(SE) Of Gods and Mushrooms
Iris 'Siri' Acquarone
Wanderer

Age: 22 | Height: 176 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 1 - Strg: 5 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 8 - Luck: 15 - Int:
Played by: Nell Offline
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Posts: 114 | Total: 163
MP: 85
#1
I R I S

Twigs snapped far too loudly beneath her feet, the sound resonating amidst gnarly, ancient bark. She pulled her coat around her shoulders and stopped to observe the wood. At first, she could only hear silence. Then, trees creaking and unseen creatures rustling the canopy. She spotted a bird, its dull colors blending into the dim surroundings.

The ground was brisk and strewn with roots intent on tripping the unwary traveler. Its most successful residents appeared to be fungi. She approached a cluster of mushrooms and tapped it with her foot. Content that they were harmless enough, she plucked one from the ground. At first, it smelled of nothing, and then her nostrils were filled with the foul stench of rotting flesh. She dropped the offending fungus like it had bitten her.

Fastening the straps of her bag around her shoulders, Iris carried on at a quickened pace, eager to leave the unsettling woods behind her and reach the Settlement before noon. She had been walking for a few minutes when she saw it – a rabbit, white as snow, barely two steps away.

She followed it.




She stared, wide eyed and out of breath, as the rabbit broke bones beneath its teeth. Dark brown stains on the grass stretched into the dark cave beyond. She carefully backed away from the beast and noticed, in her peripheral vision, a sudden burst of color.

The grass shone like the crystalline ocean floor. Leaves rustled like hundreds of birds with a song as calming as a lullaby. Bright patches of sky appeared overhead, letting warm rays streak over the clearing.

She realized that she was lying on the ground when, gradually, the colors started floating down in streams. Propping herself up, she watched them congregate and mix together like wrestling serpents. They formed a puddle, then a pond, and grew further into a lake. Iris watched, entranced, until on the other bank she spotted him – Elias. The colors dripped around his form, nothing more than a dark smudge, barely recognizable to anyone who didn’t know him so well.

She swam toward him.




Her throat was dry, making her voice crack as she called out to him. Her breaths came in heavy, so she saved them, struggling to keep up. She must have been trailing him for hours. The colors had faded and the Hollowed Grounds were once again dyed in plain browns and greens. The sight of Elias’ back was a constant, ignoring her calls, just out of reach, a misstep from disappearing from sight.

Finally, she seemed to close the distance as they walked into an apple grove. A second later, he was gone. Turned around among near identical trees, she dropped to the ground, desperate and exhausted.

“Fuck!” She called out, voice raspy, hitting the ground with her fist and instantly regretting it.


Henry


Henry Walker
Advisor

Age: 31 | Height: 5'11" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 2 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 14 - Endr: 15 - Luck: 11 - Int:
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#2
HENRY
a knife twists at the thought that
I should fall short of the mark
He floated through the air on strong wings, letting the currents of the wind take him with them. Eagle eyes blinked down over the vast grove of apple trees, honing in on the subtle movements of a rabbit down below their canopy. The predator in him was responding before the human in him could think, soaring down between a gap in the trees' reaching branches. The tips of them brushed through his feathers but, he was unperturbed. The rabbit darted away and he swooped through the brush after it.

That was, until the sudden appearance of a figure blocked his vision. He careened out of the way just in time, the eagle shift squawking in his alarm. He landed as a man, as himself again, and whirled around to see who was there.

Only, they weren't really there. The ghost resembled his friend, a friend from a long time ago... whose end had been untimely. Yet, even knowing better, he found himself speechless, felt as if his feet were made of stone. Memories of that time, of that age, of that person, flowed through his mind.

"What's wrong, Henry?" the voice was haunting, echoing with each syllable. It sent a shiver of goosebumps up his arm. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

He didn't know what to say - or what to do. He knew it wasn't real. Asking how or why or what - or telling him anything... it would mean nothing. He clenched his jaw, muscles fluttering with the action. Then, he heard it; a real voice, hoarse and feminine. He cocked his head away and looked around in search of the source, realizing that they sounded distressed.

"How long has it been? Nine, ten years?" the ghost pressed, stepping forwards.

"Fuck!" the swear echoed through the trees and Henry moved away.

"Go back to wherever you came from," he snapped at the ghost as it pressed closer, swatting at it with his hand. He wasn't entirely sure of its intent, whether it was good or bad. So he moved away and morphed back into his eagle shift. Broad, dark wings carried him away from his past - and whatever else awaited him back there - as he searched the treeline.

There. Through the trunks, beyond the wilted undergrowth, was a girl. She lay with her fist against the ground but, otherwise, she seemed unendangered. He slowed down until he was hovering. As he lowered himself, he shifted back. His feet hit the ground with a thump!

"Hey, are you okay?" He leaned down beside her and tilted his head at her, his eyes wide with concern, "are you hurt?"
middle of adventure
such a perfect place to start
Iris 'Siri' Acquarone
Wanderer

Age: 22 | Height: 176 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 1 - Strg: 5 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 8 - Luck: 15 - Int:
Played by: Nell Offline
Change author:
Posts: 114 | Total: 163
MP: 85
#3
I R I S

A giant eagle hovered in front of Iris. She stared at it with a worried expression and a sinking feeling that the hallucinations were starting up again.

Then, it revealed its true form and her instincts kicked in, finding a knife was in her hand as she shifted into a defensive stance, ready to jump back and pick herself up on tired feet.

The bigger surprise, however, was the disarming kindness in the stranger's eyes. Tentatively, she lowered her blade, clearing her throat. "No?" She looked down at her body to make sure, but found nothing but small cuts and scrapes, most likely inflicted by the sharp branches that hugged the passages through the wood. "Have you seen a man pass through here? Tall, light brown hair? He wore a long coat."

She took note of her surroundings. The sun seemed to be in the wrong place, but the horizon was obscured from inside the grove. "What time is it?" She asked the man in a raspy voice, clearing her throat again with no effect. Had she been wandering for six, seven hours? Or an hour at most?


Henry Walker
Advisor

Age: 31 | Height: 5'11" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 2 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 14 - Endr: 15 - Luck: 11 - Int:
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#4
HENRY
I was waiting for something extraordinary
but as the years wasted on...
Henry didn't move any closer when the girl reacted defensively, reaching for a knife and moving away. He opened his hands in front of himself to reveal that they were empty. She seemed to realize that he was trying to help, though; he noticed the slight shift in her body language as she lowered her weapon.

His gaze followed hers down the length of her legs and arms, trying to decipher anything more serious than a few scratches. Had she been running from something? He glanced around in the shadowy trees to see if anyone was following her.

Henry's blue eyes snapped back towards her when she asked if he'd seen someone come through before. Ah, so she's running after someone. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he wondered if she was seeing ghosts as well.

Tied around his belt was a leather-bound flask, which he slowly unfastened (realizing that she was suspicious and thus, trying not to spook her). He stepped forward and carefully extended it out towards her. "Water," it was an offering of good will that he hoped she would accept, seeing how she looked pretty beat and her voice rasped when she spoke.

"The sun will probably set in about an hour. How long have you been out here?" Concern built its way back into his expression with the raising of his brows and subtle tension that drew across his jawline, "You're the first real person I've seen out here today, the rest have been ghosts. Ludo's-" he looked around, half-expecting another ghost to pop out, "-up to his tricks again. Is the man you're talking about... is he actually alive?"
nothing ever did
unless I caused it
Iris 'Siri' Acquarone
Wanderer

Age: 22 | Height: 176 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 1 - Strg: 5 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 8 - Luck: 15 - Int:
Played by: Nell Offline
Change author:
Posts: 114 | Total: 163
MP: 85
#5
I R I S

Iris saw a suspicion in his narrowed eyes. He knew something. She accepted his offer, her throat aching for the relief. Still, she sniffed the liquid before trying it, taking a small sampling sip. She then proceeded down it all in a few long and determined gulps. A sigh of relief left her lips as she handed the flask back, the knife in her other hand finding its way back into its sheath.

The relief was short lived, as her suspicions were confirmed. "Too long. How far away is Sanctuary?" She'd been wandering for hours after all. Nothing she had read about the woods surrounding the Grounds suggested she would experience all that. Her reminiscence of the carnivorous rabbit was cut short, however, as the man's words came into focus.

Ludo. That explained some of what had happened, but the possibility that she had desperately been chasing an apparition for hours was proving hard to swallow. Adding salt to the wound, the man's question was met with a frown, her mouth shut tight as anger started brewing.

She propped herself up on her knee, standing up and immediately noticing something was off. The weight on her back was gone.

Shock took the place of anger as she spun around, hoping to spot her luggage. "Shit! I've lost it. My pack is gone." She placed her head between her palms, stunned by the change in fortune that took place in mere hours.

Then, she looked straight at the stranger. He has wings. "Help me and I'll make sure you're rewarded."


Henry Walker
Advisor

Age: 31 | Height: 5'11" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 2 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 14 - Endr: 15 - Luck: 11 - Int:
Played by: Catalysta Offline
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#6
HENRY
a knife twists at the thought that
I should fall short of the mark
Henry relaxed when she put her knife away and accepted the offer of water, proceeding to down it all after a hesitant test. He gave a crooked smile down at the empty flask, feeling the emptiness of it in his hand as he put it back in its place. The amusement disappeared from his expression, however, as she asked about the Sanctuary.

"Sanctuary? 'Too far', you'll probably say," he raised his brows, "but I know the way, if you need help getting back." Only, she didn't really look like she was from the Hollowed Grounds. She had sun-tanned skin and quick hands - he almost didn't see her retrieve the knife before it was a threat, keeping him at bay. No, he had an idea where she was from - and it raised a prick of suspicion in him but, he stifled it. Everyone deserved a chance, regardless of the place they were from. He hoped others would think the same way about him so, it was only fair that he did.

"You're not from the Grounds, are you?" he said, though it wasn't really a question and more like an invitation for her to extrapolate on what she was doing here.

She stood up, her hair flowing around her shoulders in chestnut waves, and Henry was a silent observer. He didn't step away to give her space. If she had some unseen injury, he was ready to help her in case she fell or something. But there was a scowl scrawled across her face and he couldn't help but wonder why, a frown easing onto his own broad features. Henry didn't see the problem in asking questions, whether they would be easy to answer or not. In fact, many of the questions he did ask were the hard ones. Call it insensitive if you must, but an adventurous life isn't lived by taking the easy way..

She never answered him, though, instead throwing herself into a brief panic in search of something. Her bag. Henry glanced around, too, hoping to see it materialize from the brush. Only, it didn't, and she must have lost it in her chase after a ghost... or not-ghost, since he still didn't know. He could assume, though. So she was sensitive about her past. Noted.

"Alright, well, the best way to find what you've lost is to retrace your steps," he began, looking along the ground for what would look like a trail. It wasn't so hard to find. "Wow, look at this," he rubbed his chin with one hand as he gazed down at the clearly-beaten path, "at least it will be easy to do that, huh?" he glanced back over at her, "You're quite a trailblazer!"

He did realize, however, that she must've been exhausted - and they had a whole trek back to Sanctuary to do. So, he put his hand up to stop her if she should try to follow him, "You stay here, alright? It's not that I think you're helpless," he added, taking her for the fiesty, do-it-herself type, assuming she would have some sort of argument for why she shouldn't stay behind, "but I don't want to have to carry you to Sanctuary, okay? So rest up, try to relax, don't talk to any spooky ghosts from the past, and I'll be back with your stuff. Promise!" He flashed her a quick, encouraging grin and then he was off before she could truly put up a fight about it. Returned to his eagle state, his impressive wingspan whooshed through the fields.

He flew over the grasses and brush and overgrowth, torn through by a sloppy trail. Twigs and branches snapped all across the place, the trail blundered down by dragged feet. What was she doing? he could wonder at that, though; she seemed a private sort of person, not likely to open up. Whether or not she'd tell him what happened remained to be seen but, he didn't feel discouraged at all. No, in fact, she made him very curious.

Aha!

There, down in the grasses, was a makeshift pack. It was made well enough to stand out amongst the foliage, though it was smeared across by mud. He wasted no time getting it back to her, knowing that whatever was inside was clearly important to her. So, scooping it up by his strong talons, he took back to the air and swooped over the fields. When he arrived, it only felt like seconds had passed. But really it had been more like ten or so minutes. The eagle flew fast, and fast was what he felt like.

Henry was going so fast, though, that there was a clear expression of 'oh shit' written all over his eagle face as he closed in on the girl. Wide eyes, agape beak, wings frantically working to slow himself down. He was a large, heavy bird flying at top speeds; it wasn't like stopping that motion was easy and he had never been good at landing. But he tried his hardest, using that weight as leverage to hold himself back in the air, just managing to safely, gently place the pack down on the ground a few feet in front of her.

He landed beside it, wings brushing the material. He lifted his eagle beak rather proudly and peered up at her for her reaction. Then, impulsively, the curiosity of the bird made him try to peek inside of the bag with a scrutinizing tilt of his head, especially if she should open it to retrieve something.
middle of adventure
such a perfect place to start
Iris 'Siri' Acquarone
Wanderer

Age: 22 | Height: 176 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 1 - Strg: 5 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 8 - Luck: 15 - Int:
Played by: Nell Offline
Change author:
Posts: 114 | Total: 163
MP: 85
#7
I R I S

She sighed, everything seemed too far away now. At this point the grass under her feet would make for a good bed. Her thoughts were already on the walk ahead of her, but as she considered the stranger's offer of escort Iris noticed a sliver of something familiar. A slight shift in countenance, an invisible distance, a cautious glance.

He was wary of her. She felt quite proud of herself for that. Smirking at his unease, she replied simply with a "No."

Then, her intimidating presence was marred by the panic that came over her at having lost all of her worldly possessions, and the man's nonchalantly cheerful insult of her ability to cover up her tracks. "Oh, please. You can tell from a glance, can you?" She looked back in the direction she'd come from, blinking at a deep winding path in the tall grass. She had disappointed herself in several ways that day.

Iris didn’t really get a word in before the man sprouted wings and flew off towards the forest. She decided he was either unbelievably earnest or simply very enthusiastic about robbing her. Either way, she decided to leave the grove. Stepping out onto an adjacent field, she found a spot where her view of the horizon was unobstructed. Then, she sat down and watched the sky, dearly hoping the giant bird wasn’t going to make her run.

The soft grass she had trampled over was one thing, but she’d crossed cultivated fields, brooks, meandered through a forest, and not to mention the lake, whatever it was. She didn't expect the man's enthusiasm would be enough to find a trail through all these obstacles.

Still, she was grateful for the respite. Her mind was abuzz, trying to untangle the threads of what she'd seen. The stranger said people have been seeing the dead. That would mean Elias was truly... But if Ludo is the cause of these visions, nothing was certain. The herald could have simply cooked up a concoction of her own personal hell and stirred her into it. She needed to know more. A headache seemed to spread out from her temples.

Sooner than she'd expected, a dark spot appeared in the sky, growing larger. Iris propped herself up once more. At first, she thought the eagle had given up the chase, but it soon became clear that his talons were not empty. She squinted, straining to see the familiar curve of her bow sticking out of the bundle.

There it was.

Just as a fragile sense of relief settled in, she noticed something was off. The massive bird began its descent, but it didn't seem to be slowing down. Perplexed by the eagle's intentions, she made a quick decision. Iris stood her ground, adamant to prevent her possessions from ending up on the hard side of the eagle's landing. Her heart's pace picked up as the giant approached. With each second the impact appeared more painful. At the last moment, her pack landed safely, and she sidestepped out of the way, missing the beast's wings by millimeters.

She rushed to the mud-stained bundle, giving the bird a quizzical look. It appeared very proud of itself.

The rope binding on her luggage was loosened, but as she raised an eyebrow at the giant avian it appeared innocent, if a but too curious. She drew out her bow, long and unbroken, and placed it at her side. Next, she put her hand into the pack only to feel something moving inside, and a sharp bite.

Retracting her hand with a squeal, she was on her feet and a step away in the next instant. There was a bite on her finger, two small holes in the skin. Her headache intensified. "Bird man," she addressed the stranger, "It looks like you brought in a stowaway." She approached the pack only to give it a small kick, receiving a high-pitched squeal and feint rustling in reply. Her lip curled slightly. At least it isn't a snake. She turned to the eagle again, a picture of politeness. "Would you mind? This seems like a job for a bird of prey."

Iris inspected her hand, wondering if whatever had bitten her carried any unpleasant diseases.


Henry Walker
Advisor

Age: 31 | Height: 5'11" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 2 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 14 - Endr: 15 - Luck: 11 - Int:
Played by: Catalysta Offline
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#8
HENRY
a knife twists at the thought that
I should fall short of the mark
Iris standing her ground in front of him, intending to stop his landing should he crash it, was pretty bold and likely would've ended in more injury than not. Luckily, Henry managed to dip to the side as he landed, narrowly avoiding her.

He glanced between Iris and the bag as she hurried for it, head still tilted at an angle that only a bird could manage. She pulled out a long bow and he let out a small squawk of intrigue, dipping down to level his beak with it. Before he could really examine the instrument, something shifted in the bag. He stepped back over to it, blinking as the girl pulled her hand away with a yelp. He noticed the bite marks on her skin.

He squawked in surprise and flinched out of the way when Iris kicked the bag, spreading his wings slightly. Then, she asked him to get it. He shook out his feathers, fluffing up his crest, and stomped toward the bag. Peeling the flap back, he dipped his beak inside to see that there was a weasel in it.

Quickly, before it could really fight against him much, he grabbed. Gripping it by the loose skin on its back, he tossed it onto the ground. Eagle instinct dictated that he go after it, to dig into its flesh and feast on it. With a raucous, threatening caw, he flew a few feet towards it. The weasel cried in terror and fled, disappearing into the undergrowth like a worm disappears into mud.

Turning, he faced the girl. He shifted back, walking over with a heavy breath leaving his lungs.

"So about that reward..." he began, placing his hands on his hips and looking at her expectantly, "I don't need one. You can repay me by telling me who you are, and where you come from. I'll start," he offered, pausing for a moment. "My name is Henry Walker, not uh... 'bird man'," he chuckled lightly, "and I've lived in the Grounds my whole life. My family owns a farm in the settlement. For the most part, we raise sheep. Now, you."
middle of adventure
such a perfect place to start
Iris 'Siri' Acquarone
Wanderer

Age: 22 | Height: 176 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 1 - Strg: 5 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 8 - Luck: 15 - Int:
Played by: Nell Offline
Change author:
Posts: 114 | Total: 163
MP: 85
#9
I R I S

She watched with morbid curiosity as the predator charged, growing in size as feathers stood on edge, large eyes hungrily fixed on the slippery creature. She didn't envy the weasel, but she didn't pity it. In fact, she felt a pang of disappointment as it slithered off into the grass.

Iris approached her effects, giving her bag another cautionary kick before crouching down and digging into it. It was time to take stock of the damage.

It became clear right away that the pest had gotten into her food. She sighed and picked out bits of bread and dried meat, throwing them out with her uninjured hand as beads of blood streamed down the other. As she did, her fingers brushed over smooth glass, evoking a sigh of relief as she pulled out a bottle, undamaged. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the eagle transform back into a broad-shouldered figure. He spoke of a reward. Of course.

But then, the bird man once again subverted a cynic's expectations. She used the pause in his speech to look at him and raise an eyebrow expectantly, amused by his choice. Iris suspected he didn't look inside the bag after all. Either that or his chivalry was working very hard against his personal interest. When he spoke up again, she proceeded to dig around her bag, finding her half-empty waterskin and almost emptying it out on her hand before taking a drink. She snickered at his comment about his impromptu nickname, and pulled out another bottle. The two vessels of thick dark glass and their contents amounted for most of her luggage's weight. Uncorking one, she poured it over her hand with a stifled hiss, all the while listening to Henry's rendition of a rather plain and boring history. Iris shuffled her clothes about, thinking that she couldn't have forgotten to pack bandages. As she did, she came upon a black pouch that made clicking sounds when she rolled it between her fingers. She found no bandages. Her knife was out again, tearing one of her shirts at the hem, pausing to look up at the man as if expecting him to continue. It appeared that was all there was to it.

Grabbing one end of the fabric, she spun in around her hand, looking the farmer up and down before responding. "I'm Siri." Satisfied with her improvised bandage, she proceeded to tie it with a rather shabby looking knot, her hand's movement clumsy and restricted. "I come from Torchline, most recently." No other place in Caido had quite enough sunshine to account for her tan. "I'm a traveler." She didn't elaborate further, but it was clear looking at her that Iris didn't do any heavy lifting or spend many nights under the open sky. Her hands weren't calloused, apart from the fingers of her left hand used to draw her bow, her skin was smooth dark honey, and she didn't carry any visible scars.

She hastily put her pack back together, save for the bottle she opened. She took a swig before offering it to Henry and slinging the bag over her shoulder. "Lead the way."


Henry Walker
Advisor

Age: 31 | Height: 5'11" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 2 - Strg: 16 - Dext: 14 - Endr: 15 - Luck: 11 - Int:
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#10
HENRY
I was waiting for something extraordinary
but as the years wasted on...
Siri was clearly from Torchline. He didn't find the information very surprising, nor did it clear anything up for him either. If anything, it only intrigued him more. Of course, his self-introduction was quite simple but, really, Henry's family was one of the most well-off in the Grounds. They made a good living off of their livestock and had prospered over the years - and they were one of the few Grounders to manage that. Perhaps, in comparison to Torchline's richest, it did not look or sound as grandios...

Henry was a simple man, humble and uninterested in being any richer, for what it was. He was perfectly content with what he had, and that was a bit of the problem, wasn't it? He wanted to see things he never had before, but he didn't mind that his own backstory was... well, uninteresting. It left plenty of room for others to share their wayward journeys with him, instead. And anyway, he was far more concerned with the story that lay ahead.

So while she rummaged through her things, he gave the items cursory glances. The only thing that really piqued his interest was her weapon of choice, wondering what it looked like when she arced the bow and aimed an arrow at whatever sorry thing provoked her. Personally, he preferred something like a sword.. or maybe a glaive.

He looked down at the bottle and accepted it into his hand, though he did not take a drink. At her command, he turned and led the way as if he had some sort of internal compass, knowing exactly which way was the fastest and clearest. "What is this?" He asked curiously, gazing down at the bottle before taking a drink.

"Traveler, you say? I wouldn't mind a bit of that, myself. See new places, new things, meet new people," He mused, holding onto the bottle still. "What are you looking for? Adventure? A new life? Escape from a troubled past?" The last one was a tease, a quip at her dark and mysterious demeanor as he raised a brow at her. He frankly didn't care whether that was or wasn't the case, he just wanted to get to know her. So he moved on, "The Hollowed Grounds isn't much but, it's a safe place to rest until you're ready to move on. Except for LongNight, but, I'm sure you've heard of that already. Its reputation precedes it." He said it with a grim smile directed at her.
nothing ever did
unless I caused it
Iris 'Siri' Acquarone
Wanderer

Age: 22 | Height: 176 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 1 - Strg: 5 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 8 - Luck: 15 - Int:
Played by: Nell Offline
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Posts: 114 | Total: 163
MP: 85
#11
'Siri'

"Spiced pineapple rum." The bottle's contents were sweet. Pineapple covered up the sharp bite of white rum so heavy on alcohol, while a concoction of minty herbs refreshed and balanced out the sweetness. It was a drink all too easy to overindulge in.

Iris strapped her bow across her chest, letting it rest on her back, steeled herself for the long walk ahead, and followed after Henry. She would make quick work of stringing the bow and pulling an arrow from her pack should the need arise. The day's events left her on edge. Before she had any time to consider what or who she'd encountered in the forest the farmer distracted her with a string of questions and a rather unpleasant assumption.

She looked him straight in the raised eyebrow. "Troubled past." He seemed interested in her bow. Did he recognize it? No. He didn't know anything about who she was. Probably. Having to react quickly so as not to give anything away she conformed to the ancient proverb - When in doubt, laugh. And she did, though it came out as a hoarse scoff as she returned her gaze to the road ahead. "I've tried settling, but it didn't stick. I guess the problem is that I don't know what I want, exactly." She paused, suddenly pondering the complexity of the farmer's question. "I guess I'm just out to explore. See what stories the world and its people have to offer." She shrugged, glancing at Henry.

As they were about to leave the orchard behind them, Iris strayed off the invisible trail Henry was leading them on and headed for the nearest tree. She plucked an apple, her mouth watering as it exuded its sweet scent, and sunk her teeth into it. Following a satisfied moan, she grabbed more, stuffing them in her pockets before moving on.

LongNight aside, she was skeptical about the safety of the Hollowed Grounds after the day she'd had. "Is there anything...", completely batshit crazy, "... strange living in the woods?"

Henry Walker
Advisor

Age: 31 | Height: 5'11" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
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#12
HENRY
I was waiting for something extraordinary
but as the years wasted on...
If there were complexities to Henry's question, there were soon lost. Her answer spoke to a part of Henry that wasn't buried so deep as 'Siri's' truths. In fact, at this point in his life, it was a large part of his identity. His humor faded as he gave her a small, knowing smile, "I know exactly what you mean."

"I can appreciate that. There's always one thing after another holding me back, but I'm glad you don't have the same problem," he sighed, wistful, and dropped his shoulders. He continued onward, not actually intending to grill her with questions.

If she thought he was ignorant to the subtleties, she was sorely mistaken. Alas, if she didn't want to open up to a stranger, who was he to judge? So he quietly guided her along the wooded pathways that trailed between the apple trees, fingers tapping against the bottle of pineapple rum he held in his hands, taking her words at face value.

Yep, definitely a Torchliner. At least that part of her story held up. Admittedly, he was beginning to feel a little defeated right about then, though he didn't entirely chalk it up to the girl's guarded attitude. He'd also seen a ghost from his past. Memories were haunting the back of his mind, especially when he'd brought up LongNight with a flicker of a shadow in his eyes. He paused to let her pick a few apples, indulging in a drink of the rum while she did that.

"Strange?" Her question caught his attention, causing a pinch in his brow. Incredulously, he added, "Siri, if there's one thing you should know about the Grounds, it's that everything here is strange. Especially around this time of year. Why do you ask?" He offered her the bottle back then, an {hopefully} easier question posed with it.
nothing ever did
unless I caused it
Iris 'Siri' Acquarone
Wanderer

Age: 22 | Height: 176 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
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#13
'Siri'

Having just recently untangled the complications holding her back, she had to wonder what might be keeping the farmer locked to the Grounds. Well, untangled was a strong word. Perhaps she merely severed herself from the whole mess and hid in some fields. Iris chewed on the apple in her hand, noticing Henry grow silent.

She appreciated the respite. Although her muscles were taught from exertion, her mind was fresh with questions. Gathering the thoughts that had streamed through her mind in the previous hours she felt lighter, if for the one thing she was still chasing. Throwing aside a gnawed out core she took a fresh apple from her pocket and kept eating, ravenous.

Henry's answer gave no clarification, but it did make her glance around the fields suspiciously before swallowing a mouthful of fruit, taking the bottle and indulging in a long gulp. "There was..." She hesitated, wiping away a stray drop on her lips with a sleeve. "Well... A carnivorous rabbit, a mushroom that smelled of decay, a lake of colors and the trees appeared... grabby. But only when I wasn't looking." She looked at Henry expectantly, hoping for an explanation.

Henry Walker
Advisor

Age: 31 | Height: 5'11" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
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#14
HENRY
I was waiting for something extraordinary
but as the years wasted on...
Henry's expression lifted and twisted with each detail she gave him to describe this rather strange thing that had happened to her. Only, to Henry, once he puzzled it together after a moment, this was one of the less odd things that could've happened to her in the Grounds. Believe it or not.

An amused light glimmered in his eyes and he grinned, huffing out a laugh.

"Did you eat the mushroom, Torchie?" He asked, giving her a nudge before he headed back along the trail that awaited them. He had to chuckle again. "Don't know if you have many of them in Torchline, but not all mushrooms should be eaten. A tip?" He arched a brow over his shoulder at her, "If you aren't absolutely certain what kind of plant it is, best to probably leave it where you found it. Not ... give it a sample!" he laughed again, but he didn't really want to rub it in so he silenced his mirth with some effort.

He stopped, held a low-hanging branch away from the trail, and gestured for her to go on ahead of him. The way was marked quite clearly now, she'd have no trouble determining it for herself. Still, he'd walk along with her until she was back in civilization, where she ran much less risk of killing herself by eating wild plants. "You're lucky that you only hallucinated, you know. You could've gotten hurt, or worse."
nothing ever did
unless I caused it


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