Graded [Frontier][Ciu'nan]Chapter 1: A distant grotto

[EMIYAman]

Tia
Interactions: Clyvelle Sisyphus Happy LadyOfStars Volkie

​

Her attention had shifted suddenly, as is natural for children she changed her focus to whatever caught her fancy. Though other youth would be remiss to try the same things Tia does. She chewed on the mushroom noting not its taste, but its constitution. Its chemical makeup and affects on the human body. As her biomass tore it apart into its base components, she noted the average young of humans would potentially die upon eating it. If not get quiet sick. She felt an instinctual satisfaction at learning something new especially when it pertained to humans.

It was then that the ground rumbled and Tia could only blink owlishly as she felt her body raise into the air. She looked wildly around for any threats but couldn't find the source of her sudden ascent. Then she saw hands come from either side and realized she was on top of a giant creature. Her hair stood on end like the hackles of a cat and she made an animalistic hissing sound. But then pouted when she got no reaction, and she realized it probably couldn't even here her up here on top of its shell. She went up to the front of its carapace on the very edge of the shell and hung off it upside down. Till her head was off hanging down and she could look into the creatures beady eyes. Her face was set in an angry and threatening glare, for a child. Its voice reverberating in her mind didn't bother her but its words did. "Tia no deer, Tia Tia!" Then she raised her arms, or rather lowered them from her upside down position presenting them to the creature like claws, and once again hissed this time in the face of the thing.

 

[Volkie]

Wonton Denver - EMIYAman Clyvelle Sisyphus Happy LadyOfStars
- Hello there big nature thing!

*poke* For a good 50 seconds was Wonton still focused on the mushrooms he had found, but nonetheless he did turn and observe how the others were holding up. So far, Tia was with that cloaked guy, and Haruki was with Ciu'nan taking a closer look at the deer. Nodding to himself that things were fine, he turned back to the shrooms with the mustered up courage to poke and prod at the fungus with his spear.

*Poke poke*

Then came the rumbling, which he quickly turned and bolted to the others.

"Felt like an earthquake! You guys.. Alright...?" Looking over towards the hulking figure, his concerned words died off and were replaced by.. Excitement?

"Woah..!"

Then came the moment it spoke, prompting Wonton to introduce himself thanks to Tia.

"Yeahp.. Not a deer.. A Waddle Dee actually, My name's Wonton, Wonton Denver. Do you have a name?" He asked the creature.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Ciu'nan interposed herself between Haruki and the mushroom creature. Her face betrayed the uncertainty she currently felt about their situation.

"I...I don't know, Haruki. Just...be respectful and...try not to anger it." Ciu'nan said in a normal tone.

The fae hesitated to engage with the creature, but Tia, who appeared over the brim of its mushroom hat, shared no such pause. The little girl could be seen dangling from the mushroom's brim, growling at it of all things. Ciu'nan reached a hand out, but the girl brashly confronted the mushroom without a second thought. It took a moment, but the two yellow orbs shifted upward towards her.

There was a moment where the dull roar ceased, as the mushroom creature seemingly contemplated something as it stared at the girl dangling from its brim. Then, softly at first, the buzzing drone returned and gradually escalated to deafening levels as the soundwaves alone rattled everyone to their core. The surrounding trees creaked as their leaves shivered in the heavy bass of the mushroom's "voice". Tia would find herself vibrating around on the brim as the mushroom tipped itself forward slightly in an attempt to make her fall off.

The voice permeated the thoughts of those present once more as it shook Tia free, "Strange...child...Thou art...of flesh...yet...you...resemble...my children...."

Once Tia either fell or got out of its face, the roaring would dim to background noise. The mushroom's gaze would sink to the ground in front of it where Ciu'nan stood guarding Haruki as Wanton fearlessly introduced himself. The buzz rose briefly as his words repeated back to everyone present.

"Waddle...Dee...?"

The creature closed its eyes for a moment. Whether it paid attention to any explanation, if given, was unclear. When it opened its eyes once more, the buzzing resumed at a more moderate volume, cutting off anyone speaking.

"Times...have changed...it seems.
Your...ignorance...is most...grievous...to I...the forest elder...Masaruma.
Yet thou...shalt receive...my grace...being but...babes.
Still...I wilt ask...dost thou...bring an offering?"

Ciu'nan relaxed slightly at Masaruma's mention of grace, but she was caught off-guard by the request for an offering. She looked around and patted herself down. Finding the squirrel still dangling from her belt, she hesitantly removed it. Taking a few steps forward while holding the carcass aloft, she asked, "Will this suffice, Master Masaruma?"

((For clarification, Masaruma's voice resembles the sound of musical bass. Imagine being next to a speaker at a concert and feeling your body vibrating with the pulse of the sound. That's what its voice is like.))

 

[LadyOfStars]

Haruki​

Haruki breathed easily upon seeing Ciu'nan stand between the creature and himself. Unfortunately that did nothing to stop the vibrating, rumbling, and the pain that came with the creature's attempt to communicate with them. Oddly enough the voice still appeared within his mind. It was baffling to say the least. He watched, still nervous, as the others interreacted with the entity despite their lack of knowledge. He had to wonder...were they brave or was he a coward? Tia played atop the creature's head and Mister WWonton introduced himself to it as if the creature had not held them prisoner here. Shaking his head and clearing his mind, Haruki was brought back to the current situation when the creature started to speak once more.

This time it was not as bad and the creature introduced itself. "A forest elder?" The young cervitaur didn't remember his herd teaching him about forest elders, but they did always teach that respecting the forest was important and required. Perhaps this was what they meant by that. Seeing Ciu'nan step forward to present an offering, Haruki felt that he should do the same. He only had one thing to give though.

"I....have this." He spoke softly as he presented his spear to Masaruma. "It is the ancestral spear of my herd." He started. "They...are gone now and I think it would be best to let them rest with the forest." Tears swelled in Haruki's eyes as he though of letting go of the family heirloom. He needed to let go of his herd and move past their death which haunted him and made him feel afraid all the time. With a deep breath he lowered his head and hoped that, Masaruma would not try to eat him like he had done the deer.

Clyvelle

 

[EMIYAman]

Tia
Interactions: Clyvelle Sisyphus Happy LadyOfStars Volkie

​

Tia gave a good threatening fierce roar directed at the big mushroom. She was quite unhappy to see he wasn't recoiling in terror. Mostly because her instincts were telling her the big mushroom was dangerous, and she wasn't confident she could take him. She knew normally this was where an animal would run away or try to fight it off. But while she certainly felt threatened by the mushrooms size she wasn't scared, but curious. Tia would keep herself poised for attack as her natural intuition demanded of her. Yet he heart which so resembled that of a young girl despite her true nature carried on in its discoveries of life.

The big mushroom put words in her head she didn't fully know, but its slow manner of speaking and telepathic communication was well suited for her. Though she did know the word "flesh" she actually hadn't heard it spoken till now but it was a concept she was incidentally familiar with. She stared at the creature, wondering how its insides were structured. "Yah!" Then with a yelp she was shook off, falling backwards and landing on her head before dropping onto her back. Fortunately for her, lacking a normal brain prevented a concussion. Though she certainly didn't enjoy the sudden drop. She brought herself up from from the ground as quickly as she could. Staring up at the mushroom with willful eyes. She continued her face off convinced utterly in her childish mind that only she, stood between them and death. Her concertation was interrupted by the others of her pack communicating with the mushroom, the wariness obvious in their sounds. They even began to present it with things. The female Ciu'nan showing off a squirrel. While Haru was offering his long shiny claw! He seemed sad too something she understood and didn't want her packmate to feel. Tia didn't like it, not one bit. She didn't quite get why they were doing it, but she knew some animals did something similar to appease mates and give gifts. This though, reminded her of pack dynamics. The lowest of the wolves yielded and showed submissiveness to the alpha wolf, and this mushroom was taking that role! He was trying to slip Tia's status as alpha of her pack right from under her, and she wasn't having it.

​

She marched over to Haru. A stern pout upon her face. "Haru, no give claw!" She pointed to the mushroom creature. "Mushroom no alpha, Tia alpha. Haru sad, by give claw." She then placed he hands on her hips with a somewhat haughty expression pleased with her own cleverness. "Tia say. No give claw, no be sad. Mushroom no alpha so Haru no listen." She nodded to herself finding her own reasoning indisputable in its logic. Haru would stop being sad, and Tia position as alpha would be cemented. Though, if the mushroom got angry, it may attack them. So in her stubbornness she resolved to fight it if need be. She turned back to the big mushroom. "Tia no give, Tia bigger." She didn't quite know how to say she considered herself higher than another being, but to her "bigger" was more than sufficient to get the point across.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

From a little ways away behind them, a light rattling sound could be heard ever so faintly emanating from Liu's form. That is of course his bones trembling in response to the creature asking for a sacrifice. It makes sense if this spirit animating a life form specializing in decomposing would be fond of dead things -- as a snack. Liu had nothing to offer, really. A piece of paper with some scribblings, some stale berries, a bunch of fabric. Of course, the best thing for this creature would be his very body. Fully unprotected from the encroachment of fungus, moisture, mould, mildew, and other such things that hasten one's progress toward being dirt, he is a delectable treat. Liu didn't say anything, locked into a psychological stalemate. This creature undoubtedly had some agency over whether or not they would be able to leave, yet he does not wish to give himself up for its appetite. This mound of fabric was perfectly satisfied standing far back from the creature and waiting to be called upon, hoping the creature did not experience anything that could be identified as avarice. It called itself the elder of the forest and he could only hope the creature did not at all resemble the petty, cowardly, stubborn and desperate 'elders' he was familiar with.

 

[Volkie]

Wonton Denver - Ciu'nan, Haruki, Tia, Fei Lu. Clyvelle LadyOfStars EMIYAman Sisyphus Happy
- My offering to you, good one.

As Masaruma spoke, the more and more Wonton felt his body vibrate hard, nearly having lost balance but saved it using the blunt end of his spear. Taking a second to recover he thought over what he should give to the Giant-Apparently-Very-Well-Known-Being-From-His/Her/Their Era. He looked over, seeing that Haruki was offering his own spear, saying it was to let go of his deceased herd. He felt bad for the kid, but also understood that this was a chance to grow. Seeing Tia object to this however, Wonton felt that something bad would happen if she continued.

"Uhm.. Tia..? Listen.." He said gently, waddling over to the two and turning Tia to face him, fearing what he might say next offend Masaruma, he decided to say it

"Hey, listen.. It's his choice whether or not he offers his spear, You need to respect that like a good Alpha does.. Okay? And remember, Masaruma, or the Big Mushroom as you call it, is very strong.. Much stronger than us. If we give him something to offer, then we may be able to leave this place and get to home, Okay?" He gave her some pats to reassure her, before turning back to Masaruma.

"Great Masaruma.. I offer these ripe tomatoes that were freshly harvested from my home with great care.. I hope it suffices.."

Setting down his spear, he took out half of the remaining tomatoes in the brown bag, and held them out.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Masaruma flattened his right hand on the ground in front of him palm up. Ciu'nan cautiously approached and tossed the squirrel onto the elder's hand. Each with their own offerings did the same. Once all was collected into Masaruma's palm, as with the deer before, mushrooms sprang up and consumed the squirrel carcass and the tomatoes then melded back into the hand. The staff on the other hand remained in tact where Haruki had placed it. A gentle hum, much softer than any tone Masaruma had used prior, filled the clearing as his brim tipped down to peer at the item in his hand.

"This item...contains...much sentiment...
How...great...a thing...thou have...offered...little one...
Out of...respect...to those...memories...in this item...I will...give thee...a proper...memorial...for them...."

The great mossy fingers curled slightly, cupping the spear in Masaruma's palm. Orbs of green light manifested in the air around his hand and began coalescing on the spear, causing it to glow. After a few seconds, the lights vanished as suddenly as they had appeared. The spear glowed momentarily after the work was done, but its light too soon faded. There below the head of the spear was a mossy green growth with vibrant green tendrils digging into and spreading down the length of the shaft. The purring vibration resumed.

"Take up...thine spear...little one....
In the prairie...which thou...wilt...enter...upon leaving...my forest...drive...thine spear...into the earth...in a place...of thine choosing....
From it...wilt spring...a mighty...tree...which...shalt honor...these...memories...for generations...to come...."

Once Haruki took the spear, Masaruma lifted his hand and flipped it palm down as more light orbs began coalescing underneath. After a small flash, a spectral buck now stood before them, pawing the ground. As it did so, mushrooms sprouted underneath it.




"This...wilt be...thine guide...out of...the forest....
In its wake...mushrooms...to bolster...your rations....
Go in peace...travellers...."

Only Fei would hear the following: "Breathless one...I seek...a private...audience...with thee...."

((Regardless of what Fei chooses, he emerges from the forest about the same time as the others.))

The deer reared as it bellowed, a deep vibrado reminiscent of Masaruma's voice. Instead of trotting as one might expect, the deer simply leapt from one spot to the next, each landing creating momentary spectral ripples accompanied by a chime. As it went, it climbed into the air, bounding just above head height. With its raised position and bright glow, it was hard to lose sight of their guide as the party navigated out of the forest.

The path was winding and strayed from what appeared to be the main path often, but eventually, just as Masaruma said, the party emerged onto a prairie enclosed by forest. While the sunlight in Masaruma's space was fitting of late morning, the sky above the prairie was already in its red shades of twilight as the sun sank behind the treetops. Ahead, the land sloped downward as a road past below them to the left and right. This would undoubtedly be the main road that would lead to Wonton's village. Across the road from the party, the herd could be seen grazing near the opposite treeline bordering the far side of the prairie.

"It's the herd! We haven't lost them!" Ciu'nan exclaimed gleefully.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Upon receiving the leave of this mushroom, Liu relaxed. Crisis averted. He neglected a sigh of relief and examined everyone while they went. The creature seemed to acknowledge the memories of the spear. His mind began churning immediately. What exactly can this elder see in them? All of their knowledge, their lives? It speaks to their mind, perhaps it sees the minds of those around it. Liu winged inwardly; the prospect of information being unguarded in his mind, ripe for the picking, made him squirm. To be undefended in this way made him uncomfortable, to say the least. It must see something, after all, to recognize immediately that some dingy rod with a sharp point was something special just at the word of a stranger. Walking through civilian streets, Liu could not count the number of times he encountered wonderous relics, prayer beads worn by magical monks, swords wielded by ancient generals of reknown, all of aluminum or wood younger than him, painted and then dirtied to feed the fantasies of the naiive. How much more might they be worth under duress? Not to say that Haruki is a scam artist, quite the opposite, Liu could not help but feel the faintest protective instinct -- not that he could protect the cervitaur any more effectively without a year or more of retraining. This must be another facet of magic. Had he any flesh on his face, he would have made a pained expression. For the longest time he found the talk of chi and fortune telling to be absurd. Science, industry, those were magical, not the ecstatic humming of some old opium addict, not the warm feeling you get when you still yourself and breathe deep. Yet, a giant made of fungus that could be worshipped as a god is half out of the ground before him, and the eidolon of a stag strides out of thin air and prances with the sound of a tolling bell to guide them out of an invisible trap. Little thoughts that he now harbored stemming from this mystical thinking, he would have considered them whimsies a year before, useless fancies -- they are now necessary to his wellbeing. A sense of tiredness settled in his chest like a sleeping dog. Will manifests itself outside of the borders of the body and knowledge is a substance flowing through the world. Power brims all around him in some way, taunting him like a rat in a pit. He is, as of now, at its mercy.

He made a mental note to try to figure out this whole magic thing just in time for the reverberation to enter his mind once more. 'Breathless one,' it said. He stood stock still, silently staring at the others, he expected them all to look toward each other and then toward them as realization dawned on them and perhaps a guarded or betrayed expression or two. However, they did not seem to respond. Liu spread his stance out a little bit and considered for a moment. The creature knew of him and did not demand his delicious bones, so perhaps he was flattering himself. Fair enough. A general sense growing from the bed of facts simmering in his vacuous mind urged him to at least speak with the creature. It likely could follow him and eat him on a whim anyway, so he may as well humor it.

He made the noise of clearing his throat and produced his map, calling to the group while approaching the fungus carefully, "I shall linger a moment, I must consult with the elder regarding the map I have made. This is... their domain, after all, there is a certain issue of ownership when it comes to these things," he fibbed vaguely, holding up a placating hand, "I shall be along shortly -- I can be quick on my feet," he reassured them, producing his map for effect and reaching the elder in a few moments. With knowledge that the creature could be peering into his mind, Fei's thoughts took on a more subdued texture. They were quieter, vaguer, he pushed many things down through the rumbling floor of the unconscious as best he could, though coherence raised its head often, like a swimmer in their race. Though he grew to disdain the mystical, he was inevitably exposed to meditation and the exercises of the mind, living where he did, when he did, growing up in a household of mild affluence. This would not prevent any creature capable of psychic probing from discovering his thoughts, any more than a rag would block the flow of water from a faucet, though it was a cute attempt. Liu waited for a little bit so that his compatriots would be some distance away before he raised his hood and regarded the creature brazenly, the sun glancing off of his waxen face. He even made a little bow of respect and clasped his hands behind his back, standing with his feet shoulder length apart as though standing at some kind of relaxed attention. But he said nothing.

 

[LadyOfStars]

Haruki​

Haruki was surprised and beyond elated by the Forest Elder's gift and he couldn't think of a way to properly thank Masaruma for it. So he simply bowed his head and took his leave with the rest of the group. His mind was stuck on the transformation that his spear had undergone and the the power that now lay dormant inside of it, waiting to be used. Quietly he followed behind the phantom deer and kept quiet as he ruminated on his new feelings about his herd and his past. His pain was great and it had seemed his suffering would never end, but now he had met Tia and Mr. Wonton, and they felt like his herd now. On top of that, the pain hurt a little less and felt more like an understanding than an aching. No amount of tears or pity would bring his family back to him. SO he had to make the most of every day and live his life to the fullest.


It wasn't until Ciu'nan cheered to the discovery of the deer that, Haruki would awaken from his day dreaming and look around. They had finally arrived to the main road it seemed. Inhaling a deep breath, he looked at Tia and Mr. Wonton. With a heavy sigh he nodded his head. "Mr. Wonton..." The young cervitaur started. "I don't think I can go with you to your family's home." His ears flattened against the top of his head and Haruki cleared his throat. "The Forest Elder has given me a great gift and I think that I need to use it. But I have to find the perfect place to use it, which means I need to do some searching and traveling." He fixed the spear onto his ack and looked to Tia. "I'd really like if you joined me, Tia." The little girl had really started to grow on him and she felt like family at this point, but he would understand if she wanted something else.

Volkie Clyvelle Sisyphus Happy EMIYAman

 

[Volkie]

Wonton Denver - Haruki LadyOfStars Tia EMIYAman Ciu'nan Clyvelle Fei Sisyphus Happy
- Be safe for me...


It would’ve been seen if Wonton had a mouth, but he was smiling, grateful that the Forest Elder accepted their offerings. He took a small moment to look at Haruki, whom had been given back his obviously changed spear, happy for the Cervitaur’s chance to find peace with his deceased herd. Turning back to face the forest elder, he bowed in thanks. "I'll remember this day for years to come, Forest Elder Masaruma." Before following the others along the path.

Reaching the point, and witnessing the Herd that was A- Okay, Wonton did a small happy hop with a celebratory “Woop!”. Hearing Haruki want to speak however, he turned and listened to what Haruki was suggesting..

He understood, yes, but something didn't sit right, for his thoughts trailed back to a certain man back at the festival.

"B-but.. Ceylan said for me to keep you and Tia safe..! I would break a promise... But I understand why..."

He stopped for a moment to calm down after his small concerned outburst, before continuing.

"Sorry about that.. It's just that.. I don't want the two of you to end up in a dangerous situation.. It'd be my fault for not being there to help.. And it would also hurt Ceylan."

He was saddened that they were gonna have to separate, but it was how it was, and sometimes you can't control that. You could influence at most though.

"..Haruki, Tia.. Promise me this one thing. Stay safe.. Not just for me, but also for Ceylan, should we be able to reunite with him again." Wonton, somberly but acceptingly agreed. "I wish the two of you the best of luck in your journey. As papa said; May Your Heart be Your Guiding Key in finding the door to the memorial spot."

 

[EMIYAman]

Tia
Interactions: Clyvelle Sisyphus Happy LadyOfStars Volkie ​

Tia was quite put out by the situation. Haru was willingly giving up something he seemed to care for, and she couldn't understand why. Despite her words as the alpha he was doing it anyway. She thought all he needed was a little help to face his fear of the big mushroom so he could keep his shiny claw. But that didn't seem to be the case. He was sad yet happy. Afraid yet not. Why? And what did that mean? Tia just didn't get it. She stepped away from Haru with a feeling of confusion and defeat. Stewing in her emotions she merely watched as the big mushroom did something to Haru's cherished object. Causing it to light up and glow before growing a moss like substance on it. She glared up at the creature seeing it as a greater beast than she. Yet it did not kill or eat them. She supposes it is a herbivore? Though it is without a doubt nothing like the types which could barely fend for themselves against a predator. Tia was finding there was a lot of things that simply didn't fit how she knew nature to work.

She sulked, as she gazed at them all. The mushroom had ignored her. That irritated her, but it wasn't surprising. It was the superior being, logically she knew if boasting didn't work then all she could do was submit, and try to leave with her life. Yet... she felt it unnecessary. Though her instincts and all she had learned and done within the forest which was once her territory told her otherwise. Tia wondered if it was this body, this human form which influenced her so. So much had changed from her simple days of hunting animals. Could she ever come to comprehend these bipedal creatures as was her desire? She was stirred from her rare moment of what passed for introspection among her ilk. By the great mushroom somehow animating to life a buck he seemed to construct from light. Her eyes widened as she stared at it. Entranced by the sight. A feeling welled in her chest she could not identify. But she did not think it was a bad one. The great mushroom let them leave with the buck to guide them. As she followed Tia turned her head to see the great being of this forest and Fei Liu. As she looked to them curiously she decided she would come back here one day, when she could understand what these things meant.

Tia surprisingly excited ran after the buck clambering over roots and through bushes to keep up with its leaping gait, a smile tugging at her lips. A rare sense of true childish wonder was suffusing her. The trees then opened up to reveal a large stretch of grass. And upon that land scape was a large herd of animals. The light of the day was slowly giving way to night leaving the land in a pleasing display. The wind blew ticking Tia's cheeks and ruffling her hair gently. Ciu'nan seemed excited to see the grazing animals. Tia wasn't sure why, but they did seem full of precious organic material. It was then that Haru spoke from beside her. She had struggled to understand his decision and feelings, but he was still a part of her pack so she wouldn't abandon him. "Tia go with Haru. Haru and Tia pack; always together." He still seemed to be experiencing those emotions, but there was a sense of contentment about him. She smiled at him kindly. Then turned to the orange ball creature. She hadn't thought much of him beyond being spare biomass. Though his mention of Ceylan surprised her, and his words more so. She got melancholic thinking of him, but one thing she hadn't realized then, was why the orange ball was with them. She couldn't understand their words at the time, but with her new insight she now knew. Tia saw him differently now, knowing he had stayed with the pack despite being an outsider at Ceylans request. She smiled at him as well then walked up and patted him on the head. The same thing Ceylan had done to her and made her feel good. "Wonton, Tia happy she no eat you. You pack mate now." Tia gave him the highest praise she could possible muster. She didn't really get the other stuff he said. She knew what a heart was and its subsequent arteries, as well as its use within the body. But not how it could lead you as a key. What even was a key? "Haru we go, so you happy!" A wide grin upon her face she made to follow Haru to wherever this "place" he was searching for was. Her previous sadness having abated. Now knowing Ceylan hadn't abandoned her. Merely entrusted her elsewhere.

 

[Clyvelle]

Fei Liu's audience with Masaruma
"Do not fret. When thine life is greater than the trees, thou can be assured to see all manner of creatures. Believe it or not, thine appearance is perhaps among the tamest I have seen. Bones are not a terrifying thing to the forest as all things become nourishment in time.
"Now then, I can guess that thou art curious as to my purposes for this audience, yes? It is a simple matter really: I have a satchel of mushrooms here that I would like for you to deposit on the doorstep of an herbalist who lives nearby. That is all."

Liu held his stance for a few moments. A bit of the gravitas surrounding this creature dissipated when it asked him for an errand. It was kind of it to reassure him as well, the old 'I've seen a lot of shit and you're not the worst,' did actually appease him. The mushroom creature began to come off as a kind old man for a moment. But something was a little suspect, to him, about this creature approaching him. There were several to choose from and yet he was the one. Liu could not dwell on this curiosity for too long, it was too strange and vague, attempting to decipher its motives for choosing him would be more confusion than it was worth. He was curious about a simple errand that this old thing wanted him to run. A few things popped into his mind, the logistics of being somehow a steward and an elder but being limited in such a way that errand boys were needed. The skeleton gave himself a moment to consider.

A guardian of the forest that cannot run errands, a strange case. If they can be guided out of the clearing here, the creature may not be trapped here but simply maintain its domain as such, a convenient dinner plate. A few scenarios ran through his mind. In question: does the creature lack the power to run errands? Is Liu's unfamiliar face the boon here? Does the apothecary expect this creature? Is the creature known to the apothecary? It must be. Is this to balance the scales for him not bringing a sacrifice? Will he owe some kind of debt that is to be paid by this errand? First, can he even refuse this job and second, should he?

Liu broke his silence and asked carefully, "may I ask, what is this apothecary's name?"

And then he watched. Intently staring, searching in the voice of the creature or its body for contempt, hesitation, even perhaps fondness. It is a tough task to try to read a mushroom but he did try.

"Her name is Mhu'ati. She settled in the area about a decade ago and has been studying the flora ever since. Her appetite for knowledge is voracious."

Liu gave pause again. Would he ask why the creature can't do it itself and risk insinuating that this Masaruma individual is weak?

"Does she know you?" He asked absently, peering carefully at the appendages and around the base of the creature, looking for the satchel in question.

"She knows many things: the trees, the fungi, the weeds and grasses. These are all she knows and cares for. It has not even entered Mhu'ati's mind that her research is guided by my assistance."

This reminded Liu of the traditional medicine specialists and their seemingly endless knowledge of all the little weeds in the world, and what happens to the body when one ingests them. Very well. This story would have to satisfy him.

"Shall I introduce her to you?" He asked amiably. Perhaps this turn in conversation would allow him grace to ask some less than reverent questions.

"This audience was for thee alone. To try and bring another here without invitation will have thee both endlessly wandering through the forest. If thou were to return alone, however, there is a good chance I would see thee again."

"Of course," he acquiesced; perhaps a less than reverent question is not a good move. This all seemed a little suspect but in Liu's mind, tacit was the conclusion that he couldn't really refuse. After all, the wrath of this thing was not worth staying out of a weird situation. After all, it could be innocuous. With a nod, he agreed carefully, "would you like me to mention you by name then?"

"No, this is but a simple delivery. In all likelihood, she will not even be there when thou arrive, having gone off to examine some new thing. Dropping the mushrooms on her doorstep will suffice."

"Very well," he acquiesced finally, sufficiently satisfied that -- even if there were anything more going on here than an extraordinarily powerful creature asking him for a quick errand -- he would not likely have to explain himself. Fei brought up the map he had been working on. Between the town he fled and his current location, threads of detail permeated the blank sallow page, the motifs of trees spread out from his trail leading back through time. Other details: ponds, hills, odd pieces of landscape, all populated the document, most are likely familiar to this steward of the wilds. Missing from the page was this very glade, Liu chose not to add it. He presented the figure toward the creature, "could you indicate for me on this document where the apothecary's hut is? I shall deliver your package, elder."

"Mhu'ati's abode is beyond the bounds of thine map. I trust thee to fill it in as thou go. You will emerge from my realm in a prairie with a road passing through its middle. Take that road to the south and thou will find Mhu'ati's home on the eastern side of the path, nestled into the border of a small forest. It is a solitary structure, so you will find it with ease."

Liu nodded promptly and deftly deposited the map in his hands to the container at his side. Then, he stretched a gloved hand out to accept the package. Conspicuously he avoided speaking of compensation.

Masaruma reached up under his mushroom hat and withdrew a cloth sack. It bulged with the contents, but the opening was drawn closed by a rope. He set it down before Fei. Though the sack was seemingly stuffed with many somethings, its weight was negligible.

"I leave it in thine hands, mapmaker."

The spectral deer from before appears and begins trotting off into the forest.

Liu bowed briefly and returned a heavy pile of cloth to the top of his head, covering his shiny dome in fabric and dark shadow. Then, in a moment the sack was up over his shoulders and he began walking towards the rest of the group.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

In the twilight, clouds could be seen approaching from the east, rolling off the shoulders of the mountain range, the foot of which they were nearing. A moderate breeze was blowing down from the far peaks, promising the clouds would soon arrive. The prairie was quickly dimming in the shadow of the surrounding trees, waving lightly under the wind's duress.

Ahead of the party across the road, the herd had been grazing on the far section of the prairie. As the wind picked up, however, they moved in the treeline to take shelter. Off to the left (north), stragglers from the herd could be seen exiting a dilapidated structure of some kind. Though mostly walls remained, there were traces of ornamentation that might suggest to the learned observer that the structure once held a certain prestige in times past. Of course, that former glory was long forgotten as one deer released droppings on the stair as it joined its kin.

Ciu'nan waited patiently as Haruki shared his heart with his travel mates. Fei emerged at some point during this, so the fae approached him while the trio had their moment.

"How did it go?" Ciu'nan asked curiously, an eager smile curling her mouth.

Allowing Fei to say what he would, she would motion to the dilapidated structure when the others were ready, listening to the cloaked shadow as she began moving forward. What appeared to be the front of the structure was fairly intact, including the arch of the entrance. Portions of the exterior walls still stood, mostly around the main supports, corners, as well as a few interior doorways. Without a roof, the structure would not help much against the coming rain.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

"I have an errand: to deliver these to someone toward the south," he responded politely. His shoulders twitched out of reflex to indicate a bow but the giant sack of mushrooms prevented his full gesture from shading the tossing grass. The temperature may have been dropping on account of the rain rolling in but Liu seemed to maintain the same degree of openness in his posture as before. Not that it was very much in the first place, it simply did not change. Though the cold did nothing to bother his bones, the mud and the sludge was something he did not feel the need to contend with. Hopefully the mushrooms would keep. Fei nodded in agreement with the meaning of the lady fey's gesture and began to make his own way toward the structure. His shaded gaze probed the cracks and piles of algae eating at the stone with a solemnity. In some ways he identified with the structure. A weird feeling. If he had eyelids he would've squinted uncomfortably.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

"A delivery? How unusual...yet exciting! Does that mean you'll be leaving like the others?" Ciu'nan asked, a forlorn intonation involuntarily accenting the question.

She looked around the rubble of the structure as they talked. Ambiguous pieces of wood and stone littered the floor of the main chamber. A horribly frayed and wrinkled fabric spanning the room in fragments must have served as a decorative carpet at one time. In one corner to the back of the structure, there was a depressed pile of rubble. Ciu'nan nudged the old stones with her toe, but then something caught her eye: through the crumbled, weathered stone she saw shadow and empty space.

"Look, Fei! I think there's a hypogean chamber here!"

Ciu'nan crouched and shifted around at different angles, studying the rubble burying the subterranean chamber. Drawing her spear, she wedged it in the stones to grant her some leverage. Prying this way and that on the stones, she managed to move them slightly, but there was a rather large piece weighing much of the pile down.

"Here, Fei, help me move this." said she, jamming her spear under the large piece of rubble.

Together they, rolled the larger piece of rubble off the stack, freeing up what lay underneath. With a bit of manual labor, a path was cleared to the basement of the structure. The lower level wasn't as wondrous a find as a treasure room in an ancient temple might be, but the floor above would provide partial cover from the coming rain. Several shelves stood in various states of decay. One shelf held a few scrolls, while books lay here and there on the others, the paper therein mostly mildewed to a delicate, illegible state.

The basement was largely in shadow, so Ciu'nan took the liberty of collecting some of the books and using them to start a fire near the rubble-strewned stairwell.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

"Perhaps, unless the herd intends to travel south," he offered dryly, seemingly unfazed by her downtrodden response. He opted to follow her about the rubble, casting his gaze around. It made him uncomfortable in a vague sense, seeing how readily time leaves these types of structures behind. In the past it might have been something grand and respectable but now it is nearly imperceptible among the features of the wilderness. The structure was erected with such care as well, the detail in the architecture, unless it is a simple matter to construct a building in this world, and there should have been other structures around. Those were likely already ground to dust by time, its presence a sweeping pale wind through creation, imperceptibly sapping away at everything until it ends up like this, or like him, or the dirt. After a pace or two, he added, "well, I am rather quick, so I may try to catch up with you and the herd once I am finished. I am told this errand is simple in nature and unlikely to be more complicated than dropping this satchel at the door and leaving."

With his wan reassurance uttered, when Ciu'nan found a basement buried under some rubble, Fei's curiosity piqued a little. Hopefully the rubble was worn away by time, he would hate to uncover a pile of bodies in a basement after some terrible event resigned this structure to disuse. Fei grumbled quietly in his ghostly way and approached the rubble to help her clear it away, revealing a moldy basement. He paced carefully down the stairs and silently considered himself lucky that she was able to scrounge up some burnable material to fight this pitch black. Although, he did squirm a little at the act of burning books. While the fire grew, he peered carefully inside, being sure to stay by the stairs.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Ciu'nan used some of the stones and rubble to contain the small fire she had created next to the stairs. Glancing around at the basement, her face became contemplative. Once the fire was established to her liking, she rose and turned in a slow full circle taking in the simple chamber.

"It's rather...plain." She said finally. "You'd think there would be more interesting things in a forgotten place like this....A shame the books and scrolls are illegible. There might have been an interesting story to tell about this place."

Above them, the wind howled against the exposed skeleton of the ruins. Ciu'nan climbed the stairs for a brief look outside. On the wind, the smell of rain greeted her nostrils as her ears picked up the particular sound of rain hitting leaves, like rain on the canopies as one walks through the marketplace in a downpour. It was the kind of sound to induce reminiscing about her trips to Ryken or the various markets of the villages across the countryside.

"They'll be receiving what's left of this rain in a few days, I imagine...." she said, mostly to herself as her eyes looked to the west whence she had come.

The surrounding trees were all in shadow against what light remained in the cooling sky. Had it been clear conditions, the first few stars or the moon might have been just becoming visible.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

"And they can have it," he responded promptly to the weather comment, leaning to the side to peer at the stairs. Some water seemed to be running down into the basement on account of the strengthening rain and in response Liu scooted so that the fire was directly between him and the stairs. Having glanced around carefully in the moments before, he was well convinced that they were alone in this dusty basement. He had no guesses as to what this building could have been, time had been so unkind to it. There was no descriptive furniture left upstairs and downstairs was nothing more than a storage closet, "this place is likely to have been dull in its lifetime as well, of course," he commented dismissively, picking up a nearby book, examining it to find its leaves withered with black, dry mould. He imagined his sinuses tickling at the sensation even without any flesh on his bones, and discarded the volume into the fire.

"Perhaps this is a place of worship for some hamlet no longer in existence; there are too many books for it to be a place of learning, this much paper can only be used for one thing: bureaucracy," he commented disdainfully, "birth records, death records, harvests, cattle," he waved his hand toward the shelves, "and I would be delighted to be incorrect," he finished, placing his hand back down. His legs were crossed before the fire and his hands rested stiffly on them, elbows each at the same angle on either side of him. His back was straight where he sat. He ruminated on what the place could be, scanning the furniture idly. He had no intention of staying, but he weighed the consequences of staying around in places like this. A skeleton in a ruin, what a surprise!

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Eventually the rain did pass over the ruin. Night had fallen by now, but a steady glow could be seen from the underground chamber. Ciu'nan had retreated down the stairs where she passed the time with Fei. As the night drug on, Ciu'nan suddenly perked up. She stood and stalked over to the stairs with her ears at attention.

Through the pattering of the rain, she heard footsteps. Several footsteps. From the sloshing, they appeared to be coming down the road from the direction of Wanton's village. Ciu'nan followed the sound as they entered the prairie and moved towards its center. When they were beside the ruin, the footsteps suddenly stopped.

Ciu'nan's hand touched her abdomen. She felt something she hadn't felt in quite awhile: anxious. There was definitely something not right, but she and Fei were sitting ducks here in the basement. She looked to him, unable to offer any instruction or words of encouragement. Then she heard it: a single set of footsteps approaching from the road.

The sloshing steps became muted as the individual passed from the muddy road to the grassy field. Muted steps became assertive strides across the stone floor of the ruin. Steadily drawing near the glow from the stairwell. Ciu'nan drew her spear, unable to do much else. As the steps came directly overhead, they suddenly halted, and the cadence of the rain gave ambience to the otherwise uneasy stillness.

Then from the darkness overhead, came a voice, "Hail down there! Might I join you for a moment?"

Ciu'nan looked to Fei in stunned silence. She knew what she felt, but there was no hiding from the visitor at this point. He asked for permission instead of just barging in, however, so maybe her feeling was misplaced. She looked to Fei, motioning for him to answer...or not.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Liu was out of practice to be sure. He had no mystical sense and this stranger's voice was not preceded by any primal feeling of dread. Instead, their voice, brushed through with the rushing rain and caught him by surprise. His mortal hearing could not detect the footsteps through the roar outside and had the figure not announced itself, he would've hardly heard it before seeing it . A vacuous glance found Ciu'nan's nervous face and Liu faintly considered his own stance. Surely, this figure was completely off for a few reasons. Pouring down rain does not prompt someone to join them for only a moment even with an urgent message. If this thing had ill intentions they're done for anyway, he reasoned. Besides, a violent beast would simply tear down the stairs and thrash them. This figure could instead be a murderer or creep of some kind. Ostensibly, it's hard to find a creep in the woods, since it's hard to randomly encounter most people in the woods. On the other hand, wouldn't there be a higher concentration of creeps in the woods, to be left alone in their creeping?

Threatened by cyclical logic, Liu inclined his head toward Ciu'nan, thankful for his lack of intuition in this case, and gently held a placating hand in her direction; he called out after a short pause, "but a moment, stranger? This downpour will not last for a moment, please join us at least until it subsides," he offered, staying his seat near the fire and watching the entrance carefully. He adjusted his hood once more, to be sure his mantle of shadows were clinging faithfully to his face.

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

At Fei's permission was granted, a drawn out sigh, like one given when sitting down to a much desired and anticipated meal, came from the top of the stairs. The steps came slow, painfully slow. Despite the stranger's apparent eagerness to step inside, his steps were cautious in navigating the stairs. Descending into the firelight, the disembodied voice was given a thoroughly drenched form.

The individual was obscured head to foot, understandably so given the weather. Pulling at the flap of his coat, he shook it off some at the foot of the stairs, taking care not to splash the fire. When he had situated himself, he glanced around the room briefly then fixated on his welcome: first Fei then Ciu'nan.

"Yes...yes, indeed. My thanks, friends." His tone was grateful, exceptionally so. Ciu'nan still held her spear, but the stranger didn't seem to mind. "I appreciate the offer to stay, but I shall only be a moment. I just...wanted to see...."

His voice trailed off as he looked the pair over again.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Liu would have squinted if he had eyelids. What an odd getup, seems to invoke death, unduly so. It made him somewhat unwilling to trust the individual, at risk of irony. They wanted to see; very well, the skeleton uncrossed his legs and placed one foot on the ground. This position was just a little easier to get up from at a moment's notice. His hypothesis was that the man, who has some kind of extra sense, found him or the Fey curious, or perhaps did not previously know of this little basement and merely became curious of any presence at all. Caution for the first scenario, in his mind, benefitted him more. After shifting his seating, he gestured over the fire to fill the space and tilted his head amiably, "very well, though we have enough fire to share," he replied wistfully with a measured tone, but that tone indicated he had more to say.

Buying a silent moment, he retracted his arm and put on a curious tone, "so, what is it that you see?"

 

[Clyvelle]

Ciu'nan
|Fae|​

Ciu'nan's knuckles were white from her grip on her spear. She attempted to stand her ground in the presence of the stranger but found herself unable as she took an involuntary step backward. The fae was conflicted as no one had ever made her feel like this. Anxiety was not something associated with the "Merry Fae" as she was known. Even when defending sheepfolds from wolves or dissuading aggressive hunters from over hunting, this feeling was unknown to Ciu'nan.

Why...Why do I...know you...? Know to be afraid of you??

Seemingly oblivious to the discomfort he caused, the stranger lingered, apparently amused by Fei's question as he offered a light laugh. Clearing his throat, his beak turned to the prone bundle of fabric.

"I was told that I could...meet someone here...." he said vaguely.

The eyes behind the mask must have been curious, at the very least fascinated, by what they beheld there in the basement of the ruins. It was as if there was something he wished to say as he glanced between them, but he refrained for reasons only he knew.

"It seems I am early. Yes...far too early for the meeting. Perhaps soon though."

Overhead, the rain drummed on the stones above them. The stairwell illuminated briefly as a silent flash of lightning scattered in the clouds. Suddenly, a powerful beating of wings could be heard. The figure glanced up the stairwell.

"Well, I suppose that is my cue. My thanks for the use of your fire and shelter." A quick nod was given to Fei, while the stranger turned and gave an abbreviated bow to Ciu'nan adding, "My lady...."

Without another word, he turned and climbed the stairs out of sight. His footsteps tapped along the stones, then were lost in the grass as the rain's cadence overtook them.

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Liu tilted his head forward a little and maintained his stance. This figure turned out to be a little more neurotic than he expected. A meeting does not seem to indicate anything regarding his status. He was greatly relieved that he has not thus far encountered anyone who could read his condition off the bat, unless they decided not to comment on it. He figured, given Ciu'nan's reaction, if anyone would, this individual woiuld have. The great elder mushroom does not count in Liu's mind; it seemed to be an exceptional beast, exceptional even considering the individual standing before them. Liu was spinning more careful words to play for the stranger but the individual, who did admit to having a meeting, abruptly ended their conversation without any further input from Liu. The cloaked skeleton was able to nod and raise his hand kindly and with the little time given offered only "stay healthy stranger," to the heels of their retreating boots. He could barely detect the beating of huge wings outside. Unable to parse the direction of travel, he shrugged gently under his cloak. There was a chance that out on the road he could have been target to this bird in the absence of a rainstorm.

After a few moments of staring at empty stairs, Liu turned gently toward Ciu'nan, surveying her terrified comportment and keeping silent. He seemed to be waiting for her to speak.