Eldroth
Noble
Harbringer of Chaos
At the end of the day, everyone's a victim.
Posts: 77
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Post by Eldroth on Sept 20, 2004 9:58:53 GMT -4
The wind rustled through the ancient trees that covered the land, soaring into the sky to obscure that cerulean expance and turn it into an mottled emerald green. Normally... Now, the ground was exposed to the raw sunlight, the leaves of the great boughs gone, crumbling into onyx dust as the virulent scourge swept through the forest. The great tree's withered and crumbled and the earth turned brittle, even to the Wood Elves steps. The Wood Elves, ancient guardians of the forests, were in danger, and it was from something they did not know how to face. A...Disease would be the best thing to call it, was destroying the forests, and Cia was worried. Soon, very soon, it would be infecting the areas that the Wood Elves lived, and too many of the trees had died already, their spirits wailing to the High Priestess each time the disease took hold, and slowly crumbled their wood. Cia cast jade coloured orbs across to Traeon, worry shining plain in them. He was as he always was. Seemingly at ease, yet at the same time leathelly tense. The long handled, single edged slightly curved long sword rested across his back, but his amber eyes darted around, always weary. Cia turned her own eyes back to the devestation. What she saw tore her heart, made her head ache, and, as she reached out to the earth, nothing answered. She shivered as her magic touched a void, nothingness. Even as she watched the leaves of one tree began to curl. She had been standing her for 30 minutes, and the tree, previously untouched, was now curling, like autumn was here, except instead of the golden brown crispy leaves, it was turning black, and crumbling to dust. Cia turned, her dress, a light beige colour swirled around her ankles, throwing up a small cloud of obsidian dust. She looked at the healty expanse of forest, her Elven senses picking up the calls of woodland creatures, the rustle of the wind in the leaves, even the faint footfalls of nearby deer. Her elegant, long fingers the nails painted a mottled green, yellow and brown, took a more secure grip on her staff. The Staff of the Tree's was a symbol of her position, as was the Leaf Cloak and Traeons position of Blade in the Wood but at this present moment, it was more of a comfort item. She flicked her gaze, picking out one of the Elven Glade Guardians moving through the trees, longbow and sword both sheathed. Slightly taller than she, with black hair that was tied back in a ponytail and emerald eyes, he came to about 5 feet away, then stopped. He bowed to her then straightened.
'High Priestess, there is a visitor for you.'
To that Cia arched a brow.
'Indeed? Who are they?'
'I don't know Lady, I was merely sent to find you.
Cia sighed, then mentally smiled. It was an escape from the devestation and an ease on her tortured mind at least. Turning she beckoned to Traeon, then turned back to the Guardian.
'Lead the way.'
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Greenhand
Peasant
Truth Seer
Fear me, for I am...
Posts: 37
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Post by Greenhand on Sept 23, 2004 23:22:25 GMT -4
((Sorry this took so long! I'm assuming that Ivy is the visitor?))
Ivy waited, tense. She clutched a small pouch in her small but thickly calloused hands, evidence of long hours' work - work enjoyed, as opposed to the work that many those days were forced to do. Everything towered above her, but she was used to that. After all, halflings rarely grew over four feet; the gardner was no exception to the rule. How long had she been waiting? It seemed like ages, but she might have waited for centuries if only to speak with the one who might have an idea of what was happening to her forest. Not really hers, after a fashion, but she went in and out of it so often that a sort of possessiveness had grown over her. Something was up, and it was much more than a simple rotting disease.
She shuffled her large feet in the dust scattered across the ground, glancing tensely with intelligent gray eyes at the lush forest behind her. It was spreading from the inside out...did it mean anything? She had taken care to appear as humble as possible - it was her experience that Elves were likened to those sorts, instead of the cock-a-fool braggarts that were so often caught unwares in the once-beautiful woods. Her dress was plain and brown, tied with a simple belt and worn with her oldest blouse; mousy gold hair covered with a kerchief of a similar color. Both were smudged with a considerable amount of both dust and dirt, adding to her natural appearance. She did not want to appear so high-and-mighty to these wiser beings.
Again her deft fingers began to toy with the cracked leather pouch in her hands - it was small, but carried considerable weight with it. Hopefully the strange item inside would mean something to the Elf named Cia - the hobbit could discern that it carried great significance, but had not the knowledge to decipher it into words. Hopefully it would help - if not, then she had given the Elves another pretty treasure. Either way, she hoped feverishly that her visit would be received warmly.
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Eldroth
Noble
Harbringer of Chaos
At the end of the day, everyone's a victim.
Posts: 77
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Post by Eldroth on Sept 25, 2004 9:08:23 GMT -4
The Glade was calm, the water shivering only slightly from the occational breezes that whispered through the golden/green mottled air. Cia, Traeon and the Guardian emerged from the trees. The Rune Written brambles and thick vines that ringed the place as eternal guardians parting before the High Priestess as she glided through, completely at home in the enviroment.
'Good day to you Earth Child.'
The musical voice, like a summer wind whispering through the trees, clear water bubbling over a brook. Cia emerged from the surrounding forest into one of the numerous Glades that dotted the forest. Her amber hair flared briefly around her head like a cloak before the breeze settled again. Cool jade orbs settled on Ivy, before a smile turned the corners of her lips upwards as she went to the short being.
'We know of you...We've watched you many a time in these Woods...You're a true GladeFriend.'
She said. Mentally she wondered if the other knew what a compliment it was, certainly Traeon shot her a wary look from his own carved jades. Cia responded with her own cool eyes. Traeon took his job seriously, and was not of an inclination to accept other creatures..Cia was alot more open, although niave she was not. Turning her attention back to Ivy she inclined her head.
'I am Cia Treesinger, High Priestess of the Glades. Please, state your buiseness and let us know your name.'
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Greenhand
Peasant
Truth Seer
Fear me, for I am...
Posts: 37
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Post by Greenhand on Sept 26, 2004 22:45:46 GMT -4
GladeFriend... The title echoed slowly in Ivy's mind for a moment or two. If it carried extreme significance in the Elves' culture she knew none if it, but it certainly sounded like a good thing to her. She had prepared herself for the presence of elves, certainly, but was still a bit taken aback by their unhindered beauty. She knew hobbits were beautiful as well, but with an earthy sort of real-ness that the elves possessed only in slight quantities. They were real beauties: tall, graceful, and unfailingly eloquent. Such things were beyond her kind. But at least they knew she was no enemy.
"I am Ivy Greenhand, if it pleases the Lady," The hobbit bowed. Though she did not fully understand "GladeFriend", "High Priestess" would have been all too obvious even to the dumbest of trolls. This was obviously an elf of much importance. "And I am here to offer you what little I know of our troubles. Understand, kind Lady, that knowledge is very little in itself, but large enough to understand that this-" She shook the little pouch ever so slightly, just as to make it obvious to her little audience, "-may be of great or little help, either way." She smiled, craning her neck to look up at each of the elves in turn. Cia seemed like a nice sort of folk, although the male she seemed to identify with felt colder and more rigid...but if she knew one thing about elves, it was that they were generally all-around kindly towards those who were respectful towards everything around them, nature included. And Ivy believed she fit that category just perfectly, at least for the time being.
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Eldroth
Noble
Harbringer of Chaos
At the end of the day, everyone's a victim.
Posts: 77
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Post by Eldroth on Sept 28, 2004 15:42:29 GMT -4
'Our troubles?'
The deeper voice of a male Elf cut through the higher tones of the females. Jade orbs snapped to the speaker, amber brows knitting.
'Hold, Traeon, it is her forest as much as ours.'
Cia's voice lashed out, filled with an authority not there before, her eyes had gone as hard as stone as she glared at her protector and brother. Turning back to Ivy she smiled, slightly apologetically.
'Forgive him, he is the epitomy of both our arrogance and our loyalty. But any help would certainly be welcome. Do you know anything about the ailment that effects our groves?'
Cia queried, before stopping and shaking her head.
'Sorry, come with me to the forest, and we shall have refreshments and discuss these matter. I fear it will be a long talk.'
She murmered the end sourly, a strange tang to the normally flesh Elven sylables. Again the locking of eyes between Traeon and Cia, and the atmosphere almost crackled before Traeon lowered his eyes and inclined his head. Cia turned with a swirl of her skirts without a word and beckoned Ivy on with a graceful wave of her hand. The thick surrounding brambles parted, flowing like water before Cia as she moved into the wilderness with easy, lieth movements, yet slowly so her shorter legged companion could keep up. Creepers wound their ways up the sides of mighty trees, fully 20 metres in diameter, their bark ridged and lined, age darked and scoured. Boles of huge trees reached above even Cia's head, mottled green and gold by the sunlight. The cloak hanging down the back of the High Priestess seemed to move with the surroundings, adopting colour and patterns. The canopy was high above them, a mere light green covering, no detail possible. Even the lowest brances were some 30 feet above the ground. The forest was a suprise in the way it was rather spacious between the mighty pillars of wood. Vines and leaves scattered the floor, a mix of packed earth, and the occational paved path, normally long since overgrown. Through these the Wood Elf picked her way nimbly, yet always close enough to catch the other in the event of a trip. As they walked Cia turned her head and looked at her companion.
'We might as well start now. My previous question still stands. Along with is there anything you can do to help?'
For the first time her eyes flashed slightly. Worry? Fear? A mixture of both most likely, that shone in carved jades beneith amber brows, that darted around seemingly for any sign of decay.
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Greenhand
Peasant
Truth Seer
Fear me, for I am...
Posts: 37
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Post by Greenhand on Oct 10, 2004 17:12:26 GMT -4
Ivy followed Cia quickly, trotting to keep up with the Elf's long stride. She thought she did fairly well in the presence of such regal beings, not having said or done anything that might cause them to label her little more than a kindly imbecile. She showed little surprise as the fauna twisted out of the Priestess's way - Elves were much more connected to nature than hobbits were, she knew, but in a different way. Halflings had barely anything to do with magic, while Elves seemed to revel in it. Her own ways were slow and patient, caring for something until it was ready to grow. As she was asked once more how she could help, Ivy felt a flush come over her face as she clutched at the pouch in her hands.
"I don't know much myself, Lady, but this," She slowed her pace a little to hold up the cracked old pouch to her companion. "Would be able to help. I found it some months ago when I was cleaning out the corners of my pantry. Don't have any right-minded idea as to what it was doing there," The hobbit offered apologetically, trying to ignore Traeon as much as possible. She didn't like that one much, but most things tended to grow on her after a bit of time. She didn't dare to remove the object from the pouch herself - the last time she had tried...well, more like succeeded than tried, but it had given her a nasty sting upon her palm as soon as it had landed on her skin, leaving a searing red welt. It had been every color and no color at once, as she recalled, with sharp angles and curving sides. She had glimpsed what looked like decorative runes in her painful look at it, but hadn't cared to hold it much longer to study it. Her hopes were that Cia - or at least one of the Elves in the grove - would be able to help her.
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Eldroth
Noble
Harbringer of Chaos
At the end of the day, everyone's a victim.
Posts: 77
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Post by Eldroth on Oct 12, 2004 13:19:52 GMT -4
As Cia stretched forward a perfect Traeon was suddenly there in a movement too fast to follow. Pushing his sisters arm down lightly Traeon took the pouch himself. Cia shot him a look, yet he returned hers with one just as empty as his own. Again that wordless conflict seemed to hum in the comparitively still air. Then Cia let her arm drop and nodded briefly before Traeon looked at Ivy.
'Tell me, as best you can, what is in this pouch?'
He addressed her. His voice serious, yet musical at the same time as was the want of the Elven tongue. He held the cracked, age darkened leather at arms length and it was plain he was preparing to drop it and draw the long sword that hung across his back if anything went wrong. But both his blank, jade eyes rested on Ivy. 'Traeon...Surely this can wait until we are all sat?'
Cia's voice cut through the stillness of the woods, her own eyes flashing and her voice had the snap of authority it held passive normally. Traeon did not even flinch, but merely nodded, waiting for the other two to walk while he followed a respectful distance behind, still holding the pouch.
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Greenhand
Peasant
Truth Seer
Fear me, for I am...
Posts: 37
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Post by Greenhand on Oct 16, 2004 23:45:52 GMT -4
"As best I can?" Ivy mused more to herself than to either of the Elves, watching Traeon carefully as he took the pouch before Cia could. She shook her head, not caring to comment to him. The memories were already covered by scar tissue; black sheers that fogged details and made her flounder about for correct images. Had it been...no, that was after...it was...her thoughts jumbled together in a giant knot; it would take time for her to pick through all the threads. Feeling that she had at least a halfway proper grasp upon her answer, the halfling opened her mouth to answer - to Cia, of course, not Traeon. Not yet.
"It was small, Lady, and seemed rather animate - though it didn't do any moving on its own, I say, but something about it seemed..." She broke off, thinking. There was no word that she knew to describe the object's...aura, would they call it? Its being was not simply as an object was, but something livelier if at all possible. "Dark colors, but they were always changing - and at the same time it was always the same. It burned and froze; round and sharp. But as to what it's made out of, my best guess would be obsidian or some kind of opaque stone..." And the runes. She mustn't forget those. But why did the uptight Elf not simply look for himself? "Writing, too - twisted runes in something I couldn't read. Gold, or at least something that reflected light..." An unexpected bravery overtook her for a moment, and she addressed Traeon directly:
"But why not have a peek, Master? Surely such a thing does not frighten my Lord?"
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Eldroth
Noble
Harbringer of Chaos
At the end of the day, everyone's a victim.
Posts: 77
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Post by Eldroth on Oct 18, 2004 10:25:43 GMT -4
'Traeon!'
Cia snapped, seeing her brother and protector go absolutely still, his mouth setting into a flat line, his face totally blank, carved jade glittering. It was this body language that he killed with.
'I am scared of nothing!' He hissed in a dangerous voice. 'Yet only a fool runs into the dark cave without checking if there is a bear.'
He grated out, his eyes blazing with anger as he managed to stop his feet moving another pace. Slowly he dropped his hand from the hilt of his sword under Cia's glare. Then Cia herself rounded on Ivy. 'Never taunt! Never mock! It will be detrimental to your health! Incence him too much...'
The High Priestess' voice cracked out like a whip , leaving the threat hanging. Angrily she shook her head, the surmounting amber waterfall shimmering and flaring. For that second she looked truely a part of the woods. Like a Nymph or Dryad, something utterly...natural.
'Lets go, and both of you, keep reigns on your emotions.'
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