Entry tags:
DRAGON'S TREE QUEST, PT IV (OPEN)
Who: those who signed up for dragon quest iv!
When: throughout june!
Where: the wilde
What: dragon mom needs assistance
Warnings: n/a will update as needed. violence is sure to ensue.

Come. I will show thou what must be done, for thou has come to wake me, hath thou not?
I. THE MIRRORBOUND OUTPOST
[ the mirrorbound outpost has successfully established a safe rendezvous point starting at the bright wall or even the wilder created northern outpost. thanks to the teleporter and traveling enchantments, questers will find it easier to hop back and forth from here to the city. by now, the fortress has taken a decorative shape in the image of frequent visiting mirrorbound; battle-ready spells line the territory and pockets in the trees offer places to rest. meet your fellow questers, stock up supplies before heading out. any veterans are welcomed to share information with new partners coming as a first (in fact, this is encouraged), and even more encouragement goes to talk to the citizen wilders established here, for more tips on sprucing the place up into a fine, infection-free fort. add your touch!
winter bites at your heels and covers the wilde in a thick sheet of white and cold this month as autumn is replaced. threats have dwindled after the season's coming, so enjoy the frozen, still quiet around the base. spells have been placed in carved runes inside the building walls to heat those who enter; enchanted pebbles and stones are given to arrivals, whose hands will instantly feel like they're holding an amiable fire in their hands (burn-free!). with food, drink, clothes and even behavior to promote kindling heat between teammates, the mirrorbound's outpost is now in permanent standing. well done, questers! ]
II. THE BOULDER
[ nearby and part of the clearing, a massive rock sits: the formation appears to be just a large boulder at first, with nothing special to its mossed edges. a closer look can herald some unusual features on the surface. the boulder curves like horns, there are wings seamlessly sculpted across mineral, small but seemingly folded. this is supposedly créia, in the flesh. questers will be encouraged to always keep this area spotless and constantly cleanse the grass and rock with charms, spells and whatever you have up your sleeves. don't have those? offerings like flowers and healthy plant-life will bring the same level of effort and appreciation over time— and are not limited to those by any means! with most of the animals hidden away for the arrived winter, maybe not so many greedy beasts will come around to snatch what you’ve left behind.
the efforts of the last months have not gone unnoticed by the local fauna who have come with additional offerings of their own (though they are simple, what food can be offered in the winter of the Wilde and general respects paid by those that wander with minds intact). the Cwyld within the rock itself is slowly receding; in its place a deep, green moss is beginning to grow, almost giving more form to the dragon that lies beneath it. if one places their hand against it, it has a warmth it didn't have before. ]
III. THE TREE (DUNGEON)
[ close and not too far from the outpost and its boulder is the biggest problem of all: the dragon's tree, a massive one, grander than all those in the wilde seeming miniature in comparison. it stands tall, bark scarred and chiseled, holding evidence of ages past in the many knots and healed burns, dark wood branching off into pine-scented leaves. it's wilted, in poor shape and black as if there's no going back from the rotting point it has reached.
most will remember that the tree holds a vast, magical chamber— and that needs some more exploration. any rooms one didn't get to on the initial floor (be it for more extensive investigation or whatnot) they're still very much open and waiting to be touched open, so players that didn't have a chance to play with that may do so this month. questers are welcomed to adventure through the cleansed rooms for more clues in:
welcome to your tree dungeon (pt 2, act iv), everyone! this isn't the last of it, and there's still plenty to do within if someone doesn't manage to sign up for this round. more details regarding other exploration will be given as needed as well, such any investigation towards the saplings as well as the up and down of the center room and the like. ]
( a huge thanks to the mods for most, if not all of this information to play with! any questions on how to proceed could be asked below, and players who would like to plot with each other can use the plotting post here! )
When: throughout june!
Where: the wilde
What: dragon mom needs assistance
Warnings: n/a will update as needed. violence is sure to ensue.

Come. I will show thou what must be done, for thou has come to wake me, hath thou not?
I. THE MIRRORBOUND OUTPOST
[ the mirrorbound outpost has successfully established a safe rendezvous point starting at the bright wall or even the wilder created northern outpost. thanks to the teleporter and traveling enchantments, questers will find it easier to hop back and forth from here to the city. by now, the fortress has taken a decorative shape in the image of frequent visiting mirrorbound; battle-ready spells line the territory and pockets in the trees offer places to rest. meet your fellow questers, stock up supplies before heading out. any veterans are welcomed to share information with new partners coming as a first (in fact, this is encouraged), and even more encouragement goes to talk to the citizen wilders established here, for more tips on sprucing the place up into a fine, infection-free fort. add your touch!
winter bites at your heels and covers the wilde in a thick sheet of white and cold this month as autumn is replaced. threats have dwindled after the season's coming, so enjoy the frozen, still quiet around the base. spells have been placed in carved runes inside the building walls to heat those who enter; enchanted pebbles and stones are given to arrivals, whose hands will instantly feel like they're holding an amiable fire in their hands (burn-free!). with food, drink, clothes and even behavior to promote kindling heat between teammates, the mirrorbound's outpost is now in permanent standing. well done, questers! ]
II. THE BOULDER
[ nearby and part of the clearing, a massive rock sits: the formation appears to be just a large boulder at first, with nothing special to its mossed edges. a closer look can herald some unusual features on the surface. the boulder curves like horns, there are wings seamlessly sculpted across mineral, small but seemingly folded. this is supposedly créia, in the flesh. questers will be encouraged to always keep this area spotless and constantly cleanse the grass and rock with charms, spells and whatever you have up your sleeves. don't have those? offerings like flowers and healthy plant-life will bring the same level of effort and appreciation over time— and are not limited to those by any means! with most of the animals hidden away for the arrived winter, maybe not so many greedy beasts will come around to snatch what you’ve left behind.
the efforts of the last months have not gone unnoticed by the local fauna who have come with additional offerings of their own (though they are simple, what food can be offered in the winter of the Wilde and general respects paid by those that wander with minds intact). the Cwyld within the rock itself is slowly receding; in its place a deep, green moss is beginning to grow, almost giving more form to the dragon that lies beneath it. if one places their hand against it, it has a warmth it didn't have before. ]
III. THE TREE (DUNGEON)
[ close and not too far from the outpost and its boulder is the biggest problem of all: the dragon's tree, a massive one, grander than all those in the wilde seeming miniature in comparison. it stands tall, bark scarred and chiseled, holding evidence of ages past in the many knots and healed burns, dark wood branching off into pine-scented leaves. it's wilted, in poor shape and black as if there's no going back from the rotting point it has reached.
most will remember that the tree holds a vast, magical chamber— and that needs some more exploration. any rooms one didn't get to on the initial floor (be it for more extensive investigation or whatnot) they're still very much open and waiting to be touched open, so players that didn't have a chance to play with that may do so this month. questers are welcomed to adventure through the cleansed rooms for more clues in:
—the foyer: now cleansed, is a safe base of operations. just don't light a fire in it.
—left room (puzzle; witch specialty): as one steps in, it's positively empty of magic; if one isn't careful, they may suffer from magical exhaustion and need to step out into the foyer for rest. that said . . . immediately within this room are three objects: a petrified sapling, a high wooden pedestal, and a large glass marble with an emerald scale trapped within. the marble cannot be initially cracked. upon closer inspection of the room, there are channels in the floor which one can pour . . . something . . . into, and they pool around the sapling as their end. this puzzle can be solved by manifesting magic into a pure form for "water", and then using an imbued crystal as light shined through the marble once placed upon the pedestal, which will heal the sapling and cause it to wiggle happily. how this ultimately happens is up to you all, but it is worth noting that it might require some fine timing.
—right room (puzzle; monster specialty): as one steps in, it's positively overwhelming with magic in contrast; if one isn't careful, they may lose their minds and display unusual behavior, needing to step out for a bit until it releases itself from their systems. this magic stems from a sapling that's sick with it, glowing brightly within the center and to three spots against the walls. to solve this puzzle, one must form a "bond" with the sapling and take on the excess magic it holds while managing their own selves in order not to soak up too much. how this goes is ultimately up to you all, but it is worth noting that temporary bonds may prove very useful in this venture.
—center room (updated): the apparent "heart" of the tree, or so it would seem. unlike the other rooms, this one has no visible ceiling and the sounds of birds can be heard from high above. it's also . . . very . . . not "heart of the tree" like; where there should be a large pillar of heartwood within there is nothing, with a pit of darkness below and the aforementioned lack of ceiling above.
with some poking around, one can find additional passages embedded against the inner bark itself, reacting strongly to those of a more magic-heavy "descent" so to speak, particularly to Faun, Fae, and Dragons. they lead as sloping paths upward, lighting with a biolumiscent green glow as the parties travel along.
this upper area leads outside, and continues up into the canopy of the tree. it seems particularly dangerous to be up high, as there's a mass of blackened, Cwyld-infected birds that hang within the branches, and they're not quite easily dispatched; their wings have boney, claw-like tips on the curve as well as the end of them, and they're eager to knock people off the branches that make up their home.
once dispatched or otherwise fled from, the path winds its way back within, and they reach the upper "heart" room the maggot lived in. The rot and earthy scent is thankfully far below, and in its place is something . . . a little sweeter. a bed of flowers blanket the floor of the area, somewhat... odd . . . maybe, considering that it's within a tree, but how does magic work anyway. if one is suspicious of it, they are rightfully so, because disturbing these flowers throws pollen in the air and, much like the Wizard of Oz, they put those that inhale it to sleep.
and in this state of sleep, one will be consumed by the flowers, first by what magic they have being sucked by leaves and steams and then turned into natural fertilizer. bones may be found among the flowers, but only once one has stepped in. please do be careful -- and before it's asked, yes, so long as you're careful, these flowers can be taken . . . and maybe they ought to be, given they seem as if they're taking life from the already struggling tree.
welcome to your tree dungeon (pt 2, act iv), everyone! this isn't the last of it, and there's still plenty to do within if someone doesn't manage to sign up for this round. more details regarding other exploration will be given as needed as well, such any investigation towards the saplings as well as the up and down of the center room and the like. ]
( a huge thanks to the mods for most, if not all of this information to play with! any questions on how to proceed could be asked below, and players who would like to plot with each other can use the plotting post here! )

QUESTIONS
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As for the one in the witch puzzle room: Once the puzzle is completed, the marble doesn't seem to be needed anymore; it can be picked up and, say, dropped from a very high height, in which it will crack. The sapling will remain pleasantly happy and not petrified.
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Another question about the left room: is the pedestal so high up that a person can't reach it without levitation/flight, or is it comfortably reachable for a person standing?
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The pedestal a comfortable height!
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Dragons in particular will feel a sense of "home" to it, but one that has been abandoned; a magic left behind, thrumming with weak life, not unlike a foreclosed haunted house with miraculously working electricity. It's a very particular magic, one that Eren would recognize as similar to the feel of the dragon in his dreamwalk, but it's altogether welcoming and yearning in the same breath: it wants to return to whom is is familiar, and wants the familiar to return to it.
As an aside, should any join the crew, Fae would feel another type of kinship that's more connected to the pool beneath the tree, as it must be quite large to grow a tree of this size and complexity. They can sense it's part of one of the large "webbings" beneath Geardagas, in the same sense of Aefenglom, Dorchacht, the smaller outposts and such across the land, and that it reaches its arm deeper yet into the Wilde... Nostalgia for a place they've never known will strike hard.
Faun, should any join, would feel something that's rather a mix between; as they're quite sensitive to nature and all that encompasses it, they would feel a kinship with the pool beneath (not quite as strong, but it feeds the tree and therefore they can feel the largeness of it) as well as the tree's former owner herself, given Creia was a guardian of the forest. There is no yearning, but instead a deeper, quieter sorrow.
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Lady Maria | Witch | OTA
[Maria only arrives through the teleporter a scant number of times throughout the month, and she never stays for more than a few hours at a time. What she can, and does tend to contribute are... well, flowers, in pots or vases. Some of them are simply for decoration, but a few of the potted ones she keeps in purposeful places - on the decks or near windows. They're flowers that mirror the ones that are already out near the boulder of the dragon: hearty types that will do well over a cold winter. She just thinks they need a little more time to grow, a little bit deeper of roots, before she transplants them.
So that's what she spends most of her time doing. That, or stoking the fires to keep the place warm, or recharging heating spells - she is a fire specialist, she can do all that and more. She doesn't tend to warm herself before the fires or heat spells, though, after she comes back in, smelling the metallic tang of cold and snow. She doesn't seem bothered by the cold at all, actually, as she makes her way back and forth from the door to the teleportation circle. All she does is knock the snow off herself near the door, and head inside, then almost directly to the teleporter to head back to Aefenglom.
But, if anyone wishes to speak with her, to wonder about her flowers in a more warm environment, or to simply thank her for keeping the heat running... she's here.]
[2: The Boulder]
[Here is where Maria spends the vast majority of the few precious hours she devotes to this outpost this month. Here is what Maria ends up doing: She's tending to the garden around the dragon, with a similar amount of care and reverie to what she does at home.
For the most part, she's quiet, and simply keeps her head down to work. She doesn't really appear very sociable as a person, and she doesn't really do anything to change that presumption, but she won't turn down light conversation. If one even bothers.
The garden is taking shape now, and there's distinct paths through the flowers and flowering bushes, that Maria tries to make obvious enough to keep people on, but as the snows fall... well, it's harder.]
Halt.
[Yes, she still uses commands like that. She's old, okay.] A little to your left is the path. I haven't cleared out that place yet. [Meaning there's some flowers hiding under the few inches of snow on the ground. She's trying to figure out where her heat spells aren't covering.]
[3: Wildcard]
[For anything else! I have a plotting comment here!, or you can hit me up at
two + some wildcard!
he wants to sleep, to be quite honest— but the warm magic lifts his heavy eyelids and brings him in front of maria's heels. ]
You, [ a pause, brain, slow, ] plant?
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Small... dragon. Small, somewhat familiar dragon. The voice is familiar, too. But, it spoke to her, and so she replies; there's a sluggishness to how she speaks, too, but it's not torpor-induced from the weather. If anything, she might be a little underdressed for the weather, considering she's eschewed a heavy coat in favor of a much thinner, lighter one, despite the snow and general frigidness of the air. And she's been half-considering peeling even that off, so the sleeves don't get in the way.] ... Yes. I've been the one planting the flowers, here. It is something I can do without concentrating too much.
[Gods know she can't do much concentrating at the moment.]
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Mikasa Ackerman | Attack on Titan | Fae
[Jean hadn't been in the cottage that morning. She'd tried not to pry too much, let him go out even if she wasn't sure if that'd be the last time she'd see him. But her and Trucy had both had breakfast, she'd waited another hour, tried sending a message to his watch and nothing. He was gone.
But Eren was here...Mikasa wasn't sure what to do with that. Or that he'd been talking to her under the guise of someone else.
So she tried not to think about it. Concentrate on something else. Even if she couldn't fight very well, she could clean and do grunt work. Any materials for repairs? She'd be up for moving them. It was good exercise and was something to concentrate on, no matter what it was she wouldn't complain.
Except...while the fae didn't complain, after the first two days, her movements got stiffer. Skin gradually going pallid, the visible chitin on her arms and neck clouding over throughout the next day and if one was paying attention, they might notice that she was eating very slowly compared to normal. To the point, she was only taking small nibbles before giving up entirely. ]
b. What has her life become? - Gross bud things yo
[It's midday on the third day of this that she starts to actually have issues. While walking along the path that'd been cleared between the outpost and the boulder, carrying some good compost in a sack for the transplanted bushes. It was only for a second but her concentration wavered, long enough for her to stumble and drop the sack with a dull thud. The fae scowled down at it, very threatening with her pale skin and slightly bruised eyes. There's a few grumbled curses as she bent down to haul it-
Crrk
That was not a good noise. And slowly, Mikasa stretched her arm out, twisting it slightly so she could see. Blinking, mouth opening slightly as a solid lump of clouded coffee coloured exoskeleton just falls off. Revealing a pearlescent white and pink underneath it. It wasn't skin coloured though and it was still raised about the remaining skin of her arm. Not that Mikasa noticed.
She was more bothered staring at the lump that had fallen off, the compost forgotten for now.]
c. Sniffsniff what's th-TIME TO BOUNCE
[Eventually the strange events led to her going into the main outpost building. Or do they? Because the moment she steps through the door she freezes, blocking the door. She'd get out the away, give a small apology normally but for now, she just stood there back tensing as her spine became ramrod straight.
Her body doesn't move. The only part of her that does move are the antenna on her head that reached forward, scenting the air. The pupil in her non-compound eye scanning the room as she bit her lip.
Then as suddenly as she'd stopped, she moves again. Giving her head a shakey jerk as she stepped backwards, not even checking if anyone was there. Just wanting to be out of the room.]
Wildcard
[Plotting post for other things like puzzles! Reminder, she's running off again before full moon.]
a
Mikasa? Are you feeling okay?
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I'm fine.
[She huffs, and stabs at her food. Back to munching. It's not strange infection like the Cywd where she willingly approached, this'll pass right?
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Henry | Witch | OTA
Following the sound to its source will lead to poor Henry, his arms overfull of implements and trinkets both. This teleporter's made it much easier for him to bring his stuff from Aefenglom to the Mirrorbound Outpost, but unfortunately, his levitation spell to hold all of his belongings disengaged upon stepping onto the wooden planks. A minor error, but one that's caused a pinkish-red potion to ooze all over the floorboards...]
Aw, nuts. That's a good one, too! [Henry sighs.
Despite everything, it seems he's caught most of his belongings: some metal wands, glass beakers, more potions from white to red to deep green, some books, and... are those bones? what...
There's a single vertebra, vaguely human-sized, on the floor. Henry points to it with the tip of his boot. It becomes evident here more than ever that he's shuddering.]
Hey, do you think you c-could grab that one for me? I climbed all the way up here and now my fingers are numb from the cold...
III. THE TREE —
center room
0. MISCELLANEOUS —
center room
...Maggots infested by birds? [You know, if she hadn't seen a glimpse of the giant maggot she'd have more of a question to that. But now it seems legit.]
I wasn't planning on it. At the first sign of anything too infected I'll leave. [A fae was a bad fit for exploring a place like this, a fae that was lethargic and still growing with no true powers? An actual fight with a Cwyldtid alone would probably kill her. She was just there to see if there was anything she could do...but yet again, it didn't seem so.]
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He does, however, shake his head. Henry points into the room.]
Oh, no, no. Don't worry about infection. That larva's long gone. No bird-maggots, no Cwyld. I'm talking about the flowers, of course!
[The room, which is carpeted by these flowers in their brilliant, differing colors. It seems quite tranquil in here... And Henry, unhelpfully, does not offer any more words of warning.]
They are super pretty, though. Too bad. I'm fond of the blood red ones, myself. Kinda like poppies...
[Not that he knows what the effects of them are! He just has a magical feeling. Henry uses the heck out of detect magic spells.]
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Outpost
You brought all this, but not gloves? [He sounds a little exasperated, a little amused. A lot fond. He raises his tail between them, stinger pointed up.] Here, hook the last one on there, then hold onto that. Warm your hands up. [His eye darts out and away, checking their surroundings for people within hearing range before leaning in and saying with a quiet smirk.] I'd rather not spend any more time attending to finger wounds anytime soon.
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[Leave it to Niles to retrieve it like a good... leopard-scorpion-goat. He emits a short hum of curiosity and surprise both, at the readiness of Niles' offer to help. At his ease of doing so, at that.
And then, a short laugh at his remark. There's a bit of a sheepish tinge to his cheeks and nose both, but perhaps that's compounded upon by the weather.]
I kinda forgot. [Dressed warmly otherwise...] It's warming up in Aefenglom, you know? Gets tricky to remember how different the weather is out here, in the Wilde.
[And a sigh, even though he maintains his smile.]
I'm not the greatest when it comes t-to the cold. That's what you get, being a desert rat! Or a desert rabbit, or jackal, or... Whatever you see roaming the dunes.
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eren jaeger (attack on titan) | closed starters, open to plotting!
@ itachi
he only slinks out of his huddle to follow a recognizable essence and heat of witch magic that coaxes his tongue out of hiding. then his skull, then his neck. eventually, itachi would find the miniature framework of a dragon he once rode that could now easily fit into the arms of a child. words are hard. he'd like to speak up and greet, but what comes languidly are chirps and extending steps that seem to take a lifetime. ]
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@ elliot
no eating, longer than intended naps in a comfortable lap and stirring when something with his bond is amiss. a hen-sized eren chirps something, soft and questioning from the scent by wildflowers that whisks away with the breeze: mikasa? ]
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@ stiles
I can’t understand, [ breathe in, pause, ] what you’re saying.
[ you speak so fast boy and his brain is molasses. ]
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closed to Itachi; after Litha
– and done, [ he announces, snapping the notebook shut. When he continues, it’s in an offhand remark to Itachi, even though he’s still yet to turn around and face him, ] You’re a helluva lot easier to sense coming with all the snow on the ground.
[ There’s a reason Stiles has chosen not to wear gloves despite the icy temperature. The trichobothria are too useful a tool for him to mute. ]
So, you here to help out or to look around?
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[Niles has had a lot going on recently, and the oppressive heat of Aefenglom had been a added stressor he hadn't even noticed until it was gone. Which is why, if anyone happens to be wandering the woods they might stumble upon Niles actually enjoying himself.
He's taking the opportunity to indulge in some of his more frivolous monstrous instincts. He'd found a clearing bordering the bank of a large frozen pond. He's straight up rolling around in the deepest blankets of snow he can find. Hopping up and flopping into cushioning, beautifully frigid comfort. He's making enough noise that for once sneaking up on him is a pretty viable option. Be warned though, interrupting him suddenly might trigger some less silly instincts.]
Closed to L
[But eventually all his frolicking takes a toll on his energy, and he decides to relax on the rocky bank of the pond.]
The Boulder: Open
[In an effort to help the outpost's goals but still remain mostly out of sight and out of mind, Niles has taken to guarding the boulder at night. The cold
never bothered him anywayis refreshing to him, and while fewer scavengers are about, the ones that remain are hungrier and harder to deter.On nights with particularly heavy snowfall he can be found diligently sweeping the flakes away from the greenery and the offerings, but otherwise he spends his night keeping watch from the edge of the clearing. He alternates between stargazing, ears from a comfortable perch in the branches nearby, and patrolling the edge of the clearing in a clockwise pattern, good eye facing out, roaming between the trunks and up into the canopy to scan for threats.]
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But Niles, the one who cut him into pieces while he watched, is in fact alive. If he could dream, and L could see it even once, it's just a matter of divining the chimera's location. Not an easy feat, even for a master detective... but they share at least a few drops of blood. It could be more difficult.
The basin of water sits atop a round, flat mirror. If he focuses long and hard enough on the still surface, he can see past the water and the glass, deeper, until he's actually peering up through a frozen veneer. He's not there, not truly, so he can't physically affect his surroundings or be seen... but his illusion magic seems to work just fine. He tests it, placing the images of some silver fish in the water, darting in formation beneath the ice.]
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