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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 10, 2023 13:44:05 GMT -5
Quest Name: Spiders, Again
Participants: Two or more
Location: Moonglade
Post Requirements: 6 posts per person, 200 words per post
Reward: +1 Renown, Choice of 2 Common crafting materials
Description: Giant spiders have always been an issue in Moonglade, and are a constant threat for anyone brave enough to enter the Shadewood. However, the recent disturbance in Charon's primordial energy has affected most wildlife, causing them to behave unnaturally. Swarms of giant spiders have recently been seen roaming around outside the Shadewood, even crossing into villages and established homesteads. We need help in corralling these spiders back into the Shadewood, or flat out killing them, whatever helps keep the citizens of Moonglade safe.
Shadewood had always been full of spiders, but recent events had disturbed their usual patterns. Much like Shion was, most spiders and other exotherms were laying low for the winter. You could imagine someone's surprise seeing spiders of monstrous proportion roaming through towns and villages, and why Moonglade was quick to enlist the help of adventurers. While there hadn't been any reports of attacks, the panic and fear of such creatures was unsettling to many. Several affluent merchants were already trying to hire mercenaries to launch raids on the creatures... something entirely likely to cause the spiders to retaliate in kind. Taki had hurried along, choosing to take this adventure on solo to keep from causing a greater fright to the situation. Stepping off the balcony that extended from her bedroom, a cloud formed beneath her feet in the shape of a small Celestial Manta. She rode the fluffy mount out over the Isles, crossing onto the mainland and heading towards Shadewood. She arrived a few hours later, having spotted the camp indicated in the message sent out. Landing on the pathway into camp, she scanned the faces of the crowd as she approached. After speaking with the guards and having her pass verified, she entered the circle of tents and staked logs that served as a quick base camp. Several soldiers and officials were milling about, while most of the adventurers seemed to be amongst their own parties or social groups. She stopped by the medical tent for a moment, though all she found within were a pair of scouts who'd gotten copious amounts of webbing wrapped around one part or another. As she turned to go walk amongst the camps and see what she could find out, she spotted a familiar silhouette in the crowd. Elegant, well fitted armor over tailored clothing, a dark cloak draped over her shoulders and a veil of dark fabric covering her face to keep from frightening others. "We meet again, have you been well Sylvari?" Taki called out in a pleasant tone, smiling as she waved.
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Post by Sylvari Dawnsage on Dec 10, 2023 15:09:11 GMT -5
A wide smile spread over the justiciar's face as she heard a familiar voice calling her name. It had been some time since she had seen Taki, And Sylvari was eager to catch up with her friend.
"Taki! What a pleasure to see you, dear!" Sylvari walked over and enveloped her friend in a light embrace, before pulling back, still grinning and declining her head slightly in respect. "I should have known a matter of nature in Moonglade would bring you running to save the day. Your concern for my well-being is much appreciated. I would say I am a fair sight better than the fractured thing I was at our first meeting, thanks in no small part to your ministrations. I am beginning to accept what I am, the good with the bad, to the benefit of my mission."
Noe, ever the dramatically attentive little companion [Necromancer, Undead Servant], came bounding over in this moment, his interest piqued by his mistress' joy. The undead dragonling rubbed affectionately against Taki's shins, feeling the affectionate his mistress had for her over their empathic bond. Sylvari smiled ruefully. She had hoped to break the habit of Noe's overeager physical affection, but for Taki at least, she was sure no ill will would be felt.
"As my little one here is only too eager to demonstrate. So," Sylvari continued, switching topics. "Shall we travel together once again? I daresay you will be more effective than the combined total of these gathered here, and I place myself in your service, my friend."
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 10, 2023 16:48:14 GMT -5
Taki chuckled softly at the small creature's affections, reaching down to scoop them up in two of her arms. She pet the dragonling as she might Rina, the Flitten who greeted her at home in a similar fashion, something that would seem appalling to some of her previous colleagues. The shaman was still coming to grips with recent changes in her life, having been an active part of the Druid community for a good portion of her life. While she did grasp the value they placed on the living, and the dead, she could no longer abide by their zero tolerance of unlife. It wasn't just Sylvari, or her adorable companion that had influenced the change... it was a common experience in her adventures and work whose circumstances would have been far worse otherwise. They often were treated as some horrid beast out to eat children or some other superstitious stupidity, and the whole of it gnawed at the pit of the shaman's spirit in an indescribable way.
"I would be grateful for your company once again, and hope we might have a chance to catch up on each other's adventures along the way. I see I'm not the only one whose companion roster has seen some changes, who is this adorable little one who seems to be enamored?" Taki replied, turning the little plump lizard over in her arms and rubbing it's tummy gently. It pawed and protested, albeit playfully, for a minute before giving in to the shaman's gentle touch. A motherly smile crept across Taki's face, how many times in this life had she been in this very same moment? Different places, different faces, different wonderful balls of joy and life eager for affection... She could write a saga about the subject, the struggles and emotions, experiences for all... Her thoughts were changing, alongside her life, spurred on by outside influences and inner turmoil she'd only begun to understand... the world seemed a wonderfully, beautifully alien place as of late, and some part of her had a powerful desire to share that beauty with others in ways she'd thought impossible only a short time ago.
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Post by Sylvari Dawnsage on Dec 10, 2023 17:37:34 GMT -5
Sylvari smiled as she watched her friend and servant interact with a soft smile.
"That would be Noe, my little hellion who gets me into all sorts of trouble." The skeletal dragonling in question whipped up in Taki's arms to clack his jaws in indignant protest, to have his honor impugned so. "And I wouldn't have it any other way. He has been a source of constant companionship for me: a great comfort on the path I must walk." Hearing his mistress' affectionate words, the creature would again relax in Taki's embrace, settling into it once more and humming contentedly.
"Honestly, Taki, with all your little ones, I don't know how you get anything done. This one practically has me wrapped around his little claw." Sylvari reached over and affectionately rubbed the crest of Noe's snout.
"But enough about me. Tell me: how are you doing, truly? My heart leapt for joy at our reunion, and I would like nothing more than to know you are well." Sylvari's earnest words and compassionate tone indicated that she had indeed grown from the girl saddled with an impossible oath to a woman determined to serve her path, and to help every friend she could along the way.
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 10, 2023 18:11:07 GMT -5
Taki giggled at the display, moving her hands aside to give Noe room to protest. How someone could find such an interaction, or a caring relationship, anything but wholesome made the shaman's blood boil. She took a deep breath at the question, then turned to walk away from the crowd of wary onlookers. More than a few were eyeing the dragonling with contempt, and she would have none of it intruding on their reunion. Once the pair were out of the camp and away from prying eyes, she finally relaxed and set Noe back down.
"I have been well overall, though some things have changed... I completed my training with both the W.E.F, and the Mage's Guild, which each gained me a new companion in the form of a stoic yet sharp witted golem and a wind drake who is equal parts observant and chaotic... I've made adjustments to my spiritual and magical pursuits, following changes that ran counter to my own understanding and experiences... Which has given me room to pursue more of my mentor's teachings, and deepened my connection to the spirits in other ways. One of the more difficult parts of recent changes has been not having Shuna around, but I know she's doing well in her new life so I can at least be grateful for that... and I may, or may not, have had a childish crush..." Taki's tone was thoughtful through most of the conversation, but that last statement was unusually shy, the shaman's bright scales flushing a deep purple around her 'cheeks' at the subject. She looked like there was more to be said, but the embarrassment was too much to process. She took a deep breath, wondering if it always felt like jumping onto the back of a sleeping jaguar... exhilarating, chaotic, and just a touch too dangerous to be good for you.
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Post by Sylvari Dawnsage on Dec 10, 2023 18:56:51 GMT -5
Sylvari's gentle contentment was shown in small ways: a murmured word of understanding, an affectionate touch of the arm, and an aura of peace that grew the longer she was in the shaman's vicinity. Her serene visage gave way to childlike glee at the mention of a crush, however.
"You like someone?! Taki that's wonderful! I'm sure if they caught your eye, they must be very special indeed. Well? Tell me all about this person! I have to be a dutiful friend and make sure they are worthy of you."
Sylvari's eyes, plainly visible as she had removed her veil when the pair exited the company of the other adventurers, were shining with light and mirth. She truly wished to be nowhere else, with no one else, at this moment. All she wanted in the world was to be closer to Taki. In her immature fantasy, her heavy burdens of her curse and her lifelong mission were cast off, leaving the vampiress looking more rejuvenated and youthful than the shaman had ever seen her. So excited and ready in anticipation of her friend's news was Sylvari that she certainly would have passed out for lack of breath if she was one to need such things.
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Post by Shitakibo on Dec 10, 2023 20:17:10 GMT -5
She took a deep breath, sorting out how to answer her friend without ruining the gleeful expression Sylvari was trying to hide. While it had indeed been a joyful moment to the shaman's heart, and the encounter a fluke that saw her gain new friends... it also had been a fleeting moment.
"I will gladly regale you with this story, but I want to curb your expectations just a touch. It was a brief and fleeting crush, though it has brought forth such thoughts and emotions." She paused a moment to collect her thoughts and allow her friend to grasp the situation as gently as she knew how.
"One foggy, late fall morning, Rina stumbled upon a stranger in the courtyard. When I went out to see what was happening, there was a muscular, orc warrior with a badly injured leg passed out on a stone bench. I called Keiga over, the big serpent, and we wrestled the woman into the house. I patched her up, made sure she was comfy, and left Keiga to watch over her. A couple days went by and she was feeling well enough to move around, so she asked for a chore to do. Well, I only really had one chore to think of at the moment, but it proved to be my undoing... so I had her split some firewood while I tended the garden. While this seems innocent enough on it's surface, her methods were unique and awakened something in this shaman. Have you ever seen a towering orc woman, with corded muscles thick as tree trunks, tear a log into pieces with her bare hands?..." Taki's voice trailed off as she tried her best to not let the vivid image and distinct sound send a shiver through her.
"I have, and it was more than I could have bargained for. While we did speak later on about my... affliction... the timing was not meant to be. Keiga did however bond with her, and she to him, so they now travel the world together. They are dear friends, and I'm glad for how it turned out... though it has left me with an interesting dilemma to go with the other, previously mentioned one. How do I go about finding someone who might find me just as appealing? I mean, I'm not winning any contests for beauty or normalcy here..." Taki turned about, showing how much her body had morphed in the time since they'd last seen one another. Four arms had become six, now tipped with sturdy claws that partly retracted. A set of gill slits would occasionally flutter below her collarbone and on either side of her neck, and a number of other small changes had reverted. Her eyes had returned to their crimson slits, she no longer had the wide padded toes of a gecko or the ductile skin of a cephalopod. Her scales were their normal shape and size for her species, though they did still hold some abnormal iridescence and a limited variety of coloring. All in all, she thought her appearance lovely but strange even amongst the oddities of the world... she could only imagine how others saw her...
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