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 Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 1:45 pm
 "Oh, by the way, Forest was looking for you, mya."Leave it to Jinx to completely forget to mention something important. So now he was not only days late, but he had no idea where to even find Glyph.
This was superb.
"Do you have any idea where to find him ?" He asked Cosine as they both left into the gardens. It had been a long time since she had seen Forest, and had wanted to tag along, and Ankou had found no reason to stop her.
Even if it was private, well, she was the one person he actually would not mind overhearing anything. "I only hope that it was not urgent..." Jinx was a lovely aoide, skilled in what she did... but not so much skilled in message-relaying.
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Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 1:52 pm
 Cosine was happy to have been invited to tag along. There were so many gods she needed to catch up with, to actually meet.
"I do not know." She said softly as they stepped out into the gardens, the material of her pale blue dress floating out around her feet as she walked against the breeze.
"I have never seen Glyph really. It was his host that accompanied us to Baadris. I assume he has rooms? We might be able to guess at a door. Something suited to forest."
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Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 3:26 pm
 After obtaining the mirror made by Forge and being unable to contact Underworld, Glyph had sent one of his Aoide to fetch Ankou only to find the Spirit Guide was off world and out of touch as well. A message had been left but Forest had no idea when, or if, his friend would receive the note and it was drawing close to the time he needed to leave as well.
It was quiet, it was best to leave and be back sooner rather then later. Trickery and Lifewater both were accompanying him - he didn't like that Xun had insisted on coming but grateful at the same time. Supplies were needed, that much was clear but despite his new flush of power, Forest still tired easily when calling upon the most recently returned of his gifts. Collecting the supplies of the woods around the Pantheon was best.
And it was for that reason that he was currently standing on his toes, collecting fruit from the upper branches of an apple tree. He looked more like a part of the tree in the garden then the host Cosine had known so long ago. When he finally settled his feet entirely back on the ground, the tree groaned in protest as their branches got caught and Glyph grunted, head cocked at an odd angle, one arm full of apples while the other worked, blindly, to disentangle things.
Above, a crow cawed, drawing Glyph's attention. The birds had long since flown the coop, leaving Glyph's rooms for the restored condiiton of the pantheon grounds so its presence either meant the clever creatures were mocking him or.... He tilted his head to look behind him and grinned, "Ankou! ... Cosine!" Waving with his free hand, he jerked as the apples threatened to topple, cursing softly when they did tumble to the ground, "Ah... You're back?"
The comment was muffled, however, as he dropped the remaining apples and set his attention to completely unhooking himself, healing the tree where he stripped off leaves by accident. The crow chirruped and fluttered down to settle on the larger of his crown as he bent to gather up the apples, apparently unperturbed by his feathered passenger.
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Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 3:51 pm
"He has a room, and I do know which one, but he was not there when I did go, earlier." Ankou started to explain. "He is more often outside than inside..." They had a nearly similar problem, in that they were not often in the pantheon proper...
Which did not make it any easier to find him. Forest could be nearly anywhere...
...Or he could be stuck in a tree.
Wait.
What ?
The pale god did suddenly pause at the struggle that unfolded at the apple tree, and at the very amused crow that had cawed the warning.
Yeah, he could see the similarities but... Good lord, they had not been gone that long !
"Do you.... need some help here ?" Really, he had thought bigger wings had been bothersome, at first, but getting stuck in a tree ? Through, Glyph seemed to get unstuck soon enough, at the prize of the apples he had been holding.
"Yes, we have been back for a few days. Jinx forgot to relay the message. She is... a little forgetful." A good aoide, yes, but not for these kind of things. "You were looking for me... ?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:56 pm
As Ankou paused Cosine did the same, her eyes following his to the russtling in the trees. The tree was moving, no, the tree was not a tree but a man and he knew them.
"Glyph?" The goddess tilted her head to the side and could not help a smile as the god tried to disengage himself, spilling his load of apples at the same time.
"I'm thinking of getting Jinx a note book to write things down in." Cosine laughed, walking over to Glyph so she could help him. She crouched down and started to pick some of the fallen apples up from the floor, placing them in her lap so she could use the material of her dress to help carry them. "Though I doubt that she would use it."
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:20 pm
"Mmhmm," Glyph answered Cosine's question, nodding as he stood up tall and grinned at the pair, "It has been some time! A notebook may be useful but if she's forgetful, she may forget the notebook as well!" He chuckled, accepting the apples from Cosine with a grateful murmur.
A song bird flitted from the tree to disappear into Glyph's crown as he straightened to his full height and rolled his shoulders. Looking like a proper creature of the woods, Forest seemed a lot more relaxed in his own skin now. "Ah, yes. I was looking for you because I wanted to ask how your sleuthing abilities were, Spirit Guide. I am looking to retrieve the gem of Forge but I only know the planet on which she was lost... I have a mirror made by Forge and her host, a few names, and a planet... nothing more. I was hoping there might be some sort of soul signature on the mirror you might be able to track."
He frowned slightly, "And I was wondering if you might assist me... apparently I am going to a desert. I've been gathering supplies for the trip but as I am not a creature of the wastes, the help would be appreciated. Lifewater and Trickery are also coming."
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:52 pm
"I am quite certain she would forget the notebook." Was the Spirit Guide's answer, bending to pick up an apple that had rolled in his direction as he came closer as well.
To have to look up at Glyph while speaking to him was strange, through he was certainly glad to see him as strong as he was now. The growing entourage Forest was gathering in his own branches was also amusing, but the matter turned more serious before he could point it out, making Ankou stop and frown a bit as he learned exactly what he had been sought for.
"Forge's gem ?" How had it gotten so far away ? Well, no matter. "If there is enough of an imprint left in the mirror, and if the gem is strong enough to leave a trail of it's own... I might be able to do that, yes." Had he not done exactly that, with some of the fragments of Aristogeiton and the scepter ? Through those trails had been more or less drawn out for him already, thanks to Universe's influence. He tossed the apple up and down, catching it again and again, as he did think. "I would have to try it to be completely sure, however."
THen the matter of location came up. "I have traveled through deserts before. Unless there are ruins in the way, it should be pretty easy... If extremely warm." Of course, he was assuming both Trickery and Lifewater had also come into their owns as well...
Well, it would be easy enough if he did not space out like he was prone to doing lately. But really, the whole thing was ridiculous - he just needed to be careful to stay grounded.
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 1:16 am
"Yes. I think you are right, both of you. She would forget the notebook." Cosine handed the last apple back to Glyph and brushed her dress down. "It has been far too long, but you look very well. It is always good to see one of our number re-born."
She took a step back, if Ankou found him tall then to Cosine he was a fairy tale short of being a giant. She was a short goddess, her head barely reaching Ankou's shoulder height.
A new journey? A lost gem. it was undeniable that Ankou's skills would be useful on such a quest, though, now she herself had a taste of adventure. The feeling of excitement and also trepidation burned inside her, she wanted to offer her own skills but really, would Glyph be interested? There were clearly others going. Trickery ... she had met her before, or Lien had at any rate.
"I would like to help." She spoke confidently despite her internal nerves. "I could bring Infinity, a bird's eye view?" She might also be able to aid Ankou should he start to drift.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:44 pm
"That's the thing, I don't know if it'd be strong enough. Forge... has had two hosts fail. I've learned failing once destroys a part of you... to fail twice... her essence would be weak at best, lost in a dead world. And that's why I'd been hoping to get your advice since, well, souls and dead people and south paths and all that ..." He quirked a grin, "and I'm a tree. That's all more your forte."
Glyph frowned at the mention of Deserts, "I've been to a desert, once, while Malh'reth still bore my gem. I have not been to one since... I imagine it will be most uncomfortable for me. If Creation's influence has reached that far, I hope to also give it a helping hand." He refrained from mentioning Ashanti at all, knowing that his not-friend was still gem-bound and about as amicable as a skunk that's been tossed in a cactus patch.
"I've also... had some experience, however, so hopefully that will be useful. Fail, Knowledge, and Plant have all passed through my hands into hosts. To varying degrees of success - I'm certain Fail's host rather hates me now - but it remains that I believe that experience may be useful in locating the gem."
Cosine's offer drew his attention and he smiled at the Goddess, bowing a little, "I would be glad for your assistance. But, please, ah... don't tell Xun I accepted so easily? I'll probably end up sleeping in a corner for it, if you do." After the conversation with Xun... and knowing how much of a spitfire Illisia's influence had made the dragon.... he didn't want to push that boundary on such a mission.
Counting all those attending, he chuckled, "Everyone will fly but myself. Which is all well and good. My feet belong firmly on the ground - the aerial reconnaissance will likely help make things go faster. We will need to carry supplies as well, Xun and Trickery are as of yet bound to mortal forms..." He tilted his chin to indicate the armful of apples, "I was just collecting supplies. I can fashion food - be it meat, berries, mushrooms, and the like - but it wears me out... I would prefer to conserve my stamina."
He smiled, "I had intended to set out the day after tomorrow, is that time enough for you to prepare? I know you only recently returned..."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:36 pm
"Two failed hosts..." That was worrisome, indeed. And explained how her gem had gotten so far away. To his knowledge, gods usually drew their hosts closer to the pantheon...
But the how was neither there or there. "I will do my best." Even if he could not sense anything... Well, he might be able to ask the souls for answers. An individual bearing a gem might have gathered attention. That lifewater and trickery where both still mortal-bound... Well, he could not comment much on that, could he ? He had been such when he had gone to the World Tree with Tian Yue. He knew how to prepare for such a journey, thankfully. "Yes, you should probably save your mana. I can help you gather supplies, if you need."
He did his best to stay impassible at the corner comment.. Oh, he was a little too familiar about such a feeling, especially lately... But he saw no need to go down that path of thought again. "Well, I have seen what Dragon Kings can do when angry - better to keep this to ourselves, hm ?" He was partly joking, and partly serious. He had seen what Tian Yue could do, after all...
He would make it work, somehow, through... Well, it seemed unfair to not mention what had been going on with him lately, if he was to be relied on so heavily. Better for Glyph to be aware now that to figure it out on his own later on. "Through I... Might require aid of my own." Hard admission, from the looks of it. He disliked having to admit weakness, or to ask for help. It did not help that he was not sure how to word this out, uncertain if Forest would understand something like this. But then... Forests were alive, were they not ? Did trees have a soul of their own, and did Glyph hear them ?
The pause was abnormally long, but fortunately Ankou seemed to realize that he had spaced out on his own. "Sorry. I hear souls from further away lately... And while it might be useful... I do have a tendency to space out a bit. It should not be too much of a problem... But it might happen while I still get used to the feeling."
Thankfully Cosine would know well enough to keep an eye from him, and Ankou had to admit that he was glad that she was coming along - not only for his own sake. "That would be good for me." He looked sideway as his lover then - this was not sorely his decision, after all.
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 2:54 pm
Cosine had not heard of hosts failing before and the thought of it troubled her. If the god within the gem was weak they would have to find a strong new host to bring her back.
Glyph's words brought a smile to her lips. She did not know this Xun, but she was sure Glyph would have to do more than accept an offer of help to be banished.
"Your secret is safe with me."
She glanced to Ankou at his offer to help gather provisions and nodded.
"The Aoide could help. I do not need Zeta and Zero at the moment, I can have them make up some things with supplies from our kitchen. Water too." Water would be very important. Her mind tossed around other possibilities and implications of such a mission. "Do we think exposure to sun will have a negative effect on those mortal bound ... or even us? We're not at our full power yet."
Ankou's concerns worried her too. His spacey episodes were erratic and could possibly become more frequent if they were in a world that had suffered great loss of life. Still, Cosine was quite in tune with Ankou, she could usually tell when something was not right with him.
At his glance in her direction she smiled and nodded.
"I will help as I can. Be it bringing you back or making sure we don't lose you down any holes."
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:32 pm
He nodded when the other echoed him, a small frown playing across his lips at the confirmation. Two failed hosts was frightening. At the offer of help from both Cosine and Ankou, he dipped his chin in a nod of appreciation, "I would like that. I had planned on carrying most of the supplies as is, my shoulders are strong once more."
At the comment of angry Dragon Kings, Glyph laughed and shook his head, "Not so much angry as... avoiding a spat. I've already been thoroughly lectured on the topic, a quarrel won't help."
"Aid of your own?" He spoke in the silence that followed Ankou's pause then glanced at Cosine when it took him unexpectedly long to continue, "Aah. Well, that is alright. I'm glad to hear that, as it means you gain strength!" Glyph nodded approvingly, "I've heard the trees since first taking control... and every now and then, I'll hear my followers. It's a tad disorienting but encouraging." Worship from the Warden was the loudest, as they were closest, but occasionally, a voice would pierce the background hum of noise and draw his attention.
He shrugged at Cosine's questions, "I do not know. The last we were in a Desert, it was populated and domesticated... I know little more then the world's name and that it is a wasteland, the leftovers of the ravages of Gehenna. The sun will be good for me, but the barren expanse runs opposite my domain - it will likely effect me. I do not know how such a land would effect you or Ankou as directly, being less earthly deities. Xun is Lifewater, and a warrior, he will cope of that I've no doubt. Tien... I am not as sure of. I know little of Trickery or her abilities and constitution. Perhaps it would be best to prepare for the worst in either case."
Her comment towards Ankou made him chuckle and he eyed Ankou, "Lost in holes hn?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:37 pm
"I can help carry, as well." He knew by experience that he was stronger than his current form might make him look like. And, really, he was used to it, and would not mind.
...Avoiding spats was probably more of Cosine's expertise, so he would just leave that one up to her. Seemed... well, safest. He was not fond of sleeping on the couch, proverbially speaking.
And really, it was fascinating, and interesting, the way Glyph spoke of it. Odd that he had never cared before, would have never given as much as a second thought, but now he found it fascinating. Perhaps the strongest of them, the ancient trees, did develop souls of their own...
But that was neither here or there. He would have plenty of time to ask those questions later... Perhaps even sooner than that depending on Glyph's sleeping habits. But having someone to relate to was... well, it did calm him a bit, through Ankou would probably never admit it. "It is disorienting, yes. Sometimes it feels like they come from everywhere at once..." It almost felt like the worse weeks of Gehenna, but yet the voices were even stronger, clearer than they had been back then.
He turned pensive at Glyph's inquiries, through. "I find that actual climates do not affect me that strongly..." Severe heat did get to him, but was nothing he couldn't handle. "It is hard to tell for anyone else, through. We might be all different." After all, it would make sense for a deity of certain locations to thrive in them... And have issues in the opposite. "Covering but light clothing... Lighter fabrics. It will block out the sun and help a bit." Probably more useful for Tien and Xun Jiang, but nonetheless... While he was skilled at world-walking and could probably hop quickly to bring them back to safety in a pinch, he would rather not have to do it at all.
"Hey." He grinned at Cosine. "I have not fallen down into any holes yet." Better to turn it into a joke than to be embarrassed, really. He had learned that much, at the very least. "Neither has any plant life been harmed, before you ask." Close calls, through... Well. He could not deny that. "That is what I mean by help. When they do get louder, I do blank out... But I do not always stop whatever I am doing." Which was where holes and plantlife became hazards. Which was embarrassing... And the prideful side of him refused to be seen as a setback. "Everything will be fine, through."
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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:03 am
Cosine grinned back at Ankou as he made a joke.
"Holes no, trees almost. But We will aid you if you need it. I will go and speak to Isra, the leader of the Baadris nomads. She might be able to give some advice on braving the desert. I can borrow some clothing from them. I am not sure how I will be affected, I doubt much as I am not linked to an element. It is better to be safe at any rate."
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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:10 pm
"I grow lethargic in winter, and most energetic in the summer... I'm partially affected by season." Glyph chuckled, "And always best in my domain but I am strong enough to traverse a desert now, I think."
Clothing, however, was a problem. "Ah... I have very little clothing of that type." He made a vague gesture at his mostly bare body - he wore only a simple loin cloth, the rest of his tan-green skin would be at the mercy of the sun. "Borrowing from the Baadris nomads would be appreciated... ask for scarves as well? To wrap." He hadn't tried shifting forms yet and wondered if that might be prudent.
"When would you like to meet then? A day or two's time? I will inform the others of your company." He glanced back towards the Pantheon with a thoughtful expression, "Let's meet at the Orator's Walk around noon. Our time is unlikely to be the planet's time at any rate."
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