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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Apr 5, 2024 2:37:42 GMT -5
Rena trills softly, whistling her part of a tuneless song as she moves through the brush, her husband close behind as she explores a new chunk of land alongside her growing murder. Her silver eyes shine with curiosity as they flick over her surroundings, analyzing every little detail, taking in everything and judging none of it by any metric beyond how useful it might be to herself, her murder, or to an enemy. She moves gracefully, avian feet silent against the ground as she glides through the bamboo forest, drawing ever closer to the compound her family had heard such fascinating stories about…
Maelstrom is, as per standard procedure, asleep in her satchel with the remaining pair of unhatched, slumbering twins. Rena doesn’t know what she’ll name them yet, but she’s sure that it will come to her when it’s needed. That’s how things worked out in the past, after all.
Bell remains by his wife’s side, moving almost in sync with his partner as they walk. It’s been about a week since they left home on this trip. A week of foraging for berries and hunting for game, a week without the amenities of the Barrow, a week without new books - that last one has been particularly grueling for Loci.
Whistle chirps softly to herself as she follows behind her parents, ruby eyes glancing about with curiosity and wariness. She’s heard the stories about this…Taikyaku place. Not all were pleasant. To be fair, the Blackfeathers had a similarly mixed reputation, so it’s not like she was in any position to judge…all the same, she’ll stick to her twin’s side as best she can. Stars know the bonehead’s liable to wander off…
Loci is bored. Bored, bored, bored. There’s too much going on for him to sink into his memories of a book, but not enough to keep him engaged. This sort of thing easily ranks among his worst experiences from the sheer boredom alone. Honestly, he’s kind of hoping for a fight, just so he has something to do...no, he doesn’t mean that. He’s heard the stories, and if even a fraction are true, then the murder wouldn’t stand a chance against their destination’s guardian. His feathers ruffle, then smooth out, then ruffle again as he listens to their surroundings, noting how their seem to be more animal noises the closer they get to the alleged location of the compound…
Wind is…well, he’s young enough that everything seems new hand interesting, his golden eyes wide with wonder as he sticks by his mother’s side and does his best to take in as much details he can. He idly shifts the weight of his crossbow, trilling in wonderment as his tail feathers flick back and forth in a wagging motion.
Wind trills happily, skipping along at the head of the flock, rose gold eye lights dancing over her surroundings, never seeming to still long enough to take in anything, yet committing every detail to memory as she passes. They’re getting closer, she can feel it! And when they do, she’ll get to see a spirit! Sure, she’s seen Tiny Sibling Mael and Big Sis Elvie and Key, but they don’t count! They don’t show their spirit-ness like the Sh-shi-shita-shitakibo - first try! - is supposed to.
…the murder travels through the bamboo forest, intent on finding the place spoken of in stories, intent on meeting its guardian, intent on learning more…closer, closer, closer they move, gliding ever toward the spirit’s estate…
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Post by Shitakibo on Apr 5, 2024 16:55:40 GMT -5
Spring was perhaps Taki's most hectic season, between the thawing of winter's grip and life awakening to it's warmth. Not only was she kept busy by the myriad of tasks abroad, at home there was a large garden, orchard, and greenhouse to keep the shaman busy. Her morning usually consisted of a short session of stretching and meditation, followed by a stroll through the garden to tend to it's needs. She would follow this up with breakfast for herself and her companions who hadn't already found a meal, then take a short break.
During this break, she would often relax in her study, but on this day she sat out in the garden amongst the spring flowers and gentle spirits that liked to visit her home. She knew the area and their voices well, often wandering and enjoying communing on the occasion she had downtime. Today seemed unusually vibrant, the spirits excited and bustling about some new development in the area but she couldn't quite discern their meaning. They weren't frightened or fleeing, so Taki figured it was the renewal of spring and some wonderful arrival had them stirred and gossiping.
Once her break was over, she headed into her workshop to check on her Golem Shuchu. The towering construct's latest form let them move about the shop with greater ease, and conduct much of their own minor adjustments and physical maintenance. After inspecting the changes and discussing a few projects they'd been working on, she headed back inside the main house to write down the ideas they'd discussed. With that done, she headed out to the large cooking area she'd built outdoors. Complete with an oven, smoker and flat grill, she stacked the firebox and set it alight ahead of preparing some lunch.
Once the flame had caught and was happily feeding on it's fuel, she started towards the storeroom to finish preparing the meal. As she was walking across the courtyard, her senses felt an approaching tremor. It seemed someone was heading here, or perhaps several, the signal was faint, at the limits of how far that sense could track. Making a slight adjustment to her plan, she gathered up a large cart with various foods that were already prepared and filled both oven and smoker to capacity.
It didn't take long for the outdoor kitchen to start spreading the scents of cooking meats, veggies, and herbs. Satisfied she had extra if needed, she headed towards the front gate and sat with Rina in two arms, petting the soft fur of the Flitten as this new figure was making their way through the forest at the edge of her home.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Apr 5, 2024 18:28:32 GMT -5
The crows draw near, feathers ruffling and eyes glancing about as they move through the forest. They share a quiet song of chirps, whistles and trills, each one speaking without words so that the others might have a better idea of what potential dangers lie in wait…it takes nearly another half hour of walking, of careful navigation through the labyrinthine forest, but when it’s over they’re there, stepping out of the bamboo and into sight at the entrance of the compound.
Rena steps out first, standing at just over four feet tall. Her eyes shine silver, matched by the blossoms at her sword’s guard. She steps through the brush with an unnatural grace, feathers as black as the frost of her magic ruffling in the slight breeze, the dark gray scales of her forelimbs fading to the black of frostbite toward her hands and feet, and yet she shows no issues with dexterity. Frozen mist jets from her nostrils with every exhale. Hanging from her neck is an amulet inlaid with a silver eye encircled by night-black feathers. She weighs more than she looks like she should. Not by much, but enough that she’s likely carrying more than is visible on her person.
Bell stays at her side, standing half a foot shorter than his wife, the edges of his shape hazy and indistinct, his feathers ragged and specked with smoldering embers. His eyes shine with a soft amber sheen, his beak cracked and crooked and slightly melted from long hours spent too close to the heat of a forge. Smoke wafts from his form, dissipating into nothing mere moments later. The scales of his forearms are pitted and scarred, both from the rigors of combat and the stresses of the forge.
Two pairs of children step out after them, one pair on either side, each standing at just over two feet tall.
Whistle’s ruby eyes lance out, her head cocked and her posture loose, ready to run, ready to fight. A wooden coin engraved on both sides with the rune for song dances along her knuckles, the motion seeming to be some sort of self soothing, meditative tic. Like her mother, she weighs subtly more than what’s visible would account for, though the discrepancy is much less noticeable with her…
Loci stands next to Whistle, tunic loose on his skeletal frame and ragged cloth wrapped tight around the bones of his forearms and lower legs. His eye lights are rings of emerald floating in unnaturally dark sockets, sharply focused and seeming to pick apart every little detail of the spirit that stands before his family. He keeps his hands tucked into the small of his back, standing as ramrod straight and as tall as his small frame will allow, the spectral feathers dotting his bones betraying nothing of his feelings.
On the other side stands Wind, a golden eyed fledgling with a crossbow as big as he is holstered on his back. His gaze is sharp, considering, calculating, searching for weaknesses that might be exploited for either an attack or a simple prank…
Beside Wind stands Wind, a skeleton clothed similarly to Loci, but with eye lights of rose gold. Her bones quiver and rattle with excitement, the undead fledgling practically bouncing in place as she watches Taki with starry eyes.
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Post by Shitakibo on Apr 17, 2024 9:51:35 GMT -5
Taki watched the curious family round the gate and enter the courtyard. The central figure, likely the matriarch, was flocked by a spirit that seemed to be a close relative. The others were a mix of living and undead, and while they all approached cautiously, none seemed to be threatening. Rina nuzzled against the shaman's cheek for a moment, then went buzzing off into the house to let her other companions know there were guests. While the Flitten wasn't one for adventuring far from home, she loved her role at home and the comfort it gave her.
Standing slowly, Taki stood at 5' 3", covered in cerulean scales that shimmered between the folds of her light, silk kimono. Sporting three pairs of arms, and a long, sturdy tail, she moved carefully and deliberately so as not to alarm her guests. While she wasn't fond of it, she understood it was easy to mistake her appearance for some kind of monstrosity. Bowing politely, she greeted the group.
"Good day to you all, and welcome to Taikyaku-no-Seishin. I am known as Shitakibo, may the Spirit's Retreat bid you welcome and comfort." Straightening out, she could only wonder what had brought the group to her home. They definitely didn't seem to be injured or sickly, at least at a glance, so perhaps it was a problem needing solved... Or simple curiosity... Questions for later, in more relaxed a setting than standing inside the gates.
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Tradesfolk
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Apr 17, 2024 19:39:01 GMT -5
Rena tilts her head, the feathers around her beak ruffling in a small, avian smile as she performs a polite bow toward Taki. A bamboo rod of some sort can be seen at the small of her back when she bows, aligned perpendicular to the sword nestled between her wings. When she straightens her coat shifts in such a way that reveals the bulky tonfa of wood and metal holstered on either hip. When she speaks, her voice is soft and warm, belying the frozen fog that fills her every exhale, “...it’s a pleasure to meet you, Shitakibo. I am known as Rena”
One by one, the crows introduce themselves - “I am known as Bell,” “People call me Whistle!” “...L-lo-Loci…” “Wind! Not to be confused with my sister, Wind!” “I’m Wind, not to be confused with my brother, Wind,” - and then Rena’s reaching into the satchel on her hip, gently pulling something out with a soft coo…and there, in her hands, is a tiny little wind pixie, “...and this little one goes by Mael”
The little pixie…Mael…is…well, they’re tiny. Big gray eyes twinkling in the light as they yawn and stretch and blink awake before tilting their head at the shaman before them and letting out a curious little trill.
Bell chirps back at them, his amber eyes full of fondness as he reaches over to gently ruffle Mael’s hair with one finger.
Once introductions are done, the crows begin to file into the compound, varicolored eyes widening as they take in the sheer beauty of the Spirit’s Rest…
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