RP:If I Built You A Body, Would You Hold It Against Me?

From HollowWiki

Summary: After putting Mercedes in the Larket Stable for the evening, Alvina runs into a bodiless Chisel, woven around a tree in the Eternal Forest. Alvina has never met a dryad and is reasonable freaked out by the entire experience but agrees to make Chisel a replacement Wooden Marionette body in a few days time. Forest spirits are tricky...

Eternal Forest

Alvina enjoyed the luxuries of now living in Larket. For one, they were much closer to a stable where they could visit Cleo and Mercedes as much as they wanted. They didn’t have to endure the grueling carriage rides from Larket to Kelay, like they had with her old home, and the girls were thrilled to visit the stables. Today though, it’s just the little bard, walking alone away from the stable into the wooded area surrounding the path back to town. The Eternal Forest, she’d heard the local say. Surely it couldn’t be Eternal, or so she thought, as white boots stirred small dust clouds on the dirt road. Much of the undergrowth had been cleared away; cracks in the path have been smoothed over by various travelers shuffling the dirt around. From this end of town, it’s impossible to tell an Earthquake even took place. The bard pulls the long navy cloak tighter around her shoulders, fending off a sharp breeze from the east. It fluttered the tails of her cloak, revealing her matching navy blue high neck knee length dress beneath. The wind settles, just as quickly as it came, and Alvina started slowly down the path again while she tried to re-sort her loose crimson curls along the way.


Chisel was there, a rare occurrence that she'll be outside the garden. She has to. Needs to. There is no old tree inside the garden that is powerful enough to cure her. She had to get out and find one. For the last few days she has visited this forest in her hopes to cure it from any destruction that the earthquake has caused. Setting down earth or replanting trees if need be. But today she was there for a different purpose. Healing. Last time she went outside Larket she was attacked for being an outsider, hopefully here she won't be assaulted as most people know her. She sat quietly beneath an old tree with vines and branches growing all over her body, keeping her in place and pinning her. On her hand is a lantern, Serenely sitting quietly there in peace.


Alvina walks another minute or two before she sees the light of Chisel’s lantern slightly off the path. She hesitates, wondering if it could be something or someone she didn’t want to run into. There were dangerous times, even though Larket was in a relative post-earthquake peace. She bites her lip and rests her chin on her palm, weighing her options. “H-hello?” She calls, into the woods, where the shade begins to cast everything in a heavy frame. It’s not until she takes a few more steps inside, where underbrush tangle beneath her feet, that she spots Chisel covered in vines. The bard's first thought is panic! Was she trapped?! “Are you okay?” She asks, kneeling beside the tree, examining the branches and vines for weak points, should she need to be freed. Her face was so peaceful, Alvina wasn’t sure if she was still alive.


Chisel smiles, the first thought that came in mind was to mimic the woman's voice. It was one of her talents, though it may sound a bit creepy... because it is, her other 'form' have been using it to mimic voices to lure people into the forest. But when she is awake, she tends to have fun and use it to tease people. But of course, saner minds prevailed and simply left it be. However the woman found her, she blinked and turned her head toward the woman, raising the lantern as if it was a cup of tea as she replied. "Hello. And yes. I am well." She smiled as she moved her head a little, as she craned it around the sound of wood snapping was audible. She soon turned to the woman and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't know I would be having visitors today... I could've cleaned." She jokes a little as more branches and vines kept her upright. "How can I help you?"


Alvina blinks, a bit awe struck by the scene she now finds her in. This woman was -made- of wood...she wasn’t being held hostage by a vengeful forest spirit or...was she? Difficult to determine. The bard feels a bit silly for storming the so called castle to check on the light source and has to take a moment to regroup and reposition her facial features to something less surprised. A smile will do, she decides, letting her lips curl upwards without showing any of her teeth. It’s a bit forced, so her eyes close for a moment. “So sorry!” She waves her exposed palms in front of her, trying to diffuse her own anxiety. “No no!” A laugh, at the joke about cleaning before having company. “I’m sorry to barge in unannounced. I saw your lantern from the path and thought someone might be in need of assistance!” But now she’s intrigued. She’s asked how she might help Alvina. Did she claim a special skill set? The bard has to know. “I guess it’s only polite to offer my name, since I walked over without announcing myself. I’m Alvina...What might I call you?”


Chisel smiles as the woman tries to compose herself, she bows as much as she can when the woman began to say her name. "I am Chisel. The local dryad. I tend to the local gardens and forests around and within the city so if there is anything you need that is within my power, tell me." She smiles as the woman seems to mention her lantern. "Oh this? Well this is a gift from someone, it’s a magical orb that mimics sunlight and in a way rapidly regenerates plant life. I have seen it cause a tree to bear fruit within seconds however at this moment, I am using it to heal me." She smiles as she knows she can't really do her job while sitting out here unable to move. "I can... have my dolls assist you with anything as long as it is within this forest around me. Or simply ask, I would try to answer any questions you have."


Alvina still wore a shade of surprise by all this. This was the first time she’d ever met a druid (that she can recall). Chisel, she repeats the name internally, trying to commit it to memory. It’s something she does with everyone she meets. “T-that’s lovely!” She replies, about the orb mimicking sunlight and the druid’s information about tending the local gardens. The bard wonders if Ranok had shared this trick with Chisel, or perhaps she had shared it with him. It mimicked the sun-like magic in his house. Nearly identical. “Oh! I don’t need anything per say, I just thought maybe, you might need something...and it sounds like you do. A healer...or something equivalent. Unfortunately, I’m just a builder.” Alvina’s brow furrows. “My bardic songs don’t heal much of anything...I’m not sure they’d even work on-” She pauses, wondering if it’s cruel to say plant life. She opts for another phrase. “Work directly on anyone or anything. Could I find someone to heal you? Do you need me to get anything for you?”


Chisel was confused why the woman was acting strange, is it fear? She can't blame her. She is a being that is currently being devoured by a tree and yet she speaks as if nothing wrong is going on. "Well... To be honest, the reason why I am here is because I lost my body." a confusing word to say but was halted when a doll suddenly appeared beside her. It was a doll, a generic doll that one can buy on nearby stores however there is a seedling planted within the doll and now vines are moving it around like a puppet, a sight of horror for most. But Chisel turns her head and smiles, "Really? Go get your sisters then. Mommy can't move right now." The doll nodded before it vanishes on the bushes. "Can I offer you anything though? Fruits perhaps?" and automatically an apple grew in her hand, "Or maybe some drinks? That would require time to prepare however." She smiles at her. "As I was saying, I am the Local Dryad, I take care of the neighboring forests and from time to time I meet.... enemies. Problem is with the city trying to recover from the earthquake, even the guards are busy doing various things around Larket and I had to do some patrols every now and then. However I was defeated, destroyed and my body ruined. That's why I am here, trying to heal. Well... you said you are a builder, Can you work on wood? Create a marionette body for me? That is what I am used to using."


Alvina watched the doll, visible sweat on her brow. Was it a cursed thing?! Or full of false life?! Dark magic!? Of course not, she reasoned, trying to stabilize her breathing. Druids aren’t evil...right? Such a heavy bias, for someone who has never before met one. Chisel is like a fairytale come to life. Mysterious and fascinating to the bard. All attempts to offer her food are declined, politely. “No, no you need to rest!” It’s said in her motherly voice, which she has now that she has children. Then a request for a marionette body...Could she? “I normally specialize in metals but...I think I could work something out.” A smile, she’s confident she can figure it out before too long. A builder’s mind can wrap around most materials. The principles stay the same. “I-I would have to go back into town…” She states the obvious fact she can’t do it here in the woods, feeling flabbergasted by this random encounter. “But I can come back...in a few days time? Is that...alright?”


Chisel smiles and extends her hands, "I am not going anywhere." She smiles but soon bows to the woman. "Apologies that I have to seek assistance from a stranger. I shall never forget this. Feel free to visit me here anytime. In a few days, I might be able to walk and hopefully find myself back to my garden, tending it like I always do. You can always ask for the towns people where I am. I'm pretty sure they do know me. It’s hard to forget a being such as I am."


Alvina lets a smile blossom on her lips before pulling her shoulders back straight. Her bow had been slight, but present. “I dare say I will never forget you, and I will find you again soon. Please rest in the meantime.” Haha, funny Alvina. What else could she possibly do without a body? “I’ll come by here first, and then the gardens. Count on it!” But now she feels she’s overstaying her welcome, and offers another nervous bow before she starts back towards the path to ponder the odd occurrence. Frightening, but in a good way. Thrilling. Intriguing! An opportunity! Never let it be said that Alvina Liadon misses an opportunity to learn something new.


She never really overstayed her welcome. No one owns nature; anyone is free to go where their limbs can carry them. However she is feeling a hell lot of awkward, fear, confusion... anticipation? Excitement. It was truly a confusing meeting but she can't move from her spot so she can't really complain what she gets.