Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tempest had shook off the weirdness of her shift, finished it and slept restfully the rest of the night. With the early morning sun and a wake up call from Viltalta, Tempest was up on her feet in a shot and bouncing around. She made sure to break her fast before getting too worked up, had a swig of water and joined the group as they headed out. Arriving at the bridge, Tempest kept out of the way as she didn’t have any useful input here or items. Her rope was certainly of no use here. Needless, she watched and listened curiously as they worked on figuring out the puzzle which was getting the bridge to work. The Others certainly build such odd things didn’t they, she pondered to herself. They seemed to get something sorted out between the black box a doe found and a key that the grey buck discovered. Vitalta asked everyone to voice their vote on which lever they should pull. Well wasn’t that the question of the day. How was any of them to know? Was it a clue that Wanderlust left behind?

“Maybe the center one?” Tempest voiced somewhat hesitant.

WC: 196
Total: 2,939

"It looks just like it!" Ysalone said excitedly, shoving her contraption forward to line up next to the one from the panel. "We might be able to stick this one in there too?"

The doe turned her attention to the levers, wondering how they would even know where to begin. "I think... the center one." Though it was purely a gut instinct. Ysalone didn't know the first thing about contraptions like this, much less a massive one like the bridge they were trying to move.

Draven had looked at the control box, Bluebell had remained where she was with the Key under a paw. When they got closer again, she wiggled the thing into the slot where it was to fit. With the key in place, Draven backed off again letting the other Nouls give the thing a look.

"Lets give the center one a try, if it doesn't work, we always have the other options." he voiced his opinion.

Had he been alone, he might have just flipped all three and ran with it. But this seemed to be a group effort, for the most part. He was just adding what little he wanted to add.


[[ Banked rolls unused +1 ]]

Fiontan had fallen so far behind he could no longer hear or see the group that was ahead of him.

He kept moving, trying to catch up. He knew the importance of this and was determined to help in anyway he could.

It seemed like he had been walking forever when suddenly he saw a doe not to far up ahead of him, realizing she may be part of the group he quickened his pace.

As he came around a small bend he saw quite a few standing about seeming looking at something, what he could not tell.

He slowly approached the group and introduced himself and apologized for lagging so far behind.


W/C: 114
Total: 1297

Ysalone’s strange contraption was obviously other and Viltalta was loath to touch it, but it didn’t seem like her party would get any further if she didn’t. Once Ysalone eased it into place, the strange box began to hum as electricity surged through its veins. Viltalta hurried away from it, wings ruffled.

“One step down.” She turned to her crew to tally their votes. 5 votes for the center lever and 2 for the left. Viltalta approached the box and pulled the middle lever, then quickly turned the key as per Isra’s instructions.

Nothing happened.

Viltalta nudged the key back into place and tried the left lever.

The bridge groaned, creaking and crumbling in snarled protest, but it began to lower. Something clinked as the bridge hit the ground, and two tiny crystals tumbled forward. Viltalta approached and sniffed them hesitantly. Grandfather Tree’s magic was ripe in them, but she’d never seen crystal like this before.

“Ralir, Adahy,” she sought them out in her party. “Your instincts about this alien box were correct. I think you should take these.”



Thankfully, the contraption caused them no injury. Viltalta started across the bridge with ginger footsteps which gradually grew bolder, until she was trotting valiantly to the other side. The bridge must have been decades old, but it stood firm.

Trees, standing like gnarled skeletons, broke the sandy horizon. This, too, was on Wanderlust’s map. She was surprised to see it. In her travels she’d never seen more than one or two lone, yearling trees, already dead from heat and dehydration. But this? It was a forest. Thick enough to blot out the sun with wide, black branches.

Something was carved into the bark of all the outer trees, deep enough that a strange red sap leaked from the old holes. It was in the old language, a language that existed before the others.

Viltalta read it with a frown.

“The trees do not want you here.”

“Be wary,” she called to the party. “There might be danger in the forest.”

Up to this point Ayala was fine with letting Tsarine learn his surroundings. That was till the bridge led them into an unspeakable Hell even she hadn't set claw in. Granted she was trying not to be on edge letting her Buck brave the unknown. Now, this anomaly staring the party down had bad tidings etched in full warning. Raising her head up quickly her heartbeat enhanced proving she was on edge.

Tsarine feeling that rapid breathing down to his skin spoke, "Ayala, you okay?"

She hissed with a deliberate shake of her head, "Tsarine, Tread your steps carefully. This place is giving me vibes unlike any anything I've ever felt before".

The younger Buck felt tingling in all his legs when Vitalia showed caution in her body language. His eyes widened as they swept over this forest that seemed a mirage. Something definitely looked off with these trees. Ayala definitely had an inkling which was causing her distress. Still, Tsarine had to be brave since she had been letting him take the reins being brave.

"Ayala. Don't worry. I'm not going to charge headfirst into this situation", he mentioned speaking with confidence.

If Vitalia was showing extreme caution then the entire party should follow in suit. Who knew what was lurking with the shadows that could be either friend or foe. With the vibes circulating around the party taking things one hoof at a time was the best option. They'd all need to be on guard to survive and keep one another.

"Everyone..." he spoke with urgency, "Ayala is not liking this nor am I". He didn't really know how speaking would get attention but, he took a risk showing concern.


Banked +1, not used

Tempest had no qualms trotting across the odd old bridge that was built by the Others. She practically raced to the otherside. But once to the otherside, she recalled her night watch and that she had heard voices that came from over here. She trotted over to the edge on this side and paused. Her ears swiveled back as she heard Viltalta say something about the trees that where over here. Tempest was now curious as to why she had to avoid the trees and raced back over like a gangly foal. There was odd writing on a tree that she couldn’t read. Looked rather mysterious and unusual. She shrugged and pranced over to the trees, sniffing them, even walked around one as she gazed up at it’s dead branches. What was so special about them that they had a warning label carved into the trunk of one?

Tempest quickly lost interest in the weird, dead trees and trotted back to the group. Her mind wondered back to the voices she had heard and wondered if she needed to tell Vitalta. She looked over at the winged doe and walked over to her, but suddenly didn’t know if she should say anything. Would it be weird she heard voices? I wonder if I even did? Hmm….

WC: 216
Total: 3,155

Ysalone was surprised, almost shocked, that everything with the bridge had functioned without a hitch. She had hoped for the best, certainly, but when it came to such massive contraptions - and ones that seemed like they had been untouched for an age - she couldn't help but steel herself for possible failure.

And yet, it all went well.

As they group crossed, the doe kept her eyes on the far side, watching the trees as they neared. Could trees really be hostile? She wasn't too sure. Best keep an eye out.