Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Kathar Dwin'rua]

---

How does one sheperd the world without knowing it? Twenty five years of life and nearly all of it nestled in the safety of the woods near Skara Brae. If one is to care for the world, one must walk it.

Or at least, that was the reasoning that repeated in his mind as he stepped up to the moongate.

Skara was a wonderful, if not boring, town. Yew had the gate to Heartwood that allowed him to finally walk amongst his people. Sylindrii had given him the courage to act the part of a ranger and taught him the way of the woodland guardian, but he was still...untested. Straightening his shoulders, he tugged on the neck of his robes. He was going to lead his people home. He was going to step into the great wide world and make a sanctuary for them. He would bring the elves back from thier hiding places and secret knolls. They were not the Asur, but he and Sylindrii didn't need a kingdom. Crowns were for human rulers.

Running his hands into his hair, he gripped his head and turned away from the gate. Would they follow? Would they congragate? Or would they just see him as a young elf, trying to act the part of an elder? Fear gripped his heart. He didn't want to dissapoint his "sister". She had lead him from the path he was on to where he was, and he had to be the example she was.

He took a deep breath and wiggled his toes in the cool grass. The feel of the earth beneath his feet calmed him. He took a deep breath, and focused on the meditations of the Tel'dorei, quietly chanting his oath. "Andu falah dor. Ana'thor falah nor dora. Andu mush'a. Ana'thor na Dure."

Kathar reached out and felt for the world, felt for the lines of the arcane and nature. The ley lines, the pulse of the world, the veins of the celestial dragon. Finding his center her turned and stepped through the moongate, taking the pathway the ley lines lead him. He would Walk the Dragon, Follow the Green, and it would lead him to the other lost children of the earth.

And he would lead them home.

---

Translation of the Oath of the Tel'dorei:

Let balance be restored. I will fight for the truth of the balance of heaven. I am a ranger. I will fight for nature.

[Kathar Dwin'rua]

---

The ley lines Kathar traced led him east out of Luna.

Luna.

A human settlement packed full of greed and excess, wrenching ever square inch of land into shops and merchantile shanties that were a testament to the human need for gold and riches. The city smelled of filth and waste, and his feet could not carry him from it quickly enough. As he got further from the city, the less ill he felt.

Sylindrii told him it wasn't right to hate humans, but with all they had done to his people, with how they treated the world. with all they did that screamed against nature itself, how could he find peace with them? He took a deep breath and wiggled his toes in the grass, calming himself. Focusing, he found the ley line and began his trip eastward again.

He quickly found himself in woods. Markers posted noted they had a master, but he was simply passing through. He couldn't imagine anyone calling themselves "Guardians" would take issue with a lone elf passing through thier lands. The woods here were well kept, harvested responsibly, not clear-cut. The small cottages he found here and there were homey, welcoming. The crystal growths that grew alongside the trees appeared natural, an expression of the abundant magic of Malas. He paused where a few shards had broken off, and tossed them into his pack. Even if he didn't truly understand them, they were pretty, and felt good to have around.

Such an odd thing to feel here. The inanimate held "feelings". The magic here was tamed and yet quite wild. It wasn't like the fay groves in Ilshnear, but the Green here was just as live. Ysera's roots went deep.

His view shifted as the dragon line turned from the woods heading to the mountains. They were small, but sheer, and he was hardly prepared to climb. Kathar smiled. Magic would not be denied, as a small crevase in the mountainside became visable. A natural opening, it was well worn by foot and hoof traffic.

When the crevace reopened to the other side, Kathar found himself in a small valley, neat homes formed a small community. The abundant resources of the area, and the life giving magics that permeated the area would make the valley a magnet for crafters, farmers and simple village folk. This would be a good place to look for others of his lost race, the natural tendancies of elves would draw them to place like this.

Now to find a place to pitch a tent and wait.

[Kathar Dwin'rua]

---

The chestnut-skinned human woman smiled at Kathar as he closed his eyes breathing in the steam coming off the bubbling cauldron. "Hungry?"

"For something that smells this good, always."

She laughed and opened a cabinet, retrieving a wooden bowl. She ladled a good amount into the bowl and handed it to him, along with a spoon and a large piece of rye bread. "Don't see too many of your people around."

He nodded in appreciation as he took the food. "I hope to fix that." He ate silently, noting Mari's hazel eyes never moved from him. She was very unlike most humans he had ever met. Her appreciation for nature was second only to skill as an artisan, whether working with metal, wood or stone. Every facet of the building he stood in bore the signs of her handiwork. The furniture, the tools, even the building itself, all birthed from her two hands. All of it as lovingly crafted, as rich and deep as the bowl of rice, corn, squash and deer he ate now. He wiped the bottom of the bowl clean with the last bit of bread and handed her the dish. "My thanks. Most of my meals the last few days were nourishing, but little more than burnt before eating."

After setting it on the counter behind her, Mari crossed her arms, as if trying to decide what to do with her guest. "I saw you camping out in the old place by the hill. I'd be careful, a few of the bracing timbers look pretty rotted out. Could be dangerous in there."

He gazed out the windowat the abandoned building. The reddish plaster was mostly cracked away, exposing the slatting. Holes where the frame was exposed dotted the black shingled roof. Most of the glass for the windows had been stolen or broken by rocks. "Do you own it?"

"Naw." She shook her head and quietly laughed. "I thought about going in and fixing the place up. Seen squatters in there from time to time. I imagine looters have long since taken anything of value. If I wasn't so busy with my other projects, I'd probably take it on."

Kathar turned back to Mari. "So, who does own it?"

She shrugged. "No one, I guess. It's been abandoned as long as I've lived here."

"You think anyone would mind if I fixed it up and took it over?"

Mari smiled brightly. "Anything would be better than a run down eyesore. The area is quiet, so I can't imagine anyone minding a Limb-runner moving in."

"Limb-runner?" Kathar cocked an eye at her.

"It's what your people are called in my homeworld. Sorry, old habits die hard." She picked up the mug of mint tea that had been steeping on the counter and began to stir in a spoon of honey. "That's going to be alot of work for one person to fix up."

He winked at her and held up the Yew seed he had in his pocket. "I have a little help."

-----

Mari's sledge broke the flooring on the third strike, exposing the raised subfloor. "Just like I thought. It was built on posts, rather than a foundation." She reached in the hole, almost to ger shoulder then withdrew her hand, coming back with a handful of dusty, dry soil. "Nothing but dirt."

"Excellent." After she moved out of the way, he reached into the opening and dug a shallow hole in the dirt. Dropping the seed into the hole, he covered it, and took his boda to water it. He marked the muddy soil with a Sigil of Ysera and stood. "Now we just wait."

She paused and looked at him incredulously. "A Yew can take hundred of years to grow."

He laughed and brushed his hands off on his robe. "Come." They exited the building, and after he was a few paces away he turned and sat on the ground, cross legged. "My sister said the druids of her homeworld did this, but on a much larger scale. I don't need a city, just a house. I just need to coax it a little"

Mari crossed her arms in disbelief. "This, I got to see."

Kathar began to chant. "Anar'alah Elune, andu falah dor." With a sudden movement, the thrust his fingers into the earth, intertwining his oen magic with the crisscrossing of leylines the congragated in the valley. "Anar'alah Elune, andu falah dor." His mahogany eyes shifted to brilliant amber and began to glow. Feeling with the threads of life that permeated the world, he reached for the seed. "Anar'alah Elune, andu falah dor." He felt a low rumble in his chest, like a beast trying to tear itself free, and his grasp encircled the seed. "Karath'falah!"

The house burst with life, as tendrils, roots, shoots and vines entertwined with the frame, crushing the old house to splinters. The vines and shoots quickly grew together, creating limbs and boughs at the magic infused Yew grew from a sapling, into a fully formed ancient tree, the trunk forming hollows and knots where rooms, windows and doors once were.

Mari whistled in anstonishment and he collapsed from the effort. "By the Goddess, Kathar! I've never seen anything like that!"

The elf stood wobbily, smirking in satisfaction. "My people have a history of being outragous. I wouldn't want to let the image slip."

[Mari Red Bear]

---

Brown tendrils spread out over the surface of the water as Mari Red Bear washed her hands in the ceramic basin. There was a lot of work to be done on their newest neighbors tree house, but she was enjoying the challenge. Building door, and adding widows to the tree without seriously damaging the yew itself took some consideration and care. Having the heavy ley energy to draw on helped, but working the ley was not her strong suit. It was day like these Mari wished she was half the mage Gizam was.

Mari dried her hands on the soft linen towel that hung of the edge of the vanity and looked around the cream colored walls. The more she worked on Kathar’s place, the more her own home aggravated her. The mix of human architectures had seemed inspired at the time, but now the plaster and wood cradled in stone seemed dull and lifeless. She needed a change. She wondered if Kathar could do here what he did on his property, or even he’d be willing. Perhaps it was of his people, and taboo to share the technique with outsiders.

The bigger concern was how she would ever convince Gizam that building their home in a giant tree was a good idea. She adored the magi woman, but she was very much a city dweller by nature, unlike Mari. It always seemed off to Magi, that a woman who came from a place more like the Lost Lands jungles, would prefer to live close to a big city like Luna. Mari didn’t even like to go into the market there. The prices were too high and the merchants were either rude or overly friendly. Whereas Mari preferred the smaller markets near Moonglow or Skara Brae , Gizam often visited Luna, using her mastery of the art of bartering to get some surprisingly good deals.

How would Mari ever convince her that it was time to redo the look of their home, much less to agree to such a drastic change? The sound of metal against metal caused Mari to turn around. Gizam was pulling pots out from under the stone counter, and muttering to herself. “Need help finding something?”

“I can’t find my melting pots. I need them to make the candles for the Beltane ritual.” Gizam grumbled, brushing her heavily curled crimson hair from her eyes with the back of her hand. “I can’t find them anywhere.”

“You left them in the sink last time you used them. I put them in the workshop cabinets.” Mari explained patiently.

“Sorry. I guess I got distracted.” Gizam sighed. “ keep meaning to have you make me a supply cabinet to put everything in.”

Mari turned to stare down into the muddy water in the basin, an idea forming in her mind. “There a lot of work that need to be done around here, not that the resort in Sothern Malas is finished. Maybe giving you more of your own space to work in and store your writing and alchemical supplies would help you keep everything more organized.”

Gizam shrugged. “I told you when you moved in here that I didn’t need all that much space. I’m not the artist you are. A small room off to the side is fine for me.”

“Not an artist?” Mari snorted. “And so what are those canvases and paints for then? I haven’t seen you touch any of that since you moved out here. And I know some of that art here and at the resort was done by you. They’re amazing. Why don’t you do that anymore?”

“No time.” Gizam offered, her tone unconvincing. “To much research needing to be done. If I ever hope to return home--.”

Mari glanced into the mirror over the vanity and saw her friend’s face twist in pain and longing. She didn’t often get like this, but Mari know Gizam missed her homelands terribly. It was time to change the subject before Gizam closed herself away again, and the conversation was ended. “I was thinking. I should remodel the house.” She said, turning to fact Gizam. “Completely new look.”

Gizam blinked, confusion replacing her look of sadness. “But you just built this place this past fall. Everything is darn near brand new. Why change it?”

“Because. The way the wall are set is too confining. Doesn’t let enough air in. We need to connect more with the land here, make it easier for us to tie into the lay energy. I mean, wasn’t that why you said you wanted to settle here? Hoping the concentrated ley magics would help your work?”

“Well, yes.” Gizam said hesitantly. “I had hoped it would. But walls are walls… what’s the difference which kind we use?”

Mari smiled and motioned out the east windows. “Take a look just past Lady Solanaceae’s home. What do you see?”

Gizan turned to peer through the glass and her eyes went wide. “I know I can get lost in my work and not notice things, but where in the goddess’ good graces did that tree come from? Wasn’t there a run down house or something in that spot?”

Mari grinned. “Yesterday in fact. I met a limb runner…I mean elf…name’s Kathar. I watched him build that huge yew from a single seed, in less time than it takes to make a cup of weak tea. There’s pieces of the house that are still there, scattered around the area. It will take days to collect it all. I figure we can store any useable rubble in the cellar of the resort for the tower that friend of yours wants to build. The art gallery, right? The one to benefit the area charities?”

“I suppose that would work.” Gizam stared out the window and shook her head, whistling low in amazement. “I’ve seen some life magic creation done by conclaves of elven wizards, but a single elf. I don’t see how that’s possible.”

“No idea.” Mari smiled. At least Gizam was interested in how it was done, but would she bed interested enough to let them try it here. “I was thinking… I’ve been doing the designs for Kahtar’s place, and I thought about how we could do the same here.”

“Here?” Gizam turned, her eyes slowly narrowing. “You want us to live in a tree house?”

“We could set it up however you want.” Mari increased the pace of her speech, hoping to get all she’d wanted to say to convince her friend out before Gizam could interrupt her and say no.” Make rooms on the limbs and connected to the trunk, even build you that library you’ve been wanting. We could build shelves off the wood, and everything would tie right into the leys, a living link to the magic here.”

“But a tree…” Gizam crinkled her nose, her dark skin taking on heavy shadows that made her eyes seem blacker and more intense. “I don’t know.”

Mari’s mind raced, she really wanted this, but she didn’t want Gizam to feel pushed into agreeing either. Then it hit her. “ “I don’t know.”

Mari’s mind raced, she really wanted this, but she didn’t want Gizam to feel pushed into agreeing either. Then it hit her. “You know…it doesn’t have to be a yew tree necessarily. I mean, I don’t know for certain, but I imagine Kathar could do this with any seed if he is willing.”

Gizam stared at Mari for a long time, a scowl set on her face, but when Gizam’s eyes drifted up, toward the floor that held some of the storage crates Mari knew she was thinking the same thing. “Any seed you say?”

***

Gizam opened box after box, finding only disappointment in each. Where was it. She been so careful, cared for these treasures for years since she began her journeys. Since they came to Sosaria her hope had deserted her, causing her to cast these precious things out of sight, reminders of a home she’d was sure she’d never see again.

When she saw the pale stone box her heart thumped excitedly in her chest. Gizam lifted the lid and carefully sorted through the tightly tied leather pouches and embroidered cloth bags until she find the rapped fabric made from weaved bark. She opened the folds with reverence to reveal a pile of small wood containers marked with runes, each the size of a finger. She retrieved one and opened it, taking a single seed from inside and laying it in her palm.

The tan curved baobob seed with its reddish brown stripes fit comfortably in the dip of her hand. Gizam smiled, tears welling up in her eyes, slowly blurring the seed from her vision. Yes. If she couldn’t go home, perhaps it was possible that she could bring home to her.

It was something to hope for.