[火]tab Put tab Harmonic Forest tab[火] A tab Spiritual tab Sanctuary
Farm [Farming/Logging; Advancement Rank: 0/6]
Purpose ⟶ The Farm is a simple, but necessary part of survival on a semi-permanent to permanent scale. Farms serve as the primary location for gathering resources, though the name and type changes based upon exactly what resources are gathered. A Farm dedicated to stone is a Quarry, whereas one dedicated to raising livestock is a Ranch. The Farm is the best settlement type as it affords the most rapid manner of gathering resources, including food, serving as a base of operations for building other locations. Jobs Associated ⟶ Gathering Growth Requirement ⟶ Seven [7] posts Advancement Requirement ⟶ Completion of twelve [12] Gathering jobs. The Max Advancement Rank is six [6]. Natural Benefits:
Farms generate seven [7] NPCs per Advancement Rank. Gatherers of all types receive a two [2] step increase in their yield while at a Farm Settlement, beginning after their first [1st] Gathering is complete. Once a Farm is selected as a Settlement Type three [3] locked Materials are immediately unlocked and discovered. This only takes place if there are materials as of yet left undiscovered. Farms take the size and shape of the two [2] types of material they harvest. If tearing metals from the earth a mine will be made. If it’s about growing crops a traditional Farm will be built. As the Advancement Rank increases so, too, does the size of the farm, requiring more land and time to set up new facilities for the acquisition of new Materials. This sort of settlement includes basic wooden or stone homes, without the need for fanciful designs due to the work these families put into their average days. For every two [2] weeks a character remains in the Farm, mental corruption is reduced by five [5] points.
Synergy Bonus:
Gatherer → The meat and drink of the Farm Settlements, the presence of a professional Gatherer aids in the work of the NPCs. After spending one [1] week within this place the NPCs find that they can produce one hundred percent [100%] more of their yield than before, and with less work! The Populace is thus nearly always happy, and likelihood of rebellion is low.
______________A r e a tab D e s c r i p t i o n || tab The quintessential forest of 'spirits', the Harmonic Forest is a sanctuary of sorts within the Land of Mud. The groves of trees within that stand as vessels for the dead watch over life peacefully. Sprites, creatures of elemental energy, flit about on wings of fire and wind, while beasts of water and earth swim through the large, glassy pools of water, streams and rivers connecting each body to form aquatic pathways between the trees. As if in reverence to the ancient grounds, the sounds of life are muted here, and a feeling of peace permeates every aspect of this place. Gentle movements from creatures both elemental and not, a temperature ranging just outside of either too hot or too cold, and lights that flicker and beam down life into the groves make the place a rare sanctuary of peace and rest from the harshness of the world outside.
tab Granny has claimed this land as her home, and as per the customs of her home, what is hers, she has vowed to defend. She shows reverence to the nature of this sanctuary, both the living and the dead, and has kept it much the same. However, between the stately trees and winding waters, the flighty sprites and steady beasts, framed by the unchanged quintessence of this forest sanctuary, there is the occasional spot of cultivated land blooming under her tender care and guidance. Sometimes, these reared plants are obviously in plots of land tended to by someone. Other times, they blend seamlessly with the rest of the scenery, the only signs of Granny's care their bountiful abundance. Of course, she is not the only one who lives in this sanctuary. There are others, too, old residents and new residents of all sorts drawn here by her gentle demeanor. A small town shaped around nature has developed due to these new residents, and most of the farms are within walking distance of the town. Said town and residents have some simple, common sense rules, but Granny has only ever made one demand: “Be a good little dear and mind where you step!”.
______________P o i n t s tab O f tab I n t e r e s t || tab • Harmony Town: A small town within Harmonic Forest that consists of the non-native residents of Sprite Sanctuary. Everyday life is peaceful in this cozy, little town. Residences are built around nature and atop pieces of solid, dry land that the guardian Ironwood was kind enough to raise for them. The spaces between roots and occasionally those across branches create the town’s pathways and it’s always a good idea to be friendly with the sprites and beasts that were here first. After all, the fair folk are this town’s closest neighbors. Because the buildings are built around trees and water, the small town covers a wide expanse of ground for having such a small population. tab • Town Farms: The town farms, like the town houses, are built wherever nature allows, creating a rather scattered array both throughout and around the town. There are several plots of land made for dry cops, created by the generous Ironwood, and there are farm plots that were cultivated without the help of Ironwood to accommodate for water crops. Though still rare, some of the more adventurous townsfolk have also begun experimenting with gardens in the skies, plots of land built upon the branches of the trees themselves. tab • Town Population: The residents of the town only count for a part of the total settlement-generated npc population for Sprite Sanctuary. Humanoid sprites and intelligent beasts, frequent guests and visitors to but the rare occupant of the town, make up the other part of the settlement’s population. Of course, taking the Sprite Sanctuary thread as a whole, humans are very much the minority. tab • Granny’s Home: Not all “human” residents live within the town commons. There are also some who choose to live further in the forest. It’s a unique property of this place, to be able to live within reach of intelligent company while living alone. Granny is of this group, and she chooses to make her home even deeper within the Harmonic Forest than the town. Nestled between the roots and atop the branches of a stately tree is Granny’s physical home. Crops thrive in carefully prepared land around it and small sprouts can be seen sprouting from some of the branches tab • Granny's Gardens: In addition to the cultivated land around her home, Granny also rears small wild gardens all across the swamp, small patches of land where several wild crops grow in close proximity to each other. These garden plots get a little help from Granny, but are often left to thrive on their own. They're her little secret pleasant surprises for residents and travelers alike to stumble upon. A sweet harvest of wild berries. Or perhaps something more savory like stalks of wild corn. Don't be shy about taking a little snack from them. She doesn’t mind so long as you make sure to leave some for the next traveler~
______________N e a r b y tab L o c a t i o n s || tab • While the Harmonic Forest is made up of several locations, none of them are particularly large enough to warrant separate threads. tab • tab • tab •
______________D e f e n s e s // D a n g e r s || tab • See Rules. tab • Otherwise, there’s Granny and the NPCs. tab • tab •
______________R u l e s || tab • Violence of any variety may not be performed here. Any attempts to do so find the body resisting the movements, the mentality of the instigator turning to other thoughts, such as sleep or relaxation. While the thoughts are not mandatory, there is no known means of overcoming the violence inhibitor, whether direct or indirect, at this present time. tab • The town has something like a small governing body in the form of a village chief/mayor figure and some other leader figures to assist. Generally speaking, the strange effect that erases any violent urges makes punishment mostly unneeded, so most crimes are handled on a case-by-case basis. tab • tab •
______________R e s o u r c e s || tab • Turnip tab • Tobacco tab • Barley tab • Potato tab • Wild rice tab • Strawberry tab • Asparagus tab • Red raspberry tab • Corn tab • Green Jelly [Locked Material 1] (Condensed Mokuton chakra.) tab • Elderwood [Locked Material 2] (Tier 3 wood. If used to create foci, summoned creatures are 1 rank higher.) tab • Gray Clay [Locked Material 3] (Tier 1 clay. Just clay of that color.) tab • Venus Flytraps (Eat green jellies and, when fed, poop out elderwood wood. Still carnivorous. The size of a horse.)
______________C l a i m i n gtabR e q u i r e m e n t s || tab • Granny and the townsfolk offer relatively little resistance comparative to most other settlements, so destroying whatever inhibits violence is a solid step towards claiming the town forcefully. tab • There is something terrible that happens to the land if Granny is wrested from power… Of course, this is not commonly known as Granny does not wish to scare the townsfolk, but she will openly warn those who seek to conquer what these consequences are. tab • tab •
”Royal Taorito”
Tao tao. Please check this and see if everything is a-okay to post. This is, unless told otherwise, my final version of the draft for this settlement until it advances. [Editorial Log] [Name] | [Date] | → [Short description of actions performed]
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:17 pm
_______________The Narrator Whispers... ||
→→ Slipping through the thick, powerful roots of the Meadow of Mosses's barricade would leave a lasting impression on Sonyo in the form of mild physical exhaustion, for even with the willful aid of the moss in allowing their exit the crawl forward had taken her through tunnels clearly not meant for man-sized figures. In fact, given the rather worn path that led through them, it was clear only animals of smaller variety ever frequented the place, though the reason for that was lost for the moment. →→ Yet what was revealed might well have taken her mind off of what had come before and planted her attention firmly in the here and now. →→ Proper sunlight cascaded from above to bathe her in its warm, yellowed light, a warmth that pushed back the chill of the twilight meadow before. With it came the scent of loam, of freshly dewed grass and new growth, as if the time of year were planted firmly at the very cusp of fresh Spring growth. Perhaps it was, given the brilliant green grass, their purple tips swaying gently in the gentle caress of a western wind. There came chirps from above, and the flitting of wings, followed by something akin to the woosh of wind and fire as something warm flew overhead, followed by a merry cacophony of chirrups from other locations in the ancient trees above. Fresh water lay nearby, a babbling brook crystal clear where the stones below did not bring it to a roil. Sparkling pebbles lay below the surface, something that could be seen even from where she lay, but perhaps that was not what her eyes turned to first. →→Perhaps it was to the bird-like creatures that flew around on wings of fire and wind, small beings of elemental energy that flittered and danced, leaving behind streams of their elements to intertwine in some sort of natural dance. Where they came close they chirruped and twisted, giving chase to one another only to switch roles when one got too close.
Blood ran through Takeda's veins, a single heart pumping it throughout his cardiovascular system. Muscles and bone alike strained from lack of use, oxygen filling his lungs just as his crystal began to shatter. It was a mix of instinct and reaction that brought him to place his hands on the ground before he could slam his face into it, shakily resting on his hands and knees while he tried to collect himself. Takeda took some solace in the sound of his breathing, confirming that he was still alive. The familiar chirping of birds overhead allowed him to conclude that he wasn't trapped anymore, and that gave him the courage to finally open his eyes. It turned out to be shallow water instead of harder ground, and his gauntlet-covered hands caused a ripple on its once peaceful surface. This isn't normal. As the water settled, he could catch an image of his reflection. Red eyes, black hair in its normal messy state. There was no black sclera, oddly colored eyes, or even the black markings on his cheeks. It was as if he'd gone through his mid-teens again without being a Jiongu. He saw the fabric of a cloak he apparently wore draped into the water around him, along with a backpack nearby. Fear made its way into his ragged breaths when he tried lifting himself and felt the strain of bone. There was a disturbing lack of bundled tendrils beneath his skin. Even when he attempted to focus his mind on forcing them unto his bidding, all he got in return was a sharp pain in his lower back.
A seal? No. No, there was something else...
He remembered someone standing over his fallen body, still struggling for a reason he couldn't quite recall yet. Chains dug at his wrists and ankles, the darkness of his tendrils coated the entire area, but they weren't fast enough to stop the person on top of him. A ceremonial dagger already dripping with blood was slammed into his chest. His heart?
It was too difficult to recall completely, trying to remember any events while under duress would get him nowhere. Finally putting effort into standing up, Takeda looked down at his body, noticing that much of the height and bulk he once had was gone. There was some equipment on him, most notably a sword at his hip, something that would surely come in handy later. The former jiongu extended his arms and looked forwards, trying to see how far he could reach in his current state. Instead, both hands had unintentionally framed the form of a girl approaching him. She was familiar. Not to the point where he could believe they were fast friends at any time in the past, but enough to know that he'd seen her on more than one occasion. Her name starts with an "S." Looking at her makes me remember Kagerou. His mind pieced together subtle things while he took in her features. A rather average height with brown hair and hazel eyes, a slender build but not one so small he'd consider her anything near emancipated or unable to defend herself. The image of her he had in his memory was hazy, but he could recall a woman who wasn't as small and doll-like. To be fair, anyone could say the same about himself if they knew him.
Takeda knew that he should have said something in that moment, but words escaped him. There were too many questions, it was impossible to find out where to start. Even then, would it be assumptuous of him to guess that she wasn't just as clueless as he was? Rather than say anything yet, he kneeled and reached down to pick up the nearby backpack, realizing that there was a shield underneath it as well. Unmarked, and of no special make, but it would serve a purpose in his hands. His gaze shifted to rest on the collapsed mess of crystal that was strewn about the water, then raised to spot those playful birds, flying on wings of fire and wind alike. "Is there any chance that...you might know where we are?" He murmured, loud enough for her and her alone to hear. It was strange hearing his own voice after so many years, even stranger since it sounded so young.
While he was polite enough to look her in the eyes when he asked his question, he quickly followed it up by opening up the backpack he had to examine its contents. First to note was that there was a blanket tied to the bottom, along with a sack that hung at the side. The interior was largely taken up by the bag for a tent, but he was able to find a skinning knife and waterskin with ease. There were also all the makings of a mess kit inside. Normally, food wasn't anything but a luxury to him. It was a bit scary to think that he'd actually need to sustain himself properly. Inside of the sack was nothing more than a change of clothes. While he was sure there was more to inspect, it was probably best to save that for after a proper camp was set up. Takeda should have gotten out of the water too instead of getting his clothes wet, but he was never one to care about small inconveniences like that.
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[[Ooc:]] Heeeeeyyyoooooo!
Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 6:43 pm
Sonyo couldn't believe that she thought that getting through this tunnel of green was going to be easy, because it wasn't. When she finally crawled out of the opposite end of it, her entire outfit had became thoroughly dirty, especially her sleeves. What a waste, she didn't really have any way to get them clean. Her aggravation at her current clothing situation because the beings of elements that danced over her head grasped her attention. She stood there, mouth slightly agape and eyes wide, watching them fluttering through the air on wings made from fire and wind. They were so beautiful! So beautiful and so alien-- their presence only made her so increasingly aware that she was no longer home, that she was almost in an entirely different world all together.
The sound of shattering crystal and a heavy weight in to shallow water caused her head to whip suddenly to one side, suddenly at attention. She felt something pulling at her, deep inside, pushing away the almost instant instinct she had to reach to her sides to pull out a weapon. Hands stopped midway through the air on their ways to the daggers made of bone, the daggers Nari had made for her when she had graduated to Onin. The halting of her action brought to her attention that something here was stopping her violent thoughts, making her want to put her arms down, to not attack. It sent a shiver of anxiety through her, that she wasn't able to defend herself here-- though, perhaps, that meant that no one could attack her here either. She had found a safe haven, at least for now.
Cautiously, she made her way over to the dark figure that was sitting on it's hands and knees in the shallow pool. It was only when he looked up at her, that recognition flooded her eyes. Despite not being anywhere near home, she was so increasingly glad he, was here. Her fellow beast, one of the only other people she knew that knew what it felt like to be hated and cast out by the people you protected. Her cautious stride quickened and relaxed as she approached Takeda; he was different, smaller, younger. It seemed he had be aged backwards as well. She carefully crouched beside Takeda, unsure if the male remembered her at all, craning her head a bit to see if she couldn't see anything inside his pack.
"No, I have no clue where we are. From the sprites, and other nonsensical things I've run in to so far, I don't think this is the world we remember. I wish I could pinpoint what land we are in, but... so much has changed, and I don't know the time frame." Her face creased with worry as her eyes moved from Takeda's pack to the surroundings, looking for a flash of green hair and red eyes. Any sign that Kagerou might have been around here as well, encased in one of the left over crystals. She needed her more than anything right now... "I lost my previous partners through that hole I crawled out of... You don't mind if I stick around with you, do you?"
▬ ▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ > Chakra : : 100 / / 100 x > Stamina : : 100 / / 100 x > AC : : 0 x > Ryo : : 000 xxx > Ex-Jinchuirki x > Hyoutonx > Yuki-Onna x > E-rankxxxxxxxxx
I had followed her absentmindedly from where we had been before. It never occurred to me to procure my arrow and rope back, and by the time I figured I would need them, it had been too late and I already walked, or crawled, or whatever it was I had to do to get to where I found myself currently. Once we got out, we were greeted by a wave of sounds, and light. Finally, some sun light. My eyes then trailed downward and saw my hand, the one that I had cut with the crystal and that Sonyo had bandaged up. It was silly of me to get cut like that, I should have known better, still… I wasn’t expecting these things to be so sharp. I took a deep breath and moved my bandaged hand to my pocket and pulled out the crystal once again. This time, I held it against the light, just as I had tried to do last time, in that place where we had been set free. No. Set free sounds strange. We were incarcerated yes, but when people are released from jail, they have some semblance of the world they are walking back into. I have no idea what I’m walking into, or even if I’m walking back into anything. I am like a new born babe, unknowing of where I am, of what I am, of what to do. That’s a lie. A new born would never be able to knock, draw and fire an arrow. A new born babe doesn’t have flashes of memory of himself and of someone else. I am not entirely new, but I am neither entirely old. I was reborn from those crystals; reborn and brought forth here, to this place, for a reason. But why? That is my first mission, to figure out why I’m here.
Pain flashed in my temples. My hands instinctively went to the side of my head, and I dropped my crystal. I saw an image of that redhead body standing on top of a metal spire that seemed to go on into the heavens, rain was falling and lightning crashed all around him. That image faded within a split second, turning into another still image of the redhead boy, this time, him being kicked in the stomach by the same man with the lightning eyes. I could almost feel the force behind that kick in my chest when I saw it. His eyes, not the redhead, the other man’s, were a combination of sadness, disappointment, anger, but most of all, pain. Then, the visions stopped, and with them, the pain went away. I panted for a moment, as I regained my composure. My hand moved away from my head and lingered in front of my eyes for a moment, just long enough for me to see it shake for no more than a second. Once the shaking stopped was when I realized that I was hunched over, and that there were people talking. Sonyo, to someone else, a male voice, that wasn’t Hakanai. I felt panic for a brief moment. This man could mean danger, yet, I was perfectly relaxed. I knew better than this, I should draw my weapon, be ready for him to turn on Sonyo. I could slit his throat before he even knew what had hit him, it would be for the best, she and Hakanai and I would be safe, but this wasn’t what was going through my mind. Instead of how defending myself, of drawing a weapon, my eyes moved upward and met the stranger with kind eyes, then, I cleared my throat. “I’m right here, Sonyo.” With that said, the thought of Hakanai’s location came to my mind. I looked around, and didn’t see anyone but the three of us, and a bunch of strange creatures, some with fire, others with wind, at their wings.
Takeda flinched slightly when the girl came closer. Judging from the look of sudden comfort in her gaze, he could only assume that she recognized him. If she wanted to hurt me, she could've done it when I was still getting my bearings after leaving the crystal. I don't have anything to worry about with her, at least not right now. She crouched beside him, making him shift a bit but not move away, eyes closing periodically in focus when she spoke so he could listen to her voice clearly. Familiar. Comforting. Sonyo. The name came flooding back in along with a particular experience, eyes opening while he turned his face to look at the brunette. She seemed worried for a reason he couldn't piece if it didn't have anything to do with them being lost. No, unless it's a front, she seems more well-adjusted than myself. She mentioned that sprites and other "nonsensical things" were inhabiting the island, making him grateful that whatever brought him back to life bestowed him with a sword. The brief description she gave made him think of Kirigakure. Throughout all his adventures, no levels of weirdness or absurdity matched that village, and it was the only environment that could support the current area after Konohagakure went to hell. Sonyo mentioned that she was alone after losing some previous accomplices before asking if she could tag along with him. He bit the inside of his cheek in response, pondering on the decision for a moment...then his eyes seemed to glaze over in deep thought. I...remember something. He thought to himself, a memory flashing through his thoughts.
The sound of waves crashing onto the shores, bare skin poking through the torn fabric of his clothes while his back rested against the top of a large stone platform. The only oddity there was that he felt like his head was resting on something soft. He could feel the water rising up and reaching at his feet, though his sense of smell didn't pick up anything that was normally associated with the ocean. No, it reminded him of a meadow instead, and his eyes raised to see Sonyo, her hands glowing with the light of Eiseijutsu and pressing to him. He couldn't feel his wound, whatever or wherever it was, and that was likely due to the technique she was performing, or had used before. His head rested on her lap, which explained the softness, and he watched her lips move in order to form words. She sounded like she was speaking from beneath the ocean, and his response was just as distorted. The only thing clear was the laughter that followed from the both of them.
That's right. I don't know if we were friends yet, but I was comfortable around her. I won't really know anything for sure until I get food, maybe relax for awhile in a more comfortable area. The company may not be so bad, actually. His voice rose in response, but was quickly cut short in response to the words from a light but boyish voice. Red eyes quickly averted to meet murkier ones that reminded him of long dried blood. White hair, long, someone he might've mistaken for a girl if it wasn't for the voice that had seemingly gone through puberty. Noticeably thinner, maybe a quarter or half a head shorter. It was hard for him to properly gauge the other person from a kneeling position, so he equipped his backpack and grasped his shield with his left hand, the right picking up his longsword by the blade towards the base in a resting half-swording stance. He'd probably have wet his fingers with blood if it weren't for the gauntlets that offered some protection. He's got a bow and quiver. I should keep mind of that just in case. Given that the boy called Sonyo by name and didn't attack from stealth with that sort of weapon, it was easy to piece together that he was one of Sonyo's recently missing allies. I wouldn't be opposed to joining up, but it seems like you already have someone watching your back. Normally it'd be fine, but...well, I'm an extra mouth to feed this time around, another person to split spoils with. Three or four if your other friend shows up may be a bit much for all of us." He hesitated a small bit in his words, struggling to word a couple things properly. He wasn't a jiongu anymore, and it was embarrassing to admit that he didn't know just how much a human needed to eat or drink, or even know how to avoid undergoing basic illnesses. "I don't want to be a burden on what could be a well put-together team, there's some stuff I need to get accustom to before I can have some confidence in myself here, and slowing others down with that would just make me feel guilty."
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[[Ooc:]]
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 8:00 am
He didn't recognize her, at least not at first. She tried her best to hide the paint that caused her, after all it wasn't her fault. A good portion of her memory, months maybe even years, was gone as well. But then... his eyes glazed over, as if dreaming, and suddenly he seemed more relaxed. 'He remembered!' she practically screamed in her head, 'He remembers me!' A soft smile filled her face... which quickly disappeared when Axel scared the every living crap out of her. The hyouton-user jumped in her crouching position, her whole body going rigid for a second-- this area might have a calming effect but she was still heavily on guard. Letting out a hiss, the ex-jinchuriki whipped her head back to look at the white haired male. 'Holy hell, Kariudo! Make some goddamn noise next time!" After a couple of swear words in japanese uttered under her breath, the female stood and looked back at Takeda.
"Takeda, you will never be a burden to me. I know things have changed in this world, I can tell something is different with you; you no longer have the black scalera I remember you having. I don't know what happened, but you are my friend and there is strength in numbers." She smiled warmly at the once jiongu, "Kagerou made me promise to take care of you forever ago. Even at the loss of your bloodline, I doubt you've lost that reckless nature of yours. You're going to need someone to patch you up, and although I've lost most of my knowledge and techniques some how, I still know basic field triage. I don't mind the extra mouth to feed, especially to someone I know I can trust with my life."
Brief flashes of fights played in the back of her head-- kirigakure, missing Nari, a dangerous fight-- but safety. Kagerou and Takeda were there, with some others, friends, people she could trust, people who didn't judge her for the monster inside her. A monster like the ones attacking them, blood-thirsty and violent. To these people it didn't matter what she was, it only mattered who she was. She remembered how terrifying and alien it was in Kirigakure, the Sero was a terrifying structure.... but she had never been more at peace. She had never slept so well. She missed those times, the few months she stayed in that village... Sonyo shook her head, having spaced off, turning around to face Axel.
"I suggest we somehow ask the sprites if we can set up a base here, there's something preventing violence and although nothing is permanent we can use this to our advantage for the time being. Then we should probably look for dry firewood and something to eat. I know herbs and plants, I can find us something edible. I doubt we'll be doing much hunting here-- maybe we can get away with fishing though."
▬ ▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ > Chakra : : 100 / / 100 x > Stamina : : 100 / / 100 x > AC : : 0 x > Ryo : : 000 xxx > Ex-Jinchuirki x > Hyoutonx > Yuki-Onna x > E-rankxxxxxxxxx
Sonyo beat me to the punch, so to speak, when it came to telling this new comer that he could remain with them. It seemed that she knew the man from the time before, because now there was a before and after for a lot of these people, for Sonyo, for Hakanai, and now for this man whom she called Takaeda. There wasn’t a before for me though, not now, maybe not ever. Well, that wasn’t exactly true; there wasn’t a now either. I am a man whose mind is shattered, who cannot see time. Past. Present. Future. It’s all the same at the end. Who was to say that this conversation that Sonyo was having now with this new man was not a recollection some future me, whoever I am, was having in broken pieces as I am recalling the redhead, and myself? I certainly couldn’t nor would I even venture to assume. Instead, what would be best course of action was to remember everything that was happening to me, to assist the future me with the broken memory, should that ever occur. I took this chance to breathe the moist, damp air, close my eyes and take in the sound of the jungle-swamp that surrounded us in this strange new world, which wasn’t really new, not for itself, nor was it strange to itself either. We were the ones that were strange and new to this world. My eyes opened slowly and I reached down to grab my crystal once more, cleaned it against my shirt, and then stuffed it back in my pocket. “She’s right…” My voice lingered weighing if I should say his name or not, we hadn’t been formally introduce, ultimately, I decided not to, their conversation seemed intimate enough for me to pretend I didn’t hear anything that was not strictly necessary. “There’s strength in numbers, I think. Strange things happened since we arrived here. Seeing as you had luck with the moss, Sonyo, I think you should try talking to those things. You seem to be good at that stuff. As for food, I think I can go check out the surrounding areas and see if I can find something to hunt, for some reason, I don’t think that fishing will work here.”
Once my voice stopped, I looked down at my hand as I opened and closed my fist. Everything about this place was unnerving, I realized. Being in here felt unnatural for me, as if who I am was being pushed down, repressed until the point where I felt physically ill. I had to get out of here, I told myself as my eyes shifted back and forth. It was not comfortable, to say the least, to feel like you were ready to jump out of your skin, as if the situation I was in made me feel uncomfortable because of who I was when I didn’t even know who that is. “ I was a hunter before, I think, so I could be useful in doing that.” I gulped, and turned sideways to them and scanned the area for a possible way out, that wasn’t the way we had come in, and unless any of them stopped me, I would move toward that exit once I found it.
Takeda found some comfort in her words at first, only averting his eyes when she mentioned the lack of his sclera. Right. That shows. It completely slipped my mind. The warm smile she gave served to remind him that it didn't matter if she knew what changes he had gone through. Still...that kind of promise is embarrassing. He thought in reaction to her words, said embarrassment bringing the slightest bit of pink to his cheeks. Given the way his circulatory system used to work, certain sentiments like blushing was an impossibility back then. It only worsened when she basically called him out on his reckless fighting habits. It certainly was a well-placed statement when it came to Takeda. For him, the "who" and "what" of fights didn't matter to him. He just moved, attacked, and typically won due to sheer perseverance and aggression. All that really led to was Kagerou or Sonyo (sometimes both) dragging him to the ER and fussing over him, not even taking into consideration whether or not he cared about having the wound looked at. With his latest changes, that would only turn out worse for him. No more self-healing, no extra lives. He didn't even know if a bloodline existed within him anymore.
He spent a little over a century alone in his own sage forest full of canines, ignoring the needs of the world until Heserik came in and decided to tarnish things he once held precious. He'd grown a bit more docile in that time, perhaps even meek from introversion when it came to conversation. So when Sonyo gave him the positive reinforcement of saying she could trust him with her life, it made an impact. He snapped his gaze back to hers, red eyes shining with a mixture of appreciation, skepticism, and something less obvious. He was silently grateful for Kairudo due to his voice filling the silence while he thought up something to say, though Sonyo also contributed more to the conversation once she snapped out of a seemingly dazed state. The white-haired boy reinforced the idea that there was strength in numbers before mentioning something about strange moss. Sonyo talked to it? Well, Kirigakure had been built around a (possibly incredibly evil) magical tree, and Jack existed at some point in time, so he figured that anything was really possible.
Kairudo mentioned that he could hunt outside the current area in order to help the group find food, and Takeda found his eyes paying attention to a few details. While he naturally wouldn't have paid much attention to the opening and closing of Kairudo's hand, the way he focused his gaze on the action prodded the former Jiongu to do the same. That, the shifting of the archer's eyes, his readiness to leave the area that many would deem safe. I wonder what his upbringing is. Did he grow up with self-preservation always at the forefront of his mind? Did something happen to make him scared of this kind of situation? Seems best not to bring it up now, but I'll have to keep it in mind. That thought basically solidified the fact that he was going to accept being a part of their group, much to both his chagrin and excitement. He still felt like his inexperience with a normal human body would drag the group down at some point, but he was glad that a familiar face was the one to greet him. Not only that, they got a safe area right at the start. Still, can't shake the feeling that something may go wrong.
The other boy spoke once more and turned, giving Takeda a moment to straighten himself out and nod his head. "Alright. I'll join a group with you both. It seems I woke up with quite a few items on hand, so I'll need some time to set up camp if Sonyo can convince those things to let us stay...sprites, I think you said? Not too familiar with that term." As if putting emphasis on what he said, Takeda turned to show the backpack and all that hung off it, along with the shinobi satchel equipped on his lower back. "I also don't mind if Kairudo gets our food, I just wish there was a way for us to monitor him. A safety net or flare of sorts so we can convene at his location if things go bad. Unfortunately, I think we may just have to trust his ability to hunt."
tab The flitting of elemental wings rose to a fervor as the trio sat about discussing the past, their options, and in one cases, hunting down some dinner. The warm breeze brought with it the rustling of leaves could be heard from a nearby gargantuan oak. Or, at least, it looked to be an oak, though it had a distinctly green color to its bark. With a muffled creek the wood at its base warped, bending outwards in an unnatural way before sprouting long, thin branches that bent like living things to entangle into a sort of ball. This ball grew in size, becoming nearly as tall as Takeda before it began to unravel, revealing in the midst of this display masculine figure, dressed in a moss kilt and with six fingers to a hand. Horns sprouted from its head, or, perhaps, they were branches? Either way they stood tall, regal, numbering ten in all, and at the tip of each swirled a different color, each of a hue and shade that bore no name. tab The figure strode forth on hooves made of shimmering back stone, obsidian to those who had seen its like before, and the knees were double jointed, easily several inches apart. The eyes, what appeared to be made of white marble with golden veins, seemed to gaze at them knowingly as it made its way closer. As it did one of the fiery, bird like creatures no bigger than a sparrow hovered before the group, opened its mouth, and spoke issued forth a deep, booming voice."Welcome, Wakeners. Long has it been since any have graced by home, and longer still since due respect was given." tab
Tenshuyami
I Tortured Sleep I
Aegon VI Targaryan
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:58 pm
[The Present]
Axel was about to leave the area to try to get some food when a voice stopped him. Who was that, he wondered, turning around to see a harrowing creature stand before him, with golden eyes, horns, and black stone hooves. What the hell was that thing, he wondered. “What the hell are you?” He asked, ignoring for a moment the talking birds, and even the actual words that this creature said. He felt scared, naturally, and were it not for this place, his weapon would have already been drawn, ready to defend himself from whatever this creature’s intentions were. “Wakeners?” He pondered for a moment, wondering what he meant by this. Maybe he knew what had happened to them, maybe it could tell him, if he asked in the right way. In a non-Axel way. “D-do you know what happened? Where we are? When. We are?” He asked, making a pause when he said the word when, wondering if that indeed was a question worth asking, but seeing how much the world had changed, he wagered it was prudent.
tab The creature raised a hand to forestall the rush of questions coupled with an expression of patriarchal understanding. "Be calm, little warior,"came the booming voice from the bird's beak, it's expression shouting clearly that it didn't appreciate being the mouthpiece. The humanoid figure eyes Axel carefully before it continued to speak, this time it's attention directed at you. "Wakeners. That is the name given to your kind by the last of the same. He named you, and said one day you would return. Many do not remember, but the forests do, for we are as old as the days of your earliest memories." tab From just behind the creature came a rumbling as the ground rose, giving way to a throne-like chair made of earth. Similarly behind each of you rises a similar chair, with only a slightly taller back to match where its shoulders would be once sat. Each chair that rises behind the three of you is of similar design, ending at the shoulders, though why is up to each of your impressions. As it sits the bird flaps its wings and moves away, and another, the wings whispering with the wind that formed them, lands upon the chair to perch and observe you three with unconcealed aggression. tab The humanoid turns its head to look upon the bead and take on an understanding, but chastising, expression before looking back to Axel with interest in his eyes. "I would ask you to stay and speak longer, but I feel that there is a group who has decided to antagonize the guardian of the ancient world. Lest it turn upon them and devour them, I would ask that you go to them, and aid them, to bring them back hear." The bird flaps its wings in annoyance, but continues in that same voice as the figure rests its hands on the arm rests. "If answers are not enough of a compensation for you, than I shall reward you with an item lost long ago if you return here with them in good health. But I must warn you, reaching them will require a swim, but you will be able to make it rather easily if you follow my directions carefully."
Tenshuyami
I Tortured Sleep I
Aegon VI Targaryan
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 10:24 am
[The Present]
Unnerved by the gaze the bird was giving me, and everything that had happened up to now really, my hand slowly reached for the stone chair that had formed behind me with hesitation. I felt it, cool against my hand, and after a moment, I sat. “We?” was the first thing that escaped my lips. Was this thing trying to tell me he was a forest? A hivemind that emerged from here, somehow, and spoke for the entire swamp? “What do you mean by that?” Was the next thing that escaped my lips, almost as if I had no control over what I was saying. But the next thing he said seemed to be the most important, so his questions were dropped instantly, changing instantly from curiosity to attentiveness and once the creature stopped speaking, he jumped from the throne that it had made for him, giving the creature a nod. “I’ll go, you two can stay here if you want, speak with the creature so it gives you more information that we may find useful.” I waited for a moment so they could speak, and after, he addressed the creature once again. “Give me the directions, I’ll bring them here in one piece.” I said, clenching my fists. I could feel a fire burning within me at the prospect of having to go and do battle, a fire I had not felt since I awoke, but that seemed to be burning within me all this time. It felt… natural. Yes. Little warrior the words of the creature echoed in my head. I was a warrior, not a hunter, I said to myself, realizing that fact. A warrior was a hunter though, only that instead of animals, my prey were humans. The thought brought a shiver to my spine and with a shake of my head I bid these invasive thoughts farewell. My name was Kariudo, I hunt animals, I could never hurt another human being unless it was to defend myself. Right?
tab The creature nods its great head before looking at Axel with those alabaster eyes and refusing to blink. These eyes clearly contain some semblance of understanding as it stares, for not pity, but judgment, lie there in wait. tab At last the bird upon its shoulder rose into the air, beating its howling wings in a made rush to stay afloat before continuing. "They are north and west from here, no more than ten miles. There you shall find the beginnings of an enormous lake, one rife with floating earth that act as the home of many creatures you've never seen. It is not these that should worry you, but the metal statue that lay at the edge. The statue sits at the entrance to a place where my kind dwell, and it is there you must swim down several human heights until you find a bubble of air. Climb inside, and you will find those you seek. Go, and fight with them, or aid in their escape. Either shall see your aid recognized." tab With that the bird screeches at the sky, the wind howling for a moment as its noise settles into the enormous trees. As it faded a soft glow lit the mud beneath your feet, deep blue in color and vibrant despite the murk. It leads off into the distance, north with a slight deviation to the west.
