|
Post by hengest on Apr 9, 2022 1:03:42 GMT -5
The snake creatures dart off using their ground locomotion, passing Alla on both sides. They look like they are heading somewhere. You quickly lose sight of them as they pass into the wood.
"Help you out?" the knight says as you awkwardly talk to someone standing on your shoulder. "Our watch has been long! But little happens until now! Now everything is waking up again, at least here! Who knows about the other countries! We don't go those ways, or not far! It's not been long that things have been truly awake. The lady and you are the first we've seen! "
Alla is moving into the woods a little, seems to be following something or looking for something, but she does not turn around.
You see the snurfler fussing with something else in the ground, as he was before.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 10, 2022 7:49:23 GMT -5
<thinking> Wow, those things are pretty quick!
"You misunderstand me.", I say to the knight as we walk. I was trying to figure out how long everything has been asleep. You mentioned moons but I'm accustomed to measuring in days, weeks, months, etc. I don't expect you to leave your post now after this time.".
I turn towards Alla and say, "I'll be right there if you need anything."
<thinking> I wonder if the snurfler is uncovering more of these little homes.
I walk over to the snurfler to see what he is digging at.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 10, 2022 21:08:18 GMT -5
The knight stays with you as you walk over to the creature. "Moon, when the moon goes away and then comes back! Twoscore and then a few." He hops up into the air as you stumble a bit on an uneven patch of ground, then lands on your shoulder again.
The snurfler is undisturbed by your approach. He digs away and clears off a "lid" similar to the one you saw before. Although he makes an attempt, his paws cannot really grip it well enough to open it as you saw the other one opened before.
Now that you are over here, you realize that you can hear a bit of water, perhaps a spring, coming from not too far away in the wood. You think.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 11, 2022 16:39:47 GMT -5
"Ohh...whoops" I mutter as I slightly stumble. When I feel the knight land on my shoulder again, I continue with "Two score. So that should be a little over 40 years since the Ruin happened! Right?".
I kneel down as I notice the snurfler is not able to the lid as he did the last one.
<thinking> I wonder if he'll mind if I help him?
I put my hands onto the lid slowly and look for a reaction from the snurfler or the knight. Both seem content with receiving my help, so I pull the lid open to see if more of these small people are inside. As I am doing so, I ask the knight, "Is there a river nearby?" as I look around in search of Alla.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 11, 2022 17:10:04 GMT -5
"Forty year? No, no, no...how many year-a? Hm..." You hear him twitering to himself but can barely make it out. Your mind understands only that he is performing some kind of calculation in an alien manner. He then shouts into your ear triumphantly, "A thousand and a hundred and another hundred!" and follows this up with a kind of pleased chuckle from within his birdy articulatory apparatus.
You can't see Alla from where you are at this moment, but she can't have gone far, nor do you expect she would deliberately skip out on you.
"River? No river here, not for your eyes to see, anyway! What you hear is a spring, clear as you could want."
The snurfler doesn't seem disturbed by your assistance. You get a grip on the lid and pull it off easily. You see what looks like a tiny library with no one inside. Looking closer, you see tiny volumes on three shelves, perhaps a couple dozen such volumes in total, as well as several standing desks. The books seem to be shelved with their spines inward.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 12, 2022 2:53:04 GMT -5
"Aha! Twelve hundred years?!" I exclaim in understanding. "I never claimed to be a scholar. I know a little bit, but the old terms of reckoning throw me off from time to time.".
<thinking> I hope I didn't make a bad impression on the avian knight.
"Oh, a spring? Maybe that's where Alla went off to?" I wonder out loud.
"There's no people in this one. It looks like a library maybe. It also looks like the spine of the books are facing inward. I wonder why? We face them out back home so you can figure out what you're pulling off the shelf.". I say to the bird and wait in the hope of an explanation...
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 12, 2022 11:18:59 GMT -5
The bird, largely a voice in your ear and a touch of weight on your shoulder for the moment, does not seem to look down on you for being accustomed other timekeeping terms.
As you make you remarks about the books, he hops down onto the edge of the library, peers in, and then looks up at you. "Never saw anything like this! You have these little rooms where you come from under the earth?"
The snurfler and Alla remain out of sight. The sun brightens a bit, that way it does when you had not noticed it had gone behind a cloud. You feel perhaps one tiny leftover dot of that misty rain land on your arm as the air warms around you in the newly bright sunlight. As the light falls into the little chamber as well, you can see the floor more clearly: it is inlaid with some kind of other substance mixed in with the wood.
Alla and the snurfler are both out of sight. You can still hear the spring.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 13, 2022 2:37:01 GMT -5
"I have never seen or heard of anything like this back home." I reply to the bird.
<thinking> Alla is STILL out of sight...
I stand up and take a look around to see if I can locate Alla. After having no luck, I say, "Let's walk over to the spring and take a look around.".
I start walking toward the direction of the spring. I figure that it won't hurt to call out to information Alla of where I am headed.
"Alla. I'm headed to the spring. Where are you?".
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 13, 2022 12:36:17 GMT -5
Heading in what seems to be the direction of the spring, you enter the wood, but not too far. Plenty of bright light is still filtering in. The air in here, just a stone's throw from where you were crouched before peering into the empty chamber with the books, tastes cooler and a bit dustier in your nose.
The knight flies ahead a bit and perches on a broken branch a little above your height. The tree is at the edge of a kind of shelf and some of its roots are exposed on one side. "Look below if you're thirsty!" He flutters down to the level below the tree, rather stonier than the earth above where you are standing. You see him land and sip water from a trembling puddle in a very crude and rocky "bowl." It must be a spring, as the water spills out in one spot and flows away, not gathering anywhere you can see.
You are rather thirsty by now.
Alla does not reply to your call.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 13, 2022 19:26:06 GMT -5
"I'm worried about Alla now. She hasn't responded. Can you fly higher and see if you can spot her?" I ask of the avian knight as I bend down to sip from the water.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 14, 2022 8:32:41 GMT -5
You sip the water. It tastes quite clean. You realize you were really thirsty after all this time. Seems like it would be a good idea to take some more while you're here. You haven't eaten since that fruit you had, although you can keep going for days yet if you need to, and you haven't slept in a good long while. The things that have happened are starting to take their toll, but at your age, you can keep functioning for some time still.
The knight flies up without replying, gliding smoothly back past the edge of the wood and out of your sight.
You are here at this little bubbling pool of water.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 14, 2022 11:58:29 GMT -5
You feel better and more awake now that the water has wet your gullet.
Now that you have no one to talk to, you can attend to the sounds of the wood. As you would expect, you can hear countless mini-sounds: the water, tiny creatures crawling, blades and leaves shifting in the now-gentle breeze. Some birds are singing as well, though you cannot see tham and do not recognize them. One particularly strong voice is coming from up above, at the level of the tree above the spring, off a bit further into the wood.
You notice that your boots feel more supple.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 15, 2022 9:52:44 GMT -5
I stand up and take in the area and the sounds as I stretch my arms and relax for a moment.
<thinking> I feel much better after that water.
I try to focus on where that particularly strong sound is emanating from, and I settle on a direction.
<thinking> I need to find Alla but I want to see what is making that sound. I'll check it out and then stay in the immediate area. If I take off too far then Alla won't find me when she comes back.
I glance around and say, "Alla. Sir Knight. I'm going up ahead for a moment if you can hear me. I will be back momentarily.".
As I take my first few steps toward the noise, I can't help but notice my steps feel somewhat more "springy" like the boots got refreshed from drinking that water as well.
I stop in my tracks in a small bit of wonder.
<thinking> This place is full of surprises.
I continue walking toward the loudest noise above the spring.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 15, 2022 11:42:39 GMT -5
You hear nothing from the knight; he must still be looking around for Alla, as you asked.
You head in that direction, but find an unusual thicket with a lot of low-growing vegetation. If you are not mistaken, that birdsong is coming from somewhere in there. If you really want to continue in this direction, you might have to squirm and wriggle your way through on the ground. Even then, it might be a tight fit. There's no obvious danger to attempting it.
The song or birdspeech continues. It sounds unusual and quite attractive, now that you attend to it, but not particularly magical. You can't help but be interested, however.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 15, 2022 14:39:39 GMT -5
<thinking> Well, now I don't hear anything from the knight either.
"That song appears to be coming from inside that bush." I mumble to myself as I stand before the thick vegetation as I kneel down for a closer look.
<thinking> I'm going to go on a hunch that Alla went in there.
I take one last glance around and start to crawl and wiggle my way through to investigate further.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 15, 2022 14:40:33 GMT -5
[Remind me how your sword is stowed at present, or decide?]
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 15, 2022 14:50:30 GMT -5
[ Remind me how your sword is stowed at present, or decide?] Last I remember it was strapped on my back. Best answer.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 15, 2022 15:04:33 GMT -5
[I looked back and I think you are right. So it is.]
Intent on finding the source of that entrancing sound, you get on your hands and knees and begin crawling, pushing your way through the really quite thick undergrowth. You feel the hilt of your sword getting hung up a few times, but are able to free it without too much trouble. This is really quite uncomfortable, but not harmful to you. You are sure you will end up scratched up, however.
You have to do this for longer than you expected, although you haven't come all that far. In your discomfort, you turn your head to each side and can see that there is a kind of "crossroad" intersecting the "path" you are beating. It goes to your right and left. It looks somewhat better traveled than what you are forcing your way through, although it's still pretty tight. You'd have to crawl if you turned into it in either direction, but you'd be getting less scratched and your sword would get caught less, you're pretty sure.
Although if you do that, you'll be moving at a right angle to your intended direction of travel. You can still hear that birdsong coming from up "ahead." It appears you have three obvious choices: ahead, left, right. Trying to push your way up is certainly possible but does not seem at all palatable, and moving back would be surely more difficult than moving ahead, unless you could somehow use the crossroad to turn around.
As you crane your neck to the left, you notice a rather smooth and dark stone, no cleaner but more polished than the other bits of rocky debris around here.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 16, 2022 0:48:40 GMT -5
<thinking> This is a little more challenging than I originally thought it would be. It looks like going left or right will be much smoother.
I stop and ponder the choices before me. I reason that if I feel I have taken a misstep I can always backtrack and choose another path.
I settle my thoughts on the smooth, dark stone and decide to go in that direction.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 16, 2022 9:09:20 GMT -5
You squirm out onto the "crossroad" in the direction of the stone, wriggling your body into relative freedom.
It would still be very difficult to stand up in here, but crawling along is much easier. Your sword is no longer getting hung up on the vegetation above you. This seems intended for travel, although by whom, you don't know.
You keep moving forward and find that the "path" begins curving to the right.
Off behind you somewheres you hear the voice of the knight calling. "Hey! Man! Man! Are you lost?"
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 16, 2022 10:23:02 GMT -5
I pause as I hear the voice of the knight.
"I'm not lost. I'm on an overgrown path in this dense thicket. You may not be able to see me." I call out in answer to the bird.
<thinking> I've got to get his attention somehow.
After a few moments of thought I suggest "If it will help. I can try to shake some of the limbs overhead to get your attention.".
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 16, 2022 11:24:27 GMT -5
He stops calling as soon as he hears your muffled voice. Then you hear him say, with a touch of amusement, "Man! Crawling around? A fine choice."
Apparently his hearing is keen enough that he doesn't need you to shake the vegetation overhead. You hear a few seconds of silence and then a slight rustle not far overhead. "I hear you moving around down there! But even my eyes can barely see you. What moved you to dig under there? Thought the lady went underground for a spell?" He twitters in a way that must be laughter.
It is quite shaded under here.
Despite the awkwardness of your position, your feet feel quite good in your boots, which seem almost cheerful. Perhaps you are just wearing them in.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 16, 2022 19:24:14 GMT -5
<thinking> I can see the folly in this decision now.
"I'm pleased to keep you amused." I reply lightheartedly to the avian knight before I let out a short laugh before continuing, "I couldn't see Alla anywhere, so I thought maybe she went in here. I'm guessing you didn't see her?".
<thinking> I think there might be something more to these boots. I'll have to investigate them when I am able to stand up.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 16, 2022 20:30:07 GMT -5
"I saw the lady nowhere! But you know, no one can see anyone cross-marc! If she went over, well, we won't be seeing her unless we do, too! I aim to do my duty here, so it's you would be chasing after her if you can find where she crossed! Ought to have looked after your Lady a little better--unless you planned this with her!"
You hear these cryptic statements from your "tunnel" under the hedge.
Your boots continue to feel as they have been feeling, no more and no less. It is not unpleasant.
The song continues, although now you are facing only sort of in its direction where you lie as the path curves back around, sort of towards your original direction of travel.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 17, 2022 8:29:54 GMT -5
"No luck for you either? This was definitely not part of any plan." I pause in reflection for a moment before continuing, "What is this cross-marc? Where does it take you when you cross over?".
<thinking> This cross-marc might be the way home.
"Can you tell where that song is coming from?"
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 17, 2022 8:43:06 GMT -5
The bird hesitates and you can almost hear him washing under his wing as he thinks. "Cross-marc? You can't see anyone cross-marc because...well, same as if you can't see them because they went behind a tree or underground! Only you won't smell or hear them neither! Cross-marc is how you can't see them, not a place. The place...there is no place, but...I reckon the space you cross is the marc! I don't know where your Lady went but I can show you where someone might go!"
He pauses. "If you decide to come out of there."
He pauses again. "What song?"
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 17, 2022 14:02:38 GMT -5
"Ohhh, that makes sense." I pause for a moment before stating, "Now I understand.".
<thinking> A place "someone might go" is better than what I have now.
"I heard something resembling a songbird. I was looking for the source." I explain in a somewhat confused manner.
"Give me a moment and I'll be out of here. Going to the place she might have gone is better than know information at all. I'll look into the location you mentioned.".
I attempt to backtrack to the spot I entered this thicket.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 17, 2022 19:21:10 GMT -5
You hear him hopping about above you. "You crawled in there after a songbird? You really need the Lady to keep you this side of the boundary stone!" He twitters good-naturedly. You think.
You manage, with a good bit of difficulty, to turn yourself around on this "crossroad" and to make your way back. You pass that shiny stone again. It looks out of place under here. Now that you are on a real "road," you come to where you turned onto it and see how ridiculous it was that you forced your way through there on your hands and knees. Although if you were still a boy, it wouldn't have been quite so bad.
You hear the knight above you. He says, "I'll see you when you free yourself, man!"
You can still hear that song. You could continue in your original direction of difficult travel (turning to your left) or try to squirm back the way you came (turning to your right).
You are scratched up at the least. This is the kind of experience that leaves you bleeding a bit when you weren't expecting it. It has happened before, of course.
|
|
|
Post by The Semi-Retired Gamer on Apr 17, 2022 19:35:48 GMT -5
<thinking> This bird has a talent for stating the obvious.
"I admit it. This might not have been my wisest course of action." I admit to the knightly bird.
I pause momentarily to evaluate the choices before me and settle on a direction of travel.
"I'll be out momentarily. I'm coming out of the opening I entered to get in this place." I say to the bird as I begin my slow trek back through the opening.
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 17, 2022 21:21:13 GMT -5
You wiggle uncomfortably back into the "tunnel" you forced your way through before. It might be a little easier this time, thanks to your breaking things on your first pass through, but not much. Your sword gets hung up again and you have difficulty freeing it. As you shift your back to try to get it loose, you feel a gouge on the back of your neck. It really stings, but doesn't feel like a true wound.
Otherwise, you escape unharmed, not having found what you sought and still hearing that attractive song. You stand up, somewhat worse for wear. Looking back over the thicket, you find the knight fluttering toward you. "I can show you two marcs right nearby! Another a ways away! Surprised you didn't find one on your own, the Lady did! Or she might have done." He whistles and looks around with what might be a shrug.
He lands on your shoulder again. "Look over there. See the doubletree over there? Walk through them and you won't see me again!" You do see a twisted little "double tree" not far off. It looks like what you would have called blackthorn at home, but not quite the same. The two trunks are quite close together, but it's possible you could squeeze through.
"And over there," he nudges you to turn almost completely around, "you have those three stepping stones. I can't see a thing after that last stone, so I expect that's a marc as well!"
He pauses. "What did you say the Lady was doing here, again? And how did you get that dugout in your neck?"
|
|