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 Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 2:13 pm
((A Private RP between my Arioso Canto and Cajmera's Sullivan.))
((This way to My Teepee))
((This way to Caj's Teepee))
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 2:47 pm
 The woods were quietly welcoming in the afternoon light, the dappled sunshine filtering through the trees painting the path before him. His steps were light and flowing, an easy lope giving way to a lazy-striding walk as he admired his surroundings. A sudden cluster of wild violets on the shoulder of the path caught his attention, and he drifted over to scent them with a faint murmur of approval.
As a young stallion, Arioso Canto -sometimes called the Sunset Fayth- had eagerly seized the opportunity afforded by stronger legs and larger lungs.... And quickly wandered further than even his unendingly-roaming coaltish legs ever managed to carry him. It seemed even the encounters of his youth and the scolding of his family were not enough to train him out of following the urgings of a restless heart, though a few of them did serve to teach him caution as he grew. His grandmother had long ago given up on lecturing him, and merely smiled and shook her head as she observed his antics. His father was less inclined to forgive or forget matters, particularly when he wound up injured.
Not that he lingered on the fall-out of that event. Still, after said unfortunate run in with a Kalona stallion in his youth, Arioso had thrown himself into training with his sire. He eagerly learned how to use a horn that healed as a weapon in the defense of himself, his friends and his ideals. And thus he had grown into a stallion that was both a healer and a warrior, a defendant of his Clan and an independent spirit.
'And still a wanderer and rogue.' He thought to himself as he lifted his head, grinning widely.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 6:00 pm
Perhaps it was because Sullivan had been born and raised on the plains that the woods held such a fascinating mystique for the stallion. Though he doubted he could be comfortable living in such claustrophobic surroundings, there was nevertheless something that always managed to pull him into the trees whenever he was near. Maybe it was the coolness of the forest, a pleasant contrast to the bright sunlight of the meadows; maybe it was the soft whispering of breezes blowing through the canopy, as though a thousand secrets were being shared by the trees. Maybe it was the patches of light shining on the forest floor through gaps in the leaves, dancing against the darkness like a flock of fairies. Or maybe it was all of the above; the forest was like another world, a world inhabited by whispering pixies the eye couldn't even see. ~~~ Sullivan strolled down the forest path, his eyes half-lidded and a dreamy smile on his face. It was a gorgeous day, in terms of both temperature and activity. The woods were alive with activity, but it was the activity of sun and shadow, not animals. He hadn't even seen another non-plant life form... Until just now. The other stallion was young; 'stallion' was a bit of a stretch, Sullivan suspected. But he was definitely an appropriate denizen of the fanciful woodland: bright colors paired with shimmering designs all over his body. A delicate spiraling horn on the youth's forehead completed the image; all that was missing was a pair of fairy wings for Sullivan to find him a perfect magical sprite! Softly, so as not to spook the younger stallion, Sullivan offered a soft " Hello" by way of greeting.
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 6:47 pm
For all that he loved wandering in general, Arioso always found his way back to the woods. The mountains were lovely, there was certainly something to be said for secret waterfalls high up in the walls of stone. And the plains were nice enough, he rather liked the opportunity to gallop over unending green. Wading in the river was refreshing and one day he'd make it out to the sea... But for now he was happiest in the forest, in the dappling light and shadow, in the meadows and winding paths.
If he wasn't careful, he'd spend far too long wandering slowly through the maze of trunks and cause his family to worry... Again.
"Still, too nice a day to rush home.." He mused as he paced along smoothly.
Arioso was still growing into himself, though he'd left the gawky strides of his coltish legs behind. There was more grace and length to each step now, and it made wandering much easier, which was all the better in his mind. This section of forest was not one he'd wandered previously, but he was already quite fond of the cool shade of the trees and the clusters of violets here and there. They reminded him of his younger days, of lessons with his grandmother. Maybe he would seek her out once he was done here.
'She'll still lecture you about your reckless wandering, you know.'
Jolted out of his musings by a soft greeting, he spun in a graceful pivot and settled his eyes on the newly arrived stranger. Considering he'd received a gentle and polite greeting, he rather doubted the other meant him harm. Inclining his head in a faint nod that left a trail of light streaming from his horn like the tail of a comet, he offered his own greeting in return.
"Good day, I apologize if I have intruded upon your territory. I have not tread the paths of this forest before, I'm afraid my hooves ran away with me." He ducked his head shyly and gave a soft laugh. "Sorry, I'm Arioso Canto. My family Clan are the Fayths, they wander widely... And I am just as guilty as they."
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 5:39 pm
Sullivan didn't know whether the light trail was intentional or merely 'accidental discharge,' but he didn't care. As far as he was concerned, the slight glimmer of brilliance only added to the image of the young stallion as some sort of forest sprite. Even if he didn't have wings, he was doing an admirable job of fitting the description! But staring seemed a poor way to ingratiate himself with the stranger, so Sullivan did his best to refrain. The response to his greeting was so nice and polite that he was encouraged; the last 'fairy' he'd met had proved equal parts fascinating and kind, and he now had high hopes for this one. Evil or nasty fairies obviously existed, but he was quite content in missing them! Inclining his own head, Sullivan acknowledged the other stallion's greeting with a smile. "You haven't intruded, no; this is no more my home than it is yours, apparently; we just seem to be two travelers, crossing paths. That said, it's nice to meet you, Aristo Canto. I'm Sullivan, of no clan in particular. Or am I?" Pausing, he cocked his head to one side and mulled over that word, 'clan.' "Perhaps you could tell me a little more about what you mean by clan?"
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2015 9:40 am
The gleaming eyes and hooves as well as his shining horn were a legacy of his father, a bright wash of light wherever he went. Add that to the strong hues of his coat, the wing markings and how even the patches of white seemed to shine, and Arioso had long ago given up on stealth. He could dim the light, but never managed to stop it completely. At night he could tone it down enough that it did not interfere with his night vision, but he was fairly sure that he would always be too bright of a target for predators to ignore.
Still, this stranger didn't seem dangerous at all, so Arioso let the light shine as he smiled at his new companion. "I am glad to hear of it... And meeting another wanderer is always a welcome surprise. So then, it is a pleasure to cross paths with you, Sullivan."
He considered the stallions question for a moment, and then shrugged faintly before trying to put it into words. "In some places a Clan is merely a family or group that have not established official herdlands. They may share common aspects of appearance or ideology. They may also be a band of like-minded individuals that have joined ranks, such as wandering warriors or story tellers."
'Or a bit of both, as the case may be.' He thought with a faint smile.
"The Leaders of my Clan were born far from this land, and wandered here through fire and death and many other great obstacles besides. When they found this peaceful land, not yet wracked by war or destruction, they decided to settle. Slowly they have been gathering together relatives, and perhaps one day they will build a true herd. For now, we are all of us Clan, each Healer and Warrior, each Singer and Storyteller. We are bound by love and loyalty and most of us too by blood, and we vow to stand beside each other against danger."
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 8:31 am
Since his youngest days, Sullivan had been fascinated by 'fairy tales.' While it was true that stories in general appealed to the stallion, there was something particularly attractive about those tales dosed with a hefty amount of fantasy, or at least what was fantastical to Sullivan. He loved his family very much; he had good siblings, loving parents, and access to the wisdom of his grandparents. But the thing was, they were all so ordinary. Sullivan was a regular, his parents were regulars, his siblings were pretty much regulars, too. They had no special skills or abilities; they couldn't fly, shrink, eat meat, heal, walk over the top of snow, or do any of the many fascinating things he'd heard other Soquili could do. He hadn't thought he was dissatified; indeed, he'd always been very pleased with his legs and their ability to carry him wherever he needed to go. But there was more out there, and it was so foreign, so magical... Perhaps it was because he'd always felt he was missing something that he was so drawn to his magical tales. Or perhaps it was just because he loved to learn more of the unknown. Either way, whenever fate and circumstance led him to a new type of Soquili, or brought a new tale to his ear, he was a happy stallion. The fact that today he was exposed to both tale and teller was not lost on him, and he listened to Arioso's description with rapt attention. When the other stallion finally finished, Sullivan let out a soft little sigh. " My compliments, Arioso, on your manner. You speak so well, even if being a storyteller was not a part of your family's heritage I think you would be singled out. Your...clan," he said, stumbling slightly over the unfamiliar word once again, " sounds like an interesting thing to be a part of. How exciting it must be to have so many different skills right there to experience and learn about!" Not that Sullivan himself had much interest in being a warrior or a healer; he wasn't even sure he'd make a good storyteller. But it just sounded so cosy, Arioso's family set-up. " Are you often off wandering like this?"
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 9:13 pm
Arioso truly didn't mean to go off on a roll, trying to describe his Clan and the ties that bound them. But that too, like his horn and his hide, was a legacy of his Clan. He was every inch a son of that proud heritage, a singer and a storyteller, a warrior and a wanderer. He lived it and breathed it and loved it every moment of every day, and meeting a fresh audience for it took a hold of his heart and his tongue before his head could get between the two and calm things down.
But at least Sullivan didn't seem to mind, seemed to actually enjoy the way he spoke, fueled by the love he had for those behind him. At the compliment the young stallion grinned and bowed, tucking one foreleg under his chest and giving a sweep of his glowing horn to touch one bright hoof. "You honor me with your words, Sullivan. My father is a spinner of tales, I like to think I do him justice."
He grinned widely as he straightened, flicking his tail. "Indeed, it is helpful indeed to have so many around me to teach me what they know. As a foal I very rarely saw my mother, and so it was the Clan that taught me lore and herbs, stories and healing, tracking and navigating and much more besides. And then as I grew and I wandered, I made more friends who would teach me lessons in an effort to keep me out of trouble."
He thought of one towering Forest Guardian with particular fondness, then pushed the daydreams away in favor of responding to the stallion before him. "I am afraid that too is a trait of the Clan, and since my legs were sturdy enough to hold me they have been carrying me far enough to get me into trouble with my Family. I do travel regularly, yes, though this is the farthest I have gone away from Clan lands. Do you wander as well, Sullivan? I hope I have not intruded on your family or herd lands if that is the case, please accept my sincere apologies." Cajmera And that's the three I have record of you and I having tagged. If I'm missing something let me know. <3
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 8:13 am
It was a nice thing, Sullivan thought, to have a family legacy. His own family was nice enough; solid, dependable Soquili who you could count on to be there. But as far as he saw it, there was a distinct lack of romanticism in his family life; solid and dependable, but not always the most imaginative. Maybe they were just a subtler bunch, his family, and kept their imaginings to themselves more than Arioso's family. Or maybe they were just scared of putting that side of themselves out there. Either way, Arioso's story was proving most interesting, and Sullivan easily found himself wondering what it would be like, to be part of a 'minstrel troupe', as it were. " So your family travels around a lot; it must be a wonderful way for you to expand your repertoire of stories and tales, by seeing new things and meeting new Soquili. Though I suppose it could be awkward at times," he said with a slight hint of sympathy at Arioso's confession his mother was not often about. Sullivan had had constant access to his mother; she may not have been a troubadour or whatever, but she was still his mother and it had been a blessing to have her around. It wasn't until he was a grown stallion that he'd really spent time apart...though he had to chuckle as he acknowledged just how far he'd come since those days himself! " Not to worry, you're not intruding on anything or anyone I know of," Sullivan said with a slight shake of his head. " My family lives quite a ways from here, in the great plains lands near the large inland lake. But I'm a bit of a wanderer myself, so...here I am. I guess we're alike in that we've both gone on a bit of a journey of exploration," he finished with a chuckle. " Though I don't think I can blame my wanderlust on my genes; if anything, my genes would probably want me to stay put!"
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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 3:31 pm
True enough the Fayth Clan was a dependable band, eager to be of assistance where they could even if it was only through a tale or song. They were healers and storytellers and warriors, with wanderlust in their blood and a particularly strong habit of wayfaring. They loved fiercely and mourned the losses they had suffered, but it did not stop them from moving forward and moving on. There was much more to gain than to be lost, and a shared sorrow was halved while a shared joy doubled.
All these lessons and more had been taught to Arioso as a colt, it was a curious thing now that he was living some and sharing others. But all ofthat was pushed aside as Sullivan's words pierced his wandering thoughts.
"Hmm? They more than I, I am afraid. But yes we do indeed, though for the most part we tend to return to familiar lands that may one day be where the herd dwells." He was rather excited about the idea of his grandparents establishing a herd, of having a strong group of friends and family around him in that place. "We're always eager for new stories, which certainly does give us another reason to wander. That being said, you are right, it can be a little, difficult."
He didn't much want to think of matters with his mother, truth be told. He had such a strong relationship with his father and his grandparents, and even the Guardian of the Forest was like an adopted relative to him now... It seemed a little selfish, a little spoiled, to expect that sort of love and connection with all of his relatives. If his mother was happier in the sky, and his sister with her, then so be it.
"Yes, well..." Arioso cleared his throat and tried to summon a smile, though this one was less bright and somewhat more hollow than the earlier ones had been. "I suppose we cannot be close to everyone, all the time hmm? Sometimes even those you love dearly are, distant from you.. And you learn to cope with it. I expect I just need a bit of practice."
For the most part, it was easier now that he was an adult. But that may just be because the colt he once was had been used to the disappointment. Regardless, the news that he was not intruding made him smile and nod, pleased he had not interrupted.
"The great plains, hmm?" Arioso echoed with an interested swivel of his ears. "I confess I have not seen much of them as of yet... The last time I wandered out into too-open land a Kalona caught me, led him on a merry chase through the woods though."
He gave a grin, bright and careless. "Another wanderer too? Well, that seems like quite a lucky find for me. Perhaps you'd like to travel a ways? We could share a story or two."
At the stallion's admission regarding his family, Arioso gave a soft snort of laughter. "Would they now? Well, they're missing out."
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2015 2:16 pm
Sullivan was enjoying the story as well as the teller, and like a good listener he was paying careful attention to everything; Arioso's tone, posture, and facial expressions as well as his words. Nothing escaped Sullivan's notice, which is why one thing Arioso said in particular caught him by surprise. " Wait, the lands that may be where your herd dwells? I'm afraid you've lost me for the time being, Arioso; I thought you said your Clan had lands? Or am I missing some pertinent details about either of those things?" Sullivan supposed he ought to be a little more apologetic in asking those questions; after all, there were many herds who were downright secretive about their home territories. And even if the Fayth Clan wasn't one of those, he hated the idea that he'd missed something earlier in Arioso's story. But the truth was, Sullivan was too excited about everything to be anything less than enthusiastic. His eyes were bright, his posture leaned forward, and his voice was downright chipper; there was nothing dreamlike about Sullivan now! And the more Arioso spoke, the more Sullivan was drawn into the tale. It certainly was a good story, filled with adventure as well as a slight mix of sorrow. He skated over the bit where Arioso's speech slowed; whatever his friend was thinking of there, it seemed a bit more personal than their new relationship allowed. So he simply nodded, letting Arioso say what he felt best. He didn't think the plains were much to talk about, either, but he supposed it was only fair he pull a little bit of the conversational weight. " I guess the plains are a little exposed, but there's a lot more to them than Kalona. In fact, I've never seen one, not in my whole life. I'd say you just had some bad luck, but man, that was some bad luck." Smiling a little at his word play, Sullivsn continued, " But there's not really a lot there to excite the imagination there, thus the wandering. And I'd love to wander together for a ways; what a great opportunity to have some adventures of our own!"
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 2:28 pm
Arioso grinned, pleased to have found someone to spin tales for. True enough he had told his friend Raito a few stories once upon a time, but that was before Rai had followed him home and met his sire. Kel was the lead Healer, and an accomplished storyteller besides; and after meeting him who had need for his sunset-painted child? Still, Arioso tried not to be envious of the sweeping tales his father could spin. It was better instead to travel and gather his own adventures, and share them with his friends when he was able. And neither Kel nor Rai were there at the moment, which meant Sullivan and he had time to trade a story or three.
"Sorry, I may have skipped a step in there somewhere." Arioso laughed. "I mean to say that the lands are held by the Clan, the dwelling place of my family. As of now, we have not established a herd in truth; though it is my hope that my grandparents will soon. When they do, I think it best that they keep herd lands in such a familiar area. It is easy to keep a place safe when you know every rock and tree, I think."
He tilted his head thoughtfully, considering matters for a few moments. There was no harm to be seen in what little information he had provided, so he shrugged off the shiver of worry and went back to enjoying himself in the presence of a new friend. It was good to be spinning stories and making friends again, and his ears flipped forward at talk of the plains.
"Never seen a Kalona on the plains? Or never seen a Kalona at all? Either way, lucky you." Arioso grinned. "And I mean every word when I tell you that I hope your fortunes will continue. To be fair, the Kalona in question is something of a curse upon the family, so I will consider that specific event my own personal misfortune. Luckily, a friend was nearby and had little trouble coming to my rescue. She'll never let me hear the end of it, but I find I do not mind."
He stopped to laugh, shaking his head. "As for wandering a ways together, I agree it is the perfect opportunity for an adventure or two. If nothing else, I certainly don't mind spinning some stories to entertain us while we walk. I hope you won't mind a question or two, as we go?"
He took a few gliding steps, flicking his tail as they paced along. "So then, you've never met a Kalona, and congratulations on your good fortune. May I ask if you've met any of the pawed ones that walk this land, or the Skinwalkers? I think it would be the best to get the scary stories out of the way first, and then discuss happier things."
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:09 pm
While Arioso's explanation did clear up some of the confusion, it was still a fascinatingly unusual setup. Imagine, a group of Soquili having a 'territory' without having an actual territory! Sullivan being Sullivan, this new information only inspired further questions, questions that he bit back for the time being. If they were going to be travelling together, he'd have a lot of time to get more information. And truth be told, he rather liked the idea of that information being spun out slowly, in Arioso's best storytelling manner. So for now, Sullivan merely nodded in understanding. " It sounds like you guys have a good general idea of...herding. Since my family doesn't belong to a herd, I'm certainly no expert, but settling where you know makes a lot of sense. If and when you choose to settle, of course." At the Kalona question, Sullivan gave his new friend a smile. " Never seen a Kalona at all, actually, or even a mixed blooded one. Not that I know of, anyway," Sullivan amended, thinking back to the beautiful mixed breed flutter mare he'd met on a previous wandering. He'd never seen a flutter before, but he never would have guessed her to be a half-breed if she hadn't told him. Clearly, having blood didn't always mean it could be seen. " I don't begrudge you your...personal Kalona problem, and I'm glad you were able to be rescued. I know some Kalona can be very nasty things," Sullivan said with a slight shiver. He didn't want to stereotype the breed; after all, it wasn't like they were skinwalkers. Now THERE was a breed that belonged firmly in the realm of fantasy... But he'd rather not think about that; he might enjoy a good story, but he wasn't so desperate that he would voluntarily think about such evil creatures. Instead, he gave Arioso a beaming smile. " I'm happy to answer questions, too; I'll even try to put my best dramatic spin on it, though I'm better at listening that telling." He would have continued on that vein, but Arioso's question brought him up short. Apparently dark subjects were going to be on the agenda, like it or not! Hoping he didn't sound too aggreived, he responded carefully, " No, I've never seen a Skinwalker, thank goodness...but what do you mean 'or,'" Sullivan asked suddenly. " Aren't the Skinwalkers the pawed ones?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 3:51 pm
Arioso grinned and gave a shrug at Sullivan's words, humming softly to himself. "Can't say we do one way or the other really. As I understand it tehre are some things that come easier with a herd rather than just a Clan. Probably easier to hold territory with a few more pairs of hooves pacing it, right? But at the moment this place is the one we hold due to continued presence, though not quite as sweeping as the territory a true herd could command. I like wandering, but the idea of returning to a place that is home, a place full of family, that sounds nice don't you think?"
The mention of the other stallion never seeing a Kalona made Arioso hesitate, giving his new friend a surprised look and a wide grin. "Well then, fortune favors you well indeed. I hope your luck continues. Though not all of them are mean, particularly the half bloods and crosses, it's certainly more common than not. And some of them might think you're just right for eating, which can be unpleasant indeed. Not as bad as some, but not ideal."
There was a faint shiver at the mention of Skinwalkers, which was as good an answer as any. Still, Arioso did wonder if Sullivan had met the pawed ones that were not Walker-kin, for he knew some of them to be kind. Some of them were mean but friends, too, but that was a story or three in the making. Even Arioso didn't understand her, most days, which would probably result in the story being muddled in the telling.
Not important at the moment. "Ah, good man! I'd enjoy any spin you'd like to throw on it, though good conversation is welcome just as much as stories. As for the rest, here is where we find the beginnings of another tale!"
The golden stallion grinned wide and pleasant, dancing on his hooves in quiet celebration for the opportunity to share his story. "So then, when I was a colt and fleeing from the curse I spoke of previously, I found myself in a dark pocket of forest. Now then, before this fateful day, I had known only that Skinwalkers walk on paws. Sometimes paws of the great hunting cats, sometimes the paws of wolves or fox or coyote, sometimes the great paws of bears. They are fierce and clawed and ever raging, and likely to eat you but not so much to talk."
He glanced at Sullivan and gave a shiver, but winked playfully. "Not my idea of good fun, in the slightest. So then, while wandering and well and truly lost, I came across a great mare... Truly towering, clad in the shades of brown that every tree may ever grow in, with soft cream like new growth snapped by rough movement. She was strangely pelted and crowned with proud antlers, and though her fangs were fierce her eyes were kind... For she was a Guardian of the Forest, walking on silent paws with fierce claws and eyes golden-bright... But a good heart, and a good friend, and the cleverest of teachers."
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