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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on May 2, 2023 4:42:02 GMT -5
It was just a rumor, a place really only mentioned in bedtime stories. The many people of the Valley had their superstitions. Whether it be of the Kingswood or the great Nomad’s Stone that reaches into the skies; superstitions were in abundance for the people.
This, however, was chief among them all. Besides bedtime stories, it was rarely talked of within the many communities of the Valley.
The Fairy Glen: mystical place, a place thought to only exist in stories and dreams, a tranquil place.
It’s stillness is disturbed by a presence that it rarely ever gets. A human, a bespectacled traveler accompanied by a young Behir and fairy on his shoulders. Every once in a while, a human would find their way here, and it seemed that Fate decided it would be Ulrich this time.
Taken aback by their surroundings, Ulrich can only manage to gasp as he takes in everything around them.
“Father? This… It feels like the place we’d just come from. There’s a peculiar energy here.” Lil Frijole says.
Aella nods in agreement with him. In all honesty, Ulrich though that she would at least have some kind of natural knowledge of the place, but she doesn’t. She was just hatched from an egg not too long ago.
“This is a place I’ve only heard about in bedtime stories when I was a child. It’s hard enough to arrive in the glade we just came from. But this place…” Ulrich kneels down to look at the water filling the pond, “I never would’ve thought in my lifetime that I’d see this place for myself.”
He hesitates to touch the water; not wanting to disturb it’s tranquil stillness. His gaze wanders upward towards a willow tree on the other side of the shoreline. It looks like a good place to sit and take note of the place. He stands up and directs Lil Frijole and Aella’s attentions to the tree.
“Let’s try not to disturb things here too much. Your Grandmother told me that this is a sacred place, and I would like to honor that and keep it pristine. Understood?”
The Behir and Fairy both look at each other and nod.
“Yes Father, understood loud and clear.”
“Good. We’ll be sitting under that tree for a while. Go ahead, you two.”
With that, Lil Frijole hops off of Ulrich’s shoulders. He lands on the ground gracefully and starts towards the tree; Aella hitching a ride upon the Behir’s back. Ulrich watches them with a smile as he follows slowly behind.
He takes a seat underneath the willow tree; Lil Frijole and Aella making themselves comfortable upon it’s branches. Ulrich reaches into his satchel; his hand pulling a leather bound sketchbook from within. He opens the book to a new page and begins to sketch and take note of the mysterious glen before them.
If anyone else were to appear, at least they’d have some company. Although, given the stories from his childhood, that would be unlikely, wouldn’t it?
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Post by kaminarinami on May 2, 2023 7:25:00 GMT -5
Nami had come to the area of King's Valley in search of new adventures, food and scenery. The Centaur traveled through groves, across vast plains and stopped off in small towns and farming villages along the way. She enjoyed minstrel's stories, campfire tales and even the rumors and superstitions of the locals. Always one for a good adventure, she chose to try and seek out one of the more popular ones she'd come across in her travel: Fairy Glen.
Rumored to be a lovely, almost timeless place hidden somewhere in the Sunshade Glade, Nami roamed for days through the wide open fields and tall grasses. She foraged and hunted, making camp as the daylight faded and sleeping under a field of bright, flickering stars above. The area was vast, much like the rest of King's Valley. She had been trotting along for days, using an overlapping search pattern to ensure she covered as much of the ground on her own as possible.
It was slow going, and there were times she shrugged off the rumors as just more old wives' tales. This morning had been different from the others though, shrouded in a thick fog that clung to the ground and obscured all but what was within reach. She heard echoed voices, sounds of life that seemed to be far away from where she packed her meager camp. The fog was thick, but at least she could see the sun rising and took a slow pace using the glowing orb to navigate.
When the thick bank of white fluff finally cleared, she found herself standing at the edge of a beautiful, almost mythical forest. She tread carefully, the ground covered in wildflowers, clovers and other lovely plants. Again the sound of voices, far off and inaudible, so she followed as quickly as the ground cover and overall feel of the place allowed for. She passed by budding bushes, blossoming vines and every color and shape of flower the mind could fathom, creeks and streams of clear flowing water, and some of the biggest willow and wisteria trees she'd ever seen. Their drooping fronds and soft scents adding to the myriad of others. She'd stopped to admire one particularly wide canopy of Willow from afar, set apart on a creek and fanning it's swaying leaves out in a great swath of shade.
That's when she noticed movement, heard voices again. Sure enough, a pair of tiny fae went frolicking along the path to the tree, followed by a man. She watched from the opposite side of the creek for a few minutes, wondering what in all the world they were doing. She took her time circling the creek, finding the fresh, bubbling spring that fed the channel. As she approached the tree again, she paused. The man didn't look like one of the Fae, but for all she knew that was a bit of Glamour to fool others and not be disturbed.
Taking a few deep breaths, she steadied her resolve. If things went south or there was some sort of fight, she would be ready. Stepping out from the brush, she approached the man and his companions.
"Well met traveler."
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on May 4, 2023 4:40:03 GMT -5
The two in the tree had noticed the centaur approaching a while ago. They felt no dangerous intent coming from her so they let her be.
Ulrich, on the other hand, so engrossed in his sketches and notetaking, had failed to notice the Centaur coming towards them. At least it seemed that way.
His pen stopped, and his head perks up from the pages of the sketchbook. He turns to see the Centaur and meets her greeting in kind.
“Well met, indeed.” He places the sketchbook on the ground near him and stands up to greet her. With a warm smile on his face, “This is certainly a surprise! I didn’t expect that we’d see anyone else here, given that this place is— by all accounts— very hard to find!” He exclaims with a chuckle.
He holds out his hand for her to shake, “I’m Ulrich, Ulrich Ambriz. Part time adventurer, full time traveler.” With his other hand, he points to the mustachioed Behir and the Pixie sitting in the tree, “This is my son, Lil Frijole, and our new friend, Aella.” The Behir nods his head happily and Aella waves to Nami enthusiastically.
“And who might you be, fellow traveler?”
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Post by kaminarinami on May 4, 2023 10:12:17 GMT -5
"Me name is Nami, Kaminari Nami, it's nice to meet ya. Yer little ones are adorable, Ulrich. Yer quite right about findin' this place, been searchin' for days to find this place. What brings ya all the way out here?" Replied the centaur, who walked up to the great Willow tree and ran her hand over it's bark. Marveling at the sheer size and breadth of it's canopy, she enjoyed watching the pair of fae leaping about through the limbs and having a merry time. As she watched, she relaxed and took a seat nearby, pulling out a pouch of berries and nuts she'd gathered along the way. The plump satchel clattered as she fished out a few sweet treats, popping them into her mouth one at a time. As she was cracking the shells of a few of the nuts, she took some of what she had and offered it to Ulrich.
"I found these on me way here, if yer hungry, they'll keep ya goin', and if not, they make an excellent snack on the go." She said, setting them down on a strip of spare cloth beside the man. She watched the clouds above roll through the bright blue sky, taking several deep breaths of the fragrant aromas given off by the Willow and the flowers that surrounded it's area of influence.
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on May 7, 2023 14:19:50 GMT -5
Ulrich spares as look at the two exploring the branches above them and smiles.
His gaze drifts back down Nami as she takes a seat nearby.
“Nothing in particular,” he says says to her question, “Wherever the wind takes me is where I land, and it just so happened to be here.”
She offers Ulrich some of her snacks which he had found on her way, “Ah yes, thank you very much!” He graciously takes one of the berries and plops it into his mouth.
He continues to sketch and take note of the area. There was just an aura of serenity and timelessness here in this place. He needed to make sure he captured everything about it in his sketchbook before they leave.
As his pen moves about the paper— without turning his head— he asks, “So Nami, what brought in search of this place? The rumors? The bedtime stories?”
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Post by kaminarinami on May 7, 2023 15:26:42 GMT -5
"Rumors of this place, and the beautiful wildlife within. Plus, if I'm extra lucky there will be a storm while I'm here, which will make the whole search worth even more." She replies. Nami was fascinated by the different flowers, creatures and plants. Very carefully, she gathered a few of the seed from the surroundings to take with her when she went to visit the Isles again. Taking a rest, she watched Ulrich sketching for a short while and relaxed beneath the willow's shade. The sky above slowly began to cloud over, going from smoky wisps of vapor that seemed impossibly high, to denser balls of cottony weight hanging low in the sky. In the distance, a soft rumble washed over the area.
"Looks like I might just be a lucky lass after all." She commented, growing visibly excited by the prospect of another storm. As a child she loved the wild, unbridled fury of storms, as a teen she learned with her mentors to harness the magic of the sky and how to fight for what she thought was right. Now, as a young adult, she sought to expand those abilities at every opportunity. She'd only been properly adventuring for a short while, but she'd already learned a great deal. Perhaps this would be another fabulous opportunity to learn more.
"Do ya like storms Ulrich? Wind and Rain and Lightning all clashing to be in the same sky?" Asked the curious centaur, prancing about.
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on May 13, 2023 15:11:01 GMT -5
Ulrich watches the Centaur prance about in her excitement. He chooses to take a break from sketching; closing the book and placing it back in his satchel.
In regards to her question of storms, he’s no stranger to storms. Especially having been born in King’s Valley; a plainsman through and through.
His head slowly raises up as he looks to the sky with a smile, and he takes in a deep breath. He responds, “I do quite enjoy storms. I do like to keep myself from getting wet if I can, but there’s nothing wrong with letting the storm engulf you from time to time.”
It makes him chuckle a bit to talk about storms; seeing as he’s a man who utilizes the Sky Domain rather than the Earth Domain.
“Honestly, the skies are where I feel more at home than down on the ground.”
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Post by kaminarinami on May 15, 2023 4:11:29 GMT -5
Giddy at the prospect of experiencing a storm in this fabled place, Nami hopped about laughing. The dark clouds rolling in like an ominous tide made the centaur smile brightly. Watching the elemental forces all clash with each other to fill the same sky was her favorite hobby.
"There's a mean storm lookin' to sweep in on us. Might wanna get settled in for a bit if ya plan on keepin' dry." She commented, trotting up the side of the hill to watch the winds blow through the fields. Rippling like a sea of greens and color, the wildflowers swaying with the grasses to create an undulating rainbow of life. While Nami didn't have a gift for spirits or animals, her connection to the wilds was as old and primal as her own life was. She respected the elemental pursuits, and had been impressed by her recent meeting of another powerful practitioner she'd met on her travels.
Some day, she hoped to learn of the Earth and Water Domains for herself, but that was a far off goal after she'd completed all of her current disciplines. Noting Ulrich's prowess for art, she didn't wish to see his work or supplies caught up in the coming weather and ruined. While she didn't own much in the way of traveling gear, she used her spear to help craft a simple shelter. Using a few branches, and some long grasses, the centaur fashioned a circular shelter where they could keep dry from the coming rains.
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on May 29, 2023 15:51:57 GMT -5
Ulrich stood up to stretch his muscles as he’d been sitting there sketching for quite a while. He smiled at Nami’s mention of a storm rolling in. He was no stranger to finding himself out in a storm— usually without shelter— and was plenty okay with just staying dry underneath the tree that they found themselves under.
The centaur fashioned a makeshift circular shelter with her spear and few other things found around the area. He gives her an enthusiastic thumbs up and gestures for the two children to make their way inside to hide from the rain.
“I once found myself in a similar situation. I’d met another while on my travels and we sought shelter from the storm in a home that had been long abandoned.”
He waited for Nami to make her way into the shelter. The smell of rain found it’s way to the group, and Ulrich lifts his head to gaze at the storm clouds slowly inching their way closer; lit by lightning and roaring with thunder.
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Post by kaminarinami on May 29, 2023 17:20:01 GMT -5
Smiling, she whooped and shouted with excitement. Prancing atop the hill, she flung her arms wide as a tumultuous gust of wind swept over the area. Crashing lightning, booming thunder and driving rains followed moments later. Dark, heavily laden clouds blocked out the sun and cast their dim greys upon the land. Whipped about, the rains rode the currents of the air from high above, drenching the land in fresh, frigid water. Her laughter could barely be heard over the winds, the booming thunder that shook the trees and made even the stones vibrate at the cacophony.
Nearby, a huge arc of electricity struck the earth. It flashed a bright blue white light, spread it's tendrils wide as it sought to equalize the charged air. While most would be startled or shy away from such ferocity, Nami embraced it. She felt the thump of the shockwave an instant before the roaring sound of thunder rattled the bones in her body. She reveled in the storm like a drunkard at a feasting table, darting about and leaping into the sky with the grace of a dancer. This was her home, her heart, immersed in the ferocity and majesty of the natural forces of the elements.
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Jun 4, 2023 18:32:08 GMT -5
Ulrich, Lil Frijole, and Aella took refuge within the makeshift shelter. It wasn’t long before the shadow of storm clouds darkened the area, and the sound of rain beating down began shortly after.
Lil and Frijole and Aella took this time to lay down and catch a bit of rest; they’d just journeyed through mystical woods and played on the branches of the tree here after all. Ulrich, however, watched from inside the tent as Nami pranced about excitedly in the storm. A small chuckle escaped him; not everybody gets excited for a storm, for Mother Nature to come knocking at the door and unleash her fury.
The winds started their howling tunes; an orchestra of nature. The once still glen was now dancing in the influence of the storm just as Nami was. A sudden light then flashes nearby momentarily illuminating the surrounding area. The bright blue irises of Ulrich’s eyes seemed to light up; the corner of his mouth turned up a little as the light slowly faded.
He enjoyed storms, in fact he felt more at home whenever they appeared. It reminded him of his childhood in the Valley. As he was someone who utilized the power of the Sky domain, it was obvious that being stuck in a storm like this did not bother in him in the slightest.
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Post by kaminarinami on Jun 15, 2023 2:08:36 GMT -5
Nami stood atop the hill, embracing the furious majesty of the the storm until it began to subside. She returned to the simple tent where Ulrich and his companions were waiting, shaking off the heavy rains that soaked her fur. She tucked inside near the others, letting the heat finish drying her fur and skin. The rains had reduced to a drizzle outside the shelter, the wind becoming more of a steady cool breeze.
"Well that was fun, I do love me a good storm. I hope ya all were cozy and keepin' warm in here." She said, relaxing in the warmth. Each storm she encountered helped her feel closer to the elements and her own magic within. Each storm she encountered helped her feel closer to the elements and her own magic within. Reminscing about her mentors, she thought back to her first encounters with magic. Socket had been a difficult but fair teacher, teaching her all about the natural processes they knew about electricity and air. Some day, she would have to take another crack at the custom spell the construct had created and taught to her before retiring.
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Jul 10, 2023 4:06:27 GMT -5
“It was quite cozy in here, actually. I find storms to be quite calming, even before they start to slow down.”
He did find it a bit odd and— more importantly— interesting that such a place with it’s almost too calm of an atmosphere, could have a storm roll right through it. Always expect the unexpected when traveling, right? The group was greeted by the gently breeze that now filled the glen; the grass and the leaves of the willow tree dancing in the wind. The water had calmed again, giving the illusion of a giant mirror reflecting the clouds slowly rolling the skies above.
Ulrich broke the silence of the moment. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you end up traveling Charon?”
He smiled remembering his time as a young boy listening to his parents’ stories. They’d lit a fire of interest in him back then— as if adventuring wasn’t already in his blood— and when it came time that he was old enough, he eagerly made his way off into traveling Charon for himself.
“My father and mother were explorers/adventurers themselves. I guess it isn’t all that surprising that I’d be a traveler myself.” A chuckle escaped him.
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Post by kaminarinami on Jul 10, 2023 4:48:15 GMT -5
"Me oldest memories are of the wilds, roaming around without bounds or a care but keepin' meself alive. Ya might say it's in me nature, since there ain't no other place a wildlin' like me is welcome. Explorin' cities and bein' around folk in large groups gives me a powerful urge to run the other way. I known the kindness of others, learned from a pair of odd adventurers who are and were dear friends... but can't bring meself to impose on them more than those wonderful years already gone by. My mentor retired from this life a good while back, but his companion is an adventurer like us of a very different variety. I should go visit her again some day, but it's good to hear news the lass is makin' a name fer herself when I do go into a town or village around the Isles." She responded, taking a deep breath and relaxing as the sun began to clear up the cloud cover and return the area to it's peaceful tranquility.
She warmed her fur and dried her skin in the gathering light outside with a chuckle. This was what made her happiest, weathering a storm with nothing more than her own wit and a bit of luck. Seeing the sun part the clouds, she tried to remember all the lessons she learned from her teachers about storms, weather and how they were a fine representation of the elemental domains and the balance they struck between each other. One could not function without the others, and she worried that some day people might undo that delicate yet powerful balance... though she would fight it so long as she drew breath.
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