Creature or not, the Wood is home

Creature or not, the Wood is home

Postby BetaFlame » Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:03 pm

(Talyn)

He had packed his things and moved out the Dagger. The walls, they almost screamed at him. After more than a week surrounded by them, he had come to a decision. He would not be chased away from what was just as much his as anyone elses. Talyn was half wild elf. He was connected to the land in a way that a pure human could not be. He knew he had a decision to make.

Run away from Myrken

Or return to the woods.

"I refuse to run scared anymore, lads." This was directed to the birds. A'Cor, the kestrel flitted before him from branch to branch, while S'Cor rested on his shoulder, napping while riding. They were more than pets for him, they were brothers.

As he hit the forest edge he took a deep breath and gave his horse a light mental nudge. All four of them were in agreement on this. No more running, even if it meant death was coming.

So Talyn made his way back to his camp and started cleaning up. The horse was unsaddled and let to wander. He knew how far he could go so he could be protected, and it let him gaze on the bits of food he liked. Both birds found tree roosts. S'Cor to sleep, A'Cor to watch. And Talyn too the camp chores.
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Re: Creature or not, the Wood is home

Postby Antichthon » Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:57 pm

Talyn's return to camp was uneventful. The woods stood as they always had. It was hard to recognize that anything had changed. But Tayln was observant. He would see the occasional swath of disturbed snow, weathered by time, but still noticeable to the practiced eye. Signs that It had passed through.

Its tracks were not the only tracks yet to be erased by time. There was the occasional trail of footprints, both man and horse. They terminated wherever they met Its tracks. If there were struggles, the signs were erased with the overturning of snow. There was one exception: A tree Talyn passed had been recently shot with an arrow. The arrow had been removed, but the hole remained.

The signs of Its presence were even around his camp. It had investigated, taken weapons (if any), but otherwise left it undisturbed.

A'Cor was on watch. But It had spend two thousand years in these woods, learning the nuances of its creatures. Even more important, It had spent two thousand years mastering a magic with which It had a transhuman aptitude from the very beginning. Fear was the weakness of Its magic, but raptors...they were proud things. They didn't let fear grip them so easily. And so when the attack came, even A'Cor with his keen vision would likely see nothing until it was too late.

And even if A'Cor did see something? It was not something that could be easily outrun. Even had Talyn been on his horse, it would have taken magic to outrun something so quick. In an instant something tried to wrap around him and hold him tightly. The same magic that cloaked It from his mind would prevent him from determining exactly what it was that gripped him. Despite the distance between them, that same something tried to wrap around his horse. The birds were left free.

Successful or not, A shimmer of redness before Talyn spoke. "I know your smell. And I taste the scent of civilization upon you. It is only because of your race that you still live. That, and I do not know if you are among those who trade the flesh of the forest with the humans." If he was, not even the virtue of being elven would save him. "Out of respect for your people, I give you the opportunity to convince me why I should not consume you."
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Re: Creature or not, the Wood is home

Postby BetaFlame » Tue Mar 10, 2015 3:39 am

He had known this was coming. He just relaxes and waits on it.

The whatever it was did not seem to care for anything, in Talyn's mind. It had no respect for life. It had pinned the birds exactly right, they were angry. What it not pinned right was the nature of the birds. They were bonded to Talyn. A strike against him was a strike against them. Both birds let out a call, a war cry. There was no doubt, if the creature continued like this they would strike. All over the forest raptors call out in response.

Talyn was known to them. He was their brother.

Maybe what the creature did not expect was this. Talyn's mind was wired the same as the raptor.

He did not fear.

He was angry.

Then after a moment, he spoke, and his words were echoed as a mental communication, "No, sorry. That is not how this works. You do not come into my home and threaten me and expect me to play your silly game. You either release me and talk, or you kill me now. I've lived in the woods and on the plains for over twenty years and I am not going to let a creature too cowardly to show itself run me off anymore."

He lifts his chin is pure and utter defiance.
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Re: Creature or not, the Wood is home

Postby Antichthon » Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:14 am

He could feel Its anger. It flared like a beacon in his mind. That this insignificant little creature would defy It...Whatever held Talyn squeezed. And It could have easily squeezed the life out of him, but It did not.

It said, "I have always loathed birds." They were more feather than flesh. They overestimated their own importance. And they were selfish. But that made the fact this little creature had earned their respect all the more impressive. It did not fear the raptors; Were they to attack, It would dispatch them easily. Yet, despite Its hatred for birds, they were as much a part of the forest as any other animal. They were under Its protection, and that included protection from their own stupidity. It released him, and his horse as well.

"Do not be deceived. Your life still hangs in the balance. It has been too long since I have savored the taste of elf." A pause. "You wish to live in these woods? Then by the virtue of your race, I will allow it. But you shall abide by the same laws I have passed to the other wildling natives. You shall take from the land only that which you need, and you shall take it only from those who can suffer the sacrifice. By your race and your experience, I trust you have the wisdom to determine this for yourself." There were plenty of plants and animals in the Wood whose populations were at critical levels. There were even some animals, such as rabbits, that made the problem worse. A thinning of their numbers would be welcome. And while It would never trust a human to make these decisions, an elf, even a half-elf, was competent enough to do so.

"Furthermore, you will not venture into any human settlements within my sphere of control. Any humans you encounter in these woods, you shall either kill or escort to the woodline. If you choose the latter, and I encounter them before they have reached safety, their lives will be forfeit.

"You may leave these woods at any time, and what you do outside of them is beyond my jurisdiction. But nothing that you procure outside of these Woods shall pass the woodline, and nothing that you procure within these woods shall leave it. This includes that which is currently on your person. The first thing you shall do is leave these woods and discard all that you own. I do not care if you procured any of your current possessions within these woods. They are tainted, and you must be rid of them. Out of mercy for your kind's susceptibility to the cold, you may keep the clothes on your back until you are able to replace them.

"Break any of these laws, and your life is forfeit. Prove yourself incompetent in the care of this land, and your life is forfeit. There is no room for negotiation. Accept these terms as they stand, or die. Your birds will not save you." It would rather cause the unnecessary deaths of a few birds than let this elf believe it had some measure of control over It.
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Re: Creature or not, the Wood is home

Postby BetaFlame » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:17 am

"And what are you? To dictate terms to anyone? You are nothing. I do not fear you, and I do not give you control. So kill me if you will. I will live my life as I always have. I will hunt, I will eat, and I will live." He turns his back on whatever it is. There is nothing in his mind that even resembles fear. Talyn has faced down countless things that could snuff away his life force in a moment. None of them had. If he was to die, then he was to die. He could not change that.

But he could choose the manner of his death, and he would die proud. He would not be a slave.

"So no. I will not avoid human settlements. I will not escort anyone, anywhere. I will camp here till the spring thaw, as I have done for five years, and then I will return home." He smiles, shrugs and goes back to cleaning his camp. Hm. It had taken his skinning knives. That was annoying. Something had gnawed on one of the hides he used to keep the cold on the ground and not in his ass when he was sitting.

"Let me be clear. I have sent to word to Thessilane. I am a veteran there, and I have certain.. contacts. If you attack me, and kill me? The next set of criminal channelers they capture will be brought to these woods. Over and over. Till you are dead or the woods is nothing more than a smoldering crater. If you wish to know what channelers can do, go take a look at Golben pit outside of town." His eyes lift and they are hard. It seems the monster was not the only one capable of issuing threats. There was something strange behind his eyes. An age to them that was far beyond to what a half breed elf should have.

"So kill me if you dare. Or perhaps you would like to sit and chat and we can come to some understanding that works for both of us? And don't give me your lord of the wood shit, I don't care. If you claim that, you are just as bad as the humans that own land."

Talyn himself could not kill the creature, that much was obvious. Perhaps Aleskei could have, but Gloria had ruined that, with her mouth. Aleksei refused to be bothered with it anymore.

So there was it. His hand rested on the hilt of his long knife and his muscles were tensed. He was ready. Even if he could not win, at least he could fight. All over the woods, birds called. No longer just raptors, but sparrows and ravens crows and fitches. Talyn seemed unaware of the reach of his mental calling now.

Had part of the dream world crossed over?

Making him stronger?

Was he the Sky King here now?

His eyes were different. His mental presence was stronger. Something was changing.
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Re: Creature or not, the Wood is home

Postby Antichthon » Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:11 am

Its anger flared all the brighter. That this elf dared to threaten it...But he had a connection to this wood. There was no denying that. Were it not for this connection, It would have devoted itself entirely to his death. It wanted him dead, there was no question of that. But It did not want to handle the fallout if it could avoid it.

It took the middle path. Something whipped towards Talyn, slow enough for him to dodge. If it were to connect, it would slice him in half from head to groin. Let this eagle-elf choose his own fate.

"Leave these woods. If you cannot follow my laws, you are not welcome here."
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Re: Creature or not, the Wood is home

Postby BetaFlame » Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:59 am

He twisted to the side letting whatever it was lash out next to him. Even still, his own hand whipped out in an underhanded draw toss, hurling the blade at his belt in the direction the strike had come from.

"You are a nothing. When you are killed, and you will be believe me, I will still be here and I will live as I always have. You are worse than orcs."

His lips curl back in a sneer.

"But I will leave for now. I will be gone from the wood by midday tomorrow, unless you'd rather I leave the camp as is? I prefer to break it down and leave no impact."

Still he did not fear this creature. It was worse than nothing. It was just destruction brought to life, thinking it walked the righteous path. He had seen it before, in people. Everyday channelers of Thessil walked the same path and ended up in corruption.

How ever the creature chose, Talyn wrote two letters. The first would be left in Ailova's room. He hoped she could read.

Ailova,

I am leaving Myrken. I refuse to live in town further, and I cannot live in the woods. If you decide that you wish to leave all this, come to Thessilane. Go to Orvere and ask for me at the Inn of the Broken Dragon. The lady there will know how to find me.

Don't bring Phor if you do. If you choose to stay, I wish you all the best.
-Talyn


The person that gets the second letter might be a bit more of a surprise. Mekarie.

Mek,

There is much I wish I could have asked you. You are a bright child. Don't be a slave. Despite what everyone says about not trusting him, Aleksei will shelter you if you need it.

I am returning home. Myrken is no place for me.

Good luck to you.

-Talyn


By dawn the next day, Talyn's camp would be broken, all traces of the man gone. The clearing returned to nearly how it was before he got there, and Talyn would be away.
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Re: Creature or not, the Wood is home

Postby highawaywoman » Thu Mar 12, 2015 3:41 am

Ailova ordered her morning bottle from the barkeep, but he motioned for her to wait and placed a box on the bartop. The highwaywoman uncorked the bottle, taking a few swigs as she surveyed the package.

"This ain't from the one-eye is it?" After learning of Gloria's package, Ailova wasn't thrilled to be receiving boxes. The tender shook his head in the negative.

"Half-elf." With that the sociable drink-slinger went back to the kitchens.

Wot the feck? Talyn? She hadn't seen him in days. Not since he tried to kill her ward. They hadn't parted on the best of terms. A frown pulled the smile from her lips, but she drew her dirk from her boot - cutting the seam of the box and looking inside. It was was a hat. Black, wide-brimmed, rich looking, one side cocked up, with feathers decorating the other side. Slightly shaking hands picked up the gift, turning it over in her hands. First things first. The feathers needed to go. That was entirely too feminine for Ailova. The feathers were tossed inside the box, but she happily smashed the new headgear to her blonde head.

Moments later in her room, she found the letter. However, Ailova couldn't read. Before becoming a highwayman, she'd been a commoner. Letters weren't exactly taught to girl's of her station. But. That didn't mean she could slip a few coppers to someone and get it read. She did just that, opening her room door and waylaying a passing patron.

"'ey there! Ye goot yer letters?"

"My letters? You have my letters?" The man blinked, but he was well-dressed enough to tell Ailova he was probably learned.

"Feck, man. Cannae ye read words?" Ailova impatiently asked, thrusting the letter under his nose.

"Oh! Yes, yes, I can." The patron took the letter, unfolding it and recited it to her verbatim.

"'ere. Feck off and thank ye." The letter was snatched from the startled man and coppers were pressed into his open palm. Quickly, Ailova slipped back into her room and slammed the door shut behind her.

Well. At least he hadn't been eaten by the being. That was a relief, but a bitter smile thinned her normally relaxed grin. Another partner gone. She was good at driving them away. A specialty of sorts, one that she'd never been able to correct.
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