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 Posted: Wed May 13, 2020 9:28 pm
 "It's time," said Mother, standing tall and distant while she stared out across the open barrens. "I've given you all the skills you need, you're as prepared as you'll ever be." Miros watched her, anxiety sinking deep in his chest, pushing out all the air, leaving him too afraid to gasp for breath. He knew this was coming. He was an adult now, an apprentice comfortable with his abilities, and all his life mother had prepared him for his calling as a traveler. Fortnights sleeping at the border of the barrens, learning to survive off the sweat of his own flanks, put through grueling paces to make him comfortable with the heat, the dehydration, days of travelling with no hope in sight. He was ready, but the thought of leaving Homewood - mother, his brother, Fawn - made nausea boil in his throat. He wouldn't have time to say good-bye to his friends. He didn't dare ask his mother for an extra day to seek them out for farewells. Friends were a tertiary priority compared to healing Vykeli. Miros knew his duty. He was loyal to Vykeli, loyal to his mother. "Go," she said. Miros nodded and trotted out to the scorching sand, refusing the overwhelming urge to look back. ----- Three nights spent in the barrens alone was enough for the ache of loneliness to spread through Miros. He wanted to do this, he wanted to find things to help Vykeli, he wanted to bring bones back to his mother. Or directions to a new, sustainable location. Anything. His whole life was built around in occupation and he would do it. Survival cam easy. Miros packed a water gourd strapped around his shoulders and a light pack of dried provisions. He traveled by dawn and dusk to keep cool, moving eastward from Homewood. Thirst turned his tongue thick and heavy in his mouth, but he could push the feeling down, ignore it. Hunger made his belly twist, but this too was something he'd been taught to ignore. His hooves were sore and cracked from the hard earth, his legs tired from wandering, his vision strained and blurry, but all of these things he could handle. It was only the loneliness that made him want to turn back. He wouldn't. Not ever. Not until his mission was complete. He would never dishonor his mother, Homewood, Grandfather tree by returning empty handed. A bird cawed overhead. Miros craned his neck to watch its black silhouette against the cloudless sky. It made him think of Lemongrass, the petite and feisty scuttle scale he'd met in the bog. If he'd drawn up the courage to ask her to bond he wouldn't be alone right now. Perhaps, once he'd proven himself a successful traveler, she'd agree to it, even if it meant leaving behind a life of gathering tangle berries. "I can do it," he breathed, the dry residue of saliva making the words gummy in his mouth.
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Posted: Wed May 13, 2020 10:14 pm
The days had begun to bleed into one another. Indira moved at a slow lope, ensuring that Fleet could keep up, sheltered in her shadow. While she was fully prepared to face the intensity of the sun, the jackhop wasn't quite as hardy. It was still early yet, the full extent of the days heat hadn't sunk in. Her supplies were starting to dwindle, and she knew it was time to head back towards Homewood. Even if she didn't revel in having to return to such a soft place, there was no point in dying out here. One day her body would nourish Vykeli, but it wasn't her time yet. She still had much to contribute. So the reality of needing fresh water and more dried grass still had to be dealt with. Indira's mind drifted to the atmos user she'd met as she'd headed away from Homewood at the start of this trip. Able to summon rain! What a gift! She almost fantasized about how long that sort of gift could allow her to stay in the Barrens. Water was so heavy to carry. If she could eliminate the need for that ... She shook her head, dismissing the fantasy. That was not the gift Grandfather Tree had given her, and it felt wrong right down to very marrow to second guess that. Her easy pace carried her over parched ground. It was just so ... dead. She hadn't found anything of significant interest on her trip. A spare rib bone, it looked to Dire Rat, but she'd packed it back anyhow, in case she was wrong. Her most meaningful discovery had been that atmos user, if she was being honest with herself. A caw sounded above, she looked up. It was just a silhouette. A black shape against the clear sky. Nothing of use to her, certainly. But then a sound reached her ear. Sound traveled far out here, with nothing to interrupt it. Immediately she tensed, stopped and offered Fleet her leg. There were cat beasts and dire rats and black horns out here. You had to be careful in the Barrens. Fleet scrambled up to her back, ears perked, just as tense as her Noulicorn. Carefully, Indira continued on, in the direction she thought the sound had come from. Before very long at all, a black smudge appeared in the distance, and then quickly resolved into a Noulicorn. Indira crept forward, eyes trained towards the Noul's horn. Not black. She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. This she could handle. Probably just some Noulicorn wandering away from Homewood for a day or two. Her last encounter out here had proved so fruitful she hardly hesitated in her approach. At worst, she could just walk away, after all. At what she hoped was a comfortable distance for both of them, she hailed the stranger. "Hello, traveler. Coming from Homewood?" She was sure they weren't actually all that close to Homewood, as she thought more on it. And this traveler had a dust slicked coat, just like she did. ... And they seemed to carry provisions. Interesting. In what was a large gesture for her, she decided to be even more friendly. If one could call her rather standoffish posture friendly. "I've been out this way for several days. Sadly nothing of note to report." Maybe she'd spare this traveler a trip where nothing was found. Unless they had some set destination in mind, some place they knew about that needed healing. Indira regarded the Noulicorn with an intense stare. She could feel a little paw at the back of her neck. Fleet reminder her to soften a bit. She did. No need to scare this traveler off.
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 4:12 pm
A dark shape shimmered on the horizon and hope burgeoned in Miros' chest. He increased his pace to a clipped trot, heedless of the heat and need to conserve energy. He'd slow down against once he determined what - or who - it was he'd spotted. The figure materialized into the shape of a doe and Miros sent a silent prayer of gratitude to Grandfather tree as he slowed his approach. "I am!" Miros called back as he closed the distance., heedless of the doe's stoic posture. Miros could see the stiffness in how she carried herself, but his own craving for company forced him to dismiss it. Was she a fellow traveler? She seemed as dusty and sweat soaked as he was, and the supplies she carried appeared more deflated than Miros' own. At her admission, Miros glanced behind her, at the endless stretch of beige sand, as if he might spot something in the vast nothingness. A frown threatened to split his face but he swallowed it down. "Thank-you," he said instead. "I'll head further North then. Are you heading back to Homewood yourself? Would you like to share a drink?" Miros couldn't glean the gift of a fellow apprentice from sight alone, this doe could very well be an atmos or aqua user and fully capable of supplying her own drink, but Miros needed to offer something in exchange for her information. And perhaps if he spread his provisions out, she might stay for some conversation. "I have roots and dried fruit too." He twisted his neck and pulled the straps at his shoulders, letting his feed bag fall free. The cloth was thick and strong and held even as it thudded heavily to the ground. He set his water gourd down more carefully and eased the topper free, filling the dry air with the sweet scent of Homewood's spring water. "I'm Miros." He resisted the urge to fidget, to spew out every moment of his lonely adventure so far, to tell her this was his first trip and how badly he ached for some company. Mother wouldn't approve, though, so he swallowed down the fountain of words begging to escape.
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 5:43 pm
Fleet hopped down from Indira's back, surveying the other traveler's bounty. "I'm Fleet, this is Indira. We've been out of dried fruit for days!" Usually calm, if there was one thing that could work Fleet up it was sweet dried fruit. Indira shot her bonded a dry look. "I suppose we could stop for a quick meal. That's very generous of you." She was trying hard to analyze Miros. Who just offered up supplies out here? "I will try to prevent Fleet from eating all of your fruit. We're mostly down to dried grasses ourselves." Dried fruit was always the first thing to go, if Indira packed any. Fleet just couldn't help herself. The sweet smell of spring water tickled Indira's nose. Their own water supply had been stale for many days. At moments like this she wondered about travelling with an atmos or aqua user. ... But then she'd be tied to someone else, and she wasn't sure any other Noul took their purpose quite the same way she did. Heal Vykeli. Everything else secondary. She frowned for a moment considering, and then quickly tried to correct course. "I won't say no a sip of fresher water. Ours has been stale for a while. We are on our way back to Homewood though. Our supplies are starting to run thin ..." She looked Miros up and down, trying to divine his intentions. Just out here, having fun? Or actually trying to heal? It was so hard to know. "I don't have anything pleasant to add to the meal, but I can buy us a little respite from the heat." She reached into her mind, pulling on the strands of her gift. Immediately the temperature around them dropped from scorching to pleasantly balmy. It was only a small circle of coolness, but it appeared they were going to be standing close together anyways. Plus, this would be a good chance to see his reaction to the use of a gift. "Are you bound for a specific place, Miros?" Indira figured if he was he wasn't all that likely to tell her, but it didn't hurt to ask.
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 12:00 am
The sudden drop in temperature had goosepimples prickling along Miros' skin. He swallowed a contented sigh, eyes fluttering shut to enjoy the temporary respite. Indira was a solar user then, which made his offer of water a useful one. He cast her a grateful smile and stepped away from his water gourd to give her room to drink. He was plenty parched himself, and his mouth was thick with hot spit, but he could wait. The relief of food and water was trivial compared to the shivering tendrils of joy he felt at finally having company after three days wandering by himself. "I'm bound to a specific purpose, but not a place. This is my first mission away from Homewood." He'd spent plenty of time at the edges of the barrens but never traveled further than a day's journey as the songbird flies. His excursions through the bog and ruins were similar, doing what he could while remaining close to home. Now he'd be gone for an indeterminate amount of time, travelling as far as he needed to to be of use to Vykeli. "I'm going to- I am a traveler." "I'm a vivify," he offered. "My mother sent me to find some place my gift will be useful." Many vivify users remained in Homewood as healers, but Miros purpose was dedication to the planet, not to his own species. "I can't resurrect anything on my own yet, but it's my duty to find out where Vykeli needs me most." He glanced over his shoulder in the vague direction of Homewood. There was nothing, not even a hint of green on the horizon so far from Home. He turned back to Indira with a brighter smile, swallowing down his insecurities. "Are you a traveler as well?"
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 4:05 pm
Still keeping a close eye on her companion, Indira snatched a drink. She didn't hide her enjoyment of the sweet water. "That was a lovely treat, thank you." She stepped back, but not too far back to remove the aura of coolness from him. Fleet was utterly occupied with a piece of dried fruit she'd liberated from his bag. Indira was slightly taken aback. He seemed so ... sincere? And this was his first trip? Not bad for a first excursion out into the Barrens. A certain level of surprise rose in her, as he continued to explain himself. What a strange trip this was turning into! On her way out she'd encountered Roamer, and now Miros? Were there more Noulicorns who felt this way? Had she just missed meeting them all through her youth? It shook her a little, but it also confirmed everything she'd been feeling. "Then it is a pleasure to meet you, fellow traveler." She caught the comment about his mother, and tucked it away as a little oddity. "I also feel it is my duty to ensure that I find the place my gift can do the most good." She glanced at him again, weighing if she should say more. He had been awfully generous, and forth coming about his own purpose. What could it hurt? "I find it harder and harder to return to Homewood. So much of Vykeli needs to be healed if feels ... wrong to me to linger there." She didn't mention her growing resentment of the powerful Noulicorns who seemed to spend more time arguing about politics than doing anything of worth for the world. It felt more than a little odd to be telling this to a stranger, but this had just been a strange trip. And what was he going to do? Shout to Barrens about how she felt? It wasn't like there was anyone else to hear him. "I'm sure with dedication Grandfather Tree will show you many ways to use your gift to heal Vykeli. Vivify is so ... flexible. It is the very gift of healing itself. A high blessing." As she spent more time with her own gift Indira was beginning to think more and more how it seemed like gifts were meant to work in concert. And interesting thought, but not of much practical use to one who wandered the Barrens alone.
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2020 12:53 am
Who was this doe? She seemed to be exactly the sort of noulicorn Mother admired, clearly capable of handling herself in the barrens and strictly dedicated to healing Vykeli. Mother told Miros hundreds of tales of her explorations through the barrens and the bog, until she settled in Homewood to teach her own children to follow in her hooves. Of them, only Miros remained loyal to her cause. Mother had never been happy inside the confines of Homewood, and now that Miros earned his gift and was beginning his trials as a traveler, she'd likely return to her old life too. Miros should do the same, only... Only life in the barrens seemed impossibly lonely and Homewood tugged constantly at Miros' heart. This was just another test. Mother likely felt the same, and possibly Indira as well, but the thought of asking her made Miros' insides squirm with discomfort. Best not to, then. "My mother taught me the importance of being self-reliant and travelling alone. She said that forming attachments compromised one's dedication to Vykeli, but..." Miros paused, chewing his words. "I've thought that maybe as a vivify user, my gift might be of most use to a party. Keeping everyone in good health on long journeys." Seeing Indira back away and Fleet occupy herself with a piece of fruit, Miros ducked his head and shuffled a leg awkwardly through the straps of his bags until they sat securely around his neck and chest. It would have been easier getting in and out of them with a dexterous familiar at his side, but he made due. "It must be lovely having a gift like yours out here." Even with the limitations of their power, a respite from the heat was a blessing to anyone. Miros shivered again at the joy of the cool air washing over his sweat-soaked flanks. "My mother talks like you, about Homewood. She says it's changed since she was born there." 'These nouls have grown soft and comfortable, here, Miros. They've all forgotten our purpose. Our lives are not our own, they belong to Vykeli.' [
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2020 7:28 pm
Indira listened carefully, and nodded. "I think I can see both sides of that. Earlier I met an atmos user, and his gift was just so powerful! He was able to summon rain, and it was just what the earth needed. No matter how hard I work I will never be able to do that. I thought a lot about what it would be like to adventure in a group ... Sometimes it seems to me like Grandfather Tree made our gifts to work in concert. But then I worry, what if my companions have different goals? What if their purpose isn't true enough ..." She shook her head, clearly struggling. "Most Noulicorns I've spoken with at length seem to see healing Vykeli as some sort of background priority. Something to fall far behind whatever they are seeking for themselves." Indira looked out into the Barrens, considering her next words with care. "I think I would find it hard to work closely with them." Her eyes turned to Fleet, who was finishing off her dried fruit chunk with clear enjoyment. "But I also suppose I'm lucky. I'm not alone out here. Fleet goes everywhere I do." She smiled softly. "I think I would like to meet this mother of yours one day. I will say it was an unexpected pleasure to meet you. ... I do not find many who are worth talking to." A high compliment for Indira. "I would join you on your trek for a while, but my own supplies are low, and I must head back to Homewood. ... I do hope our paths will cross again, though." She still smiled. What an unusual trip indeed. There truly were others who believed in the healing of Vykeli above their own comfort ... That brought Indira a deep sense of security.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 1:17 am
"That's what my Mother says," Miros replied with a sage nod. "Too many noulicorns invested in themselves and not enough prioritizing Vykeli. Her name is Eyufi and she spends more time in Homewood now than she used to, teaching foals how to be good travelers. I'm certain she'd be very pleased to talk to you as well!" At the mention of Fleet, Miros flicked his attention to the jack hop, and thought once more of Lemon grass, the little scuttle scale he'd helped rescue from the bog. One day he'd be brave enough to ask her to bond with him. She'd make an excellent travelling companion. But so might Indira, if they every crossed paths again while they were both refreshed and heading off for adventure. "I hope your return journey is swift and safe!" Miros double checked the fastenings on his supplies with a heavy shake and took his first few steps beyond Indira, further into the barrens. "Thank-you for the company!" End. [
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ll Grandfather Tree ll generated a random number between
1 and 100 ...
49!
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 7:13 am
BUGGHNRAHK
rolling for exploration
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ll Grandfather Tree ll Vice Captain
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ll Grandfather Tree ll generated a random number between
1 and 100 ...
39!
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ll Grandfather Tree ll Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 7:16 am
ELLANOIRE
rolling for exploration
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ll Grandfather Tree ll rolled 1 20-sided dice:
12
Total: 12 (1-20)
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 7:18 am
FLEET-JACK HOP ROLL
rolling for exploration
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ll Grandfather Tree ll Vice Captain
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