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[PQ] Into the Woods Without Delay - Printable Version

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Into the Woods Without Delay - Jigano - 04-06-2019

The day had dawned bright and sunny, though clouds scudded across the western horizon in a distant reminder of Flowerbirth's capricious rains. At the northernmost edge of the barrier a raven perched on a tree branch on the edge of the the band of bare black earth where a wall of magic had once stood. White as snow and with piercing blue eyes he stood silent sentinel over the boundary, waiting for his companions to arrive on four legs or two, on wings or scaled bellies.

At the base of the tree a small, pale shape curled into a feathery ball of fluff. Hidden by a broad-leafed plant, the little gryphlet napped quietly while her companion kept watch over the greener, healthier vegetation just across the empty demarcation of a cage that no longer contained the heretic it had been constructed for. The world beyond was at last open to explore...

But thanks to Safrin's books, Jigano knew that the Hollowed Grounders were not alone, or at least they hadn't been, three hundred years before. Everything he had seen since sunrise indicated a wild and thriving forest on their northern border, but the mysterious winged people who likely still lived within it had yet to make an appearance, and the book had hinted of magic and dangers unknown to the world within the bubble. Now that the bubble had burst they needed to learn as much as they could, as fast as they could, or risk the friends and families who called the Hollowed Grounds home coming to harm from new threats. Whether the winged folk were enemies or potential allies had yet to be seen, but approaching them in forms that could pass for natural - or at the very least, as blessed by the Old Gods - had seemed like a reasonable plan, and having a variety of other-than-human senses and abilities such as flight would let them gather more information than human eyes and ears alone.

Whether it would play out that way remained to be seen.



Welcome to Jigano's PQ for the first organized exploration of the Wildwood! This PQ is primarily for Attuned characters with an animal shape.
Participants:
1. Caiside
2. Amalia
3. Ianto
4. Kiada


As Caiside and Ianto are already in the Wildwood at the time of the PQ's start, they are exempt from posting in rounds until they join the group.

This PQ will be moving on after 48 hours.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Kiada - 04-07-2019

The Harpy has seen the notice board, had recognized the name of the organizer, and much like when she had helped Remi, she makes it a point to come. She allows Auni to come, but makes it a point to tell the Luxere to remain back and hidden as she fumbles around and gathers her things to explore the great unknown. “You know where to go.” She tells him mentally, once she’s prepared. And now, with the barrier fallen there’s nothing else to do than to explore. Much like she has to look forward to with Deimos, she finds excitement in the surprises that come. As Auni plods through the streets, Kiada flies high above — her vulture form with dark red eyes scanning the ground around the Luxere for signs of pale long hair and perhaps some others.

She flies and Auni runs until she can see the scarred earth from where the barrier has been, to continue to fly until she spots the man awaiting others to join him. Auni arrives first as Kiada circles above, the wind racing through her feathers as she glances and scouts the brilliant greens of the forest beyond. Auni reaches Jigano with a small grunt and wag of his tail, and not long after does Kiada swoop close to the ground and shift back into herself. Pale red feathers shift to arms and she uses the momentum to reach Jigano with a grin. “Hey Jigano!” She calls to him, stepping up toward the scar in the earth as Auni proceeds to sniff the scar.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Amalia - 04-07-2019

It would be her first foray away from home.

Her first time in 21 years leaving the familiar sphere into which she was born.

Her first-

Her heartbeat is a wild thing, a fast tattoo drumming in her chest. She can feel it in her throat, hear it in her ears: the thrum of blood, the wild beat of change. Terrified, electrified, she is paralyzed by the vastness of it all.

It is the fruition of all her dreams-

-it is the manifestation of all her nightmares-

-it is her sins, her shortcomings, which have brought them here, and the weight of it sits upon her shoulders like a stone. In the search for their freedom they have condemned the world-

Breathe deeply. Think clearly. At least as a leopard she feels safer (though she can hardly be said to deserve the form, now) shielded by an armor of claw and fur. Her feline eyes make out more than shadows in the trees which stand across the scar, gaping and expansive (there is so much world!), dark and unknown (but that world isn't home).

Standing by Jigano, the leopard whines, her heart in her throat, her stomach in knots. She barely registers Kiada's arrival: all of her attention is on the scar, and what it means. She wants more than anything to cross that line, but she fears it more than anything, too.

Inhaling deeply; one step, then again. If either of them are to cross it first it should be her- the sinner, the Natural, the fallen priest. Closing her eyes and swallowing deeply, Amalia steps across the scar--

--and out into the world.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Jigano - 04-08-2019

Jigano croaked aloud in surprise and pleasure at the sight of the vulture-turned-girl he recognized, "Kiada!" the raven called aloud, flying to a lower branch, and Isuma awoke, blinking from her nap to chirrup a greeting to Auni. He had known that by posting his intentions to the notice board that strangers might join them, and he still struggled to use his telepathy even among close friends, but for the sake of the mission he had come to the conclusion that he would have to put aside his pride and fear and trust that the mental shielding exercises he had done with Caiside would suffice.

You are most welcome, he greeted Kiada in her mind, his voice far more stilted and distant than it had ever sounded aloud. The little ones should be safe here to play together. Amalia...

He hesitated, looking to the leopardess, who whined and seemed too distracted to hear him. He was worried for her, wanted to fold his wings around her and protect her, but she was already prowling forward. Jigano looked around one last time, hope fading that Caiside would be joining them - his friend, the first he had invited on this mission - but the great black stag was nowhere in sight, and Amalia would not be caged any longer.

Let's fly in flanking formation, he suggested to Kiada with a rough caw of worry for Amalia's impatience. Far enough apart that if we run into a trap or trouble, it only catches one of us, and not all three. So saying, he leapt from the branch and beat his wings, angling to the leopard's right side as she crossed the line and he followed - and then flew a little ways ahead, breathing deep of the fresh, green, living air. He flew slowly, circling widely around the large tree trunks at times so he didn't outpace their four-legged companion, and used his sharp eyes to examine everything that he could see, from songbirds to flowers to fresh green leaves unfurling in the warmth of Flowerbirth.

It was incredible to see such vibrant life again, after his months spent in the Hollowed Grounds, but it felt right, too.

Alright, Kiada, let's fly up-- his suggestion was cut short as the trees ahead of them thinned and, as they approached, revealed a five foot wide scar of black earth on the ground, and two small companions bouncing happily around each other on the other side of it, where the foliage was decidedly drab and sickly in comparison to the area they had just traveled.

Jigano squawked and made an awkward landing on a branch, clinging in shock as he looked from the vulture to the snow leopard - and then back the way they had come. In a straight line. They had definitely come in a straight line and yet here they were, as if they had turned around halfway and found themselves back at where they had begun. That... shouldn't have happened... he thought slowly to both of his companions. Amalia, can you follow your scent back and find where we got turned around? Kiada, can you follow her - and use your beak to score marks on the trees behind her? I'll wait here and keep watch. I'll follow Kiada's marks if you aren't back in ten minutes and catch up with you, he decided carefully, shifting from foot to foot with unease.


Amalia, use your nose!
Kiada, blaze the trail!

Posting Order for Round 2 is:
1. Amalia
2. Kiada


The PQ will be moving on in 48 hours or when everyone has posted


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Amalia - 04-08-2019

And just like that, they are free.

Except it isn't that easy- nothing ever is. The line in the ground is a barrier in itself, and as Amalia crosses it she feels a curling of her skin, a residual electric discharge, or perhaps just her own gear at work. But once she is across, ah...

The leopard begins to run.

Slowly, at first, her steps rigid and unsure, as though at any moment this foreign ground may rise up and swallow her whole. Then faster, faster, faster, until her feet are a blur and the trees are a painting and her companions are forgotten because she is free, free, free of the small world and petty squabbles and insignificance of the Hollowed Grounds. Out there there are mountains, oceans, whales, Vi-

And then, as if by some cruel trick, they are back.

Amalia pulls up short, her claws raking furrows in the soft ground as she fights against momentum to avoid hurling back over that cursed line. With a snarl she snaps, spins, recoils. Jigano's instructions are hardly warranted: before he has a chance to finish the thought the girl-turned-leopard is retracing her steps, springing through the underbrush in pursuit of her own scent.

She will find where she went wrong.

She will make it through these woods.

She has come too close to freedom to be caged and captured again.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Kiada - 04-09-2019

She does not realize the man is a bird until she hears the croak of her name. As she looks to him, she finally sees the pale feathers and not pale hair she had previously thought she’d seen. Luckily for her, he doesn’t appear to mind too much. She shifts back into the vulture, stretching large blood tinged wings out as Jigano gives his orders. Auni, happily, joins Isuma under the tree with a curious sniff and wiggle of his tail. Kiada notices the leopard that appears with somewhat wide eyes, recognizing her from the day Kiada thought her life was to fall apart. The leopard that had comforted her in such a desperate time. And she croaks a guttural sound of hello to Amalia even if the leopard seems too engulfed in what was happening. She doesn’t yet realize who the leopard form belongs to, focusing instead on the task at hand.

She nods her bearded head in response to Jigano, wings flaring as she takes off and they both stay in their respective sides, following Amalia as she crosses the scar with determination. Her scarlet gaze scouring the ground below and trees for any signs of anything other. When she notices when Jigano does that they’ve returned to the same place. Huffing a guttural, gravely croak of frustration, she pulls her wings in tight to dive and follow Amalia as Jigano instructed, stopping here and there to use her dark beak and scratch small x’s much like her scar in the bark of the trees.

All the while, she keeps an eye on her spotted friend, darting from canopy to canopy to mark and follow.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Jigano - 04-10-2019

The leopard's scent led back into the woods, deeper and deeper into the trees. In the branches above, Kiada would find the bark soft and easy to gouge, each trunk fresh and unmarked. They would travel for a little ways, with everything seeming to go well, but before ten minutes had passed they would find the trees thinning ahead of them once more. Though Amalia did not lose her scent, it leads her directly back to the scar of black earth and a white raven watching worriedly in the branches above. The vulture had cut fresh marks each time, never coming across those she had already made - and yet, finding herself in different trees upon her return, no mark is repeated.

How...? the raven croaked, psychically and physically, flapping his wings in alarm as his friends reappeared. Amalia had seemed oddly frantic since she had arrived, and while he'd chalked it up to nerves, the forest's ability to turn them around and deposit them right back where they started was becoming increasingly distressing. I'll fly up, and see if I can find any landmarks we can head towards, he thought grimly to his companions before suiting action to words and exploding into motion, flapping hard to get height. Up and up he went, and the greening trees spread out beneath him. On one side of the scarred earth the vegetation was grey and dull, alive but weary. On the other, life seemed to almost glow with vibrant health and energy, the colors rich and fresh with Vi's blessing.

The new forest spread out to the north and west, as far as his eyes could see. In the distance he spotted a break in the new foliage where a clearing or lake might be, and a ripple among the trees that might be a great river beneath their branches. Cawing softly to himself the raven circled his way back down to his companions, looking at them morosely. I can see the forest stretching away from up there, he thought to them, mind-voice tinged with frustration. And I can see a river in the distance. But I can't see why the trees keep spitting us back out here. He shook his head, glancing back to the scar where the barrier once stood. Magic, I assume. But how we're going to get passed it I don't know. I'm open to suggestions, he finished, looking hopefully between his two companions.

Oh no! It seems like the forest won't let anyone through - well, no one without wings, at least. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Posting Order:
1. Kiada
2. Amalia
3. Ianto


PQ will update 1 week from now (Apr. 16), OR when everyone has responded


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Kiada - 04-10-2019

Luckily for Kiada, the bark is easy to carve and mark, and she darts from tree to tree leaving her mark in its soft trunk as they traveled – her eyes following the leopard as Amalia follows her own scent. It feels as though they move through the forest a great amount of time with no shift, until suddenly the trees thin and she finds she’s going further from branch to branch until they’re back to where Jigano sits in his raven form. She has checked and double checked, the front and backs of the trunks to be certain she hasn’t already marked them, and she finds no markings.

Croaking out another guttural cry, she hisses to herself as she lands on the ground where Jigano previously sat before he took off into the air. “How in the hell?” She grumbles to herself, eyeing Amalia and clicking her beak in her own frustrations while Jigano is away. She spends a moment to smooth her red tinged feathers, biding time until Jigano’s return. When he does, and his body reaches the ground, she listens to him.

She grits her beak, a small grinding sound of the powerful creature she’s shifted into as she looks to the sky and to the leopard with a curious eye. But she’s uncertain how to say it unless she shifts – so she does, sitting in the grasses of the scar she eyes it before she looks at Amalia curiously. She wonders how much the leopard weighs, if it’s possible for her and Jigano to carry the woman across the scar and into the great unknown.

Running a hand through her hair, she wonders if there’s a way to make or find a net of some sort that might make it easier too. Or perhaps just enough to jump Amalia over the large gap in the earth would be enough for the magic not to take hold? “Perhaps there's something in the scar that's making us turn around somewhere? Can we lift you Amalia, maybe? Just enough to cross the scar? If we fly, it might not work on us.” She poised curiously, but as she eyed Jigano in his raven form she wasn’t so certain. He was rather small, after all.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Amalia - 04-13-2019

Again she runs, and again she returns, like a boomerang ricocheting back among the trees. Frustration blooms vibrant in the leopard's thoughts; with another snarl she rises onto formidable hind legs and begins to claw a tree, as though the silent guardians might buckle under the pressure of her claws. She wants to be released, not caged. How cruel it is, to be let into the world only to have it spit her back.

Unwanted. Uninvited. Unloved.

Jigano's voice in her head is a soothing balm, a call to a reality which has slipped somewhat away. Falling back onto all fours, the feline pads softly toward her companions, drawing to a stop at Kiada's side as the girl shifts back to her human form. Pressing her head to the young woman's leg, Amalia releases a reassuring purr, though whether to soothe Kiada or herself remains somewhat elusive. She is anxious, eager, angry, keen- she does not know what steps to take next, her dark eyes wide as they turn back upon the white raven in the sky.

Shaking her head at Kiada's suggestion, Amalia sits back on her haunches, trying for a moment to think. She is much too heavy to be carried, but perhaps there is another way. What if I go ahead and you fly above and watch, and tell me when I start to turn around? Guide me in a straight line. Unaware that Kiada cannot hear her, the feline looks between them as her tail thrashes on the ground, a clear betrayal of her inner turmoil despite her finally quiet form.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Ianto - 04-14-2019

You might also find it useful to have someone who knows the way.

Ianto's voice was rich and amused from his place nestled between two trees. The fox had been watching for some time now, and had found a lovely place where the sunlight dappled the ground through the branches. So it was there that he had flopped down to relax, one ink tipped ear flicking this way and that at the sounds of the group as they ping-ponged back and forth through the forest.

Yawning widely, he gazed from Kiada to Amalia and clambered up so he could sit on his haunches and watch them, bushy tail curling around his paws. You are from within? They certainly didn't seem like Fae, and Kiada evidently wasn't one.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Jigano - 04-15-2019

He didn't understand why the vulture traded her wings for a human's dexterous hands, but perhaps she had a reason? Possibly… the raven croaked to Kiada‘s suggestion of flying over the scar. He bobbed his head thoughtfully, looking to Amalia … and then fluffed his feathers in defeat as he considered her powerfully muscular form and his own far less powerful form. Kiada was a fine figure of a vulture, but even the most robust raven wouldn’t have a chance in hell of lifting any portion of a snow leopard!

He tilted his head to the side as Amalia spoke, chirring soft reassurance to the anxious leopardess as he fluttered down to a rock to be closer to her level. Also unaware that Kiada could not hear the baker-Librarian, he looked between the two women and cawed cautious approval. If you run on the ground, and I fly just beneath the canopy, and Kiada flies above the canopy where she can see me-- he started to say, when their convocation was interrupted by an unfamiliar – and most peculiar – voice coming from-

A fox?

Jigano startled, flapping his wings in a tense moment of preparation to take to the safety of the sky, but the handsome creature made no move to attack. Perhaps the presence of a snow leopard and a human helped with that… or maybe the fact that he was speaking to them as a fellow Attuned, and his ‘voice’ was full of good humor, with no hint of hostility. The lorekeeper settled, peering keenly at the foxy newcomer and sifting his words for what information he could glean.

Glancing to Amalia and Kiada first, he looked back to Ianto and bobbed his head in acknowledgment. We are, he confirmed. Within, and beyond. We were hoping to learn what we could of these woods and what lies in and passed them… he trailed off with a sense of frustration coloring his tone. But it sounds like you know something of the problem we’re facing? He cawed softly, hope in his 'voice' as he hopped to the ground to stand beside Amalia.

I am Jigano, and these are my friends. Are these woods your home?


Introductions and questions!
Posting Order:
1. Kiada
2. Amalia
3. Ianto


PQ will update in 48 hours or once everyone has responded


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Kiada - 04-15-2019

The Harpy does not understand that she can speak in vulture form and they can hear her – she just assumes it’s something that others can do. And so she shifts, to speak her mind, and her eyes shift between Jigano and Amalia as her suggestion rings in the air – not realizing as well that she doesn’t hear Amalia’s suggestion. But the Leopardess moves toward her, a reassuring purr and a bump to her leg, and a smile crosses the scarred woman’s face as she reaches her hand out to gently stroke Amalia for a brief moment. And when the leopardess sits back onto her haunches, the silence in Kiada’s mind palpable as she glances between the two creatures.

After a moment, she shifts back into her vulture form – her mind suddenly filled with the end of Jigano’s words “Kiada flies above the canopy where she can see me –” she hears so suddenly that her wings flare out in surprise, head shifting before another surprise takes root – a suggestion, from the woods. And her scarlet eyes shift immediately to the creature within – a fox of sorts. Yet before she can try to respond, Jigano speaks again, confirming the fox’s suspicions.

Kiada slips closer to Amalia, a large ebony tipped wing reaching out to brush against the leopardess’ side comfortingly – to let her know she appreciates Amalia and what she’d done, realizing deep down that the baker, the kind wonderful baker, was the one to comfort her after learning of Ru’in’s fate. Her head tilts to Jigano then, as he speaks and introduces himself. Her eyes dance toward the fox yet again with a tilt. “I am Kiada.” She finally manages to say within her vulture form, hoping it extended to the rest of them, but feeling a bit of anxiety deep down that it might not work. And so she tries again.

It keeps sending us back here, even after tracing our steps and being certain we aren’t getting turned around.” She informs the fox, at least attempts to – hoping and hoping that her suggestion does ring out.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Amalia - 04-16-2019

The voice from the woods is like a shot from the dark, raising the Leopard's haunches in response. Ears flatten briefly on her head- she is already on edge, and the appearance of a strange Attuned does not soothe her nerves. But the creature seems docile enough, and so Amalia sits back down, her dark eyes never leaving the fox. Kiada's return to vulture form is soothing, as is Jigano's appearance by her side.

You are from within? the vulpine asks, and Amalia is surprised by the feelings the question raise. Never before has she been the one who doesn't belong.

Amalia watches in continued silence, letting her companions speak. Should anything go wrong, should this be another trick or trap... She knows Kiada and Jigano are strong, but in this form the girl is stronger, and she will use every ounce of that strength before she lets harm befall her friends.


RE: Into the Woods Without Delay - Ianto - 04-17-2019

Ianto's jaw dropped in a wide, foxy grin as he heard their varying responses, the vulpine considering all of them and ducking his head gently as if in greeting. Ianto, he introduced in return. A pleasure to meet you. You're quite right, though - the forest will spit you out no matter what you try, until you know which way it wants you to go.

And even then, sometimes it wasn't in the mood for it, so you'd have to persuade it. I can tell you that there's no way out, though. Not that I've found. This isn't my home - I was dropped here. A lot of my friends were dropped within the place you came, but I've been out here. I've learned the ways.