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they needed sunshine - Lena - 09-17-2024
The Caretaker was still not as familiar with the Hollowed Grounds as she was with other lands. Its history had been shrouded behind barriers and wars, then Ascended controversies and Voice debacles, so by the time it had been altered and changed by another series of battles, it remained relatively new, vast, and unexplored to Lena’s eyes.
With a more adventurous, purposeful spirit instead of resigned or melancholic, she’d chatted away with Zavien as they flew from skyport to skyport, and then meandered their way through to the series of isles and greenery, abundant with wildlife and plants alike. Though she only looked for one in particular, the Attuned still found herself snagging a few other noteworthy supplies; like berries that didn’t grow in the Celestine, and placing them in her bag for safekeeping.
Further enticed by the wildflowers nearby, and the insects buzzing around the sanction of what appeared to be a modest stream, she skillfully walked through the long, waving grass, thoroughly tempted by the area. [say]“Sweetgrass supposedly smells like vanilla, so we should be able to find it easily.”[/say] Grinning, as if some grand conspiracy, rather than simplistic endeavors, she hastened another idea. [say]“Then we can snag extra for baking.”[/say] Humming a little as they walked, and paying mind to Mittens’ occasional drifting and sniffing about, she inclined her head back to the Dragoon. [say]“Have you been to the Grounds much?”[/say]
RE: they needed sunshine - Zavien - 09-18-2024
Following closely behind Lena, his eyes skirted their surroundings for signs of danger while he admired the lush greenery around them. His untrained eye wasn't much help for gathering random flora that the Caretaker appeared to spot, so he let her lead while he wandered closely, chatting companionably during the trek. He also spent the time making sure his energetic little dragon didn't vanish into a bush or too-tall grass. It wasn't hard to miss Sol's glittering gold scales in the sunlight, but he felt an overwhelming urge to protect, his eyes never straying for too long and his hand never far from his sword.
As Lena turned around with a conspiratorial grin, Zavien found himself blushing slightly, suddenly thinking of Koa's recent words. Pushing them aside quickly, he cleared his throat and returned her bright smile. [say]"That shouldn't be too hard then."[/say] Assuming that 'sweetgrass' looked the same as regular grass, he started sifting through the surrounding field of green stalks. His attention caught on her comment and his head came up in excitement. [say]"Do you bake often?"[/say] Being the abysmal cook that he was, Zavien was always astounded when others could make food without almost burning their house down.
He shook his head at the following question. [say]"Not really. Last time I was here, I was hunting an allogator."[/say] The hunt had been very enlightening in many ways as Hadama gave him vital information on the Void and the Family. It made Zavien wonder if he should ruin the mood by bringing it up, but as he listened quietly to Lena's sweet humming, he couldn't find the motivation to do it. Instead, he just asked, [say]"What about you?"[/say]
RE: they needed sunshine - Lena - 09-19-2024
Eyes on the ground and surrounding proportions, her hands skimmed over the longer stalks of grass and petals of wildflowers, pausing every few steps to inspect a potential new ware, or a fascinating portion of wildlife, before re-initiating the hum. [say]“They also have purple flowers.”[/say] But so did several others nearby, so more than once she stopped entirely, sifted through the blossoms or lifted her nose towards aromas, and then moved onward, not finding them yet.
Questions about baking had her looking back at the Dragoon, a proud little smile encompassing her features. [say]“When I get the opportunity,”[/say] including but not limited to a vast variety of cakes, breads, cookies, and the like. Recalling the state of Zavien’s kitchen, and the pile of pots and pans that had suffered, she didn’t ask the same. Though there was an invitation behind her teeth that didn’t make it any further, uncertain if that was crossing some line, and then wondering if that had been a ridiculous notion too. The thought did make it to her cheeks in a slight blush, and then she was turning her head back to the stream and going further towards the water, making a light path where she walked.
Mittens started hovering over the idle currents, staring at a fish, while Lena persisted in her own, much more modest, hunt. The mention of allogators had her pondering, but she wasn’t surprised; they’d love this sort of habitat. [say]“We’ve only had a few of them in the Celestine.”[/say] Hinting that such a species could easily take care of themselves. But she shook at her head at the inquiry, ceasing her nature hike to crouch beside another plant. [say]“Not too much – though I’ve been in the Labyrinth to gather Efas herbs and on the large hill near it.”[/say] Peekaboo Rise, if she could recall. [say]“There’s supposed to be a large stretch of land surrounded by thunderstorms close by,” [/say]which led and inveigled her curiosity, but not enough to venture out on her own. [say]“I do want to make it over to the Atheneum at some point too.” [/say]
RE: they needed sunshine - Zavien - 09-20-2024
The grass was tall, but it still barely reached his knees, making it difficult for him to stay leaned over for long. Every few minutes Zavien would crouch to smell a patch of green stalks. He couldn't really tell if any of them smelled like vanilla, so when Lena added the new information, he stood to glance around. [say]"Okay. Purple flowers..."[/say] At his voice, Sol popped out of a nearby section of grass that towered over his head, chirping playfully. Zavien tried to act scared, clutching at his chest and gasping as if he hadn't heard the dragon trapsing around or seen the gold peeking between leaves. It had the desired effect, the dragonet hooting with delight and disappearing back into the grass. It just made him smile and shake his head, his golden hair flopping around at the movement.
Zavien continued on to the next area, paying close attention for any spots of purple as he returned to the conversation. He didn't notice the Caretaker's blush, although he had similar thoughts of propriety and crossed lines. Would asking her to make him something be too forward? Would that offend her? His hands kept busy and his eyes kept low as he settled for a safe question, [say]"What do you usually bake?"[/say] Being the biggest foodie out there, the topic was always of interest to him, so he didn't think Lena would find the question odd. Although meat was his usual preference, he would never turn down the opportunity to eat a well-made pastry. Just the thought had his stomach growling.
His ears perked at the mention of perpetual storms. The soldier in him considered the logistics of having such a dangerous area within a territory. It could be a great barrier if properly utilized. His hand came up to his chin as he said aloud, [say]"I wonder how dangerous it is."[/say] Being unprotected in a field of striking lightning didn't sound especially smart, even if it did sound cool. However, he could picture the electricity arcing across the sky in a beautiful latticework of light. It seemed like if it were relatively safe, [say]"-it would be cool to watch while on a picnic."[/say]
The words were out before he'd even thought about it, and the Dragoon immediately had the urge to test if he was flexible enough to put his foot in his mouth. Koa was obviously getting in his head and Zavien wasn't sure he liked it. He found himself blushing stronger than before and he turned away to look very intently at a nearby rock. Maybe she would take it as a general observation rather than an invitation.
Hoping that was true, he continued the conversation without glancing up. [say]"Isn't that like the Archives of the Hollowed Grounds? I don't think it's far from here. We should go when we're done!"[/say] As a self-proclaimed enemy of words, Zavien didn't have any interest in wandering through the aisles of dusty tombs, but if Lena wanted to, he would be more than willing to accompany her to the Athenuem. And if it sounded like a more subtle version of his previous words, perhaps that was a good thing. Baby steps, right?
RE: they needed sunshine - Serendipity - 09-20-2024
You’ve encountered a Banshee. This counts as a rare creature encounter for the purposes of levelling, but does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention. If you choose to follow this creature, you do so at your own risk, however, just having it in this thread is enough to satisfy your levelling requirements. You may not kill your rare creature without admin permission.
Banshees (rare/mythical): They take the form of a skeletal lady wrapped in rags. Some wander the woodlands, singing a haunting melody. Others sit near streams and weep. Either way, disturbing these creatures will cause them to become very aggressive. They can pursue their prey seemingly without need for rest, and will strangle all those that they catch.
RE: they needed sunshine - Lena - 09-20-2024
Sol’s random appearance out of the grass was delightful, and she offered the dragon her light bout of laughter, before snagging at a patch of herbs and placing them in her bag. Then she rose, still scouring the lines of stalks and greenery, some dried portions of reed catching her eye before she moved on, listening as Mittens continued to harass the local wildlife.
Zavien’s question set her at ease. It was simple to answer, and didn’t require any great leaps of logic or treading on paths not yet set or established. With a wave of calm, her hand brushed over a few wildflowers, and the composed smile returned. [say]“Oh, lots of things – but mostly cookies and cakes.”[/say] The ones they’d had at their makeshift meeting within the Celestine had been concocted by her hands – save for some of the more lavish portions she’d yet to conquer yet. [say]“Might opt for something pumpkin when the season changes,”[/say] and she grinned at him; amused by the plethora of choices and opportunities those flavors enhanced and conjured.
Storms and danger made her tilt her head, a brow arching. Maybe he was one that actively sought such notions – it would make sense for Dragoons. But as a creature of relative inexperience when it came to hazards, unless it was upon her region or her friends (case in point, any venture against monsters, their involvement in the war, the infected regions…), the thought of a picnic and watching the lightning streak in the distance made her laugh, if not also worry for those pursuits. [say]“From far away, probably.”[/say] Maybe if someone was flattened in the field and could just glance up…then that conjured others things and she stopped that train of thought promptly.
Spotting something else interesting (a dragonfly with very pretty wings), she knelt close to it, watching as it spread its scaly fixtures, while the other notions and observations hastened by. She hadn’t expected the offer thereafter, and her eyes maneuvered back to him, a grin appearing once more. [say]“Okay! If you want!” [/say]
Then all thoughts of searching through old books went quickly away as a scream echoed across the tiny rivulet and company. Her eyes went immediately towards the source, knowing what it was before even looking, the spine-tingling press down her back enough to warrant the cold rush to her hands. No hesitation gnawed at her; instinct alone ensured she was crouched entirely in the grass, blocking everything from view. [say]“Get down,”[/say] she whispered to Zavien, dragon, and snowball alike; a command rather than anything else. [say]“Don’t make a sound.”[/say] If they were fortunate, the banshee wouldn’t pursue them, and they could escape elsewhere, like far, far down the stream.
RE: they needed sunshine - Zavien - 09-28-2024
[say]"Mmmmm. That sounds delicious. Pumpkin is always so warm and cozy. I don't think I've ever had pumpkin cookies though."[/say] He gave Lena a warm smile, thinking of Leafchange weather and nights by the fireplace. The other seasons had their benefits, but he especially enjoyed the companionship that came with gathering indoors and sharing good food. A fleeting thought came of a large meal with his close friends. His mother would be overjoyed at the idea and it made Zavien smile softly to himself.
Glad to hear that Lena hadn't picked up on his discomfort, he nodded along with her consideration, a bright look replacing his blush. [say]"Maybe we'll see it on our way to the Atheneum."[/say] As long as they were far enough away, he doubted the lightning would prove very dangerous, giving them something to enjoy on their trek back. Then more images of 'them' watching the light show tried to push their way into his brain, and Zavien intentionally sifted through another nearby clump of long grass. He hadn't spotted any purple flowers yet, not that he minded. The longer they took, the more time he'd get to chat with his extremely pleasant company. Until suddenly things became far less pleasant.
He may not have been familiar with the creature, but the ear-splitting scream was enough to tell him exactly what they had stumbled upon. Before Lena had even said a word, Zavien had dived towards her, crouching with her amongst the reeds. His own instincts had been to protect, and he found himself between her and the shrieking banshee, his hand on her shoulder as his intense green eyes scanned their surroundings for the danger. A quick warning to Sol was enough to have him huddling in his own patch of grass, concern radiating in all directions. Zavien nodded his head at the Caretaker's directions, even if he was already doing exactly that.
The fluttering white fabric of a wedding dress could be spotted a few feet away, another cry echoing through the air. His heart leapt to his throat and he flattened further in the dirt, a slight pressure of his hand indicating Lena should do the same. It didn't look like it'd spotted them, simply drifting through the area like a haunted bride. Her skeletal eyes somehow portrayed more sorrow and anguish than he'd ever seen before. The empathetic part of him wanted to reach out and comfort her, but the fear coursing through his body screamed of instinctual dangers, keeping him rooted in place, taking comfort in knowing Lena was unharmed next to him.
RE: they needed sunshine - Lena - 09-29-2024
The warm offers in response snapped away so quickly she might’ve forgotten them – for it was difficult to savor the potential of fledgling things when fear struck. All those prey instincts curled and contorted within, and for a few instances more she could only hear the birds and insects and everything else around her trembling, her fingers digging into the grass, wondering about swiftness and flight over fight. Seasons and years before she would’ve been inclined to shake and shudder and do not much else but shelter and burrow away. Maybe she could’ve flown. Maybe she could’ve sprinted. Maybe she could’ve hastened off, small and insignificant, in the face of a screaming banshee.
Zavien’s hand on her shoulder was enough to drown out some of the bombardments through her mind, and she drew upon Attuned measures – utilizing Mittens’ sight through the grass to peer at the apparition, rather than merely cower and shrink. She appeared to have turned, the patched away wedding dress slinking further down the stream, haggard state coasting, ghosting, and screeching until she caught something else. Which meant they might have a chance.
Her gaze went back to Zavien, serious and stalwart, mind committing to a plan of action, voice lowered into a quick and swift whisper near his ear. [say]“I’m going to shift. You follow through the grass. We should be able to head upstream.”[/say] As a bird, she’d be far less ostentatious and noticeable, much like a piece of the backdrop, and with less of them in the reeds, not nearly as enticing or discernible. Plus, from her height vantage, she’d be able to direct them much easier. Taking another deep breath, she waited for some rebuttal or acceptance, uncertain whether he had any notions either. [say]“Sound okay?”[/say]
RE: they needed sunshine - Zavien - 09-29-2024
The banshee didn't appear to notice them as it turned to another part of the glade. With its attention diverted, Zavien didn't discourage Lena's hushed tone in his ear. He nodded along with her plan, sure that it was a good idea to put some more distance between them and the haunted creature. Even if there wasn't a risk of it attacking them, he didn't have any desire to be near the creepy imitation of a happy bride. However, he wasn't super excited for the Caretaker to be out of reach in case it decided to target her. So, as he lifted his hand from her shoulder, he gave her a worrying look and added, [say]"Be careful."[/say]
Once she had shifted and flown off, Zavien returned to a crouch, keeping his eyes glued to the graceful shifting movements of the banshee. It screamed again as it made its way farther through the grasses. When its back was completely turned, he began to stalk slowly up the bank of the stream, weaving through the tall reeds to disguise his retreat. A mental command to Sol had him sneaking behind, the glittering gold of his scales hidden by the shadows of the foliage. With any luck, the danger would continue the opposite direction, allowing them to escape any possible encounters.
RE: they needed sunshine - Lena - 09-29-2024
With the plan accepted, she gave a singular nod and shifted – tufts of gray and pink aligning always slightly above the waving grass. On occasion she’d give a brief glance back, trying to catch glimpses of the banshee as she too wandered in opposing directions, or Zavien, his dragon, and her own companion (grateful, that despite the nearly constant antics, the abominable snowball seemed to understand the perils of danger). Then she’d grant pauses upon a low branch, a motion of plumage maneuvering to give a signal that she’d be ambling forward or turning slightly, following the stream and its bed of laurels and reeds.
Eventually, they seemed to have made their way closer to a larger gathering of water; where the stream stilled and expanded to a more opulent arrangement of a cool, calm pool, amidst a collection of boulders and logs. Only there, after many checks and examinations, did the Caretaker feel comfortable and out of any banshee range. While the Spire loomed in the distance, she’d take its obsidian structure far off in the expanse, rather than a shrieking and terrifying bride.
Altering back into her residual, human state, ignoring the way her heart still hammered through her ribs and trying to varnish a wave of calm back into her fingertips, she gave a slight smile towards Zavien. [say]“Here okay?”[/say]
RE: they needed sunshine - Zavien - 09-29-2024
The trek up the stream didn't reveal any other hidden dangers, but Zavien kept his eyes peeled and his body tense, ready for anything while he tried to stay within the Caretaker's sights. Despite his anticipation, the only new sounds came from the growing water and rustling foliage, no more heart-stopping shrieks. Then the sky seemed to brighten against the open pool of calm and peace. Sol sensed the change, trotting forward to disturb the near-still surface of the water ahead. It rippled around his paddling form as he explored the edge of the lake. Meanwhile, Zavien wasn't nearly as interested in the new surroundings, straightening to use his height to find Lena.
He nearly stumbled with relief as he finally spotted her nearby. Sighing loudly, he let his worries dissipate slightly at the sight of her. Looking around, the Dragoon made sure there weren't any other signs of trouble before he nodded at her question. [say]"Are you okay?"[/say] As he asked it, he stepped forward to look her over. There hadn't been any signs that the banshee had gotten close enough for physical injury, but the psychological damage of her scream and the fear it instilled could still take a toll. When Zavien didn't spot anything, he met her eyes, care and concern furrowing his brows.
RE: they needed sunshine - Lena - 09-29-2024
A loaded inquiry, probably, but she nodded in return, fingers curling over one another, purposefully hiding the shaking. [say]“I’m all right. You?”[/say] In a physical sense anyway – terror was difficult to alleviate in a matter of moments, and the adrenaline contorting through her veins would cease eventually. Her eyes glanced over the Dragoon too, aware of the toll banshees had, but only from books and legends, tales and stories. [say]“I don’t remember ever seeing any in the Celestine,”[/say] which was fine by her, and understandable, given their characteristics. Swallowing down a trace of fright again in a long, slow breath, desperate to quell the fluttering in her ribs, she started to turn, drifting towards the stream again, recalling a search before screams.
[say]“It would be nice to have an outing without something terrifying in it,”[/say] she half-laughed, trying to find her footing in comfort and contentment again, rather than fleeing from fear. Mittens grumbled from a log, flipping its head around and around, and she persisted, listening to the light babble of water without shades of screams erupting from it. She felt like she owed Zavien an apology, but she didn’t know what for – having no control over when monsters appeared, after all. Between the past few seasons, amidst Feverlands destructions, Dahlia takeovers, grotto smuggling, and lack of flowers, their attempts at much of anything had felt rather haunted and haggard lately.
Rather than turn the conversation into dismal platitudes again, she’d already ruined one traversing to Frey’s Breath, she kept her voice light and airy, hands breezing over the reeds again as she clambered around the embankment, chasing down purple blooms and vanilla aromas. [say]“What did you need for your shield?”[/say]
RE: they needed sunshine - Zavien - 10-01-2024
Content with Lena's answer, Zavien tried to push away some of the tension still clinging to his body. [say]"I'm better, now that we're away from that horrid thing."[/say] As he forced his shoulders down, it released a shiver down his spine, especially at the thought of running into a banshee within the Celestine. [say]"It's probably for the best."[/say] He didn't think people would be as inclined to visit if there was a possibility of seeing such a horrifying creature. People probably preferred to see majestic or calming beasts during their leisurely visits.
The Caretaker's observation made Zavien full-laugh in return, helping relax him further. [say]"That's an understatement. We seem to have a knack for finding trouble. Or maybe we just have the tendency to run towards the danger?"[/say] His eyebrow raised above his twinkling eyes, sure that it was a little of both. He and Lena were the kind of people that couldn't sit around when they knew things were going wrong in the world, however, that didn't explain their bad luck sometimes. Shaking his head, he reached for a set of grass, returning to his search for the characteristic purple flowers. [say]"Although our trip to Frey's Breath didn't involve any unwelcome surprises, even if we didn't find the lilies. Perhaps we should take another trip there."[/say] Another proposed outing. Another offering that wasn't quite a date but continued to toe the line. Another reminder of Koa's words: 'Maybe start by asking her out?' Should he just take the leap?
The indecision filtered through his mind, distracting him from the moment enough to delay his response to her question. A blush retreated from his cheeks as he ran a hand through his hair. [say]"Oh. Um. I was thinking about using some of Sol's scales as he starts to shed them."[/say] The young dragon was already outgrowing the tiny scales of a hatchling, larger scales beginning to peek out as his body prepared to grow in size. If Zavien had to guess, he'd say they still had a few months before Sol reached his full size (whatever that may be), but the process had already started, as indicated by the lengthening tail and stubby horns emerging from his head.
Knowing that he was the topic of conversation, the companion padded out of the water, droplets falling from his shimmering gold hide. He chirped, tilting his head at Zavien curiously. Chuckling lightly, the Dragoon offered a piece of jerky from his pocket as he took a closer look at the maturing exterior.
RE: they needed sunshine - Lena - 10-01-2024
It was easier to distract herself from all the chaotic and horrifying notions when going through information, cycling along all the notions she had about banshees and the like. [say]“You can find some in the Greatwood too. And there is a similar species in King’s End. The Enenra.”[/say] Tapping on her chin for a moment, her brows furrowed, mind piecing together other proportions. [say]“I think they tend to travel near the mounds.”[/say] In mourning aspects – which unfortunately, Caido seemed to hold quantities of.
Shaking off the remnants as best she could, she lowered her features towards the long stalks of grass and flowers again, striving to find any traces of the vanilla aroma. But at Zavien’s joke, she swung her head back, permitting another round of laughter to extend – likely to expel and extinguish those lingering portions of fear, and perhaps strive for a little boldness in all the bizarre adventures. [say]“Are we the problem?”[/say] Her grin was a thing of whimsy over anything else; harkening to amusement where they could find it.
Though the next round of invitations surprised her – though it partially due in course with her own insecurities. At least she hadn’t scared him off from her own angles of disappointment in Frey’s Breath. Her eyes rounded slightly, then she drew them purposefully towards the reeds once more. [say]“That would be good. I’ve gone a couple of other times too.”[/say] And obviously nothing to report…because she wouldn’t be uttering any of the statements Koa bluntly offered. [say]“Our luck has to change sometime, mm?”[/say] Oh, well, perhaps she could share one detail. [say]“Though Koa got me to join the Dragoons. I promise I’ll stay out of everyone’s way.”[/say]
The details of impending shields and their elemental fixtures, however, made her features alight in wonder and delight. [say]“Oooh, what a fantastic idea!”[/say] The scales would be a lustrous, gilded glow, a signature and highlight of the Dragoon, and a wonderful accord of the bond shared. Mittens sneered from nearby, rolling its eyes.