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Post by kyri on Aug 22, 2019 9:22:08 GMT 1
Kyri climbed the track from the forest up to the plateau where the Pass Inn stood, her bare
feet moving silently over the rough ground, she had been out in the wilds hunting and her
skin paintings were now brightly coloured ruins, smeared and unrecognisable, she made the
last few steps to the top and smiled at the sight of the Inn looking out over the pass, a
silent guardian of the areas plains, forests and mountains, crudely and roughly built the
structure would win no prizes for architecture but out here it fit perfectly with the wild
suroundings.
Her home.
Loud laughing came from inside, maybe not a silent guardian after all, there were not many
who frequented the area, those that did took every moment as it came, often every drink as
it came too!, the young Leafborn went first to the stream and washed the worst of the grime
off, soaked through she walked quickly to the west side of the Inn where they had built the
private quarters, it consisted of a double floor lean-to divided inside into the lower room
which served as workshop or somewhere to relax and a loft area for sleeping, suited to most
peoples needs, though a Mythos or Giant might be hesitant at crawling up into the loft there
was plenty of space below.
Hers were closest to the forest, she unlatched the door and stepped in, she quickly removed
the patched and tattered leather armour given to her many months ago during the voyage to
Agonia laying on a bench for later attention, she washed again more carefully removing the
last of the grime and sweat, before dressing in a light cotton garment she had made out of
patches of cotton shirts, each patch had the image of an animal or plant she had encountered
stitched on it, there were many patches and space for more, she added a belt and hung her
bone knife from it and moved to the door connecting the rooms with a pasageway leading to
the main hall, she paused for moment by the large table covered with all manor of pigments and
dyes, with a twitch of her nose she resisted stopping and instead left the room and headed
toward the noise beyond.
Stepping into the well lit Main hall she noted the usual hardy bunch that called these wild
outlands home along with one or two who were probably passing through, some glanced around
with hostility but most were content keeping to themselves, the purposes of their visits a
mystery of their own, a few noted her entrance and walk to the bar, she had her own stool
and climbed up on it letting her feet dangle in the air, the floor in front of bar itself
constructed with varying levels of staging so that a Lightfoot or Giant could stand or sit
with ease and converse or order drinks or food, around the Hall tables and benches all of
various heights to accomadate patrons of all sizes and shapes.
Stratophere`s seat was empty, she had expected it to be so as He had been busy recently and
been away from the Inn alot, she suspected the Forest was calling out to the Leafborn lad
as it did to her, it was about time she thought, she thought him far too civilised and kept
trying to encourage him to get out more, the barkeep caught her attention with a raised
eyebrow.
"Mead tonight I think" a tankard of the sweet brew was put in front of her, it tasted good
she took another small sip, she felt eyes on her and turned to glance around the room, the
other patrons were nursing their drinks or conversing in small groups none were watching her
that she could tell, at south end of the hall a small door opened that was set within a much
larger door, the familiar form of Belegar stepped through, pouches of all sizes hung from
his belt some holding all sorts of small instruments, others paper and pencils, he stopped
for a second and seeing her at the bar trotted over toward her, Belegar was the only Dwarr
she knew who didn`t stride everywhere, the young Dwarr had a worried look on his face.
"Do ye be mindin` if I be joinin` ye," the young Dwarr cast a furtive out of character look
around the room, he obviously had something he felt was important to say to her, she noticed
some fresh wounds, probably from one of the local creatures, she cast a healing spell on him
watching as it took immediate effect.
"Yes ofcourse, I`d be glad of the company, I didn`t expect to see you back here before the
months end" she signaled to the barkeep to bring the Dwarr a brew.
"I`ts tha` ships" Belegar blurted out, "They be gone" he cast another look around the room,
the barkeep arrived, after Belegar had a tankard set ready to quench his thirst she promted
him to continue, "As ye well be knowin` I bin up in tha..." she coughed to cover where he
had been from any listening ears, "...and I be meetin` ..." she let out another stategic
cough, "...tha`s when they be tellin` I about tha ship, I put it from me mind `till a couple
o` day later I be meeting..." another cough escaped Kyri`s throat, "...an they be tellin I
tha same thin`..." Belegar stared at her with a concerned look, " just what ye be needin`
ta hear with a cold a comin`"
"Both ships are gone?, and they are sure they are destroyed?" the Leafborn looked at the Dwarr
in horror, "but what of those that sleep? were there still many aboard?" she sipped at her
drink questions raced in her mind.
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Post by kyri on Aug 23, 2019 7:42:50 GMT 1
"They not be tellin` I no news o` such" the Dwarr said sadly.
"I`m sure it will all work out," she took another sip, she didn`t believe her own words but
hoped to spare the young Dwarr any worry, "My thanks for comming back, this is grave news
indeed" she remembered the enchanted sleeping bodies she had woken next to, she had never
returned to that room or any other below the deck of the ship, in truth she did not know how
many rooms and cargo holds there were, "And they are sure they have sunk?"
"Woke tha whole place so it`s said an` lit tha sky too, least till they be sinkin`" the Dwarr
took a long drink, was silent for a moment then turned and asked "What do ye want me to do?"
The question took her a little by surprise, the wild part of her wondered what business it
was of hers what the young Dwarr did, after all she would go where the mood took her, then
again what could anyone do when dark times came, "Continue as before, your work may be all the
more important now" she leaned in close and quietly added,"as ye travel be keepin`ye wits
about ye lad, an` if ye be hearin` more be sendin I word"
Belegars eyebrows rose it took a second to realise Kyri had used the Dwarr tongue, true she
had mispronounced a couple of words, "Aye, I will, an` ye?" he answered he watched her nose twitch
then her jaw set as she though and came to a decision, he was almost sorry when she answered
in the common tongue.
"I shall go see for myself, I don`t think I`ll believe for sure unless I do, I`ll let Strat
know if he doesn`t already, maybe they have found out more" the young Leafborn knew there was
little she could do but with no memory of anything before the ship it seemed a cruel turn of
fate that they should taken away too, " I will set off in the morning"
The Dwarr finished his drink, " I be havin` ta restock an` be wishin` ye well"
"Fair Weather and Smooth Pathes" as she gave her customary farewell, she hoped he would not
get in any trouble, at least none he couldn`t get out of!, he took his leave and trotted off
towards his quarters waving as he left the Hall, she waved back taking another sip of her mead
she realised the tankard was still near full, she decided to retire to her quarters with it,
she had a final glance round before she went, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Back in her rooms she set the drinking vessel down on her workbench, she looked at her battered
leather armour, picking it up she carefully cleaned it noting that it had a couple of new holes
she picked up a needle to repair it, looking at it again she changed her mind using the needle
to take it to pieces instead, laying out the salvagable parts on the bench she took a sip of
mead and rumaged through the boxes under the bench slowly adding to the items neatly sorted on
the bench untill she felt she had enough for her needs, mixing new with old she soon produced
a new suit of armour, happy with look of the creation she placed some herbs into its folds
to neutralise its smell.
She sipped her mead as she prepared and readied equipment for her journey, satisfied all was
laid ready she finished her drink and climbed up to bed, she dreamed of the sleeping faces in
that first room.
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Post by kyri on Aug 26, 2019 20:38:51 GMT 1
She stood on the wooden deck of the ship, flames rose high into the night, she looked up to the
rear deck, a twisted skeletal Captain stood at wheel, head back as if laughing, a wall of flame
a fitting backdrop to the strange sceene, beside her was the hatch she had first crawled out of
into the first day she could remember, she fell on it struggling to lift it back, she climbed
down into the black, feeling her way along the narrow corridor untill she felt a door, it opened
at her touch and she was bathed in blue light, she rushed in, there were bodies lying on the
floor within, running over to the nearest she tried to lift it from the floor, her hands passed
though.
Confused she looked round the room, it was still lit by the blue light but was now empty, the ship
lurched and pitched her headlong into the wall, water cascaded into the room from the open
door, she tried in vain to push against the flow, to reach the door, she took a deep breath as the cold
water rose above her head and continued to struggle to the door, finaly she reached the frame, her
chest burned as she tried to pull herself through, hundreds of crabs poured though and over her, she
screamed trying to beat them away, coughing and gagging the water filled her as the air left.
Kyri woke on the floor choking as water flowed out of her across the rough planks, down through
the cracks, she barely gasped down a breath before water flowed from her again, lying on the
floor gasping and gagging, the taste of salt water in her mouth she had never felt so wretched
and weak, she tried to muster a healing spell but could not through the coughing and searing pain in
her chest, bright lights danced in front of her, she was suddenly terrified that if she let
herself drift off she would be back under the dark water.
Stubornly setting her jaw she crawled over to the stair ladder leading down, more sea water
escaped her as she did, she pulled her self over the edge and tumbled painfully to the bottom,
she lay for a few moments her face pressed against the hard floor, a crab scuttled away from her
under a cupboard where it stopped and waved its claws at her, the oddity of seeing the little
creature here spurring her on, dragging herself on she reached up opening the cupboard doors to
reveal the selection of vials inside, grabbing one of the healing brews she swallowed its bitter
contents.
She sat back and felt the warmth spread slowly through her, the tingle of the magic working to
restore her damaged lungs, the joy as she took a deep painless breath and her strength returning
to her, she stood and for the first time realised she was soaking wet, she wondered at the magic
of her experience, as the water dripped from the sleeping area above she wondered also how thin
the veil between the dreamworld and the real world was.
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Post by kyri on Sept 3, 2019 9:21:20 GMT 1
It was still many hours before dawn and though she could see enough from the moonlight coming in
from the windows she lit a lamp and began to sort out the mess, she managed to fill a large bowl
with sea water and quickly gathered up any crabs she found, there were about thirty of them by the
time she had finished, she gently carried them to the saltwater lake to the east of the Inn it
would be the only chance at survival they would have this far inland, she watched them scrabble
away into the rocky shallows, upon returning to her quarters there followed much scrubbing,
mopping, rinsing and hanging to dry anything that had gotten wet, she was finished as the sun rose
over the nearby mountains.
With the windows wide open to air her home and contents, clean, dried and dressed in her new made
armour she sat at the table and started to apply her paints, when she was finished every inch of
bare skin was covered in brightly coloured swirlling designs, satisfied with the result she grabbed
equipment and set off north west through the dense forest, with the leaves over her head she began
to relax and put the terror of the night behind her, she soon came upon Stratosphere sitting on a
fallen tree studying the plants he had collected.
"Greetings Mighty Warrior!, Tis a fine catch of leaves you have valiently slaughtered" she called
out.
"Bloody Clown" he shouted back with a grin, she walked quickly over, and hopped on the log casting
her eye over the plants, "Any you want?" he asked.
"No I`m good, I was looking for you before heading north.." she recanted what Belegar had told her
but left out the events during the night, "... I`m going to go and see for myself"
"Good idea, send word if you find out anything, I`ll head back to the Inn soon, word may come from
passerby" Stratosphere pondered the news, she slid down off the makeshift seat.
"Then do me a favour and have my windows closed up tonight" she started to walk away.
"Stay out of trouble!" he called after her.
"Don`t get into any without me!" she called back and away through the undergrowth, she made good
progress though the forest though there were signs that others had passed before her she came on
noone, heading north and keeping the to the edge of the mountains, every few miles she would climb
a slope to get a good look around, but there was nothing to notice.
She had a camp made before evening and spent a long time drawing what she hoped would be protection
glyphs and symbols around it fearing a repeat of the night before, the night was spent dozing, waking
often the threat of the dream returning driving sleep away, it was midmorning before she finaly got
up and started westwards.
Traveling round a lake she came upon a familiar hut, a patchwork of little gardens surounded it in the
forest, deciding to stop she walked down the rough path to the door and knocked inside a latch was
lifted and Agatha stood looking at her, a stout woman somewhere past middle age though it was hard to
sure.
"Come on in Dearie!, sit yourself down" Agatha stepped back inside and waved to a chair at the table.
"Greetings Mistress Agatha", Kyri stepped into the bright kitchen and sat down.
Agatha moved the kettle over to a hotter part of the stove, "Greetings yourself" she gave Kyri a look
up and down and picked various dried leaves dropping them into a small metal pot, some the Leafborn
girl recognised, others were new to her, around the room like at her own home herbs and leaves of all
shape sizes and hues hung drying or filled jars in every nook, Agatha turned and stared again at her
noting her interest chatted away explaining many of the uses for each untill the kettle was boiled.
"There you drink that and you`ll soon be feeling better and forgeting those dreams", Kyri looked at
the woman wondering how she could know of her dreams, "Does your nose always twitch like that when
you think hard?, its plain to see you could do with a good nights sleep!" Agatha laughed.
Kyri told her of the loss of the ships and her experience after, she and thought for a while taking
little sips of the brew as she did so, she did feel better, Agatha sat quietly listening then also sat
drinking her brew before getting up.
"Now don`t you worry..." a book appeared from a cupboard, "...soon sort it out..." various herbs and
impliments and finaly pigments filled the table, "...now lets make a start!, tonight you`ll stay here
safe and sound!"
The rest of the morning, afternoon and evening was spent learning different protective sigels, glyphs
and wards, some to use in her skin markings others used round a camp or room, herbs and other plants
also could achieve a similar result, there was a lot of practicing but Agatha was a good teacher and
when night came and it was time for sleep Kyri could not stop yawning.
She slept well.
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Post by kyri on Sept 8, 2019 17:44:13 GMT 1
Kyri woke early and waited for the sun to rise before crawling out from under the warm soft coverings,
wondering what the day would bring she used the washstand to freshen up then dressed and made her
way to the kitchen.
"Morning Dearie", Agatha bustled around preparing food and drink, shooing away Kyri`s offer of help,
humming to herself, as she laid the table, it was a simple meal, Agatha took a small pot and poured
salt on the table spread it out with a finger, "lets see what you learned, I`ll call and you draw"
one after another Agatha called out the name of a protective ward or glyph and Kyri obediently drew
it with her finger in the salt, "Well you`ve learned those we can get to sorting out this pickle you
got yourself into".
Kyri moved her finger though the salt thoughtfully, "Do you know how this has happened".
"I`m not so sure anyone can tell you how exactly, as to what, well somehow you broke through the into
your dream Dearie, some places make it easier like here where forest meets the lake, anywhere near to
water but some places are realy strong, a lone mountain in a desert would be such a place" now it was
Agatha who looked thoughtful.
"The Inn is on a mountian with forest to the west and plains to the south and theres a stream running
to a lake not too far away" she stopped stiring the salt and looked closely at the older woman staring
at her "but thats not it, is it?"
"I would guess your spirit collecting and studies make you a little more suseptable, but what you had
happen to you went a bit beyond" Agatha reached out and smoothed the salt, "tell me Dearie, when you
heard the news of the ships what was your first thought?"
"The Sleepers! What happened to the Sleepers?" the young Leafborn girls heart quickened, "when I woke
there were many in the room and there were many rooms, I have traveled far and I`m sure that not a one
tenth are awake yet"
"There that is what I thought," Agatha reached and took her hand, "you have a kind heart, now for just
a moment stop feeling and start thinking, If the Ancients had enough wherewithall to get people on the
ships and cast the Forgeting Sleep to get us all here, Would they risk it all?"
Kyri thought for moment, "I guess not"
Agatha smiled, "Of course not!, while the Captain pushed you lot off to shore and kept everyone busy
with fetching, carrying and building the Sleepers were taken to a safe place no doubt and quite right
too, away from the cockroachs for a start" she got up and pushed the kettle over to the hot part of the
stove, it whistled almost at once making a fresh brew Agatha watched the young Leafborn staring at the
salt, she set the pot down on the table, "you know that nose will fall off one day, spill those thoughts
before it happens here"
"I agree that the sleepers must be safe, but still the question of why the ships have sunk,who sunk them,
thats my worry now, Mutineers I thought were dealt with on the ship but now we have bands of Brigands to
deal with, I think worse is to come"
"Dearie, If there one thing I`ve learned is there is always worse to come but there also something better
too!, you cannot change either with worry, I am sure there are enough brave warriors out there to kill
those Brigands", she filled their cups the steaming brew had a soft relaxing smell, "If you them any that
is".
Kyri sipped from her cup and felt its relaxing warmth seep through her, she couldn`t hold back a sigh,
"Is there nothing I can do?", saying this more to herself.
"Nothing more here, you learned all you need, I can not answer about the ships Dearie and as to any
other questions only you can find answers"
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Post by kyri on Sept 21, 2019 22:46:42 GMT 1
"Well I think I`ll start by going to the towns and seeing for myself, maybe raise a cairn on the shore
as a reminder for people" Kyri stood up from her chair and gathered her gear together, returning she
found Agatha had put some provisions together, "You didn`t need to do that".
"I know Dearie, but you look thin, now this packet here is for brewing, You will be glad of them on your
travels, and this smaller packet I would like very much if you would burn it on top of the cairn you
intend to build" Agatha packed the items into a small sack and pushed it into Kyris hand, "Now be off
with you".
Kyri gently swung the sack over her shoulder, "Thankyou Mistress Agatha, for everything, Fair Weather
and Smooth Pathes to you".
Agatha smiled warmly, "Oh tosh, the weather will do whatever it wants and never minds us and as for the
pathes they will be my own and well trod they are!".
Walking away down the path to the edge of the forest she turned and waved before continuing onwards a
half days travel brought her to roads that soon brought her to New Haven views to the west revealed the
truth, the ship was gone, making her way back through the streets asking if there were any new information
to be had availed nothing, a brief discusion with the Mayor gave her no more, so she made the trek to the
Ancients without hope of gaining any insight, she was not disappionted and left none the wiser.
After her fruitless day she stayed a restless night in the town and left early making her way to the coast
Kyri looked out over bay, water stretched away before her empty now where the ship had once anchored, she
felt a twinge of sorrow, she spent the day gathering stones and building a cairn when it was finished she
added a pile of driftwood to the top, once the little pyre was alight she added half the herbs, they burned
brightly and smelled pungent, reminding her of deep forests and tall mountains, when nothing was left but
ash, she picked up her belongings and began the long journey eastward, where there would be another cairn
to build.
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Post by odacayoxw on Oct 16, 2019 0:31:40 GMT 1
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