LadyAnnaLee

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin poured over the map that Ridahne had given her. She knew that Astra was sea-locked. She hadn’t realized just how close to the Endless Waves her home had been compared to how far it was from the center. She was half tempted to just race back home and then on to the ocean. She knew that you couldn’t go far from Astra’s land. The Barrier prevented it. Darin gave her head a shake. She couldn’t leave Astra even if she wanted to. She didn’t want to. Even before this journey she wasn’t “wandertouched” like the elders said others in the village were.

She traced her finger over her map, “I wasn’t going anywhere in particular.” She shrugged, “I don’t have a goal, or at least not a place as a goal.” Her finger landed on a spot, “Though that wouldn’t be a bad place to start.”

It was The Tree. Darin had never seen it. She never had plans to see it. Even though she had The Seed strapped to her thigh she still had no plans to go see it until just now. However, the farmgirl was suddenly struck with a desire to know what was causing The Tree’s decay and withering. It might give her clues as to where she should be going in order to plant The Seed. The Tree was close to human lands though it was technically in Elf lands.

Darin took a moment to see if The Seed had any objection to that plan. Now that she was thinking about it Darin realized she didn’t know how close she would have to get in order to know that a place she was at was the place she needed to plant The Seed. For all she knew She would have to actually walk over the spot. If that was the case this was going to take forever. Darin hadn’t realized how big Astra was. Three months suddenly seemed like no time at all.

She held out the map towards Ridahne, “Can we head towards The Tree? I would like to see it before.” She paused, almost unwilling to say it, “Before it’s gone.”

The Seed didn’t seem to object to that plan, and it was a better plan than wandering about Astra without one. It would give her a chance to see the mountains and they would cross a few rivers. Darin heard rumors that Sirens lived in rivers as well as the oceans. She had met and Elf. She sort of wanted to meet a Siren as well. She was planting The Seed for all of Astra. She wanted to know the people she was all but fighting for. Maybe she was fighting for them. She had come supper close to letting Talbot crush that one lady’s head in after all.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I will make the changes to the map then. I will fix the links too. I did not draw Darin. It was a doll maker. Did you draw Ridahne.

I was thinking of three types of sirens, like you have three types of elfs. The children of the waves the children of the deep and the children of the fresh.

If that last border is coastal it might make sense to just make Astra an island. Would that be alright.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I hope you don't mind me uploading Ridahne to my onedrive. (I Love her by the way. She is freaking amazing!) I figured it would be best to have all the pictures in one place.

Darin
Ridahne
Astra

Also I added a few rivers and a few barriers. They can be changed. The green is a forest, the blue is a deep ocean, and the brown is a desert. They can be changed. I also gave the Sirens more space and created a pass in the mountains. the purple spot is The Tree; the one that's dying. I did like your map. It was great. I just made a few changes and they can be undone.

Finally. I really want to share what I've come up for the Sirens. Is that okay.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

If you don't mind me having your email address I can send you mine via pm. Then you could send me the pic that way.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I think you need to upload it to an image sharing site first. Then you can share it here. You can't directly upload it to this site.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I was trying to sketch it. But it wasn't very good. So thank you.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I am having problems imagining how Astra is laid out. I know a few things base on what you have said and the fact that I want it to be a rough circle surrounds by natural borders. Like I think the northeast border is an ocean belonging to the sirens. But some of your old post say that the Eluri are to the east of the Azurei while the Azurei also touches the Dust Sea which I think is to the north but I'm not sure. I think the Azuri is to the south since you mentioned the southern pass leading to them. I know I want there to be a lot of rivers. And there's a sea to the west.

I know this isn't really important but I'm having a hard time figuring out what the map Darin is looking at looks like. IF that makes sense. If I don't figure it out now I will forget something later. If that makes sense.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin nodded to Ridahne as she left to head back to the stable. The Elf was right. If she wanted to take Talbot with her, she needed to know how to take care of him. That was only polite after all. She hurried towards Talbot. The rest of the town was waking up. Darin wanted to get Ridahne out of here. She had seen mobs in Lively before, and the human was willing to bet that once the gossip of last night spread One would start to form. As long as they got out before all sense was lost, they would be okay.

The farmer looked like he was repairing some sort of tack. He looked up as Darin skid to a stop, “I need to learn how to saddle Talbot.”

He was clearly confused, “Have you never rode before?”

Darin shook her head, “I know how to use plow horse. I’ve only rode once and been on top of a horse twice.”

The farmer stood up, “Well Talbot won’t let you put a saddle on him or use a bit. Let’s see if we can convince him to let you at least have reins.”

Together they walked over to Talbot. The farmer pulled a set of reins of a hook by his stall. He held them up for the horse to look at. The horse snorted inelegantly. It was clear what he thought about that. Darin couldn’t blame him. She wouldn’t like it either.

The farmer spoke calmly, “Yeah I know you don’t like tack Talbot, but he’s never really ridden properly before. I won’t let him saddle you, but do you really want him falling off.”

Talbot scoffed again but he did lower his head. The farmer showed Darin how to put the bitless reins on and take them off. Then Darin did it a few times as well. It wasn’t even that different from hooking up a plow. The reins would not only help Darin stay on, but they would also help Darin get on. Darin needed all the help she could get so she would take it for sure. With the reins in hand she led Talbot out into the center of the barn. At one point the farmer disappeared. Darin was a little worried about the lack of a bit because that was how a rider typically told a horse which way to go, but Talbot seemed smart. Hopefully he wouldn’t be too stubborn.

That was when the farmer came back with a few things, “I found a few spare things you can have.” He held out a brush, “Make sure you brush Talbot every night.” He gave her a bar of soap and a cloak, “Talbot seems to think you could use all the help you can get. So here you go.”

He was silent as he handed her the last thing. It was a sickle. Darin pulled the covering out and knew that it was not a spare. The steel was brightly polished, and Darin could feel the cuts just by looking at it. She immediately began to protest. This was his tool and he didn’t know her. There was no reason to give it to her.

The farmer cut of the protest, “Talbot told me what you’ve got. When you get the job done let me come see you.” He grinned, the leather of his skin breaking into countless lines, “Just to smell it.”

Darin was almost overcome with the amount of kindness she felt form this farmer that had been working the land for longer than she had been alive. This was the future she had envisioned for herself. The Seed reacted as well. It started to burn, but this time it was almost pleasant. Darin didn’t think The Seed liked the thought about the farmer coming to smell the new Tree. It wasn’t enough. She wrapped the sickle back up

Without even think about it she threw her arms around him, “I make a decent apple pie.” She was whispering in his ear, “You should come taste it. When I’m ready for guests.”

The Seed liked that, or maybe Darin was imagining it. Either way it seemed right. The farmer was caught off guard for a little bit, but then returned the hug. When they pulled away Darin noticed that Ridahne was back in the barn. Her horse and Talbot seemed to get along. It was a nice little party. Darin nodded again. It was time to be on their way.

Darin put the soap and brush in her pack, “I’m ready.” The cloak went on as she walked over to Talbot, “We best get going. There’s no point wasting anytime.”

Talbot bent his knee and head. Using the reins Darin tugged herself to the back. She tried to be gentle, but she knew she tugged too hard. She patted Talbot’s neck and he rose to his full height. Darin was caught off guard for a moment. She held on to the sickle as she looked around. Her eyes fell on the farmer.

She was tying to be polite, “Thank you so much.”

He patted her knee, “Just take care of Talbot, and make sure you get it done.” He gave her one last piece of advice, “Learn to listen to Talbot. It will do you good.”

Darin nodded, “You’ve got it.” She turned to her companion, “Where to now? Which direction?”

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

The plan was eventually get them there. I think it would be fun. I don't think we should go straight there though. I also think they need to swing by The Tree at some point as well.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I love that movie. It was beautiful designed. I love this role play too. I keep coming up with things that will never actully come up in the story.