Fantasy The Seed of Life: Awakening

[JDParadox]

Lysander Deguerin


Fork, Thallas
​

The woman that chided Lysander for his morbid brand of humour was a Maldvir, a little older than him, ebony-skinned with dark hair that had been gathered behind her into elegant long dreads. Azzara, as he recalled she had introduced herself. Eyebrows furrowed, Lysander thought she looked familiar, though he knew not how. He remembered the ocean, the docks of Faledren. He remembered the smell of saltwater and fish, and the sounds of the waves crashing against the boat's wooden hull as they-


Lysander caught himself staring and promptly turned away. The memories faded as quick as they came, leaving behind a vague disappointment in its place and a redness on his cheeks. He sighed. Perhaps he would get the chance to ask her, but not now, not here. He stole another glance at her. That nose, those eyes... He had seen them from somewhere, he was sure of it...


Then again, sometimes the past was better left buried.


Lysander nodded along as the others spoke, agreeing with everything and nothing at all. He found his mind wandering. Faledren, the great hive of scum and scoundrels, his home. Faledren, where the the only difference between guard and thief was that the latter would punished if he was caught. Lysander shouldn't be missing it, but he was. He wondered what his mother and brothers would soon hear about him. That he died in battle, valiantly and honourably? Doubtful. It was more likely they had branded him a deserter and a traitor to his country, his king, and his people, having abandoned them in these trying times.


But he did not, Lysander told himself he did not. He was here, wasn't he? Trying to fine the fabled Seed, for this slimmest chance of saving his people and everyone else. Perhaps, by tomorrow, he would have convinced himself that this was why he had followed the letter, that the act had been borne of duty and not of desperation.


Lysander found himself among the last to depart, having been lost in his own thoughts. He had found himself with little to contribute, and thus had contributed little. He was a soldier, and an officer, yes, but his experience had been in the field, where quick wits and steady minds carried the day and not meticulous planning. Though he did look forward to traveling aboard an airship. All the ships he had been on were of the water-bound variety.


As the others slowly broke off, one by one, it was only then that Lysander realised how weary were his muscles, and how heavy were his eyelids. He stood upright, straightened himself out, though he did not dare to yawn, and awaited Wynleth's answer. Lysander would defer to her words, and Hal's leadership, on this journey, on account of their superior knowledge of magic, and the fact the he had had enough of leading.

@Space Cowboy Ein @Elle Joyner @Effervescent

 

[Effervescent]

The Bales and Burrows Tavern

​

The Shae rose from her seat, the rickety wooden chair nearly falling over from her strange legs protruding back in a manner the chair was not built to accustom. She grabbed the back of the chair to stabilize it, her demeanor now changed to fatigue as if the meeting had sucked all of her energy. A small huff escaped her lungs, exiting through her larger nostrils as she was asked if she would accompany them on their prophesied mission.


“Nyeh,” she said with a shake of her head. “Shae Pippa goes home now. Shae Pippa has no reasons to goes. Old. Tired. Homesick. Is paid Is dues. Yous knows what to dos. No needieShae Pippa.”


Shae Pippa stretched her arms above her head and groaned. “Rude ones left eddy too. Meh. All yous will comesiegether. Have little choice! Little little. Is go now.”


Her fingers curled around the threadbare shawl draped over her shoulders to secure it more readily, and she inclined her head in a bow. One so informal was suddenly displaying behavior like that of a Thall nobleman until she brought her head back up and threw her arms in the air wildly.


“Suchie citement!” Pippa exclaimed with a grin. “Gunnie gloat gunnie wait!” With a wave she departed the scene likely to never be seen by the whole group she gathered ever again. Patrons of Bales and Burrows spared a final glance to the rare being, a few of the orcs muttering to themselves about missed profit. Despite the Shae leaving on her own, no one seemed to want to pursue herin any form. There was hesitancy that dissolved into a mask of disinterest as though hunting her would do them some form of harm.


Hal’s eyes followed her until the wooden door shut completely behind her. A strange feeling crept over him that made him uneasy and, for once, hesitant to move forward. This was it. His destiny rode on a brief meeting with a shae, and he could either take it all to heart or abandon it for a better focus. The Shadow threat was still quite large and everpresent within Thallas. Why spend so much time away from true issues right before them?


He looked back at those remaining, and it was clear they were more believing in Shae Pippa than he. There was a nagging feeling that perhaps he did know where that seed was. Sothan, afterall, had been looking for it all those years ago. But there was always the chance that he found it, too, and then what? Hal slipped from his place at the table to move over to Inara.


"I feel like Lauderdine is the better choice," he said to her with a lowered tone. "When you see Theresia, ask her about the Shadow Army. Anything about their advances or where they could be hiding. And... Maybe anything about the validity of what Shae Pippa was on about. I don't think we should risk everyone's lives over a fantastical world-saving seed if it isn't anything true. And don't... Don't ask her too many questions. You don't want to end up owing her anything. Remember my name. Hal Midigan."

Chapter 2

​

52nd Day of Spring

​

The Northern Mountains

​

The Merrimack set sail to Ralder with those that had volunteered to seek out the Seed of Life. Thallas was beautiful in Spring. Fields of green dotted with the purple hue of wildflowers shimmered as they swayed in the winds as if to play the part of the ocean under their ship. The steady hum of the airship engines droned on for the day's flight Northward. The air was just a touch cooler, and the mountains now before them still held their white caps far into the sky.


Hal smiled as he exited the ship. The entire trip he nervously paced in his room as he tried to determine where exactly a magical seed would be held in Baladur. If Sothal searched his land for it, there had to be something to suggest it. He could only think of one place in all of the Northern Lands where it could be, which luckily wasn't far of a hike from Ralder. It still felt like a fool's errand, and he wasn't sure just how many of his companions were placing their hope in the Seed of Life. But as he exited the ship it was as though the mountains greeted him to welcome him home, and that lifted a weight from his shoulders.


Wynleth's story held the most weight in what they were up against. She had endured the brunt of what the Shadow Army could do, and yet there she was walking within their group across the border into Baladuri lands in search for this seed. It brought back the pressure to get this mission right somehow. Would he have to lie? Hal didn't feel ready for that burden, for any lie as great as that would need extra care to prolong the illusion before the inevitable revealing of truth.


"I'll be honest with you," Hals said as he lead the group up the foothills. Through the dense canopies, the tips of the grand mountains could be seen jutting into clear blue skies. "I don't much believe in shae. I've got an inkling but what's to say that isn't brought upon by mind games? Anyway. What do you suppose we should do if we don't find a seed at all?"


It would be half a day's hike through the valley's towards his destination: The Mouth of the Mountain.


@Elle Joyner @SkyGinge @Space Cowboy Ein @Doctor Jax @Dragongal @CloudyBlueDay @JDParadox @BookWyrm

On the Road to Lauderdine

​

Spring in Thallas is almost saturated with color, and riding along the road Northward would be met with clear skies and inviting scenes. The lands were prosperous in many ways, and it was as though there was no war against Shadow. The serenity within the sights and sounds was like a gift to the travelers, for they were headed to land tainted by dark magic, sullied and darkened and dying. If nothing were to be done to stop the Shadow threat, it was likely the very land they journeyed through would be lost.


Bees favored the tall stalks of blossoming flowers in hues of red and pink that clung to the edges of the worn dirt road. Gras grew in tufts between the wagon wheel lines that etched the dirt road into parallel lines. The road occasionally found shelter among a host of trees, the sunlight trickling through the leafy canopy in a glittery dance upon the travelers.


It was in a spot of woods such as these a group of men sat upon the side of the road in boisterous conversation. One of the men looked to make a joke, the others following in the laughter that followed before the jokester noticed the approaching company. He slapped the chest of one of his cohorts before they walked out into the center of the road.


"Hello friends," the jokester said as they approached their human roadblock. "I'm afraid there's a toll this route. I'm sure you understand."


@StoneWolf18 @Red Thunder @Rissa

 

[Elle Joyner]

Throughout the journey on the airship, Wynleth had remained quiet, keeping to herself, venturing out only a few times to see how far they had come. She enjoyed the means of travel, but there was little these days that didn't remind her of all that she had lost but a few days ago. A few days. It hardly seemed right, but there it was. It was easier, of course, not to grow attached then, to this new group, but already she could see the difficult in that. These were good people, strong and clever and willing to risk their lives for a cause that had no real guarantee. It was noble and admirable, and her best defense against that was to avoid them.


But once they had docked, there could be no more avoidance. No. They would need to stick together, and closely. There was little telling what they would find in the mountains and they were sure to come up against plenty on the way back. If they managed to find the Seed, that would be the easiest part. Keeping hold of it... that was the tricky part.


These were the thoughts that plagued her as they began their journey, and it was Hal's voice that cut across them, his confession ringing in her ears. With a small frown, she shook her head, "We cannot think that way. We can't afford to. The Shadow is encroached ever faster, and there will be a time soon enough when it has ensnared all our lands. This Seed is our last hope." Reaching out, she caught his forearm, his grip strong, despite the mild tremor in her voice, "If we fail here, we'll have nothing to go home to." Pulling her hand away, her gaze lowered as the weight of those words hit. She already had virtually nothing to go home to...


Forcing the thought away, she looked up again, offering a small, weary smile, "Shae Pippa may be eccentric, and they are known for their cryptic, often confusing methods. But she wasn't wrong about me... She knew where I would be, before even I did, and she knew all of you would come to the tavern as well. That has to account for something. Don't doubt her words, Hal... and don't doubt yourself."




@Effervescent

 

[StoneWolf18]

The Shae was quite the someone alright, and though Ekrah a bit on their kind from reading the various scrolls and ancient tomes they had back in the Vuaturi settlement though most material was outdated by a couple years some even a decade or two, so it wasn’t the most reliable source of information and she was pretty sure most of it was quite biased though none of that did compare with actually conversing with Shae Pippa. The way she spoke, her gestures, attitude and the sudden mood swing (though that might’ve been just because of her age) as she was about to leave the tavern, handing out well written glares as she went along to the exit. Most of the patrons keeping their gaze locked onto the what some would call strange creature until the oak door that had clearly seen better days firmly slammed shut.


The muttering and conversing that followed with the onlookers was extensive, newcomers wondering what the hell it was all about, some of the more radical humans and orcs loudly proclaiming their racist slurs and threats about the old goat-woman’s hide not even fit for a prisoner’s rags. The younger woman rolled her eyes at the commotion before turning back to the group. So it was settled then, herself, a female Sur and male Thall who she hadn’t caught the names of were going to be traveling with her hopefully on horseback to hunt down some information on this seed of life. “Well...if we are going to be traveling tomorrow, seeing as there really wasn’t much of a choice, I must bid you all farewell.“ And with that, Ekrah turned and began to hunt down the owner of the establishment to see if any more rooms were available for the night.


After renting one, in which the price was quite high though she was in no mood to argue. This was after all a human owned building in human territory so it was understandable. That and the Vuaturi would’ve most likely been assaulted if she hadn’t taken the offered price considering the amount of harsh looks she had been receiving all afternoon and into the evening. With the small amount of items she had taken all stashed deep inside the saddlebags of her mount (despite that probably not being the best place to store them…) The tattooed woman laid back on the bed, its mattress feeling as if it were half full of wool and the other straw but once again her mind had begun to wander too far for her to care. Of the many thoughts that reverberated around her mind, some of the most prominent were ‘What the hell am I getting myself into, Is this even a good idea, Does my family truly believe I wouldn’t survive?’ And enough “what-ifs” to encircle the mortal plane twice. She knew, somehow, that this wasn’t all in vain. Yet with optimism there is always doubt, and at the moment she had a hefty serving of both, fighting over the silver platter that was her mind. But after exhausting herself further with this internal battle, Ekrah turned onto her side and pushed up the sleeve of her cloth tunic, the outer cloak-esc part of her dress folded and set on the table beside the poor excuse for a cot. After she had worked the semi loose sleeve up, the woman began lightly tracing her tattoos as she had after receiving them so long ago. It used to bring her comfort when she was young and now she couldn’t help but feel excruciatingly lonely.


Before long, Ekrah fell asleep. The first dreamless one she had in awhile.


The next morning, she had risen a bit earlier than normal due to how rested she felt. After donning the outer half of her attire, the Vuaturi silently made her way through the slumbering Tavern and outside to where her mount was currently tied up. Walking over and murmuring to her softly, stroking the lean horse’s flank before double checking the saddlebags and with a great sigh of relief, the woman was pleased to find everything still there. Reaching in and taking out a small dried stick of cured meat, she gazed upon the Forks whilst chewing and waiting for those she would be traveling with the arrive.


Once they had a good chunk of time later and they were on their way, little words were shared by the three as the only noise aside from the ambiance of nature was their steed’s hooves upon the earth beneath them as well as the heaving of their breath. The scene was as if it had been woven from the words of a children’s book, and Ekrah was gladly drinking it all in before their roadblock halted them. Shooting the human a glare, she held her tongue and waited for the others to speak.

​

 

[Red Thunder]

Trynten Lothorsen

​

And this is why I try to travel off the beaten path. There's too much attention.


Trynten frowned. He journey had been quiet, appreciably so. They'd met in front of the tavern as he'd requested, and the trio had gotten underway with little to-do save for introductions. But now, as he stood facing the three bandits with two she-elves at his back, the woodsman had to admit grudgingly to himself that he'd let his guard down too much. He'd have to be far, far more careful. Hopefully this only would be the worst his lack of caution would garner.


His eye examined the threat as he stepped away from his horse, assessing them as a deer would a few wolves. Did they bluff their way through? Trynten himself had little gift for gab; that particular method would have to be accomplished by either of his she-elf companions. Did they run? His pride, and the rage he carefully kept restrained in his chest, vetoed that option immediately. But that left only two options: either pay their assuredly ridiculous fee, or hand these brigands their guts. His left hand tightened as it gripped his sword hilt: neither he nor likely his companions could spare the coin. And the less attention they could draw... Calling the bluff it was.


He cleared his throat.


"Gentlemen, I've, uh, I've traversed this road many times before," he began unconvincingly. "There's never been a, uh, a toll here before now. By what authority are you collecting?"


Tryn's left hand moved from the sword hilt to that of the knife strapped to the back of his belt, attempting to pass the movement off as de-escalation from the aggressive stance of holding his sword to the more passive one of putting his hands on his hips.


@Effervescent @Rissa @StoneWolf18

 

[RZA]

Inara Belanor


The Road to Lauderdine


The ride to Lauderdine had been a relatively smooth trip, the Shadow virgin lands beckoning them on with springtime beauty and green-striped-roads almost completely bare save for the trio. The fertile rolling hills and canopied trails gave perspective to her mission. If they found the Seed of Life, then they’d be able to return the rest of the world to such pristine conditions, and exile the Shadow for good. Inara enjoyed dreaming of the possibility, but she was plagued with worries about Theresia and her payment method. However, it was hard to focus on the negative thoughts as she rode her mare, and almost as soon as the worries presented themselves, they were banished by the wind.


Until they almost ran down a group of men blocking the roadway. They seemed a boisterous bunch, chortling and smacking one another as they stood side by side. Was it her, or could her companions sense the violence emanating from them as well? Inara eyed the man that spoke, a small smirk dancing across his lips as he stated coins were required for passage.


Tryn’s left hand flitted from his sword hilt to his hip. There was no time to grab her bow, nor a way to make it seem inconspicuous. She’d have to come up with something different. She was on to something when Tryn spoke, and the urge to roll her eyes was enticing. Why did he have to speak? Inara was no charmer, but compared to Trynten she had a silvertongue.

 

[Dragongal]

Solana Petyra

​

Solana had been wandering the deck for most of the fight. Heights were no issue for the young elf, but flying was something... amazing. As hard as she had worked to describe it in her journal, it had proved nearly impossible to capture the essence of it. She'd noticed that Wynleth seemed to void people, but Solana had decided to say nothing and merely return to looking off into the distance. She'd kept an eye on her patient too, but Vane seemed to have been doing much better, which was to be expected considering the medicine she had given him. But how would the rest of the team fare? Who else would she have to patch up in some way or another? Despite being the youngest, her worth existed in her skills in healing; which meant she would be the one to have to care for her teammates in the case of illness or injury. Then of course there was that fact that she was an elf... would that cause any problems?


Upon landing, Hal stated some of his misgivings. Wynleth replied. After a slight hesitation, Solana added her two cents in. "If it is not there, then we look someplace else. But not even trying is likely the worst option. You don't have to fully trust Pippa, but I think that not trying because of some misgivings... would be a grave mistake."


@Effervescent

 

[Doctor Jax]

Tza'Hal


For the entire journey into the mountains, Tza'Hal sat at the bow of the ship day and night, deep in meditation. Some sages had said in their writings that by clearing the mind, one could perceive that which was hidden normally to the mind. Others said that it could bring about enlightenment and the transcendence of the mind. However, Tza'Hal meditated for other purposes. It was one of the tenants of the Order, that clearing the mind allowed for emotional control and quietude of the soul. She was going to need that quietude where they were going, with the Shadow so close. Tza'Hal was no slouch, but she was also no longer a real fighter. Her expertise to this group now was her knowledge and her insight.


Tza'Hal opened her eyes as they landed, and the other adventurers filtered off the ship. Tza'hal cracked open an eye, finally feeling the cold wind against her skin and the chill that pervaded these frosted mountains. Fighting a shiver, she slowly got up, her age making itself felt in her bones. She picked up a simple walking staff and the pack tied around its end, and she stood with its help, walking off the airship. She exchanged a parting glance with the captain, who merely gave her a respectful nod.


"Watch yourself, Major," the Merrimack's owner said, inclining his head.


"Not Major, Gradak," Tza'Hal said quietly as she walked off the ship.


Her eyes took in the sight of the lush forests around, the peaks of the mountains surrounding them like the fingers of intrepid gods. She took in a deep breath of the chilled air, the cold invigorating her step as she walked behind Hal. Her eyes cut to him as he gave his misgivings, and Wynleth, fool magic-user, refused to even consider the fact that the Seed may very well not be in the place they expect it to be. She found Hal's doubts refreshing -- it was a dose of cynicism she felt realistic for a mission such as this. Solana, another magic-user, put in her own ideas -- that it would do them no good to quit now. So these Sur were not quite so flowery.


"Your skepticism does you well, young man. Question everything -- that is the root of gaining true knowledge. However, it is true that shae do not lie -- insofar as they believe something is true, that is. Their knowledge may be baseless, but they believe it thoroughly, and it is not often they are wrong. Blast them for talking in circles, though..." Tza'Hal chimed in. "Should the shae be misled, we will regroup and reconsider our options. Even if the shae was wrong of our purpose in this world, that does not mean we cannot make it our purpose."


The stony ground bit into her bandaged feet, but she paid them no mind. Her feet were hard as horn by now besides. Eventually she fell in step beside Hal, Wynleth, and Solana.


"How did you come to find this Seed?' Tza'Hal asked Hal seriously.


@Effervescent @Elle Joyner @Dragongal

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

He was flying.


Not actually, but come on. The wind in his face, the puffs of white cloud that looked almost tangible. It had never quite been a dream of his to be in the air, but now he realized what he'd been missing, and how long ago he should've been dreaming about this. It was amazing. There was this look of pure childish glee on his face, while everyone else carried the weight of the Shadow threat, Charlie was looking so happy he may as well have been a dog poking it's head out of a car window with it's tongue stuck out. He spent the entirety of the trip on the deck - just gazing endlessly into the beautiful blue sky.


The ride on the airship eventually came to an end, much to Charlie's dismay. He tried to put on a more serious face, but he was still reveling in the wonderful journey that had so beautifully melted away his uncertainties about the entire ordeal. Now, back on the ground, reality struck once more.


One word kept on coming back to him. Destiny. That was such a heavy word. It came with Fulfillment, and Prophecies, and Heroism, and so many things he wasn't quite sure he was capable of. He felt it best to ignore that word as much as he could. He was simply here to help.


"I'll be honest with you," Hal spoke, and Charlie looked up at their de-facto leader with curiosity in his eyes. "I don't much believe in shae. I've got an inkling but what's to say that isn't brought upon by mind games? Anyway. What do you suppose we should do if we don't find a seed at all?" Wynleth was quick to reassure the human, grabbing his arm and speaking to him in a heartfelt tone. Charlie silently pondered over what he'd said. He believed in the Shae - most elven creatures did, did they not? And he was at least half. (The same wool cap still covered his true identity.) But even if he didn't believe in Shae, there was no real other choice. No other person to turn to in hopes of any last minute miracles. This was the ultimate last shot in the dark.


He couldn't quite think of anything to say to Hal that hadn't already been said, so he kept his head down, listening to Tza'Hal speak about how good it was to question things. Hmn. Did he question things enough?

Location: The Northern Mountains

With: @PeepsWhoBeLookinForSeeds

​

 

[BookWyrm]

Vane Braegland.

​

"If all of us believed everything that came out of a shae's mouth, we'd all be a bit nuttier." Vane looked over at the others and smiled as he slung his pack over his shoulder. He'd been feeling amazing over the past few days, certainly better than he had over the past month. Whatever Solana had given to him to cure the travel sickness had done its job and then some. Being grateful was one thing, and Vane had offered many thanks to the young elf maiden, but he wanted to do something a little more personal. Not that he was trying to flirt or court her, he much preferred to be on closer terms before courting a lass, but he felt inclined to show a little chivalry.


But chivalry and the lady-elf could wait for a while. Vane had promised to get the group through the mountains, and although he had proved his worth by getting them to the skyport already, his duty to the group was far from over. If this gives me a chance to kill more Tainted then I'll do anything for them.

 

[Effervescent]

The Northern Mountains

​

The temperature dropped little by little as they ventured. Hal hadn't noticed much of the change just yet having lived around these parts. A huff of a laugh escaped him at Wynleth's enthusiasm. It wasn't that he thought her stupid or that her words carried no merit in his mind. He was faced with another individual just as driven by her own beliefs as he. But doubting himself? That was something he didn't feel. The doubt still remained with the shae.


And to that he gave the Sur a shrug. "I just think we should cover every outcome," he said before Solana gave her own insight. He nodded in agreement. "Aye, I don't think we should not try!"


Spring invited songbirds to sing within the evergreens that dotted the land as they began their annual rituals. They chirped high above the group as their feet carried them through soft soil and patches of grass and brush. Tza'Hal was likely the most intriguing site to Hal. While he had seen a couple of orc before, he had never seen one clad like her, nor did he ever imagine anyone would want to traverse the land without the comfort of soled shoes to protect their feet.


"I like your thinking," he said. "That sort of purpose is admirable to me. I've lived in Baladuri and stayed for too long. I think it has me a bit naïve, in a sense. I can't even fathom what Wynleth has seen. I feel it is my calling to help end this growing Shadow threat."


Tza'Hal posed the one question he had hoped no one would ask. "I haven't found the Seed," he admitted. "That is why I doubt the shae. She said I know where it is, but I can only go based on what an old friend was once looking for. He mentioned something about finding a seed that would make him a lot of money. And he was searching around these lands. Beyond that? I'm skeptical for a reason, and I think we all should air on the side of hesitancy."


Hal looked behind them at the others as Vane spoke, and he smirked at the joke. "I can agree to that!" he said. "Everyone keeping up? We've only got a few hours trek to the Mouth of the Mountain."


Something didn't feel quite right as he turned back around. The birds had stopped singing. There were no insects buzzing about or the rustle of wildlife. Wind crept through the tops of the trees bending the tall trunks as the wood groaned and creaked in the sway.


The sunlight glinted through the canopy as the wind blew, the group's shadows dancing mutedly. All but one. Charlie Reddeman's shadow looked darker and didn't move quite like the others when the sun actually reached them through the dense canopy.

Presently

It seems there is something not quite right! The shadow follows Charlie's every move as a normal shadow would, yet it's far darker in coloration. Looking at it for too long can make one feel dizzy. The shadow doesn't seem to change no matter what anyone does to it. How strange...until Charlie looks at it!

@Elle Joyner @SkyGinge @Space Cowboy Ein @Doctor Jax @Dragongal @CloudyBlueDay @JDParadox @BookWyrm

On the Road to Lauderdine

​

The roadblock of men gave a chuckle as Trynten posed his inquiry, a head shaking by the head goon as he took a step forward. The leader brought a hand up carefully to Trynten's horse, a gloved hand gently stroking down its nussle. His other hand held the hilt of his sword in a loose fashion, more as a warning to the two than as a promise. The Thalls studied their prey with a gleam in their eye, the leader smirking up at Trynten before he responded.


"Ain't seen you around much at all," he said. "This here's a toll set by the royal house. You from Faledrin or something? Surely a supposed traveler of these parts knows about the tolls!"


One of the lackeys crossed his massive arms over his chest as impatience grew within him at the doddling. "Pay the fakin' toll. I gotta take a piss."


The leader gave out a shrill whistle through his teeth, and he backed away from the horse. From the surrounding treeline emerged the rest of the band clad in an array of assorted armaments and weaponry. The signal called out at least a dozen more men, four of which knocked arrows to their bows casually.


@StoneWolf18 @Red Thunder @Rissa

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

Charlie only half listened to the ongoing conversation, and half occupied himself with his own thoughts, up until the point where Hal mentioned he didn't actually know where the seed was. Charlie looked up abruptly at the man, processing the fact that the person guiding them to the only thing that would save the world, actually didn't know where said thing was.


He felt unease cloud his thoughts, wondering if this was all going to be for nothing after all. However, he was not really the person to call Hal out on it, and instead bit his tongue. The man seemed trustworthy enough - until his lead was proven an as false, Charlie felt it best not to accuse him of anything.


"Everyone keeping up? We've only got a few hours trek to the Mouth of the Mountain." Charlie swallowed. What they were going to be doing when they got to the Mouth of the Mountain, he wasn't sure, but something about it unnerved him. Or maybe -- maybe it wasn't that, maybe he was just plain unnerved. The birds had stopped singing all of a sudden. Weren't they singing just moments ago?


"Does something feel.. off, to anyone else?" Charlie mumbled, tugging on his cap as he glanced around worriedly, first at the forest surrounding them, then the earth beneath him, and then his shadow behind him.


The change was sudden, terrifyingly so. His eyes rolled into the back of his head leaving only white, and he fell to the ground, seemingly unconscious. His body shuddered and twitched, like one enduring a nightmare. He was whispering and muttering inaudible things; all around, a horrifying scene.


But Charlie was someplace else.


First, he was back home, in Eversyth. But the foster home was quiet and empty, abandoned, in a way he'd never seen it before. He was searching, everywhere, for any of the children, or the staff, or Elder Lannya, but there was no one. And then he heard the fire place crackling in the common room - it hadn't been lit before, he was sure of it.


The door creaked loudly when he pushed it open, and there was that girl, the same girl who's home and family had been taken from her by the Shadow, swaddled in blankets and staring at the blazing fire. He was so relieved, that she was here, and safe, but when she turned her head to look at him - she had no eyes. Only empty, black holes. Ad she was smiling, this sick, twisted smile. Pure panic overtook him as the fire crept out from the fireplace, engulfing the floor and the walls and the ceilings and the girl - and then him, too. And someone was laughing at him, laughing, laughing, laughing.


And then he was in front of the World Tree. Even though he'd never seen it in the flesh, he just knew this was it. Except.. it was twisted, and corrupted, exactly like it wasn't supposed to be. And at it's roots, lay every member of the group that was travelling with him. Dead. They were all dead. Blood, blood, blood everywhere. Lifeless eyes and open mouths, still faces and cold skin.


They were all dead. They were all going to die.

I N F O

LOCATION


The Northern Mountains


WITH


@PeepsWhoBeLookin'ForSeeds
​

 

[Elle Joyner]

She didn't expect the others to understand her perspective. They hadn't been there at the monastery, nor had they seen the things that she had seen. It was a sense of desperation that drove her, not some strange hopefulness or foolish optimism. Finding the Seed was the last option they had, before their world completely succumb to the darkness. She didn't want to find it. She needed to. They all did. All she could do was pray that Hal knew what he was doing and that nothing would go wrong between now and then.


Of course, that vein of thinking never ended well. It was the silence that caught her attention, as they climbed higher into the cold. Before, a soft pattern of birdsong had been their constant companion... a gentle reminder that not all was wrong with the world. Now, there was a stillness to the air that was hauntingly familiar. An utter void, beyond the crunching snow beneath their feet.


She paused, just as Charlie opened his mouth to speak and her breath left her in an exhalation of vapor, a shudder, her eyes snapping over to the boy with a sudden urgency, "No! Charlie, don't..." But it was too late. His eyes dropped to his shadow stretched and eerie on the crisp white blanket beneath his feet, and the effect was nearly instantaneous. As he fell, Wynleth watched it happen almost as if the world had slowed down around her, heart hammering in her chest when his form struck the earth. If not for the writhing... the rapid rise and fall of his chest, she might've thought him dead. Part of her was certain he was, regardless.


"No..." She whispered, backing away, her fists balled against her temples, as if she could physically force out the terrifying thoughts, the memories that rose like a flood within her mind, "Not here... Not again. Please, no..."




@Effervescent, @CloudyBlueDay

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Azzara Omari


The trip north was tantalizing to say the least. While Azzara was able to procure warmer clothing, there was not much that she could do to quell her air sickness. All she could do was hold on to the nearest stable thing and ride it out thinking about other things. Like how she should have taken on an apprenticeship on an airship and not a damned boat. Maybe then she could have worked up enough of a tolerance so that she wasn't one bout of turbulence away from retching up her breakfast. When they finally did land, she was beyond happy but not enough to kiss the ground. No, now she was cold and was content with being as layered as possible. She hated the cold, having spent two months too many in the realm of Baladur during her ten years of travel.


The rest of the trip went relatively smooth. Azzara elected to keep to herself for the most of it. She had made her opinion clear back at the tavern and was more interested in keeping an eye out for any unwanted guests. Pippa had made quiet clear their intentions and she knew that information traveled as fast as they did. If someone with ill intent believed the Shae as well, it was possible that they could be followed. She'd suffered and survived enough highway ambushes to know that much as a possibility. And so, she didn't think much of Charlie's question until he was writing on the ground moments later. She whipped around to take in the sight, it was disturbing to say the least. A moment of confusion gave way to the horrible truth as she gazed upon his shadow. Its unnaturally darkness led her immediately to the conclusion that what they were dealing with was a Shade. It seems someone else was interested in their little trip after all.


She gritted her teeth and took a step towards the young man. Her yes scanned the group and she pointed first to Tza'Hal, then Lysander, Vane, and Kaleb. "You four, hold him down! He's got a servant of the Shadow of him and I'm going to pull it out. He's going to resist and it's going to be slow, but it must be done. If he stays like this we will lose him to its insanity!" Azzara elected to not explain just how dangerous what she was about to do was. She didn't know how long that the Shad was a part of him, but she knew that taking it out at this stage could possibly kill him, but it would be better than unending insanity. She could feel the adrenaline pumping in her veins and she elected to remove her jacket as it would be too clunky for what she was about to do.


@Doctor Jax @JDParadox @BookWyrm @SkyGinge @CloudyBlueDay

 

[Dragongal]

Solana Petyra

​

Talk about useless. The moment Charlie started having... issues.... Solana should have been able to do something. Was she not the healer? The boy seemed to be having a seizure, but it was clearly of no natural kind. Would a ward help? Solana looked around. Wynleth seemed extremely upset by this, and Azzara almost instantly took control. Solana decided to help how she could - focusing on Wynleth. It seemed to her that the girl had the same issue that she'd seem some fighters and soldiers deal with... That was something Solana knew how to help with.



​

Solana moved to Wynleth's side and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. She quietly said, "Wynleth, calm yourself, Azzara is taking care of Charlie now, all we can do is wait. But we're safe at this moment. Okay?"

 

[Doctor Jax]

Tza'Hal


With a mounting feeling of dread, Tza'Hal sighed as Hal explained how he "knew" of the seed's possible existence and location. She did her best to remain optimistic -- heaven knew, it took her a long time to cultivate the attitude -- but the fact that Hal's source was so secondary only gave her reason to distrust the words of the Shae. Nevertheless...


The birds abruptly stopped their singing, and the world grew very quiet. Tza'Hal, used to the clamor of battle and the chatter of people, was especially attuned to notice silence, and she did not like what she could not hear. Long ago, she had learned that the creatures of the world were well-tuned to the way of things, most of all danger. The moment the animals left, was the moment Tza'Hal knew she did not want to be nearby. There was danger afoot somewhere.


And, just like that, Charlie, another young one, fell to the ground and began to convulse. Tza'Hal's eyes widened at the sudden change, and Azzara immediately took charge. Tza'Hal was quick to comply with the Maldviri's instructions, throwing down her walking stick and carefully laying herself, chest-to-chest, on the boy to stop his flailing. She had seen this before, though she'd not been an active participant in the extraction of the Shade. No -- they'd just shot the orc who'd been unlucky enough to become taken by one of the Shadow. She gritted her teeth as the boy kicked and writhed.


"Keep your eyes open!" Tza'Hal growled to those who were not participating. "We do not know -- OOF -- that we are alone!"


@Effervescent @Elle Joyner @Dragongal

 

[BookWyrm]

Vane Braegland.

​

Vane had at first drawn his blade at the knowledge of Charlie being afflicted by the Shadow. We can't even trust our own damned team. But when Azzara said she could exorcise the shad Vane slid his sword back into the sheath before laying his gear aside. Tza'Hal was doing her best, but even then she might need help when everything started. "Hold on, I'm going for his back."


With the way Charlie was flopping and writhing it was proving to be difficult, but Vane spotted a vantage point and lunged. He took Charlie's back, wrapping his legs around his waist while sticking his arms underneath Charlie's before bringing his hands together behind Charlie's head. Between Vane and Tza'Hal they seemed to be holding decently well, but for how long? "Whatever you are going to do," Vane grunted as Charlie writhed and thrashed about, "Get it done!"

 

[RZA]

Inara Belanor

On the Road to Lauderdine


”Pay the fakin’ toll. I gotta take a piss.”


Inara rolled her eyes at the man who spoke, his irritation matching her own. This was a vulgar and boisterous bunch for sure. She shook her head, they didn’t have time for this nonsense; their comrades flying to the north had probably landed and traveled on foot twice as far as they. And here they were, stuck in a roadblock, unsure of what to do.


Damn them to the Shadows, Inara thought savagely, a low growl escaping her lips.


The leader stepped away from Trynten’s stallion with a whistle, and Inara did her best not to look horrified. They were utterly surrounded. She could hear arrows knocking into place, and her irritation quickly ebbed into dread.


She did her best to bite back the fear that caused her to grab the mare’s reins with a white knuckle grip. Inara glanced between her two comrades, trying to sense their next moves. But that was impossible, and her mind raced with possible outcomes to this encounter. Every theoretical outcome ended with death -- on both sides, and she wasn’t willing to risk it. Not yet at least. It’s better to lose the battle, Inara thought, than lose the war. They needed to get to Lauderdine, they needed that information if they were to ever destroy the Shadow desecrating their lands.


Unless the toll was outrageous, Inara knew she had the coinage to get them all through. When she left Eversyth, she had packed just about everything she owned -- including every coin she earned that she hadn’t yet spent. It was to be used in dire emergencies only, and Inara was willing to bet that within three minutes all hell would break loose.


Inara calmed her heart with the presence of the earth. She reached out to the plant life around her; to the minuscule blades of grass and to the largest of trees. Somehow she managed to calm herself with their familiarity. She inhaled deep, thinking hard and as fast as she could.


Clearing her throat, she spoke without fear in her voice. “I require verification before payment.”

 

[Red Thunder]

Trynten Lothorsen

​

More bandits. Nine more.


Fantastic.


Trynten frowned, casting his eyes about as he looked at each new threat. These marauders were certainly well ordered: there were archers to take the trio down at a distance and plenty of numbers to kill them up close, even if a few of them died. Four to one odds, when their enemies were this well prepared, was a terrible thing to face. Particularly when one doesn't know the strengths or weaknesses of his fellows. He opened his mouth to quietly suggest a retreat.


But Inara was already addressing their oppressors, pursuing a similar line of dialogue that he'd pursued earlier yet with a distinctively more compromising undertone. Was the she-elf actually intending to pay what was assuredly a very steep price?


His ear twitched involuntarily. Eyes widening, the woodsman stared into the direction from whence the familiar feeling of bloodlust came. He stared hard past the bandits into the woods behind them, wanting to be sure of himself. But there was no mistaking it; the surety had come to him only few times before, and he'd learned to trust it.


Gripping his sword hilt tightly, Trynten bellowed.


"TAINTED!"


@StoneWolf18 @Rissa @Effervescent

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Azzara Omari


Azzara grimaced at the sight before her. Only two of them were about their wits enough to hold the young man down. It would have to do, though she would have to get more personal with him. In a swift movement she ducked down into a squat and moved Tza'Hal out of the way. "Hold his legs so I don't get knee'd in the back please." She shot to the orc as she straddled the young man's waist. Despite Vane's best attempts, it would be hard to keep Charlie steady. Azzara didn't weigh all that much, so she hoped things could progress quickly. A ball of light emanated from her right hand as she ripped open his shirt and took hold of the cloth with the other. She wasn't going to tip-toe about this, it was going to hurt like hell, but she would make it the process quick, if not brutal. If she was lucky, he'd survive.


"Sorry about this." She murmured to the young man as the light in her hand grew brighter. "It's gunna hurt alot." The light grew to nearly blinding before she thrust it down hard against Charlie's chest. Her light seared into his soul in search of the foreign body. All the while harming him in the process. To everyone else, the light would see harmless. Azzara had no passages to recite, no foreign, forgotten language to utter words in. The only noise they got from her was a grunt of concentration every time Charlie bucked the wrong way beneath her. She had done this once before and failed. She was determined to not have the past repeat itself. The only problem was that the shade was lodged deeper this time, but she was close.


After several more seconds she could feel something and it reeked of shadow. With a grunt she took hold of the entity and pulled. For the first moment it stuck to Charlie like a tick. A second tug and she could feel it's grip slacken but it moved with heavy friction. A third tug, a fourth, all the same. On the fifth tug she gave an unseemly yell as she pressed her light in further and pulled again. This time the Shade slipped free from Charlie's soul with a snap. Azzara stood quickly and yanked the shade from Charlie like cloth from a basket. She took it in her hands and stepped away from the rest. She would not risk it attaching to anyone else. The Shade was black as night and she could feel it struggle against her grip, but it would go nowhere and trying to attach to her was impossible. The questions now were, what should she do with it and if Charlie would survive the ordeal.


@Doctor Jax @BookWyrm @CloudyBlueDay @Effervescent

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

The vision of the world tree with his travel companions dead at it's roots faded away, leaving Charlie in pure darkness, an entirely new nightmarish scene to endure. "Hello?" He called out, voice echoing off the void. "Is anyone there?" He asked even though it was clear no one was. He glanced around himself, panic settling in as he took one step forward - and found his foot jammed against a wall he couldn't see. Black, just like the rest of this place. One small step backwards, and he brushed another wall. How small was this room? He raised a fist and pounded the wall. Nothing to grasp, no door or window or anything. He was beginning to feel claustrophobic. Where in the world was he?


"Foolish boy," A voice spat at him from seemingly nowhere, making him jump in surprise. "Who said that?" He shouted. "You always think you're doing the right thing, don't you? You're not helping anybody." It hissed. "You're just a nuisance." "I'm not!" He retorted, like a terrified small child. He wanted to run, but he could barely even move.


"Scared little Charlie, with no one to save him from the big bad shadows." It taunted. "Stop," He pleaded."You're weak. Ignorant. Selfish." "Stop it!" "It's YOUR fault they're going to die! You couldn't help them! You can't help ANYONE!" It roared, and with a defeated cry, Charlie crumpled against the walls that confined him, tears streaming down his face, hands shaking. They knew of his every insecurity - his every doubt, his every fear. Hearing it being shouted at him was like someone striking him down with each word. "That's right, give up. Give up and sob like the coward you are." The voice growled.


And then all of a sudden, it felt like someone had stabbed him right in the chest. Charlie gasped in both pain, and for air, which had entirely left him. It was as if someone was rummaging around inside of him - twisting his insides around, screwing him up. He'd never felt anything like it before, and he'd never been so terrified in his life. And then --


Charlie woke up.


Not quietly, though. He jolted upright with a pained screech just as Azzara successfully yanked the Shade out of him. In his panicked state, a burst of flame erupted in both of his hands in an effort to protect himself from what his mind registered as a threat, when really, it was the very people attempting to help him. Though the fire only lasted momentarily as he was clearly too weak to make any sort of attack. The pain that followed him in his nightmares hadn't left him, not one bit, and he found himself coughing and spluttering and whimpering. It was too much. It hurt too much. And all the panic, the fear, the hurt and the despair, it was all crashing down on him and he felt as if he could barely breathe. His body no longer twitched, but instead shook, from the toll his body and mind had taken. He could not even find the strength to speak.


When he glanced at the people who'd crowded around him - at Tza'hal and Vane who'd been holding him down, and Azzara who'd jumped away, keeping the Shade in her grasp. Wynleth and Solana backed up in the corner and all the rest staring down at him. All he could see was their lifeless bodies at the base of the world tree. And that did not quite help him to calm.

I N F O

LOCATION


The Northern Mountains


WITH

@Effervescent @Space Cowboy Ein @Doctor Jax @BookWyrm

​

 

[Elle Joyner]

She could see their faces... Runey and the Wardens and the others. She could see Runey lying there, open-eyed and blank, could hear herself calling out to him, screaming his name in that cold, dark room. She could feel Asa, her lithe fingers looping around Wyn's wrist as she dragged her from the room, while the other two held off the Shadow. She could hear Asa's voice, telling her to run... to go to the inn. To wait. The door closing and suddenly finding herself outside of the monastery. The bright heliotrope beam that rose into the sky and returning to utter oblivion... to perfect blackness.


When the hand touched her shoulder, Wynleth flailed back with wide, startled eyes, hands swinging, scrambling to move away from the unfamiliar appendage. Her eyes adjusted to the scene around her, as she snapped, not at all pleasantly, from her fugue. Heart slamming hard against her throat as she eyed Solana for a moment, in confusion, "Safe...? Are... are you mad?" There wasn't anger in her voice, but an exasperation, a disheartened disbelief. How could anyone think they were safe, witnessing what had just happened. Were so many in the world oblivious to what the Shadow could do?


"That? That didn't just happen on it's own, Solana. Someone cast that shadow magic... and they'd need to be fairly close to do it. I imagine they're far from finished with us. As I'd also imagine we are far from any measure of safety."


Shifting she turned to the others. At last, her gaze dropped to Charlie. Poor Charlie. Held down, he struggled, gravely and with a cry the Shadow was excised, but the utter devastation was clear. It was the only way, and she was glad, at least, Azzara knew what she was doing, but it would be no simple fix for Charlie. Turning back to Solana, she lowered her voice, "If you have no sleeping draught, you'll want to make one as soon as you can. He'll have little peace after what he's just endured..."


Moving to Charlie, she dropped down in the spot heretofore occupied by Azzara and reaching out, laid a hand over his own, "It fades..." She muttered, quietly, because what more was there to say.




@Effervescent, @CloudyBlueDay, @Dragongal

 

[Dragongal]

Solana Petyra

​

When Wynlth replied as she did, Solana's nose merely twitched as she wore a look of complete and utter impassive soberness. They'd have to have a talk. Solana had some choice words she would have told Wynleth if she hadn't moved to Charlie's side. All she said in response was, "I do, fear not." She had more than enough sleeping draught. Exorcising shadows, she couldn't do, but medical needs she could meet. In honesty Solana thought that out of any response Wynleth could have given to her help, that was the worst; Wynleth was supposed to be the one who knew what was going on and the one who had experience, and here she was despairing suddenly. Solana could understand a flashback, but did Wynleth want the others to become unduly concerned? Fear could rip any group apart.


Solana kept her tongue and moved over to Charlie's side. She took a vial out of her pack and helped him to sit up while offering it to him. "This will help to steady you." The potion was designed to stop tremors and relax muscles tense from exhaustion, which would help him regain strength too. Normally she tried to only use magic after asking for permission, but this seemed to be a good time for an exception. She cast a weak illusion for Charlie to make it seem like the pain was fading more quickly than it was. She glanced at Vane and signaled to him to move over so she could help support the boy, letting him lean back against her.


Solana glanced up to Wynleth with a glance that said they would talk later. She wasn't mad at her, but they did need to speak. Solana truthfully felt now that she had something to prove to the group. Wynleth seemed to doubt her and think she was stupid, but really Solana had just been trying to help and bring Wynleth out of a flashback. After a moment, Solana turned her attention back to Charlie.

 

[Effervescent]

The Northern Mountains

​

The steady rustle of the group's feet upon the mountain terrain was halted by Charlie’s collapse. The boy fell like a rag doll, his body seizing in some stupor. Hal spun about at the sudden commotion and felt a sickening pit in his stomach. This was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and due to the shocking nature he stood still in a stupor for far too long. It wasn't until the Maldviri called out commands and the Orc reacted that he took hesitant steps towards the boy on the ground.


She said it was a Shade; it was Shadow Magic. This was Hal’s first encounter with the very thing that plagued the rest of the world and his ignorance made him dumbfounded to the horror in just one thing. His eyes flecked up towards the Sur named Wyn as he brought his hands down to help hold Charlie still for Azzara. Wynleth had seen more of these horrors. She had seen enough to display what he had once seen in his father. Her turmoil manifested outwardly triggered by the sight of Charlie in his afflicted state, and just as Hal set his hands upon the boy’s capped head he felt a stabbing pain like no other from within his gut.


His arms quickly retracted from Charlie, his body spinning away from their work as he heaved the contents of his stomach onto the frosted dirt around a tree root. How weak he must have looked to those who deftly came to Charlie’s aid. Hal felt strange all throughout as though he had been momentarily hollowed. And just as he turned back towards the group, so too did Azzara pull a strange black veil from the core of Charlie’s body. It lifted out from the boy’s chest like a void of gossamer clasped within the Maldviri’s hand, and once removed entirely it dissipated into nothing.


There wasn't much time to dwell on the sight of the Shade’s disappearance, for as soon as the thing was removed Charlie woke. Fire burst from the boy’s hands in an involuntary primal reaction, and Hal took a step back from the sudden heat. And when the flames ceased to return them all to the cold, quiet of the Baladuri mountainside, a shudder escaped him.


Reacting to Wynleth’s observation, Hal turned his attention to the woods surrounding them. A Shadow Caster could be near, she had said. They are responsible for the thing that was pulled from Charlie’s body, and this was likely not the last they would see. There were shadows everywhere due to the clear sky through the tree tops, and the woods were thick with tall pines and the occasional maple and oak. If anyone was out there, they weren't making themselves known just yet.


“They know where we are going,” Hal figured, and then turned back around to the rest of the group. “This could be a diversion. A play to delay us so that they can get to the Seed of Life first.” Hal stepped toward Charlie where he sat and lowered himself to a crouch.


“Charlie, correct?” he said to him. “Do you think you are well enough to continue? We need to make haste, but if you are in no good condition it is quite alright.”





@Elle Joyner @Space Cowboy Ein @Doctor Jax @Dragongal @CloudyBlueDay @JDParadox @BookWyrm

On the Road to Lauderdine

​

Being asked for credentials looked almost like the men before them had been inconvenienced. Their leader scoffed, his large chin nodding upward as he shifted over to Inara with a haughty swagger. His fingers pulled back a layer of his surcoat to reveal a gold pin attached securely to the fabric. It stood out not just in sheen, but in the very insignia and design. It was a circle, open faced to carry the King’s own crest within the hollow that carried both a stalk of malathistle engraved on one side of the circle, but three runes along the opposite. Anyone would recognize this as an official mark of the Thall King, though only one with Arcane magic would understand the runes. Even the man adorned in such a fine endorsement was unaware that the runes etched within the gold were once designed as a way of tracking whoever wore the pin, but the runes no longer carried the blue glow of magic rendering them simply aesthetic. This antiquated the pin, as it marked an era when humans and elves worked as allies. Only those of the Queen’s Guard, or perhaps a very observant Thall would recognize this.


And perhaps the toll leader knew this very detail, for he placed his surcoat back into place over the pin. The two larger men behind him remained calm and almost bored as they remained in their place in waiting. The other twelve surrounding the traveling trio belayed any advance as they too waited for the right. They were to remain a threat to break the travelers into paying up the toll. Their leader walked back over to Trynten and held out his gloved hand, palm upward to receive their payment.


“It'll be twenty gold-"


"TAINTED!"





Trynten's shout caused the man to retract with a step back, his brow furrowed somewhat as the bandits quickly darted their heads about. All was quiet, and it was quiet long enough for the entire crew to laugh it off as an almost witty play. Their leader stepped forward once again, his head shaking as he chuckled at Trynten's warning.


"You see anything?" he called back towards one of the archers. The archer's eyes scanned through the treeline in a moment of silence before he shook his head no. But just as the leader turned back around to open his mouth, and just as he drew in a breath to utter the first syllable of his coming words, a howl echoed through the forest, distant and low.


It was clear to see the gathered men were tense, their breaths nearly held as they waited for their leader to call off the heist and fall back. Instead, the leader clenched his teeth and looked between Inara and Trynten as his hand tightened around his horse's harness. "Now. We don't got long before they come up in here. The way I see it, we got three options. Option one: You pay the toll and we get you to a place those things can't find you. Option two: We wound you and leave you here as a distraction and then come back and loot your corpses when they're all done with ya. Or option three: You pay the toll and we just split ways. Think fast or we're going with option two."





@StoneWolf18 @Red Thunder @Rissa

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

As hard as he tried to calm himself down, to slow his breathing and stop his shaking, any time he told himself to take a deep breath just like Elder Lannya had taught him, all he could see were the nightmares he'd endured. The girl with no eyes, the void he'd been trapped in, and the fire that had engulfed him. And, of course, the corrupted world tree with the bodies at it's roots. And on top of it all he was a stinging pain in his chest that felt connected to every part of his body. It made everything hurt.


And it hadn't occurred to him that it was going to end, at any point. He hadn't thought to tell himself, it'll go away, because no one says thinks about that when they're suffering. They're just suffering. He was still shaking and shivering when Wynleth moved in front of him and touched his hand. At first, he flinched, taking a sharp breath and eyes snapping wide open to stare at her. "It fades.." She had muttered.


It fades.


Charlie nodded, the two simple words she had spoken already beginning to calm him down. He gripped her hand tighter, maybe too tight, but his attention fell on Solana when she moved to his side and offered him a vial. He hesitated, examining the vial before taking it from her gingerly. Charlie popped off the top and downed the liquid inside. At the same time, Solana cast her illusion, and Charlie was surprised to find his pain seeming to fade away almost as quickly as it had come. Apparently the potion did more then just steady him, or at least, he thought so.


“Charlie, correct?” Charlie looked up, taking a deep breath before he spoke. "Y-yes. Yes." He was surprised with how terrible he sounded - raspy and tired and weak. He cleared his throat. "I'm alright." He said firmly, as if he was trying to convince not only the others, but himself. "I-I don't want to slow us down." Charlie attempted to stand, but the moment he did so a stabbing pain greeted him right in his chest. He clutched his heart and fell back down, face twisted with pain as he let out a grunt. Tears welled in his eyes but he refused to let them fall.


"Maybe I could rest for a few minutes." He whispered. "J-just. Just one minute. And then I'll be fine. And then we can go." All he wanted to do was help, and here he was, doing the exact opposite. He felt absolutely worthless, despite no part of it being his fault. He found himself wishing he was back home, or at least some place he felt comfortable. He missed Elder Lanya and he missed the children and he missed the home that he'd spent the entirety of his life in.


"Scared little Charlie, with no one to save him from the big bad shadows." The voice had said. And as much as it was true, as much as he was terrified and as much as he wanted to go back home, he wouldn't let it be right. Putting a hand on Solana's shoulder to steady himself, Charlie swallowed. "If someone did this to me, we have to go now. You can't wait for me to heal, and I'll rest when we get to the top of the mountain. I just need someone to help me walk." He sounded better this time, a little sturdier, and it was clearly the logical option.

I N F O

LOCATION


The Northern Mountains


WITH

@Effervescent @Dragongal @Elle Joyner

​