the adventurers remained close to the outer edge; some of the inside pieces of the wedge were narrow enough to cause one’s shoe to slip or wobble.

It would take nearly twenty chimes to reach a platform that seemed to cover the entire inside of the trunk but was still almost thirty feet across. There was a bench carved against the tree’s wall, a few moveable tables and even what looked to be footstools provided an ample place to rest. This was also the first place where outside light was visible. Just above arms’ reach was a series of holes of smallish size. The nearly on-cue arrival of a few fat birds quickly explained the apertures. The trunk was thinner at this level but still wide enough that the wall’s thickness was enough for the avians’ nests.

A soft sound made itself apparent from above them. There was a gradual increase in its volume but the regular thump soon made itself known as footsteps. The birds started chirping and they were met with the chatter of a squirrel or some other small creature. There was nothing threatening about the vibes within the tree’s inner sanctum. As even more sounds of the forest filled the inside of the massive living artifact, a peace spread over the platform which would ease the fears of the group even if it couldn’t allow them to fully relax.

A chime later, the light of another source made itself known on the stairs and continued to descend towards he platform. The footsteps were regular but strange and the closer they came, the more the group at rest would feel at ease. When the light finally revealed itself, a flickering on the edges of the illuminated patches gave the indication of something like a candle. Moments later, the irregular flames of several burning wicks came into view. The sight was something only thought of in the space between dreams.

The creature was broad like an Isur but significantly taller. The candles which lit its way were spread out over the arms and shoulders but it was the composition of the being which was most striking. Branches, vines, leaves, moss and other flora all intertwined and molded into limbs, a torso and a head. Humanoid in stature, that is where the similarities ended. It was as if the forest had grown some kind of consciousness and it manifested in a physical avatar. The only thing that seemed to be inorganic was the set of eyes which glowed with some kind of strange yellow light. The candles were white and melted wax permeated the various crevices formed by the intertwining of the sticks and things. Two candles were on the shoulders and several more on each upper arm. The most curious aspect of the ent was a small, brown squirrel with a large puffy tail that ran about on the creature.

The being was deliberate but slow and it held a large piece of smoothed wood. The plank was heaped with fruit, roughage and some kind of jerky. The big fellow walked calmly over and set the food down in front of his guests then walked back to the other side of the platform before turning and offering something that might have resembled a smile. The mouth opened as an angled chunk of wood unhinged and released a deep sound that echoed from somewhere inside the cavity of the creature. “Welcome, strangers. Please enjoy a meal. I will answer any questions you may have.” The dialect was rigid and barely registered as common but it was slow enough that anyone with a sound ear could decipher it without too much difficulty.
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Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Postby Clyde Sullins on September 5th, 2017, 1:17 am

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Clyde joined the group as they rose and walked, heading to some new spot to meet some unknown person.

When their walk ended Clyde found himself and their party at one of the oversized trees. If he didn't have so many other thoughts and concerns Clyde likely would have been focused on the trees. How did they get so big, what were they doing here, and why a city among the trees? But as he did have other concerns its size and structure were simply something Clyde noted for later with a fraction of his mind.

The greater aspect of his mind was focused on puzzling out their situation, along with getting them all out alive, leaving him to respond in a somewhat detached and recessed method when he did speak. If he let his center slip his mind would likewise slip to unimportant things in the immediate. Like his lack of magic, and were Cha was. Blocking out fear and stopping panic from setting in so he could focus on the now seemed a simple trade off for losing his then-ness and his emotions for the main part.

The building itself seemed to have been carved into the tree, including steps and such upward into and along its trunk.

Inside there was no proper lighting at first, but as they began to rise light began to appear, after a time the source clearly being seen as various plants which produced light. Clyde noted these, their appearance and such, as a possible useful thing in the future. Light was after all a useful quality to create and have.

By the time they reached the top, or wherever the steps stopped, Clyde's leg and particularly his calves were crying out in pain. Like his other not important things Clyde shunted these feelings to the side, still aware of them but only distantly in an unimportant way, sort of like that other bit of himself that was wailing and crying about Cha in a dark corner. That bit being across from the corner in which the bit of him that was crying hysterically and inconsolably about his magic being gone, curled in a ball and rocking. Clyde shut the door to the room in which all of this lay in his mind, some sound still coming out from under the crack of the door but only as a distant thing.

Clyde calmly continued onward into the tree, to meet whomever they were currently meeting. He distantly noted the appearance of new and different light, light akin to a candle, and noted that their party had stopped moving. Apparently the new now was coming to meet them.

It appeared, something akin to if a tree and other plants was made alive in the vague shape of a person. All but the eyes, which gave of a different yellow glow, which differed from the earlier plant glows and current candle glows. "Odd" in the sense that it was different from what had come before, not odd in the sense that Clyde currently found anything at all odd. No more than someone found a green four odd, or a red seven. While Clyde noted the tree person's qualities, he did not find it or anything odd at the moment, and was not surprised nor did he react in any such fashion as could be attached to emotions.

It appeared the new thing was offering them food. Clyde picked up one of the food items, a fruit, and began to eat, tasting flavors in a dead way the same way one read a list of numbers off a piece of parchment. Clyde would continue to absentmindedly eat at the offered food, though not stopping any others from eating, and stopping his eating whenever he spoke as he knew as a fact from some not now point in time that eating with a mouth full of food was not proper, some rule he'd been given which he now followed as it did not interfere with his actions and end goals.

When the tree person spoke and offered to answer their questions, Clyde took that as his que to ask some. Speaking in the same neutral dead pan as he'd been using for some time, Clyde looked the tree person in the glowing yellow eye holes of light.

“Agreed. I do have questions. Such as what is this place, being this city and or village, I suppose depending upon its size which I cannot estimate from my limited view of it. Likewise also what is this place as in this tree place we are currently in.”

“What are these people doing here? In the broader sense of the people, why is this city here and why are they here? How did they get here? And in the now, why are they here with this not a star, holding these trials and tests? Likewise why the trials at all, what is their purpose and intent? Why is our magic not working?”

For a half moment Clyde's voice became uneven, an echo of a cry from under the closed door as he said the word magic. However Clyde quickly shoved several blankets under the door crack, sealing off the found from echoing again.

When he continued talking it was once more calmly and evenly, with a clear indication that he had no intent to stop asking questions now that he'd been offered to do so.

“Query, where is my staff, Cha? She is not on my person, and my prior queries about her have been ignored. Follow up query, when will she be returned to me? Also what exactly are you? How do you work? How do you be? What is your purpose and or intent? Were you made, or created? Or found? Or simply began to exist?”

A small bit of Clyde's mind which had been wandering around in the main room, digging through a bookshelf, paused in his digging. If magic didn't work, did that mean his gnosis as well? World magic he hadn't tried, and he knew from his own ability to do so along with certain poisons or things he'd been given that personal magic could be made to not work. But if he were to try to use his gnosis, would it work? Or had all magic truly been cut off?

The kelvic in their party hadn't changed form, which wasn't strictly and technically, he believed, personal magic, being an inherent born ability, but it appeared it wasn't working either. If he reached for his gnosis and tried to use it, would it work?

“Why is magic not working? How is magic not working? What is making it as such, and when will it end and said magic thus return? Also do you have a name, and are their others like you?”
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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