Druidic Henge[Initiate Druid] [Iras and fetch]

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Time stamp ~ the same date as Iras's archery training thread

The walk north out of the town was a strange affair the dryad flitted from tree to tree appearing and disappearing always ahead of Iras and then stopping to laugh and beckon him on but eventually the would be ranger found himself inside the legendary Henge of the druids of Natura a place of strange and wonderful beauty heavy with the scents of spring and a place of deep and complete tranquillity

After heading North for sometime in the Naturan wilderness, a traveller would find themselves breaking into a clearing... the skeletal ghosts of the past season’s living leaves now the dead carpet for the forest floor, which was largely unseen beneath the growth of the lush grasses, rustling in the breathless way of old leaf-fall. These fragrant wild grasses bent and released their spicy aromas into the clear air... and muted sunlight, stained golden green by its passage through the thinner leaves in some places, filtered down into the small, hushed glade. This place held such an ethereal and yet earthy beauty that it almost seemed to have been birthed from the imagination of some rather lyrical poet, since by rights no place in any given forest ought to be this perfect, this free of weeds and bird droppings and animal scat and, oddly enough, there were no footprints either. Real forests, after all, the real tangled snarling dark forests floored with leaf-mould only had damp, scratching bracken and endless slightly musty trees to offer an Adventurer… they usually didn’t have secluded little gem-like glens hidden by the arms of ivy and the bodies and arms of the sentient, ever-listening trees. Nor did the usual groves and glades have a small ring of standing-stones, snowy white under their growths of lacy silver-green lichen, a faint glow as if of reflected moonlight pouring off them The rushy glen merely lay there, looking like a terribly beautiful piece of reality… there was downy moss near the brook and pool with it’s myriad of feathery green fronds interweaving in a dense mat across the aromatic, loamy-dark earth, and where there was grass there were a few tiny little white flowers growing in little patches as if Faeries had sat there the previous night for a bit of gossip, their petals peeking out shyly from their buds to greet the dappled sunlight that reached them through the latticework of interlocking branches and leaves crafted over the decades by the trees above and around. Those selfsame trees seemed to almost be on the verge of walking, or turning around and talking… and they certainly gave off the impression of listening so intently that the skin of any traveller would tingle… within the Henge of glowing stones, everything seemed more aware, more sentient.

[Iras Loregard]

A date with a dryad...the thought pleased Iras immensely. Not to have an actual romantic date, of course, but to merely spend time with one in the forests, learning its wisdom, being imparted the sacred lessons and magics it had to show and to teach, the truths of the natural world in which she is so connected to. A smile was on the mirthful half-elf's face as he eagerly followed H'annaeryth's playful lead, laughing and beckoning Iras onward. The whole ordeal was surreal to him, and he had yet to arrive at the destination, where his mind would truly be overcome with wonder.

After awhile of walking through what seemed like a dream, following a laughing dryad through the forest, the density of the trees gave way to the most spectacular sight Iras Loregard had seen in his natural life thus far.

The sight of the sacred grove, the knowledge that he was actually walking through such an otherworldly place brought an unending sense of awe to the half elf. He was indeed far more elfish than human, and held a deep resepct and love for nature, so much so that he chose to travel to Natura and become a ranger in the first place. But he had never gazed upon such divine yet earthly beauty before. The spiritual vibes of the place seemed to transform fully grown Iras back into an awestruck child, a wide open grin on his face as he looked around, a short burst of merry laughter escaping his throat as his emerald orbs hungrily drank in the scene around him.

H'annaeryth would be pleased to know she was about to teach the wonderful art of druidism to the right man that brightening, for there was no doubt that she had probably taught many students less willing to learn from her than Iras Loregard. Eventually he caught up with her, in the middle of the surreal clearing of the Druidic Henge, slowly approaching her while still looking around with a wondrous smile on his face. Finally, he addressed the dryad, clearly honored to be relating with the creature. "It's beautiful." he whispered. Once again that brightening, thanks to the presence of the dryad, and now this time thanks to the Druidic Henge, he found no other words to speak, so amazed was he, so in love with the situation he was in, completely and utterly grateful and convinced he was doing the right thing. All he could add were those very thoughts. "I love it...I am honored to learn the magic of nature from you, H'annaeryth." he said with the same boyish smile, with much respect to the mystical creature before him.

[fetch]

Through the pathways of Natura’s forests, the dryad had led her ward into the space of a spring clearing , here in the glade the spring seemed more advanced as if the magical presence of the druids had dragged time a little in advance of the rest of Natura. Spring flowers where everywhere a cascade of colour and form the trees were green with soft fresh new growth, grass was as green as he had ever seen, it was perfection.
This place was untouched by evil and malice, maintained as it was by the magic of the Spring and its druidic guardians, and such a feat clearly showed here in the purity of the glade.

The dryad stood next to a large tee and with a soft smile beckoned Iras closer to her as he took the steps she slipped effortlessly inside the tree and appeared just as smoothly on a branch just above his head sitting and looking down at him with a twinkle in her eyes and her legs swinging back and forward…. Aye Iras it is beautiful and I am glad that you see it with those eyes of yours. Nature has its way of delivering wonder to us and all it requires is the mind to see it and appreciate its wonder…plus of course a little bit of help from its friends her laugh tinkled across the glade like running water over a stony stream.

She stopped kicking her legs and leaned forward cupping her face and staring intently at Iras as if looking deep within his soul……Hmm she remarked ….. You will do…So lets get to work …..I shall attempt to unbind you Iras, it may not work you silly people are so detached from the true essence of arcana by your lives and your prejudices….You have barriers that prevent you from touching the essence of nature, the raw power of the forces of life so I must try and break down your wall this is the unbinding Iras if the unbinding is successful then I shall have to teach you all the necessary steps.

She sighed , evidently displeased at the nature of these initial lessons to come. Whilst quite capable of appearing untouchable and serene, Iras‘s tutor also happened to be rather impatient with regards to certain things…His judgement had come to a close now, and that had been the important, formal bit.


There would be no forewarning to the action the dryad was to take next, no time within which the human would be able to shield himself as she held out a hand towards him, clenched her fist, and then pulled. Instantly it was as though someone had allowed the proverbial floodgates of his soul to open, removed a barrier that had been there for patterns, and yet never before been disturbed. There was a sudden rushing of power…Power that was his, but that he had never known existed. The rapid and unforeseen nature of this surge in awareness was enough to cause sickness and pain, and to induce vivid visions within the minds of those who had been forewarned of the Unbinding before, and Iras unfortunately had not.

What followed, therefore, would likely be akin to a test of resolve, to fight any side effects of the process that would undeniably take place. All the while, the dryad would watch curiously from her perch atop the tree, apparently not aware of how she could have done something a little too swiftly.

OOC ~ Ok this is unique to everyone , your mind has its barrier broken and now you are aware of the essence of he plane of nature , its ok to faint and most unbound initiates have a dream, the unbinding dream , often this dream will fix the pathway to the essence in the mind and that fixing helps explore the essence in order to draw power from it once we start spell casting Have fun!

[fetch]

Penda

As Iras slipped into a faint or unconsciousness another druid came into the glade and whispered a message to H’annaeryth.

The gist of which was along the lines of You got another one Mistress H’annaeryth said her name is Penda Marley and she wants to study the arts of nature. I told her you were busy but she said her friend ……yes that one said the messenger pointing at the prone Iras was here and she wants to join him and study alongside. She seems very determined and eager mistress so I said wait at the entrance to the glade and I would speak to you.

H’annaeryth drummed her heels on the branch she was sitting on and crossed her arms over her chest finally she spoke very well bring her here and I shall see if there is a spark of talent in the child’s body

A few moments later the acolyte druid led Penda into the glade where she would be confronted by a dryad sitting on a branch and glaring down at the latest in a long line of pupils.

The soft trilling voice swept out over the glade Well missy I told you want to learn the druid arts with your friend here ……So tell me about yourself and do not worry about Iras he is just sleeping so anything you want to tell me will be strictly in confidence.

[Penda Marley]

Mid-Cryxatum
Spring Era XV
27th brightening

The half Medonian Elf was led to the grove by acolyte druid where the first thing that she saw was Iras laying on the ground. Of course a worried expression flashed across her face. Was this a joke? Would it hurt to be trained in the druid arts? But soon enough the dryad, from up in her branch in the tree, explained everything and then asked Penn to tell her a little about herself. 'Well that shouldn't take to long', thought the redheaded female as her mind reeled about how the dryad appeared. To Penda she was simply beautiful, exotic and naked, but none-the-less a very stunning creature. The half elf wasn't bothered by the fact that she was cloth-less because Penn thought that the female body was a work of art and even more so with the dryad. 'She' was the replica of nature. Penn couldn't help but to look at her through wide eyes.

Penda couldn't help but to glance back at Iras as she spoke. She felt kind of silly looking up and into the trees, talking, but if this was what she had to do then she'd do it. "Well my father is a human and my mother is a Medonian Elf. My father is from Natura and he's a farmer and a ranger but he moved to Medonia when he met and fell in love with my mother. My love for nature knows no bounds. When I'm in the forest I feel connected to something. I feel alive here, more so than any place else. It was Iras that suggested I learn Druidism."

She wasn't sure what else to say. With Penda what you saw was what you got. She was beautiful, she wore her heart on her sleeve and her connection to nature was clear just by looking at her. Patiently she waited for a response, hoping that she said all the right things and praying for strength to have the courage to be bold and yet humble.

[fetch]

The dryad sat on her branch idling kicking her legs as Penda spoke her piece , the dark eyes bored into her as if she was being examined from the inside intimately and without any problem as to the natural barriers that mortals erect. Without saying another word the dryad vanished from her branch seemingly slipping into the fabric of wood and branch before emerging out of the trunk and to stand in front of Penda. A soft twinkling voice masked the scowl on H'annaeryth’s beautiful ethereal face….

Hmm we shall have to see child … was all she said before lifting a hand to Penda’s cheek and stroking her face with gossamer fingers. Breath deeply and slowly Penda Marley slow, slow, slow and long, yes that’s the way, close your eyes Penda and wait ……for the unbinding!


Each unbinding was different each individual found the invasion strange uncomfortable but if the barriers that prevented the bound from reaching the essence of nature could be loosed delights would follow. Penda might feel the pullof a strange mind inside her head it was invasive it was strong but it was certain ……a tug and without warning Penda was open aware conscious of the nexus of raw power that previously she was unaware of ,it was strong it was exciting it felt dangerous but her barriers were down Penda was aware as she had never been before, the unbinding in the hands of a master was complete.


OOC ~ Ok this is unique to everyone , your mind has its barrier broken and now you are aware of the essence of he plane of nature , its ok to faint and most unbound initiates have a dream, the unbinding dream , often this dream will fix the pathway to the essence in the mind and that fixing helps explore the essence in order to draw power from it once we start spell casting Have fun!

Iras and Penda will wake from their dreams at roughly the same time it is fine to share your experiences

[Iras Loregard]

OOC: Warning: this post is long and trippy and vague, but I hope you can dig it.



The profound enlightening spiritual experience of his life had triggered suddenly. There was no warning. With as simple a gesture as moving her hand, the dryad H'annaeryth had pulled a chord that was connected to the psychological barriers Iras never knew he had. All at once the world around him came crashing down, and a new world was revealed. It was as if the world he had been living in was a stage, a painted backdrop draped over the real, true, beautiful realm of existence that Iras could not see before. With new eyes he glimpsed for an instant the dryad standing before a reality that, for lack of a better word, broke. But only for an instant, for immediately darkness took him.

When H'annaeryth pulled, she pulled him by his soul, and he fell back limp instantly, unconscious in the grass of the druidic grove. She had provided no notice of what she was to do to him, but to her credit, she chose a location that made the transition to a druid far easier than it would have been anywhere else. Before her was a sight she had likely seen countless times, a lightborn unconscious from his unbinding. Still, she had to wonder what went through their minds, their newly opened, expanded and enlightened minds, in that time of transition.

It was after some time that Penda was led in, was allowed to speak to H'annaeryth, and had her perceptions ripped from her as well. If Iras was conscious to witness that, he would hope she was prepared, that she was truly doing it for herself and for her own mind, rather than just to be with him-- for what she would experience would expand her individual mind, the concept of the power of self and no other, at first. Penda was a strong woman, he thought, but her stregnth was about to be tested. But that came later. At the start...

In Iras's mind...

The world only seemed brighter and more real in the physical senses at first because those were the only senses Iras was familiar with for recognizing signs of great change. Yet something in his mind told him it was a dream, a transition to this new world, the one he was forced upon a journey just now. He began to feel the world with new senses, slowly attuning himself to feel the life and the color around him. Yet his physical body was not there with him for the journey, it was lying unconscious in a druidic grove, watched over by a dryad.

All shades of green swirled, and mixing in with them flowed all the healthy blue colors, and the deep reds, of the skies and the land and the rivers, of earth, of nature. His entire conscious being was filled with the light, basking in its raw primal energies. It was a simple, timeless, yet powerful field of untapped existence. It looked to be the beginning of everything.

The concept of time, of passing change, came then into being, as if a nuisance sent to disrupt a timeless order. And change did come, and with it, existence was founded, things that would come and go inhabiting this "world" as it was known as now, this thing now of space and time. Now nature, which was pulled into a universe of creation, had an outlet for life, filling it with the essence of living, with the very definition of change and growth. Great and powerful beings appeared, taking certain shapes and consciousnesses...and destinies. These were the necessary beings to create and to shape in the three-dimensional tapestry of life that resulted. They had names and personalities and communication. Iras's consciousness found the one he loved the best, by leaps ahead of the others, the one to be known as Carmelya, for she embodied the primal spirit which spawned life, the one having ties to that beginning.

He could now see past the edge of the horizon, detaching himself from the physical and mental bonds which had imprisoned him until that moment.

He was in tune with the plane of nature, as one birthed from it, witnessing its conception. He felt his body returning to him, a corporeal form at last, and with it other forms sprouted, inhabiting the land and acting, and doing, creating and destroying, on a raw canvas of life. And all throughout, those energies which filled creation were permeating the world, and the beings, in waves, in a constant flux of rhythmic movement, seeming to cradle all of creation. This, Iras recognized, was the natural order, a wonderfully entropic yet steady drumbeat for all life to move with. He saw beasts arising, and plants taking shape, interacting with the more timeless forces which spawned them. Among them appeared an animal looking like a white stag, and this beast seemed to be his anchor to this enlightening, flowing experience, for it was unchanging even as everything around it was never the same. It looked through Iras, into his consciousness and his soul. Iras grew to love it, to be comfortable around it, to identify with it. It represented his potential, his power, his peace, his wisdom.

He saw too, after awhile, sentient beings come forth, sent from the entities that would be known as 'gods,' and they toiled to carve representations of their existence into the land. Into this universe was brought in many other energies, and magics. There were other planes of existence converging onto this one other than the one of Nature which Iras was connected to. Many others, some creative and some destructive, all working to touch a single world, to swirl the grand canvas with their many colors, both in harmony and in discord. And from this, the concept of balance was introduced, neither one thing allowed to hold too much sway over another, despite any efforts exerted to do so.

That seemed to change things yet again, as the natural order which cradled the land, appearing to be the purpose this plane of life was brought here, was from time to time disrupted by the darker colors and those beings who walked the earth filled with their tainted energies. In response, it would join in on the game, creating its own guardians, but only to keep the dark ones at bay, to let life go on, to let change and growth take place, fighting against the dark uniformity the deathly powers for some reason desired, not to pursue its own ends. Perhaps that was its purpose, to keep steady amid the constant weaving of powers and entities, providing a ground, a steady rock, for existence. The notion of conflict and strife was the natural progression following this act, rival beings inflicting discord upon one another, a sensation which would soon come to be pain and death. The stag remained there, among its ever changing environment, as it watched and witnessed the destiny of the world unfolding.

The beings took many shapes and sizes as decreed by the gods; some had wings, some had scales, some had flesh, and through them the stage was set and histories were forged. But all throughout passing time, through what would be ages, the natural order of life continued with their washing waves of creation and destruction permeating the land as it always had, holding stability itself in its power, for if it was too far unbalanced, if was thrown off its current rhythm, a great unraveling of the world would there be. So there were always some beings that helped fight and strive for this natural order.

And slowly time focused on a particular time and place, which Iras recognized as his own, and a revelation that he was now one of those protectors, who drew their power from the essence of nature itself, came to him then. He felt extraordinary responsibility entering him, the unfathomable power coursing into him like a river loosed from its dam.

He saw shapes of creatures and plants, and of people both good and bad. And through it all, the stag remained by his side, the representation of the power and responsibility and primal divination Iras was now connected to. A feeling of acknowledgment washed over him, that this white stag would serve as his link to the plane of nature, would be his image there and the vessel with which he would draw his power. A perfect embodiment of Nature and those who watch over it with power, it was.

The vision was still in full force, , the world always appearing in constant states of change, although it was always a beautiful sight, the rich colors and now the order which resulted had formed an entire beautiful planet, with oceans and continents and rivers and valleys and plains and mountains and life everywhere. Procreation there was then, the act of reproducing, the separation of beings into two forms which worked together to perpetuate life. Working together, both in harmony and in conflict, to fulfill the purpose of creation by simply living.

But through his dreaming and his revelations and all the new powers and insights he was being granted, appearing into the vision next to him was one form in particular, one whom he recognized. The white stag no longer needed to be physically present, for its essence had filled Iras. Appearing then beside him was the woman his heart belonged to. The vision sent to him by the raw powers of nature appeared to take a more personal touch, projecting from his own mind and shaping his insights in terms of experiences and faces he would understand.

Or was it? The woman he had come to know as Penda Marley did not appear to be part of a grand show, did not exhibit the qualities of a vast deep knowledge clothed in the physical form of someone very close to Iras's heart for purposes of easing the passing of that knowledge. It appeared to actually be her, as if she was somehow transported into the lucid dream Iras was having. He watched her; as if he knew of nothing else to do, he watched her for a long time as she slowly came to recognize what it was that was happening. She was going through the same experience Iras was, he knew, or something similar to it.

When she would finally look to him, she would not at first see the man she fell for. She would see the white stag, shining radiantly, basking her in its comforting light. After a few moments it slowly changed, and became the man she knew as Iras, and he and the beast seemed to be as one. In her deep dreaming vision of profound spiritual revelation, he would hold out his hand to her, not in a sign of romance but in an offering of help, of guidance. He felt he had been in this new world far longer than she, and to take the role of a guide so soon only boosted his sense of responsibility. He did not expect to see her here, and he knew that what they were sharing then was no small thing, in fact the very highest of things, of entering a heightened state of existence together. Such a thing was very rare, as he would come to know, such a special thing to share. They would walk, and witness, and learn, all about this new world and their new place and roles in it, together, hand in hand, for what seemed like ages more. She had to represent something. She represented synergy and companionship, a woman to the man, completing the symbol the two created together as one of lifegiving.

Iras was one of the natural world's guardians now, not only shielding Nature but also to keep in check the actions of the sentient beings filled with the different colors of light acting in their own way from being too destructive, protecting Nature from opposing philosophies on existence seeking to destroy it. And now Penda was with him, two beings with ties now to the timeless force, providing companionship to one another, representing one of the foundations of life that was founded: positive interaction to allow things to grow. The relationship they had was so utterly beautiful in its simplicity, that any layers of doubts and petty social ideas washed away, ways of thinking that would merely fade with time, but the essence remained, an essence he knew they shared, and when they would wake up he would know to treasure it and not take it or anything like it lightly.

The enlightening dream continued for them both for some time, and eventually Iras felt the world rapidly start to change less frequently, seeming to settle on one form, in one place in time. After all he had witnessed, to exist in real time once more seemed very slow, but he soon remembered what it was like and understood his place. Slowly the land morphed back beautifully into what looked like a sacred Druidic grove he had once seen ages ago...though perhps it was only candlemarks ago. Eventually his eyes opened, and they looked up past the green leaves of the sacred trees up at the blue sky and the white clouds. His ears could hear the wind rustling, and birds chirping, a sign that the natural order was continuing, and understood this as its present form. His nose could smell the pleasant scents of the forest glade, and he could feel the ground at his back as he realized he had been lying down for the whole experience. His body had not moved, but his mind had taken a very profound journey. He felt again with his earthly senses, yet there remained another sense that had lingered from the experience, one he was granted to keep. He could see the Ara all around him, and could see the Vis within himself.

It took him a little while to remember everything, for his mind to absorb what it had just gone through, to remember all that had happened in the world that day that led to his unbinding. He remembered, he had the name Iras Loregard, he was born of more than one race, known as human and elf, and he dwelled in a place called Natura, a beacon of nature, and he was training to be a ranger, a caretaker of the wilderness, a successor in the long line of protectors he had seen in this vision. He was training to become a druid, and this was the first step. He remembered.

He sat up, slowly, around the same time Penda would, slowly regained his senses, and looked around, his heart and mind soaring to behold the wondrous beauty of the sacred glade again, this time with a deeper, more profound understanding and respect for it. Softly he whispered something, something which the dryad above him could probably hear. "I never knew..." was all he could utter in the face of pure astonishment.

Iras Loregard was now primed to wield the power and responsibility of the druidic magics. He had now a clear road to the plane of Nature.

[Penda Marley]

Penda studied the dryad before her. The words that H'annaeryth said, the instructions that she kindly issued forth rang in the half elf's pointed ears until her slow but deep breathing was echoing through her mind. It was loud, like the sound of a rushing wind past your ears, but at the same time it was as refreshing as a steady trickling of water over your body on a hot day. She found that her entire lithesome frame shuddered pleasurably until her physical eyes could no longer witness reality. It was then that her body fell softly to the ground.

Deeply she slept but her mind was very much awake. It was as if she were dreaming. Her breath became even deeper, as if she was breathing in the very essence of life itself. At first she felt as though it was a physical thing that she was taking into her lungs, like water. The water that was clearly felt in her lungs burst through her veins, like an instantly opened flood gate, and reached to every tip of her body, from the top of her head to the ends of her toes and fingertips. In an instant what she breathed in became much lighter, it was nature itself and like the scent of a field of fresh flowers. It became awe inspiring as her chest extended broadly in an outward motion. Greedily she took it in until she gained more then enough of it.

After a while her eyes began to look around. She knew where she was and in her mind's eye she could recall perfectly what surrounded her before her body fell unconscious. This time though everything appeared to have the same shape but it's hue looked different. What Penda saw what the colors of life, each living thing's aura, each thread and fiber of it's being. It was beautiful and of course unlike anything that she ever witnessed before. Her fingers longed to touch it and so she reached out with her arms.

A veil had been lifted from her eyes. Penn now could see the world in it's true form. The very essence of life was now before her and so she began to walk in order to inspect it more deeply. A smile rose upon her face. She always felt that there was more to what surrounded her then met with the natural eye, the unbound eye. She found her destiny, not merely because she thought that this was what Iras wanted but because it was her fate.

In a distance she saw a white stag. The most beautiful creature that she'd ever seen. Penn always had a way with animals, a talent of calming them and so she approached him slowly. Once near enough her fingers reached out and stroked his cheek, which he seemed to like because he nuzzled her chest gently as they made a connection, a bond that was more then what a normal person could feel. In that instant of unity the animal's shape turned into a mans. Penn looked up and instead of peering into a stag's eyes it was Ira's wonderful emerald gaze. In return she smiled, not saying anything but feeling everything. Not only had she felt in unison with the origin of all mortal life but she shared the same feeling with Iras.

Slowly they walked. They said nothing. There were no need for words. Every part of the six senses where working in high gear and soaking in all that their mind's broken down barriers allowed in. The pair had found what they had been looking for. Penn had now been in touch with all that she sense was but could never find, the nature plane and now her soul mate. They walked hand in hand, feeling the power of revelation surge between them, through them and around them.

Soon though their bodies dissipated, like the grains of sand running through a hourglass. They were transported back to their physical bodies. Iras woke up first and then Penda. At first she gasped for a breath but then realization allowed her to remain calm. Things looked differently now to the female. She doubted that she'd ever look at them the same. It was a very awakening and liberating experience, one that she wouldn't trade for all the world.

A smile beamed over her face as her fingers reached up to press a few strands of red hair out of the way. Her eyes spoke volumes and she was sure that the dryad would understand every single word. 'I've finally found what I was searching for even though my conscious mind didn't know that it was looking.' Slowly Penn reached over and grasped Iras' hand. She wondered if he remember that they had just discovered the Essence Plane of Nature together. No doubt he did as she did.

[Iras Loregard]

He was still a bit woozy from the experience, though he knew it was all a dream he felt it was somehow real, as if all he had witnessed actually happened. He knew, at least, that what he felt was real. He saw the world through new eyes, wiser eyes, a more powerful being, even if it was only potential power. He had now the ability to channel energies from the plane of Nature, and he rejoiced in that knowledge. He looked up at the sky and breathed deep a lungful of new air, his first deep breath of his new conscious self.

Suddenly he felt another hand take his own, and he turned his head to see Penda there. His eyes went wide, but for only a moment, for he recalled that she had been there with him. It was then that he understood, she really was there with him; it was not part of his own individual vision for him to take Penda by the hand and explore with her-- she had actually been there with him! When he was uncconscious in the grass, Penda had been led to H'annaeryth, no doubt to study with Iras, and had been unbound soon after he was. What a surprise! A bright smile took over his face then as he eagerly accepted the hand of the woman his heart belonged to. They both looked into each others eyes, their newly enlightened eyes, and Iras understood that they had shared a profound spiritual experience. All borders and boundaries between them had dissolved, everything that truly did not matter was swept away. What remained was the purity, the essence, of what they felt between them.

He spoke to her then. After such an experience such as the one they just shared, there was no need for anything but simple words, simple and direct, and full of meaning. There was simply nothing else to be said, no verbal embellishments to add as Iras was known to do. He simply stated, after all he and Penda had shared, with all his heart, "I love you." The dryad would understand the nature of their relationship then, and Iras hoped she would approve.

Some words and affectionate gestures may have passed between them, and when they were finished, Iras looked up to the dryad H'annaeryth, still up in the tree swinging her legs, and he stood up and helped Penda stand up to address her properly, as his...as their teacher. To H'annaeryth he simply said, "Thank you. You have opened my mind, and I understand now. I am ready to learn what you have to teach." He stood there, Penda with him, side by side, as he knew they would be for as long as they were willing. He gave her hand a loving squeeze.

[fetch]

OOC~ Two wonderful dream posts guys ~ first class stuff!

IC~ The dryad was back on her favourite bough kicking her legs in the air and chuckling, really this was just too delicious two lovers unbound at the same time and neither of the little devils had had the chance to tell her before she had completed the ritual. This was going to be interesting…..very interesting!

She could not wait to have a good gossip with Archdruidess Dhwae about this romantic twist, the old elf had been sad of late and a good juicy story like this would surely cheer her up.


Once they had recovered their senses both of them would realise for the first time the latent potential that lay within the chosen ones. Those people who could access the nexus of natures power and employ the twin essences of ara and vis for the wonders of arcana


“Well well this is a turn up and no mistake you two are an item eh? Well lady and gentleman I will not have unauthorised canoodling in my class it might be fun for you but I find it merely mawkish. You have much to learn over the next cycle so keep your minds on your training arcana is dangerous and if you are dreaming sweet nothings and not concentrating on the matter at hand things will go wrong…..

She might be marking Iras and Penda’s card but her voice was soft and sweet as if the ancient dyad was also thinking of the glories of new found love. She shook her head in annoyance and slipped through the mass of the tree as if it were air and appeared before the pair her hands on her hips in full teapot mode, her foot tapping but her dark blank eyes were full of stars of light, the dryad was enjoying her self immensely!

The first thing you will need to do is learn to meditate. It is a little like sleeping, but less boring. You should concentrate only on magic, on the magic of nature, and nothing else. Let your sense slip away, and you should find yourself reaching something that people call clara. It lets you see the pretty magic around you, within all living things. So Iras will you kindly leave Penda alone now she grinned happily.

Very well start by breathing deeply slowly in and slowly out …both of you now one ..in ……hold it ….let it out , repeat slowly Penda do not rush clear your mind of all though t ….again …again ….slower…close your eyes both of you…concentrate on your breathing …relax those shoulders Iras…yes that’s right …good ….breath deep and slow clear your mind ….good we are getting there now each of you take one element from your dreams …..no not each other do not be silly….pick one thing......yes now fix your mind on that element….breath, breath.

For each of them the path to the nexus of power would be unique it was a journey of imagination with a specific goal within their minds. The path to the nexus of the power of nature and from that repository of pure power they would be able to draw pure vis and meld it with the ara of themselves to create spells of nature.


The path to clara for a first time novice was a long one it might take a quarter candlemark or more of concentrated effort to merely glimpse the nexus but the dryad was certain that within the twin lovers was the ability to reach their goal the very first time of attempting this most important ritual.

[Penda Marley]

When Iras and Penn's hands touched everything was different then before, it could be felt. There were no ties to bind them, not even just a little. Ties bound the normal person's eyes and feelings that were not opened to the Nature Plane, but no more, not these two, not now, not ever again. Everything was clearer, fresher, more alive and colorful then ever before, as was the love that was easily felt between them. Penda knew what she wanted.

Most little girls dreamed of being a princess or perhaps even a warrior and that one day they would meet their handsome prince. He'd save her and then carry her off into the sunset. Today was that day for Penda. Not only was she unrestricted now by being unbound but she also knew now that she's found the love of her life, her soul mate. It was as if when they were being unbound their energies mixed. The effects of that was that the two now felt like they were one. At least that's the way that the half female elf was feeling. Then Iras said those three words that meant everything to her, she mouthed the words back to him as she smiled so very sweetly. "I love you too."

“Well well this is a turn up and no mistake you two are an item eh?" The came the voice of their teacher. By this time the pair were standing, still holding hands. Penn nodded. She knew that she had to keep her mind straight and to concentrate on what she was about to be taught, mostly because the dryad told them they had to. The redhead couldn't help but to grin. "No unauthorized canoodling... right."

Now it was time to meditate and to get into the state called 'Clara'. She also said to fix their minds on one element from their unbinding dream. Penn tried hard to find something other then Iras and the unity that they felt there. Slowly but surely her mind recalled how all of the warm hues in her dream made her feel. She'd meditate on the colors, soft looking enough to touch, or so that's how it felt.

'Breath... breath.' Her mind kept telling herself. Now that she's unbound the female found that it was much easier to slip into a state that felt like weightlessness. It felt so relaxing and wonderful that she wished that she would have done this much sooner. Every inch of her skin began to pleasurably tingle as she breathed ever so softly, appearing as though she was barely breathing.

[Iras Loregard]

Iras only smiled at the dryad's first comments which were directed toward his relationship with Penda. She did not disapprove but clearly was focused on the matter at hand and demanded the same of her pupils. Iras nodded and cleared his throat, seeming to shake himself out of the blissful feelings he was experiencing at remembering the intense bonding journey he and Penda had taken together, and paid attention to H'annaeryth's instructions.

Calmly, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let the birdsongs and the sound of the rustling leaves lull him into a calm state of mind. Before long he was in a truly relaxed state, the only sounds were the birds, the wind, and the soft, lilting voice of an ancient dryad, giving lessons to him, easing his meditation. It would be a long time before he would be able to enter the sought-after trance-like state immediately, so he sat down cross-legged on the grass, and relaxed himself deeper, straining no muscles, straining not his brain with extraneous thoughts...he just cleared his mind, and allowed the atmosphere around him to fill his senses to