Quest Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

[Faradae]

Faradae After he had heard their answers, the treefolk elder took Sayana’s hand and led them away from the other groups, now concerned with their food, towards one of the great trees. As before, an armed escort followed them. Clearly, they were not willing to take any risks. They were ushered into the tree on their own, and none of the treefolk followed them inside. Did they fear the creature awaiting them, or value it so highly they would not intrude without explicit invitation? Neither option seemed very reassuring. The kelvic hoped that this talk was really just that, and not a trap that would turn her into some animal’s dinner. She had no idea whether the treefolk always told the truth, but as long as she was at their mercy, she might as well trust them. It was dark inside the tree, and she bumped her toes on the first step of the staircase before a bright glow, emanating from the vegetation, illuminated its form, spiralling up above their heads, further than Fara could see. They began their ascent, and by the time they arrived at the top, Fara was both a little out of breath and dizzy from always turning right. She hated winding stairs. In fact, she usually didn’t use stairs to reach any high places – most watchtowers and the like were open at the top or had some kind of window or hole she could fly in through. She had no idea how long they’d climbed, but then again, she’d lost her sense of time between trees large enough to outshadow the sun and several instances of unconsciousness anyways. Once she caught her breath and looked around, she noticed that the top of the tree was furnished. It had to be huge, being wide enough to be hollow on the inside and accommodate all three of them with so much space yet left to roam about even in such heights. The stairs reached further up, but it seemed they had already reached their destination. Fara dropped onto the bench and blinked into the daylight shining through holes in the trunk. The birds chirped merrily, but irritatingly, she still could not understand a word. Had she been able to shift, this would have been the perfect opportunity for an escape. They heard heavy steps approaching from above and saw flickers of candlelight against the walls of the room. Faradae felt like she should have been afraid, but strangely enough, she felt rather unfazed. An odd creature arrived, all forest and plants, even less humane than the treefolk, and huge, but its entire demeanour was decidedly non-threatening. As promised by the leader of the treefolk, the creature offered them food. Clyde took some, and Fara felt that it was safe to eat, as well. She reached for a handful of berries, sat back and listened as Clyde asked all the question she had and then some. In fact, he asked so many of them, and so quickly, that she found it hard to follow.

[Sayana]

Sayana followed the lead of the tree folk leader, her hand held delicately as she stepped with calm dignity. If she was going to play this game, she ought to play it well. They were soon flanked by guards of sorts. For the most part they seemed well trained, at least the archers were, and the rest were orderly in such a way that they tended to move wordlessly as if their actions were instilled through training.

As they approached one of the giant trees, she idly wondered if this was the one that had been their prison. The door, now obvious from the outside, had certainly not been obvious from the inside. However, when it was opened, it was most certainly not the same place they had been imprisoned. This tree had stairs. There was a moment of hesitation from the Eypharian as the trio were waved forwards. Part of her suspected it a trap, a return to their earlier prison.

Her stomach gave a low growl and she was reminded once more of the offer. Sayana stepped through the doorway a couple paces after the others. The door shut behind them and for a moment, her heart raced as they were plunged into darkness. It took her resolve not to turn around and bash at the door behind them to get out, and in her moments of hesitation, a glowing light began to appear near the ground and on the steps. The fungal vegetation dimly lit the way, and as the others adjusted to the dark, so did she.

As they began the climb, Sayana soon worked her way to the front of the group, stepping more energetically and with stamina to combat the fatigue of the climb. The reasons were two fold that she chose to go first. On the one hand, she was more athletic than the other two. And on another hand, if any danger showed its face, she felt she was best apt to handle it compared to the mage or bird.

Despite the dim lighting, it was mostly consistent all the way up the tree, and her eyes adjusted to the dark making the climb easier overall. In some ways, it was strange that this strange race worshiped the trees and yet had almost entirely carved out the inside of this one. Or had there been rot and decay, and they were merely saving it from some infestation? The fungus lining the edges certain indicated a certain amount of mould and decay… Even with her attempts to assess the situation critically, she seemed to fall short of real answers. But if nothing else, it gave her something to contemplate during the long climb up through the trunk of the tree.

As the stairs gave way to a large platform, Sayana could see the rays of sunlight shining through the small openings and landing upon a table with several stools. She paused, looking at both the stairs they had come from and the ones leading even higher. Whether or not she needed the rest, she was sure both her companions would. The Eypharian took a seat at the table such that she could easily see both sets of stairs, namely the ones leading up, and so she could easily get to her feet if need be.

When the tree-being made its way down the stairs, Sayana watched it with a mix of skepticism, disbelief and a hint of awe. It was not like any other race she had seen, and she had seen quite a few. Zith were strange with their fur and wings, kelvics with their animal forms, akalaks being such a deep blue, nuit being comprised of corpses…. But they all had flesh and bone. Although nuit being slightly decomposed. This being was made of wood and plants. Vegetation. For half a tick, she wondered if it was a morphing experiment gone really really wrong. Morphing was said to be able to use plant material. Yet it had to be a true tree-being, since this is what these tree-folk worshiped.

The candles were another oddity. Flame and plants didn’t usually mix, but here it was, a walking chandelier. For half a tick she attempted to reach for magic, auristics, to better see and understand. But the blank feeling was strong enough to remind her it would do her no good. The more she watched the tree-creature, the more she seemed to become at ease. It was peaceful up here. Nothing to worry about. And the tree was bringing food…

Abruptly she got to her feet. Thoughts on high alert and eyes darting about the inside of the tree and the platform the stood upon. If she hadn’t known any better, she was certain something was tinkering with her mind. And yet her hypnotism… nothing. Slowly she settled back down and allowed the ease to overcome her, still taking the occasional note of her thought process.

The Eypharian was hesitant about the food initially, but once Clyde made a move towards it, she quickly, almost automatically reached for a piece of fruit and took a bite. When the tree-being said it would answer all their questions, Sayana was initially surprised, thinking the ‘talk’ would be more one sided and not in their favour. It didn’t take Clyde long to launch into a huge series of questions.

Many of the questions he asked were ones she had herself. When his voice cracked at the word ‘magic’, she couldn’t help but put a tender pair of arms upon his shoulder and back. The lack of magic unnerved her, and she couldn’t imagine the loss the mage was feeling, especially without his staff. She kept near to Clyde as he went through one question after another after another, not wanting to stray from him and always keeping her eyes on the tree-creature.

When he was finished, she would only have one question of her own.

“If this fallen star really is a precious commodity, why have a trial to determine the worthiness of strangers when you clearly have your own people who are just as talented and probably more trustworthy to receive such a gift?”

[Prophet]

The tree figure was patient; ember-like eyes took in each figure in turn with a light that seemed to be both entertained and empathetic. A wan in its light was felt when the dark-skinned woman placed her arms around the young man as if to appreciate the gesture of comfort. The guests were given ample time to ask their questions –hastily on the part of the man while the six-armed woman was far more tactful in her approach to knowledge.

The living ecosystem shifted and the platform groaned. The squirrel scampered around his upper levels from one shadowed hiding place to another and was gone again. The longer the creature remained, the more the trio would see insects that cultivated and tended to the creature as if to maintain his current state. The eyes flared at the eventual break in conversation and the slow words crawled out in response. The hollow resonance echoed a bit in the big cavity but not long as the noise of the tree’s speech vanished well above their heads.

“Youth have such inquisitive minds.” A branch hand drifted towards Clyde, not to touch but simply to acknowledge. “This place is a sanctuary; a haven from the world and its troubles.” The ent shifted again and whispered a sound like the rustling of leaves which produced the squirrel. The woodland creature went about some unheard task near some of the melting candles while the treeman proceeded. “To those who live here, it is home and it is their entire world. The place where we stand is just a hollow tree; one who has seen more seasons than any mortal could dream of counting.” The squirrel chattered a bit at the talking face but continued to gather and shuffle about some of the freshly melted wax. “The people got here the same way you did…through the forest.” The big creature began to pace about on the platform so that he could take in the other woman but continued his slow barrage of answers to the questions that had been raised. “I encouraged them to use tests for the curious who would surely pursue the fallen celestial. I told them that mortals would have seen the star and come in search of it.” The eyes seemed to rest upon the intense gaze of the mage. “And here you are.”

Before the tree continued, a creaking sound came from deep within its core and the squirrel vanished under some moss chattering up a storm. The talking tree shook mere ticks later then boomed a loud curse in some strange dialect before a more agitated version of the earlier rustling was wafted about in the direction of his furry companion. Moments went by as some kind of dialogue ensued but it passed the tree creature returned his focus to his visitors. “I do not know why your magic does not work other than it has always been that way. Nor do I know who holds your staff. I do know that it shall be returned to you when you leave – if that is what you wish.” The tree moved around slowly, lumbered and swayed but pressed on in his explanations. “I believe I was created by the giant trees as a way to interact directly for the great giants.” The glowing gaze focused upon the bark that housed them and wood beneath their feet. The light seemed to shift towards more of a purer color for several ticks of silence and then returned to the amber glow it initially held.

The tree fellow looked at Clyde with the patience of a stone and his jaw hinged in such a way that it might have looked like some kind of strange smile. “Young mortal, your magic will return when you leave this place.” The gaze shifted to the woman who had yet to speak and the creature debated a phrase but seemed to sigh like a soft breeze then slowly turned to face the dark eyes of Sayana. He focused on her a moment then spoke once more. “The people hear are not smiths like those in other cities. They bend nature to aid them but have no use for such a thing. Its value is lost on them. Had it fallen in another place, they would not have sought it out as all of the groups, like yours, had.” The ember glow seemed to flare more of a red as the tree leaned towards the couple –a creaking like dry trunks and limbs announced his encroachment. “What knowledge have you that it is a gift and not a burden?”

The tree regarded each of them for several moments individually before moving back towards the stairs from whence he’d come. He stood for a long silence then turned again to face them. “Eat your fill. Rest here. When you are ready, descend and claim your prize then you shall be allowed on your way.” He seemed to wave an arm and the squirrel returned to stare at the strangers with his beady eyes. “The forest harbors no ill will towards those who lack destruction in their hearts.” He held them each in a visual embrace once more before ascending slowly back up the wide stairs. After several chimes, the light he carried faded and the glowing fungi returned its illumination to alleviate the darkness that had fallen in the transition.

[Clyde Sullins]

Trust for Clyde was a rarity. In his current state, suppressing the part of him that made his instincts and emotion, it was almost impossible. Trust belied faith, which was anathema to cold logic and decision making.

At the contact from Sayana Clyde silently stood, not accepting or fighting the touch but more or less ignoring it. A side bit of his mind dug through past experiences with people and the hypnotist, before deciding that the touch was meant as a means of conveying companionship and affection along with perhaps a sense of protectiveness and sorrow for his situation. As it did not affect his situation one way or the other, and was simply a means of attempting to affect his current lacking emotions to embolden and strengthen him, it was irrelevant.

The hypnotist and the kelvic were currently allies, the first being a firm allied person and constrained by her oath while the second was a less sure ally.

She waited until he was done with his long list of questions before asking a single question of her own. Admittedly it was a valid one, and one he'd not thought of. But the answer could be informative as much as some of the questions he'd asked.

About the room other living things besides their party and the tree thing moved, a squirrel and various insects. Clyde tracked them for a moment before pushing them aside to a small side bit of his consciousness while his main focus remained on the tree person thing.

According to it the people here were hiding from the world. This seemed illogical to Clyde, as one could not expand and improve themselves or better their own situation without interacting with the world about them and its inherent opportunities and information. Anything else was simply living to live, with no more of a goal in life than to live. Stagnation. To Clyde's mind this was utter foolishness, but the fact that the people here were happy simply living their life without anything of note was in and of itself information.

The phrase "fallen celestial", a naming of the not a star, was also informative. It implied the tree person had known what it was, was familiar with it, to give such a specific term. He also called it a star however, which Clyde still didn't think it could be for various reasons. All ducks were birds, but not everything flying in the sky was a bird.

Clyde noted that his staff would be returned to him, and was further interested to hear that magic simply didn't work here by apparently no active action on their part. It seemed then that the lack of magic was not tied to the not a star, and was perhaps related to the location and land itself.

The tree persons answer about himself seemed to imply that the giant trees themselves were sentient and aware, simply unable to communicate with people. Clyde knew trees were alive, but he'd never considered them as possibly sentient or alive in the sense of a person. It was unclear if this carried to all trees, or if these giant trees were special in some way that made them as such, if they in fact were truly sentient.

At his speaking of knowledge, burdens, and gifts, Clyde responded. “All unknown knowledge is both a gift and a burden. We simply take on the burden in hopes that the gift outweighs it. I see this as no different.”

Soon after the tree person started to leave, offering for them to stay and rest before returning to "claim their prize". This seemed to imply they'd be leaving soon and had finished their trials.

Once the tree person left Clyde would eat a bit more, before moving towards their group leaving and heading back outside. He was "eager" to continue with matters, and to conclude things. From the tree persons words it seemed they were nearing through mission, and would soon be away with what they'd come for and back in possession of their things. And Cha. While a small cry echoed outward in his mind, Clyde mainly suppressed it while perhaps moving a bit more urgently in their journey.

The warning made did not faze Clyde, if it truly was a warning. At the moment Clyde's heart was devoid of anything, including destruction. But then even when it wasn't Clyde wasn't one for destruction for the sake of destruction. He only fought those that opposed him, killed when he had to, stopped those who would hurt him, but never destruction for the sake of destroying. At least, not for that alone.

[Sayana]

It was strange to have stumbled across a civilization so obscure and isolated, as that was how the tree-being described it. Other cities in which she had visited at least had some sort of connection to the rest of the world, even if they were wary of foreigners. Yet here, it seemed like it was intensified and that the tree folk had no desire to connect with the outside world. Either the giant trees protected them and sheltered them, giving everything that they needed, or the tree folk were stifled by lies of the outside world and trapped in their own garden of paradise.

According to the tree, it was mere coincidence that the star fell upon these realms. The magic, or lack thereof, made little sense. In truth, she believed that the giant trees had something to do with the lack of magic. Something disrupting the mental connections and supposedly for the protection of the tree people. If Clyde could make magic shackles, then could there not be a giant ring around them this very moment preventing magic?

At the tree’s warning of gifts versus burdens and Clyde’s clear acceptance, Sayana nodded and added her own agreement.

“It is the risk we take whenever we seek out new possibilities.”

Then, recalling the elusive nature of these tree people she carried on.

“While the fallen star may have been a burden upon your people, with the incoming foreigners to your isolated civilization, we, with other hands, would be more than willing to lift you of this burden. Despite being surrounded by a void of magic, the fallen star still has a strong aura and may attract unwanted guests. If we are indeed allowed to take a small sample back to Sahova, we could arrange for the rest of it to be discretely removed from your humble tree city.”

While Sayana did not press the offer, it was a logical exchange of service and goods which would likely benefit both parties.

“One last question, if I may.” The Eypharian piped up quickly as the tree-being seemed to finalize its remarks. “What is the name of this place?”

She would wait hopefully for an answer to both her question and the offer she proposed. Depending on the sheer quantity of the fallen star, it may not be so easy to remove, but with a larger task force and carts she could see it as feasible.

Sayana would have a few sparse bites to eat and eventually would descend as the tree-being advised.

However, the tree’s final warning was strange. There were few people who sought out destruction for the sake of destruction alone, yet there were even fewer people who would not wish for the destruction of an imminent enemy or other threat to their survival. Sayana did not fall into either category, so while she was no longer immediately concerned for her life she still was careful with her outward appearance and would tread carefully.

[Prophet]

Due to players disappearing from this thread, I'm simply going to give closure by awarding the participants.

Faradae left early on and will receive no boon but no penalty either. Godspeed, girl.

Sayana persevered up until then end but has been absent for some time before showing up to make a final post. She will be allowed to leave on her own accord with a piece of star mineral. This will be notated in her SS thread with what it can and cannot do. Sayana will know none of this ICly. Her piece will be the size of a grapefruit. It is very dense, smooth and seems to shift color depending upon the light source from silvery clear to a purplish blue with oranges and yellows showing up at halflight times.

Clyde's participation was excellent, thus he will receive a piece the size of a basketball. It looks just like Sayana's star mineral only larger. The abilities will be notated in his SS.