Graded [Frontier][Ciu'nan]Chapter 1: A distant grotto

[Clyvelle]

Goals:
1) Follow the herd(s)
2) Meet a friend or two on the road
3) See some hidden beauty
4) Meet a long-forgotten fae

Cast:
Ciu'nan
Adam "Legion" Keith (scooped)
Fei Liu
Haruki
Wonton Denver
Tia

Thread Summary:
Ciu'nan had followed the herd(s) of deer for two days. Towards the end of day two the herd(s) enter a forest and eventually come into a clearing therein with aged signs of a battle fought long ago. The herd nests in the clearing, allowing Ciu'nan some rest herself. While looking for a place to camp, she runs into two strangers: Adam and Fei Liu. The three share a campfire and tell their stories.

The next day Adam leaves, but Fei Liu remains to follow the deer a bit further. Before the herd took off, Ciu'nan spotted some strangers. Drawn by the cervitaur amongst them, she makes contact with the group. It seemed they were on their way to the home village of one member. The herd began to move out, so Ciu'nan quickly invited them to tag along as they seemed to be heading in a similar direction.

The terrain was only going to get rougher as they entered hill country. All around them there was nothing but trees as far as the eye could see. Suddenly, Ciu'nan discovered an apparently lifeless buck amongst some boulders. With no sign of struggle, the deer's death was perplexing, yet there was a greater mystery about to unfold. The group travelled on, pondering the deer's death but being unable to decipher the cause. After a short walk, they found themselves entering the same area with the deer carcass exactly as they had left it. Various reactions and emotions were felt over the realization that they seemed to be trapped in this space. Each coped (or not) in their own way, but eventually the group spread out to see what they could find. Fungi was found in a few places and after Tia consumed some such fungi sprouting on a tree did something finally happen. The ground erupted and an enormous entity emerged, identifying itself as Masaruma the forest elder. Seemingly taken aback by the apparently irreverant conduct of the party, Masaruma relented, extending the party grace. While the forest elder waved the need for formalities, it asked the party for free-will offerings nonetheless. Those who had something to give offered it for fear of denying the forest elder. Once the offerings were received, Masaruma released the party with his blessing.

Emerging from the forest, it was found that the day, which appeared as late morning in the forest, was actually in the final hours of twilight. Despite the onset of darkness, Haruki, Tia, and Wanton set off on their own journey, leaving Ciu'nan and Fei Liu to follow the deer. The pair found a ruins with a subterranean chamber that would give them shelter for the evening. A heavy rain came down from the mountain soon after they had settled in for the evening.

As they passed the time with conversation, footsteps were heard in the path overhead. From the group, a single set of footsteps approached the stairs to the basement. A stranger announced himself and sought to poke his head in for a moment. Ciu'nan sensed danger but bade Fei to invite him or send him off. Fei bade the stranger to join them. The stranger was dressed in a strange outfit with a mask fashioned after the likeness of a bird. For reasons unknown even to her, Ciu'nan was greatly distressed by the strangers presence. Thankfully, as suddenly as he had appeared, the stranger left, claiming a present beating of wings to be his cue. The remainder of the night passed without intrusion.

The following morning met the pair with more rain, which would persist all day. Fei ran a quick errand while Ciu'nan awoke and prepared to set out. By the time the deer were moving on, Fei had returned and they set off together on what seemed like the final leg of their journey.

They trudged through the rainsoaked forest for much of the morning til they hit the base of the mountain. Following it to the south and east, they discovered a ravine blocked off by a gate. Working together, Ciu'nan and Fei opened the portcullis to allow the deer through.

Beyond the gate, the ravine went on briefly before coming to a dead end in a small garden. The deer piled into the area with singular focus on a briar bush at the far end. As they hungrily devoured the bush, it came to life, stabbing and cutting and mutilating the herd. After the last brambles were consumed, only six deer remained, staring vacantly at cave entrance hidden behind the briar bush.

Ciu'nan and Fei enter the grotto to find a magical fountain within. Interacting with it caused both interlopers to be pulled into the memories of an old fae god. Upon seeing the events that led up to its confinement here, they were released from the vision as the deity rose from the fountain. In the exchange that followed, it would be revealed that the deity's power had been great diminished. He also divulged that both Ciu'nan and Fei were "offworlders", entities whose souls originated from another world. Ciu'nan doubted the fae's claim and drove him to reveal it to her. The fae used his magic to reveal Ciu'nan's true past. Ultimately, her forgotten past was too much to handle, and Ciu'nan lost her grip on reality. Through fits of maniacal laughter, she disappeared, leaving Fei alone with the god.

The fae would take Fei as his underling, but for how long could such an arrangement truly last?​

 

[Clyvelle]

The grasslands east of Ryken bid the wanderer come. Beckoning goes out to all, yet only a few answer. Such is the life of the lone wanderer, but solitude comes and goes. Chance encounters on the road happen when one least expects it.

Here on the edge of Light County (domain of Count Linneus Light), however, the roads are sparse and purposeful. The animals that call the region home stick to the edges of the forest or the prairies of waist high grass. Wild and free, they roam where their internal compass bids them. In their shadow a lone figure keeps watch over them as they travel the land: Ciu'nan the fae.

The locals speak of a herd of deer that is displaying odd migratory behavior. Every month just after the new moon, several herds of deer converge on the plains of eastern Ryke and head further east. The herds return to their native locales about a week later. Ciu'nan has been asked to investigate.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Spring held its breath, reluctant to make way for summer. The remnants of winter's chill still clung to the fringes of the Ryken air, reaching their full potential in nightfall, where the frost still danced on the prairie's crown only to be driven back beneath the treeline once the sun had risen. The sun had bid its final farewell, however, so the frost crept freely from the shaded places and was only prevented in the path where the herd passed, neatly outlined by the creeping white.

Ciu'nan wasn't far behind. The deer were aware of her, but they still refused to let her come close. She had much to learn as a fae, it seemed, before the wildlife would allow her to approach as a true kindred spirit. This was far enough for her being a mere thirty paces out. She even found a way to entertain herself while keeping tabs on the herd: hide and seek. Whenever the deer would look her way, she'd duck into the grass real quick and slink around to a new position then poke her head out again. They didn't seem nearly as amused by it as she was, but that didn't faze Ciu'nan.

Somewhere on the other side of the field, a chorus of bucks bellowed out a particular call: it was time to move again. The herd began shuffling forward, the waist high grass swaying in their wake. Their current heading would have them passing through a forest. This will be the close of the second day Ciu'nan had been following them. Where in the world were they going?

-----

The moon appeared as a pale crescent in the sky as they entered the forest. Dark only became darker under the canopy, but the darkened arboreal path would not last long. Ciu'nan felt their emergence from the forest was premature, and indeed it was. Overhead, the canopy opened to the sky. Moss-covered trees lay at odd angles near equally mossy stumps. Some looked broken while others looked purposefully cut in times past. Tattered fragments of cloth still waved from poles stuck into small mounds. Beneath their hooves and feet, heavily rusted metal implements peeked from the undergrowth. The deer seemed unaffected by the unnatural clearing they had entered, but Ciu'nan knew all too well what these telltale signs meant.

Despite having no concept of the meaning behind their surroundings, the herd suddenly stopped. Ciu'nan looked on curiously, but couldn't see much from her spot in the rear of the herd. Climbing a tree, she looked ahead to the leaders who seemed to be pacing, looking this way and that as if lost or confused. Ciu'nan's face scrunched in bewilderment as she scaled back down the tree.

 

[Skyhunter]

Adam " Legion " Keith

​

Adam slowly walked his way through a prairie, remembering the town he had helped save from the threat of an angry troll tribe that had lost their Songsowers, Adam's eyes looked up at the sky, night would be approaching soon, although the beautiful sky of the evening reminded the musician of his times with his band, they would play songs while bathing in the sunset. It reminded him of a somber tune, as he walked over the prairie he travelled on. Adam gave a weak smile, his guitar strapped onto his shoulder, reaching around for the neck of his instrument, he gently took it into his arms. Holding it properly, being careful of the sharp body that was his guitar.

From his sleeve, a pick fell out as Adam caught it in between his fingers looking to his weapon that was also his means of entertainment. Adjusting his instrument, Adam smiled widely now, almost as tears were filling his eyes, unaware of the pack of deer he was walking up towards. Legion gently dragged his pick over his strings, a somber melody began to play, the musician's eyes glowed with an eerie silver aura that wisped into the air. His demeanor changed from happy to melancholy as he played his sad tune.



Legion stepped through the grass, his tune filling the air, filling his ears. He could feel the demonic presence within him claw at him as it wanted to leave his body and flow into the music he creates. Legion's head began to bob gently up and down as he played his tune, he wanted to sing along with his tune but resisted. It hurt to speak, sometimes singing would change his voice to a normal human's. Eventually Adam would make his way towards a herd of deer, seeing them as Legion's eyes opened, he stopped in his tracks, continuing to play his tune without missing a beat as his notes continued to fly into the air. Legion continued to bob his head as he played, a sad look in his eyes that had the same silver streaks emitting from them.

Clyvelle

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Ciu'nan shivered in the night air. Summer was on its way, but that would not spare her tonight. She pulled her fur cloak tighter about her shoulders and neck as she pressed into the clearing. The bucks leading the herd had let out another bellow. The herd would bed here tonight, which meant Ciu'nan would have to set up camp not too far away. As she was about to find a place, the approaching sound of music met her from further away in the clearing. The deer would be scared off if the music alerted them, so Ciu'nan decided to investigate.

She crept along the treeline towards the melody. The tune was rather somber. While its tone fit the location, who would be here in the middle of the night serenading the dead? A lone shadow moved through the clearing towards the deer. Ciu'nan moved to intercept.

"Excuse...Excuse me, but...could you not play your music? I don't mean to be rude, but there's some deer bedding nearby, and I'd like to keep them there for the night if possible."

It was an odd request. Ciu'nan could see and understand that much. This was her mission for the time being, however, so she had to do what was necessary to see it through.

"I...was actually about to make camp myself. It's awfully cold tonight. I can get us a nice fire to keep warm."

 

[Skyhunter]

Adam " Legion " Keith


​

As Legion continued playing his tune, he stared at the bedding deer, his brow raised for a moment as he brought his continuous playing down to quiet playing. Legion heard something move then turned his head seeing some sort of... Strange woman approach, asking if he could not play his music anymore so that he wouldn't disturb the deer, Legion stared at her for a moment before his fingers stopped playing, letting the tune echo quietly on a single note when release, but then Adam gently placed his hand on the neck, stopping the sound. He had a kind smile on his face as he raised a hand to show he wasn't hostile. He then pointed to his neck and shook his head before opening his mouth like he was speaking, then closed it and shook his head once more. Telling the kind soul, he wasn't able to speak.

Adam moved his guitar onto his shoulder with the strap showing he wouldn't play, upon hearing about making a fire, the musician nodded, he didn't even realize how cold the night was until she had mentioned it. He shivered, feeling the cold creep up his spine before he took a deep breath and exhaled. Walking towards the woman, Adam stopped a few feet from her. Seeing her features his eyes widen a bit but... She was beauitful, and Adam wasn't one to judge a person by their looks, especially if they looked weird. I hope this isn't a trap... Either I'm a fool or I'm an enchanted fool. Adam thought to himself, he couldn't help but be intrigued by this woman, who seemed to be a guardian of this place. He then used his hands, placing both hands together then his head on top with his eyes close, he disbanded it and with both hands out in front of him while looking around, indicating where would they be camping at?

Interaction: Clyvelle

 

[Pet Panda]

Where prey treads, predators are sure to follow. Fei Liu did not know that the chorus of mournful howls resonating with the shadows in the trees were the wolves calling each other home for the night. He is thoroughly a domestic. In the distant past, he even took his civilized order out to sea, where legions of drowned dead learned well how easily the whims of nature can overcome intelligence's feeble ingenuity. Rogue waves and freak whirlpools, monsters and fog hiding portals to another world that can swallow everything without a trace. None of those things came for him in life. At least one of them he could now say for certain is real. The wolves were up with the rogue waves and portals into other worlds, or jellyfish in the sky, mysterious actors, possibly obsessed with his downfall, and at any rate enemies of his well being. Faintly, he wondered what a faint chattering with no discernable source was until he realized his own teeth were chattering. It certainly was not the cold, that is something he hasn't felt so far. Someplace behind him, the crisp sound of a twig snapping caused him to freeze mid-step. All around him, low foliage that makes it by on the feeble drops of sun falling from the canopy above cut his vision to pieces. He couldn't tell what was going on at all.

He turned slowly during a few horrified seconds to survey the forest behind him but found nothing. The silence and stillness was all the more terrifying. With a huff, he suddenly turned and galvanized into action. Among the many things he learned about this body of his, the combination of very little weight and an unnatural force driving it gave him quite a wonderful capability to run. So run he did, without reservation he flew through the trees in the night. There was little noise naturally due to his light frame and, let us say quiet breaths. All of the hard footfalls were dulled by the stolen clothing wrapping his form and the possible whistling noise he noticed tended to emit from his ribs and nose was disallowed by the heavy cloak obscuring his features. His gloved hands did not even whip through the air loudly as they worked frantically through the air. In moments where he assumed that there was nothing following him from behind he felt an inexplicable pressure of fear right at the back of his neck propelling him forward out of an abundance of caution, until to his left he heard the sound of some creature -- no, music. The distinctly tonal noise of an instrument of some kind drew his head in that direction and reached out to catch a tree with his arm, throwing himself in that direction while losing very little speed.

Moments later he came sailing bewteen the trees, right toward two human figures. A few meters from them he slowed down, hopping high in the air and slowing to a walk after a few lively bounces, craining his neck behind him and looking around frantically. Rather quickly, he began breathing loudly and pointing behind him, awkwardly stumbling over his words. His wish for deocrum battled fiercely with his sheer relief. These folks... though they were a little strange, the one on the left seemed to be a mere man carrying an instrument, and the one on the right -- "oh, thank the gods, there's a... something -- AH!" he breathed abruptly upon taking in their features, a creature made of bushes with stag horns, but they seemed to be getting along amicably, he raised his hands in front of him defensively, shrinking a little and taking a step back, "I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."




After an awkward moment, he stammered finally, "are either of you foe?"

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

It was a lone man with some kind of stringed instrument. Thankfully, he heeded Ciu'nan's request to stop playing. She didn't really know what she could have done otherwise. The man approached her and pointed to his throat while shaking his head. Instinctively, Ciu'nan began trying to fix things.

"Oh, are you hurt? Do you need healing?" she said as she closed the gap between them even further by stepping forward, raising a hand towards his throat.

Ciu'nan stopped herself short, however, as her ears perked up. Something was advancing towards them rapidly from the trees. A figure sprang from the treeline with a bounding leap. Ciu'nan disappeared briefly before reappearing a few feet in the direction of the oncoming figure, a spear held in her hands aimed at its torso. The newcomer skidded to a halt inches from being impaled, backpedaling as its hands raised frantically. Ciu'nan's gaze was fixed on the cloaked figure as it stumbled for words. When it finally asked if they were foes, she relaxed ever so slightly.

"Depends on your motives, stranger. Who comes rushing out of the woods in the middle of the night dressed in all black like some ill-omened creature?" Ciu'nan pressed for an answer, the spear still brandished towards the stranger.

 

[Skyhunter]

Adam " Legion " Keith


​

Adam stared as the woman took a step forward, his eyes widen for a moment when asked if he was injured and if she could heal him, seeing her raise a gentle hand up to his throat to help him, even if it was useless to do so, he would welcome it. Even raising his hand up to touch her hand, but the musician heard erratic movement, his head turned as his hand dropped seeing a dark figure coming their way, Adam didn't really know what to do, " WHAT? " Adam called out, his voice as deep as a demonic entity's. Just as this dark entity approached them, the woman was faster than Adam had thought, bearing a spear, from Gods know where! Pointing it at the strange stranger, Adam listened to the stranger speak, it sounded as if they weren't trying to approach so quickly.

Adam moved forward and gently placed a hand on the spear, pointing it down. " Wait. " Adam spoke, his voice still deep like a demon's, " Do not be alarmed. " Adam made a face of pain like it was hard to speak, even his voice was shaky. " I have a deep voice. Like demon's." Again his face was one of pain, skipping words to help mitigate as much pain as possible. " Violence is not the answer. He should not have approached us as so, and he should remove his hood. " Adam then coughed into his hand, it sounded bad. Pulling his hand away he had blood in his palm, he didn't look surprised and flicked his hand trying to get some blood off, following it up with wiping his hand on his pants, looking to the stranger, Adam spoke once more. " Please. Reveal yourself. " He then touched his throat, in pain from speaking again, removing his hand from Ciu'nan's spear and taking a step backwards.

Interactions: Clyvelle Pet Panda

 

[Pet Panda]

At Adam's voice, the hooded figure shrank away, and also stepped back, looking nervously behind him. While the wolves seemed rather the same, all of the prickling terror which would have rose in his mind, in a different time, at these different ones, a man with such a horrid voice, and a creature with such mystical features, failed to reach him at all. Of all the creatures in this new land, the familiar ones: the humans and the beasts, are the ones which opposed him senselessly and nearly destroyed him. It is as though this world only teaches kindness to the disfigured, and the rare and lonely. Liu laughed nervously and waved his hands toward them in a placating gesture, a winsome tone escaping him, "wh-why, I'll-omened? For nothing more than a black cloak? While I may be seem so to you, you two are a miracle for me in this wilderness. There was some beast behind me in the foliage, I wish not to meet my doom," he pleaded irenically. Its hands were clad in mismatched gloves, one leather on the left and a soft white glove on the right.

"Nor am I capable of sending either of you to yours, I am nothing but a cartographer," he continued, "furthermore," he added hollowly, some passion draining away from his voice, "I am not wearing all of this clothing in the dead of night for the sake of appearing as a ghost," he sighed a little exaggeratedly and admitted as though making a confession, "I am disfigured, terribly so, my flesh has been destroyed thoroughly, it is best that you do not look at it, it is of no benefit to you." He straightened and glanced behind him again. There was obvious sincerity in that action which may have contrasted in some fundamental way with the anodyne charade he was putting on, less skillful flourish, less theatrical silliness in the way he proceeded, "I shall even keep my distance, the length of two of my arms at all times at least, just do not send me back into this awful night or I shall have no peace -- I was brought here by music, I thought it may have been an establishment," he pleaded, looking toward the ground between them and at his arm to make sure that he was indeed at least two arms away, then took another step away for good measure.

This figure was well covered and loomed in this dark night, quite tall, inhumanly so. A deep shadow covered his face and garments piled over his shoulders and body like a curtain, obscuring an indication of coherent shape beyond that it is most certainly a humanoid. It was difficult to distinguish any features, any number of protrusions or decoration less prominent than horns could be hidden beneath that ensemble. At its side a canvas sack rested. It was rather light and what seemed to be a cylindrical canister protruded from the top of it. Many lumps and rounded shapes pushed against the stretched fabric, and it was uncannily similar to the form of the stranger. Now standing still and subject to closer assessment, the figure also seemed to have an odd shape about it. Parts of the cloak bulged, stretched by some girth underneath while others caved in to form divets in strange places. Sometimes a bulge and a divet occurred right near each other. The proportions around the legs and arms seemed incorrect as well, too thick in the legs for the thickness of the arms.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

The music man made the first move to pacify the situation. His voice was unsettling, calling to mind the rougher sort of creatures one might find in the wild. Ciu'nan had never encountered a demon, but she supposed it was likely they would sound much like this man. Despite his unsettling voice, he had called for peace between them. Ciu'nan hesitantly retracted her spear, resting the butt on the ground beside her.

"I raised my spear on your behalf, you know...as well as my own. Suddenly hearing fast approaching footsteps would put just about anyone on guard." she said with a sheepish smile. "What say we get a fire going, then we can explain ourselves."

Stowing the spear on her back, Ciu'nan retrieved a small bundle of kindling she had been keeping dry under her cloak. Walking away from the herd over to one of the poles stuck in the ground, she tore what remained of the fabric free and bound the kindling with it. Using her hand, she dug out a shallow depression and placed the kindling therein. Pulling her pack around, she dug out the flint and steel and began striking one against the other until sparks caught the kindling. She lowered her face next to the smoking bundle and gently blew on it. Suddenly the embers sparked into a small flame.

"Quickly! Go gather some more kindling." said Ciu'nan as she broke the pole from its spot in the ground and snapped it into smaller pieces.

 

[Pet Panda]

Liu stood stunned for a moment, the dry swishing of a stray gust tossing the forest around them momentarily before subsiding without consequence. Was it that cold? Was she going to murder him when he stooped down to desposit his kindling? He snapped into action, rummaging in the little sack to his side to produce a little leather-covered box, inside it a fuzzy carpet of shredded wood. Its sallow color suggested it was produced by shaving the exposed inside of a log. He gingerly pinched at it with his white felt glove rather than the chunky leather one and approached quickly. Once near, he deposited a healthy amount into the weak ember. He leaned forward with his length of limb and dropped the cushion of wood fiber so that its outer edge was on the feeble orange light, that way it was not completely smothered. Then he leaned back and glanced at the other two carefully.

Some trepidation remained. The loud one had no ill intent toward him but the lady stag did have a spear and certainly would have no trouble destroying him if she wished. Their urgency was nonetheless amiable enough that he pinched some more shredded wood fiber and held it over the baby fire, turning the vacuous face of his robed head toward the forest creature and the demonic man with an air of expectation, "I'm afraid my breath is weak dear spirits, if you would be so kind," he requested, inclining his head toward the kindling. Where he was poised over the fire pit, his manifold robe's pieces dangled strangely down, many ribbons and scarves of black fabric. He would seem impoverished if they were not relatively clean and new. Rather notably, while he waited, his form was unusually still and taut. In living creatures there is always a type of trembling energy, subtle unimportant unsteadiness that is not present in him.

 

[Skyhunter]

Adam " Legion " Keith

​

With a soft sigh, Adam looked and sounded relieved once this strange woman pulled her spear away, the guitarist gave a friendly smile, seeing that this would luckily resolve peacefully. His eyes moved to Ciu'nan who said that she was going to defend him, then stated she was also protecting herself. Adam did show a grin along with a deep and friendly chuckle, trying to lighten the mood, his eyes looked to the mysterious stranger who declined on revealing themselves, which did raise a brow from the metal musician, until he explained that they were disfigured, Adam understood but he didn't mind, he didn't judge people based on their appearances. But it seemed to Adam that this person wasn't comfortable with showing people their face. Adam wouldn't press the situation anymore and instead dropped it.

The long-haired man's eyes moved back to Ciu'nan stating they should get a fire started, nodding his head to starting a fire, Adam agreed on getting kindling for the group, being quick and grabbing much of it. In Adam's previous life, his parents had a lot of money but were very cold, luckily Adam would sometimes go to his grandparent's place, where they lived in the countryside and were more old fashion, having a wood stove, Adam preferred living there. It was very nice, relaxing, quiet, and peaceful. He was taught about getting together firewood and kindling, Adam would gather quite a bit, easily getting a whole bundle in his arms since they were in a forest, once the place to get a fire started was decided, Adam placed the fuel down into the firepit and took a seat, placing his guitar on his lap.

Interactions: Clyvelle Pet Panda

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

The long-haired man was most helpful in collecting wood. Each piece he brought seemed carefully chosen to burn perfectly. Ciu'nan thanked him for his contribution as he deposited a rather large stack near the fire. The cloaked individual was less helpful, choosing only to pinch sawdust onto the flames. At first, Ciu'nan thought it might be magical in nature and help produce a flame, but her curious look relaxed into flat realization that he was indeed simply sprinkling a growing flame with mundane wood particles. She managed a less enthusiastic 'thank you' for his efforts. Ciu'nan herself didn't stray far from the flame, using her body to shield it from the slight breeze filtering into the clearing. By the time, the musician came with his stack, the fire was stable enough that she began propping twigs on it to stoke it higher.

With the stack of wood in arm's reach, and the fire stoked decently high, Ciu'nan motioned for the other two to have a seat. Resting her spear on the ground at her side, the fae sat crossed legged and leaned toward the fire with her hands outstretched to soak in the warmth. The other end of the clearing was mostly quiet except the pacing of a few bucks keeping watch, which Ciu'nan noted as bizarre behavior for deer. Her attention returned to her unexpected companions.

"See? Nothing like a little fire to lighten the mood!" she joked with a small yet genuine laugh. "I guess I'll go first. I am called Ciu'nan, a fae native to the forests of Ryken, though I travel all over the region. I act as a go-between for the villages and nature. Put plainly, I help humans understand the actions of animals, which is why I'm following this herd of deer. According to the village that requested my assistance, these deer periodically assemble in the plains near the town and travel east. About a week later, the herds return to their native regions. They are an odd bunch from what I've seen so far. Like right now, for instance. See how those bucks are pacing and standing watch? Aside from the fact that the bucks seem to be cooperating, deer in general don't stand watch through the night. It's really strange."

Ciu'nan rummaged through her pack for a small satchel which contained several dark berries. She pulled a few out with her fingertips and thoughtfully popped them into her mouth. Her eyes glanced towards the two sharing her fire.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Would you like some? All I have are these berries for rations at the moment." she said while extending them towards the other two.

 

[Pet Panda]

The skeleton was quite happy with the way the tiny ember grew just a little bit. Idly, he wondered when the part came where they made the fire bigger and as if on cue Adam appeared with an adequate armful of material to burn. Sheepish at the realization, he began to stand to do the same but between the size of his pile and her beckoning for him to sit, he held his tongue and embarrassment and allowed the slight to pass. He had slowly begun to forget these kinds of things. Light to see, food to eat, warmth to survive the cold nights, a pang of worry shot up his spine as he realized that gradually, these things were distancing themselves from him, only memories which he seemed eager to forget. The cavernous moment before she began speaking filled his mind with dread at what else he might forget, trepidation -- what if some of the important human pieces were tied to mere desire? If only he had paid more attention in school. Her words chased the agitated musing away and he welcomed something to fixate on. His lumpy form turned toward her and he visibly relaxed as she cracked a joke and began speaking without malice or suspicion.

Once her explanation concluded, Liu turned toward the fire and stared into it for a few moments, silently considering her words. Despite the growing light, the deep shadow of his hood seemed to resist most of the light. Her role puzzled him; he remembered encountering in the furthest reaches of society in towns which still relied on hunting, they played the role of knowing the minds of animals, so to speak, and their behavior. She offered them some berries, a gesture which pulled him out of his pensive state, he looked toward it and gently raised his hand toward them to indicate that he did not wish to eat them, and he spoke, "a hunter who does not kill animals, but instead teaches and learns. You are a philosopher then, no? To spread and gather knowledge chiefly, I suppose, yes..." he paused for a moment and added, quieter, "among other things, I'm sure."

Perhaps she would know which pieces of a person are animal and which pieces are magic. Absently he reached to his side and grasped the metal canister jutting from his bag, laying it across his thighs -- he sat down on top of his shins with his legs pressed together and pointed at the fire. This was of course in anticipation of being interrogated, being, honestly, the creepiest one here, he had no choice but to admit that much. It was about two and a half feet long, made of some kind of thin metal, or perhaps merely banded with it, and blackened except by the top, where the metal cap has scratched the metal and turned it shiny again.

 

[Skyhunter]

Adam " Legion " Keith
​

The fire before them was ignited, Adam enjoyed the heat it produced, this was reminding him of a song, he crossed his legs and sat up straight, beginning to tune his guitar as the fire crackled. Once his guitar was ready, Adam placed the guitar on his lap and began to play a quiet tune so that it wouldn't disturb the deer. A simple and looping tune that wouldn't get crazy. Legion's eyes closed as he would constantly play this tune.

​

He then heard the woman speak, she was very otherworldly and that was probably why Legion was so intrigued. Hearing her name, Legion dipped his head respectfully. He opened his mouth to speak, " I am Adam. But when I play. I am Legion. " His voice rumbling and deep. This strange lady, Cui'nan was rather strange, she was following a herd of deer and teaching those who knew nothing about them, and how to respect the forest.

When offered a berry, Legion would stop his playing for a moment, taking a couple berries into his hand and chowing them down. Adam had a look in his eye that showed approval, he then placed the tips of his fingers on his chin and let his hand fall in front of him. A form of thank you for those that couldn't speak. Then Legion would begin playing his quiet tune, once more.

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[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

The musician, who identified himself as Adam and Legion, accepted Ciu'nan's berries, but the cloaked figure abstained with an upheld hand, like some apparition forbidding passage to eldritch secrets. The fae took no offense, though she did offer him a look of concern.

"Just let me know if you change your mind, ok?" Ciu'nan said to him before turning to Adam. "So why are you called 'Legion' while you play? Why not just be Adam? Seems like the name juggling would make things tricky. Like now, for instance, a moment ago you were Adam, but now that you're playing again, you are Legion, right? Oh! What if I called you Adam while you were playing? Would you ignore me?"

Suffice to say, Adam's alternate identity and the circumstances surrounding it had intrigued Ciu'nan. Her barrage of questions was out of genuine curiosity, but the last question was said with a playful tone.

 

[Pet Panda]

Bashfully, Liu chose to disregard the concerned look. Best not to waste the resources anyway. He turned then to the musician. The man's statement was compelling in some way. After a moment's soul searching while the fae creature spoke, he realized it was familiar in feeling. Though he searched for some way to articulate the slurry of gooey, faintly connected memories and mirrored emotion he found no way to share it. It remained stuck in him like a dry bolus and then was washed down by the music. For just an instant before the lady fae finished speaking, he felt the sensation of having skin. In retrospect, the weight of Adam's statement and that of his empathizing seemed to differ. He chose to let it go and enjoy the music. No matter how simple the tune was, it had been a long time since he had heard any at all, and this stringed instrument, though familiar, produced singularly soothing sounds, or perhaps strikingly penetrating sounds. Sometimes the popping of the fire played the part of a percussion accompaniment.

The lady fae posed a battery of questions, he had no intention of competing. Liu simply sat for a moment and listened to the conversation while reaching for the lid of the canister. With a quiet metallic scratch, the lid was removed and placed on the ground beside him. Dull amber and mottled, a thick roll of vellum peeked out of the top of the canister. He pinched it with his white gloved hand and drew a thick roll of cured membrane from the tube. The flickering fire revealed the faint outlines of squiggling lines on the paper once he carefully, with deliberate and muted actions, unrolled it only a quarter of a foot or so, and rested it across his knees. His hooded dome turned down to peer at it.

 

[Skyhunter]

Adam "Legion" Keith


​

As Legion continued his playing, his head slowly bobbed with the tune, his eyes glowing an eerie silver as he continued playing his tune, once Cui'nan asked her question Legion then began singing quietly, his voice completely different, it wasn't the demonic voice the two would hear but instead a regular human's with a very rough and clean tone to it.

We sail through endless skies
Stars shine like eyes
The black night sighs
The moon in silver trees
Falls down in tears
Light of the night
The Earth, a purple blaze
Of sapphire haze
In orbit always
While down below the trees
Bathed in cool breeze
Silver starlight breaks down the night
And so we pass on by the crimson eye
Of great god Mars
As we travel through the universe

Legion then finished his playing as it faded to silence, his eyes stopped glowing silver and he turned his head to Cui'nan, giving a kind smile. He cleared his throat and prepared for speaking. " Adam I am now. " Adam had a look of pain on his face upon speaking, but still tried to hold his smile, his voice back to sounding like a demon's. " Playing music has Legion come out, it is what I was called when I was still with my band. " Adam coughed once finishing the sentence, still holding a look of pain. He cleared his throat looking at Cui'nan, having a look of amusement when she tried to distract him from playing his music. Giving a cough, Adam realized he still hadn't answered her previous question of why he was walking through the forest. Adam knew this would probably hurt. " I helped save a village from trolls with my music. While playing, I was showed a vision of my bandmates, they are here in this world somewhere. They... Are not who they were, I need to find them and help them. " Adam then began coughing after finishing his sentence, his coughing sounded painful. Finally coughing down, he looked to the female Fae to see her reaction. It seemed the mysterious stranger was going to be a observer rather than a participant.

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[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Ciu'nan's playful demeanor involuntarily relaxed into unexpected adoration. She understood now why Adam needed a new name for himself when he sang: it truly was like he was another person. The fae wasn't sure if 'Legion' was the best fit, but she would let that thought rest. When Legion stopped playing, she clapped lightly, beaming at him. He spoke again, but now as Adam, revealing briefly what brought him to the forest. Watching him struggle with his voice, Ciu'nan remembered her efforts to heal him earlier were interrupted.

"Oh, right, your voice! Let me see if I can heal it." she said rising onto her hands and knees and crawling over to him.

A soft glow emanated from her palm as she raised a hand to his throat. She held it there for a moment, her eyes looking hopeful. As the light faded, her eyes turned down apologetically.

"This isn't the type of thing I can heal yet, I'm afraid. Did that soothe it at all?" She asked hopeful as she scooched back to her spot.

A sound from her right caused her to look to the hooded figure. He had withdrawn a tube that unfurled a sheet of some kind.

"What do you have there?" she asked him.

((Ciu'nan only has Healing F, so superficial wounds essentially.))

 

[Pet Panda]

As Adam began to sing, Liu paid close attention. At first it was out of adoration, it had been even longer since he had the privilege of hearing one sing. The lyrics were general and sweet, a grand picture of the night sky he reckoned. He swayed just a little as he was carried along. Just then, Adam referenced the orbit of the earth. Liu stopped swaying immediately. Like when a tsunami rolls in and the tide recedes greatly, a tension built at the base of his spine. The vellum sheet slipped just a little bit out of his grasp. Indeed, he had no ideas about the cosmology of this world. Perhaps this realm, which contained the stuff of legends and more, had the same cosmology as proposed by religions. A great island in a sea of souls, a rock perched on a turtle, so forth. Perhaps it was stationary and merely spun, or perhaps the sun was a boat driven by a bird man. Liu listened, enraptured for a new reason, and then Adam mentioned Mars. An electric tingling spread up and down his spine and over his shoulder bones and if he had a stomach it would have sank through the ground. Liu began trembling mildly and stared for a fair few moments, through their conversation. It couldn't be a coincidence. How many random folktales and local pubs does it take to spin a myth? It was unmistakably something from that other life which mingled in his memories, a line uninterrupted from one body to the next.

Liu stood abruptly, clenching the vellum in his hand, peering down at Adam. Excitement was a strange sensation in this new body. There was no heart to beat out of his chest or stomach to clench. It was more like a strange haze over his thoughts attracting a wordless confusion, like static in the mind. When she would ask him about his map, he would have already been standing. On the proverbial tip of his tongue was a battery of questions about his world before. Something stopped him, trepidation, cowardice perhaps; he had no wish to confront the apocalyptic sensation of reminiscing about a world that may not even exist to those in this one. A moment of relaxation came to him. He thought this place might have been the afterlife anyway. Perhaps it was. Perhaps this man was a dead earth-dwelling person who has a dead earth-dwelling performing troupe. Perhaps they traveled town to town, like the circuses in his home country, with their superhuman acrobatics and impossible magic. Liu sat down. Perhaps it is better not to think about the world before. Perhaps the world before was too broken, sad, dull to drag here. Perhaps this is where people go to be liberated from the world before.

Liu made the sound of taking in a deep breath and then exhaling, in the strange supernatural way that he is able and apologized, "forgive me," he began, gently smoothing out the vellum and carefully rolling it back to the way it was.

"That music... reminded me of many things, I mean no offense, it was a wonderful work of skill," he reassured them in a distracted tone. It wasn't until then that he stopped staring at Adam. He turned his head back to the vellum and tipped it along the surface of his legs toward the fire gleaming just a couple feet away so that its light could reveal the thin wandering lines of a map, of topography, the regular and repeated patterns universally indicating trees or mountains. In the wavering light it may have given anyone without augmented senses in the dark a hard time reading it, but it seemed to be of usable quality. There was a border where all of the detail disappeared, and visible was a landmark a few miles toward town which jutted from the forest, unmistakeable as a feature of the local geography.

"This map, I made it, that is what I do to survive and make my money these days," he explained, his voice hollow. He reached into his sack at the side. Those familiar with the world would expect rigid pens and jars of ink but instead Liu produced the tools of a painter. Specifically, a container of paste-consistency paint and the thinnest painter brush anyone could stand to use.

 

[Skyhunter]

Adam "Legion" Keith

​

Adam's eyes widen a little when he watched Cui'nan get onto her hands and knees then crawl towards him, his heart racing a bit fast when she came up towards him, he couldn't lie that she was pretty. And it was surprising she would be coming towards Adam; in his eyes she would see the shock. Adam swallowed thickly while she raised her hand to his throat, speaking that she could try to heal his voice, Adam thought it would be very nice to speak normally, he hated having to prepare to speak and how much it hurt, sometimes he would cough up blood if he spoke too much. His hand instinctively came up about to gently grasp hers, but he let it fall when he realized what he almost did.

When Cui'nan attempted to heal his throat, Adam could feel a warm feeling in his throat, he felt it barely open up, but it felt better now. The first time in a long time he felt like he could speak just a little better. Adam's hand came back up but to his throat when she backed up, admitting she wasn't able to fully heal him, Adam had a look of happiness and appreciation on his face. " I can talk better now. " Adam still somewhat cringed at speaking, but his face showed less pain. His eyes looked to the beautiful fae before him, " Thank you, Cui'nan, I am in your debt. " Adam still sounded like a demon but he looked like he was in less pain. Adam would notice the stranger, Liu, was looking his way, Adam had the face of confusion at first.

But as Liu explained himself, Adam had a smile on his face when told that the song he sang was wonderful, this made Adam feel much better. " Thank you, good compeer. " The metal musician still held a look of pain after talking but his eyes would move to his lap where he saw Liu was working on something, a map. Adam wasn't much good at geography but he could appreciate something of this nature. Especially a field he himself was not good at or knew nothing of.

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[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

The night waxed on. Overhead the moon was far from fully achieving the pinnacle of its arc through the sky but was making good progress. Regardless of the moon's position above, the creatures of the wood below asserted that night was indeed upon them. Off in the distance a lone wolf howled with none to answer. Much closer to the small campfire, an owl hooted its good humor as its prowl began anew. Bats and other winged things could be seen, just barely by those without enhanced vision, flying occasionally overhead.

A southwesterly breeze took the smoke from the fire away from the direction of the nesting deer, which was probably why they hadn't moved since the fire was started. The bucks still paced; their unnatural night watch going unchallenged by other creatures in the wood. Ciu'nan offered silent thanks that this wasn't bear country, which was further north. The journey would have been far more dangerous in that case.

The fire was burning comfortably hot now. Ciu'nan propped another few sticks onto it for good measure. She made a mental note that she'll have to forage again tomorrow, or else try to catch some small game along the way, as her berry pouch was nearly empty. Maybe they'd pass a river. Ciu'nan hadn't had fish in a while.

The fae had said her piece. Adam had elaborated some as requested, expressing gratitude for Ciu'nan's efforts to heal him. Now she turned to the cloaked one. A mapmaker by his own confession and with the tools and work to prove it.

"You are brave then." Ciu'nan said matter-of-factly. "To travel the countryside alone just so that someone might know what is out there in the wilderness. A very noble and selfless cause. And what is the name of this fearless mapmaker that shares the fire with us this night?"

 

[Pet Panda]

Liu paused and looked up, expression unreadable for at least a couple of reasons, and then stammered, "a-ah I'm sorry about that, tonight has been difficult. My name is Liu, family name is Fey (Fei) --" he paused for a refined, restrained 'hm' which could have been a laugh, gesturing gently toward Ciu'nan "I assure it it is not a jest," before placing his hands in his lap. He stared down at the vellum unmoving and added quietly, "well I assure you that I do not give my maps away after I make them," with a solemn air. He did not wish to contradict her. It was certainly not for altruistic reasons that he makes maps. It is something to do, something to make money with. Refined, yet it commands one to be away in the wilds. A sudden realization dawned on him. Perhaps this meeting was somewhat more fortuitous than he first imagined. He would be skulking the woods constantly for the forseeable future. The woods, dank dungeons and the like.

"I have only been making maps for a few months now," he offered, turning to Adam, "how long have you been able to share music with others?" he asked the imposing figure, his shoulders squarely toward him for a moment. After that moment he turned back forward and began working on the map some more. He placed the ink in front of him on the ground and produced a waterskin, tipping just a little into the pot. In short order he was moving his right hand deftly over the surface of the map, depositing regular figures over it. The fluffy indications of a forest. There was a frontier of blank paper where he reached. He suddenly stopped drawing his little trees and began tracing a shape. Of course he intended on asking Ciu'nan the same question shortly.

 

[Skyhunter]

Adam "Legion" Keith

​

Adam watched the cloak man speak, his eyes staring at the map he had made, he has always been impressed with those that can make maps. He wasn't sure how they did it but they of all people could. Especially an occupation as important and precise as this one. It is what made adventurers go on their adventures. His eyes looked up to this Fei who asked him how long he has done music for, even though he has been making maps for a few months, it would seem this Fei was very new to this map making business. Adam cleared his throat, attempting to speak. " I am twenty eight years old. " His face made a look of pain as he spoke in his evil sounding voice. " I have playing for about twenty years, I believe. " The musician rubbed his throat after speaking, although in his head, he began reminiscing about his life and music career, he remembered his band, how they were on top of the world! " Since I was young. " He wasn't exactly sure himself but it had to be around twenty years. " So, why make maps? What got you into doing such a thing? " Adam asked Fei, even if it hurt.

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