At first Minstrel didn't realize another kin had spoken to him, so absorbed in pulling and stacking the grass. It wasn't until the buck stopped to look around, and noted not only the stones but how quickly the group had worked, that he realized the question he'd heard forever ago was, likely, aimed at him.
"I'm not sure what they're for.. differently colored and laid out like.. well like stepping stones over a river. Maybe they'll tell us what order to go to the cheetah stones in?" Not that he had any idea what to do at each of the large stones. Maybe with the grass gone they'd be able to move them?
Half Truth dug around for more of the flat rocks. They were clearly the key to this, and she wondered about the point of the larger rocks with the cheetah-shaped markings. If the flat rocks made the obelisk glow, how did those play into things?
24/250
Scaramouche Fandango
Big Wife
Offline
Soldier of Song rolled 2 8-sided dice:
3, 7Total: 10 (2-16)
Soldier of Song
Bear
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:46 pm
The landscape was nearly completely transformed from since they'd started. It would be inspiring, but Fury was not one to celebrate early. The rest had to go.
21/250
So Long Gay Bowser rolled 2 8-sided dice:
5, 2Total: 7 (2-16)
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:47 pm
"You might still get the chance~" Rose teased, a chuckle in her voice even as she worked. She did pause a moment to regard the buck, shaking her head at his apology.
"No, no need to apologize! I was lost in my thoughts. I wouldn't have been much conversation, anyway," She assured, smiling brightly to show she meant it. At the mention of making history, her focus turned to the obelisk, ever looming above them.
"...I suppose we will tell stories about this, won't we."
Not wasting time for an reply, Minstrel keep right on pulling and stacking the grass. That last glance had shown them almost done and it'd be unfortunate to lose momentum now.
Breeze stopped drawing up new grass, instead thoughtfully chewing on the mouthful he had for a moment, and maybe breathing a little heavily. "Hoo, head rush," he murmured, squinting and gazing around himself at what they'd almost finished uncovering. "I imagine the stories will have the bad parts cut out, unless they prove to be important for something. Like warning children not to run around touching strange arcane stones half-forgotten by the world," he said with a snort.
"What I wouldn't give for a... oh!" he began, and then interrupted himself. "Wait, I can have that. 'Scuse me, ladies," he said, and suddenly the stag was gone - but a similarly-colored songbird with a sprig of mint clutched in one talon was fluttering up into the air over the obelisk in his place.
Scaramouche Fandango
Moonstone Dazzle
Soldier of Song rolled 2 8-sided dice:
2, 5Total: 7 (2-16)
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:52 pm
It was a little harder to avoid other kin, now, with there being only so much grass left, but Fury only gave a glance to any she might have passed, before continuing on.
Half Truth leered at Rose. "Songs, poems, odes- here, I'll sing you one now." Half Truth cleared her throat and launched into an improvised ballad. "The obelisk on the plains/we'll tell of in our prose/but our songs must be saved/for its fair cleaner, Rose./The furrow of her ebon brow/ the patience in her eyes/the strength in her slim shoulders/the tautness of her thighs!/Her fair face did clear the way/it could have on its own/for just one look from fairest Rose/inspires me to mo...w!" She made an elaborate bow to her little audience- if it amused nobody else, it amused her. While she was down, she pulled up some more grass. 7/250
Moonstone Dazzle
Kitty Sprightt
So Long Gay Bowser rolled 2 8-sided dice:
2, 3Total: 5 (2-16)
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:56 pm
"Oh! You're one of them! One of the legendary ones!" Rose practically squeaked, distracted from her task momentarily. She was, despite herself, excited like a foal might be. The older doe grinned.
"I've... I've gotten to meet so many of you lately! Oh, it's incredible! And you're a songbird!"
Her awe of the legendary was ended by Half Truth's sudden ballad, and Rose stomped her hooves in delight, grinning. Feeling very emboldened, she hooted out,
Soldier of Song rolled 2 8-sided dice:
5, 2Total: 7 (2-16)
Soldier of Song
Bear
Offline
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:56 pm
Certainly, it was hard for Fury not to overhear that little ballad Half Truth belted out. She hid her small smile in the grass she tore away.
0/250
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:58 pm
Scaramouche Fandango
Half-Truth's little ode, and consequent break from pulling grass, gives her time to survey the area around them.
thyPOPE Crew
Devoted Hoarder
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thyPOPE Crew
Devoted Hoarder
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 5:01 pm
There are only negligible amounts of grass remaining in the area around the obelisk, but it's clear now that the ground is studded with flat stones. The obelisk glows so brightly that it's difficult to look in its direction - and then it goes, abruptly, dark. They're done...or are they? After a minute a tiny glow leaks through the runes carved all over the obelisk, and it begins to again emit light. No poking or prodding of anything in the area provokes any sort of response for now. But they're clearly not done yet.
However, everyone is tired. Perhaps they should rest for a bit before continuing. Your kin now has the opportunity to explore, although it is not advised to wander very far...
If your kin removed at least one "unit" of grass, they feel a powerful compulsion to touch the obelisk. If they do so, nothing seems to happen... but perhaps it means something.
If your kin wanders too far from Lull in Sunlight's group (they should remain within hearing distance of the main group), they may answer the following prompt. They will unfortunately be unable to participate in Part 2.
You were just curious, or bored, or, perhaps, feeling a bit of nostalgia for your homelands. Whatever the reason, you've been separated from the group. At first, it's interesting. The plains are so different, and it's nice talking to plains kiokote, who've never seen the swamp.
It comes on slowly at first - a barely noticeable headache, or just tiredness. You don't really notice it, because you've been tired. Then it's like an onslaught: everything hurts, and you remember the copious warnings all too late to turn back toward the group. You collapse, just like every kin who's ever been to the swamp and then tried to travel out again. You cannot even think about returning to Lull in Sunlight's expedition, and must immediately begin the long trek home, alone, and Aching all the way.
OOC
This concludes Part 1 of the the meta puzzle. The thread will remain open for RP; however, please do not attempt any actions until further notice. An announcement will be placed in this thread when Part 2 will commence.
If your kin decides to wander away from the obelisk, you may choose to write a solo about their journey home. If you reach 500+ words, you may choose to claim a legendary requirement for that kin. Please be aware that you may only claim two legendary RP credits total from this meta, one for reaching 500 words in this Meta ORP thread, and one for completing an optional solo based on the prompts that we provide like the one above (additional prompts will be available at the conclusion of the meta, so don't feel pressured to complete the above prompt if it is out of character for your kin).
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 5:02 pm
It looked as though the grass was clear over most of the area, so Half Truth reared up on her hind legs. "From the look of things... the stones seem to be paths," she said quietly. She took Wildflower Breeze's changing shape in stride- she'd seen more than one of the swamp's blessed in her time- and waved at him, hoping he'd come back down and confirm what she was seeing.
Breeze sang out a celebratory trill in the skies over the obelisk at the end of Half-Truth's impromptu ballad, banking around the great stone as it suddenly grew bright - then dark - and then bright again.
Forgetting himself in his moment of surprise, Breeze allowed a wingtip to brush the spire.
After his survey of the lay of the land, he fluttered back down to Half-Truth and Roses, landing on the ground about as awkwardly as any bird does. In a breath, the bird was gone and the stag was back. "You are correct," he wheezed. "They do seem to be paths between the stones.
"And," he added, turning to Roses, "indeed I am, and the songbird is my other half. It has been an honor to become something out of a myth," he said, with a similar level of foalish excitement. "It makes telling the tales of the past much more exciting and engaging, knowing there was some truth to them all along."
