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+---- Thread: [SE] to share the space with simple living things (/showthread.php?tid=9792)
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to share the space with simple living things - Court Official - 07-13-2024
Where there is darkness, light must follow, and vice versa; ask any follower of Rae and they will tell you the same. And so with the Oerwoud and the Greatwood flourishing so thoroughly in shades of lilac, out here on the outskirts between life and barren sands, perhaps this occurrence is not so surprising.
What occurrence, you might ask?
A tree, of course. On its own that might not be so interesting - the Suvahasi brims with the overspill of nature from the Greatwood, and has done for some time. But this particular specimen has simply appeared overnight, fully mature and taller than any other, and its boughs stretch and sprawl far beyond the fringes of green, roots expanding well into the sands beyond.
Bursting with all the delicate greens of Flowerbirth, its branches are laden with golden seed pods, begging to be plucked and planted. An omen, no doubt, that for all the efforts of the void and the Family, nature will always find a way to balance the odds.
Welcome to the Seasonal SWE! This will run throughout Flowerbirth, so you may post your characters whenever you like. Attending the SWE will fulfil the following SE requirement:
4. Attend the Flowerbirth SWE! It will run throughout the season so there is no risk of running into anyone you don't like... unless that's your thing, I guess.
It is also a PRE-REQUISITE for this requirement:
5. Collect a seed from the SWE and plant it near an infected board (i.e., a board adjacent to one that's infected).
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Seren - 07-13-2024
Like a mirage the tree emerged out of the haze, rippling and unreal. Efter baking in the merciless sunlight, any amount of shade or greenery would be a welcome sight, and yet she couldn't have dreamed up a sight more comforting than this.
Made light enough by her gifts that her dragon could easily carry her across the dessert, Seren gasped in delight upon seeing the tree. Unbidden, as curious as his bonded, Umbra altered his course with the starchild dangling from his claws. Entering the shade beneath the vast boughs was like sinking into a lake, the air such clear, refreshing comfort that she felt goosebumps break out across her skin.
Dropping down enough so that she could clamber onto a branch as wide as a footpath, Seren spent some time simply gazing in wonder at the magnificent lifeform. When she moved, it was to examine one of the speed pods more closely. Touching one, it came off into her hand; the made sure to tuck it into a real pocket and not into her pocket space, so that the viability of the seeds would not be damaged.
[say]"I will plant it somewhere beautiful,"[/say] she murmured in sweet reassurance, resting her palm against the trunk.
She lingered for a long time, content to rest and take comfort in the safety of the treetop; and when she was ready to move on, it was with a sense of renewed hope.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Deimos - 07-13-2024
The Sword had never been to this portion of the desert, as he tended to avoid the latter most of the time. Recent ventures, and the necessity of providing aid to the ongoing sanctions sunken in by the void, had him advancing across the sands, to an outcropping and an abundance of greenery – making sense, given the parameter and proximity to the Greatwood.
He didn’t expect the towering tree, but it was exactly as Ronin had mentioned in recent letters – meaning there would be a dual purpose here. Already prepared, with several papers settled in his bag of holding, his long strides took him towards the base of the timber, glancing upwards to the long boughs and the pods nestled amidst. There were stark reminders of other days and years in the same balance – snagging at flowers to ward away blights, or draw another disease from their depths.
Hopefully the same could be done again.
So he reached up to a branch slightly above his head, and pulled gently, before moving aside and away for another to do the same.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Hadama - 07-13-2024
Though he was no longer bound to the water, the desert was not a place that Hadama sought out willingly. Only Ronin's letter drew him there today. The last time he'd been in the Suvahasi he had still been a Mer, limited to the oasis at its center. Now he walked beneath the moonlight between the sand and the jungle, looking up at the great tree that towered overhead.
It was easy to find, at least, and its laden branches drooped to within easy reach.
The Tidebreaker contemplated the golden seed pods for some time in peaceful silence before reaching up to rest his fingers on one. He sensed no darkness within, no trick or trap of the Void to dissuade him. Putting his faith in Safrin and Caido he closed his hand around it and carefully tugged it free to cradle in his large hands before striding off under the moonlight and vanishing once more.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Melita - 07-13-2024
Ronin’s letter ensured Melita would be out here, but only with a wrinkled nose and chaotic indignation. It took her a fair bit to pilot the Firecracker along the wake, hustling and bustling in the wind, and not even crash landing it into the sand nearby (better!). A smoother, steadier sort of float-down, and then she unfurled the party of companions and off they popped.
Now, ordinarily the Honeybee would take no issue in scaling a tree. But this one seemed to be a bit sacred or necessary or any combination thereof. So instead, she nodded towards Sila. [say]“Go grab one of those seeds,”[/say] carefully, might she add.
And the little dragon adhered readily, taking wing and gently prying one of the pods off a higher branch, before releasing it into the demigod’s hands.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Lena - 07-13-2024
The Caretaker didn’t frequent the desert perhaps as much as she should. But with enough to do in the Celestine, and things to do with Starfall, the number of tasks had grown exponentially, so she found herself within the Suvahasi for the first time. Given enough time in the day, she would’ve happily inspected the plants, the thriving portions of nature given its proximity to the Greatwood, but alas – there were other notions of contribution. Perhaps in another interval, moment, or season.
Instead, she fluttered along parrot wings and gentle lulls, eventually winding her way to one of the large tree’s branches. Delighted and enthralled by its presence, she soaked in the plentiful bounty of seeds, and plucked one with her beak, intending to contribute to the cause.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Maea - 07-13-2024
She had been scouting for familiar streaks of purple through the jungle when she came upon the tree. It had been looming on the horizon for a good long while, taller than any other tree within miles and miles, but for some reason Maea hadn't been convinced that it was real. It seemed far too big, and she had no memory of passing by such a sight while purging the desert woodland together with her friends.
Those closer she got, the more she had to doubt her own senses. Was it as big as the Mathair? Bigger, even? Was it the barren desert on one side and the dense jungle on the other that made it appear as grand and healthy, or was it something else? The song of the leaves drew her in to flit among the branches, careful not to nick the bark with her sharp talons. The seeds looked tasty - at least, they probably would be if she shifted back to a less meat-loving form - but she didn't dare sample any.
Below her on the ground, there were signs of people coming and going. Footprints speckling the sandy soil between wide ranging roots, and the occasional dropped seed. Were they being collected, then? She could understand that. Something about them begged to be plucked and carried off - and the idea of another such majestic tree sprouting elsewhere was incredibly appealing.
So she did. Snipping off a pod with her beak, she cradled it securely in a taloned foot and took off. Maybe it would make more sense to collect several, and spread them as far as she could... Alright, make it two pods. Then the white crow took off, cheerfully throwing herself up into the sky to find a good spot to plop them into the ground.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Michael - 07-13-2024
HOME.
It was a strange place to be after such time had passed. So much bullshit, so much knowledge gained that he wished he'd never heard. A nomad without the support of others, a wanderer who couldn't wander, not really. Not anymore.
He'd come back here to collect some of the caches he'd hidden under the sand, within rock, in caves. In the oasis itself, a place deeply familiar to him. Most dug up already by others, discovered over time, but he had a backpack full of perishables and small necessities from those that hadn't been discovered.
As he approached the tree, waiting for a moment where no others were within the vicinity, he side eyed the seed pods. Suspicion, paranoia - ALWAYS that wariness that something or someone was dogging his heels with the worst intentions - stopped him from getting to within arm's reach at first. He stepped aside, a little farther away. Watched as others approached and took seed pods without sustaining harm.
And there the question rose as seed pods were taken and placed in safe pocket: IF he took one… what would he DO with it? Obviously it was meant to grow. This tree had broken through the surface of heated sad, massive. Not some sapling he had seen here before, this was new despite how massive it was.
He watched as the the man he'd met in The Fangs take a seed pod with caution. And in the end deciding it was safe.
A white crow plucked two seeds and flew away with them, both locked within sharp talons.
More came and went, little birds and dragons, each of them taking seeds as though drawn to them. A lull, a pull that Michael didn't like. Reminded him a little too much of the INVASION in his mind, to be MADE to do something.
What was the worst of the two evils, though?
That voice in his head or the soft press of a tree offering seeds to be buried?
"God damnit…" A low mutter before he moved suddenly. Strode to the tree without reverence and reached up to grip one of the seeds. A firm yank and it was free. He paused, didn't feel any ill effects, hadn't been struck down by lightning or crushed to death by falling boughs.
A rough shove into a pocket, and the seed was placed there safely as he turned to retreat. Now, he just had to find a place to plant it. That was the logical thing to do… no?
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Talyson - 07-13-2024
Yeah, this tree definitely hadn't been here when he'd led the last foray into purging the Void from the area. Which meant it was a magic tree. Which meant it might be trouble. Or...
Or it might be a solution.
Tal dropped the Peregrine's ground-anchor in the nearby desert and scrambled down the rope ladder before holding it steady for Alys. He reached out to take her hand when she reached the ground, giving her a lopsided smile as Boreal watched them from the skyboat's crow's nest. They walked into the Suvahasi together, taking care to avoid the poisonous plants that Tal had learned about the hard way last time until they could reach an area beneath the mighty canopy of the massive forest giant where golden seed pods hung low enough to pluck.
"Worth a try at least, yeah?" he said, brows lifting wryly as he grabbed one for himself, and then on impulse tucked it under his other arm and took a second to juggle awkwardly in one hand. "One for th'Barrows an' Meadowreach. An' maybe th' Queen's Gambit, too?" He squeezed his partner's hand and straightened his shoulders, feeling a fresh breath of hope filling his sails.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Koa - 07-15-2024
So now there's a magic tree.
Not the biggest plant person to begin with, Koa feels more than a little uneasy as he approaches the great tree. He'd some on a skyboat with other Stormbreak pilgrims, each one eager to receive a fruit now rumored to protect against the Void. And Koa wants to help, wants to do anything he can to create a barrier and reclaim their forsaken, overtaken lands.
He just kinda wishes it didn't have to involve trees.
[say]"Grab a couple, Pip,"[/say] the Dragoon instructs his dragon, figuring it's better safe than sorry and all that. Once he them he tucks them in his bag, thinking of the places that might benefit most from becoming newly populated by a wall of magic trees.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Flora - 07-15-2024
A tree? In the desert.
oh boy...
Having heard from her dad's about the appearance of said tree, and perhaps wanting to get out of Torchline for a little while, the Doubletake had jumped onto the first skyship headed North. Contenting herself with reading and sunbathing for the duration of the trip, once they landed Flora was eager to stretch her legs.
[say]"Huh.."[/say] Having never been to the Suvahasi before, to see the sudden eruption of flora from the sandy expanses had the Doubletake nodding her approval. [say]"Not bad."[/say] As everyone else seemed to be grabbing a few seeds, Flora followed suit. Maybe if enough Torcher's planted them to the east they could properly stop the void from spreading any further, RQ or not.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Remi - 07-15-2024
Remi Taliesin, carefully camouflaged as a hat, has spent the majority of the flight up north discussing all the various snacks that he and Ronin should have brought with them. [say]Could have brought candies.[/say] The ball of grey says. [say]Or sour things.[/say] He adds.
As a raccoon, the Bastion's mind is limited to just a few tracks, most of which revolve around sleeping or food. [say]Maybe even those candies that are sour things.[/say] He suggests, after a moment's careful consideration.
Sliding his little paws down in order to gently pat the side of his husband's head, Remi untucks himself enough to gaze out across the desert, eyeing the places where the sand was suddenly eaten away by greenery. [say]You think there are any snacks in there?[/say] He asks of the oasis, before waiting for Ronin to gather up the seeds they'd come up here to collect.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Alys - 07-15-2024
With the ladder held steady from below, Alys clambered down into the sand after Talyson. Sascha stayed aboard with Boreal, but she watched cautiously from above as the pair made their way to the large tree that had apparently blossomed overnight. Bursting with golden seed pods, the tree held none of the purple essence that had come to be synonymous with the Void - at least, as far as Alys could tell - but seeing Tal reach out to pluck a few seeds from its branches still made her squeeze his hand in a silent be careful.
Much to the seer's relief, nothing seemed to happen as Tal began to awkwardly juggle one of the seed pods, and Alys hesitantly reached out to pick her own. After a moment's consideration, she carefully selected another. [say]"Maybe one by the house?"[/say] she suggested. Technically, it would be a duplication of effort, but if these seeds held any hope at all, perhaps they would bring good luck to their humble abode.
RE: [SE] to share the space with simple living things - Sohalia - 07-15-2024
It was strange to be wandering alone, when Sohalia's most recent clear memories were of most of her time being spent in Stormbreak. Oh, she might have visited neighboring regions during her tenure as Stormbreak's Heart, but it had been rare that she'd had time to simply go and explore like she once had. It was bittersweet to be able to do so now. On the one hand, she'd missed the freedom to go where and when she pleased. But on the other... well, she wasn't proud of how far she'd fallen, let's just say that.
But in any case, Suvahasi was a place the girl had never gotten around to visiting, and so she found herself wandering the sandy oasis with a healthy level of trepidation. She'd heard all manner of stories about the poisonous plants that ran rampant through this area, and that was even before the emergence of the Void flora and fauna. She wasn't sure if the Void creatures had infested this area, but she had no intention of being unprepared again.
But instead of Void things, she was surprised to find a large tree overflowing with golden seed pods. She approached carefully, keeping an eye out for any unexpected traps that might spring open at any moment. Tarak watched from the air high above, but there was nothing and no one within sight. It was only the tree.
The golden seeds were nothing like the Void flora that Soh had seen, and she reached out cautiously, marveling at how brilliant and light they were in comparison to all the darkness of the world at present. And there were so many! Perhaps the tree wouldn't miss one, if she were to take it. And if she took a seed pod, and planted it somewhere else, maybe she could spread a little light in the world, too.
And so she did.