[center] [h1][color=yellow][b][u]Karamir[/u][/b][/color][/h1] [i]Demigod of Mana[/i] & [i][s]Silver[/s][/i] [h1][u][b]Ami[/b][/u][/h1] [i]Rogue Avatar of Rain[/i] [/center] [hr] “Where do we go now?” Fenris asked. Karamir looked around. The air was moist with fog. His divinely-enhanced senses allowed him to see well enough, and Fenris was exceptionally perceptive himself, but the reduced visibility was still rather irritating. [color=yellow]”I think it would make the most sense if we followed the coast,”[/color] he suggested. [color=yellow]”Until we find something else to follow.”[/color] And on that note, they made their way north. And so they walked and walked until the air cleared and they could see further. It was only temporarily as the fog was quick to come back, but they managed to see a plume of smoke further inland into what seemed to be green, breezy plains with very sparse trees. White smoke, perfect for signalling. It was a single plume, which meant it was likely controlled. [color=yellow]”Civilization,”[/color] Karamir said, pointing in the direction he had seen the smoke. [color=yellow]”Let’s go find some answers.”[/color] The pair walked inland, and eventually the fog gave way to a moderate sized bonfire. Around it, three individuals were sitting down taking bites out of dry-looking strips of meat. One of them, a Vallamir with white hair and grey eyes stopped eating and looked at the Fenris and Karamir critically. Then he nodded and motioned towards the vast space around the bonfire before pulling out several strips of dry meat and offering it to them. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Divine approach our lands without the intention to go directly to the Queen-Mother’s Manor.” Said the white-haired Vallamir, who looked straight at Karamir for a few seconds, “Sit wherever you like. I possess the name of Sun’Kalla. What do people call you two?” [color=yellow]”My name is Karamir,”[/color] Karamir said, returning Sun’Kalla’s gaze. [color=yellow]”This is Fenris. We’re sons of Kalmar.”[/color] “Karamir and Fenris it is. Kalmar is one of the creator Gods, so I assume you come from Kalgrun.” Sun’Kalla broke the gaze, “So are you two going to sit or do you prefer to stand? I suppose as a Divine you feel no physical exhaustion, Karamir, but what about Fenris?” Karamir looked to his companion, who shrugged, so Karamir stepped forward to sit near the fire, while Fenris did the same. [color=yellow]”We’re here to find out what happened to the Vallamir who followed Li’Kalla to this land,”[/color] Karamir said, as Fenris accepted a piece of meat and eyed it critically. “It’s dried meat, it keeps for longer. Taste is not as good, though.” Sun’Kalla took another bite of his, swallowed after way too little chewing and nodded, “Those Vallamir are alive and well. Well, most of them anyway. Quite a few died during the Rot a decade ago and many settlements either splintered, were wiped out, or turned to cannibalistic behaviours and raiding as their way to stay alive. If you go further north you will be walking into The Stalkers’ territory. Go directly east and you will find the New Monster Cult. To the west, living mainly on large boats on top of the water and coming to land rarely are The Droplets.” There was a short silence, and Sun’Kalla sighed, “Only safe path is southeast, through the Eternal Forest. Be warned however, those plants are clingy. You can count yourself lucky if you don’t stumble into them in your way through the Forest. After you’re out of the forest, you should be in safe territory. It’s very rare to see any raiders, slavers or cannibals in that territory as we’ve culled most of them over the last ten years. So just head east and you’ll eventually find a road under construction. The eggheads are giving it their all lately. That road will take you to the Holy Capital.” Karamir stared at him incredulously. [color=yellow]”Raiders… slavers… [i]cannibals?[/i]”[/color] he asked, in a mixture of shock and outrage. [color=yellow]”How did this happen?”[/color] Sun’Kalla shrugged, “The Accursed River Worm, Shengshi, cursed the land to produce rot instead of fruit or produce edible to Vallamir merely because of a difference of opinion to the Queen-Mother’s stances on certain topics. The rot poisoned the land and those that ate it got sick and died, many animals included. Eventually, those that walked away from the Queen-Mother’s protection had nothing to eat but the occasional half-dead, diseased prey or the corpses of their fellow Vallamir…” Sun’Kalla furrowed his brow, “We Valthumir never had that problem. We would get dozens of refugees every day who’d bring in all the food they had. With sensible rationing we managed to make it last. It was difficult to everyone and I remember almost all of our firstborns perished. That alone would make a lesser mind break and turn to cannibalism.” The mention of Shengshi’s name caught Karamir off-guard. That was the god who had healed him. And while Karamir knew he had a temper, he had never heard anything to suggest he would commit such… such an atrocity. [color=yellow]”That’s… that’s terrible…”[/color] he whispered, and even Fenris grit his teeth in anger at that. “That snake has a knack for treachery,” Fenris said, his voice low and filled with fury. Sun’Kalla chuckled and put away the meat he was biting at, “I wouldn’t call it treachery. It seemed to be a burst of anger from what the Queen-Mother told me a few years ago which is... Expected, of a lesser mind. I was surprised a Divine would show such lack of restraint. Either way, it is all in the past. We have had many sons and daughters since then and wounds have scarred.” Karamir sighed. [color=yellow]”Kalmar once told me of the other gods. He always said that Orvus, Vakk, and Sartravius were the ones to be wary of. He said that Shengshi had a temper, but… I was never led to believe it went [i]that[/i] far. Shengshi saved my life, not too long ago.”[/color] Sun’Kalla perked up and raised an eyebrow, “Did he? What kind of weapon would even manage to graze a divine’s skin, may I ask?” [color=yellow]”I… wasn’t a god back then,”[/color] Karamir admitted. [color=yellow]”That happened only a few days before I became one. The weapon was a sword. I don’t know what it was made out of, but… I was stabbed. When I woke up, I was told that Shengshi had healed me.”[/color] “Ah,” Sun’Kalla rubbed his clean shaven chin in thought, “I’ve never seen a sword, so I’m afraid I cannot picture it. It is fortunate for you that a God healed you, in any case. You must have performed tasks exceptionally well for him in the past in order for him to consider you worthy of defying nature.” Karamir blinked. [color=yellow]”I never met him before that,”[/color] he said. [color=yellow]”And by all accounts, he and Kalmar had never gotten along.”[/color] As he spoke, Karamir pulled a dagger free from his belt. Then the blade and hilt extended to become three feet in length. [color=yellow]”This is a sword,”[/color] he said. [color=yellow]”And no, they don’t normally change shape.”[/color] “I see. What material are swords usually made of?” Karamir shrugged. [color=yellow]”Wood? Metal? I’m not sure. Kalmar gave it me, and well… I can’t ask him how to make one.”[/color] Sun’Kalla furrowed his brow even more, “Metal? I admit this blade has a similar glint to strange rocks found in the Abyssal Rift years ago.” [color=yellow]”Maybe I’ll have a look at it,”[/color] Karamir said, as the blade shrank back to a dagger and he returned it to its sheathe. [color=yellow]”There’s… something I should tell you,”[/color] he said, his expression turning hesitant. [color=yellow]”Kalmar is dead.”[/color] Sun’Kalla’s breathing paused for a moment, and so did the other Valthumirs’ present, but quickly they went back to eating and talking. “So that’s why the sky stopped falling apart? Was that a funeral ritual for a God?” Sun’Kalla asked. Karamir furrowed his brow. [color=yellow]”What? No!”[/color] he objected. [color=yellow]”He was wounded while putting a stop to that.”[/color] “I see, who was he fighting and why?” [color=yellow]”It’s a long story,”[/color] Karamir sighed. [color=yellow]”But I will tell you what I know.”[/color] He leaned forward. [color=yellow]”Orvus is the God of Desolation. He has two daughters. Arya, and Laurien. More than ten winters ago, Laurien for some reason tried to kill him. Somehow, that released a creature known as Abraxus, who trapped Orvus is in his own sphere, Veradax.”[/color] [color=yellow]”While this was happening, I was on a land known as ‘The Kick.’ There, I met two gods. Abanoc, who taught me how to tap into a new source of power. And Chopstick Eyes, who offered me a place to stay. I stayed there for years, developing my skills and learning what I could, before moving on. I reached a land known as Dragon’s Foot, and there, I discovered a city called Laurienna. Named after Laurien,”[/color] he said, letting them soak in that information. [color=yellow]”There were a number of warning signs that all was not well. But I was inexperienced in dealing with mortals, and naive. I met with Laurien. She was friendly, and we talked about our experiences. But then she revealed that she was having problems with some of her people - they kept making attempts to overthrow the city’s leadership, and their most recent attempt had killed the city’s queen. She said these ‘rebels’ had been put to death.”[/color] [color=yellow]”It sounded like a serious problem, so I offered to help. I suggested we go to Abanoc. He’s the God of Recording. He sees everything that happens on Galbar, and might have known something about the issue that she didn’t.”[/color] He took a deep breath, and shuddered. [color=yellow]”Then she tried to kill me.”[/color] [color=yellow]”She was afraid Abanoc would tell me her secret,”[/color] he said, his voice low. [color=yellow]”She attacked me, I defended myself. She called for her guards, and I defended myself again. But they surrounded me, and that’s how I was stabbed. After that, she used her powers to damage my very soul. I nearly lost everything. My memories, my personality...”[/color] [color=yellow]”When I woke up, I was in a new land, called the Eye of Desolation. My cloak allows me to fly, and it had carried me there to safety. I was with Laurien’s sister, Arya, who had kept me alive until Shengshi could arrive to heal my injury. But meteors were falling from the sky, and it seemed like the world was ending. I learned that Kalmar had gone to Veradax to save the world from destruction. In the meantime, Abanoc arrived and repaired the damage done to my soul.”[/color] [color=yellow]”Eventually, Kalmar did return, but… it was bad. He had stopped the meteors, and freed Orvus, but Abraxus defeated him. Orvus had to sacrifice his divinity so that the Goddess Ashalla could kill Abraxus. Then, the Goddess Arae carried Kalmar and Orvus back to the Eye. Before he died, Kalmar’s last act was to pass his divinity on to me…”[/color] A tear began to form in one eye, but he wiped it away. [color=yellow]”And that… that’s what happened.”[/color] “I see, you’ve been through some things. As for Laurien, I wasn’t aware she was on the run from so many Gods. We were tracking her after she left the Queen-Mother’s Manor until a few weeks ago, when we lost her trail near the Endless Tree.” Sun’Kalla said simply, all the emotion from Karamir’s speech seemingly sliding off his skin. [color=yellow]”Laurien was here?”[/color] Karamir asked, wide-eyed, while Fenris nearly choked on his food. “What do you mean you lost her trail?” Fenris demanded. Sun’Kalla nodded, “Yes, the Queen-Mother housed her in her Manor for a few short days, after which she left without an escort. We traced her all the way to the Endless Tree just southeast of here, but we assume she took flight as there was nothing to go on after that. None of us sensed any malice from Laurien’s presence. Though granted, most of us never even saw her in person.” [color=yellow]”Oh, I didn’t see any malice in her either,”[/color] Karamir said. [color=yellow]”At least not until she tried to kill me. I need to find her.”[/color] The Valthumir raised an eyebrow, “Seeking revenge?” Karamir shook his head. [color=yellow]”I’d like revenge, but no. That won’t help me. I want answers, and to ensure that she won’t hurt or betray anyone again.”[/color] “Heh. So revenge it is. If you truly wished to ensure no one got hurt or betrayed, you should seek the erasure of sentience. Yes, that includes the Gods. You can certainly choose to lie to yourself and assure yourself that you’re hunting Laurien out of a desire to be a kind entity, however.” Sun’Kalla pushed at one of the pieces of wood in the bonfire with his foot and watched as the flames crackled. [color=yellow]”It’s no lie,”[/color] Karamir grit his teeth, [color=yellow]”And I would say I know myself better than some stranger who just met me minutes ago.”[/color] “Perhaps I spoke too honestly and too truthfully. So, what are you going to do?” Fenris glared at the man and was about to issue a harsh rebuke on his brother’s behalf, but Karamir spoke first. [color=yellow]”Leave, for a start,”[/color] he said bluntly. [color=yellow]”I won’t share a fire with someone who calls me a liar, and can’t admit when he misjudged a stranger.”[/color] With those words, Karamir rose to his feet and walked back into the woods. Fenris followed behind him, casting a warning glare back over his shoulder, only to see the Valthumir group remain as they had found them, relaxed and completely unphased by their existence. As they walked away, Sun’Kalla waved goodbye. “South-east, then east after the Endless Tree. That’s the way to the Holy Capital.” Fenris turned and spat. The two kept walking, which happened to be in the direction he had advised. [hr] “You shouldn’t have stood for that,” Fenris said, once they had gotten out of earshot. [color=yellow]”Stood for what?”[/color] Karamir asked idly as they maneuvered around a particularly dense section of ferns and bushes. “The disrespect. You’re the first of his kind, the son of his creator. He barely even blinked when he learned that same creator was dead. Then he named you a liar, refused to take back his words when challenged, and in the end you were the one who walked away.” [color=yellow]”I walked away because I don’t care for his opinions. His words were false, I told him so, he didn’t accept that. I’m not going to sit and be judged by some stranger I don’t even know, and I’m not going to seek vengeance just because he was arrogant. That wouldn’t have changed anything.”[/color] Karamir waved a dismissive hand. “It would stop him from sharing his lies with others,” Fenris suggested. [color=yellow]”Or others would think I silenced him because his words might be true,”[/color] Karamir shook his head. [color=yellow]”Let it go. There are thousands of Vallamir. The opinions of one matter little by comparison.”[/color] “And when others take up his opinions?” [color=yellow]”Why would they?”[/color] Karamir asked. [color=yellow]”If they’ll make such judgements about me without even knowing me, then I don’t see why I should care about what they think in the first place.”[/color] [hr] It was a new, cloudy day in the Eternal Forest. Silver was on her knees meditating in the middle of her favorite clearing with Rose laid down around her protectively. The world was dark and cool and that’s what she wanted. To be able to see, and hear… It was too much information for her to be able to think properly. This way, she could fully focus on her own self. She took note of every single thing she felt, no matter how small. From the way she felt a little tickle each time one of her leaves twitched, to what it felt being in her own skin and even the subtle heat emanating from the sleeping giant that was Rose. Everytime a foreign thought entered her brain and disrupted her meditation, she would let it run its course and then softly bring herself back into relaxation. This is how she coped with the world. This is how she confirmed that she was, after all, real. That she had a body, that she felt the world… A tiny smile grazed her face and with her eyes closed, as soon as she felt the tingling of the sunlight dancing over her leaves to signify midday, she decided it was time to begin her daily practice. If her body had turned out to be more humanoid, she would have used breathing as a catalyst for what she was about to do, but since she didn’t even have a throat now, she had to make do with her willpower. And so slowly, carefully, with light pulls and pushes, Silver would draw out the essence of magic from her surroundings. So carefully indeed that she was able to mix the mana coming from so many different sources into one invisible, amorphous blob the size of a ladybug. Then she drew that blob into her body and felt the shock travel through her system. From the smallest leaf at the top of her head to the tip of her toes, a slight warmth suffused her body. And it went deeper, crawling in past skin, past fibrous muscle, past ultra-dense wood and straight into the intangible, mighty thing that was Silver’s soul. And she gained complete control over the mana as it became a part of her. Much like an animal would take to excess nutrition, her soul would store it for further use in the future. But that wasn’t the plan. She meant to use it now in her exercise. With a mental exhale, her soul detached a small part of itself from her body, and that small invisible part swiftly coated every part of her body, including her living dress, and relayed information back to Silver. She could see herself, taste herself, smell herself… All because her own body had mana coursing through its veins, mana that reacted to that within her detached soul and allowed it to sense. On to the next stage of the practice, Silver willed her detached soul to expand and grow in size, encompassing her and Rose and most of the clearing. It never ceased to amaze her, how different the world seemed when one could actually see and hear things properly. How colors looked and how the sounds of breeze synchronized to the imagery of gently swaying grass and leaves… Then she caught wind of a new and unfamiliar scent, beyond the range of her newfound ‘soul sense.’ A solitary entity, with a vaguely canine scent, approaching her position. Then, for one moment, the scent stopped moving. The next moment, it rushed forward at almost imperceptible speed, and then the individual was in the clearing. It was not one individual, but two. They were both males, and they were both tall. The male with the canine scent was holding onto an even taller male, who carried no scent at all, but possessed the unmistakable aura of a lesser god. They let go of each other, and while the shorter male eyed Rose warily, who was picking himself up off the ground, the taller of the two turned his gaze to her. [color=yellow]”You can use mana,”[/color] he said, eyebrows slightly raised. Silver smiled at the divine male and nodded her head, then slowly opened her black eyes out of politeness. [color=yellow]”My name is Karamir, the demi-god of Mana,”[/color] he introduced himself. [color=yellow]”What is your name?”[/color] Silver grasped at the thread in her mind, connecting her to Karamir. [i]Silver.[/i] [color=yellow]”So, Silver…”[/color] Karamir said, continuing to speak aloud, [color=yellow]”Where did you learn to wield it?”[/color] [i]Here, by myself.[/i] [color=yellow]”I see…”[/color] Karamir said, in a tone that suggested some level of disappointment. Then his brow furrowed. [color=yellow]”You seem to be… divine?”[/color] he asked. [color=yellow]”But you don’t have the aura of a full god, and you’re somehow different from any demi-god I’ve encountered. And it also feels like you’re being restrained somehow. What are you, exactly?”[/color] he asked. [color=yellow]”If you don’t mind me asking.”[/color] Silver furrowed her brow in imitation. There was no point to speaking of the past, and his question was very specific anyway… [i]A Foreas. We’re plant humanoids that take after the Eternal Tree. What are you?[/i] [color=yellow]”A demi-god, a Vallamir, and the son of Kalmar,”[/color] Karamir answered. [color=yellow]”I saw some of your kind on the way here. You are different. Why is that?”[/color] [i]I am wearing a dress made of living plant matter, that is the biggest difference. As for why, it’s because it feels like I’m being embraced all the time.[/i] Karamir let out a small sigh. [color=yellow]”I meant the divine aura.”[/color] he said. [color=yellow]”Are you an Avatar? Did Li’Kalla create you?”[/color] [i]What is an Avatar?[/i] Silver asked as she rose to her feet. [color=yellow]”An Avatar, from what I was told, is a fragment of a god,”[/color] Karamir said. [color=yellow]”And shares its creator’s power. From what I can tell, every avatar’s relationship with their creator is different.”[/color] The furrow returned. [color=yellow]”If you aren’t an Avatar… what are you?”[/color] Silver’s smile faded, [i]It isn’t important.[/i] Karamir frowned, but did not press the issue further. [color=yellow]”How long have you been here, then? What can you tell me about this place?”[/color] [i]I don’t know how long I’ve been here. This is the Eternal Forest. All the trees you see are actually the roots of the Eternal Tree, which is the Tree that goes above the clouds. Beings that look like you come from the east every once in a while.[/i] Karamir nodded. [color=yellow]”Yes, we’re called the Vallamir,”[/color] he said. [color=yellow]”Creations of Kalmar, Li’Kalla, Arae, and Roog. I was the first. We hail from a land called Kalgrun, but eleven or twelve winters ago, the Goddess Li’Kalla led a portion of us to this land. I came here to find out what happened.”[/color] [i]They’re alive and thriving. What does it feel like being the first of your kind?[/i] Silver asked with a tilt of her head. He scratched his chin. [color=yellow]”For a time, I was lonely. I knew little about the world, I couldn’t reproduce, there was nobody else like me. I wandered, and for a time I found myself in bad company. Then, decades later, when Kalmar first told me he was going make a species based off of me, I was overjoyed. I would no longer be alone. There would be thousands of people who would accept me, that I could lead and teach.”[/color] [color=yellow]”When I finally met them, I was happy, and I have been teaching them some things - how to wield mana, mostly. But by that point, it had become a responsibility. Kalmar, my father, had died, and he expected me to take up his role as their guide and protector. That’s why I came here - I wanted to make sure the ones who followed Li’Kalla hadn’t walked to their death as some claimed.”[/color] Silver nodded, [i]And if they had walked to their deaths? What then?[/i] Karamir blinked in surprise. [color=yellow]”W-well… I’d need to find out what killed them. If there were any survivors. I’d need to find out if Li’Kalla was still alive, and if she was, I’d have to find out why it happened. Was it intentional? Was it an accident?”[/color] He shrugged. [color=yellow]”Once I had that information, then I would decide would to do.”[/color] Silver smiled and shrugged, [i]I don’t think about death and justice that often- It doesn’t seem necessary here. Everyone’s happy, we all get enough sunlight and nutrients and we share our love. Some of us leave every once in a while, too - I imagine to see new lands - but they never do so out of spite… I would not think they walked to their deaths just because I never saw them again. I would think they found a new home, and are waiting for me and others to reach them so they can share their Little Dream with us.[/i] [color=yellow]”I didn’t believe they walked to their deaths either,”[/color] Karamir said with a wave of his hand. [color=yellow]”At least not at first. Back on Kalgrun, some said those who followed Li’Kalla found death. Others said they found paradise. And others said they were still walking. I came here to find out the truth, but as I crossed the bridge I found bones.”[/color] his voice turned sad. [color=yellow]”Dozens of bodies. Then I learned that hundreds more were killed by a god named Shengshi. So you can see why it was a relief to learn the rest were alright.”[/color] [i]You take your position as First and Guardian very seriously. At that pace you might not last long at all, mentally speaking. Why must you act as a protector for so many people? I don’t see the point, besides trying to fulfill the wishes of your late father.[/i] [color=yellow]”If I don’t do it, who will?”[/color] Karamir asked. [color=yellow]”Life is cruel as is. I’m in a position to make it easier. And besides, I enjoy helping people, and sharing information.”[/color] [i]Oh, in that case I can understand your reasons. And, since you admit that you enjoy sharing information, I have a request. Um.[/i] Silver suddenly felt sap rush to her face as she took a step closer to the two males, a phantom reaction from her past as a human. What she was about to request would have been taboo in her old bodies. In this one, however, it meant nothing inappropriate. Her leaves began twitching and she lowered her head a little as she clasped her hands. [i]Would you mind describing my appearance? I can see myself with my ability, but it’s not the same sight you possess.[/i] [color=yellow]”You’re blind?”[/color] he asked, clearly surprised by that, but went on to comply with her request anyway. [color=yellow]”Your skin is a pale orange. Your eyes are black. You have leaves where most two-legged creatures would have hair. The colour is red, and they reach all the way down your back. Your… clothes… are also red, and look to be made of plants, just like your skin, but there are some green vines on them as well.”[/color] He shifted his gaze back up to her face. [color=yellow]”Is that a good enough description?”[/color] [i]What kind of red? Can you touch me? Can you tell me how I feel? Describe me. I want to know myself. I feel like touching myself with my own hands isn’t giving me the correct feedback.[/i] As she conversed with Karamir, Rose, who had been standing still decided to walk up to Fenris and lean his massive featureless face into his space. Fenris did not blink nor back away. “You’re lucky I only eat meat,” he said, looking up at the giant and speaking in words Rose could not hear. Meanwhile, with some reluctance, Karamir stepped forward. He ran one hand across Silver’s arm, and with his other hand he patted her on the head, eliciting a grin and a starry eyed look. [color=yellow]”The skin is soft and smooth. More so than most people I’ve met, I think. And the leaves feel like… well, leaves. Rough and coarse.”[/color] He pulled his hands away from her. Silver remained there, frozen as if expecting more. Then, after a moment, she pulled away and smiled sheepishly, [i]I understand, thank you. So I wasn’t wrong to think we Foreas are exceptionally soft and huggable… Huh.[/i] [color=yellow]”So are you the only one who can communicate like this?”[/color] Karamir asked her, changing the subject. [i]Yes, but only with Divines.[/i] [color=yellow]”I see. And you’re the only one here who can use mana?”[/color] [i]The others have had no reason to try to learn it, so yes.[/i] [color=yellow]”But are any of them capable? Not just anyone can use mana. If some of them can use it, I could teach them.”[/color] [i]There are potential users, but you’d have a really hard time teaching Foreas as they are now. No sight, no hearing, no speech and only basic thoughts. They’re barely a step above animals. Wait a few years, let them mature.[/i] [color=yellow]”If you say so. Tell me, have you travelled at all since your creation?”[/color] [i]I wasn’t created. I awakened on my own, with the help of the Eternal Tree. But no, I haven’t left the Forest in this life, I guess.[/i] Silver said, furrowing her brow and shrugging. [color=yellow]”So what have you been doing in all that time?”[/color] [i]It hasn’t been that long. I don’t know how long exactly, but I have probably felt less than a hundred starlight cycles… And I guess, I spend my time interacting with other Foreas and coming to this clearing to work on my experiments.[/i] [color=yellow]”And do you enjoy it?”[/color] Karamir asked, raising an eyebrow. [i]Of course! I love it… But I do wish to travel. I want to see the world I’ve awakened to, and I want to bring my memories back to the Tree when I come back here. I don’t know if I’m ready though...[/i] [color=yellow]”And what makes you think you aren’t ready?”[/color] She pursed her lips, [i]I don’t know how to defend myself, and if I leave Rose and everyone else behind, I won’t have anyone else watching out for me… There are many herbivores around these parts… And the mud balls, ugh! They’ve gotten a bit too complex over a short span of time. I think they ate a leaf off of someone’s head a few cycles back. I don’t want to have my leaves eaten![/i] Karamir looked to Fenris, and then back to Silver, before pursing his own lips. He thought for a moment, and then spoke again. [color=yellow]”Well, I’m still new here,”[/color] he told her. [color=yellow]”I still need to see the rest of this island. Fenris and I can handle ourselves easily enough, so… if you want to explore, I suppose you can come with us.”[/color] This request caused Fenris to break his tense staredown with Rose, and look askance at Karamir. Silver stared at Karamir, frozen like a statue. After a long time, she clicked her tongue and nodded. As she did so, a wave of uncertainty washed over her and she felt her heart wrench itself in a sudden nostalgia. Was her infancy in this new life about to end…? This soon, this suddenly? She preemptively wiped at her eyes and smiled. [i]Yes, I want to go with you. I have one question though Karamir. Your friend smells like a canine, do you two travel with a dog or pup of any kind? I would like to meet it if possible![/i] Karamir smirked. [color=yellow]“Not a dog. A wolf,”[/color] he turned to look at Fenris. [color=yellow]”Do you think we should show her?”[/color] Fenris scanned his surroundings. “This isn’t the place for it,” he said. “Not enough space, and there’s no practical need just yet.” Karamir nodded. [color=yellow]“Fair enough.”[/color] He looked back to Silver. [color=yellow]”You’ll see it soon enough.”[/color] Fenris squinted at him but said nothing more. Silver looked at Fenris and then back at Karamir and nodded while pursing her lips. [i]Okay, so if we’re not going to see it, I want to show you my dog-friend. It’s back at the Tree. Do you want to visit it?[/i] Karamir nodded. [color=yellow]“I have been meaning to get a closer look at the Tree. Let’s go.”[/color] Silver’s smile widened into a grin and she swiftly turned around and began walking towards the Eternal Tree with Rose, Fenris and Karamir in tow. [hr] After a while, Silver’s leaves twitched a few times and without turning her head she spoke into the minds of her two acquaintances. [i]A fox and a wolf jumped into different pods as they closed, and a few days later our new dog friends came out.[/i] They approached the entrance to the Great Tree, and immediately a crowd of Foreas assembled and curiously watched the one dressed Foreas and the two foreigners walk into the Tree, through the biggest, lushest entrance and into the expansive interior that was the base level of the Foreas’ home. The ground was covered in a green, with dirt paths naturally occuring leading to different areas of the Tree. At the far end of the Tree flush against the thick bark were slopes that led either down or up, visible only because the path kept anything from obscuring the view. Anywhere where there wasn’t a path, however, quickly became overgrown with vegetation of all kinds. Some of the spots showed tampering, with some resembling hammocks, and others forming small huts or stalls. One Foreas was in one of the rough stalls and a queue of others,both males and females, were waiting to go up to her. Whenever anyone would go up to her, she would dip her finger in a bowl made of branches and thick leaves and it would come out coated in a thick yellow liquid, which she then jammed into the mouths of her kin. Many visibly perked up and loved the taste, but the males who only wished to fit in would find their faces smeared with the liquid, as they lacked mouths. [i]Honey. She’s spent a long time going up to bees. Longer than I’ve been alive.[/i] [color=yellow]“Her name is Honey?”[/color] Karamir asked. [color=yellow]”Or are you just saying what she’s handing out?”[/color] [i]Huh… I guess that could be her name. I don’t know. Foreas don’t use names. We can’t speak. I would like to change mine, to be honest… I don’t think it fits me very well.[/i] She said with a shrug and kept walking. Rose fell slightly behind the group and whenever a Foreas attempted to go up to the strangers, he would push them away without hesitation. After a few moments, the Foreas stopped trying to approach and just kept on the sidelines. The small divine group passed by several improvised structured and objects made purely out of living vegetation, and once they reached the end of the path a kilometer or so after, they went down the slope into the underground levels of the Tree. And they went down and down and down… Silver wasn’t tired at all, Rose was fresh as well. The darker it got, the brighter the bioluminescence that the vegetation possessed. And even in the dark, the two strangers could see Silver’s body emitting a soft, slowly pulsating bright orange light in a complex swirling pattern across her skin. The lights were mostly covered by her living dress, however. At a point, deep underground, Silver stopped and turned sharply into a very brightly lit level. It was devoid of the usual overgrowth, and instead there were rows upon rows of large closed, softly luminescent pods growing from the very bark of the Tree, which at this level was everywhere. Internal root-like bent pillars of bark went from floor to ceiling and even in those pillars, pods grew. While Fenris maintained a guarded expression, Karamir took the time to admire their surroundings. It was beautiful, and for a entity that could breathe, breathtaking. Like a living art masterpiece, with all kinds of different colors of light that still somehow managed to follow some unseen harmony. The weird, natural architecture of the place clearly spoke of the divine nature of the Eternal Tree, and the sheer lifeforce that was emitted from that level... Silver stopped for a moment to take in the feeling with a sad smile, and then pushed forward down a main path. In the side paths one could see the occasional Foreas checking up on the closed pods and making sure they were healthy. Eventually, there were no more rows or side paths and the level opened up into a central sort of park. The ceiling was completely bioluminescent here, and it was the color of the sky. It gave the impression that they were out in the Forest. Even the scent was similar to the one on the surface… Only here, there were no predators, and there were very few animals made of meat and fur. The moment Silver stepped into the park area a shadow jumped out at her and propped itself up against her legs. It was a green mass of holly leaves stacked on top of each other in such a way that it resembles the fur of a dog, with a great big fluffy tail made of long plump leaves and a pair of very functional ears that perked up at every sound. It panted silently with its dark green tongue lolling out its mouth and looked up at Silver happily, pawing her thighs a few times and then letting itself fall back to the ground, still looking up at Silver. She grinned at the leafy dog and got on her knees to pet it and roughly push it around. It squirmed and wagged its tail and dropped to the floor belly up, so Silver rubbed its belly and it stretched its whole body out. While she pet her dog-friend, Silver spoke again. [i]Forean Hounds. A mixture of fox and wolf. They’re naturally tame and friendly and love to be pet. I haven’t seen any of them approach a meat-person, however. I guess no meat-person has ever been this deep in the Tree, to be fair.[/i] [color=yellow]“And they were created when a fox and a wolf jumped into… a pod?”[/color] Karamir asked curiously. [color=yellow]”What became of those two animals?”[/color] [i]They spent a few days inside the pods, the fox died of thirst I believe. Sad, but the dog survived and was taken outside the Tree after the pod opened again.[/i] Fenris scowled at the news. “Such a senseless sacrifice,” he remarked angrily. “Just to create… this,” he gestured to the Forean Hound. “Does it eat? Does it hunt? What purpose does it even serve?” [i]A purpose? It lives, it feels, it loves. It needs sun and air like everyone else. You do not need to kill in order to have a purpose.[/i] As she said so, the Forean pup rolled around and pressed its snout against Silver’s hand, licking her palm. Karamir, meanwhile, had turned away from the argument and walked back toward the pods. He approach the nearest one which happened to be closed, inspected it for a moment, and then ran a hand across its surface. It was hard, like a walnut’s shell. Tiny hairs which tickled Karamir’s hand extended from its surface, and the moment his hand touched the pod, a light current of energy coursed through him. He instantly withdrew from the pod and stepped back. His hand closed around the grip of his weapon, but he did not draw it. [color=yellow]”What’s happening?”[/color] he demanded. Silver shrugged, [i]I don’t know. You can relax here. There are no predators, there’s no greed, no fear… You’ll be fine. The Tree’s gentle.[/i] [color=yellow]”You say that like it’s alive,”[/color] Karamir said. [color=yellow]”Er… well, all trees are alive, but you say that like it has feelings.”[/color] he did another scan of his surroundings. [color=yellow]”Where did it come from?”[/color] [i]The Tree’s the Mother of all Foreas. It nurtures us, allows us to grow, teaches us about ourselves and the world while in the Dream… There are no records yet, so I don’t know where it came from specifically. I expect the soil as it is a Tree, after all.[/i] [color=yellow]”It had to have been made by a god,”[/color] Karamir concluded. [color=yellow]”I can sense divinity all over this place. Not unlike your own aura, actually. If I had to guess… I’d say Li’Kalla or Phystene? I never met Li’Kalla, and I only met Phystene briefly, but Li’Kalla led her people here, and Phystene is the Goddess of Plants, so it’s likely one of them…”[/color] Silver looked at the pup in front of her, and shrugged. [i]Improved perhaps. Had its growth accelerated, perhaps… I do not think a God is capable of creating something this beautiful, though. Not in this world.[/i] [color=yellow]”According to Kalmar, this world used to be nothing but ocean, until the Architect called the gods here,”[/color] Karamir said. [color=yellow]”But yes, there is a certain beauty to this place, unusual as it might be. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”[/color] Fenris cast him a disapproving look, but said nothing. There was silence for a few moments. The only sound was the rustling of leaves, until a hiss and the sound of liquid splattering on the ground echoed through the area. Silver sniffed the air and grinned, and another Foreas came out from one of the side paths and ran down a different one. Silver stood up and the pup looked up at her curiously. [i]Another one’s awakened. Let’s leave now, we should give them space to get used to this life before having to meet strangers.[/i] Karamir nodded and, after one last look at the strange underground chamber, turned and made his way back the way they came. Fenris followed, staring warily at the plant-hound. Silver walked a few paces, then turned back to the pup, who looked at her with wide, shiny sad eyes. At this she clapped her hands and the pup rushed up to her and stuck close to her side, tail wagging excitedly with every step. At this point, Silver rushed to stay ahead of the other two so they wouldn’t get lost, and they started making their way up… [hr] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeSbmS06k1k]The edge of the Eternal Forest.[/url] They’d left her home merely minutes ago and on this cliff overlooking the landscape, she could catch all the scents wafting from where she used to live, and could barely see Rose standing amongst the trees watching her leave. She waved at him but of course, he could not see her. She smiled and her heart fluttered, and her smile turning into a grin and her eyes became wet and tears began to flow. Her leaves twitched and squirmed and she wiped her tears with one hand and tried to hold down her leaves with the other. As she felt her goodbye, she saw Rose hesitantly turn around and walk back into the Forest. Before disappearing between the roots of the Eternal Tree, he stopped to sniff the air once more. This was his way of remembering her existence, Silver realized. The pure hearts of the Foreas cared not for names, or appearance. They cared for the way a being would stir their hearts. The feelings left imprinted into their memories were what they held dear to them. That night she spent out in her clearing right after awakening, only to be attacked by a predator… In many ways it should be a bad memory. It should be, but in Silver’s case, she only remembered the way her heart warmed up when she was saved by Rose’s mighty swings. They never shared a word. They never truly saw each other, or heard each other… And it felt like a more genuine, grounded connection than anything else she’d experienced. Her first friend. Not Silver’s first friend, but hers. [i]My name’s not Silver. [b]It’s Ami.[/b][/i] [hr] [hider=Post Summary] Karamir and Fenris are walking in the woods. They meet an edgy twelve year-old smelly forest hobo by the name of Sun’Kalla. They talk a bit. Karamir asks for directions and about what happened to all the dudes who went with Li’Kalla. He learns a bit about the land and also about Shengshi’s tantrum. He then breaks the news of Kalmar’s demise and his own ascension, and in doing so tells the story of Laurien, Abraxas, and all that jazz. Nobody gives a shit. Then Sun is like: “Yo, Laurien was here lately.” Karamir asks where. Sun tells him. Sun then suggests that Karamir wants revenge. Karamir is like: “Nah I want answers and to also make sure she will stop hurting people.” Sun is like: “Ah, vengeance it is.” Karamir is confused and tries to correct him, but Sun continues to insist that Karamir is after vengeance, so Karamir gets annoyed and walked away. Fenris is triggered by Sun’s blatant lack of respect, and suggests that Karamir should have asserted dominance. Karamir is dismissive and says he doesn’t particularly care for the opinions of a twelve year-old smelly forest hobo. Anyway, fast forward a bit and Silver is practicing mana, with her guardian friend Rose nearby. She smells Fenris, but not Karamir, because Karamir is odorless. Anyway, Karamir then zips forward with Fenris and meets her, having sensed her usage of mana. While Fenris and Rose stare each other down trying to assert dominance over one another, Karamir and Silver talk a bit, with Karamir trying to learn even more about the land and the Foreas. Silver asks Karamir to describe her appearance, and then touch her and describe how she feels, because her own senses are shit. Karamir is weirded out by this but reluctantly complies. Anyway, the conversation carries on toward other topics. Eventually Silver mentions a desire to travel, but isn’t sure she can defend herself. Karamir is like: “Hey, I’m strong, and I’m travelling, why not come with me?” So she’s like: “Sure, why not.” Then she takes them to the Eternal Tree’s basement where she shows them some weird plant puppy thing that was made recently, after a wolf and a fox got trapped in a pod. Fenris is not okay with this. Meanwhile Karamir touches a pod and something weird happens, putting him on edge. Silver reassures him. Karamir then begins to openly speculate on the tree’s origins, but eventually they decide to head back to the surface. Later, on the edge of the Eternal Forest, Silver gives a heartfelt goodbye to Rose, who she is about to leave behind. As she leaves, she thinks about her name, and then decides to change it. Instead of Silver, she is now Ami. [/hider]