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D&D Campaigns => Threshold => In Character Discussions => Topic started by: Wildfire on October 27, 2006, 08:49:26 AM

Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on October 27, 2006, 08:49:26 AM
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on October 30, 2006, 05:42:41 PM
Maccabeus's heart was thumping loudly in his chest and he couldn't ease the shaking in his hands. His mind was lethargic and his stomach churned a bit; he felt cold on the outside and warm on the inside, but oddly content. The thought that he must need some food suggested itself to him.

He sat up, his surroundings somewhat surreal to him, and surveyed the Ring. Vallenwood's lullaby changed slightly to accommodate his awakening; the great tree projected a soft energy into its song, lifting the dale gnome from his post-slumber toward full awakening.

He searched his memory, but the last thing that he could recall was talking with Ashe and Kym at the Ash Ring earlier that day. Perhaps it was the previous day? At least Wolf had the decency to lay me upon my woolen blanket. He thought gratefully, seeing for the first time exactly where in the Ring he had lain.

Near the head of his blanket, upon the low, flat stone that he had taken to using as a table of sorts, there was spread a deep green cloth, and upon that cloth was a fair helping of meat - venison very likely - some dark yellow cheese, and a thick crust of brown bread. Next to his tablestone there was a small skin as well.

The sight brought an odd smile to his face and an odder thought to his little mind. "You've become a fair cook whilst I slept, eh brother?" He said to Wolf. Wolf only poked him with a big, wet nose.

Ashe and Zarion stood close together and continued to murmur to one another while Maccabeus took up the dark cheese and nibbled upon it, laying back down to allow Vallenwood's song to clear his mind. The cheese was sweet, and tasted of honey.

Somewhere hidden from view the yapping of rollicking wolf pups recollected to Maccabeus that he now had a family with which to share his spacious home. He had a pack to lead, much as the Great Hunter himself had.

His eyes snapped open again.
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on November 08, 2006, 09:07:51 AM
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on November 09, 2006, 04:50:17 PM
"Thanks to you." Maccabeus appreciated Wolf. He tore a small peice of the venison and stuffed it into his mouth. He felt more at peace just then than he had since he had been with Shankaria. She had a noble tranquility that he had never before or since encountered, until Vallenwood.

Kym caught his eye as he swallowed and he smiled at her. She smiled back and said, "Welcome back. How do you feel?" She swatted at her pups idly.

"Rested." He answered simply. "Is this still Arkus?" He asked as he picked up a cube of the honey cheese.

"It is." She answered, smiling. Maccabeus noted that the chromatic rain made Kym's face and hair seem to glow.

Maccabeus breathed deeply of the sweet aromatic air. 'What are they doing?" He asked, thrusting his jaw towards Ashe and Zarion as he took up the venison again.
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on November 14, 2006, 02:49:59 PM
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on November 15, 2006, 09:04:10 AM
You just love doing this to me, don't you?  ~:(

You know as well as I do that as of now, I have absolutely no idea how they met....

Now I've got to "create". !ill

Gimme time and stay tuned.
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on November 15, 2006, 09:20:36 AM
;)

Ain't I a stinka?
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on November 28, 2006, 01:17:36 PM
Still wondering on this...I haven't forgotten. I'm just at a bit of a loss. Vague ideas...
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on November 29, 2006, 02:19:40 PM
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on December 12, 2006, 09:46:13 PM
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on December 13, 2006, 09:09:54 AM
As Maccabeus listened to Kym's dark tale his mind waged war with his heart. Her pain touched him, and he could only imagine such a youngling bearing witness to this sort of murder and the feeling of powerlessness of which she spoke. Ogres could be very cruel when they wanted to be.

At the same time, Maccabeus knew that such experiences were endured with reason, and the Divinities must have needed Kym and Alpha to have the temper born of this experience. It would doubtless serve them well in the future, and had they not been thus toughened, they might not be able to weather what lay further down their path. No doubt Severen would agree. Maccabeus thought. "I'm sorry, Kym." He said quietly. "Rest assured that good comes from this villainy. For every stone on the scale, there is a counterbalance."

It was indeed time to begin her training in the ways of Mahiya. Alpha himself was far more at peace with his past than Kym was, and he had actually born witness to the assault. Kym needed to balance herself a bit, and waiting for her mother to return would be a mistake, he thought. Dark clouds were gathering and bringing her into Mahiya's fold would bolster her, Zebulon, and Mahiya.

"Excuse me, whilst I talk with your sire. Place your hand upon Vallenwood; his song I find very comforting, and his wisdom is ancient. You won't likely yet understand in your awake mind what he's saying, but you will draw comfort nonetheless."

He slung his water skin across his back and took up a handful of meat and a chunk of that wonderful honey cheese. Rising somewhat weakly, he strode over towards Ashe and Zarion, making a fair noise as he went so as to alert the two elders to his presence and shake them from their conversations.

"Gentlemen," He said. "I'm sorry to have been unable to welcome you to my home in proper fashion, as you have me to yours. And thanks to whomever supplied this faire."

The two men broke off their conference and turned to Maccabeus. "How find you this temple, Master Zarion?" He asked, holding forth his handful of meat for any who wanted to partake.
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on December 14, 2006, 01:19:37 PM
Kym leaned against the Vallenwood and bolstered her mind. She listened to the soothings of the great tree and did indeed find some peace from her memory. Before Maccbeus left, she reached out and placed har hand softly one his arm and though she didn't say anything her infinite eyes and slight smile spoke of great thanks.for his empathy.

As Maccabeus drew near to them both Ashe and Zarion turned to look at him. In full light Zarion was even larger than Maccabeus had thought. He stood at over two gnomes high and his chest was as wide as three standing side by side. If he was any indication to the tales his Grandsire had spoken of The Great Hunter then there was no exaggeration in telling. What made his frame even more extraordinary was that half of his blood was elven.

At the offer of the food Zarion said, "Actually, I don't mind if I do. I must say, my wife does make a good honey cheese". Both reached down, but Zarion was the quicker leaving enough for Maccabeus should he prove to get hungry. Ashe's mouth gapped open slightly at Zarion's intendedly rude aquisition. Casting a sly look at Zarion Ashe said, "Umm...no thanks!" emphasizing and directing the remark to Zarion. With a mouth full of cheese and meat Zarion chewed with smile.

Ashe looked down at Maccabeus, pointed his thumb to big grinning man and asked, "You see that? And I dare call him friend."

Zarion took a long draw from his water skin, which was, no doubt, now filled with the cleansing waters from the clear fount, and washed down the snack. "Wolf Brother Maccabeus, your home and shrine is indeed wonderous..." Zarion finished his statement there but left it trailing as though there were more thoughts that he wanted to express but chose not to.

Furrowing his brow and looking about,  Zarion asked, "Where is Ky..." but at that moment he looked beyond and saw Kym stroking Alpha and giving him great hugs around his thick neck. He nodded and took another bite of cheese.

Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on December 14, 2006, 02:13:54 PM
Maccabeus's handful amounted to little more than a mouth for the giant Zarion. He hoped that his face didn't betray the confusion that he felt at the antics the two tall folk, and he moved along in his conversation.

"Mahiya has indeed created a paradise here in the shadow of Threshold." He said. "Or mayhap man created Threshold in the shadow of an oasis paradise, eh?" His head cocked to one side in the fashion of his canine brethren. "I hadn't put thought to it worth a whit, but this place must have been here long before Threshold, no? Near the time of the Valley's creation, one would think."

His head and shoulders bobbed left-to-right as he tried the notion on. "Whatever the difference," he said at last. "At least she has allowed me to partake of this wondrous time and place." He smiled at his visitors.

"I didn't mean to interrupt you..." He hesitated a moment a dark bushy eyebrow rising above his sapphire eyes. "Well, yes I did, actually, didn't I? And why would I do that?" He glanced around for a moment espying Kym through Vallenwood's scintillating rain. "Oh, yes!" He perked up again. "My Lord Wolfjaw," he wondered if he wasn't being too overly formal. "I'd like to discuss with you the possibility of helping your fair daughter to learn the ways of Mahiya. This is a perfect time and place for such training, and under Ashe's watchful eye and guidance (not to mention Vallenwood's as well as Mahiya's) I think that the learning would be rapid and prolific. I realize that such training had been reserved for her matron, but it seems to me that timing has been placed afore us, and we perhaps should seize that opportunity."

He looked down at his unshod and hairy feet then, and noted the disparity in size between his own and Zarion's immense ones. It looked to him like Zarion's was wider than his own would be long. Beneath his consciousness he wondered if that were true, or perhaps it might be an illusion born on the varied and shimmering lights of the Ring of Mists. He turned his right foot side-ways, and it was still difficult to tell until he actually placed his own above Zarion's. One atop the other, it was easy to see that his was a bit longer than Zarion's was wide, although not by too much. "Huh." He said nodding sagely.

Looking up suddenly, recognizing what he had just done, Maccabeus's mind shuddered. "Bbpbblleeehhh...Sorry." He apologized befuddedly. "I uh...I can certainly understand that you might not want us to undertake such an...uh...effort, but I...umm...well, I think that is, that it's an um...good idea?"

He wasn't sure whether he had just asked a question or not, and his shaggy brow furrowed, trying to determine what it was he was trying to say. He stuffed some more cheese in his mouth to give his tongue something else to chew up. He hung his head once more and shook it in disbelief that he could be such a ninny.
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on December 24, 2006, 07:34:11 AM
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on December 27, 2006, 11:14:00 AM
"Thank  you, Master Wolfjaw." Maccabeus said formally, grasping for the etiquette to pull him from his momentary mental lapse. "You are too kind. I will teach, of course, with Ashe's whisper in my ear, Shankaria's wisdom in my heart, and with Vallenwood's rhythm in my soul. Her talents and gifts will serve her well. Again I thank your permissions."

He took a moment to consider his next question, nearly thinking better of asking at all. "Tell me sire, if you can...what dire need takes Kym's mother so far from here at this time? I do hope that she is amenable to our starting Kym's training in her absence. Is all well? Is there ought I can do to ease her absence?"

He looked up at the towering icon, eager to help in any way that he could.
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on December 27, 2006, 05:12:48 PM
Zarion considered Maccabeus's words for a moment and then considered his response, "Her mother, Mahiya love her, is in her homeland of Kaaryn'Zyth, the elven lands, speaking with their Druid Councils on the movements beyond their realm. Though the elves, by and large, are extremely distrustful of humans...even to the point of fault...the Druids see beyond such pettyness of the past. If the news comes from one of their own then the Elves may take heed that Elsenban is once again in motion. It is unfortunate that she was gone long before the emergence of the ring around us. I only hope that the bloodtear in the sky will be enough to convince them that..."

Zarions voice trailed off as he again considered his words. "...that their involvment is inevitable".

Zarion rested his large paw of a hand on Maccbeus's shoulder. Maccabeus could feel the weight and strength behind his powerful limb knowing full well that even though Zarion would not, he could break his little body without a thought. Zarion gave Maccabeus a warm reassuring smile, the eyes of a wolf staring back at him and into him. "Her mother would welcome the opportunity presented for Kym...for she would know exactly the significance of such a mentorship."

Zarion glanced at Ashe, Ashe nodded his concurance to Zarion's assessment of his wife.

Ashe spoke up clearing his thraot. "Kym is still young. She's been protected from the outside world because of her talents. She may become confused as to her...feelings to you"

Zarion furrowed his brow and Maccabeus could see the slightest hint of him raising his upper lip to bear his teeth and could swear he saw fangs! there was mistake that this was a wolf sign of aggression. But Zarion breathed deep and his face relaxed.

Ashe could hear the deep breath and knew well what was going through Zarion's fatherly head. "Zarion" Ashe said, "She will always be your daughter...remember that. She is also not immune to such things. Maccabeus should be warned of the possibility."

Zarion relaxed and gave Maccabeus a reassuring smile. "I know...I just...will never get used to that."

 
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on January 03, 2007, 03:57:12 PM
Maccabeus blinked several times in confusion. The two elders spoke of things that sat well beyond his purview and understanding, but one thing was clear...Kym's training could begin.

"All's well, then." He said hopefully. "I thank you for your permissions, Zarion. I will try to do honor to this responsibility, and hope that Istisha can guide me in my guiding of Kym. We do have a grand backdrop for it." He smiled rather simply up at Zarion.
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on January 08, 2007, 12:33:06 PM
Zarion smiled back at Maccabeus though his eyes seemed to be staring beyond him in some bizarre way. It was as though he was seeing something else and trying to make sense of it. He cocked his head slightly and stood up.

Zarion's massive frame cast a shadow onto the carpet of thick grass. He looked about the grove and drew a deep fulfilling breath. "I've never seen trumpet blooms like this before..." getting the attention of the pack, including Wolf, Zarion barked out, "Kym!".

Lost in her bliss of playing with the pups she started. "Come here lass..." he said in a softer voice. "...Maccabeus has a question for you."

Kym came over with a sense of urgency. She often knew the tone in her fathers voice and knew that this was of a serious nature. From a wolves perspective, Zarion was the leader of the pack and not to be disobeyed.

With a quizzical look on her face and head slightly nocked she looked at Maccabeus and asked, "Yes?"
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on January 08, 2007, 02:56:38 PM
Kym's quizzical look reflected in Maccabeus's own face; an odd caricature of her lovely features in his less refined ones. "Bleehhhh...I do?" He stammered a bit.

"Well, actually, I uh...don't have so much a question, but a...umm...topic of conversation. I've just asked Zarion on the possibility of starting your training towards becoming Gnarcheon. He gave his blessing for me to be Mahiya's channel for your training." His eyes shifted uncomfortably. He did not like being thrust into the center of attention, even for such a small audience.

"That is, if you'd like to train with me and Vallenwood. Really, the first thing that I'd think you might be best served learning is to hear Vallenwood's song more clearly. He has the wisdom of the ancients in him, and he plants thoughts and nourishes your Khairntohr - like a soul - to grow beyond yourself." He looked up again at her wrinkled and lovely face and realized that his mouth was moving too fast as his mind searched for some semblance of elegance.

"Eh, well, I guess that's what Zarion had in mind for me to ask: would you like to train in the ways of Mahiya with me and Vallenwood here in the Ring?" He looked up at the towering Zarion for confirmation. He bobbed his head and flapped his hands a little in emphasis.
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on January 09, 2007, 12:53:43 PM
Kym was flustered. Her eyes darted about from Maccabeus to Zarion to Ashe to Alpha. She didn't want to disappoint anyone by saying yes or no.

"I...I'm not...really sure..." looking to her father she said, "Dad...what...Mom? What would she say? I know she had hopes..."

"Your mother will understand..." Zarion said reassuringly.

Kym looked to Ashe, "Ashe...you're the wise man of the village and my Uncle and well, what do you think?"

Ashe looked and said, "Do as the wolf, my dear..."

Kym glowered at Ashe but then considered his words. Her face betrayed the lightning thoughts in her head. She looked at the ground searching for an answer. A calm came over her and she looked up knowingly at Ashe. With a whisper she said, "Follow my instincts..."

Neither Ashe or Zarion reacted to her epiphany. They did not want to show any biased to how they felt. Kym turned to Maccbeus and said, "So, as I teach you to speak wolf, you teach me to hear the voice...when do we begin?"
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Johan on February 05, 2008, 02:27:14 PM
I think that we're done with this one too, yes?
Title: Strange and Familiar
Post by: Wildfire on February 09, 2008, 10:19:05 AM
Yes