Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hello and welcome to the basket contest! Up for the grabs is a basket from Brigitte's and Quetzalcoatl's breeding, colored by King Inversitle. This is a Free basket contest available to anyone who owns three or less soquili that they have RP rights to.

When: Saturday November 15 (when the title changes to OPEN) until Wednesday November 19, 10pm CST




Rules

• You may only own or co-own three or less soquili that you have RP rights to (which means that you can own/co-own more than three, as long as you only have RP rights to three or less). Usdias count, familiars don't.
  
• All RP prompt responses must be 1000 words or less.
  
• We recommend not editing your post after you have entered. We plan on trying to read these as they come in, so if you edit it, we may not see it.
  

If You Win...

• You must promise to make an effort to RP the soquili
  
• You must promise to be an active member of the soquili community. We understand that real life can cut into everyone's RP time, but popping into the thread to say "Hi" Every now and then shouldn't be too much to ask.
  
• Promise to take into consideration while naming the basket - notice that the the entire family has South American/Aztec/Mayan or Vodoun-themed names. So please don't name the basket "Sally", "Cupcake" or anything Japanese.
  
• You may co-own, but the winner of the RP contest must retain 100% of the IC RP rights.
  
• Please try to maintain the personality that you used in the prompt when you RP the soquili.
  

This is the basket that is up for grabs! We know that the soquili will be male, so when working on a response and thinking of a name, take that into account.


For the second time, and in a manner much like the first strange chemistry, Quetzalcoatl and Brigitte had an encounter. Unbeknowest to Quetzalcoatl, Brigitte was left with foal again. Over time, and as her belly swelled, Sabin and Anju's herd near by made note of her condition and began to make plans to once again "rescue" the baskets from the unfit mother. However, one evening, Taraxippus found her no longer pregnant. At first, he was worried that she may have killed the foals, but upon managing to lure her away and investigate the dark graveyard that Brigitte calls her home, he found a bright rainbowy basket. Someone else, apparently, had managed to secure the newborn foals into baskets in time - but who? He scoured the graveyard for more before Brigitte came back - and managed to find a serpentine-like basket with a shiny red jewel. However, despite his efforts, Taraxippus overlooked the final basket that blended in quite well with the dark shadows in the burial site. Brigitte was coming back, and he had to get out of there. Believing that those were the only ones, Taraxippus took the two he had found back to the herd.

If you win, you can say that either your indian persona found it, or if you already own soquili, it could be raised by (if you wish) one of the ones you already own. Or, the little foal could have had to face the world alone! That part is flexible and up to you.




Pick ONE of the following prompts to answer






NOTE:
In your prompt response, you MAY godmod Brigitte a little bit - but please try to keep the focus mostly on the soquili up for grabs in the contest. You may also use your other soquili in the prompt response, if you own any.




Your Name:
Soquili you own/co-own: if you co-own a soquili, please link to the co-ownership agreement form. If you do not link to it/do not have one, we will assume that you have RP rights and it will count towards your maximum of 3 RPable soquili
Name for the basket: Encouraged, but we understand if you want to see the foal before naming it.
Who will raise the basket, or will the basket face the world alone?
Prompt Response:

Your Name: Fatal Irony
Soquili you own/co-own: Inara Serra, Glitter Rock (rp rights are mine), and New basket with Basket co owner agreement (I don't have rights to rp), and a stallion coming from Natsu, but I have no idea when that's coming. sweatdrop That's still only three I have rp rights to.
Name for the basket: COQUI-XEE (A God of Infinity and Abstraction.)
Who will raise the basket, or will the basket face the world alone? Inara will stumble upon the basket, and despite it's frightening exterior will take it and raise it as her own. However, as the strange child spends some time in existence he will leave her to strike out on his own. Even as a child he is strange and independent and chooses to face the world alone.
Prompt Response: (Prompt 2)
What had prompted the beautiful Inara to traverse such a place was beyond her. It was dark and damp, the air heavy around her as she made her way around the graves. She shuddered slightly as she seemed to slosh through the thick mist like the thick cream, her heart heavy in this place of death. The air was hushed and held the strange foreboding of a dangerous area, as though something were here protecting it from intruders like her. There was something here that Inara was not sure she wanted to meet, but compelled she was to venture further into the graveyard. It was there that she found it, a dark basket that emitted the same dark mist as the area around it. She almost missed it, save for the glowing jewel that adorned it. The mare looked around, but found no sign of a parent for the abandoned thing. She nudged it softly, as if assuring the being inside that she was there and would help it. Her sense of purpose in this place had expired at the finding of the basket and she truly felt this is what had called her to this frightening place. She made all haste to leave, taking the abandoned basket with her without a thought to its origins or what might be inside. She remained firm in her belief that whatever came out could be taught kindness and love, and she took on the responsibility gladly.

It wasn’t long before the young colt emerged to find the kind mare to raise him. Inara was a lovely creature, and kind to her core to him, but Coqui-Xee never believed she were his mother. He was unnaturally astute for a child, and more intelligent than most, though he knew he was different. Inara worked hard on him, but still something seemed amiss with him. Coqui-Xee was always wandering off as though he didn’t quite know where he was, or as though he were called away by something else that his “mother” could never understand. He felt connected with the shadows in ways he didn’t think others would understand, or at least not those around him. He was quiet, but Coqui-Xee seemed to have no fear or uncertainty at all. He was always muttering to himself and never seemed to be connected with the world around him, despite his mother Inara’s best efforts to show him how to live. He had a fascination with the afterlife and the concept of eternity and often frightened his mother with his talks about this life being such a short, temporary state. After a while, he became more lethargic during the day, preferring the shadows of the night and the strange creatures that were active then. Many nights Inara would wake to find him gone, only to return the next morning with strange ideas about the afterlife and spirits. Inara could not understand these things. Coqui-Xee felt that he could see forever, if only he could tap into the eternity of death without leaving this world. As he grew, this idea became more embedded in him and soon he was leaving his “mother’s” side more and more to experiment. He captured small animals and tore them apart, trying to catch a glimmer of infinity in the moments just before death. He found that the most clarity came to them when released from a great deal of pain, so torment became a new art for him. Inara was always so angry and frightened by him whenever he returned, a mad glint in his eye and blood staining his legs and face. One night he decided that she was too much of a liability to his all-important research, and so he left her. He was still but a foal, but he was no child and believed he could see things much more clearly than his adoptive mother. As he grows he will continue his mad experiments on lesser creatures, delving further and further into madness as time goes on. He will become obsessed with the idea that he just on the EDGE of discovering a way to see eternity.



((Just a special note. I am leaving in about two weeks for boot camp and will not be back until February, however I can promise my return and that I will be faithful to my rp. I may not spend much time in-thread, but I am never hesitant about roleplaying with anyone at anytime. Links to my plot thread and teepee are available if you so desire.))

Your Name: phoenix_resurgam
Soquili you own/co-own:Laures- http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=2643386&page=67
Name for the basket: Xiuhcoatl ( from Aztec meaning "Fire Serpent/Weapon of Destruction")
Who will raise the basket, or will the basket face the world alone? Face the world alone.
Personality/Background: Even if his background wasn’t filled with self-centered and deranged/eccentric beings and if there was even the slightest chance he could have grown to be a good or kind or warm-hearted stallion, Xiuhcoatl’s life from birth on screwed those chances six ways to hell. Instead of growing up with any help and/or guidance, he grew up alone watching others in their happy families, always on the outside, always alone. He became bitter and twisted, and finally calloused, not caring about anyone or anything other than himself.
Prompt: 1. He is now an adult, and despite not having a clear memory of his birthplace, he finds his way back to the graveyard where he was born. Strangely, the place seems right to him. However, just as he's exploring this connection that he has with this location, he comes face to face with Brigitte. What does he feel? How does he act?

Prompt Response:

Xiuhcoatl looked around the barren shrub-land at the foot of the mountains. The sneer permanently affixed to his face lightening just slightly. While most of the Kawani lands were old and had a sense of time and age, they could not even begin to compare to the lands he was now standing in. Even the forest it seemed had not the age or time of this place and either in fear or reverence stood firm a good distance away.

He shuddered once. Nowhere in his travels had he come upon a place that was so eerily silent and calm with the press of time rather more comforting than oppressive. This place though… Somehow this place seemed right. This…graveyard? He guessed based on the stones that were scattered about though far to neatly to have been placed by nature or coincidence… had more a feel of home then any other place he had yet visited. Granted he had travelled a lot, but there were still many places he had not seen. So why should this of all feel like he was coming home?

The sneer came back full force. He had no home, and to feel connected to this place, there had to be something wrong with him. Why would he feel attachment to something that would never and could never want him either? The setting sun behind him cast its dying light to this place creating a fitting backdrop. Most would find that creepy or scary, but Xiuhcoatl found comfort in the dying light.

Brilliant crimson eyes burning with a strange madness held deep within a skull mask. This was the first thing he saw before the dark wicker lid came down covering him and shutting out the outside world… That was mum. He had never met her, and that single glimpse was all he had of her, but he just knew. Xiu shook his head. He hadn’t thought of her… the mare who bore him and betrayed him by abandoning him to survive alone in the cruel world… for quite some time. So why was he thinking of her now? The warmth of two bodies also in wicker baskets next to his generating heat and keeping him warm. His siblings. Something was off. He was a fully grown adult who had thought nothing of the birth family who had abandoned him, and yet this place seemed to bring these memories to the fore. In a rather depressing way though, it kinda made sense. Those who were responsible for the death of all he could have been given a family or those who would care for him… These memories would die once and for all and be buried here in this graveyard.

The sun had set. The sky darkening to twilight when he felt the shadows of this place reaching out to him. Tasting him. Testing him. Trying to determine if this interloper was worthy of walking this sacred soil or if the guardian of this place needed to run him off. He shivered- not in fear- for he knew he belonged here. This would just prove him right. She materialized in front of him. Not stepping out of the shadows or anything inane like that. No, one moment she wasn’t there and the next she was. Keeping his expression frozen, though as respectful as he could make it given he cared for no one’s thoughts and opinions but his own, he bowed his head once to show some respect for the guardian, his elder, on her own turf.

Lifting his head to meet her eyes, Xiu couldn’t help the revulsion he felt. The crimson eyes were just as he remembered. His voice dripping with sarcasm and poison he greeted the mare.

“Hello, mummy dearest.”

Your Name: ~InfinityTrust~
Soquili you own/co-own: Sayena and Casonova, both co-owned with Lady in the Golden Wood, I have rp rights to both.
Edit:
I also own Aeolus. |D
Name for the basket: Kinch
Who will raise the basket, or will the basket face the world alone? All alone, poor thing.
Prompt Response: (Prompt #2)

Light; it was the first and last thing Kinch saw when he was born. His memories would always retain it; now and forever, but sadly they would also always remember the fear. When the light had faded only a few moments after his birth he was drenched in a pool of fear and darkness. Where did it go… Where did the beauty go…? His eyes… they were not destined to see day. He would always be drowning.
Light was beautiful, why was he forbidden to see it? He had loved it with all his heart in those few moments, why couldn’t he see it just one more time?
Why did he have to be blind?
Kinch has tasted many wonderful things, smelled many wonderful things, heard many wonderful things, but nothing so great as light. He wanted the light, but could only see darkness. It was not fair. Life was not fair. Kinch wanted to bare light; carry the sun on his back. But he could not. He was not Ah Kinchil, the sun God, he was merely Kinch. Memories… they were all he had, but they were what made life worth living.

When Kinch emerged from his basket he had to hide; hide in a place he was lost in. There was another being there… but an entity far different from light, far different from life. It scared him almost as much as the darkness; the world he was trapped in. Once he built up enough strength in his thin limbs he quickly fled away, like a skeleton he tumbled and ran.
The small foal past countless embodiments, and was soon far from the other, but he had yet to escape. As his hollow-like hooves pummeled against the hard ground he could only wonder where he was going. Thin claws above him seemed to scratch at his long face and tangle his gossamer mane while hair-like strands sprouted from the ground and tickled his weak and shaking legs. All he could hear was his heartbeat and the cries of hungry things; close and far. The pure atmosphere of the area sent chills down his spine. Everything was dark here. It all frightened him to the point he thought about going back and facing the wrath of the other being.
Maybe… maybe this was it. If this was all there was to life than what was the point? He had decided to live for light the moment he was born; there was no light. He was already dead.
Just about as he slowed down to turn around he bumped into another person; they were just as lost as he was. He was about to run away in fear of being eaten but instead he stood there, eyes widening. What... what was this? They were lost like him... yet they were... happy? They weren’t a strand afraid, and they seemed to carry light within them, even if he could not see it or them for that matter. What was this strange creature...?
“Hello hello~!” They sang happily. They were very different; like a small bell their personality struck separate from the morbid chords that made up the land. He stepped back, not quite trusting.
“Hello hello.” He mimicked, a little sullen and unsure of what he was suppose to do. His voice was unused cracked a little at one pitch.
“You lost, little one~?” They tilted their head to the side, and he almost thought he could see.
“You lost, little one~?” What this really happening? Could it be he was actually talking to them? Another being? His first time at communication… or at least close. He was almost… excited!
“I am actually, would you happen to know- hey look, a bunny!”
“I am actually, would to happen to know- hey look, a…”
Before he could finish copying them the strange creature had already bounced off, chasing something. How wonderful… He was alone again. Though at least he got something out of it; he had now made up his mind. There was no way he’d go back to that… thing. He had just met someone so different from this sepulchral place; proof that there had to be something out there other than fear waiting for him. Maybe… happiness.
Less afraid he continued his journey to leave the death-riled area that surrounded him, and eventually escaped the graveyard. The young one faced every danger that could possibly be thrown at him, and he tackled it down into the dust. He faced long thin floating claws that dangled in the air always trying to grab him, and bumps that grew out of the ground always trying to trip him. He faced being pelted with water always trying to melt him, and a strong blow always trying to knock him off his hooves. He could not see nor understand; but he had to always go on. He was still lost, and always would be, but he was not afraid. He sought happiness; and that was light enough.

The stronger, growing foal traveled nameless, mimicking everyone and everything; always observant and listening. He learned many things. He learned of the sun and moon; clouds and stars. The skys claws were branches, the grounds hair were weeds, the grounds pimples were rocks, and the skys spit was rain; the worlds breath was wind. He learned there were other beautiful things in the world other than light; though of course it always held number one in his heart. As he gained more knowledge of what was truly out there his hollow heart seemed to fill, and eventually it was time. He finally took on a name; Kinch. With that name he finally felt a step closer to his goal; and a little less lost in the world. He was not just an empty soul now; he was Kinch, a mirror that reflected light into even the darkest corners.

Your Name:Rinial Sisterdragon
Soquili you own/co-own: None
Name for the basket:
Itztli - The second Lord of the Night.
Who will raise the basket, or will the basket face the world alone? It will be found, but not for a little while.
Prompt Response:

Prompt two:

He awoke a little disoriented, his eyes staring in disbelief at this unknown world. His mind was a myriad of strange and horrifying images, that he found strangely comforting. His head rose from the basket he was laying in, eyes following the oddly familiar terrain up to darker places. The crypts and dead trees caused his heart to race. Itztli didn't know whether to be scared or find it exhilarating. He stood on wobbly legs and stepped out of the wicker thing he'd found himself in.

A figure moved in the distance, mumbling darkly, and laughing to itself. The sound of that figure's voice rang in the foal's ears, flashes of his would be death seared through his mind. Eyes glowed eerily as he hid himself in the darkest corner he could find. He had no name for this emotion, but his entire body shook as he tried to keep himself quiet.

The voice grew closer and he began to panic. Skittering passed the shadowy figure he dodged under broken gates to find a way out. That voice was cackling behind him as he ran on unsteady legs. It wasn't following, which surprised him. His eyes narrowed on the dark path he began to walk down. The creature that had frightened him, though he did not want to admit it at this point, was very familiar to him...Even if it was only his birth...

Your Name: Ikkle Ashy Moonbabeh
Soquili you own/co-own: Moonbane is my only Soquili, no co-owner.
Name for the basket: Metzli. An Aztec name meaning "moon."
Who will raise the basket, or will the basket face the world alone? My Soquili, Moonbane, and my Indian persona, Tayen, would eventually find and raise the basket. Moonbane has a very strong maternal instinct and would make a good mother. She would probably consider the foal that emerged from the basket as much her own as any biological children she might have. Which explains my reasoning behind the "moon" meaning of the basket's name. :3

Prompt Response:

The tiny foal that huddled inside the basket was not a happy little foal.

He had been birthed quickly and violently, then discarded without so much as a thought, as if his new-found life was irrelevant. Left to shiver against the chilling drafts that swirled throughout the burial grounds, he had tucked his lanky newborn legs against his body and let the despair overwhelm him. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. He was alone. The siblings that had accompanied him throughout his long stay in his mother's womb were lost to him, supposedly huddled in another corner of the dark, haunting grave site. They couldn't have been far, but any distance seemed to loom for miles to the weak little infant, who was too tiny to even consider getting his unsteady legs under him.

Why was he alone? How could he survive, out here in this harsh, forsaken place? Where is my mother!?

The only thing that saved the newborn from certain death were the warm, work-worn hands that had appeared from out of nowhere, encircling him in an embrace that chased away the chill from his bones and gave the foal some small sense of hope. A strange voice had gently cooed and sang foreign words to him, and the foal had held on to the sound of that voice until he was finally scooped up and placed inside something cozy and dry. A sweet aroma had drifted to the foal's nostrils, and he had turned to munch happily on his first tiny mouthfuls of solid food.

He had not noticed the sound of footfalls scurrying quickly away, nor had he been aware of the Indian who appeared to carry his siblings off to the relative safety of his tribe. He had been content to be cuddled up inside his basket, ignorant of the outside world, and would have remained so, if the turbulent spirit that was his mother hadn't returned.

So now, gathered inside the tiny basket and feeling the demonic waves of unpredictability radiating from the dark and dangerous mare outside, the little foal wasn't so happy. The newborn knew immediately that the eerie "clip-clopping" of hooves outside belonged to his mother, and he was instantly certain that he did not, did not, want his mother to realize he was there. The ghostly mare seemed calm enough, for now, but her erratic hoof beats and agitated huffing carried the sound of insanity. Did she even understand she had given birth? What if the sight of her basket, sitting quietly in the shadows, sent her into a murderous rage?

Frightened, the baby foal held his breath until the creepy "clip-clopping" of hooves disappeared into the distance. Relief flooded through him in waves. But... What if she comes back?

It was to the foal's good fortune that he did not remain in the secluded burial grounds much longer. He couldn't be sure who, or what, hauled his basket away from those forsaken grounds, but he felt a change in the air as his basket bobbed away, carried by some unknown force. A heavy sense of darkness loomed over the grave site of his birth, his mother's sanctuary. In leaving the graves behind, the foal found that a weight seemed to be lifted from his chest. He could breathe easier, and for that he owed this unseen savior his thanks.

It was many weeks before the foal was ready to emerge from his basket. Those weeks were good ones, by and large. He was very well-cared for, the steady supply of crispy apples and yummy carrots placed in him basket allowing him to grow strong and healthy. Tiny whispers of quiet conversation constantly floated to his pricked ears, and he was continuously assured that he was not alone, would never be alone again.

So it was with eagerness that one day the foal decided to peek a curious eye outside his basket. What do these strangers look like, anyway? He hopped outside, flicked his tail, and took his first uneasy steps, basking in the warm glow of the sun as it beamed down from overhead.

"Why, hello, little one."

The foal whirled around to face the soft voice, and his eyes widened as they caught sight of a most magnificent, almost regal looking mare, standing quietly in front of him. To her side was a strange, mostly bald animal, who bared its teeth at the foal for a moment, but otherwise appeared harmless. The young foal cringed at the sight of the alien creature until he realized... It was this kind of creature that wove me my basket!

"There is no need to be afraid," the mare shook her long mane and took a hesitant step forward. "This human is called Tayen. She has been my friend for many seasons. I am Moonbane," she paused. The foal could feel the mare's warm blue eyes searching his face, looking for some clue as to how to proceed. "Tayen, Crimson, and I... we found you. I-... we... want to take care of you."

The child's ears pricked. "So you're the one who has been giving me all the tasty apples?" he asked, and laughed at the mare's responding nod.

"Then you will make a fine mother for me!"

Metzli couldn't have known then what a profound effect those simple words had on Moonbane. Mother...? With that one word the entire purpose of Moonbane's life was changed forever, her focus now shifted to the shining young foal in front of her. As she moved forward to nuzzle her new son, Moonbane was filled with the absolute certainty that she would always cherish, never abandon her sweet little Metzli.

The love between a mother and child is forever...

Note: I'm sorry it's so long. Kept it under the limit though. x.x;;

And I'm sorry if I god-moded the making of the basket and some things talked about in the prompt. I'm a bit confused as to what god-moding refers to in RP prompts. @__@;; Anyway, I had an idea for writing about him before he was in the basket and I kinda just went with it. D: I'm sorry if it's not acceptable. D:

Thanks for having the contest. <3~

And edited, because I forgot the basket was a male. D:

Your Name: Teh_Sil
Soquili you own/co-own: Inali, Imriel, Clara (http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=2643386&page=13
Very top of the page!)
Name for the basket: Pulque (An ancient type of psychoactive Aztec liquor that was said to be popular with the gods)
Who will raise the basket, or will the basket face the world alone? Technically he’ll be alone, but in his mind… Oh, you’ll see. XP
Prompt Response: A gentle rain fell down, cold drops ignored by the dead. What use had they with the rain? The cold did not bother them. The wet held little concern. They were so far underground that they remained warm and dry as they slowly decomposed, releasing gases that combined with the air to form eerie green lights at night. The malicious smelling green gas probed, sending tendrils everywhere, seeking out the warmth of the living. In the end, even the dead sometimes wished to have some companionship.

Hidden by a gravestone whose inscription had long since been worn away, the basket waited. It too sent out tendrils, though they were black and odorless. They would have seemed to contain an ill intent, had there not been a bright, golden jewel in the very center, which seemed to create a light that cancelled out the evil. It was a precarious balance, but it was achieved none the less.

Slowly, with a paralyzing lack of speed, the lid of the basket began to lift. It seemed that the rain had gotten inside, disturbing the dry peace and quiet that the foal inside had relished for so long. He couldn’t have this- not anymore. The discomfort of the rain lead him to fully think for the first time, realizing that he was growing too large to be held safely by the confines of this woven home for any longer.

With infinite care, the lid of the basket lifted, and a small head peeked out, bright eyes regarding the world for the first time. Somehow he had been expecting more colors. Everything was grey. Grey and wet. This was what he had come out of the basket for? This was hardly worth it! But it was too late now, and the foal grumpily dislodged himself all the way, standing on shaky legs and breathing heavily from the effort.

Now that he was out, the colt realized there were several pressing needs that had to be taken care of. First off, he was freezing. His warm and dry basket had not prepared him for this raining world. And he was hungry to top it off.

“Mommy? Are you here?” The colt was calling off into nothingness, his call echoing strangely before the rain seemed to consume it. About to give up, collapse back into his basket and let the elements take him away, the colt felt the stirrings of an answer. He wasn’t entirely sure what it was, but his body suddenly filled with warmth, and his belly grew warm and full. What was going on? Not afraid, the colt peered forward with renewed energy. “Mommy?” He wasn’t sure if this was how it worked, but it seemed this was so.

“You are ours now little one. Do you object?” The voice sounded so friendly that the colt could hardly do so.

“Who are you?” Well, he had to ask.

“We’re the spirits of this graveyard. Your mother left you here, forgot about you. We’ve been waiting.” The spirits didn’t sound evil- still they were warm and friendly. It wasn’t clear if the colt was actually hearing voices, or if they were a figment of an overactive young imagination.

“There is one condition. You must accept the name we give you, and once a month you must return and pay homage to us. For this, we will keep you warm and keep you fed until you are old enough to face the world on your own. We will tell no one of your existence, protecting you from the evils that would take advantage of your youth.”

It sounded like a good deal to the colt, who was not much in the position to imagine otherwise. These spirits had done nothing bad to him, why fight it? Instead, he nodded sleepily.

“Rest now then. Rest now, little Pulque…”