[ Metaplot ] The War of the Fire Crown [ Chronicle of the Phoenix - Chapter o2 ] Prologue... Following the confrontation with the usurper, Shen Long, the borders of Yǒnghéng Zhī Huǒ opened up for the final time to allow those who would not stomach the new era to take their leave. Those that left were sent with a mixture of insults and pitying looks by their former kin as they put their homeland to their backs and pressed on into the outside world.
With only the Weaver's whisper to guide them, the group passed away from the rich, lush soil of the chain of volcanoes into a harsh and forgiving land covered by a sea of obsidian. The ground was as glass, and pushing forward was not an easy affair- least of all for Asher who had suffered the loss of his eyes to Shen's claws. Huddled together, the group pushed forward in hopes of finding refuge...
OOC
Meta Plot ORP Rules → Try to keep up! There will be no quotes in this system because there would be far too many to quote. → There is no post order. → Thalion will continue to post at least once a day to keep the RP rolling! → If you are one of the minor FC owners, you are ENCOURAGED to participate but you are not required to do so.
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 10:24 pm
The first few days passed by in a blur. The wounds he had taken had grown infected, leading the tah feverish and delirious through the pass. He could remember only small, brief moments. A conversation to his left, a gentle shoulder nudging him in the right direction, worried voices over his face, and the occasional splash of water against his eyes- or rather, where they once had been. It was a stroke of the Weaver's grace alone that spared him from death. The infection had slowed and eventually faded thanks to the care and attention of the others traveling alongside him. There were times he entertained trying to pad off in the late hours, knowing he would only stumble about and slow the party down. He could no longer contribute as a hunter- bad at it as he had been before, nor could he help navigate. Quite suddenly, he felt like a newly-woven once more. He had to discover his paws for a second time, learn how to hear in a different way, and lay his very survival in the paws of complete strangers.
Well...they had been strangers. In their shared wounds and grief they had become something more. They shared a bond that, perhaps, no other B'alam in the realm yet had to face. They'd lost their home, their honor, their hope at a good future.
He bit down on bitterness, knowing that he had lost all things beautiful. No more would he see the sun rise over the peaks or the shimmering splendor of the water in the late afternoon. He'd been robbed of it...
It felt like weeks that they'd traveled, first over the familiar fertile land of their home, then to the thin grass just outside of the pass, and now the ground became...slick, shifting, and very, very sharp. It was a nightmare. Every step was a hazard and one miss-step led to injury. It was miserable. He could feel the air growing colder, meaning that the sun was setting. Soon the party would stop and regroup. "I never knew such land existed outside." He commented, his mouth impossibly dry. "What does the earth look like? Have we passed into another tribe's territory?"
-Shady Mooo-
Teigra
Kyrieko
GunSniper
[ Radical Dreamer ]
Xian can come in once the refugees are close enough!
[[ OOC || If I missed a refugee quote, please let me know! ]]
Taking her turn at supporting the injured tah, Samantha's eyes were constantly on her own paws. The temptation was constantly there to look away, either some sound, or motion, or now the beautiful colors of the setting sun attempted to draw her vision, but she knew that would end only in more bleeding cuts on her paws. She knew that well by now.
The pace was agonizingly slow, but it was the only way to move out here on the strange, black stones. The setting sun's light reflected off the smooth, sharp edges of the earth; a strangely alien sight, given the fertile, grassy lands they hailed from. Samantha paused before each step, gently testing each foothold before placing her weight on it. From time to time, her shoulder gently brushed against Asher's, a constant, calming reassurance that someone was there in case he needed them. The air was cooling and the wearying nature of this sort of travel was tempering the nan's usual conflicting feelings that they needed to move faster. They were leaving their home behind, fertile green lands...in exchange for this? Surely, if they pushed on, it could get no worse than this terrible hellscape, she told herself. It had to be better beyond that...right?
But, it was hard enough to travel over the devilish black expanse even when one wasn't hurrying. Or trying to watch and care for another. The added responsibility made the effort worse, so they had started trading off the task as Asher's condition had improved, at least somewhat. It allowed the others to move alone for a while, focused only on their own paws; as much of a rest as they could allow themselves while keeping moving.
The silence broken, Samantha flicked one ear towards the tah's raspy tone. Her own voice harsh from lack of use or water, she had to clear her throat with a cough before answering quietly, "It's like walking across a field of blades." She took a deep breath, letting it out as a sigh. "It is blacker than the deepest night," she shared, "yet shines like the light reflecting from water. Shame it is so much less forgiving." Not that she was overly fond of water either, aside from drinking it. That being said, if this accursed land suddenly wanted to turn to liquid instead right now, well, she'd thank the Weaver until her breath gave out.
After a moment more, she added, "Honestly, I've never been this far out, myself. I have no idea. After we passed the sparse grasslands outside the pass, well...this is all new for me as well."
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 11:29 am
Volga had built up enough trust to leave the cub's side for moments at a time. Because of what had happened in the past, he still hated leaving him for too long. It was something he would gradually have to get over. Smothering Feng would be counter productive.
There had been word of a group of fire b'alam leaving the main city, the scouts said there had been a few heading in their direction. Volga was more than curious to hear of a whole group leaving the capital. What was Shen up to?
His pale eyes scanned the glassy horizon, nearly kissed with the fading light of the sun. A cool air was taking over the land. The scout had said they were in this direction, one with the pelt as white as a hot flame. That one was reported as being surrounded by others.
Volga drew in a deep breath. Even if there was no sight of them, if they were close he would be able to feel their spirits. Perhaps soon. A feint whisper in the back of his mind urged him to continue forward, keep looking.
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 4:25 pm
Not for the first time since their footing became much more treacherous, Arlii felt her paws slip and the tired nan would stumble, only to regain her balance by some miracle. There was so much that plagued her mind. Worry for her sister constantly hanging heavily over her shoulders. A fear she tried desperately not to acknowledge over what would become of them? They had left their home! Been seen as outcasts and looked down upon. And for what? Was this the Weaver's way of truly testing them? To see for himself if they really did stand by their hope and belief in him?
The raspy voice of the tah she walked along the other side of snapped her out of her own thoughts. Just what could he possibly be going through? Here, in what seemed like foreign land, with no place they could really go? She was still relieved that the care they had given him seemed to have helped. It had been a nice way of letting their minds focus on something other than their unfortunate predicament.
Arlii glanced first at Samantha as she replied, then at her other companions and finally back along the strange ground they walked, less she stumble again and lose what little energy still kept her going.
"I have not been this far out either," she replied softly, ears flicking around. "I will certainly be glad if we were never to walk along it again." The nan added, with a smallest hint of humor before her fur bristled as a shiver raced along.
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 10:28 pm
It sounded alien... he could hardly imagine it. Part of him wasn't entirely surprised, however. None of them had been outside of their own tribe's territory nor heard from any who had come from the outside world. It could very well be that the Fire Tribe existed within an oasis and the outside was covered in turmoil and pain. It would only add insult to injury if that was the case. Surely, there had to be a place with soft ground, warm skies, and plentiful resources.
The description made the landscape look far worse in his mind than it likely was. A ground covered in blades, shimmering like liquid- but it sounded...strange. It was like stone scraping over stone, but it had a higher pitch to it. There was an almost musical quality in how the earth sounded under them, cracking and groaning, scraping and sometimes even outright shattering if the slabs of shale were thin enough.
The voices of his companions didn't sound much better than his own. They'd all pushed forward, more eager to put the enemy at their backs than to put a new homeland at their noses. Now that the urgency had burnt off, it left the whole group weary, thirsty, and likely bloody from their walk.
"We should try to find somewhere to rest." He offered, rolling his ears to listen. Sadly, the welcoming trickle of water was absent. Only wind flowed over the landscape here. "We'll do no good exhausting ourselves. We can drink up the cold air before pushing on with the sun.
-Shady Mooo-
Teigra
Kyrieko
GunSniper
[ Radical Dreamer ]
Xian can come in once the refugees are close enough!
Had she not been so exhausted, Samantha probably wouldn't have allowed herself to wax poetic out here in the wilderness, especially to the poor newly-blinded brother who was just as much a stranger to these lands as was she. She wasn't considering that anyone would take her rambling literally, and may have even cracked a smile had she considered the mental images her description spawned.
As it were, she was too focused on keeping her paws moving, one in front of the other, in a more or less straight line; at least as straight as she could while trying to navigate the sharp edges of obsidian. Though she felt driven to keep moving, she wasn't so far gone from her senses not to see the wisdom in Asher's suggestion. Nodding in affirmation, it took a minute before she stopped herself and responded verbally instead. "Good idea. I'll keep my eyes open for a low spot. Maybe we can take shelter for a while. There's not much else out here."
Samantha's senses were taxed from being constantly on the alert with little rest, and little food or water since they reached this desolate landscape. She didn't need to look at the others to feel their spirits at the edges of her senses; they were intimately familiar to her by this point. However, that was the limit of her reach due to weariness. Anything much beyond that, well...she'd have to depend on her eyes to warn her of approaching danger. For that alone, perhaps the sparse landscape was aiding them in something at least. Her pace slowed slightly so that she could feel her way with her paws carefully while keeping her eyes ahead of her. A shallow or low area in the stone would do, but if they could find water or anything really other than this cursed stone, she'd sing praises to the Weaver, sore throat or no!
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:24 pm
The tah definitely made an excellent point. And she was relieved that there seemed to be agreement. But the sad truth was, she wasn't sure if they could find such a place. Not with how the strange ground they walked seemed to shimmer and tease the eyes. It was even worse with when the sun shined down upon it. More than once she had caught herself almost having double vision as the landscape toyed with her tired eyes. Yet, surely, there had to be some place out here for them to take shelter... right?
"I will keep watch for a place we could take shelter as well." Arlii said with a nod in agreement to Samantha. "That, or I'll find one by slipping into it by accident." She tried for a small smile and maybe even a laugh from her companions. Anything was better than allowing themselves to focus on how exhausted their bodies were. Or what new injury their paws received. And dear Asher.... her heart squeezed every time she tried to imagine tackling this terrain without the aide of her eyes. Perhaps not for the first time, the nan's shoulder brushed against the pale tah's in silent encouragement and reassurance they would get through this.
The Weaver must have a reason for them heading out here, right? Arlii desperately clung to that tiny bit of hope. And couldn't help adding in a few silent pleas to help them find a shelter. Preferably in the very near future. While she and Samantha could still manage to best this terrain.
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 11:38 pm
"A wise B'alam would cross these lands by moonlight to avoid its hazards and seek out the shade during the day." A voice called from just to the east of the group. A paroo flew over-head, screeching loudly enough to startle the blind tah over who's head it passed easily over. The creature landed on a young adult tah standing on a sloped shelf of obsidian, his calloused paws sure on the treacherous surface and his expression guarded. He had moved so quietly that his approach had been nearly undetectable. Like the companions he trained with, he learned every hazard in the obsidian sea and how to master it. A group of strangers stumbling about was now as obvious to those that called the shard-covered terrain their home.
The paroo perched dutifully and turned to face the others. Feng narrowed his eyes.
This group didn't look entirely hostile- but looks could be deceptive. One of them was covered in blood, a condition made more obvious against his alabaster coat. It had been the scent of blood that had caught Volga's attention first and had merited their personal investigation. The others with him looked as emotionally shredded as the cripple they now escorted. Feng's eyes hardened. He'd never seen...damage done to B'alam like that...to prey, perhaps, but to kin?
"Quickly. State your business." His tone was even, neither hostile nor overly compassionate. As curious, and grieved, as he was by the strangers- he had others to defend here.
Ashur tensed. He hadn't even heard the stranger approach- but his senses weren't exactly adapted to his disability yet. His head still ached horribly as his mind struggled to make sense of the loss of his vision. The blows he had taken had rattled his nerves and dulled his instincts. The tah was too tired to present himself as defensive- or even much of a threat. He could tell it was a young tah- but beyond that...was he of the fire-blood? Was he an enemy?
"Please...we mean only to pass through-"
-Shady Mooo-
Teigra
Kyrieko
GunSniper
[ Radical Dreamer ]
Xian can come in once the refugees are close enough!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 7:12 pm
The screeching paroo startled Samantha enough that she jumped, then immediately assumed a defensive stance. The fur on the back of her neck was raised in alarm, though the growl she aimed at the creature carried some hint of her irritation at herself for allowing the group to be approached without knowledge. She should have been more alert. She should have noticed their approach. She berated herself silently; though she knew their group was exhausted beyond belief at this point, she just couldn't accept that as an excuse for failing.
As she turned to face the strange Tah, Samantha automatically took a step forward to stand protectively in front of Ashur. She couldn't explain it, but the bond that had developed between her and the rest of the refugees from the capital was strong. After all they'd been through together, and all they'd left behind, all they had left was one another. She felt protective of them all...but more so of the newly blind Tah, who at least at one point (or more) had left his life in their paws. It was some instinct deep within her that had her respond in such a manner.
Her initial urge to respond smartly to the implication that they lacked wisdom because of how they'd been traveling was tempered by the truth of the statement in addition to her weariness. This wasn't the time to let her mouth get them all in trouble. Instead, taking a hint from Ashur, she kept her protective stance in front of her injured kin but tried to keep any trances of aggression from her voice or stance. "We're not looking for any trouble, stranger." She spared a glance towards her other companions to see if they were of a similar mindset before she continued. "I suppose we are fools then, forsaking wisdom in exchange for speed. We seek only safety and shelter, somewhere far away from the madness we've left behind us."
Somehow, saying just that much to a stranger made Samantha feel uneasy. However, with as far as they had traveled, what was the likelihood that this Tah had any connection to the cruel tyrant who had claimed the capital and the throne? Little to none, she dearly prayed to the Weaver. Even at this distance and with such brief interaction, she could see the confidence in the strange Tah's stance. He seemed surefooted, confident...at ease in these surroundings. Far from awkwardness displayed by herself and her companions from the city. Perhaps it was wishful thinking or at the very least a stretch, however, she couldn't help but get the feeling that this stranger had little to do with those from the city. He seemed completely at ease out here.
Weaver, don't let this be another brush with madness, she prayed silently.
Okkalahka had been rather quiet with the group up until now. She'd been following the injured Tah since the city, her Bork companion loyally following at her side. She was out of sorts, and that perhaps was what worried the small beast. Okka was generally more upbeat and chipper! But since they'd left the city.... The Bork gave a gentle nudge with its beak, pecking at her limb as if to get a rise of the old Okka back.
Okka blinked at her... pet? Companion? Eh... Odd friend. "What?" she tilted her head at her as if she'd understand when an answer ever came. Its feathers ruffled and wings gave a gentle flap as it stretched them. Okka simply rolled her eyes and turned them back to her paws. The ground was turning harsh and each step was nearing the point of throwing her into madness. First Shen, then leaving their home... and now this?
Not that her bork was having any issues walking on the stuff. Its hooves seemed better suited for the terrain and she idly wondered if it were possible to sit on her Bork's back and let her do all of the walking... Despite the fact that it was so much smaller... likely couldn't support her weight... and that she'd be the only one getting relief from the razor sharp terrain and that just wouldn't be fair to the rest of her... friends?
Well, she supposed they were quickly becoming friends of hers now too. Funny how things like that happened, huh?
Okka shook her head. No need to worry about all that now. Her ears twitched to the sound of a voice, quickly followed by a small jump from the screeching bird. She hissed faintly at the sting under her paws at the sudden movement. Her Bork had also jumped and fluffed its wings to the sound, not anticipating such a sound to be so close and seemingly overhead. It made an odd squeal of it's own from being so startled, and then settled with a few low clucks as she passed under her B'alam protector, seeming to use the similar colored female as a shield before all eyes were moved and settled on the Tah and his own winged and feathered companion.
Okka remained quiet in the group and left all the talking to the rest of them. She, more often than not, generally came across as more childish and ignorant whenever she talked, or so she gathered. So anything she might offer to say would likely ruin their chances of ever getting help. And yeesh... were they needing help more than anything right now!
Word Count this post: 441 Total Words this RP: 441
Thalion
-Shady Mooo-
Teigra
Kyrieko
GunSniper
[ Radical Dreamer ]
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 1:38 pm
Xian followed at her Lord's side and stood beside him silently. Her careful gaze rested on the others of the group, and her eyes placed themselves tentatively on the one called 'asher'. Xian never forgot a face, even as maimed as it is.
Carefully Xian turned her head to Feng, and she moved a step closer not to distract his gaze off of the strangers.
"If I may, My Lord..." Xian begged softly for a moment of his ear. Her pristine fan moved to cover her maw from the sight of the others and keep her soft words to Feng's ears only.
"I believe these are refugees from the capital that you have been told about. The sightless pale one, is Asher-I watched with my own gaze as he was maimed publicly by Shen Lung." The Nahtil informed their now grown leader, before gracefully bowing her head and taking a respectful step back. Allowing him to come to a conclusion himself, with the aid of the information that was just shared.
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