| Take Nothing For Granted; 1st Draux Bonding Event | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 8 2017, 08:35 PM (1,321 Views) | |
| Zinc | Sep 8 2017, 08:35 PM Post #1 |
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Parliament Owl
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Trials and tribulations of the past two years had scoured the landscape of Sekkai, wounding the land deeply and tipping scales dangerously in directions unforseen. The balance had shifted, and the land was responding. Game ran scarce, and the Legion surged forwards in the aftermath of what they had wrought. Slowly, life was finding a way, but not without action taken. The stars moved for no one, save the hands of time, and time would be what it took in the long run. In the meantime, it was as if the days of old had come, when the war had run rampant. Refugees looked to the capital, to their Empress, and to the knights upon dragon and wolf back, praying for salvation, hoping they'd not been forgotten to the darkness. Scores had flooded the capital city, and more had sought the Academy, trading their lives for food, meager as it would have been. It was an opportunity to live, a hope for something better against the slow march of time. Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered they had found their way, and made for themselves a place. Misfits and wayward children, the lot of them, called away by necessity or wishes to a place that held a magic and union of beasts of all kinds within it's hallowed halls. Some knew not what they came for, others ran with purpose, their eyes set forth on one unwavering goal. Regardless of who they were and why they came, all were considered, all were watched, and the unwavering gaze of those overseeing judged accordingly. A sign was given in it's simplest form. Simple parchment with a summons in an elegant script, bound and sealed with wax in a sigil unknown. Many were written. Few were left to be found, and even fewer still were given a response. Word had way of traveling. Even the nature of the scrolls, seemingly secretive at their basest core were shared in hushed whispers amongst the halls to those who were willing to lend an ear to listen, but still, more was required. Some things were simply meant for the more daring of spirit, the others returning to their rooms and resuming their lives as if nothing had changed. What was said was said, after all, but whether one would act to justify them was simply another test in of itself. After all, what was life without a means against which to measure oneself? Boring and unfulfilling. To the farthest ends of the fields they were called. On the very fringes of the forest that imposed upon the empty, sweeping hills that had once been full of the Academy's very life's blood. Occasionally a Dire wolf was seen to lope here, and even less rarely, one of the remaining cattle, a prize guarded fiercely. Few others tread so far from the marble walls anymore, the Academy a distant structure on the horizon. It was here they were asked to meet once the time was right. An empty, lonely place with seemingly no others around, save one. Regally imposing, they stood toying with something gleaming between their long fingers in the shadow of a great tree. Pale of hair and feature, but seemingly unremarkable save for the presence in this particular place, they watched and waited. Time was ticking. |
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| Kyariel | Sep 8 2017, 09:45 PM Post #2 |
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Myrna follows the whispers to the Roughly middle of the day after one of her recent lessons Myrna overheard someone reading a paper. She'd curiously asked what it was for and when she was told folks were needed somewhere she decided to see what it was about. If it was some task that involved care of an animal she could help greatly she thought. Though the distance she trekked was a bit surprising. Not that she was complaining seeing as how she liked to walk around outside, especially with her raven friend Kormac. Who oddly winged off on his own when she got within sight of someone she wasn't familiar with. As she walked within hearing range so as to avoid shouting the teen smiled somewhat shyly "hello Sir, are you the one who sent out the summons?". She would have greeted him by name but she couldn't identify him as anyone who was around the academy let alone if he was a rider like she hoped to be. Of course the compound of the Academy was huge so she might just have missed him in the crush of the halls as people seeking refuge or purpose had swarmed the place. As she waited for a response she looked around curiously wondering who needed help this far from the academy. Since the male she just found didn't appear distressed, aside from appearing to fidget with something in his hands. Said thing attracting her attention when her raven landed back on her shoulder making curious little churr noises. His dark eyes bright as he focused on the gleaming whatever it was, but stayed put. Advantages of raising a raven from a barely fledged youngling was her training to keep him from stealing everyones shinies. Least if they were in someone's hands, on the ground was 'ok' in the sense that if needed Myrna could eventually find the actual owner of her 'gift' from Kormac. So he at least was not being a rude bird by just watching the moving shiny thing. |
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| GothicThylacine | Sep 8 2017, 11:10 PM Post #3 |
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At first, Shae thought she was dreaming. Surely it was just a dream to be so compelled to follow an odd rumor resulting in an almost mythical looking scroll summoning interested partied to an odd location at the edges of the fields near the woods? She was unsure why she was so driven, but maybe later she would just say it was an excuse to go riding. And Rowan was more than happy to oblige. The stallion surged forward through the open grassy lands. Shae felt alive again, she felt horrible about neglecting Rowan, well, not neglecting really, he had the best care here at the Academy, but she hated being too busy to ride. Heck, she worked her hands to the bone at home but still made time for riding! It made her feel so free! And a small childish part of her felt as if they were on some mysterious adventure or quest. But her adult self reminded her of caution. Just what WAS this summons? Why urge people to meet them so far from the center of the Academy? Rowan did not seem alarmed yet. He ran forward with the speed, determination, and stamina that impressed Shae enough to know he was her favorite. Well, that and his personality of course. Smart and playful horses were the best. As if reading her mind, Rowan tosses his head with a snort. His pale blonde mane brushing her face causing her to laugh. "You clown!" She patted his neck and he ran faster. Before she knew it, she spotted the forest line approaching. She gently urged Rowan to slow to a canter. As they neared, Shae spotted what looked like a couple figures before a great tree. Rowan slowed on his own now, not frightened or distrustful, but cautious. They approached and Shae knew these must be those who had called others here. She spotted another woman with her own animal companion, a raven approaching as well. Summoning Rowan to stop, she dismounted slowly and patted her steed. "You stay out here and feed. Head back to the stables if you must, but I need to see what this is" Shae always believed her animals could understand her, but of course, she tried not to get too involved in what could be a fantasy. Though Rowan was good about returning home if he went too far, he also tended to wait for Shae wherever she went. Shae made her way up near the other woman looking at the imposing figures with their pale hair that took all of her attention for some reason. "I am also here because of this summon," She said holding up her scroll. "I would ask questions but I am also curious just to see where this goes. Such a strange call often leads to the greatest treasures" She said, assuming they were not really interested in anything she had to say yet, so she then remained silent for the time being. |
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| Kitsu | Sep 8 2017, 11:13 PM Post #4 |
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Nerida had heard whisperings of something by the other candidates. With the help of Daijon they were able to puzzle out most of when they had heard. Candidates were being called to outside the academy for something. After finished up their assigned chores they met up with Daijon. After exchanging greetings they headed out across the sea of grass to the trees at its edges. They had garnered a few odd looks from their greetings but had done their best not to pay much mind. Nerida reveled in the feel of the grass beneath their bare feet. They were already tired of walking on the strange flat stone of the academy. They lifted a hand to twist the choker around their neck slightly. The scent of the sea wafted up to comfort them. There were still dark circles under their eyes from the many sleepless nights they had after coming to the academy. Thankfully they had discovered the large pools of water people bathed in. at night they would sneak into the large room to one of the smaller pools to sleep by. Since they had nothing to secure them yet they had settled with dangling a limb or two into the water as the slept on the edge. As they crossed the seemingly endless grasses Nerida noticed a small handful of others heading in the same direction. From what they could tell the others were candidates since they had seen them sleep in the places the other candidates slept. Up ahead they caught sight of a pale figure standing at the edge of the trees. “Ah, you know who that is Daijon?” Nerida often turned to Daijon to guide them and answer questions. He had been here a little longer than them and had also grown up on the mainland. Though he had also explained these others at the academy were very odd. They were different than both the other islanders and his tribe. They were glad to have someone else to try to understand theses sekkains and their odd ways. |
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| Mythborn | Sep 9 2017, 08:39 AM Post #5 |
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Daijon arriving with Nerida Whispers that revolved around small, strange scrolls caught Daijon's attention one day. He knew what scrolls were, of course, and writing, though he could not read or write. Visitors (though few visitors were welcome by his people) had brought them before. His people had no written language, and had not thought reading and writing would be important even to their tributes. Daijon was starting to think that this was yet another thing that the Elders had been mistaken about. He would have to visit the village soon, and help them update their program for training tributes. And why had none before him ever mentioned it? The young hunter was not exactly surprised when Nerida came to ask him about the whispers. He was pleased to see her again, as she was one of the few who had deigned to share his traditional greetings with him. She also had troubles similar to his own with living at the Academy, though she also had issues of her own. And she smelled...different than anyone he had ever met, a salty scent that lingered in his mind. Together, they puzzled out the whispers as a summons, since neither could read. Come if interested. Many seemed not to be, but Daijon was curious, and Nerida also seemed interested. Unlike some, Daijon had no problem crossing the large fields to the tree line outside the Academy. To others they may be vast, but to Daijon they were small. That he could see trees at one end and the Academy at the other seemed like a fence, cutting off the rolling grasses that should extend nearly forever into the distance. It was the fences that really bothered him, though. Why would these people need to fence perfectly good grasslands? He knew that they used the wooden barriers to keep their livestock nearby, but it still seemed odd to him. Daijon recognized Shae and gave her a nod of acknowledgement. The smile that he had worn, crossing the plains in Nerida's easy company, vanished as they came upon the others. These he had not exchanged greetings with, and they could be spirits come to steal his soul. Nerida's question sidetracked him from that line of thought, and he gave her a small, private smile. "No, they are a stranger." The sea-born girl (though Daijon had heard of the ocean, he had never seen it, and Nerida's borderline obsession with it, and the ill effects she seemed to have accumulated from its absence, made him think that perhaps he would be better off if he never did) seemed content to ask him questions, though he knew only a little more about these strange people than she. He did not mind. As a protector of his people, he was also a leader, and teacher. "We must wait to see." |
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| Nherva | Sep 9 2017, 03:04 PM Post #6 |
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Lurker Queen
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Takoda arriving, speaking to anyone that is listening Takoda watched as the dark umber Forest and his rider--Koda's own sister--sauntered away. There was a very faint smile on his face. It made him happy that Dia was happy and well cared for, and that Sable loved her so. Even so, that smile faded. Every time they left him, it left a void in his heart that he tried to ignore. They were a family, those two. A family he was only rarely a part of. It used to be just him and Dia. Once Sable came into the picture, he hadn't been removed so much as he faded into the background. It wasn't Dia's fault, nor was it her Forest's. It was just the way things were. Koda knew he shouldn't be jealous. Even so, he was human. When he returned to the stables, his mind flickered back to that strange missive he'd found in his quarters a day or so ago. It was an odd sort of summons. He wasn't sure if he should trust it. Not knowing who it had come from or where, Takoda was skeptical of its source. He hadn't told Dia about it. Koda walked down the long row of stables toward the stable hand quarters that made up the center of the entire complex. Dires were on one side, horses and dicorns on the other, each open to their own fields for the beasts to roam without being bothered by the other. His room was a simple little cell, kept tidy with only a few nick nacks here and there--trinkets that had mostly been gifts. Upon the small table in the corner lay the missive, it's simple parchment open, the fluid script pulling his eyes like a beckoning finger. It was today. If he was going to answer this letter, or at least find out who sent it, he needed to be at the far edge of the fields. Dark eyes rested upon the parchment and his lips pursed into a thin line. All he had to lose was his sister, and Dia had everything she'd ever need in Sable. He looked at his prepared pack, then back at the missive. He'd had a few days to decide whether or not he was going to seek out the source of this letter. He was almost sure he'd decided to do it. Only a moment's more of hesitation, and he sighed heavily and picked up his pack, slinging it over his shoulders. He grabbed the missive and shoved it into the pack, then turned on his heels and left. The walk was long and he thought about taking a horse, but the walk would help to clear his head. He'd asked around the stables, but as far as he knew, these letters were not common. There had been a few received by others, but no one knew why. There seemed to be no correlation between one recipient and another. A while later, Koda arrived. He knew he was in the right place, because there were already a handful of people standing there. As he stopped among them, he looked at their faces. He tried to crack a friendly smile, but it was fleeting. "I take it you all got the same message as I did?" He gave them all a questioning glance. |
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| Zinc | Sep 9 2017, 07:25 PM Post #7 |
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Parliament Owl
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One by one they came, a slow trickle like a glacial melt in the spring. The promise of the Academy had been slight, and the harvest meager. No expression betrayed the being's face as he took in the arrival of the five. To the girl with the raven he merely inclined his head, the ghost of a sharp smirk playing at the edges of his features, but no words were offered in response. The raven was given a cursory glance, but the beast did little more than watch him toying with the gleaming sphere in his hands, which had been ceaselessly spinning and weaving about his fingers since before their arrival. Then came a girl upon a horse, leaving the beast to tend to the fields at it's leisure. A pair, both carrying with them an air of otherness, and a last with a pack and a question upon his lips. Curious creatures all of them. He would give them that. Time was up. In a fluid movement like the sudden unfurling of a coiled snake, he surged forward, taking steps into the center of the group that had arrived. "Certainly they did, but the messages were sent by us." He offered in a smooth, cool voice, it had a hard edge to it, a voice that had the potential to be cruel. "Thank you all, for responding to the missive in such a timely manner." He glanced at each of them pacing slow, measured steps around the circle as he assessed them all. "Doubtless you have questions, but there will be time for those later." His gaze snapped back to Myrna. "I would suggest you take a page from one of your companions and leave the bird. I shan't be held accountable for things to come." He'd returned to the center of the group, the measured steps coming to a slow halt, and the idle, gentle twirling of the gleaming sphere in his hands came to a full stop as he held it up, balanced on his fingertips. Gleaming clear in the light, it began to cloud. His expression turned predatory, a sharp, prideful and almost feral grin pulling at his lips. Pointed teeth flashed in the sunlight, revealing the man as inhuman to all keen enough to spot the shattering illusion. "Merely a crystal." He hummed to the breeze. "Nothing more." With that, he carelessly let it roll free of his hand to fall towards the ground. The world disappeared with the sound of shattering glass. A violent lurch, as the grass was gone from beneath the feet of those assembled, only to reappear again, the sensation uncomfortably akin to missing a step on a staircase, or catching yourself on a chair tipped too far. Hair stood on end, and goosebumps prickled skin as the cold chill of magic stole across them only to fade again as grass rustled in the wind. The sun, which had been nearing it's zenith of noon was gone now, it's heat starkly missing. It was dark, the blush of dawn apparent against the sky in the distance, but the world dimmed in deep blues that reduced all around the gathered group to smudged shadows with hazy details. Lush, tall grass stretched around them in every direction, made dimmer by a clinging layer of mist. The occasional tall tree dotted the landscape with rough scrub and lowlying bushes. In the distance if one looked hard enough, a great smudge of a gathering of shadows could be seen. A low, distant cry split the morning air, fading to nothing. "You're late." A deep voice rumbled, a giant, plated creature raised themselves to their feet. Around the new arrivals was a shadowed assembly of larger individuals of varying size and shape, all humanoid, and all staring alertly with eyes caught by the faint light of dawn. Qhi-Nzak. The Hybrids studied the new arrivals for a moment, and amongst them was heard the scratch of a quill as they noted some unknown detail. The bearer of the crystal appeared to ignore the speaker for a moment, eyeing their fingertips as they idly rubbed them together before the Chre turned back to the towering Qhek. "Perfectly on time, I assure you." He glanced back at the humans, giving them all another one of those sharp smiles. "Welcome, young ones. Today marks a change for each of you, held within the claws of that which is to come." He glanced off into the distance at the dark smudges in the morning fog. Dawn was breaking now, beginning to ignite the valley in faint light. The Hybrids all gathered in a loose formation around the humans. "Step quickly, we have a ways to go yet." He called as he began to move forth into the grass, the great plated Qhek leading with the strange Chre following some way behind. "If you have questions, now is the time, as silence is a valuable ally for what is to come." At this, the eyes of the panoply turned as one to the humans, keen and curious as they began to file into the grass. |
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| GothicThylacine | Sep 9 2017, 08:27 PM Post #8 |
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Shae could have sworn that she felt the hairs on the back of her neck begin to stand. But why? Soon two more people arrived, and one was Daijon. She gave him a smile and a nod. She was about to say hello but then she noticed the 5th arrival. She did not know who he was but she had seen him about the stables. Curious to see who else appeared, but it seemed this was it since the stranger before them finally spoke. He was polite enough, but there was something about him that unnerved Shae. Like he was some form of fox in human form. When he smiled, she feared she may be completely correct! What human had such teeth? She was distracted by the orb he held now...and more when it appeared to shatter. The world around her tilted and she even stomped a bit to catch herself from the sensation of a fall or a trip. What was happening? The ground seemed to disappear as did her sense of balance and even some logic. The landscape around them seemed to change, even the grass seemed to grow taller. She almost cried out but she then froze in place when more figures rose around them. What was this? The new arrivals were much less human. Her mind raced and her adrenalin surged as she tried to make sense of the situation. Shae had never seen a hybrid and the only inkling of them she had in her mind were stories her mother told her at a young age. But they were just stories she thought! But that was the only thing she could fathom with all this. "If you have questions, now is the time, as silence is a valuable ally for what is to come." Shae tried to clear her head and looked around. Holy hell was this a trap? But why? What was going on? Normally she was a more silent type at first, but as the group began to move, she moved with it and let what was in her mind spill out. "Uh...I have a couple. What exactly is to come? Why did you put out those scrolls to summon us? But I think my most pressing question is are we in any danger? I'd like to be sure I am not about to be killed or brainwashed or something else horrible." She sounded a little angry but nervous as well. She didn't want to piss these creatures off but this all seemed like a dream. And she would not be taken down without a fight either. All the same, she walked with the others. A strange and almost welcoming pull urging her on. |
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| Mythborn | Sep 9 2017, 08:50 PM Post #9 |
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Daijon's reaction The man who waited for them put Daijon on edge. Long a hunter, he recognized the predator's type, especially once the stranger started moving. The fluid grace of his movement made Daijon want to reach for his spear, where he had set it in its carry sling on his back with his bow. He resisted the urge, but it was difficult. That was, until he noticed the 'man's' smile. It was a shade too sharp to be human, even among all the strangeness in Lihn and the Academy. Daijon was particularly glad, now, that he had offered no smile to these people--at least one spirit had been hiding among them. He was also beginning to think that he would regret following the summons, however polite this spirit's words. The world lurched around them, and Daijon's spear was in his hand by the time it settled again. Everything had changed, from the time of the day to the temperature of the air. He wished, now, that he had his kirin mantle. His heart was hammering despite his steady grip on his weapon, but grandfather's knife on his arm was cool as the air around them, so he only leaned on his spear in a lazy way and examined what had become of the world. The second speaker--not a spirit, but a hybrid, which Daijon's people had heard of but, to his knowledge, had never seen--clarified what the first was. One of the lesser hybrids, then, those that can pass as humans. It was a marvel to see, but Daijon kept his face still. And there were more of them, gathered about, shadowed in the pre-dawn light. Shae was the first to take the larger hybrid up on its offer to answer questions. Daijon's eyes crinkled in a hidden smile. He could hear her spirit in the words. He followed along--he did not see as he had a choice in that much, and when Shae fell silent, he added a question of his own. "Where have we come?" He had meant to add 'for what reason,' but Shae's questions seemed to cover that. For some reason, Daijon did not think they were in danger, though he would judge that as they continued. He was not certain that these creatures could be trusted to answer that question honestly anyway, not when they had been so deceptive in getting those willing to answer the mysterious summons here in the first place. |
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| Kitsu | Sep 9 2017, 08:52 PM Post #10 |
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With Daijon's words they turned their attention to the others who had arrived. None had expressions of recognition. They turned back to strange pale figure. Their blank face unnerved them, reminding them of something they tried to put their finger on. While distracted with their thoughts the figure shot forward to stand between them all. The figure looked over them all as they made their way the crude circle they had all created. It finally clicked in Nerida's mind when the figure stopped and flashes fangs. A shark. The pale figure that alluded the essence of a predator reminded them of the sharks that swam in the deep waters. From experience they decided it would be best to not let down their guard around this one. Nerida watched as they let a round thing slip from their fingers to fall to the ground. As the sound of shattering filled their ears it was as if the ground was pulled out from their feet then put back again. They tried to make sense of things as they blinked at the sudden gloom. Their eyes shot to the skies in search of the Three Sisters. At the sight of their forms resting in the sky set them more at ease with the odd situation. Even if they were becoming slivers in the sky they were still watching over. Now knowing the Three Sisters present they turned their attention to their immediate surrounding. There were now others besides the shark person. These strangers were odd like the pale one though more so. They made Nerida think of the dragons at the academy. They looked like people with dragon features. They had never heard or seen such a thing before. They tried to catch the expressions of the others who had answered the summons. Was this a normal thing on the mainland? Or was this just as odd to them as it was to Nerida. Once more they turned to their only companion for answers despite the pale one saying they would take questions. “There are dragon people?” They let someone else throw questions at the one who reminded them of a shark. It seemed they knew what needed to be asked. Though they didn't ask a question that was on their mind. So they decided to do it for them. They waited until the other person had finished with their questions before speaking up. “Why is it dark now?" |
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7:51 PM Jul 10