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 Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:53 pm
Rais waited for his words to sink in deeper as they were very important. "To find my brothers, those of you who are interested in being on the council, I will be placing a multitude of items for you to choose from." Rais pointed to an area in the tree just to the side of the dais where Rais could watch. You could see a few things, goblet, ladle, knife with a bark handle, but there was much, much more. "You will pick from these items and then tell me why you chose it, what it means to you. My brothers will know why."
He then bowed as a sign of respect to the one standing near him. "This is Earthmother. She is the oldest wisest pae I know, she is also my mother and in that the mother of Arda who I was before." The fierce-looking pae had a very close resemblance to Rais and it could be seen that she was his mother.
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:27 pm
The ancient faun standing to Rais' side nodded tenderly to him. She remained silent, letting her son conduct his business. Her purpose at this meeting of her beloved Faun would come later, to surprise even her son.
The elderly faun stood proud and healthy, a testament to the magic of Telrunya with her youthful visage. Indeed as Rais mentioned, she is the mother of both Arda and the current Chieftan. She bore witness to all of Telrunya's history, becoming a living record of Pae'il history. It is because of her strength, power and love for her people that Faun are alive today, because it was her that sealed the remaining Faun acorns into the Great Tree Laisidhiel to protect them from the horrible fate that befell the other Ancient Breeds of Pae'il.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:22 am
Isolde shook her head. "No, I haven't. My acorn hatched far away from...well, wherever they are supposed to hatch. As a small child I was often chastised for my hooves due to accidentally stepping on non-hooved creatures feet on accident. I've sort of developed an odd..." she paused, looking at the man's children. "Dislike for those with, what they call 'normal' feet. I mean, I knew somewhere deep in myself that there were others like me, but after so long of not seeing any, I lost hope, and became bitter due to my solitude..." Isolde sniffled a bit as tears started to drift down her cheeks. This was almost too much for her to handle.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 11:43 am
Faroth would make a great Advisor - Second in Command/Captain of the Rangers!
Wow! Rais was looking for advisors! This really was something big and exciting! "Woah...what do ya' think, Van? Gonna' give it a shot?" he teased, playfully nudging the younger Faun with his elbow with a wink. Faroth practically danced from one hoof to the other, waiting his turn in case others were ready to go up before him...then deciding he was quite ready enough. "Back in a bit," he tossed over his shoulder to Vangelis, trotting up towards the dais. Raina opened one eye, then huffed. With a tired shake of her head, she rose to follow the silly Faun, taking only a moment to stretch her own limbs before padding along after him.
Faroth was looking over all the interesting objects laid out before him. Something that spoke to him...something important...for some reason. Hmm... There certainly were a lot of things up here, that much was for sure! Well, what was it he wanted to do? He was strong, and brave, and, and...courageous...and a bunch of other great things! The grandiose images were already filtering through his mind: he could see himself, standing before a group of other Faun, weilding a sword and shield, shouting inspiring messages of encouragement, all while ready to protect the Chief from outside threats.
Nevermind that he had no idea what he was protecting Rais of all Fauns from. That wasn't the point. The point was, that in his mind, the image was all very...cool.
That's when his eyes lit upon the perfect item! It was a wooden sword, but not one like a child's toy. It was polished, dense hardwood, carved and sanded carefully to a sharpened edge. It would not cut like a metal sword, and would be more suited to bashes or blunt force attacks, but even an unskilled fighter like Faroth could tell that this would be a formidable weapon in capable hands.
The key word being 'capable' here.
He ran his fingers over the small carved symbols and figures on the weapon's surface, then after a moment's hesitation and sheer wonder, closed his hand around its hilt. It was heavier than it first appeared, and he took a moment to compensate his grip before hefting it aloft. He couldn't keep the grin off his face as he started speaking:
"To protect all Faun everywhere, and serve my Chief to the best of my abilities. That is what I wish. To serve as a shield and a warrior for our people against anything that may threaten our way of life. I will take up arms if need be, to stand as a pillar of strength and courage, when all others start to fall. I have chosen this sword for that reason, so that I can be ready when needed and I--ACK!"
He'd been doing so well too. Faroth had gotten so into his little improvised speech, that he'd begun swinging the sword in wider and wilder circles over his head as his energy level clmbed. Up until he'd nearly clipped off one of his own antlers. Ducking instinctively, with a less-than-dignified yelp, his hand let go of the blade, which then soared through the air before bouncing and thudding into the ground some feet away. Raina had leapt free of the projectile with an alarmed bark, and was now braced on all fours and aiming a less-than-amused glare in Faroth's direction.
"Uh...whoops? Sorry," Faroth muttered sheepishly, rubbing his neck. "Um...sorry, Raina," he coughed, looking awkward. The wolf did not seem sated.
The grey Faun's gaze was captured by something else on display. "Err, maybe I'm more suited to spears than swords," he offered, beginning to reach for another weapon, inlaid with bands of silver and...
He was halted by Raina, who had grabbed ahold of the fluffy tuft of his tail in her teeth and pulled him back. 'One, boy. Just one. And besides, you'll hurt yourself...or someone else,' he heard her voice in his head, despite the fact that her jaws never moved. She rolled her eyes tiredly, and gave Faroth another tug backwards, ignoring his protests as she pulled him away from the Chief and the rest of the items. Darned boy kept her busy keeping him out of trouble...
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:02 pm
Obviously this young woman was too agitated to sit with him. Ah well, he was rested anyway, and the call was growing more insistent by the moment. Theron begins to pack up Lily and Tamara in his little pouch as he listens to her story. He also doesn't miss the unsure, almost snide look at his children when she'd mentioned her distaste for footed Pae.
"Well," he says. "There are plenty more like you and I, I'm sure. As far as I can tell, the fauns from all over the Isle are being called to somewhere. My wife, not a faun, was not summoned, so this is the only conclusion I can come to." He tickles Lily's feet, who obliges with a little giggle. "And my little ones clearly felt the summons as well; even though they are not Fauns, my blood runs in their veins." He smiles warmly.
"So you may very well meet many, many others like us in a short while." He stands and walks over to her. "Now let us be on our way; the calling weighs on my heart, as I'm sure it does yours." Something else was bothering him though....something he'd forgotten? He glances back toward the place he'd been sitting. "Oh! How rude of me, I'm terribly sorry! My name is Theron," he says. "And these are my daughters, Lily and Tamara."
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 3:23 pm
Kishi nodded to her friend, "I have very well! I have not been able to play music as lovely as yours, but I do practice every day."
Turning her attention back to her Chieftain when he addressed the gathered faun, she listened closely. The chief was looking for his council? That was interesting. They'd lived so long with just Rais leading the faun, she was curious why the need suddenly arose to find more leaders.
"Let's go see what the Chief is talking about, Pan." She said to her friend and weaved through the crowd to reach the area full of trinkets and items. She scanned the different items and none of them really said anything to her. She giggled at the yo-yo and little wicker chair she spotted among the various treasures, and pictured the young faun who may have used them.
She chanced a peek at the Earthmother and smiled. She had only heard of the legends of this extraordinary faun from around the Tree, but never seen her in person. She was in awe at her beauty and the gentleness she displayed. Kishi admired her.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:00 pm
Phiona Asumi would make a great Seer!
Fi blinked, looking around to see if anyone woul be going up first. She waited, growing anxious. She did want to try and get up there, but she didn't want to make a fool of herself like the guy who nearly sliced off his own antler. She shrugged, closing her big red eyes for a moment before walking up to the dias.
Almost immediately she was overwhelmed with how much there was up there. Her fingers brushed over things, looking at a variety of different objects. There was just so many, it made her forget why she was up there in the first place. The female giggled, playing with a few of them before something shiney finally caught her eyes.
It was old, and looked crusted with dirt from the ages of the lack of use. She smiled, holding it up for the chief to see. "I choose this shiny thing." Fi was content with herself, starting to step off when she noticed the odd looks coming from some of the others nearby. Had she forgotten something else? It took her a moment of pondering before she realized, she'd forgotten entirely to explain why she picked up the metal object.
"Um.. I picked the spoon because it looked pretty. I can see my hair inside of it, behind the dirt." Fi turned the side to Rais, having shined it just a little bit, "And it can reflect the sunlight to help others see. It looks like someone could play with it to see the water on the beaches when they're inside.. So long as they're near the window." The female smiled, still holding it. Looked like it could have been made from a spoon or a cup at one point, or maybe it was just a scrap piece of metal.
"Maybe it could hold just a bit of water or something else, if given the chance. It just looks like you could see the world through it." She tried to think of more to say, only to blink and watch as something else shiny caught her eye.
Gently she set the metal back down, and started to walk off the dias. She was following the light on the wall. It was pretty. She could see other worlds inside of it, worlds she imagined herself with Bob visiting. It was so much fun to think of all the places that one little spot of light could lead.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 6:04 pm
Takis would make a great Tree Shaper!
Takis watches as some of the fauns step up to the dais where Rais is sitting, each trying to take their place on his council. He's about to turn to Vanya and scoff at the notion of being reborn, but then he catches the eye of the Earthmother, the mysterious and beautiful faun standing behind the chieftain. Something inside him shifts, and he feels almost compelled to inspect the table of objects.
"I'll....I'll be right back, Vanya," he says, his eyes fixed on the dais. "Don't...run away." He steps away from her and up to the dais. He waits in the line, curiously trying to look over the shoulders or around the elbows of the ones in front of him. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, it's his turn.
And suddenly time appears to stop.
Takis lets his eyes drift over each object on the table. He doesn't want to choose too hastily, and he's nothing if not patient. There's a candlestick, and a jeweled cup. There's a long spear and a short sword. Takis begins to frown gently. Nothing seemed to call to him. Nothing sparked his interest or commanded his attention. It wasn't any of those things, nor was it the piece of amber in the shape of a tear, or the delicate diadem with a silver leaf pattern.
Takis is about to shake his head and apologize when something at the very corner of the table catches his eye. It's a bit of wood, knotted and gnarled and scarred beyond repair. It looks as if it's been through the fire as well. It looks to be in pain. He picks it up and examines it. He wondered how long this poor bit of wood had been in this state. He closes his eyes and focuses, trying to channel his healing power into it. Nothing happened. He blinks, surprised, and tries again, focusing harder. "Come on..." he whispers. "You can do it..." He's not sure whether he's talking to himself or the bit of wood. He opens his eyes again. Still nothing.
At this point he becomes aware of the eyes that are watching him. "I...I apologize," he says. "My power is to heal trees...and this little bit of wood called to me, but I couldn't fix it." He bites his lip and turns it over in his fingers. "And so I must choose it as my object, because it intrigues me in that it resists my healing touch, and because I hope that one day if I hone my magic enough I might repair it." He meets Rais' eyes. "May I keep it?" he asks, ducking his head gently in respect to the leader of the fauns.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:21 pm
Vanya would make a great Seer!
Blue hair swished this way and that as Vanya shook her head. She wasn't completely lost. She didn't understand everything that was going on, but she did have some knowledge, at least about Arda and the ancient Fauns...thanks to bedtime stories during her early life here at the Tree.
"Arda was a great hero," she explained to Takis, "An ancient leader of the Faun who led our people in battle against the evil ones who sought to destroy us. He was a great fighter, a kind leader, and a hero to all the Faun. There are a lot of Faun legends telling tales of what he did for us, though some are a little far-fetched. That's why I always thought they were just stories..." she trailed off, seeming distracted. She was watching the progression of the ceremony, as other Fauns started approaching the Chief and selecting their tokens, led by a rather enthusiastic mottled grey male, then others after him.
She knew that most of the Council would be male, and besides, she had no interest on being trapped here at the Tree with silly Council business anyway. So why was it that Vanya felt compelled to approach the Chief like the others? She'd been in such a distracted state that she'd failed to notice that Takis had wandered off somewhere in the middle of her explanation. Wait, no...Takis...was at the dais?
She frowned deeply, puzzling over what he was doing up there, having just commented moments before about the silliness of all this council business and reborn spirits. Yet, it was plain that there was more going on here today than met the naked eye.
Wasn't it?
Shuffling her hooves awkwardly in the dirt, she stood alone for a moment longer, then begrudgingly made her way to the dais. What was she doing? She was just supposed to come here long enough to satisfy Takis, see what all this was about, then get on her way before anyone recognized her.
Yet, her hooves kept carrying her forwards and she would have aimed a glare down at them if she hadn't thought it would draw more attention to herself. Or, more likely, sent her tumbling tail over hooves into the dirt. Yeah, while that might keep her off the dais, she wasn't sure it was worth it unless it could be a skewed into a more permanent solution. No...best be resigned to Fate. It could be a cruel mistress when defied. Besides, what were the odds that anything would come of this, anyway? She was a girl...well, woman. She had no place on the Council...there was nothing that she'd be any good at if there were. All she was good at was causing chaos and destruction wherever she went.
Arriving upon the dais, she kept her eyes low, not meeting the Chief's gaze, but feigning interest in the objects laid out before her so as not to offend him at the same time. At the same time...her eyes slipped upwards, drawn towards the Earthmother for an inexplicable reason. Though she was raised under the shelter of the Great Tree, she had never had the pleasure of meeting the one female Faun who commanded such respect and power, as well as such legendary kindness. Red orbs met forest green, and Vanya started, dropping her eyes immediately.
She stared at the objects without seeing for a while, lost in her own whirling thoughts. What was she doing up here? Oh...Great Tree, she had to be crazy. And yet, she just...felt that this was something she had to do. Her eyes finally focused on the items scattered for viewing, and she frowned in deep thought. Wait, was she supposed to think about this? Or just do whatever felt natural? And why was she worrying about this anyway?
She reached out at last, picking up a small object, tiny enough to disappear in her fist. She turned her hand up and opened it, revealing the item lying on her palm. Next to the glyph burned into the center of her palm lay a plain, ordinary walnut. It's rough texture contrasting with her smooth skin, it lay there innocently enough as she looked at it, then at Chieftain Rais and his mother, as if they would explain to her why she had picked it.
Then she frowned again. It seemed to be nothing more than a regular walnut...right? Or maybe not. She withdrew her extended hand, peering closely at the walnut as she turned it this way and that between her dark fingers. Curious, but something...something she couldn't quite put her finger on, so to speak...seemed 'off' about this particular walnut. After a few awkward minutes, minutes in which she was painfully aware of the Fauns that had started staring at her nearby, she felt rather than heard a tiny click. She gasped, the little walnut springing open to reveal that it was no ordinary tree fruit afterall, but a clever container designed by some sneaky engineer. Perhaps its purpose was to hide something in plain sight. If so, Vanya would have had to say that they'd succeeded.
Within the walnut shell lay something smooth and crystaline. Vanya's eyes widened at the sight of it, and she was ginger with her efforts to remove it. The crystal lay in her other open palm, revealed to also have a cord of some type attached to it, as it was now free from its shelled fortress.
Even as she stared, she was aware that everyone seemed to be waiting for her to say something, but the two she was most keenly sensing were the eyes of the Chief and his mother. "I..." she started, her voice breaking. What to say? She could say something about how she'd felt there was something more to the walnut, that a plain exterior hid something wonderful within. It sounded crazy though.
Eh, most probably thought her crazy anyway already. Might as well make sure she alienated herself completely if she hadn't already done so.
"I just...thought there might be something more," she started awkwardly. "I mean...walnuts are good too. But it just...'felt' like there might be something more. Something special inside. Sometimes people are like that too," she started to stray on a tangent, eyes locked now on the shell box and the crystal in her hands. "Even the ones that look the roughest on the outside can have something special locked away deep inside..."
She swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very self-conscious once more, as if touching a pained nerve within. She needed to get out of here. "I um...okay..." she stammered, keeping her eyes down as she bowed, enough not to seem rude, even if it was obvious that she was hurrying through the motion in an attempt to get off the dais as fast as possible. As soon as she felt it was safe to bolt without seeming rude, she took her her hooves and did her best to disappear into the hovering crowd of Faun.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:59 pm
Isolde finally plopped down where she was standing, her legs becoming too weak from all the emotions running through her at once.
"I didn't mean to sound rude," she sniffled. "Your children are lovely, honest...Habits are just..." she paused for a moment, "hard to break..."
She blinked watery eyes at Theron, and tried to smile at him, but it wasn't very believable. "My name is Isolde..."
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:20 pm
Rais waited for the first of many fauns to try for the council. He knew his brothers were among the rest in this crowd. They would be found right here, with this ritual. It had to be done the correct way. That was how Rias lived, by rules, rituals, and ceremonies.
First was Faroth, Faroth oh how he remembered when this faun was a young lad. How he had led Rais out of the tree and on to the isle for the first time. Could he be one of his brothers? He watched as the faun picked his item and went into a long speech..which was ruined when he almost cut off his own antlers, "Thats enough, thank you." Rais could be stubborn, but he wasn't always mean.
Next up a...female? What part of "brothers" didn't go through? Rais had a hard time seeing a female as a member of the council, but that did not mean there weren't any. He watched as she picked and explained her item. She did not accidentally almost hurt herself or others, so this was an improvement. "Thank you."
Next up another male. Rais watched as he took a bit longer to choose. Interesting that he chose to try and heal an item. Rais looked to him and nodded at the question, "You may." Maybe the male needed more practice or there was something more to this item?
Next up another female...really? Rais shook his head to himself and watched the girl choose her item. A simple walnut, or was it? He listened to the girl as she explained her item and gave a nod, "What an interesting observation, thank you."
Rais smiled to the rest of the group, "There are many more items to choose from." He addressed the rest that hadn't come up yet. "I know my brothers are here among us, so keep trying." He wasn't sure about the group who had tried and the group who hadn't yet. He would keep waiting and observing.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:24 pm
Seda stood next to a few faun and bowed her head as the Chieftain made his announcement about the council. "A council..." she said quietly to herself. What was the council needed for...reborn? Could she be one of these reborn fauns? She didn't think that possible as she didn't feel "reborn"...or could you feel it? Seda stood with a frown as she thought.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:00 pm
Takis comes down from the dais, turning his little bit of wood over and over in his hands. He looks for Vanya in the crowd. He walks back to where he'd left her, and looks around. She wasn't here. Takis' heart rate speeds up a little bit. She wouldn't have...run away...would she? He stands on the tips of his hooves and searches for her vibrant blue hair. She isn't in the crowd...he bites his bottom lip.
His eyes land back on the dais. There! At the table! She must've been right behind him in the line! Curious that she hadn't said anything to him. Perhaps...perhaps she'd been in the same trance he had. Hadn't the chieftan called for his brothers? He looks somewhat puzzled. Although...if anyone belonged on this strange new council, it was Vanya. She was the wisest person he knew.
He waits for her to return. "That was....very strange," he says once she finds him again. "Don't you agree?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:13 pm
Theron smiles and takes her hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Isolde," he says. He bows gently over her knuckles. He hadn't lost his chivalrous touch just because he was happily mated. Although the gesture comes off more as silly than anything with twins strapped to his chest.
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