LadyAnnaLee

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin clicked her teeth together that threw that idea out; the idea being that the tattoo for being the Guardian could be a symbol already in use just in a different color. The truth was Darin wasn’t sure she was the one to be designing something like this. She knew nothing about tattoos or symbolism. She had already been more direct than symbols required. Though that did lend itself to an idea. Maybe it didn’t need to be a symbol. Maybe it could be direct. Though Darin wasn’t sure about that either. She did know it had to be small and discreet while still being seen.

She did explain one thing, “You are the first Seed-Chained Ridahne. You will not be the last. At least I do not think you will be the last. So while you are correct that the ojih are an Azurein thing the symbol needs to be something that anyone can wear or tattoo in other places. It needs to be something that anyone in Astra will one day know by sight. Like the outfit the Workers wear.” She was checking on Taja, “At least that’s what I think.”

Darin was also thinking about Ridahne’s belief that she would be married when they got to Azurei. The thought of Ridahne married made the human apprehensive for a reason Darin didn’t quite know. She didn’t know if she was jealous or angry or what it was. She did know that she was worried. Darin was hoping that on day Ridahne would be free to live her own life; free from being marked a traitor and from being Seed-Chained. The problem was that the warrior wasn’t free yet. Even throwing out the fact that Darin had inadvenrtanly Chained her to The Seed Ridahne had still agreed to see this journey through to the end. Darin wasn’t going to stop Ridahne and Ajoran from getting married, but she did have to wonder if it was a good idea. There were some … less than good people that wanted The Seed. Would Ridahne be able to leave Ajoran to finish the job of protecting Darin? If the choice, Tree forbid, between Ajoran and The Seed came up what would Ridahne pick? More importantly, would Darin press her into picking the right choice? What even was the right choice? Darin wasn’t sure.

So instead she asked, “What is the symbol for marriage. Why do people even get married? Is it religious or what?”

People in Lively got married for tax reasons. Darin had a vague idea of what taxes were. It was money the lord collected to pay to repair roads and protect the people. Her village didn’t have taxes. If something needed to be fixed the people came together to fix it. If they needed protecting, they took turns keeping guard. Some of the traders got married for religious reasons; a belief that their deity or deities told them to get married. Her home didn’t really have a god beyond The Tree. So there was no reason to make living their lives with someone official or what not. Maybe an explanation from someone who wanted to get married would help it make sense to Darin. She didn’t think so though. She didn’y really like anybody enough to spend her life with them.

She said the next part out loud, “Expect you Talbot.” He snorted at her in question, “I would spend my life with you.” She flapped a hand at the bird, “And maybe Taja if he stops trying to take my arm off, but so far that doesn’t seem to be happening.”

- Fragmented - (dead; stay tuned for the next one!)

Ashe nodded with a tired smile on their face, “Again. Thank you for having us, but I think I will call it a night.”

With that the young gamer nodded respectfully. Moments later the message came though the translators. Ashe was more than happy to follow the lead of a few others they saw. It wasn’t long before they were following a member of the staff though to their room. It was a nice enough room, but their eyes were drawn to the piece of paper that including how to access the internet. That was what they had been looking for all night. It was easy enough to get their phone connected and to turn on wifi calling. Ashe was surprised that they already had a message from a number she didn’t recognize. They listened to the message as they hunted for their toothbrush and body wash in their luggage. Then they processed what the message was and who it was from. The toothbrush and body wash were shoved back into the suitcase.

It was from the police. Gregory Cross had been in a hit and run. It was bad. He was currently in the hospital. No other information could be given over the phone and Ashe was hundreds and hundreds of miles away. That needed to change. They would run down the mountain if they needed to in order to get to the airport. They were halfway out the door of the guest room when they paused. This was their chance. If they left now, they might not ever have another chance to find their soul mate. Ashe looked towards where the party was in full swing. Did they really want to leave now? If they did it was only inevitable that they would become Lost. Then again, Ashe knew how this worked. They didn’t do romance. No one really seemed to want a simple platonic relationship. They weren’t sure that they could hate someone just because. It might just be better to leave now. That in mind Ashe steeled themselves. It didn’t matter. They would take the dark future they knew for the people they knew love them rather than the potentially light future with people that may not even want them around. They had to see what the fastest way down the mountain was. They had their luggage in hand. They were leaving this party behind to go home; to take care of their loved ones.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I apologize for this one being short. I just didn't want to let it drag.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin’s gaze flicked from Ridahne to the road ahead, “I’ll have to think maybe I can help think of a design.”

There was silence of a little bit as she thought about it. Darin didn’t handle pain well, so she never thought she would ever get a tattoo. As a result, she never gave tattoos much thought until she had meet Ridahne. She would never say this out loud but her first thoughts had been similar to the people the Elf had mocked earlier. Darin had just thought it must have hurt. Now though Darin was wondering a lot more about what the designs meant and why they were gotten. She still wasn’t sure she would ever get a tattoo of her own, but she could at least respect the people who did.

Darin let Talbot do most of the work as they headed down the road. As she spoke, she seemed far away, “Two marks. It should be two.” She didn’t know how she knew that. She just did, “One for being the Guardian and one for being Seed-Chained. I don’t know much about the mark for the Guardian except for the fact that it needs to be one of a kind. You and you alone will bear that symbol. On the other hand, the mark for being Seed-Chained needs to be something anyone in Astra will both recognize and can wear. It also needs to be unfinished. The symbol for being Seed-Chained can only be completed when it is transformed into the mark for being Seed-Honored.” She paused to ask a question, “Do the colors mean anything? Could the same mark mean something different if it was in black compared to blue? If so,” Darin paused, sure she was crossing a line, “If so, maybe, the symbol for Guardian shouldn’t be an Azurein color.” She laughed nervously, “It’s just a thought.”

Darin wasn’t sure where any of these thoughts had come from. She almost wanted to say it was nonsense expect for the fact that The Seed was burning against her thigh. It was a pleasant feeling, so Darin didn’t think that she was on the wrong track. She might not be one hundred percent correct, but she wasn’t wrong either. Beside she was pretty sure she was right about the two different marks and the difference between the two. She wasn’t so sure about the color thing. She would be willing to back off on that one. Then again, she had never designed a tattoo before. What did she really know?

She pointed out, “We should try to get something figured before we reach Azurei. That way you can actually get the tattoo, or start getting it, while we are there.” She furrowed her brow in puzzlement, “I’m not sure how long a tattoo takes to get. I know you’re working on that one on your leg. What is that one supposed to be? How long until it’s done.”

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin had to think about that. It wasn’t that the explanation was lacking. If anything, it was more than enough. Darin even thought it was a nice belief. The thought of not having to explain yourself to the judge that waited for you after you died was nice. The thought that anyone could know everything about you just by looking at your face was less pleasant, but the thought of knowing if a new person could be trusted in just a glance was relieving. She just didn’t like the thought of Ridahne going to this Keeper without the whole story of her life.

Darin urged Talbot forward in front of Tsura only to stop suddenly. Her face was earnest, “You told me once that this … adventure wouldn’t become part of your ojih. Yet you also say that The Keeper will judge your life based on what he sees in your ojih.” She sighed, “All it says now is that you are a traitor and an exile. It doesn’t say anything about you being the Guardian of the Seed-Bearer.” Darin paused as she steeled herself to correct herself, “My Guardian. It says nothing about you being Seed-Chained.” She asked a question she knew might not make complete sense. “What happens when you are no longer Seed-Chained and become Seed-Honored? Will that part of your story not become part of the story you tell others?” Darin sighed, “I know you said you don’t have mark for it, but this is something new. Maybe you could think of something new.” She pulled Talbot back around to head back down the road, “I can’t say I understand the Azurein culture as well as either one of us would like, but I do know this. I know that if the purpose of the ojih is to tell a story to people and gods alike, and if honesty is one of the goals, then you need to tell the whole story; not just the parts you want to tell or think need to be told.” She smiled, “Think about it and then tell me why I’m wrong.” She laughed, “Maybe we can talk instead of yell for once.”

It was a joke. It was supposed to be a joke. Hopefully Ridahne would take it as a joke. Well, the last part about not yelling was a joke. Darin didn’t think her observation regarding putting the fact that Ridahne was the Guardian onto the Elf’s ojih was a joke; at least she wasn’t trying to joke. The human would admit that she didn’t completely understand the oijh. She might not ever really understand it. She did know that Ridahne said that important things became part of the oijh, and Darin couldn’t think of anything more important than fighting for the future of Astra. She may have misstepped, but she didn’t think it was too terrible. She wasn’t sure though.

Though she wasn’t going to promise what Ridahne asked her to promise. She wasn’t going to go around touching the ojih randomly or without reason. Darin got why that just wasn’t a thing. She could respect that it was a major invasion. The human just couldn’t promise that she wouldn’t destroy an ojih. She wasn’t planning on doing so, but if she had to choose between her life or a person’s who was trying to kill her face, she would pick her life. Also, there was a belief, a human belief, that some people, some cruel, evil people, did not deserve peace is life or death. It was why the village had burned the rapist that had come from Lively. He hadn’t gotten the peace of being buried to help the crops grow. If an unmarked ojih gave a person a place in the Hall of Spirits, there was a possibility, however slight, that there were people who didn’t deserve that honor. Darin was not going to say that out loud unless Ridahne pressed the issue. Sometimes discretion was best.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin thought about that. It was possible that some of the Eluri would know who she was thanks to a vision of some sort, but they should be able to travel anonymously for a little while. It also seemed that they would be able to travel in relative safety without anyone trying to attack Ridahne for no real reason. That was good. Though Darin had no real stories she could tell. Her life before this trip had been boring and predictable, and if the Eluri had any farmers at all they would already know the tales. Though it sounded like there were a few difeerences in how their little towns were laid out. That was alright. Darin was excited to see the differences even though she knew Ridahne was right; people mostly just wanted to live good lives.

Then something else struck Darin and she found herself asking without realy thinking, “Wait! It’s a religion? That’s why you tattoo your face? Will you explain it too me?” Then her brain caught up with her mouth, “Are you allowed to explain it to me?”

Darin hadn’t even thought the oijh were a religious thing. She thought it was mainly cultural. Then again, Darin hadn’t had much exposure to religion in her life. She had a vague idea of some type of deity or deities existing. She figured that a higher power had to exist in some form or another. Darin just didn’t worship any or claim to be a follower of any of the ones she knew about. She knew other people did. Some of the traders that came to Lively did. She also knew that some of the traders refused to talk to each other because they believed in different gods. Darin didn’t much see the point in that one. Everybody believed in The Tree. Everyone was a person. What did it matter if someone believed in a different god than another? Darin wasn’t sure it did matter. As long as a person did good Darin saw no reason to hate them.

Then again Darin wasn’t sure she really hated anyone. Well, her father, maybe, but she knew that was unfair of her. Though that didn’t stop her from hating him. She had been more afraid of Mark than actually hating him. She might hate the Sols, but she wasn’t sure yet. She knew she actively disliked them, though she was reserving judgment on hating them until she met them for herself. She could at least do that for her Seed-Chained. That much was easy enough. She wasn’t fond of people, but there was no one (except her father) that she really hated. Hate just seemed like a useless emotion. That didn’t change the fact that it could be valid. Darin knew that too.

Darin continued her line of thought, “I would like to know if you can tell me. You don’t have to feel like you have to. I know some people are tight lipped about it. Some of the traders that come to Lively will talk about their religion while others won’t. I’ll admit that I didn’t really pay attention to what I was allowed to hear. I never thought I need it. The Tree helps guide us in choosing good over evil, and nature provides most of what I need. I suppose it makes sense that some higher power is at work. I just never gave it much thought until recently.”

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin thought about that. It would be nice to see fireflies again even if they were bigger. In fact, that might actually be fun. Though it was almost the end of firefly season. They came out for the growing season and for harvest, but like most things rested during the winter months. The human wondered if that was true for the uloia as well. They would probably still see them though. She wondered if she would see other things that looked familiar but weren’t quite the same. Darin would have to keep a look out for sure. It would be like an adventure within an adventure. That would be fun.

Darin leaned forward to look at Taja. The hawk eyed her distrustfully. That was going to get old quick, and Darin was sick and tired of getting clawed every time she so much as reached a hand out to help the creature. It wasn’t going to stop her from helping though. She knew that. It wasn’t like she could just stop. She had committed to helping the bird, and that wasn’t a job a person could quit halfway though. Once you decided to help someone quitting on them for just rude and almost made things worse. As such Darin reached out to make sure the hawk was safely secured in the traveling basket. To her surprise the creature didn’t lash out at her. Darin would count that as a win.

As she readjusted the basket she asked, “Will we be well received? How do the Eluri take to visitors?” Darin swallowed as she asked a question she didn’t rally want to ask, “How will they look at you?”

It was a fair question. Darin couldn’t deny that it was a fair question. She needed to know if they were immediately going to be a source of contention because of the mark on Ridahne’s face. That didn’t mean Darin wanted to ask it, because Ridahne was more than the mark on her face. Darin knew that. Any person worth their measure knew that. That didn’t mean that everybody would act that way. Darin didn’t even expect them to act that way. For some people such a mark could serve as a true warning. Some people with the mark of the traitor were probably actually traitors. Darin wouldn’t know until she met one of them. Then again, she was trying to not make assumptions about people.

Then there was another question. Had any of them had visions about The Seed-Bearer coming though their lands? That might not be a good thing. Darin was trying to keep a low profile. That hadn’t been the case for the last little while. She wondered if The Farm counted. Back to the point. Darin had no idea how visions worked. She knew that Ridahne’s vision about going to find her came from The Tree. That didn’t mean she thought all visions came from The Tree. Some might come from ancestors or gods. Some might even come from demons. Darin wasn’t sure demons existed, but if gods did it made sense that demons did. Though the young human wasn’t sure that gods were a thing either. Still, The First Tree had to have come from somewhere. It made sense that it came from a higher power of some type. Though if there was a higher power it made sense that they chose her to do this job and why they would do that was completely beyond her. She still didn’t understand why she had been chosen. She just knew that The Gardener and The Tree thought she was the only one capable of doing the job.

Taja was safely secured so she sat back down on Talbot. Talbot hadn’t done anything unpredictable, like break out into a random gallop, today. Darin was willing to bet that was because he was also carrying Taja. She softly patted the spot of the horse between her legs in thanks. Darin didn’t mind being thrown of and unsettled if it made her a better rider, but she didn’t want to upset the injured member of their party. That would not be kind or considerate at all. Besides the poor bird was already traumatized. It wouldn’t do to break the fragile trust growing between them. Darin still wondered what had actually happened to the poor creature, but she would probably never know.

Darin asked another question, “Are there towns or something similar in Eluri? It would be nice to get to know some of the people. Plus it would be nice to nit make camp every night. Most nights yes, but I spent three months sleeping on the ground. I rather not repeat that.”

- Fragmented - (dead; stay tuned for the next one!)

Isaac Abramson was surprisingly chill about the whole thing though that might have something to do with the fact that his clothes seemed designed to repeal water while looking beyond fashionable. For a moment all Ashe could do was stare at the still pristine outfit as he gently guided them away from the puddle on the floor. Ashe’s head turned from looking at the twin’s clothes to the puddle on the floor with wide eyes. They still couldn’t wrap their minds around the fact that everything was fine. As such they were not sure how to protest when the glass of champagne was pressed into their hand. In the end it was the question that shook their brain back into some level of functionality.

Ashe sputtered for a moment, “Um, well, it was fine. I enjoyed it. I’ve never seen mountains like this before. The views were simply magnificent. Though I think it is a good thing I’m not too terribly afraid of heights. I can’t imagine that the trip would be easy for anyone that was. Your house is magnificent. It truly was the best view.” They tapped their translator, “And the level of technology is incredible. I must say I’m very impressed.”

They were babbling again. They needed to learn to stop that. What if they met their soul mate? They didn’t want to babble and ruin their one shot at a good first impression. Though knowing their luck their soul mate saw them crash into one of the hosts and spill wine all over them. Ashe wanted to melt into the floor. Well, that wasn’t one hundred percent true. They just wanted to get out of this room with too many people and find a place to decompress. Their social battery had run out a long time ago. Too bad that Ashe had no idea what the socialize rules were here. They did know that they couldn’t just leave in the middle of a conversation with one of their hosts. That would be beyond rude.

To their internal dismay Ashe started babbling again, “You must be extremely proud of how your party turned out. You’ve already got people Reuniting. Hopefully that number will only increase as the week goes on. I imagine you have planned a variety of activities designed to help people Reunite and get to know their soul mates better. I imagine no expense was spared.” Ashe let out a desperate chuckle, “Alright. I’m shutting up now.”

They took a healthy swallow of their champagne to discover that it wasn’t all that bad. They actually liked it a lot which was surprising since they didn’t actually like champagne that much. The bubbles usually turned them off of it. Still the flavor was extremely nice. That was all Ashe could say about it though. They were not an expert by any means. They usually tended to drink wine from the grocery store. They had a feeling this was a bit more expensive than grocery store wine; well, a lot more expensive. They were so going to have a headache when they woke up tomorrow.

@Obscene Symphony

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Darin managed to keep up with the switches in languages, but only just barely. It was probably because they were already so closely related. Darin wasn’t sure she would be able to keep up if that happened all the time; especially if Ridahne continued to talk as fast as she was currently. Then again, she had never seen the Elf look so excited or happy. Darin supposed that was a good thing. Still it was a little unsettling to see. Darin mentally chided herself for that thought. Ridahne was allowed to be excited for things even if it was for something relatively small. Darin just found so little to be exciting right now.

She continued in the same language, “We can speak solely in Azurein, but you are going to have to speak slower than you are now. I can barely keep up right now. The Tree gave me the knowledge, but not the practice. Hopefully I will get better with practice.” She switched to the dialect she spoke at home, “If not I’m in trouble.”

Okay. That was kind of nice to hear. Maybe that was why Ridahne had gotten so excited when she had started to speak Azurien. It was like a little piece of home. Darin missed home. She gave her head a shake. Enough of that. The homesickness was getting out of hand. If she didn’t get her mental state under control the whole thing could be put at risk. She couldn’t spend her entire time missing home. She didn’t need to spend her time worrying about the past. She needed to focus on the future, everything that was at stake. There were more important things than her homesickness. That was for sure.

Darin look towards the horizon to see if she could figure out where they were headed. She wasn’t sure why she cared. It wasn’t like she would be able to tell where they were. They had been traveling on The Farm towards the other end from where they had entered. It seemed like that there was more forest on the other side. Darin was kind of bored with forests and woods. She had seen all of Astral after a fashion. She wanted to see deserts and oceans with her own eyes. She has seen mountains before. There were a few near her home. She wanted to see the rest of the continent. She was almost eager to see cities and palaces. She already knew she would stick out like a sore thumb. She didn’t care.

Darin asked, “How far do you think we’ll get tonight? How long until we reach Elven lands? The Eluri right? What are their lands like? Do you know? Did you travel though them to get to where you found me? Or did you take a different route? What is Astra like? I want to know it all.” Her brow furrowed, “I suppose that is why I’m traveling Astra. I need to know the country. I need to learn the people. They are who I’m fighting for. As dramatic as that sounds it’s true.”

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

My work has me exhausted. I will have to wait until this weekend to respond. It has nothing to do with the role-play and everything to do with the fact that I'm just tired.