[Quest] The Savage Garden

[Rorugir]

"Dreaming..." the word was soft and indistinct, yet spoken with an intensity like none other. "Yes, that makes sense." By contrast these words were sharp and authoritative, as if the hesitancy in the previous statement had been discarded for complete and utter belief. For a memory was scorching the recesses of the isur's brain, recalling the symenestra Veldrys and all the memories that accompanied him. The dream in which they had met seemed almost as real as this one...Indeed, Rorugir had not realized he was asleep until after the fact. So why shouldn't this utterly fantastic place be but Nysel whispering in his ear again? Selva awoke then, and any memories Rorugir might have been reliving and any philosophic comments he might have been forming where discarded for the virtue of the snail-woman's words. The chance she offered him lit him eyes in possibility, a slain god's will manifesting in the isur's mind. He scarcely heard the other two make their own wishes, so wrapped up in his own concentrated thoughts he was, but he did vividly record when the snail-woman brought their requests into form with a jaundiced eye. Now it was his turn. One thought in particular had long since stuck in his head by this time. "A map." he asked. "But no ordinary map. This map, when activated, should instantly change to show me whatever is surrounding me at the moment. Using me as the epicenter, it should radiate outwards as far as...as far as you can make it. Maybe a hundred yards in each direction?" he honestly had no idea how much power this woman held, but judging by her previous comments it wasn't unlimited. Rorugir just hoped it would be enough; he too had noted the ephemeral nature of dreams, and a map that could change with the dream would be of great use to him and his new...companions, were they? He cast a glance around the group, and then continued on. "The map should display the physical layout of the area around me, as well as noting the position of any and all living creatures that were within the radius when the map was last activated. As for the word of power that activates it, it should be..." Rorugir hesitated, then ploughed on: "'Lina'. Make the word of power 'Lina'." The request was both complex and powerful, but Rorugir hadn't been dragged all this way to make a mediocre request. If he was being given a gift of his choosing, he was at the very least going to make it a good one.

[Seodai]

How to respond to such an offer, such a command? Seodai was pleased that many of the others in their strangely assembled group spoke first because, really, he had no idea what to ask for. If given a choice, he might have asked to wake up. He was exhausted with dreams and gods and magic and everything like it. He missed terribly the days when the focus of his life had been dirt, and the things that grew within it. But dreams didn't work that way, nor did life. Perhaps this was merely another part of the forge that had become his existence, forcing him to leave behind the boyish innocence of his youth - to grow into a more tempered man. Seodai waited and, after the snail had addressed the request of the last asker, he cleared his throat and took a small step forward. "I would like a mark. Akin to a gnosis mark, one that will not wash away and cannot be taken. I would like for it to reflect the entire pantheon of the gods, so that at any time I can access the powers they grant their waking followers. I would like the mark to be sentient, so that even if I do not know of the god or its ability, the mark can anticipate my need and come to my aid." Too much? Maybe. But he'd once dreamed that he was swimming in the ocean and it was made of a creamy pudding. He'd eaten it dry, and wished for more. Silly things sometimes happened in dreams. Why not this? Besides, what was the worst that could happen? The strangely lovely woman might say no? After sharing in the blood hounds of Cian Noc's dreams, Seodai doubted it could get much rose.

[Gossamer]

Selva Giftgiver nodded to Rorugir and lifted her hands. They glowed briefly and a rolled up map materialized in a map case in her hands. She offered it to Rorugir with a nod. "Well chosen, Isur." She added, then turned to listen to the young human man's request. Her eyebrows lifted when he was done, she chuckled, and then shook her head. "I have no power to do that, nor would I will the Gods anger upon me if I could." She said, but gestured nonetheless and Seo felt a burning on his arm. A cornucopia materialized on his forearm, etched permanently in ink. "Scratch the various fruits, and you'll be scented with their smell. Scent is powerful and useful. Use it well. It is the closest I can come. I'm sorry young man." She said, smiling pleasantly and ushering the rest of them by her. "Now find Question and Answer! You'll enjoy the experience." Selva Giftgiver said, waving them all away.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

Well it seemed like even here in this unknown world there were limits on what one could ask for. But nevertheless the gloves gifted to him were still beyond his wildest dreams. He for sure thought that the snail woman would’ve laughed at him for even believing such items could exist. No, instead she gave him what he asked for but with a few understandable limits. And if he were to tell the truth he was surprised he got the gloves at all in the first place. He slipped the leather over his hands and felt them; they did indeed feel like any ordinary gloves. But he knew they were more; as did everyone else in the group as well. The others asked for very useful items as well. However the results for one of the members of the group were far different than what he had originally anticipated.

Rope, that grew to any length; that was indeed a very practical choice. If he had half the wild imagination she did he likely would’ve asked for the rope too. You never knew when you would need rope and having the option for it to grow to any length was surely going to be more than useful here if they needed rope. Given, rope had many uses as well so chances were they were likely going to need rope sometime in the journey. He mentally applauded her for her choice, she was a thinker indeed. He would have to stick close to her, because they would need to hash out the questions they were to ask if they were going to get the most out of this.

One of the men asked for a map, but not any map. This map would display other living creatures as well as the landscape around them using the man as the epicenter. A very wise choice, since this was seemingly a dream realm of sorts they could use this map to guide them no matter what the landscape looked like. It would also give them a heads up if anything tried to sneak up on them. Yes, this map would prove more than useful. It seemed for as much as Serrif thought he stretched this woman’s powers there were still more that wanted to just see how far they stretched.

The final man requested what Serrif thought was indeed a tall order. A single gnosis mark that would hold the powers that all the gods granted to their followers? That could indeed be more than useful. And if she did have the ability to do this…well the rest of them got a little skimped on for what they asked for. Well maybe not the Isur; the Isur did indeed have a grand item in his possession. So Serrif waited to see what the man would get; exactly how powerful was this woman really? His answer came and it actually brought a smile to his face in a way. The man got not what he asked for, and likely had no idea what she was actually going to gift him. Instead he got a tattoo he could scratch and then sniff. He couldn’t really think of a use for it at this moment…and may the gods help them if there was a good use for it. But his mind went back to the task at hand…

One question and an accompanying answer. The possibilities were even more endless than the items they could’ve received from the snail woman. They could ask ANYTHING and get an answer. But, they would have to ask questions carefully if they were to receive an answer they could use. One could ask a simple yes no question and get a good answer, but it all depended on the question asked. If one was not careful they could ask an erroneous question, or maybe a question with two truths that could be answered in a way in which no real truth was illuminated. He would have to frame his question carefully if he was to get the most out of the impending answer.

“We will have to think carefully, pull our minds if we are to get anything useful out of question and answer. A few well placed questions are worth their weight in gold, especially when you are going to get truthful answers.” He spoke looking first to Raiha then the Isur and the other man.

“But we need to find them first. Does that map tell you anything?” He said as he looked to the Isur who had likely acquired one of the most useful items the group had among them right now. He waited for a reply but figured the best course of action was to just stick together and keep their minds about them…and eyes on that map the Isur had.

“Any idea on where to go or are we going to just venture out down one of these paths until we find something interesting?”

[Raiha]

“I thank you,” Raiha accepted the rope, turning it over in her hands, stroking the material, getting a feel for it and testing its strength. Perfect. She focused on the rope, much like she would to focus for Auristics or Morphing, and urged the item in her hands to lengthen. When it did, she coiled it up and stuck her arm through it, letting it rest on her shoulder. There. Both hands free to carry on. She listened to the other requests, as Kanikra approved and disapproved in turn, and Raiha could only shrug at her twin. There was no harm in dreaming big, now, was there? Getting your hopes up was quite another thing altogether. But now that she had her rope, and the others had their gifts, they could embark on the next step as had been indicated. She wondered how many of them would dispute being led by the nose like this in such a progression. There was always a person or two who did the opposite of what they were told when they were told just for finding out what would happen when you didn’t. Still, at the moment, there were strength in numbers, or so she could hope.

When Selva urged them to find Question and Answer, Raiha began to look around again. They had to head west, she had indicated, so that was a good a direction as any to start with, as she began to head in that direction, her long legs able to cover a lot of ground when she had a mind to do so, even as Serrif asked where they should go. “Selva indicated westward, and said that they are in the deep forest.” She wondered, sometimes, about the ability of others to pay attention to things said and done around them - it seemed to be a rare trait, and rarer still to actually piece those observations together. So much could be missed in the thick of things, and perhaps this new assortment was no different. Watch all, listen more, say less. It was an axiom that worked for her.

Still, it would be nice if Question and Answer showed up on the map. Even if they did not - which might have been too easy, they had a direction to start with. Look for two of something, Kanikra advised sarcastically, already ruminating on what sort of question to ask. Raiha left her to it, already thinking on her own. There were a dozen possibilities she was flirting with, each of them with something for them and something against them. The walk would do her good - allow herself and her twin to figure out how and what they wanted to ask. If you only had one shot, after all, it had better count. This would be most amusing, though, to see who asked what... much like the gifts, it said plenty about those who asked for them. She almost wished they could share a meal together. Food said plenty about a person, but wine told all. Still, they all seemed as confused about this place and their purpose here as she was. The question was how much of it was an act, and how much of it was not.

She began to head westward again, using her full height to look around them, for anything that moved or resembled Selva. Wooden, maybe. Part human, part animal. Definitely surreal. Two and two were four. Still, as they walked, they could talk. She had no intention of calling each of them ‘human with such and such eyes’, or ‘strange-armed man with the map’ for the duration of this dream. “What do each of you call yourselves? Since we have no idea how long we will be together, we may as well get acquainted. My name is Raiha.”

[Caelum]

OOCThanks for your patience re: my delay. Minor miscommunication + a jaunt out of town without the computer. The idea that he could ask for anything dropped through Caelum’s soul like a rock into a grave or the slip of a soul into the sea. It left a hollow ringing in him, opportunity culminating in his mouth until he was forced to bite back the hunger that left him wanting to shout his request to the Chavena. Others spoke and that was fortune smiling, else the request that might have escaped his mouth would have flown without aim – unanswerable. Need sparked along his fingertips and he forced the air out of his lungs without even the briefest of wonders whether or not such was even necessary in the Chavena. Behind watchful eyes and attentive ears, marking the speeches of his companions and the reception of their respective requests, his mind churned with desperate hope. As all asked and received or, in Seodai’s case, granted tarnish on the too ambitious gold of their dreams, he was forced to reconcile the fact that the only thing he really wanted, the only thing that in wanting had ultimately surpassed and oppressed all other wishes, was not going to be possible this day. Selva, as fascinating and curious a creature as she was, was highly unlikely to be capable of granting it. But she might be capable of granting a tool toward it. Memory of his hours with Kavala where the sun pendant had spun from her fingertips, throwing a kalaediscope of killing truths across the verandah and his soul, were grasped at. It was she who had told him details of the Chavena and the marked of Nysel who walked it where he had possessed only the most basic of knowledge and legend before. Her words he conjured, sifting through them, until the dismissal of the snail woman jolted him back to the present. He had pondered too long. “Selva, lady,” he said, stepping forward with hope half formed in his mouth. “Please, I would like a key to the chavi of a past or present champion of Nysel. If Nysel has never had a champion, I would it to be to one of His priests.”

[Gossamer]

Salva's demeanor when faced with Caelum's request grew serious. She was a lighthearted creature, a welcome mat set out on the Garden's door. People trod on her happily taking in her message and understanding her purpose there was to greet and sanitize. "You ask for no small thing." She said softly, her head bowed a moment as she thought about what was requested and what Caelum was doing. "As you are now having one is harmless. But to others it is not so. And you may not remain harmless with it forever. If they knew I gave this to you, your life would be in jeopardy. Mine, most likely, as well. Guard it well. It will not last forever. Nothing does." The wooden snail woman said, then stretched out her hand. In her palm lay a single tiny sliver of a clipped fingernail.

[Rorugir]

The map case was accepted by nerveless fingers, which were astonished by the ease in which the item it grabbed at was conjured and given away. It might have been a dream, but the astonishment Rorugir felt for the map was real; it was only with a mighty effort that he managed to tear his eyes away from it to watch the other members of his group make their wishes. For the first he felt a sort of pitying interest, which was easily discarded. But for the second... ...That was a unique demand indeed. Rorugir had heard of these so-called chavi, only in passing and never in detail. But they were special among Dreamwalkers, he knew that much. What this heavens-kissed man planned to with such an item, Rorugir had no idea. His attention was reeled in by Selva's words, and once again returned to the artifact held in his loose embrace. The dark-skinned man's words only compounded it, and it was with an assenting nod that Rorugir pulled the map out of it's wooden container. Cold lips spoke; "Lina." And the map took form. Rorugir waited for the map to show him what he wanted. But what would he see on this map? Would it show them where Question or Answer was, or would it only show the makeup of this garden around them. Maybe he would have to go deeper into the woods before he could utilize it properly?... At the very least, it was a chance to familiarize himself with the map's limitations, of which the snail-woman had said nothing about. He began to walk even as he held the map, the even darker-skinned woman prompting a fraction of his interest away. "I'm Rorugir." he mumbled. "Glad to meet you." Another thought visited him and another glance was torn away. "What should we ask Question, though?" he quirked his lips into a frown. "It would probably be best to figure this out before he reach Question and Answer."

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

He had obviously not been paying much attention. But westward and deep in the forest…all this was starting to sound rather dangerous. Especially since they were each given a gift of some kind. He did notice a lack in one thing though. Weapons. None of them had picked a weapon of any kind. So if they really ran into any trouble they would have to hope they could come up with some interesting way to deal with the threat. He didn’t know magic so he would have to rely on hand to hand combat…and maybe these interesting gloves as well. That would prove to be rather interesting he was sure. He was able to keep up with Raiha rather easily; they were after all the same size, which was likely rare for any human male she had ever met.

Like Raiha he was looking for two of something among the trees. He believed that question and answer would likely be more than difficult to miss. But one never knew how things could be camouflaged…especially if it was touched by the Gods themselves. They had ways of hiding the obvious and making the hidden obvious. He didn’t know what the case would be as it came to question and answer. He only wished that between them they could have enough skill and maybe luck to survive in this strange place.

“Serrif.” He gave only his first name because the rest of it was unimportant.

He like the Isur had been thinking about what to ask question. But there were several things that would help him make a good decision. They would need to gather their minds about them in order to get the most out of the questions they would ask. He was still milling over the details of it though. Did they each get one question or did they only get one question for the entire group. If it was the second they would need to place a good question, and he didn’t know how they would find out which was the case. Well if they leveraged a good question out front it wouldn’t really matter.

“I figure it would be good to ask what our purpose here is. Maybe it will give us a hint to what lays ahead as well as what we are supposed to do about it. But I am still foggy if we each get a question or if it is only a question for the entire group. So I suggest our first question be good enough not to make a difference.”

[Gossamer]

As the others introduced themselves around, it was clear that the Isur's map was indeed working. He unfolded it, studying its depths carefully. There was no specific marking for 'Question and Answer' on it, but the forest around him revealed itself, showing pathways stretching off into the darkening map. And as he moved sideways or forwards and back he'd note the map lit up and filled in a few more steps in any direction he went. Everyone had their items, and while they were milling around, Salva slipped away, quietly, her pathway marked by a slick prismatic sheen that marked an oily snail trail. They had options, for sure. They could stay together, split up, start walking in widening circles until Rorugir's map revealed all to them. They could see some detail to his map, not far out, but far enough. There was a stream that ran off to the right or east. By the stream was a marker. To the west was thicker forest, but there was a structure of some kind that was not labeled. It had a marker as well. Clear pathways ran north and south, meandering into the woods. There were things on the map that moved as well. Tiny pinpricks of light to larger glowing lights that could logically be things that seemed to be inhabiting the woods. One pinprick traveled over the top of them and Rorugir could see it was a sparrowhawk, small and fierce chasing an enormous moth, which was such a tiny pinprick it barely even registered. Salva even had a mark, unlabeled, but the same red x as the other marks visible by the stream and structure. Only her's was moving away from the group to the south. They could either investigate the two marks together, separately, or simply explore. They could discuss the questions they wanted to ask Question and Answer or they could take the initiative and find them first. A whole host of options were waiting.