RP:Into the - Creepy - Woods

From HollowWiki

Summary: Thamalys, for a reason having to do with some Frostmawian junkies, needs the marrow of an ancient tree. To this end, he ventures with Oline into Sage, where the two are greeted, so to say, by the creepy presence of Chisel. The Forest Spirit guides the Avian - the Giantess is sent to look for a Druid elsewhere… - to a willing tree, amongst glowing flowers, magical moss, and a series of arguments between Marionette and Winged Beast, the two of them just incapable of understanding each other’s needs and priorities. Nonetheless, said tree is found - and Thamalys is sent to fetch the Druid he needs to retrieve the coveted marrow…

Kelay-Sage Area: Outskirts of Sage Forest

Thamalys rested against the massive trunk of the old oak, the latter utterly broken by some ancient storm of old into a dreadful sight of screaming, dead, huge branches still projecting their full extent into the crimson-veiled sky of the Larketian sunset. The Blue himself was clad in an attire he thought suitable for the quest ahead - although it was fairly clear he had very, very little experience at all with forest tracks and life in the woods in general. Barefooted he was, a pair of battered, black leather pants clinging on his skinny legs, brushed by the rim of a ample shirt, dark-green and embroidered with silver in the shape of flames and stars, hanging loose enough from his shoulders. The knotty, ivy-shaped patterns of the ink covering much of his pale skin gleamed in the dim light, sharpening those bony lineaments presently framed by a whole array of impossibly long, pearl-white dreadlocks, swaying freely across his face. The dreadful extent of his silver-clad wings was neatly furled, albeit they still threatened to catch some of the tree branches near by, much as his towering, metallic comrade, the Gossamer Halberd, presently laced on his back. Solid blue eyes nailed onto the path ahead, he waited, still as a corpse, in the hope the Giantess would have received - and agreed with - the words he sent her early on. Surely enough, the feathery shapes of Nebb already made their coming back, the massive bird squarely perched on his right shoulder, in silence - a mighty miracle indeed.

Oline's presence in the regions surrounding sage was nothing particularly unusual. The giantess frequently found herself in the forested woodlands, usually attempting to escape the prying eyes of the smaller folk off Larket. Sometimes, like today, she went out with traps and an enormous hand-crafted self bow for hunting. She was no master archer, or any such thing, but she'd learned to live off the land like the best of them and had very little difficulty catching deer and smaller game, even despite her size. All ten feet of the Larketian giantess strode through the forest on bare feet, with only in her bear-pelt loincloth hanging haphazardly upon her hips for modesty. She was a savage-looking creature, particularly with her bown-hewn rings and studs protruding from most every bit of real-estate her body had to offer, but she truly looked in her element out here in the wilds. The only thing at all that stood out against the forest around her was the shoulder-length mop of red-dyed hair atop her head. Occasionally the breeze would catch it and send it fluttering, and when it did she was hard to miss through the trees. Oline's hair was doing precisely this as she passed through a small grove of oaks and into a wide clearing. Filled with wildflowers and a few large stones covered in moss, it seemed the ideal place for someone of her size and stature to flop down and have a rest. perched herself upon one of those aforementioned stones, no... boulders really... and exhaled. She had to be getting close to the right place, but sodditall... she was terrible at following directions.

Chisel is around here somewhere, it was apparent from how the forest swayed on quietly as the sun slowly sets in the distance. Chisel has been the defacto protector of this forest. It is hard to control numerous forests at once but that is the life of a forest spirit. They live to serve nature even above themselves or after death. But the forest was simply too large for a single spirit to take care of. The North and South Sage forest was once just one huge forest but the thriving town of Kelay had deforested a number of the trees to make roads into the mountains, simply separating the two. Aside from the Sage, there is the Ancient one near Gualon and Enchantment and finally the one north of Larket. She had to make rounds everyday, A spirit need not to rest but it is dangerous to remain outside after dark.

Thamalys was anything but restless. Of all the ways in which he could picture himself spending this ruby-coloured hour, beholding a breathtaking sunset creeping into Sage was definitely one of the best options. As such, he stood perfectly still, arms crossed, wings squarely resting upon the ancient wood - even his breath, measured and slow, would have seamlessly mingled with the manifold sounds of the forest. Nonetheless, Nebb was not especially confident with the concept of waiting for something, or indeed somebody, in this particular case. As a result, the red kite would have suddenly outstretched his wings, at the same time throwing into the cold air a fairly long, possibly elaborated, but definitely loud collection of squawks, screeches and clucks, all of them addressed to nobody in particular - but surely to be heard from quite a distance by all sort of passers-by, read-headed Giantess included. “Patience, my friend… patience. She will make it, I am sure…” he went on the Blue in the attempt to sooth his equally feathery companion. Soon after, his gaze shifted toward the rather bulky form of a leathery satchel not far away from his feet. The content could be listed easily enough: a very old-looking booklet with a crimson cover, some dried meat, quite a few green apples, a brand new hatchet and a whole collection of vials, most of them filled with a diverse array of liquids, all manners of colours, textures and viscosities well represented indeed. The Spellblade could have sworn he distinctly heard a long sigh not too far away - and yet, he would have not flinched, as the last thing he wanted was to initiate a most time-consuming game of hide and seek amongst the countless trees of Sage.

Oline was close enough to hear the awful screeching, squawking sounds as if they were coming from right beside her. Honestly, that wasn't even too far from the truth. Curiosity rousted the giantess from her perch, all enjoyment of the setting sun forgot in favor of investigating what manner of dying creature lay beyond. She kept her bow at the ready, arrow nocked, just in case it so happened that the source of the noise was in fact something larger and more dangerous than her typical game. Her footsteps were next-to-silent as she moved between the trees, but the occasional clinking of glass inside her swaying satchel did serve to give away her position to those who might be inclined to listen for it.

No one enters a spirit's forest without her knowing. No amount of stealth would save anyone after entering a being's territory. Every tree is her eyes, nose, ears and hands, every sway of branch, brush of leaf, every insect, every animal. It was simply impossible especially with Chisel's lantern. This lantern holds an orb of magical fire that mimics the energy that sunlight produces. As a dryad, it was simply fueling her body with constant power and simply leaving anything that enters her territory on her mercy. She walks along with the lantern on hand. The sun has fully set now but a section of the forest was glowing, the light from her lantern became a beacon, animals have been going around but most are lured by the light. The forest sways toward the direction as well. Flowers bloom and trees bear fruit whenever she walks by. She was still making her rounds. Today she found corpses, animals. fed by predators. This is normal for nature, she simply placed a hand onto it before the earth itself sent out roots to pull it into the ground, use its body for fertilizer. She kept on walking for now, wondering if she needs to take care of the visitors. They haven't done anything yet, no need to do so.

Thamalys was presently intent with every single fibre of his being in scanning the swaying horizon, an almost greyish canvas sprinkled here and there with the occasional branch, tearing the boredom of the colour into shards of ever-changing vagueness. Nebb fell silent once more, sort of enabling the Blue to focus his keen eyes onto the thorn bushes ahead. That feeling, that idea of a sigh in the distance, was now augmented by the clear enough sound of something - metal? glass? - that most plainly did not belong to the forest - at all. As such, he would have raised from the oak, instinctively bringing his right hand to get an hold of the Halberd: “Oline! Is that even you?” he inquired flatly, immediately after sidestepping toward a thick mass of thicket. The Spellblade could have not spot the luminous walk of the Dryad, possibly still distant from the clearing, but he definitely noticed that darkness was upon them - hence he brought that hand from the laces keeping in place the pointy weapon to stand clear into the murky air, softly speaking a string of words in a language long-ago forgotten. Immediately, the ivy-shaped tattoos on his skin came to life, thick veins of liquid fire protruding from his flash to converge in a sphere of blue flames, hurling right in the middle of the clearing. Darkness? The Blue was ready for it, shouting and enlightening in the attempt to guide the Giantess he thought close enough.

Oline called back out into the darkness, having no real reason to hide her presence. "Aye! Ah'mmere! Where r'yeh? Ah kinn see ennythin' inna dahkness." She' d left hre embre-sphere at home, thinking this little meeting would be taking place before the sun had set. Clearly that was in error. Still, she did manage to stumble upon Thamalys and his companions with a little bit of luck and skillfully navigating over rogh terrain without tripping and falling on her face. Like the avian, Oline had very little reason to suspect or seek out evidence for a forest spirit's presence. Hells, she wasn't even entirely certain as to why she was present here. She wished that she'd have brought that first letter along with her. No doubt it had explained eveything in great detail. The giantess had taken two looks at it, one to see who it was from and one to find out where they were supposed to meet. She'd skimmed over the rest.

Clearly there is someone watching them. The cold air every now and then breezes about but somehow the trees were moving either against the wind or even there wasn't any breeze at all. Something was moving along the forest, animals perhaps? It was too dark to know. Suddenly however as the sun finally sets, moonlight flowers began to glow. Not a plant from this region as clearly someone else planted it there. If Thamalys and his group was using torches, the moonlight flower would not bloom as it usually sleeps during morning, harnessing its enery throughout the day before glowing a dim blue at night. Illuminating the forest around them. This however also makes any torch users a lot more 'spot-able' including Chisel herself who is carrying a lantern. She continues to walk about, Though the light from the flowers aren't that bright, stealthing about would mean one has to kill off all the flowers, something Chisel would not appreaciate at all.

Thamalys was in fact wondering what exactly was happening to saplings and evergreens alike, their branches mysteriously swaying into the darkness, creaking melodies composing into the otherwise silent night, when the bulky shapes of the Red Headed stormed into the clearing. Hence the Winged Beast greeted the Giantess with a blend of well deserved relief and childish excitement. Nothing has the same effect as having a proper task to carry on - for the methodical, pragmatic mind of the Avians at least. “Good even and twenty, ma’am. I am so glad you decided to join me - I never noticed how… macabre Sage becomes as soon as the sun is gone.  Why, speaking of which…” he commented in a soft voice, the moment that most exotic blooming of pale lights came into life much like a beautiful display of palpitating lanterns. “What in the name of the Wind are...  those?” he inquired to nobody in particular, presently extinguishing the gush of blue flame still burning mid-air, letting the darkness soak the glade at least till some more moonlight flowers shyly opted for adding some more charm into the mingling. Strikingly enough, the Avian found himself unable to resist the allure of those gleaming florets. Despite a loud lamentation of Nebb, still squarely perched on his shoulder, he kneeled right in front of one of them, hand already outstretching toward it - whether to pick or to caress, nobody could have told. But before he could connect skin and petals, the Blue suddenly had to turn his head toward the left, leaping on his feet soon after, tensed like a piano strings, a whole arm pointing toward a different shade of light into the distance - but it was advancing, slowly if steadily. “Oline! Over there! Can you see that? Amongst the strange flowers… no, no there, further away… yes! That gleam, that thing… whatever it is, it is coming toward us… be sure to be ready for it!” he concluded, his right hand already swiftly undoing the laces restraining the sharp features of the Gossamer Halberd, sinisterly glimmering in to the moonlight flowers shadows.

Oline was accustomed to the forests at night, though Sage was a beast wholly unlike the forests she'd grown up accustomed to for certain. The rapidly encroaching darkness swallowed her even before she managed to find the large avian who had summoned her here, but she'd spent enough time at least in these parts to predict unsteady footing and avoid making a fool of herself by stumbling into him or his companion on approach. "Ah'm sorreh iffin Ah kept yeh waitin' rilla lawng. En't bin out this way inna wahl..." she explained, only to cut herself short as the darkness of the woodlands blossomed to life in the form of those glowing flowers. The giantess had no answer for them... they were of a species she'd never seen before, which made it all the harder for her to resist getting close and inspecting one. "... they's rill priddy, whuddevvuh they is!" she mused, mostly to herself. Distracted, Oline didn't notice the advancing light in the distance until Thamalys called it out to her. As soon as she dragged her eyes off of the glowing blue flower and into the direction indicated, however, she saw it. A single warm light traveling through the darkness of the forest. She'd heard a few rumors about such lights in her time, and was quick to fall in beside the tall avian. Notably, however, she made no move to draw the long mantis-scythe blade hanging from her hip. "Ah've herd tha' sumtahms y'kin fahnd forrist spirits wandrin' at naht..." which was true enough, once upon a time. Nowadays one was more likely it seemed to encounter brigands and highwaymen. "Mebbe we git lucky 'n its wunna them asted've sum'n tryin' t'steal our sheyeht. This theng y'brawt me out foh... y'din tell nowun dangerus, did yeh?”

No brigands, no bandits. No weak hearted even dared stepping foot on her forest the moment the rumors of the haunted doll was passed around by word of mouth.Some dared to enter, but only few ever came out. Filled with fear not wanting to even get close to the forest. This is her domain, her land. This earth belonged to nature and by that, Chisel isn't bound by any law or goverment. Her power upon this forest seem more absolute than ever before. "Begone." She spoke... not even glancing onto them as she walked and stood before them before turning to an angle and kept walking. "If you wish to continue existing amongst the living, I would suggest getting out of my domain. I give little to no quarter to anyone who disrespects my land." She stopped, knelt down and touched one of the flowers, which seems to glow a bit brighter. The lantern above her is hung on a stick which she keeps leaving behind whenever she does something, instead of falling or needing to stab the ground however, the nearby trees keeps it upright with the use of vines. As it seems the group wasn't still leaving, she finally stood up and turned to them. "This forest and those around it is under my protection. Any harm inflicted to them would face the full force of my power. Now tell me... What do you want?”

Thamalys was not especially confident with the notion of forest spirits - and especially with those of them wandering a night - carrying creepy lanterns as well? No good at all. However, not the slightest trace of his uneasiness would have surfaced on that tattooed face, albeit his tone was not exactly the steadiest when he went to answer the Giantess. “I did not tell you because I do not really know… if nothing gets in our ways, then - what?!” he whispered in a not-too-soft tone when he eventually managed to focus his blue gaze onto the tiny - frankly spooky, most definitely pointy - shapes of the Lanter Bearer. Her rebuke went down in perfect silence, the Avian absolutely taken aback by that appearance to even put together a decent response. And no, he would have not moved. Nebb did - he did not want anything to do with that glowing unfriendly thing, and as such he perched himself on the highest tree branch he could find in that clearing. But then, the wooden masterpiece went on to inquire rather more directly, and not answering did not seem the best option. The Spellblade thus shifted his eyes from the Lanter Bearer to the Giantess, just hoping she would not betray their real intent - at least not too bluntly. “A name, for a start. This is how I usually commence conversations, even queer ones deep into the darkness of a forest I do not really know. However, we are the ones who are treading on your grounds, so you will have ours first. I go by the name of Thamalys, and this is Oline - both of us are rather welcomed in Larket and Frostmaw alike…” sort of growled the Blue in a very low tone. That was not even entirely true, and the Avian himself could not really think of a reason why a forest spirit would care even slightly about anybody’s affiliations, but then, every little count - or not? Time would have told. He thus reprised, his tone a little bit less shaky, his words a bit more surefooted. “We… are looking for something. Not out of greediness or evil, mind you. We have nothing against the forest, and very little to gain for ourselves. Isn’t that true, Oline?” he went to ask support from the Giantess, eagerly nodding toward her as to seek further validation. “No, our aim is to serve, and to heal. Why, in fact we are looking for… a tree. A very old one. The oldest one, possibly. They say it is somewhere in here… well, a book says so. Here, see for yourself…” concluded the Winged Beast, swiftly producing from his satchel a small booklet with a crimson leathery cover and offering it to the Wooden Marionette.

Curiosity. That was the defining feature of Oline's expression upon the entrance of the lantern-bearing creature that now stood before them. The giantess had come across many strange and wondrous things in her many years living off the land, but it was the first time she'd ever seen a forest spirit in real life! She'd read about them, but never actually seen one. Whatever ominous presence Chisel might have projected to others, it was completely wasted upon the giantess. She could barely contain her grin... right up until that accusation came. Her? Disrespect the forest? She couldn't wait for Thamalys to finish his somewhat stilted introduction. This demanded rectification right the sod now. "Yer makin' a mighty big 'ssumption, liddul wun, tha' Ah've evvuh diss'spectid th'forrist... or enny soddin' pless foh tha' mattuh." Her voice remained amicable, but firm. She was resolute. "Ah've bin livvin in th'forrist Mah whole lahf. En't nevvuh broke a branch wut en't needed breakin'... en't nevvuh hunted a crittuh wut Ah didn't use evvuh bit've. Ah'm s'much a creetchuh 've th'forrist as ennythin' 'n Ah wunt stand foh bein' scoldid foh sumthin' Ah en't soddin' dun." The giantess let Thamalys finish his introductions, in his own way, before she added. "Ah'm heyuh t'meck shoore these boys've gawtta guide throo th'forrist... 'n t'meck shoore they en't do nothin' stoopid t'raise th'ire 've ennuhbuddy lahk yerself. Tha's m'job." She couldn't have betrayed their real intent if she wanted to, of course. She didn't know what it was. She'd been heavily intoxicated when the Red kite had approached her with the job offer, and really only heard about as far as 'Outskirts of Sage' and 'Healing'. Still, she thought she had a pretty good handle on what her role was. She knew the forests well, and she was big enough to scare most bandits and thugs off without actually having to fight them. What else could they have wanted her for? Wide gray eyes drifted back to Thamalys. This was his show. Either he'd convince Chisel to let them go about their business, or he wouldn't. She wasn't about to get into a scuffle with a defender of the forest, though. If he couldn't sway her one way or another... this was going to be a mighty short venture. When the book came out, Oline backed away and knelt down beside a large oak tree to wait. Her hands both slid down to idly rest with looped thumbs through the sinew band of her loincloth. It was a decidedly non-threatening gesture.

Your names and affiliations mean little to me. Boundaries and territories created by mortals are a blasphemy. Your politic mean nothing to the forest." She looked at them.... blandly? There was something wrong with her. She stood there, physically but her eyes felt off. As if this figure wasn't exactly there. There was no life in her actions, the way she looks, she moves. Her body is indeed a marionette, one can see the gaps upon her neck or the joints upon her body and hands. Most of it was covered with white silk but that was much about it. Ontop of her wood was silk, mimicking skin. She turned to the giant and said, "Little one? I think you made a mistake little girl. I am much larger than this. Infact. I am all around you. I am.. the forest." With that, the midnight flowers suddenly changed its color from dim blue to dull orange, illuminating the forest for a few seconds. Around them, though they were hidden earlier upon the darkness was Flora Colossi and dolls, hanging upon the trees by the vines. They all looked upon to their direction. Giving the group a good few seconds before the light changed once again to dim blue, hiding the horrors upon the darkness. "Keep your light close. It would save you from the beasts." She comments before turning back to Thamalys, glancing upon the pages. "There is an Ancient Forest on the east, but those trees are far more sacred than you can imagine. There are numerous types of trees that fit the description." She wonders if any of them even know which tree is which. "A branch, fruit, leaves, sap, bark. Any of these are acceptable for harvest. Anything above that... well... let's just say, don't let me find you." She was about to continue her rounds once again, unless ofcourse these people have more to say.

Thamalys nervously watched as the Giantess made very clear that she was to be considered as a wood-life lover. An excellent job, although her, or his, for what mattered, words had hardly any impact on the Lantern Bearer, as the latter pointed out plainly enough soon after. “Blasphemy, aye?” he inquired not in his softest tone the Blue, eyes flashing into the pale light, notwithstanding the Giantess sit under the tree.  “Why, I feel you should be concerned with boundaries and politics after all, o’ Forest Spirit. See, even a silly nobleman willing to expand his influence fifty yards beyond a tree line, or a river, or a forest track, can easily trigger a proper war, and with war havoc, fires, and wreckage - all things perfectly capable of reducing your beloved forests to thin dust.” he would have go on, but the sudden display of magic, highlighting the awful collection of dreadful objects up high in the trees stopped him for a little while indeed. He turned to Oline, trying to establish whether she noticed the evil hanging upon her. In all fairness, the Spellblade was now crossing the line separating discomfort from proper fury. In his naive mind, he pictured forest spirits as scantily dressed elvish-looking fairies - definitely quite far away from the creepy wooden thing standing in front of him, commanding light and vines in such foul fashion. “Oh, we have light enough to lit up the whole of the Ancient Forest…” growled the Winged Beast, promptly swinging his right arm into a spiralling gesture which resulted in the blossoming of a huge gush of deep blue flames, shaping themselves as a murmuration of starlings, soaring up high over the trees before vanishing with a sharp shriek into the night. “But we hope nothing of the sort will be necessary. Indeed, what we need the most is a guide. Since you ask…” he continued, taking back the booklet that went unnoticed, spilling out - part of - the beans himself, “… we are looking for the oldest larch tree in the Ancient Forest. Father Larix they call him - at least, that is what we have heard, but we do not know where exactly that is to be found… and could spend ages in the forest before having any success. Thus, I do wonder… would you ever oblige to a request of ours, and guide us yourself to that larch tree?” He would have paused for a moment, watching from any reaction from the Giantess’ side - he was not entirely sure she loved the idea of walking the night in the rather unsettling company of the Creepy Marionette. Also, how in the name of the Wind was he to convince the latter? She seemed not to hold dear any of the things or deeds he would have been able to bring on the table, and let us not even mention the fact that the Blue purposefully neglected to mention they were looking for the marrow of that tree, an item Chisel did not include in her list - at all… he had to improvise. “Of course, we would be willing to pay… but I reckon gold an shiny sharp things are of little interest to you, aye? Is there anything you desire I - I at least, I do not wish to bind Oline’s fate to anything, she has been kind enough already to follow me in here - can help you to get or achieve? Just name it - to such a long length I will go to secure your guidance…” he concluded, immediately regretting his own words. Trying to strike a deal a with broken wooden thing showing off up nasty little dolls impaled on dim-lighted branches? What a stupid idea - seemed to agree Nebb, loudly protesting to the mere thought by pecking relentlessly the shoulder of the Spellblade.

"I have little use of earthly presents." she simply said. She looked around and said. "I was heading there... in a few hours, I was trying to finish my rounds here first before I do so. But I suppose I could guide you there, to ensure you won't ruin anything. Those forests are old and sacred. Have you brought a druid with you? Though I may not ask for payment, the tree might." She turned her whole form toward the east, the direction where the Ancient Forest is. "If you are ready to leave." She extends her hand towards the darkness of the forest and the midnight flowers began to glow brighter. creating a visible path through the forest. "Stay in the light." She warns again before she began walking.

Thamalys tilted his cranium to one side, a good number of his dreadlocks brushing against the fabric of his shirt. “A… druid? Er… no, I did not bring any… in fact, I am not sure I even have the privilege to - know - any…” he stuttered while nonetheless turning as well toward the very same direction the Lantern Bearer hinted to. “Perhaps - you - do?” he hopefully inquired toward the bulky shapes of the Giantess still sitting below the obscure tree. “If so, you can maybe try and fetch one while I go ahead… fear not, Nebb will find you!” he added in a slightly more confident tone, as he witnessed the RedHeaded sort of raising to her feet with a brisk nod. Right after, the Blue took a moment to ponder whether he was about to make a horrible miscalculation. Much was at stake, true, and yet he could not bring himself to trust the odd-looking puppet who seemed to exert such a dreadful influence within these gnarled trees. Together with said moment, the Spellblade thus took a whole breath as well, savouring the scented air of the forest, eyes closed. The Ageless Black - for once - stood silent, letting the mind of the Avian fully in control of whatever was about to happen - an encouraging sign. “Ready indeed. I shall not leave the gleaming path, then… after you, ma’am…” he offered, a whole arm outstretching toward the East, letting the marionette taking the lead. If she would have indeed agreed to open the way, the Winged Beast would have duly followed, trudging behind her as quietly as possible, as the last thing he wanted to do was to upset in any way she who bore the power to bend the woods at her will alone. Long, measured steps taking, possibly very infrequently if compared to the pacing of the tiny, pointy creature in front of him, the Avian would have felt the trees closing on him, the only strings still keeping him away from the complete obscurity being indeed the pale light of the flowers blossoming ahead. Maybe out of mere curiosity, or more likely just in order to try and shove away the unbearable thickness of that murky silence, he asked, in a sort of a soft, distant voice: “Does this Forest Spirit have a name, then, I wonder…” But he would have not stopped for instant whatever the response - if any at all - quite fearing the possibility of being left alone in the dark.

"So let me get this straight... You came into my domain looking for a tree and yet, you didn't bring a druid and you don't know which tree it is. What were you thinking? Fell every tree in sight till you find the right one?" it was clear that she was annoyed at that point but she realized she can't leave these people along as they would probably do something stupid. The midnight flowers' color began to sway alittle to reflect the dryad's mood but it soon returned to blue. Chisel was so annoyed she was walking a bit briskly. She wanted these people out of her forest as soon as possible so she would give them what they wanted and kick them out right away. "Its Chisel." She groaned under her breathe as she can't believe the audacity of these mortals. "The trees we are going for are ancients, sacred beyond mortals' reasoning. I even doubt they would allow you to take any." ofcourse that is the tree's decision, not hers.

Thamalys curled his thin, grey lips into a snarl, forcing himself to let some time pass before actually answering the Wooden Puppet. “Not quite. Although it is no mystery that my kin is not especially concerned with leafy trees and such, I am looking for one of them that is bound to stand out even with respect to my unexperienced eye. About two hundreds feet high and entirely covered by a net of pale moss, which they say it glows not unlike these flowers…” he begun, while outstretching his hand to almost reach one of said shiny marvels. Her name, as well as her last rebuke, would have received by a long period of utter silence, while the queer couple marched through the dusty path that presently emerged into the Ancient Forest. Too bad the night was still upon them, otherwise chances were the Blue would have gaped at the colossal shapes of the old trees punctuating the uneven landscape. On they went, the Spellblade not exactly enthusiastic of having to walk his way through the bushes - he longed for the clouds already, but he would have not dared to lose the guidance of the Lantern Bearer. Eventually, dawn take them all: the horizon sort of bent down, as to suggest a depression of the terrain not too distant from the two of them. The monumental shapes of what seemed to be absolutely gargantuan conifers wholly filled that mighty hollow, a long sigh stealing from the lips of the Blue, mildly relieved, surely quite anxious about whatever laid ahead.

Kelay-Sage Area: Northern Sage Forest

Upon finally reaching the site. The dryad stopped in place and released her lantern. Once again, vines from nearby trees coiled upon the stick that carries it and held it in place, keeping it stable. Midnight flowers began to bloom around them, showing the man the rest of the ancient trees. "You need to be more specific. Almost every tree has that." Looking around as the man could see some of the moss against the trees are indeed glowing green, not as strongly as the flowers but it was visible, leaving markers all over the forests. "Many trees here have reached such heights but not all of them are willing. Some trees have aged long enough that they wished to transcend further. Either to continue and finally birth a new life or simply wither. While others simply wanted their life ended out of convinience, I tend to take care of any pests or.. people to change their mind." she turned to the man for a second before saying, "I shall look for a tree... You still haven't told me what you need but being a spirit of the forest, I highly doubt I would enjoy watching it... however petty it is. As you may have guessed already, I dislike the idea of harming the forest just for the welfare of a mortal. With that said, I'll look for a tree. Hopefully there is one here that wants to be felled. Otherwise I don't think I'll allow you to take anything." with that she vanishes into the darkness, leaving the lantern behind. "Speak upon the forest, I'll reply.”

Thamalys devoted quite sometime to inspect some of the closer trees, way too much bewildered by the queer meadow and its leafy occupants to care to answer the Wooden Puppet - for now. Eventually, he set his eyes upon a particular larch, not really larger or taller than the others - in fact, he could not really explain why he felt such a strong pull towards it. “It’s not for the welfare of just one mortal, o’ Forest Spirit!” shouted the Blue loudly enough to scare off some birds from the trees. Not Nebb, no, as he was presently soaring upon the Spellblade painting ample, spiralling circles into the dawn, mightily unconcerned by whatever was taking place on the sodding ground. In the meantime, the Winged Beast kept pacing toward said larch: were them a part of a soft, barely audible litany, those ancient notes he found himself listening to? Maybe, or maybe it was just his battered mind playing some more tricks on him. Nonetheless, he felt that was the right time to give some more details to the Marionette. “This is for Frostmaw, if you must know… would it suffices to say that the marrow I am after can bring back from madness and sorrow half a city? Or no matter what, you would still state that whatever number of puny humans are not worth a single fir tree? By the Wind…” he kept ranting in a booming voice, growing closer and closer to the larch. Oddly, and in addition to the song that filled his head, he could guess some pattern within the motifs drawn by the gleaming moss… a face? “Fascinating…” he muttered in an undertone before reprising his speech, which he genuinely hoped truly reached the Lantern Bearer, somewhere, somehow.  “Thing is, o’ impossibly stubborn creature… that I find very little point in pretending there is any sense in being ultimately concerned with one’s own kin only. My race call themselves Lord of the Skies… proud and powerful - they say. And yet, by failing to acknowledge what we persist to label as lesser races, we lost almost the whole of our glory and splendour. Few of us do remain, shyly hidden in strange corner of Lithrydel… do you really think that you and your precious trees will forever be able to avoid the same fate, by caring to nothing and nobody other than yourself? I, I think that… oh…” he went, stopping mid sentence his philippic, as his bony fingers eventually came in contact with the moss. That very moment, the most unbeatable sleepiness crept onto him, forcing the Blue to his knees, his hand unable to let go of the greenish thing, which in fact eagerly started to crawl upon his skin, oddly contrasting with those ivy-shaped tattoos. “Chi…se…l?” sort of groaned before closing his eyes, the last thing he heard the alarmed shriek of Nebb diving toward the already still shapes of the Blue.

Chisel listened to the man's rant. She knew this would happen. A bit of freedom causes people to feel safe and in turn, feel brave. "You are right Mr. Thamalys. One? Two? A hundred? A thousand? Millions? Their lives mean little to me." yet she never returned to the light. She has been so close to the lantern that her body was able to store some energy from it. Unlike most times that she simply just turn into a monster the very second she moves away from it. "I told you to stay in the light..." watching the man as he moved closer and closer into a tree. "Rude. I have welcomed you in my land and this is how you repay my kindness." groaning quietly as she controls numerous beings hidden in the dark. Readying for an attack? Who knows. "You don't even know what tree you are looking for and yet you seek its marrow." She should just end his life. Like right now. And be done with it. Loot his body and use his corpse as fertilizer. "My forest has never done any harm to your kind and yet you mortals destroys them out of petty reasons. I watched them destroy them out of boredom and now that the forest is fighting back, now that it doesn't want to share, you have the audacity to complain? That's just rich Mr. Thamalys." she glanced at him and saw him touching the tree, "And yet you don't see me asking for reprecussion. Payment for every life destroyed by mortals... I should be setting up a booth by the forest entrance. One mortal life per entry." she is being sarcastic ofcourse. Then she turned to the man and exhales loudly. It is like touring a child. She extends her hand and vines from a neighboring tree suddenly dragged Thamalys back into the light, not really care if he hit his head on roots or rocks.. then again that might help him wake up.

Thamalys would have lost a good portion of the Marionette’s rejoinder, so swift the sleepy magic of the glowing moss turned out to be. Despite the loud protests of Nebb, presently pecking a random selection of the spiralling vines trying to get back the body of the Blue into the light, nobody could have opposed the will of Chisel - which is to say, of the forest itself, certainly not when the queer assemblage was so deep into the trees. As such, rolling and rattling, the feathery shapes of the Spellblade would have been dragged into the dim-light of the flowery lantern - for the hour was past dawn, and a pale sun was shyly rising from the cloudy treetops. Whether it was said gleam or the countless blows he collected during the tug of war between himself and the vines, the Winged Beast did wake up - slowly and painfully, though. First thing he saw was the inquiring gaze of Nebb, the beak of the latter inches away from his nose. “How considerate. Now move, while I… oi, what is this?” he muttered, his arms and legs still squarely embraced by the creeping vegetables. “Chisel?” he shouted, still laying on the ground, unable to stand up. “Why… oh, forget it… could you please tell these things to get off me before I decide to grill them myself? That sodding moss… have you found anything willing to cooperate in this place? Or is everything bound to maltreat me, I wonder…” he went, pulling those vines hard enough to possibly snap a couple of them.

Chisel was around. The man is being guarded as she kept looking around, she did found a tree, yes. She even spoke to it for hours and hours trying to change its mind. Near Thamalys is an assortment of dolls hanging by the branches, high enough to be out of sight but one cannot hide the feeling of someone is watching... or alot of someones are. Chisel went back to the man as he called for her, squirming upon the vines once she reappeared. "If you see an intricate doorknob and cannot open it, Do you savagely break the door out of convinience? You blame the moss for doing something that is supposed to be doing and yet you are not the one who haven't read a manual." She just stood there for now, watching him flail about as the vines remained around him. "Like animals, the forest is simply misunderstood. learning its ways allows one to co-exist with one another. I have tried Mr. Thamalys. Countless times but mortals are merely savages who would destroy anything that comes in their way of progress." listening to him more. "Grill them. We'll see what happens next." She crossed her arms before her chest as she watched the man. "I have found a tree. Tried to talk to it too, you know.. to not let you kill it. But it has its reasons. If you want to escape that, just wait for more sunlight, breaking it would only piss it off.”

Thamalys was on the verge of losing what little self-control he still mustered. “Misunderstood? I just touched that moss, I never had any intention to break anything… by the Wind, am I supposed to just lay on the ground till this thing get tanned properly?” growled the Blue, pulling some vines not so much to try and disentangle himself, but in fact just out of mere frustration. “So. What about that tree? What sort of reasons could it possibly have to refuse a donation which can save thousands of innocents? Ah, but I am just a mortal, am I not? I am not bound to understand these subtle forest things…” he pondered, eyes shut as the sun was indeed starting to warm the woods. He tried to move some of his dreadlocks across his face to protect himself from the scorching light, but failed - those sodding vines were embracing him too tight. Nebb, definitely far away from his comfort zone now that his master was apparently doomed to remain pinned down for some more time, kept pacing uncomfortably nearby, pecking nervously at some of the smaller lianes. “For the sake of Frostmaw, then, I shall persist…” he muttered clenching his teeth, resolved to wait for his freedom. Eyes closed, the gentle sound of the breeze within the larches, the Spellblade would have relaxed a little, allowing a solid couple of hours to go by. He would have started to feel a drop in the resistance offered by the vines, and yet he did not dare to move, not quite. Instead, he inquired again, knowing that the Marionette was as always close enough to listen. “You know, despite what you might think, I do love what grows in the meadows and gets old, and green and golden again, autumn after autumn. I made my way here from a green house in Frostmaw… ah, you should see it! Emilia - not sure if you ever had the pleasure - put together the most amazing collection of plants, and flowers, and bushes… the colours are unworldly, the patterns knotty and beautiful. It is a place of peace, and rest, where things thrive unspoiled. How can I explain? I do not wish to - harm - these trees, o’ Forest Spirit. What I ask is a contribution - yes, one that matters for some mortals and little has to do with these woods, I will give you that. But how can such an intent not meet the goodwill - if any - of these ancient saplings? I will wait some more, if that is what is needed. Or else? You only would know whether these larches are after something I can give to them… how would - I - know?” and with that, his voice would have faded, a long breath exhaling. Time was of the essence, but the Forest did not care about that…

"For the love of Sven if you knew what the moss is, you should have not touched it in the first place...." she could've insulted the man more but clearly his lack of respect to the forest was irritating her so well. He is lucky that the sun is up. She groaned in annoyance as she is like taking care of a child here. She reached for her lantern and brought it a bit closer, making the vines loosen a bit quicker, it does however still took quite a while. The man has been out for too long and the vines were able to wrap around him so much during that time. If he have awoken right away, the vines would not have grown this much around him. Sitting on an protrouding root, she watched the skies as she rest her back against the foot of the tree. "I have my own garden. Its in Larket by Miss Artia, I am its groundskeeper especially the sealed off section where the dangerous ones are in... Such beautiful creatures I tell you. Though I doubt you'll survive that if you visit." knowing how immediately he reached for the moss. "No Mr. Thamalys. That tree wanted its life to end. I am the one refusing. This forest holds numerous ancient ones, the wisdom they hold, the energies they possess is simply beyond what mortals understand... hell, you can't even understand what that moss was, how can I expect you to know anything about the forest." She stared at him in both disgust and misbelief before continuing "Their energy and wisdom flow upon the forest, either to sprout new life or be like me, a forest spirit. However there are times they just wanted to die, various reasons for sure, but this one that I am about to guide you to... once you escaped that ofcourse has been struck by lightning. Natural phenomena, it understands that the gods themselves has chosen it to be struck so it may serve a different purpose. After I told this forest about cause, that tree volunteered. The burns upon its core was simply irrepairable and also, its pair tree has been destroyed long ago. I have little control of these ancient trees Mr. Thamalys. Same reason why you are still wrapped down there like a present. If we were at the younger forest, I could've freed you immediately." She groaned and watched the vines finally giving way, waiting for the man to stand this time. "Come now, I'll lead you." 

Thamalys suddenly opened his eyes, regretting such move immediately after, the bright sunlight piercing his gaze. “Artia? I did not know! That is… interesting…” pondered in a soft voice, mixed feelings trying to put into place. Of all the keepers that witch could have chosen… why this creepy marionette? And yet, the Blue knew some of the darkness which soiled her soul - the news came with some surprise, true, but on second thought it all made sense. “She is the one who clad my wings in silver… tremendously talented, I own her a lot. Ah, finally…” he continued, the vines eventually receding. With some effort, then, the Winged Beast would have freed himself from those pesky laces, slowly rising to his feet. “By the Wind, it was about time…” he muttered while outreaching arms first and wings soon after, the colossal extent of the latter unfurling with a metallic sound, monstrous hangings of shiny silver glimmering ominously into the sunlight. “Struck by lightening, aye? Even I can understand that… thank you, o’ Forest Spirit. I shall duly follow…” he went, hinting a stiff bow before folding neatly enough his wings and proceeding to scamper behind the Wooden Puppet. On they went, pacing softly upon an ancient track barely visible amongst the countless leaves covering most of the ground. As opposite to Chisel, though, the Spellblade started to feel quite tired indeed, so that - possibly much to her annoyance - he would have insisted to stop along the way to munch some dried meat and drink a long-awaited mouthful of water, both items producing from the leathery satchel still swaying at his said. In fairness, the first one to reach that cardinal tree was Nebb, whom Marionette and Avian both found already squarely perched upon the ageless remains mauled by the sky’s bright fury. “So this is it, then…” he murmured in an undertone, fairly eager, definitely intimidated by the massive sapling towering upon them. “The Gods must have been some plan indeed for this one… the rest of them seem untouched…” he continued, now a couple of steps only from the lumpy bark. “So. How shall we… er… proceed?” inquired turning to the Lantern Bearer - for some reason he strongly doubted the whole thing required a smile knife and some elbow grease…

"Proceed? No, You go home. You can't proceed. Without a druid, You... properly removing whatever part you need is an impossibility. Without the proper knowledge, you will 'waste' this tree and end up looking for another one because you destroyed this one. And don't expect me to take the tree apart for you. You know where the tree is, go home. Find a druid and get back here. I do not want to be near this tree when it dies anyway. I might end up killing people." She extends her hands together and small vines began growing from her palms. Growing, intertwining with one another as it build something before the two. A few more minutes, the dryad rolls it up and passes it to the man, "Here. Map." it was made purely out of silk, the landmarks are not drawn in but as if the fabric itself knew when to change color to mark the map. "Gods and their schemes. But never did they forewarned me so I will still follow my purpose. Find a druid Mr. Thamalys.”

Thamalys was expecting something along those lines, and yet when the words of the Forest Spirit came he did drop his jaw, astonished. “By the Wind, that’s just…” he begun in a vastly outraged tone, a number of golden streaks building within the solid blue of his eyes. But then, he remembered. The creepy lantern, the gleaming flowers. The dolls hanging from the trees, the awful magic of the moss… no, the Forest was not to be underestimated - he learned that much. As such, he shook his head, dreadlocks swaying ominously across his face. “Very well, Chisel. I will do as you wish - and I shall thank you for your help, your guidance, the effort you put in finding this willing tree for me - and for Frostmaw! - as well as this map. I will find a Druid. With the map, it will be just a matter of a two-days flights - Frostmaw will have to wait, but not too long, or so I hope. Whether we will meet again, I do not know. But I do know of your existence, of your power, and of your priorities as well. I will bare those to mind, and show my greatest respect to these trees when I will make my way back. Farewell, then, o’ Forest Spirit… I know you do not care, but the whole of Frostmaw shall remember your deeds - and thank you for them, whatever it will be.” And with that, the Blue would have shoved the strange map into his satchel, before dashing across the meadow, unfurling his silvery wings at once. No more that a massive swooping motion he needed, and his bony features already soared upon the ancient trees, clearing their tops in a matter of instants, before climbing the winds high enough to disappear into the murky clouds, his colossal profile mingling with the horizon soon enough.

It was clear that the man did not enjoy this. Then again, it wasn't her fault that he came here unprepared. It was like going into a war without carrying a weapon. "Yes Mr Thamalys. I don't." she simply frowned at him and watched him fly off into the distance. If he really wanted to save his land then he should've thought of bring a druid in the first place. She shrugged and began to walk away. Two days, he said. That means she need not to be close to this tree by then as she might end up killing Thamalys and his druid. Keeping that in mind as she returned to her route. A guardian never sleeps.