Fantasy The Seed of Life: Awakening

[Effervescent]

It's been two hundred years since the kingdoms last saw peace between those with magic and those without. With the following death of the land's peacekeepers, known in legend as Dragon Wardens, humans allied with orcs and drove those with magic from their lands in fear of the power they could possess against them. As time passed, animosity grew between the two societies.


Not but three years ago rumors passed through the lands of a Dark Army rising, a society of Shadow forming within the Twisted Woods once again. The rumor grew to reality as they slowly crept out from the woods, kidnapping innocents for nefarious purposes and slaughtering those who resist. Magical beings began to feel a threat upon their magic as it grows weaker. And then, as the Dark Army grew in number, the threat became too grand to ignore. Humans, orcs, and all manner of magical beings must now set aside their differences to combat the Shadow before it consumes the Four Kingdoms.

 

[Effervescent]

Chapter 1

​

50th Day of Spring

​

Bales and Burrows Tavern

​

No one had listened to Shae Pippa when she predicted the attack on the Elssar Monastery. The Thalls brushed away the shae like an annoyance instead; like one would a fly upon their food. In human lands, her people were disregarded and shunned, though most feared to lash out at her in violence as they tended to do with other magical beings. Shae are protected by the elves, and to kill one could restart the war.


And thus Shae Pippa traveled through Thallas nearly unhindered as she spouted her foresight. Humans only regarded the Elssar's ability to predict the future and found the shae a nuisance. The goat-like being sat within a tavern by the name of Bales and Burrows, her lips in a pout as she nibbled on a piece of celery. Patrons of the Thall establishment were in a buzz about the most recent Shadow attack within the very center of their homeland. It was as though they completely forgot that three weeks prior she had been telling them of this very happening right down to the gritty detail.


Several men spared glances her way. They had never regarded her much before even as she became a regular at the establishment. The owners were kind enough to let her stick around as long as she went quiet about the foreseen attack. It was evident in their demeanors that they stiffly went about their duties. The wife, Lorna, was the first to approach Shae Pippa with an apology.


"Word's spread about the Shadow attack at the Monastery," Lorna began as she set down another plate of raw vegetables. The shae grabbed a long carrot in her other hand, her keen eyes squinting up at the Thall woman as a grumble escaped the goatish lips in response. There was a moment's hesitation as Lorna considered the grumble before she jumped back into her apology.


"We should have listened to you," she said taking a seat across from the shae. "We should have sent word... Did the heroes; the chosen ones to find the Seeds of Life die in there?"


"Meh!" Shae Pippa responded, her slender hands flinging up into the air in a lively fashion. "Yous care now! Askies the hub bub the lettersee." Her wrist turned, and she used the carrot as a pointer that directed towards Lorna's husband at the bar. He lofted a brow as their eyes met, but she looked back to Shae Pippa once more.


"A letter, you say?" Lorna asked for confirmation. The way in which shae tended to speak was rather difficult to understand, but due to Pippa becoming a regular, Lorna had begun to pick up on a few nuances. The shae nodded in return.


"A letter for the better!" Pippa said with a curt nod. "Shae Pippa no longer bees the bye. Ignored is rude!" She bit into the carrot harshly, the crack of the vegetable echoing through the tavern seemingly above the riling chatter of the other patrons surrounding them. Lorna nodded as she rose from her seat and traveled back to her husband's side.


"Do you know anything about a letter, Nothan?" she asked in a low murmur.


"The one the shae had me write? Yeh, she had me write letters to all these people telling them to come here for a meeting," he said with a shrug as he moved to refill a mug with ale. "I figured it couldn't hurt to have a few extra patrons. But...eh... Lorna, love. Some of them ain't from around these parts. Got pointy ears."

Lorna picked up the nearest rag to slap Nothan across the arm in protest. "What about our regulars?" she asked through gritted teeth. The pair looked out at their patronage thoughtfully. It was a mixture of humans and orcs, though only a small number of orc comparatively. Bales and Burrows was an establishment just a few miles Westward from the Elssar Monastery granting it a nice location among the plains. And being within the small crossroads town of Fork, it garnered a lot of foot traffic from tradesmen, locals, and journeymen. There wasn't anything special about their ale, nor their food. It was just the closest good thing for miles, and they had decent beds to boot.


"Times are changing, Lore," Nothan said. "We gotta get with the times. And that shae was right about that attack. I venture to bet she's cooked up some compensation."


"Or she's cooked up our punishment for not listening to her," Lorna joked, her voice still hushed. "Shaes are unsettling. It's like they're near human... but stuck part goat."


"That's rude," Nothan pointed out. "Don't say that where she can hear, alright? I want to be on her good side."


Luckily, Shae Pippa couldn't hear the couple's conversation about her half way across the rowdy room. The group sitting at the table beside her was getting rather loud with their recollection of what seemed to be an exciting Tainted hunt just around the Monastery. An entire pack of Tainted was chased through the woods, and several bodies were found. One of the patrons claimed to have single handedly taken down three Tainted, but a few of his buddies were in disbelief and instead joked about the man's crying beforehand.


Shae Pippa's eyes remained on the door, transfixed on the simplistic entryway that would mark the coming of her prediction. She had the owner send out those letters by any means, and she knew they would reach their intended destination. Or, at least, that was what she had seen. The World Tree provided brief periods of clarity in visions, but otherwise it felt like moving through fog. Bales and Burrows almost felt grounding to the shae, as though the constant flux of tones and voices throughout the tavern anchored her in this reality.


At some point, the true saviors of this world would enter through that door. It was her calling to set them on the right path.


@Elle Joyner @StoneWolf18 @Red Thunder @SkyGinge @Space Cowboy Ein @Doctor Jax @Dragongal @CloudyBlueDay @JDParadox @Rissa

Presently

Nearly two weeks ago your character was given a letter from a shae they never heard of. You may decide how your character came into possession of the letter, but it would lead them to Bales and Burrows with a sense of urgency. The letter would read along the lines of:

The Elssar Monastery will fall to Shadow. Those sent out by our leaders will fall. Their mission to find the Seed of Life will fail. You are needed to end the Shadow threat. It is only through you that the world will find peace once again. Please. Find Shae Pippa in the tavern Bales and Burrows located in Fork, Thallas. I know you've felt the call to action. Heed it.

The only one who would not have received a letter is @Elle Joyner's character, Wyn, who will happen to show up at this very location.


If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Otherwise, your intro post will be your character coming into the tavern to meet with Pippa.

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

For the first time in his life, Charlie felt important.


Back home, he wasn't important. He didn't mind it much, but now, holding this letter in his hands. It made him feel.. special. "It is only through you that the world will find peace once again." Was that letter really truly meant for him? I mean, yeah, it had his name on it.. but it honestly had him thinking there was another Charlie Reddeman near by. He knew there wasn't. He just couldn't believe it.


Elder Lannya had traveled away from the foster home a few days prior, to speak with the King in Rosenfall. He'd been left in charge, among the other volunteers and supporters that had come to help care for the half elf children in her stead. It was why he'd been iffy about leaving, but after thinking long and hard on it, (not more then a few hours, really.) he decided it had to be done. Lanya had told him about the Sickness, the many problems the Shadow was causing on top of the many deaths. He knew, if he was given any opportunity to help, especially one like this, she would urge him to go.


So he left the foster home. The journey was quiet, only the steady hoof-beats of the horse and the wind rustling the tress. Home was more often then not filled with screaming children, and while he didn't mind it too much, it was an incredible contrast. He stuck to the more secluded parts of the road, partly because it was faster to avoid villages or markets when travelling by horseback. His slightly pointed ears were safely tucked into a wool cap, hidden from view, and his axe was slung behind his back. The rest of his items were strapped to the horse, a satchel bag with a few rations, water, another set of clothing, a roll of bandages, and his carving knife and a few small pieces of wood for whittling. They didn't take up much space, and he felt better knowing he had something to busy his hands with.


The half elf made it to Bales and Burrows Tavern in a fairly decent amount of time. Hopping off his horse and tying tying it to a post, Charlie stepped up to the entrance of the building. He didn't enter immediately. It was obviously too late to chicken out, but he took a moment to revel in the fact that his life was almost certainly going to be different after this. Didn't matter if he was only here to talk, and then head back home. It would be different.


Charlie pushed open in the door and set foot inside. It looked like any other tavern, and nothing about it immediately assured him that this was the place. Not a lot of people cared to look in direction, which Charlie didn't particularly mind. What caught his eye was the Shae sitting just a little ways inside, with a clear view of the door. This had to be Shae Pippa. There were some Shae in Emalnahar, and despite talking with a few every now and then he still found it rather hard to understand what they were saying. Ah, well. He'd try his best.


Subconsciously he tugged on the edge of his cap, and shuffled towards the Shae. He did not sit at the table just yet, only stood in front of her. "Are you Shae Pippa?" He kept his voice quiet, in case she wanted to be discrete about it. "..You sent the letter, right?"

Location: Bales and Burrows Tavern

With: Shae Pippa

 

[Elle Joyner]

Darkness. Impenetrable, utter blackness. The flaming torch in her hand flickered against the obsidian shroud, as she stood outside the door, staring in, listening... praying to hear something. Anything. She would have taken silence over the sound of that mournful, nearly inaudible whispering.


Tears blurred her vision, spilling down her cheek in rivulets, soaking through her shirt, like ice against her skin, "...Runey...?" She choked out, but the word felt hollow, empty. Arun was gone. She'd seen him, before the Wardens had stopped her. Before they, too, were swallowed by the shadow.


A sob escaped her, and Wynleth dropped to her knees just shy of the door frame. Her father, Rem... and now Arun. There was no one left...


Her eyes shifting upwards, she stared at the blackness with a renewed sense of anger... an impossible fire kindled within the heart of one attuned to ice. Rising, she dropped the torch and with a breath, she stepped forward... letting the darkness consume her.


Wyn woke with a start, staring up into the ceiling, as her eyes adjusted to the pitch of her room. It was early yet - the morning sun barely a thought along the blurred, grey edges of the horizon - a milky light bleeding through the shutters barring her from the outside world. Sweat beads drenched her skin, leaving her with a cold prickling of gooseflesh, and straightening, she curled her knees to her chest, resting her chin in the groove.


Four days, she had been there and every morning, the same dream had woken her. The memories of that day would live in her mind forever. Every scene... every sound. For hours, she had fought to get back inside, struggled desperately, but what she had found when she finally succeeded was nothing short of devastating. Wiping her eyes with the hem of her sleeve, she pushed back the covers and set her feet to the cold wooden floor.


There was a knock, and rising, Wyn moved to the door, pulling it open. Standing outside was a young girl of roughly fifteen, on the shorter side, with a head of blonde curls, braided down either side and bright blue eyes. The freckles across her nose made a near solid line as her features crinkled, her lip splitting in a practiced, but unfortunately unattractive, smile. In her hands, she carried a tray, upon which were two sausages, bread and potatoes, and a beige looking liquid that might have been broth or tea, as well as a tankard of something frothy, that might not have been appropriate for early hour, but would certainly help the dreams to fade from her mind.


"Mornin' Miss Wyn. Brought ya breakfast."


"Thank you, Ilianna." Reaching forward, Wyn took the tray and brought it inside,"How is Byron today?"


Rocking back and forth on her heels, Ilianna shrugged, "Still sick. Doc says it's the same thing what's been goin' in the village next to ours. He ain't dyin' but he can't work the field's, so Pop's been out there all week. Mama's been worried out of her mind."


"I'm sorry Ilia... I hope he recovers soon."


"Thanks, Miss Wyn. How've you been?"


Pushing a potato around on her plate, Wynleth frowned, "One day at a time, right?"


"You figure out what you're hear for?"


Looking up, she shook her head, "Not yet, no."


"Well. I best get back to the kitchen, or Cook'll chuck turnips at my head again. Good luck."


"You too, Ilia." She was a sweet girl, working as a servant here and there, to make a little extra coin for her family. It always amazed Wyn the way children seemed oblivious to the prejudices of their people. She saw the looks she got from the other Thalls... but not Ilia. And every morning since she had arrived, the girl brought her breakfast, and news about her family. It was a comfort, when everything else felt as though it were falling to pieces, to have at least one companion. The truth of the matter was, she was beginning to doubt her journey would amount to much. She had the right place, but four days and there had been no sign of the Wardens...


Then again, maybe they had perished, as well.


Finishing her meal as best she could, she set the tray by the door, then grabbing her cloak, made her way downstairs, into the main room. There were a few other patrons that morning, most of whom appeared tired and haggard, but none of whom were particularly familiar. The only people she recognized were the owner and his wife, and the Shae, ever vigilant in her staring at the entryway, though for what, Wyn could not imagine. Every now and then, like now for instance, someone would stop to chat with her, but she never seemed satisfied with the company.


Finding an empty table, Wyn settled into it and with a sigh, set her eyes on the same position. Maybe something interesting would come through, for once...


Maybe her Wardens...

 

[StoneWolf18]

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”Come, Child. It isn’t as difficult as you think.” The old Naveri said softly to and frustrated Ekrah. They were standing beside a small fire in a small forest clearing, well off the beaten trail. “I’ve been trying for the last few hours with no results!” Her aggravated tone bouncing off the thick, shadow cased wall of trees. “You have...but with each failure you let your emotions consume you, making it that much harder to focus.” Her silver eyes met his gaze for mere moments closing them whilst beginning to take slow, deep breaths. “Now...are you ready to try again?” Hesitating for a second, the young Vuaturi sighed. “Yes…” “Good. As I instructed you before, the easiest way to learn is by imagining the weapon as if it physically existed in a sheath on your side. Channel your energy before focusing on that motion. Feel the hilt against your palm, hear the ring of steel as it slides out of its cocoon.” Ekrah’s face hardened as she concentrated, her tunic’s sleeves rolled up revealing her tattoos that now began to glow. Once she was certain that she had established a sure connection, the elf moved her right arm to her left hip. Grasping the thin air, she made herself believe that a sword existed. Her fingers brushed the pommel, the metal cool to the touch. Moving her hand downward, Ekrah found the hilt and slowly gathered it into her hand. As she gained a firm hold, a large wave of energy blew through her and gathered there, leaving her fighting for balance and the remaining resources she had. Focusing once more, the young Vuaturi slowly pulled the blade from it’s invisible scabbard, it's ring soft but it still fell joyously upon her ears. Opening her eyes, she marveled at the thin, elegant rapier she was holding. The fire’s shadows making its blue surface dance before her eyes. But before she could speak, the heavy weight of fatigue set upon her, causing her grip to loosen. The weapon fell yet dissipated before even making it to the forest floor.

Due to the lack of strength after summoning the sword, her legs were unable to support her. Crumpling to the ground, she gave a brief look to the star speckled sky before sitting up. Opening her mouth to speak, her breath was caught in her throat when she noticed her mentor was gone. Frowning she called “Tasar?” Before slowly making herself stand. The clearing was deathly quiet and still as if all it of the forest’s inhabitants were holding their breath. Then as she scanned the trees around her, shadows began to pour through, rushing right towards her at impossible speeds. Then came the Tainted followed by walking corpses that held both familiar faces and those of strangers. Her heart began to beat incredibly fast as the vile creatures due near, yet as they began to descended upon her…


Ekrah woke with a start, sitting up suddenly with a stunted scream. Trying to get ahold of her breath once more, she gave a groan before laying back upon the bed. She had been plagued with nightmares ever since she lost contact with Tasar Volum, the old elf she had at first paid to tutor her in controlling and using her Arcane attunement for offensive purposes but after spending much more time with him that necessary, he became more of a fatherly figure and refused to accept any coin. But that was months ago. Recently when they had been camped out in the forest so she could practice without the possibility of anyone either interrupting or worse, she had finally gotten past the energy it took to summon the weapon and now focused on actually learning how to use it when they were attacked. Without being too dramatic, it went like this. The fire had gone out and before any light could be shed on the situation, he had told her to mount up and ride to the nearest house, town, tavern, whatever she could find. In doing so, the last things she had heard from him was a scream cut a bit too short to have been done naturally.


Once she had calmed down and collected herself, Ekrah slowly removed herself from the tangle of sheets and dressed herself. From what she had gathered, the tavern she was searching for wasn't that far away thus why she had rented a room at an Inn in the town over to get some much needed rest. Gathering her things she left the room and made her way to the entrance of the establishment.


A short while later, she slowed her horse as she neared the Tavern. Dismounting and tethering her steed to a post, the Vuaturi slowly made her way inside. The patrons, mainly human with a few scattered orcs, casted her harsh glares. Gritting her teeth, she made her way over to the only Shae in the room. “Are you by any chance Shae Pippa?” After she asked, Ekrah noticed someone who at first appeared to be human standing not that far off. Here for the same purpose perhaps?

​

 

[Dragongal]

Solana Petyra

Solana had just returned to the house she shared with her master when she had received the letter. In truth, she simply wanted to flop into her hammock and sleep. It had been about forty-eight hours since she had been able to rest; young twins had gotten a nasty little fever. It hadn't helped that they remembered her from when she came to help their mother who had been ailing from the Sickness... she hadn't lasted long, and every time Solana had looked at the twins, it had reminded her of that. Sadly, rest was not within her grasp just yet, as the moment she had walked into the door her master had handed her the letter and told her it was urgent. The letter seemed plain enough from the outside. Nothing truly special. There was a sigh of relief as she curled up in her hammock in her tiny room, then a gasp as she read the letter. What had caught her attention hadn't so much been the prediction, or that it was supposedly written by a Shae... it was that last line. How could someone have know that she had felt the need to act...?


Immediately her exhaustion was forgotten. Her master seemed to understand her need to leave, though he was a bit disappointed. In the end he supposed he should have picked a less wanderlusting apprentice if he'd truly wanted someone to replace him in Emalnahar. Of course he felt the need to warn her that this trip could easily end in her death. Solana had already accepted that and had realized that it would be better for her to risk her life than to regret for the rest of it. After she had packed and prepared, her finally duty was to write a letter that explained everything to her brother, Kymil. It hurt her heart, but had she told him in person he'd have done everything in his power to stop her, no matter how estranged they were. As she had settled down for her last night of sleep in her home, she tried not to let the thoughts and fears of what was to come invade her peace.


Before dawn rose she was sitting on the back of a merchant cart and reading a book. The merchants had agreed to let her ride a short distance in exchange for her medical services if it was needed. Once they had approached the border, Solana had thanked them and gotten off; the merchants refused to go any closer than that. The rest of the travel was on foot or hitching a ride on carts. Every morning Solana had been extremely careful to make sure her braided hair was loose enough to cover the tops of her ears completely. Once or twice she had been terrified that someone would figure it out, but it had all played out well enough. The times when she could hitch a wide, though, were wonderful. She would simply watch the scenery pass by and watch the humans, maybe interact a bit. To keep people from getting nervous, she only kept one of her long daggers out and left the other one in her pack. It wasn't that odd for a human to have a weapon of elven make... right...? She could say it was an heirloom from long past, maybe?


When she reached the inn, she was able to breathe a sigh of relief. This seemed to be a safe haven. Almost immediately upon walking in, she noticed the Shae and two people: an elf and a human. At least, he looked like he was human. By now, Solana had put her other dagger on her belt as well, just to be safe. After a few moments, she made her way to an open seat not far from the Shae, but withing earshot. If these people were there for the same reason, she would know soon enough. In the meantime she had to try not to stare at the humans and orcs, so she pulled out a book and pretended to read. She could wait. She could listen, and see what would happen. The early bird may catch the worm, but the second mouse would get the bait and Solana was more of a mouse than a bird.

 

[Doctor Jax]

Tza'Hal


The orc stared off the airship with a long, hard stare. The air this high was clear and fine, and below the pines seemed close enough to touch. While this was not the first time Tza'Hal had ridden aboard one of these airships, she could never seem to shake the feeling of wonder it brought her to see the land from the air. Such precipitous heights shed new light, literally, on Nature's bounty, and she found it relaxing to spend most of her journey leaning against the rail of the airship. However, now, she was urging this trip to move along faster.


She pulled out the letter she had stowed within her short-robe, and she read it once more. The orc 'harrumphed' before shoving it back among the folds. It was no use puzzling over it now. Tza'Hal had half-expected to receive such a foolish letter. She'd not put much stock in clairvoyance-- it was most typically cryptic, unreliable, not scientific. There were never reproducible results, and most accounts she'd heard of clairvoyance were largely falsehoods and quackery. Yet, something about this particular letter pinched her ill-at-ease psyche. Perhaps it was the promise made of a shae's word, of whom she'd yet encountered an untrue (or true, of course) phrase. Maybe it was too fortuitous that she was headed to the Elssar's monastery, in an out-of-the-way effort to reach Sol'davur, as she had little coin to spend on an express flight, and this small jump was already bleeding her dry.


She tapped her feet against the wooden deck, her bare feet making soft sounds on the polished planks. Better than the rusty dig she'd used to get to the last port, that was for sure. She'd spent days pulling splinters on that particular flying log. She turned around and away from the sight of rolling farmland to inquire of their progress at the brig, and she was surprised to find the wheelman cursing profusely.


"Problem?" Tza'Hal asked, and the orc turned around. He nodded in salute, and Tza'Hal did the same.


"Just got word of the monastery having been attacked by Shadow. We'll not make landfall there. Too risky. Rather, we'll put down twenty miles south o' Fork," the wheelman said, and Tza'Hal sighed heavily through her nose, the ridges deepening as she bared her teeth in frustration.So the shae had been correct. Tza'Hal had doubted such a weighty claim, yet here the evidence stood and begged attention. A lucky shae it would have been, to guess the destruction of that place. No -- sought Tza'hal had of proof, and found had she, that this was no mere letter of insignificance.


The news had other ill omens. She'd have to either walk or catch an oxen cart. It was good the Thalls were less unfriendly to orcs than to others, and her robes were enough to give most people pause to consider what to do with her, allowing her to slip by unimpeded. The whole airship creaked as the wheelman banked, and Tza'Hal left to gather her things. She knew they were, at most, a few minutes out from Fork. While this was quite the nuisance, she could at least gather her thoughts before heading into the town.


Their landing was uneventful, and the orc quickly hailed a cart to take her into town. However, it seemed people were antsy to come so close to the site of ill portent, and Tza'Hal hand was forced. She accepted a ride in a hay cart to town. Once there, she immediately directed herself to Bales and Burrows, a small tavern of unmentionable look and forgettable placement. Had she not needed to be here, Tza'Hal would have passed it by without another glance. With a grumble, she opened the door and surveyed the tiny tavern. It smelled like a tavern -- sweat and beer and dirt and stale bread. And it looked a tavern -- bar stools haphazard, the walls wooden, bar to the back with a flock of regulars. It was mighty hard to believe this to be the nexus at which many's paths would cross to bring about the end of the Shadow Army, but stranger things had happened in years past.


She saw that there were two people talking to the shae already, who was immediately noted what with the horns and goatish manner. And, as much as the orc could gather, there were others here as well waiting on something -- though it would be difficult to say what. A girl sat with a book, yet she kept glancing up. Another woman, blonde, was looking towards the shae and sitting at alert. Well, Tza'Hal hated to waste time, and she was not going to wait on custom. Immediately approaching the shae, she ignored the other two who were also inquiring her, and Tza'hal said snappishly, "So you are the one sending letters to people. Well -- state your business, what is this you speak of? Obviously, your portents have weight. The Monastery's fall'n and Shadow comes to the land of Thalls. Come now, talk, and not with that cryptic nonsense your kind are so fond of."

 

[SkyGinge]

Kaleb Cotterwick




The wind was running its bony fingers through the hairs of grass running alongside the path, blowing up light puffs of dust around his feet. Scowling, the farmer's boy wrapped his cloak tighter around himself; he didn't want no wind ruffling him up. Fork's a strange name for a town, Kaleb thought to himself as he entered past the first cottages. He'd never heard of it before (though admittedly the same could be said for most places); he presumed it got its name from the split in the road leading in, though the phrase 'fork in the road' always reminded him of the time poor lil' Jeb had thought it meant a literal fork in the road (bless 'im). And that reminded him of home, and that made him sad. Though his ship had sailed, seemed his heart was still thoroughly anchored in the past. The long and lonely road was all unfamiliar territory, and that left him permanently.


Yet it was that spooky letter which unsettled him most. He'd been contemplating journeying anyway, what with all the news of the tragedies happening in the west. Aib's running away had been the last straw, and Kaleb had began to feel guilty in his inactivity. Holed up in the farm, the luxury of family, the luxury of peace, had turned to guilt. But then, to receive a letter giving him a specific place and name, foretelling tragedy, and from a Shae no less... His own words haunted him: 'What if there's no heroes left?' Weird Shae, strange destiny letters, it all reeked of supernatural magiccy stuff, and Kaleb knew enough about magic to know he didn't want to end up as some pawn in some ethereal workings.


Kaleb wasn't a hero, and he knew it well. But this was the only lead he had, and the peculiarity of it all had intrigued even the cautious farm-lad.


Prophesy was scary stuff. Old man Jonson's wife had claimed to see the future a couple of time, he recalled. Everything she said was a load of sheepdung, 'course, just a wily old wench trying to make people do what she wanted. Kaleb liked to see the future as a broad, open field; prophesy and stuff what claimed to see ahead was like putting great metal gates around it. He very much liked the idea that the future was his to write, and so the prospect of meeting a Shae wasn't particularly appealing to him.


But better to watch the sunrise than the sunset, Kaleb told himself with a sigh. Houses past him like clouds - he had eyes only for a certain tavern. Inevitably, he soon found it, like a light shining out of the forest - finally! Time for time to turn him, and for him to rest his weary feet. Old man Brant had offered him his horse when the village heard he was leaving, but the old man treated that animal like another son, and Kaleb didn't want to rob him of it.


Taking a deep breath, Kaleb swung upon the door and entered into the place which would change his life.


Kaleb had never been a fan of taverns - the only one he had really attended was the village one back home, and that was 'cause the only people who ever went were village folk, few who were at all dubious. Now that the familiar faces had been stripped away, he could see them clearly for what they were - a safe haven for the rowdy and anarchic. A place where people afraid to walk the path of the future drowned away the present. He scolded himself for being too pessimistic again; what had he just told himself? Near him, a flock of large, balding men eyed him like fresh meat.


At the bar, on the far side, sat a bipedal goat.


The Shae. Something felt incredibly peculiar about all this, and Kaleb wasn't sure whether to laugh or frown. This was a magical being, with its horns hung in the future; what the blue beards was it doing in a rowdy tavern? Old man Rhodes farmed goats, he mused. Would come as a gert shock to him if one of them climbed up on two legs, started swigging his cider supplies and told him the rain would fall heavy on Friday next?


Manners foremostly, he reminded himself as he warily approached, she might be a goat but she's prob'ly a very lovely goat. There was already a few others around the goat-lady: that'll be the rest of destiny's company, Kaleb mused. It seemed the fates (or whoever 'decided' these things) had a taste for diversity; two of these were elves, one with remarkable dark skin, and one a fierce-looking lady elf. He knew it was basically social sacrilege, but Kaleb had never had any particular qualms against the elves, perhaps in part due to the fact he'd never met them, and the sight of them here ignited a spark of excitement within him. Orcs, on the other hand, had always struck him as difficult to deal with. The only other human located close by was a rather cheeky looking lad who must've been younger than him. No more heroes, he told himself.


The Orc lady was speaking rather sharply to the Shae and, not wishing to interrupt, he settled himself down at the bar and waited patiently for the appropriate time to make a polite introduction.


@Ethervescent @CloudyBlueDay @Doctor Jax @Dragongal @StoneWolf18

 

[Red Thunder]

Trynten Lothorsen


and


Inara Belanor

Collab between @Red Thunder and @Rissa
​

It was always quiet in the forest, but the stillness that now sat upon the trees felt wrong somehow. It's slowly changed over the last decade: Tryn had been around to see it. And it was unnerving.


As unnerving, in fact, as the implications of the letter he held in his hand. He examined it again, dirty brow furrowed. It was a long trip to be sure, but he felt the need to help. The plea for help wouldn't have gone out to just anyone; that much was evident. So how could he in good conscience not help...whoever this was. A quick check of his pack assured him that he was ready for the travel, so Tryn hiked it onto his shoulder, stuffed the letter into his pocket, and began the trek down the northeast path toward the location that the letter prescribed. It was a commonly used thoroughfare, though no travelers passed him by this night. The few that did he paid little heed: crowds of any size made him exceedingly nervous, and he gripped his hilt tightly.


It was easier to travel under the veil of darkness, when the masses were tucked in their warm beds instead of loitering the roadways. The horse beneath Inara was impressive, galloping at a steady speed for miles now. The ranchhand hadn’t lied: the mare liked to run. That was right before twilight, and she’s been riding since save for three times to feed and water her companion. She started her journey on foot, with more than enough rations to last a fortnight and her complied supplies and arms, but it was slow going.


Three days of contemplation led her astray, but with every gallop, every stretch and repeat of the mare’s legs, she read the letter in her mind’s eye, and found her way.


The Elssar Monastery will fall to Shadow.


Those sent out by our leaders will fall.


Their mission to save the Seed of Life will fail.


A chill shot down her spine and she gripped the reins tighter, feeling the light touch of Shae Pippa’s letter which was safely stored in her breast pocket. The mare, seemingly acting on instinct, reached a sprint, and the pair took off drinking the wind.


In time, Inara had to rest and she knew the mare needed to as well, but it was hard to stop. It was hard to break the cycle. But finally, after almost falling out of her saddle, she called it quits. So horse and rider made their way off the path and into the woods. They didn’t stray far, just enough to be out of range of any passersby.


A small clearing opened up to them, and Inara tied the mare’s reins around a low branch before unsaddling her. Inara fed and watered her companion before climbing the same tree and knotting the first set of ropes for her hammock. It was arduous work for her half-numb limbs but she managed it, and after attaching the mare to a safe runner she climbed into her make-shift bed and fell asleep instantly.


She woke with a start, as if someone had prodded her into consciousness. Inara scanned her small clearing from above, making sure everything was in order. It was. The mare snacked silently on the oats and hay she had left out before passing out hours before, and the woods around her were silent.


Their mission to find the Seed of Life will fail. The words chimed menacingly in her mind.


With a sigh she climbed down, ate a quick breakfast, watered the horse, and gathered the rest of her things. The mare was saddled, bit and reins back in place before Inara decided to throw her longbow over her shoulder and strap her favorite quiver in place around her waist. She found the road easily, and with dawn approaching rapidly, they set off down the road at a comfortable canter. Her bow was reassuring, there was a small village a few hours ride northeast of her location. She was still in Eversyth, but if she could ride through the night she’d be in Thallas by morning.


Tryn had set off immediately upon receiving the notice, leaving no time to waste. The decision was an easy one to make, and once made, the woodsman wasted no time in taking action. Nevertheless, going on foot to such a distant place was both tiresome and exceedingly slow, and Tryn found himself becoming anxious. After several noght's travel, he felt as if he'd made no progress. It was therefore with an understandable amount of relief that he heard the unmistakable sound of galloping hooves. Maybe they had another horse he could borrow? Or perhaps this rider knew where to get one for himself. Stepping off the middle of the path, Tryn put his hand in the air.


"Hey!" He waved his arm, trying to flag down the approaching traveler.


The deep voice broke through her thoughts, startling her. “Whoa,” she cried, her mare rearing slightly in fright or protest, Inara couldn’t be sure.


“Your pardon! You don’t have an extra horse, by chance, do you?” he queried.


Inara gave the man a once over, he seemed vaguely familiar. She’d seen his face before - those haunted eyes, at the very least in Emalnahar. She thought it odd to find a human in these parts, but she had always minded her tongue.


“No, but there’s a village just up ahead,” Inara said briefly, mildly interested. He was the first two-legged creature she had seen since the sun rose. “There’s an inn with a nice horse barn, I’m sure you’ll find one there.


He squinted his eyes. She looked familiar... Some hunter he'd met in the woods, perhaps, or a tradeswoman. But that mattered little at the moment: she could at least offer information on where to get a horse, and that was sufficient enough. The Thall hadn't been this close to Malkath since...He shook his head at he memory then glanced up.


"My thanks. The journey north is a touch farther than I had counted on, and I fear I run late on an errand."


He tilted his head in a thankful bow, turned in the direction the horsewoman had indicated, and pressed on. Whether the she-elf joined him was her business.


A short journey and a few silver pennies later, and Tryn sat astride a stallion of chestnut. Patting the horse's neck fondly and ensuring his pack was safely strapped to the saddle, he gave the creature a nudge with his heels. It obeyed willingly, carrying him northward on the path as the mid morning sun peered down at them through the trees overhead.


At first, Inara thought her curiosity had gotten the best of her when she followed the not-so-stranger who inquired about a horse; but she found herself happy to have a traveling companion come mid-morning. The stallion set a fast pace that her mare was only too happy to coincide with, and she was making great pace.


There hadn’t been much talk between the two, but slowly, for it was a long road they traveled, she came to recognize his face. She’d seen him in the markets of Emalnahar, and once on an old trail that she thought no one traveled anymore in the western woods of Eversyth.


Her curiosity spiked even farther as the day progressed and they continued along the same path. “If I may ask,” Inara said hesitantly but clearly over the galloping hooves. “Where to are you traveling?”


Shame. He'd liked the quiet. All the same, it was only natural that his companion might be curious. So Tryn shrugged noncommittally.


"The 'Bale and Burrows', I think." Reaching into his saddlebag, he pulled out the Shae's letter. "Ah yes, I was right. It's a tavern in Fork, a village in Thallas, apparently. Not quite sure why yet..."


He trailed off, scratching his beard pensively. She'd asked about him; his etiquette skills may be rusty, but he supposed he should ask after his new companion. As he replaced the latter in the bag, Tryn withdrew his pipe and tobacco. "And you?" he queried as he stuffed it. "Judging by the way you were pushing your poor mare, I guess you've somewhere to be as well?"


With a crack a match flared to life in his hand, and he set the leaves in his pipe bowl to glowing. Beneath him, the stallion trotted on, clearly happy to be stretching his legs, free of the stable that he used to call home.


“My name is Inara Belanor,” she said with narrowed eyes and a harsh but confused tone. “And I received a letter urging me to Bales and Burrows of Thallas as well.”


She kept her mare on a steady path, but kept glancing toward the bearded man more frequently than he was probably comfortable with. The smell of tobacco lingered in the crisp, fresh air, and it brought back memories of her father.


The more she looked, the more she seemed to discover. He was of Thallas origin and his slow but deliberate movements, gave rise to other wondering questions. Inara tried to keep the suspicion out of her eyes, after all, he had received Shae Pippa’s letter as well. A small part of her felt reassured, if she was walking into a trap, at least she was walking into it with someone capable.


"You did?"


Tryn's brow creased in contemplation, and he took a pull on his pipe, letting the warm smoke tickle the inside of his throat playfully. So, this Shae had summoned more than just him; but just how many had she called? And who? These questions dogged his mind, and he suddenly fell into quiet thought, weighing those inquires against everything Pippa's letter both said and implied. And, save for a few vaguely answers to questions that Inara might put forth, he remained introspective the rest of the trip north.


They arrived finally after what felt like an eternity, for the self-imposed (or companion-imposed) silence was taxing. The Bale and the Burrow was a welcome sight indeed after their journey, though the Thall looked askance at it, distrusting of the crowd within and without. Tryn (he had at least managed to tell Inara what his name was during the latter leg of the journey, for all his uncommunication) stepped down from his horse and tied the reins onto a hitching post.


"Well, Inara," he said with a glance and a forced smile, "Ready to go see what this is about?"


Inara shook herself out of a reverie and glanced over at Tryn as he said her name. She grimaced at his forced smile but nodded, climbing off and tying her mare's reins next to her companion's stallion.


As Inara looked around, it was clear that Bales and Burrows was the nicest place in the small crossroad town of Fork. She scanned the tavern in front of her with scrutinizing eyes.


"Let us hope they have good whiskey," she half-joked, toying with the string of her longbow until she realized she was stalling. "Let's do this." Inara whispered.


Inara walked into Bales and Burrows Tavern with suspicion flaring in the very core of her being. She surveyed the room once, glanced back over her shoulder at Tryn and nodded her head toward the Shae. She stepped aside to let him through and recognized two fellow Sur's among the patrons at the tavern.


Humans and orcs seemed to dominate the patronage, but there was a Vuaturi sitting near the Shae with a half-elf sitting across from her. A lady orc loomed above the horned-creature, seemingly just have spoken. Inara took a seat at the far end of the bar, near the Shae, and wondered what kind of vision Pippa saw to gather such a ragtag group such as this.


How are we going to fight the Shadows with a group so few? Inara thought nervously.


Tryn hadn't moved from the doorway as Inara made her way inside. He looked completely uncomfortable with the scenario, and his wary eyes kept darting about the place, nervous as a deer in a wolf den. The Shae, object of the whole journey, sat in the midst of a small crowd, and he was none too anxious to join it. So instead he mimicked his companion's idea, and pulling his hood up over his head, he sat himself down at an old worn table in the nearest corner to Pippa. There he sat, hooded face darkened, puffing on his pipe and surveying the tavern cautiously as he awaited the speech of the magical creature not too far from him.

 

[JDParadox]

Lysander Deguerin

Fork, Thallas
​

A Fallenite Captain walked into a tavern, looking for a Shae. In any other circumstances, it would have the start of some junior officer's idea of a joke. In any other circumstances, Lysander certainly would have been laughing, if only to be polite. But he had just ridden himself and his horse ragged, through Faledren and then Thallas, finally arriving at this little aptly-named town of Fork. All of it, of course, at the words of a Shae who said he was to save the world. One Shae Pippa, to be exact, of whom he had never even heard of.

Oh, Lysander certainly would have been in tears, if only he wasn't the butt of the joke.


But there is such a thing as having gone too far to turn back. Lysander certainly had nowhere to return to - they'd most likely hang him for desertion if he ever showed his face back in Windfeld - and he hadn't the slightest idea where else he would go. This letter, for all his ridicule of it, was the closest thing he had to a purpose.


There's a second joke in there, somewhere, though Lysander seemed to be lacking in his humour today. Sighing, the disgraced officer spurred his mare onwards, passing the cottages and the peoples milling about in their usual monotony, perhaps still convinced that the world would sort itself out even with clear evidence to the contrary. Lysander would greet them all with a smile, he would not be the one to disturb their perfect fantasy. It still amazed him how good people were at persuading themselves that they would never come to harm, that they were special and somehow, by some miracle, the Shadow would never take them. The loss of Major Linus still weighed heavily on his mind. The old man had died a sudden, brutal and most of all, undeserving death. There'd be no body to bury, might not even be a ceremony.


As he rounded the corner, Lysander spotted the tavern just on the other side of the road, just in time for him to shrug off his morbid thoughts. Getting off his horse and tying her reins to the post - the one someone else had already tied theirs to - Lysander adjusted his clothes and sabre. Even if it turns out to be a sham, he supposed spending the rest of his life here as the town's drunkard didn't seem such a bad idea, though he hoped that for such an elaborate set up, the punchline should be hilarious.


There was already a good crowd of patrons settled in for their usual rituals. Lysander had spent most of his evenings in taverns such as this, though they were well dirtier back in Windfeld, both realistically, and in the ways of their customers. In one corner sat a figure that stood out even above the elves - who had been receiving their fair share of dirty glances - her goatlike features drawing attention like a flame for moths. Shaes outside of Eversyth were a damn rare sight; Lysander himself had never seen one, and admittedly was a little curious.


Her presence also proved that the letter, at least, did not come from some cruel child seeking to prank a hapless fool such as him.


Lysander found an empty table and sat himself down, ordering a drink and keeping one ear and eye on the curious group that had formed around the Shae. He was determined to see to the end of this strange business, if nothing else.

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Azzara Omari


When Azzara had received that letter back in her busy little port city of Kalavar, she didn't think anything of it. Maybe it was sent to the wrong person? She didn't get any mail ever, at least not from any strangers, let alone a Shae. The only compelling issue at hand was that of the shadow threat. They were a problem that she simply couldn't ignore, that was why she was away from home for ten years in the first place. She had only returned from her self-driven crusade to take care of her father whose condition had since improved, but the local doctors said he likely wouldn't return to normal health for a while. Since then, Azzara had been lazing about and spent the first day after receiving the letter weighing the pros and cons of going. After some discussion with her family and close friends she made the decision to go and managed to catch the last airship to Windfeld. If the letter was correct, and she could help end the shadow threat for good, then she'd have all the time to take care of her father in his possible last days.


Azzara could handle sailing on the seas, but something about drifting about in the middle of the air left an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. In a boat, you could swim away if things went awry, pieces of the ship could hopefully catch a current back to the land. But, in an airship, if something went wrong she would be done for. And so she spent the better part of the next two weeks constantly in fear of falling out of the sky. She trusted the orcish crews entirely but still knew that machinery could fail at any time, no matter how well they were cared for it was usually a matter of when rather than if. It didn't make things any easier when it turned out that the monastery did, in fact, suffer an attack during the last leg of her trip. The revelation disturbed her greatly, to the point where she had started to lose sleep during the last few days. They had to divert, which resulted in Azzara having to proceed the rest of the way via the cart of a rather generous farmer transporting goods to the tavern.


She arrived at the Bales and Burrows tavern early, it seemed, and spotted the shae immediately. There was nobody around her at the time. After having enough time to think things over on her trip, Azzara figured that she simply could not have been the only one contacted by Pippa. If there were others, it seemed that they hadn't arrived yet. As such, she approached the bar, ordered a drink and some food and promptly caught up on some sleep in one of the tavern's many booths.


------- One nap later -------


Azzara awoke to the sound of new voices. It seemed that quite the crowd had arrived and a few of those individuals were now around the shae. Her waking mind gave her a pat on the back, she was right to think that she wasn't the only one. The group seemed rather diverse, including a few elves and even an orc. Things were becoming very interesting, even when the letter didn't include others. After a lengthy yawn she stretched and loosened her dread bun back into separate strands. She'd listen in on their conversation for the time being and introduce herself when she was definitely sure this was no ruse.

 

[Effervescent]

Hal Midigan

​

“Hal?” called a young voice from the doorway. Hal sat with his mother in the kitchen peeling potatoes as she cleaned out the kitchen fire pit. He nearly missed his name being called by his sister, Adal, over his mother’s grumbling about the built up of soot. She had already buried the ashes out back and began wiping the bowl with a damp cloth. She was the only one that seemed to feel the put affected her cooking. Hal had quickly learned to just let Kathan do what she will.


“Hal!” Adal called again as she marched into the room. Within her hand she held a letter sealed simply in wax and pressed without a crest. “It has your name on it.”


“Oh?” he asked as he reached for the letter. Sure enough, scrawled upon the parchment opposite the seal was his name. “Who brought it here?”


“I don't know. It was just stuck in the door.” His sister shrugged as she handed the letter off to him and lingered within the kitchen. Kathan glanced up from her own work to the two and nodded towards the potatoes.


"Do some work if you're hanging about, Adal," their mother commanded calmly, and the little girl promptly took up the potato and knife, slowly peeling away the rough, brown skins to reveal the white flesh underneath.


"Yes, amah," she said as Hal broke the seal and began to read through the scribbled writing. His brow furrowed, and the room went quiet in anticipation for his explanation. But Hal did not speak. He read through the words over and over to insure he had it right. Seconds passed into minutes, and finally his sister's impatience couldn't be held back any longer. "Well? What does it say?"


"The Ellsar Monastery will fall to Shadow," Hal began to read. "Those sent out by our leaders will fall. Their mission to find the Seed of Life will fail-"


"The Seed of Life?" Adal cut in.


"Don't be rude, Adal," Kathan said before nodding back to Hal. "Finish reading. Then we discuss."


Hal nodded and looked back to the letter. "You are needed to end the Shadow threat. It is only through you that the world will find peace once again. Please. Find Shae Pippa in the tavern Bales and Burrows located in Fork, Thallas. I know you've felt the call to action. Heed it."


"So what's the Seed of Life?"


Adal hadn't caught onto the silence between Hal and their mother. They had exchanged glances, and while Kathan kept her gaze on her son, he looked away out the window. Baladur was still dusted with snow at this time of Spring, though the sun had melted away most of it to reveal the green that would cover the land come Summer. Their home was so remote and away from all the strife of Shadow that plagued the lower lands, so much so that their only conflict had been within their own kingdom. But Hal had always felt a longing and a pull towards something. This felt like it.


"I don't know what the Seed of Life is," Hal finally answered. Kathan set the metal bowl back in its holder and began sweeping away the remnants of her cleaning. "But I do know we need to get these potatoes peeled for supper. Want to help?"


Adal nodded and continued to peel her potato carefully. "It sounds important," the girl noted. Hal nodded slowly as he grabbed another knife from the holder.


"Amah?" he called over, and Kathan immediately looked over to the two. "I think this is my Calling."


Kathan's hands wringed the shaft of her broom in thought, her head nodding somewhat before she offered him a soft smile. "I will miss you," she said. "But we must all heed our Calling." She walked over to Hal, her soot covered hands wiped clean against her apron leaving streaks of black against the green fabric. Pausing before him, her eyes glistened with tears both in pride and in sadness. Her hands gently clasped the sides of his face as she brought herself up to kiss his forehead in the traditional Blessing.


"May the wind be at your back, and may the road carry you safely."

​

The road to Thallas was an adventure Hal had never experienced. Going beyond the border of Baladur was met with an unexpected checkpoint. That particular road went straight into a small fort designed for the border patrol. Carts and wagons were inspected for anything suspicious, and everyone was questioned with monotone inquiries droned off from memory. It was regulation regardless as anyone could be part of the Shadow Army. It looked as though these men did not encounter much excitement in their duties, and it wasn't long before Hal was waved off to carry on.


Spring in Thallas was very colorful and full of wildflowers and an incredible amount of bees. It seemed as though every few minutes he was dodging the bulky insects as they buzzed noisily past his face on their own missions. One ran right into the side of his head and carried on as if nothing had happened. Bees were not in such quantities back home and were definitely not as annoying.


Shedding away the furs and packing them into his bag, Hal was beginning to look less like a man from Baladur and more like he belonged on the Glassy Sea. The attire he wore made him look like a fitting Fallenite, yet far too clean in presentation. His appearance was still nothing to turn heads, and upon entering the Bales and Burrows tavern in Fork, no one spared him a glance. All eyes were mostly on the shae at the center of the tavern and her rather ragtag gathering about her.

Shae Pippa

​

Everyone she had seen in her vision began to show up, and to her gratefulness, nearly on the same day. As soon as Hal entered, the shae rose from her seat almost immediately and bit off a piece of her carrot in hand as she eyed everyone down. And then the carrot snapped out in her hand to be used once again as a pointer, the carrot scanning through those that had gathered around her.


"Yous," she began, then pointed over to Solana. "And yous." Pippa shuffled over to the bar as she motioned to the others for her to follow and tapped Kaleb and Inara on the shoulder with her partially eaten vegetable. "YOUS!" Her hooves clopped against the wooden flooring, and the other patrons moved out of her way in a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty as their conversations waned to murmurs. Shae Pippa pointed over to the corner wallflower. "Yous too!"


Her path led her by Lysander and tapped his shoulder thrice. "Yous! And YOUS BY THE DOOR!" She finally pointed to Hal, and by this point her pointing and hollering had stopped, as too did her path as she sat herself at the same table as Wynlth. The shae beckoned those she called to gather with her and the Sur, invading the woman's privacy without asking or caring.


"Wynleth Kinor," Shae Pippa began, "has seens the Monastery fall, yes. All yous are connected. Shae Pippa bringsies together. NOW! Mmmm. Lettie explain. World Tree is dying. Shadow makesies Sickness thatie plagues the magics. Shadow makesies non-magics life hard. Very hard. Tainted and kidnappings and bad!"


The shae lowered her head and leaned forward onto the table, her irridescent horns glistening within the lantern light of the now hushed Thall tavern. The owners quietly murmured to themselves as they tried to deter the attention of their cuirous patrons back to buying their alcohol. But Shae Pippa was not concerned with eavesdroppers.


"There be only one Seed of Life leftie this world," Pippa explained. "Itsie only thing to end the Shadow. Restart. Boop!" She tapped the table with her carrot, and then snapped off a bite as she nodded. "Nyeh, but the Shadow by the looks for lastie Seed. Ifsie the Seed dies, we all die. I seens the visions."


@Elle Joyner @StoneWolf18 @Red Thunder @SkyGinge @Space Cowboy Ein @Doctor Jax @Dragongal @CloudyBlueDay ]@JDParadox @Rissa

 

[Elle Joyner]

There was no real way to pretend what she was watching unfold was normal, by any extension or stretching of the imagination. Person after person, each of them unique, beautiful... intriguing, waltzing through the door, moving with purpose towards the Shae, approaching her with obvious intention. Not one of them was a Warden - and she'd once again begun to lose hope that she was there to meet anyone at all - but it was nevertheless a fascinating scene.


Eventually, she'd pulled out her journal from the depths of her sack, and a piece of charcoal, which she used to roughly scratch the images of the faces before her. They were magnificent, each and every one - from the round-eared humans to the elves... even down to the orc. A creature she'd encountered so few times in her travel, but always found fascinating. And she would have been content, sitting there drawing, had the Shae not shattered the peace of the morning with a suddenly brazen tone of voice.


Looking up, she frowned, watching the woman point around the tavern, her gnarled finger like a blade, sharp and cutting. She called everyone to her, demanding, and Wyn had a pretty good idea that it wouldn't have been wise to ignore her, though Wyn might've tried, had the finger come her way.


It didn't. Instead, the entire party did, and it took all of Wyn's strength and courage not to fall out of her chair when the creature situated herself in the seat adjacent to her own, boldly naming Wyn and the disaster at the monastery, as if she had been there, as well, standing in the background...


"I... you... I'm... What?" Wyn stammered for a moment, staring around her. There were too many faces, too many eyes staring at her, boring down on her, and her heard slammed against her chest like a war drum, beating out a violent tattoo. Her stomach twisted into a knot, her eyes misting over. She needed an escape, but the way was blocked, and she was relatively sure the Shae intended it to be as much.


"How do you know who I am...?" She finally asked, looking to the woman with a pained expression.

 

[RZA]

Inara Belanor

​

Inara flinched in her barstool as the bitten-into carrot touched her shoulder. She looked up in time to see another patron at the bar get tapped before shae Pippa's brazen voice beckoned her, and the rest forward. With each step the shae's hooves reverberated through Bales and Burrows, and Inara just realized how quiet the place had become. She tossed a few copper coins to the woman who served her ale and whiskey, and followed the shae to a table that was already occupied.


She took a seat before all the chairs were full. Inara wanted answers, and she was damn sure getting them. But as the shae spoke of the horrors at the Monastery, she momentarily forgot her questions as she glanced back and forth between shae and fellow Sur, known as Wynleth Kinor... Who had survived the attack. She wanted to ask how, but couldn't find an opportune time to do so.


She watched uncomfortably as the woman became antsy; searching for ways to escape. But there was no way out unless she could force her way through the throng that had gathered around the shae. Inara had a feeling that that possibility hadn't even crossed her mind. A stab of pity shot through her as Wynleth eyes misted over, similar to the one that pierced her heart mere minutes ago when the shae exclaimed that there was only one Seed of Life remaining. Then her fellow Sur asked the question so many around her were probably wondering.


"How do you know who I am...?"


Inara bit her lip in contemplation, watching the shae's iridescent horns glisten in the tavern's firelight. "What did you mean by restart," Inara asked in tandem, "Do you mean our magic will restart as well?"

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

Admittedly, he hadn't thought about whether the letter was addressed to him and only him, or others would be coming. It was left particularly vague on that part, and it didn't matter to him much. But when people started showing up, heck, flooding in, Charlie found himself to be getting slightly uncomfortable.


He politely nodded to the first person to step up and ask the same question, moving slightly to the side. A couple people walked in only to sit by themselves, casting glances the Shae's way every so often which made him shift nervously. And then there was the orc -- that marched right up and started snapping at the Shae.


Charlie took a few steps back, tugging on his wool cap again. He wasn't sure if he was as excited anymore. Why was he suddenly so uncomfortable? He couldn't quite figure it out. He just.. felt.. like among all these people, maybe he wasn't as important. Maybe it was selfish to say. He wasn't selfish, was he?


And that was when the Shae started shouting, pointing at people with her carrot stick. Charlie was pretty grateful he hadn't run off to some table at the side, because he really didn't want to be yelped at. He'd had enough of that back at the foster home. And then, without a care in the world, The Shae sat herself down with a fair-skinned elf and beckoned everyone else to sit down with her. Judging from her reaction, she hadn't exactly invited the Shae over.


"Wynleth Kinor," Well. This girl's important. Charlie thought to himself as he scratched his cheek awkwardly. But as the Shae spoke, Charlie found his head spinning with the things that she said. Wynleth Kinor saw the Monastery fall? But the Monastery was perfectly upright last time he'd heard about it. And he'd sorta known about the shadow sickness, Elder Lannya had told him, but the World Tree.. dying? One seed of life left, if the Shadow gets to it, then.. death and stuff.


He was probably taking this a little lighter then he should.


There were other questions asked, but Charlie found that none of them really interested him much. Right now it didn't matter to him if his magic restarted, or that the other elf hadn't seemed to get the letter.. wait.. what? Oh, never mind. He'd think on that later.


"Um," He mumbled. "I'm sorry, you.. from what I understand, you want us to find the seed of life. I could start saying I don't trust you or something, but I came all the way here, so I guess that would be a lie. I just want to know why you need all of us in particular." He scratched his cheek awkwardly, trying to ignore the eyes on him. Jeez.. was he selfish now, or self conscious? "I mean.. I don't really know about the rest of you, but I feel there are more qualified for the task.. then, uh. I am." Bad choice of words, Charlie. Crap. He was basically passing himself off as incapable. He was capable! Really! Really. Yeah. He was capable.

Location: Bales and Burrows Tavern


With: Everyone

 

[Doctor Jax]

Tza'Hal


The orc remained stoic as a bitten-off carrot was shoved in her face, staring down at the offending vegetable with distaste. Of course -- there was no getting a straight answer out of a shae. It was a fool's errand to make their kind speak sense, something the orc should have figured. However, she had not considered that there were others who would also be a part of this endeavor. Shae Pippa continued pointing out person after person, several of whom had just walked in, her voice ululating as she continued to beckon the patrons around her. The others in the bar were staring by now, but the orc paid them no mind. It was none of their business anyhow, though she wondered the wisdom of hosting such a clandestine meeting in a bar of all places. She would have thought the fate of the world would be considered in a more scenic place, but a tavern was the most convenient of meeting places. Tza'Hal followed beihnd the shae as she sat next to a blonde elf woman, and the orc hung back to listen, her burly arms crossed over her ample chest.


The Sur woman had seen the Monastery fall. Such harsh tidings. And the woman seemed less than happy to know the Shae knew her name. To be honest, the orc could care less who the Sur was. As far as she was concerned, no one person was more important than any here (though she may make an exception for some of the magical kind), though the orc found it intriguing that Wynleth had actually seen the fall of the Monastery.


The shae continued, and Tza'Hal's face grew darker with every word. Aaaaah.... so it was true. She had thought the Sickness was tied to the World Tree and its magics, but she wasn't sure. If it was coming from a shae, it was true -- or as true as the shae believed it to be. There was no denying the Sickness spreading among the magical folk, nor dispel the notion that the Shadow army was closing around the realms of Man and Orc. The shae talked of the Seeds of Life, that there be one left alone, and the orc's ears seemed to prick up at the mention of the mythical things.


She had counted it a mere fable passed around by the magical folk, but it appeared that perhaps she'd been... dismissive. Her readings had been inconclusive as to the true origin of the Seeds of Life, or even that they were more than legend. And if the Shadow were looking for it...


Others asked the Shae questions, one more pertinent than the other (fool boy -- if he was here, he was here for a reason, clairvoyance or not, and all were called to help), and Tza'Hal added her voice.


"Hmph. This is a hard pill to swallow. Yet, here we are. You say there is but one Seed of Life. Well, where is it? Where have you seen this Seed? What does it look like, and how do we utilise it? Do we merely plant it and it becomes a new Tree, or must we bring it back to the old World Tree which is dying? How much time do we have before the World Tree dies?"


@Rissa @CloudyBlueDay @Effervescent @Elle Joyner

 

[Red Thunder]

Trynten Lothorsen

​

She stood suddenly, her odd finger stabbing toward him in rather a more accusatory manner than he'd have preferred. Of course, Tryn wasn't the only one who'd drawn her attention: his eyes roved about the room as she verbally accosted several others. Elves, men, even an Orc. Had they all been called by this Shae, summoned by that vague letter? Evidently.


The old wood creaked as he stood up from his chair. He'd come at the creature's insistence, after all. He may as well see what she had to say. Smoke filtered through clenched teeth that held the pipe stem, and he looked around pensively. The crowd didn't look too pleased at the sudden ruckus, and Tryn himself certainly was leery of the attention he'd receive. But it seemed as though he were far more average looking than his apparent companions. With a sigh that released his concern, the hunter stalked after Pippa, eyes still watching warily.


Others before him were already finding topics to broach, questions to ask. Would the magical beings' magic end?Were those present worthy? Where was the Seed? What should they do with it? The inquiries fell like a waterfall, drowning out any answer or retort. So Tryn took the opportunity to examine the others. His initial assessment seemed spot on: varied peoples of varied environs, including some he didn't recognize.


But something caught his attention, elaboration by the Shae, and his ear pricked. The Monastery? Was that what Pippa had referenced in her letter? Confusion filled the man's face, but context was a wonderful thing for ascertaining events. Others didn't seem as lost as he, so he'd listen. Wynleth in particular had a very visible reaction to the news, so she seemed the most likely to know. Arms crossed, cloak about his shoulders and arms, Tryn stood behind the she-elf, looming and listening.


@Effervescent @CloudyBlueDay

 

[Dragongal]

Solana Petyra

​

The Shae suddenly disturbing Solana's watchful peace was definitely a sudden surprise. After a moment of hesitation, she closed her book and returned it to her pack, then joined the others by the table. Now that she was sure that she wasn't the only elf, she tucked her hair back behind her long ears, revealing her race to any who hadn't guessed. At least she wasn't the only Sur. That much was reassuring. Noting that most of the group was still standing, Solana decided to stand also so she would be able to see everyone at once, but she stood back behind "Wynleth" at an angle so she could see Shae Pippa.


Solana couldn't help but pity Wynleth. The fellow Sur seemed to want nothing to do with the shae, and definitely hadn't invited all the attention. Solana wanted to help Wynleth if possible, but it didn't seem like that was going to be allowed. The most that she could do, she did: standing at the right angle and distance so Wynleth could escape if need be, just up and run. Of course it was highly unlikely that that was going to happen.


Since everyone else was asking all of the questions, Solana stayed quiet. The more she could see and learn about the others before having to speak, the better. The orc woman intrigued her; never had she seen an orc. The man who stood back with a pipe seemed similar to her: observant. Solana already felt a kind of trust with him in that neither of them were jumping into this. The young man seemed nervous. No, not seemed - he was definitely extremely nervous. Then there was the other female elf who asked about the magic. The woman seemed keen, shrewd. That had Solana concerned, the magic. As bad as she was with magic, she didn't want to lose hers. It was the only long-range defense she had, and even if it wasn't very good, she didn't like the thought of not having it. Besides, the number of times she'd had to use illusions to help patients...?


Solana was attentively listening to the shae and everyone else - if everything was true, too much rode on them to be ignored.

 

[BookWyrm]

Vane Braegland.

​

Long days and longer nights had plagued Vane ever since the destruction of his family's farm. The Thall rangers had doubled their efforts in protecting the farming communities and the towns that lay on the fringes, meaning little rest besides what sleep one could pull between watches, yet there still seemed to be an alarming amount of disappearances and Tainted sightings throughout the land. Somehow, though, a letter had made it's way to Vane even in the wilderness. Tired, stiff from sleeping on too much turf, and groggy from some illness he had picked up along the way, Vane still found himself with the capacity to be fascinated by the letter. Though he dismissed the predictions and the majority of the content, because everyone knew shae were daft, he didn't burn the letter.


When the Monastery was attacked, though, Vane knew he needed to find this tavern. After getting leave on the excuse of having found a lead to the Tainted source Vane started his journey towards the Bales and Burrows. Half way through his journey his travel sickness reached it's climax and Vane found himself unable to keep much food down, so by the time he reached the tavern he looked ragged and worn and more than just a bit hungry. The smell of food and ale hit him like an arrow to the chest as he entered the tavern. He kept his hood and cloak pulled tight around him as he approached the bar. "Food and water, please. Clean, cold water." His voice held the hint of exhaustion and misery yet relief that could only come after weeks of endless travel coming to an end. For the moment he paid the shae and crowd no heed, though it was hard to miss them all. That old goat could bleat down a hewn timber, Vane mused as his food and drink were sat before him.

 

[Effervescent]

Shae Pippa

​

Wynleth's gaze didn't phase Shae Pippa as she met the Sur's expression with a stare of her own. Buggy eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward to inspect the elf as though she couldn't quite see the woman clearly. The shae's lip pursed and relaxed before she released a puff of air with a click of her tongue against her two rather large front teeth. Bits of orange lingered within her maw as she chewed on the carrot piece slowly, her tongue then reaching between her teeth and jowls to remove the bits around her gums.


"Fair question!" Shae Pippa said. "The Tree of Life see told me you be. Nyeh. I seens the Flame Hairs and Esa seens Shae Pippa and I seens the Dark Pillar that opensie world."


The shae's golden gaze turned towards the other Sur as she posed her question, and she blinked in thought. Momentarily, the shae's brow furrowed, her long fingers moved to ruffle the tuft of fur upon her chin before she finally gave Inara a nod in response. "Not certain," she said. "Not understand as clear, sees be. But restart bees the way to ends the Shadow. World Tree too gone and sleepy."


Having the half-Sur speak up next only brought a grin to the shae's strange lips. The Sur's intelligence had often been overlooked in history due to their livelihood being viewed as more primitive than the rest of the cultures comprising the neighboring kingdoms. Even the racist views of Baladuri being barbaric only came second to the nature of Sur. And yet here they were being the ones to speak up first and lay their curiosities out in the open for the sake of answers.


"All yous was seens in World Tree vision," Shae Pippa explained. "All yous work together both separate and lacy, woven pretty to drapes the world. Mmm! Nyeh. Sees cannie yet. Yous qualified. Knowledge. Strength. Magic. Swords. Wit. Bringsies yous heads inward together. All are important. Yous all are most."


She points the carrot at Charlie and nods. "Yous got good wit. Quick thinksies! Good in a pickle." She then moved her hand to point towards Wyn. "Yous know whatty up against. Yous seens the badsies and know the goodsies."


Her head nods to Kaleb. "Moral compass." She points to Trynten. "Knowsie Shadow. Knowsie weaknesses ee secrets." As she moved the half-eaten carrot to point towards the orc, she paused in her words as the woman spoke.


"Shae Pippa's not seens the seed," she said in return. "Nyeh, I seensie talks about protectings it. I donnuh whensie World Tree dies, but times a bye." The carrot then points towards Hal, her arm fully extended as the man began to sink into a chair. "He knows wheres it bees. Andie takes it to the World Tree."


The door to the tavern opened and closed, this time just as unnoticed as the other times, though the shae paused in her rhetoric. All around them the patrons had returned to their conversations, albeit more toned than before to keep a wandering ear to the seemingly important conversation hosted by the shae. No one except for Shae Pippa noticed the entrance of the newcomer, to which her voice then boomed over the cacophony of voices.


"VANE BRAEGLAND," she called out commandingly. "GETTIE ASS TO SHAE PIPPA. RUDE!"





@Elle Joyner @StoneWolf18 @Red Thunder @SkyGinge @Space Cowboy Ein @Doctor Jax @Dragongal @CloudyBlueDay @JDParadox @Rissa

 

[BookWyrm]

Vane Braegland.

​

Vane had just taken a bite of the warm bread that the bar maid had laid out in front of him when the old bleater had, well, bleated from across the room. Strike me down now. Vane looked down at his plate and sighed. There was only bread and some cheese, but it was the only solid food he had seen for days that wasn't old or unstomachable. With a groan Vane stuffed the cheese into his bread, laid a couple of coppers on the table, and grabbed his mug of water before walking over to the join the others.


"I apologize for the offense, but while you've been chewing carrots I've been covering half of Thallas on foot." Vane sat his mug down and pulled out a chair for himself before continuing. He didn't care if all of the others were standing, he deserved some rest. "So forgive me for thinking with my tired feet and empty stomach."

 

[Effervescent]

Shae Pippa

​

Shae Pippa sneered at Vane as he sat down, her golden gaze eyeing the weary man over as he slumped into his seat heavily. Hal gave the man some room and scooted his own chair a notch to the left with a small clack against the wooden floor boards. The tavern owners grumbled at the bar, the wife shooting the shae a disgruntled gaze before disappearing into the kitchen. Pippa's eyes were still fixated on Vane for the time being.


"Sassyfrass!" she said. "Sass my ass, late! Rude rude."


Her carrot weilding hand twirled in the air in the direction towards Solana as if the vegetable were a focusing stick of sorts to will her words into being. "Sees the healer," Shae Pippa said to Vane, and then looked around the table. "YES. Shae Pippa sees INJURY. HEALER NEEDED. Darling Sur be nices to her. No sassie. Nyeh, so rude."


She slouched in her seat as she rested upon the back of the wooden chair that creaked with the shift of weight. "Nowsies time to geddie backs to bid," she said calmly.


@BookWyrm @Dragongal

 

[Dragongal]

Solana Petyra

​

Solana would have been lying if she had said that she wasn't relieved that the Shae hadn't brought her into anything. As the Shae pointed people out, Solana's eyes followed as she took in all of the information. Her face was kept expressionless as she looked the human with the pipe over. How would he know the shadows in such a way? Perhaps she had better keep an eye on him. Then the other human male, how would he know where the seed was?


Solana had only glanced over when the man had entered, but the shae's summoning for him had made her visibly jump. The goat lady was going from loud to louder. Now Solana was actually looking him over. To her trained eye, he was clearly sick. Already she was mentally going over what could be used to help him. However, she kept an eye on Wynleth in case the woman wanted to run, then Solana would simply move out of the way for her. If the woman felt too overwhelmed, she did not want to be the one to stop her escape.


The man backsassed Pippa and Solana cringed a bit. That wouldn't go over well. She had taken a liking to the goat lady, and had already realized she was a no-nonsense goat. When the carrot was pointed to her, though, Solana's eyes widened a good deal at the carrot. She had been planning on offering her help later, rather than sooner. Apparently not. She looked to Vane, as Pippa had called him, smiled a bit and gave him a nod. So, was he going to refuse her help because she was Sur? Apparently they would have to wait until after the rest of the discussion ended to know.

 

[Red Thunder]

Trynten Lothorsen

​

​

And here Trynten had thought any who might answer the Shae's summons had already arrived. It seemed not. The pipe tobacco flashed a bright orange as part of a sigh leaked through the stem. He hoped all who might come hither were already present. This group was already a fair bit too large to travel surreptitiously and yet too small to discourage any negative attention. Concern filled his eyes: what were they to do, when denizens of the Shadow Army invariably accosted them?


The Shadow... Shae Pippa had once again singled him out as she mentioned the accursed, and Tryn had already seen the worried looks of mistrust (or even perhaps veiled hostility?). One learned to recognize the meaning in such looks, even were it based on nothing more than timing. Damn Shae magic: how did she know?


But Vane, the newcomer, had drawn Pippa's attention once more, and the hunter relaxed. The Thall did look ill, and if he had to guess, Tryn thought a solid meal and a good night's sleep wasn't the cure for what ailed the poor man. But he was no healer, so he merely continued his observations.


No.


Tryn reached up, pulling the mostly empty pipe from his mouth. They were here for a purpose, and all present had committed themselves. Had they not, they'd either have left already or simply not shown up at all. Clearing his throat, Tryn addressed the Shae.


"What's our move then, Pippa? Before we take our first step, before we even begin to make plans to accomplish a goal, we must know what that goal is." He paused, considering. "If we are to find the Seed, if we are to stop the...the Shadow, where must we go? And what must we do?"

 

[Effervescent]

Shae Pippa

​

Trynten's particular choice of smoking brand was one she had indulged in on more than a few occasions while in the land of the non-magics. It was a particular musk, robust and thick and lingered in the air long after the final embers die out to ash. She could still smell it upon the hooded man even at a distance across the table, though perhaps that was just due to being a shae with a larger nose than humans and a keener sense of smell.


"Askies all the questions at once," she mused with a chuckle and shoved the rest of her carrot in her mouth. The crunch of her chewing was all that could be heard from Shae Pippa as she reflected on Trynten's questions. They were many, and they were quite demanding for the woman who was only gifted fragments of visions by the World Tree. A low grumble escaped through her chomping lips as she mentally reprimanded the Tree for placing such a burden on her. They were all looking to her for all the answers, but luckily she had plenty of time to mull it all over for her own opinions.


"Firstie find the Seed of Life," Shae Pippa began, and nodded back over to Hal. "He knowsesseens the Seed. Knowses point a prick aponsie map. Goes there. Goes and picks it up and takes it to the World Tree. Seed of Life directs to the World Tree whensie touched by magic."


She wasn't entirely certain that's what she saw within her visions, but it was how she chose to interpret them. To solidify it all, she offered a confident nod.





@Elle Joyner @StoneWolf18 @Red Thunder @SkyGinge @Space Cowboy Ein @Doctor Jax @Dragongal @CloudyBlueDay @JDParadox @Rissa