Examining the odd Tree

Danerec · October 14, 2007, 01:15 PM

Brightening 26 of Ponutis in the season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum.

OOC: recap...Split from here

IC: Danerec didn't know what to think about the new arrival. He seemed to be well versed in a hard life, judging by the eye patch and high ranked uniform. He had a slight air of authority that bothered Danerec though. Not accustomed to giving respect based on rank alone, Danerec thought he might have an issue with this man if he tried to order him around at all.

Lilly edged closer to Danerec and Tarfuss, and he could tell she didn't like the man named Vincent much either. Well, either that or just mistrust him, he thought. Time to go...

Passing the lead for the packmule off to the closest person in the group, Danerec motioned for Tarfuss and Lilly to join him in doubling back to examine the odd tree, making sure to get Eyvind's attention and convey his intentions to leave and then return.

OOC: and now the side thread...

Lilly LeFey · October 14, 2007, 02:15 PM

Lilly was grateful both that Danerec apparently didn't like Vincent either, but also that he intended to go back and investigate that tree and she was welcome to join. She hadn't really considered tagging along originally. Certain both that it was most likely nothing and that Danerec and Tarfuss could handle it without her getting in the way. Now, she jumped at the chance to get away from the main body of the group for a while. Tempers were already flaring and factions were forming. A break to let everyone settle was a really good idea as far as Lilly was concerned. It's sad. She thought to herself. We're all on the same mission with the same goals headed for the same place, and yet groups within groups develop. She knew she was as guilty of it as the next individual. This was Eyvind's mission and they were all his to lead, and yet, she considered herself part of Tarfuss' group. She had made almost no attempt to bridge that gap with any of the other members. Not even Kella, whom she had orginally been so intrested in meeting. Well, I guess I'm as 'human' as the next person as the saying goes. She metally made a note to attempt to correct that when they got back from the tree. With one last look over her shoulder and a little sigh of relief, she followed Danerec and Tarfuss back to the mysterious moving tree.

Tarfuss · October 14, 2007, 03:23 PM

Tarfuss walked off with Lilly and Danerec, scowl still intact on his face. Who knew what would be going on when they got back. Maybe that Censoris and his companion will have taken charge of their group. Maybe the angry religious man will have slaughtered everyone as unbelievers. Who could tell. On the other hand - maybe they'd have dinner ready. That would be best. He was hungry. He hoped they'd have dinner ready. Indeed. And if wishes were horses, then beggars were ride. They were all still walking, far as he could see.

He looked out at the tree, it wasn't that far in the distance yet. He looked to the area surrounding it and didn't see anything unusual, but who could tell? It was pretty far off for his eyes. He wondered if Lilly's vision would be better, her being an elf and all.

Lilly LeFey · October 14, 2007, 03:54 PM

Lilly noticed Tarfuss' scowl. It was an intimidating sight. Well, at least our dislike of the newcomer is unanimous. Then she noticed him straining to look at the infamous tree. She followed his line of vision, scanning the tree carefully. It seemed normal enough. Knowing her eyesight was better than her companions, she asked "So what exactly should I be looking for? Forwarned is forarmed right?" She flashed a right smile at both of them. She was already feeling better. This was more like the trip she had originally had in mind that night at the tavern.

Tarfuss · October 14, 2007, 03:59 PM

Tarfuss smiled a bit at Lilly. She was a cheering sight. He settled his old hat back on his head a bit and slowed his pace a bit, considering the tree before he spoke. He shrugged. "Anything unusual, Lilly. An odd shape. Movement - especially movement, but if what we're approaching is intelligent, chances are it has frozen in place if it has seen us. Any colors that seem out of place, a glint in the sun - anything that isn't.... Tree-like - or even too treelike. You see what I'm saying?" He gave her a quick look to see if she understood.

Danerec · October 14, 2007, 04:17 PM

Danerec nodded at Tarfuss' statement. He had seen the tree branches move, but he hadn't seen anything else. It was possible the branch moved when someone moved past it, and they had hidden behind the tree before he had looked. Danerec wondered who would be following them. I mean, who knew we were leaving? he thought. Then he remembered Vincent, who they had left with their group only moments before. Danerec didn't think it could have been him, as they would have heard the horses. His mind then ran through the possibility of bandits. If it was a bandit, they probably were staying out of our way. he thought. The possibilities were endless, and the need to know gnawed at his mind.

Lilly LeFey · October 14, 2007, 04:57 PM

Lilly nodded and looked at the tree again. She started at it base and worked her way up. She noticed nothing odd about the trunk and she was too far away to determine if the debris underneath it had been disturbed. The lowest branches were thick, enough so to hold a person, and unmoving. She could assume that someone could climb it was possible to climb higher but the leaves were thick and unpenatrable to her eyes. Nothing moved. It would be a good place to hide. But who and for what purpose? She imagined a bandit looking for a single traveler or small group. In which case, they wouldn't have bothered a company as large as their origianal and would have hidden. Now, with just the three of them, they were walking back, just the sort of small group a bandit would find entincing. Nothing like inviting trouble.

Lilly passed her visual findings on to her companions, or rather lack thereof, as well as her concerns. "Is it possible we're walking into the proverbial trap?" She both questioned and cautioned as she mentally wondered what the odds were of a novice hitting a target with bow or knife she'd never before employed.

Tarfuss · October 14, 2007, 05:23 PM

Tarfuss smiled sadly at Lilly. They could very well be doing just that. On the other hand, having unfriendlies following them was not good for the success of the mission itself. The tree needed to be checked to make sure that wasn't the case. Better to know you were walking toward danger than have it sneak up on you from behind.

"Yeah, Lilly. That's a very reasonable possibility. Hopefully it's nothing, but we need to act like it IS something. Assume that there is something dangerous over here and that the only goal of that thing is to kill us."

Danerec · October 14, 2007, 09:34 PM

At the mention of a threat to their lives Danerec naturally felt his waist for his throwing knives. As they approached the tree he quietly drew one, holding its tip loosely between thumb and forefinger, his eyes scanning constantly across the tree's base, moving up its branches. He didn't see much by way of a target, and nothing was moving. He felt a wind pick up, brushing his face lightly, and nearly jumped when the trees all around them shook with it.

Tarfuss · October 15, 2007, 01:56 PM

Tarfuss approached the tree with Danerec and Lilly. He had his spear in the ready position. He didn't see anything unusual, not yet, anyway. If nothing obvious happened when they got near the tree he would check for tracks and make a circle of the tree out to about 50 feet. If nothing turned up, they'd head back. He spoke quietly to the others.

"Okay. Be on your toes as we get closer. If we get up to the tree and everything seems fine, we'll check for tracks and make a 50 foot recon of the area around the tree. If nothing turns up, we'll head back. Keep your eyes open. Lilly, you concentrate on watching middle to left, Danerec, you concentrate on middle to right and I'll keep an over view of both and an eye to our rear. We don't want anyone getting up behind us. Don't forget - danger can come from above as well as below or on the ground."

Lilly LeFey · October 15, 2007, 05:04 PM

Lilly edged closer to the tree taking up the right side. She'd pulled the bow from her shoulder and notched an arrow, and prayed to any god listening she wouldn't have to use it.

She noticed the heat and sweat in her hands, and the butterfly-like feeling in her stomach. She couldn't really classify it as fear, so much as anticipation of the unknown. She also understood that she wasn't far from crossing that line.

She continued to scan the area of and around the tree, her breathing sounded so loud to her she felt a need to hold her breath to be able to hear over it. A wild boar could come crashing up behind me, and I wouldn't hear it now. Still nothing moved.

Kella Greeran · October 19, 2007, 01:25 PM

OOC: Sorry for being tardy on this, guys! I promise to be better about this. Oh, if you didn't know Goss is letting me be your local, friendly peer modder. If you want anything in particular PM me, I'm all about customer satisfaction. Er.... sorta ;-)

IC:

Tarfuss heard it first, a mellifluous singing voice that washed over him like silk on bare skin.

"Come and try. Come and try."

The other's soon heard it as well, a woman's airy sing-song voice.

"Come and try, sweet to the tongue and sound to the eye, come and try."

The delicious peal emanated from the once shifting tree. There was a flash of pearl pale skin, a wild banner of flax and gold, passing through the branches.

Only when the three drew near did the shifting mirage pull its scattered glimpses of flesh and hair into single figure, but by the rising haze of whispers and laughter she was not alone.

She stood before the tree, clothed in little more than a diaphanous slip of dew and cobwebs. Her skin was like glass, too smooth to be mortal. The woman faintly glowed with some wild magic.

In her hand was a peach, bloom colored and down cheeked.

"Serale, those who journey. You have chanced upon our feast it seems."

Her eyes were bright, and the color of them constantly shifted from azure to emerald with the fluidity of mists. It was a vision that seemed a fragment of some ancient, untamed world. A wild world that overran the earth before the gods imposed their tenuous order.

Tarfuss · October 20, 2007, 01:03 AM

Tarfuss approached the tree with caution, looking up into the branches and down to the ground, taking a look behind them to make sure their rear was secure. Then he heard it. A voice. A beautiful voice, like silk. Warm and smooth as honey. He looked at the tree and saw the ... whatever it was that she was. His jaw hung open in surprise and it took a moment for him to gather his wits and remember that they were scouting and anything could be a trap. He said quietly to his two comrades, "Cautiously. Very cautiously."

Tarfuss advanced a few more feet. He could see the tree and the woman better now, but he didn't get close enough to touch. He approached within speaking range and held his spear at the ready, but not in a threatening manner, or at least he hoped not.

"Serale." He said in a voice that was tentative. What was this? A trap? A hallucination? They would find out soon enough.

OOC Thanks for modding this, Kella.

Danerec · October 20, 2007, 07:35 AM

Danerec remembered a song sung by the merchant Jorun about trees with spirits that came out and talked to you. There's more to them though, what is it? he thought. Danerec felt an odd impulse to approach the woman, if she was one, and he thought that he knew now how his father had felt when he had seen Danerec's mother for the first time.

Tarfuss kept his head a bit more than Danerec was, it seemed, his spear still in his hand. At the sight of the woman Danerec had dropped his throwing arm to his side, his dagger still loosely held but far from ready to be thrown. Realizing his break in wariness he raised his arm to place his dagger back into his belt, where at least he could draw it and throw it more quickly than from his side. Or at least more naturally...

"Serale," Tarfuss said, greeting the woman. Danerec waited for her response, his half memory of dryads niggling at his mind.

OOC: Thankee kindly, Kella

Lilly LeFey · October 21, 2007, 09:48 AM

Lilly approached the tree, still cautious and more than a little nervous. The singing startled her. The absolute purity of each note was like golden honey for the ear. Then the being came into view. Wild beauty as entracing as her voice.

Lilly caught the reaction of the two men she was with. Danerec all but dropped his knife and his jaw. If she'd been closer, she'd have picked them up for him. Tarfuss seemed to handle it better, though the look on his face and the tense caution of his muscles seemed to relax a bit, as though his intrest had been caught. Something akin to jelousy stabbed Lilly in the stomach. She mentally shoved it back, she didn't want, nor have the time to think about that now.

Lilly stepped forward a single step, "Serale, miss....?" She had no intention of taking the lead here, she just wanted to help pus things back into a business perspective. This little thing could be innocent, but if she remembered her childhood stories right, Dryad's usually had their own agendas, and humans were expendable toys.

OCC: Thanks Kella!!