Fantasy Cursed Island

[Fangs9090]

"We were still in the ruins at the time, so maybe she didn't have the time."

 

[Darkling0096]

"I don't know," Jalin rolled his stones under his blindfold and went quiet again as they kept moving. The capital was a few days travel from the village they were staying in, but by travelling on foot constantly and only stopping for breaks to rest their feet, they were making quick progress.

 

[Fangs9090]

It was about midday when they arrived at the capital of Sylvas. Unlike Elyon, it had no walls and nearly looked like part of the forest around it. The buildings had been grown rather than made, plant life manipulated over time to form their housing. The paths were kept clear of any large plants that might trip someone but otherwise were only marked by the frequent use they got. In the center of the city was a massive tree that towered above all the rest. Like the other trees there, it also acted as building, probably their form of a castle.

 

[Darkling0096]

"Huh," Sinach fell backwards onto Emilia's carapace trying to turn his head far enough to see where the top of that massive tree was. It was like comparing a tree to a blade of grass, it was massive!

Jalin was... less impressed. In order to be regaled by the sight of something, you need to see it. He only noticed when they'd switched from woodland to city when the smell of city reached his nose, and looked very confused, "Where are we?"

 

[Fangs9090]

Roy spoke up as he looked around. "Sylvas, I believe. It's quite something. All the buildings look to be made of living plants, grown into shape over who knows how long, though I suspect some sort of magic was involved."

 

[Darkling0096]

"Hmm," Jalin frowned, reaching to grab someone's hand, since he couldn't really distinguish the tree buildings from normal trees, and didn't want to slam his hand into a tree reaching for the doorknob.

 

[Fangs9090]

Roy was closest, but somehow Emilia’s hand found Jalin’s first. Roy didn’t seem to notice as he kept looking around. “Well, let’s find some help.” He figured the best place to start would be the giant tree and headed that way.

 

[Darkling0096]

"Indeed," Jalin nodded, hooking his cane over his arm since tapping it in front of him would actually be a hindrance with Emilia guiding him.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
​

The base of the massive tree was as large scale as the rest of the plant. Massive roots that also held smaller plant structures underneath. Entire gardens grew atop the roots.

 

[Fangs9090]

Roy paused at the nearest of many entrances to the inside of the tree as there was no door. "Can we just...walk in?"

"The Great Tree is an open forum, at least at its base." Looking over, a woman stood nearby. She appeared to be reptilian and was very slender and very tall, seven or eight feet by Roy's estimate. She seemed to be wearing leaves and bark, but closer inspection revealed they were actually growing from her body. Her large eyes were a solid orange color, and she had scaly skin rather actual, individual scales.

 

[Darkling0096]

Jalin frowned as he heard the woman. Why was everything and everyone here so good at blending into the forest? "Am I correct in assuming you are something of a guide for this structure?"

 

[Fangs9090]

“Hm, not quite. You seemed confused, so I answered your question.”

 

[Darkling0096]

"Can we find an actual guide?", Sinach asked from Emilia's shoulder.

"Or perhaps a more localized map?", Jalin offered. Ideally one with a bit of a third dimension to it, but Jalin would be okay once he'd had the chance to mentally map out this place, anyway.

 

[Fangs9090]

“I’m afraid we don’t have a formal guide, or any maps of Sylvas. What are you looking for?”

 

[Darkling0096]

"There's a village, two days travel that way," Jalin pointed the way they came with his cane, "It's been ransacked by plant monsters and in desperate need of supplies to repair and feed its citizens with the destroyed harvest."

 

[Fangs9090]

"Oh! Of course, we'll send help right away. I believe I know what village you speak of. But, plant monsters, you say? That's concerning. I will have to go there myself."

 

[Darkling0096]

"Big tree... bush... things," Sinach groaned.

"What capacity do you serve?", jalin asked, "You seem awful eager to be involved for someone who has just been standing around."

 

[Fangs9090]

"Ah, forgive me. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kiri. I am the dryad that oversees these forests and ensures they're protected."

Roy blinked. "A dryad?" That would explain all the plant matter growing from her.

Kiri nodded. "Plant type monsters are not too common here, and those that do exist aren't know for attacking villages."

 

[Darkling0096]

Jalin raised an eyebrow, "That explains an uncomfortable amount." He wasn't sure he liked that.

"Well, plant lady or woman with plants grafted on, doesn't matter," Sinach waved it off, "We've been walking all night." Well, everyone else had been walkin all nnight.

 

[Fangs9090]

"Ah, please, feel free to rest at the in." She turned to point to one of the tree-buildings. "That tree right over there. We will gather supplies and workers and set out to the village as soon as we can."

 

[Darkling0096]

"How long will that take?", Jalin asked.

-------------

Back at the village, there was progress being made, at least. With the dead buried and the living accounted for, Turac, Siege, Nidia, and Katsuo did find that the cluster of buildings was in fact unoccupied. With its decrepit state, there didn't really seem to be any intention to repair it. No point in fixing a dead man's house when the living still had to rebuild theirs.

 

[Fangs9090]

"Gathering everything together should only take a few hours. The trip itself, perhaps a day or two, depending on if we encounter any trouble along the way."

 

[Darkling0096]

"Hmm," Jalin nodded, "Then we shall await to guide back to the village." He tugged Emilia's hand to signal he thought the conversation was over.

 

[Fangs9090]

Kiri dipped her head before heading off to round up some assistance for the village.

Roy watched her go for a moment before heading towards the inn.

 

[Darkling0096]

The inside of the inn, at least, made more sense to Jalin than the structure itself. Familiar shapes, albeit grown out of the tree the same as the structure itself. The only parts of the structure that weren't grown from the tree were the parts that moved; the doors, the chairs, taps, some of the tables, dining-ware.

"I suspect Nidia would love this place," Jalin noted as the enclosed space with defined non-plant-in-form structures began to appear that he could identify.

 

[Fangs9090]

"I'm sure she would. Perhaps we'll pass through here again." Roy headed to the counter to get some food. They'd only be there a few hours, so he didn't see a reason to rent a room.