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Post by Arashi Tento on Sept 3, 2023 14:54:58 GMT -5
It was the middle of the night, in the Bamboo forest, Arashi was walking through there alone, he was looking for something... What that was, was unknown even to him. He had felt a tug, a need to come here in the middle of the night, He woke up after midnight because of it, and almost entranced headed out by himself.
As he explored the Bamboo forest, the tug pulling him in what he assumed was the right direction, he began to wonder what was happening, why was he feeling so... compelled and also empty. it was a strange feeling, of a kind he hadn't felt before. the dancing fireflies and a lantern he took with him lit the way, but he realized a bit too late he had gotten out of the beaten path, and in fact didn't know where in the forest he was... it shouldn't be much of a problem to get out he can just fly above the forest and find the way home with the stars... but at the same time, he was still far too curious, the tug had faded away so he didn't know where to go... but the feeling of something being missing out of place was still strong.
He had to get to the bottom of this.
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Post by Shitakibo on Sept 6, 2023 12:57:23 GMT -5
Whispers of fire and darkness, of pained souls and tormented spirits had been gnawing at the shaman's mind for several days now. Yukina had gone out scouting the area but hadn't found anything significant, which only made Taki worry more. She set out in the afternoon that day, Shuna following along as they set out into the Bamboo Forest that bordered their home.
They wandered for a time, the shaman listening to the voices of the spirits as the pair walked down familiar paths, past well known landmarks. It was strangely quiet, the smell of soot and ash still filled the air in the aftermath of the Ashlands. Her stealthy training kicked in as she skirted the edge of Orochi territory, not wanting to draw the attention of her past...
Slipping through the dense green shoots, the shaman and her familiar crept along deeper into the heart of the Forest. As the pair traveled, she saw signs of another's travel... though it seemed they were traveling in a similar direction, it was an errant and wandering path. While she didn't know the man's name, his visage was something she wouldn't forget soon. He'd been charred and blasted beyond recognition when the shaman had called his spirit home and fixed his broken form. That was scant days ago it felt like... why was he roaming the Bamboo Forest? Only one way to know really, she decided and approached him without her usual stealth.
"What brings you to the Forest this fine autumn day, Warrior?"
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Post by Arashi Tento on Oct 8, 2023 20:30:50 GMT -5
As he kept wandering aimlessly, Arashi couldn't get rid of the feeling that something was amiss... what could be driving him farther into the depths of the bamboo forest? He kept following the tug he felt, still not sure where he was going or even where he was anymore... Suddenly he felt a presence and began turning around before someone addressed him, it was her! The one who welcomed him back into the world of the living, not too long ago during the fight against Vulcadreaus...
"Well I actually live relatively close by and... To be honest... I don't know." He looks at her a bit ashamed. "I just felt a tug to put it some way, something that told me that I should come here... I'm not entirely sure what that is, but something is weird here..." suddenly remembering himself he shook his head "I'm sorry, I don't even think I thanked you properly back then! I'm Arashi Tentō, thank you for bringing me back to life." He bowed, as greeting, thanks, and apologies for the trouble. But then it seemed he got a bit distracted again as he looked around, the tugging feeling becoming stronger... he shook his head again and focused on the person in front of him. "Sorry, I just I feel like I'm missing something, something important... Even though I don't remember what it is or where it is..." letting out a sigh he slouched a little.
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Post by Shitakibo on Oct 9, 2023 20:56:24 GMT -5
"You're most welcome Arashi, and I do understand a bit about that... it's something of a known quandry for myself, but this does not mean you share my inclinations. Listen to that tug upon your soul, not with just your senses, but with the very essence of who you are." Replied the shaman, trying to be as encouraging as possible.
"I'm known as Shitakibo, or Taki if you prefer. The Forest is home to many beings of magical and spiritual origin, so perhaps it is a part of their influence you currently are feeling. Follow that feeling, trust it as you would the instinct that guides your strikes. I'll patch you up if things get messy along the way." She said with a smile, her Jungle Cat familiar hopping down from a branch to rub against the shaman's leg. She scooped up the tawny brown ball of fluff and absently pet her fur.
Taki understood that these kinds of experiences weren't always something you could approach directly, sometimes you had to give yourself over to the sensation and let it guide your steps in a way that your waking self could not. Something about the senses' limits to your own awareness always kept some important tidbit of information just out of reach. The more the shaman studied and learned of the wider world, the more she felt like she knew nothing and understood even less. No matter, there was a problem at hand and hopefully solving it would ease the nagging sensation she'd been experiencing as well.
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Post by Arashi Tento on Nov 26, 2023 20:39:56 GMT -5
"Well it's nice to finally meet you properly Taki" Arashi smiles at the shaman, then nods before closing his eyes trying to focus on the tugging sensation, "Thanks I appreciate it." he takes a deep breath and tries to hone in on it, as Taki's familiar jumps down to her, the noise makes Arashi lose focus for a moment, he wants to know what that was but refrains, considering he didn't hear anything else he guessed it was just Taki or an ally of hers.
Trying to identify the pull he felt, and more importantly where it was coming from turned out to be challenging, he tried to visualise it as a string that pulled him somewhere, but... Something was off, at least about the image. It seemed... Tangled, or at the very least twisted, it felt less like an actual pull on a tensed string, guiding you in a direction. And more like a trail made with a spool of thread, left behind by a meandering, lost individual, he could sort of follow it but who knows how long the trail stretched, how many twists and turns were made before whatever is giving this sensation settled... not only that but if whatever it was wandered for so long, it might still be doing so. Then following on it's footsteps might lead to never catching up with it...
That's when he had an idea, if the string had turns and wasn't taut, then maybe if he pulled back the thread would tying him to this sensation might get tighter, therefore show a more direct path... "I'm gonna try something, wait here for a bit" he turned around and began to walk away, trying to consciously forget about whatever the nagging feeling was about, but when you actively try to forget something you're doing nothing more than bringing it back while denying it, therefore adding tension to whatever is tying you to it. As he walked away he tried thinking that it was a waste of time, that it must've been nothing, that he better go back home and sleep before the sun began to rise... And like a pulley system, the feeling came back strengthened several hundred fold, now the path felt more direct the thread was tense and he could feel the direction of the pull more accurately than ever before.
Opening his eyes he started running in the direction of the pull passing by Taki's side and beckoning her to follow him.
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Post by Shitakibo on Nov 27, 2023 20:27:45 GMT -5
Taki watched the warrior as they concentrated on the unusual feeling. Wandering about the shoots, it seemed the sensation didn't want to be found for a good bit. She understood what it must be like, having experienced her fair share of similar paths in the earlier days of her shaman training. Seeking out a given spirit was a bit like the path Arashi wandered now, winding and full of misdirection. It would be interesting to see how another solved such a strange dilemna, though she doubted the parallels between these situations was more than superficial... otherwise they might be in some trouble when they found the source...
"I'm gonna try something, wait here for a bit." Arashi said a few minutes later, to which Taki nodded her acknowledgement. She set Shuna down once again, shaman and familiar readying themselves to go dashing through the forest. As Arashi came bolting by, the pair joined in his pursuit. Once she'd discerned the general direction he was trying to go, she closed the gap and slipped ahead of the warrior. This was her home, she knew it's every twist and turn as well as she knew her own scales. She guided the warrior through the dense jungle of bamboo and scrub, her senses spreading out and showing her the fastest open path. Taki's stride seemed effortless, she bound along lightly, barely making a sound as she paced Arashi. While she could likely pour on more speed if need be, that wasn't going to help Arashi seek out his destination any faster... in fact it ran the risk of the man being hopelessly lost in this wild forest.
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Post by Arashi Tento on Dec 18, 2023 14:37:32 GMT -5
As Taki began following him even catching up and moving past him Arashi understood just how well the shaman knew this terrain, she moved expertly, weaving through the thickets by instinct, unlike Arashi who while fast had to make a conscious effort to know where and how to avoid certain things like roots and shoots as well as the foliage, he could nevertheless keep up also spotting Taki's small familiar, who must've been what he had felt approach earlier, the creature was extremely cute but there was no time to be distracted by cute things otherwise he might actually get lost again...
After a few moments the forest gave way to a small clearing where a few somber ghost-like figures covered in ash, and lit by embers inside them stood, there were 2 of these figures moving in ill defined circles seemingly lost and without purpose, but there were 3 others who stood in the middle of the clearing... Two bigger ones pointing down with lengthy robed looking arms, at a smaller one, this was the one who was calling to Arashi he didn't know why but he was sure of it... "That's the one..." he told Taki as he looked at the small figure, "he's the one who's been calling me..."
These two bigger scorched seemed to be chastising the smaller one, a cacophony of whispering voices could be heard although none made much sense due to them being so many at once it seemed to just be 2 voices but they were each saying years worth of harmful words at the same time.
He wasn't sure why but he related to the small scorched he felt a connection with it, probably why he felt the need to come here in the first place... As he stepped into the clearing trying to get a good look at them, the two bigger ones in the middle turned around to face Arashi as the smaller one curled into a ball and made itself small seemingly crying. The other two screeched calling the attention of the wandering ones as well... It seems a fight would be necessary before solving what or more aptly who these creatures were.
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 22, 2023 22:59:30 GMT -5
The shaman stopped as the clearing came into view, several strange figures moved about on the opposite side. Every sense in her body screamed at her that something was very off... For their size, they made little to no impact with their motions. She was just about to stop Arashi when the man walked right by as if drawn towards the scene unfolding...
"That's the one..." he told Taki as he looked at the small figure, "he's the one who's been calling me..."
"Be cautious, all is not as it appears..." The shaman said as she took a few steps to one side and summoned her spirit guardians. The pair of spectral creatures coalesced in front of Taki, who drew her Sling and readied a Static Slug. While she wouldn't be the first one in this fight to trade a blow, she would be ready to return one at a moment's notice. Her senses sharpened, her body flexing and readying itself for the coming exertion.
The four ambling, smoldering figures dragged their limbs across the ground. Shuffling towards these intruders, they moved as if held by unseen strings. Each was vaguely humanoid in shape, but their very presence made the shaman's scales want to slither off on it's own. While she was only vaguely familiar with the workings of the undead, she could understand that these restless souls were some part of the aftermath from Vulcadreus... their scorched forms and smoky appearance was evidence enough. While she hoped things might end up differently, she understood this situation might turn dire at a moment's notice.
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Post by Arashi Tento on Dec 31, 2023 21:29:38 GMT -5
As the charred undead slithered towards the pair, Arashi paid them no mind. Eyes focused on the two bigger ones and the smallest of them in the middle. As they got close one of them quickly lashes it's tentacles at Arashi grappling him, the other stood back watching, they seemed to have a specific hatred towards him, even if the weren't aware of why... Arashi didn't move for a bit ignoring the one grappling him as if in a trance, it's tentacles slithered higher up, and began grasping Arashi's neck before he side-eyed at where it's face should be... He saw a flash of a guard one of the ones he killed that night... "You don't interest me..." He muttered, as the tentacles began burning and branding him with fire he teleported above it[blink] and quickly launched a powerful bolt of lightning downwards[Lightning Spear] creating a small explosion of dust and dirt a few feet in front of Taki. The undead squirmed and screeched pinned by the lightning spear seemingly angry as a memory flooded it's mind.
Before the ghost like undead could use it's ability to free itself, Arashi covered himself in lightning[Lightning Armor] and crashed down at blinding speed[Bullet Dash] on top of it's head creating a secondary smaller explosion and getting rid of it... As it turned to ash which was taken by the wind, Arashi turned back towards the bigger ones "you can take care of the other one... They're not too dangerous besides I'm sure you are stronger than me..."
He walked away towards the ones he's interested in... Hopefully Taki wouldn't let the other one follow him. But he needed to look at those other ones closer...
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Post by Shitakibo on Jan 11, 2024 1:47:36 GMT -5
With a quick scan of her surroundings, Taki walked calmly over to one of the many vine laden shoots of bamboo. She deftly peeled the vine from it as she stepped back from the first of the shambler's strikes. A quick side step and a flick of the wrist tossed a loop of the vine around the creature's torso. As she tugged the simple slip knot tight, it struck out again with a wide sweep of it's shadowy limb. Ducking the strike, she managed to slip another loop of vine around the limb's forearm. Planting both feet firmly, one on the slightly slack length of material, she pulled with the might of her body. Entangled, the creature was pulled first to it's knees, then to the ground. Taki wasted no time in lashing it up as one might a large roast to be smoked and preserved.
The creature grunted, groaned and complained, but could do little more than flop about. Just in case, Taki placed her hand on the soil next to the creature and called forth a Stone Creation. She shaped it roughly like a bear and had it place itself over the creature to restrict it's motion further. Once satisfied it was able to be pinned down if need be, she strolled over to where Arashi was approaching the remaining figures.
"I'll hold destroying it for the moment, there may be importance to all those here... but if not, that can be just as easily remedied. What do you make of these three? They seem to be some sort of... memory perhaps? A moment in time being repeated by the spirits lost?" She could only speculate, as her familiarity with the people in and around the Forest was far from complete. Her senses told her something more was happening though, something beyond just mindless undead.
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Post by Arashi Tento on Mar 20, 2024 22:51:10 GMT -5
as Taki effortlesly restrained one of the Charred, Arashi kept getting closer to the other three, the tug he had been feeling all this time clearly taking him to this one, the small one in the middle, the other two looked angry but something made them hold off, the tiny one approached him just as Taki mentioned her speculation on the spirits' nature, them being memories repeating a moment. At that point it clicked, the cacophony became echoes, the shadows became faces, his mind reminisced and understood what was before him... The one he felt drawn to... was himself. Or at least a part of himself, now he could hear and recognize the other voices, "Mom, Dad..." He looked at each of the Charred as he said this, "Even in undeath, You won't change..." He let's out a heavy sigh, dropping his sword on the ground. he places a hand on the little one "Don't let them control you anymore... we broke free. I'm sure you are aware of that as well... I'm sorry I was thinking of that when we died, but you don't have to keep putting up with them... we took to long too figure out what had happened, what still happened, but it's over now." the small Charred gave some sort of nod and stepped back, the other two shrieked in response, he lowered his head in response, a weird pressure forming in Arashi's heart, a pit in his stomach, a doubt in his mind.
"No." He looked back up as the Charred stepped back in surprise, "You won't have power over me anymore, over anyone ever again... I've come to terms with what I did, and while I don't forgive you, you killed my best and only friend's family all, while also mentally abusing and manipulating me into believing you were good, into needing you, into obeying... I don't forgive you... But I won't be the same kind of monster. I wish I could set your spirits to rest, that I could let you have peace, if anything so you don't hurt anyone else. Be it by your twisted ideals, or just the situation's you had to deal with, you never had peace... You two chose wrong, multiple times" Another sigh "But no tree is twisted for no reason, maybe that's the only thing you knew, or maybe you were taught the game had to be played that way..." Arashi stared at them with an inner conflict showing in his eyes. "I won't be like you, I won't forgive you, but I don't want you to suffer eternally either..."
He turned to taki, "Hey, you're more... adept with spirits, Do you know of a way to let them rest? I'd like to not give my parents' undeath a violent end... I already did that with their lives."
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Post by Shitakibo on Mar 21, 2024 5:11:51 GMT -5
"There is a ritual to put spirits to rest peacefully, yes. If that is your wish for these fragments of your past, I'll begin the preparations. While that's happening, see if you can find any of their belongings, or their bones... While it may be a grisly affair, the more of what is left behind we have present, the stronger the call of the ritual will be."
As Taki finished replying, she dismissed Shuna to head back home and set about preparing the area. Using a branch, she traced a wide circle around the area and inscribed a series of arcane markings around it's border. She cleared away any debris from the area and trimmed back some of the bamboo that obscured the rising sun. Light magic seemed to work best when cast in direct sunlight, and these strange charred spirits seemed to hold a deep seeded grudge. As she finished the preparations, she lifted the hostile creature she'd bound and set them down in the center of the circle.
The others played out their frozen memory, and while there were no words, the emotions and stress were palpable. Taki hoped that Arashi had some insight into where these poor souls' remnants might be, putting them to rest would bring a measure of peace to the area. She found a shaded spot and sat down to meditate and prepare herself for the spell that was needed, awaiting the warrior's return.
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Post by Arashi Tento on Apr 2, 2024 12:27:00 GMT -5
As Taki said that she'd need some their personal belongings for the ritual Arashi nodded thoughtfully. "Well the small one is me so I'm guessing anything of mine would work just as well... the other two... my parents, died in the collapse of their home, which went up in flames during the earthquakes before Vulcadreaus' awakening I was there at the time... and already planning to not let them see dawn that night... so I just didn't help them, even as they begged, and then in desperation ordered me to..." he looked in the direction of his old childhood home. "It is a bit far and their remains are likely to have been looted, retrieved, or otherwise lost to be of much use... although..." he thinks for a moment "I guess it's not really a personal belonging of them but it might help since it was in their room" He lifts up his hand and figurine roughly hand sized appears[1], it is crude made with folded and pasted paper as well as some toothpicks for support. it depicts what seems like a happy family, a mom and a dad, and their child in the middle, of the parents holding one of the child's hands as he looks up at them with a big smile. most of the details are just drawn over the statuette itself and are not even well drawn... The proportions are also off and the paint and glued parts are pretty messy. "one time when I was very young... about six years old if I remember correctly... they were out on business for longer than usual... my father was protecting a travelling caravan with his squad, and my mother was in said caravan as the main business savvy person... their trip lasted a few months, well at least one that I'm sure, but it felt longer for me at the time..."
Arashi looks at the figure as he reminisces "I wasn't completely alone, there were servants that took care of the house and Mizu my childhood caretaker was there, but I wanted my parents to show up I was worried they might've left me... Mizu managed to cheer me up by assuring me they would return and convincing me to wait for them with a gift" he gently raises the figurine in his hand "My arts and crafts were pretty bad... maybe even for a 6 year old, but I showed it to them proudly and gave it so they could keep it. They didn't seem very thrilled, but it was also a bit of a hint as to what I wanted, a family, or at least one that actually kind of cared... I didn't realize it at the time, I thought that they were just tired and busy, I took their lack of interest in my childishness as natural... I manage to convince them to take it, but I never saw it displayed anywhere." a soft chuckle escapes him as he looks away for a moment. "They told me they had put it away for safekeeping not wanting to ruin my precious handmade gift. I was a bit happy to hear that... But after our house went up in flames, I went back to look if there was anything salvageable, mostly from the treasury, I didn't want to start completely from the beginning and I'd need some money for inns while I looked into getting a home, but most everything had been looted by people who probably needed it more, I still managed to find some money in stashes they had hidden from plain sight, and in a drawer seemingly spared from the fire I found my gift below a few documents..." A slightly sad smile forms on Arashi "It seems they never even touched it... it was forgotten at the bottom of their old documents, the documents were mostly trash but they kept them for the record just in case... but even the 15 year old documents were on top of the gift I made them... in hindsight of course they wouldn't like it, but I still had some hope back then."
He hands Taki the figurine, hopefully it was enough for all three of the spirits, it spent at least 19 years in their bedroom and was crafted by Arashi himself while also being a representation of the family he wanted. "Will suffice for the ritual?"
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Post by Shitakibo on Apr 3, 2024 2:04:02 GMT -5
She examines the object for a moment, then nods solemnly and carefully takes the figurine. The story was a common one, but it was no less sad that the warrior experienced it.
"While I know I cannot undo what is already done, I hope this day brings you a measure of closure. If you'd like, you're welcome to take some time after this to clear your mind and rest at my home. It may not be high society, but it is not lacking in amenity either."
Bowing politely to the warrior, she turned to the circle on the ground, and the errant spirits within. Beside the shaman, a serpentine figure appeared1 bearing a misty blue glow. The same light enveloped Taki as the guardian hovered at her side.
"Be at peace wayward souls, may the winds carry your spirit free and the earth cool the fires of your spite."
Her voice changed to a soft, hissing tongue as she swayed gently. With her Guardian's calming presence and guidance at her side, the shaman's magic gathered and condensed into her hands as she knelt beside the inscription in the earth. Holding each hand just above the arcane sigil, the light flowed forth and filled the patterns. It spread about the circle as if one could pour light itself like a soft metal into a casting, until completing the circuit.
Taki's chant grew in cadence and volume, along with the brightness of the glowing circle of magic. Within, the darkened, smoldering spirits all turned their shadowed faces to the shaman. Each bore a pained and haunted expression that slowly changed into one of calm serenity. The figurine that Arashi had given the shaman darkened and smoldered with the same oddness for a few moments. Coalescing above the circle, the inky fog shimmered and sparked angrily as it fought against the shaman's magic. Slowly the darkness gave way to the gentle call of the ritual and spread across the area2.
Pulling her hands away from the circle, the glowing mist within infused itself with the other spirits. Taki stood and offered a final prayer to their spirits in the Orochi tongue, bowing with her Guardian. A strong breeze came swirling through the tall green shoots of bamboo, picking up loose leaves as it blew through the area. The wind washed over the glowing area of the shaman's magic, dissipating it as if it were no more than a lingering morning fog. Twirling and twisting, a single beam of bright, radiant light cut through the glow and illuminated the figurine. The beam spread until it engulfed the clearing, until the area returned to it's natural tranquility.
1: Spirit Guardian 2: Last Rites [Spirit Shroud]
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