> A few days of travel leaves the previous behind. Onward our nobles heros treck, through thickening woods! Travel becomes difficult and taxing for all but Seryf and Darius, the woods becoming untamed and wild. It is after one particularly nasty segment with thorny briar bushes that the party comes to a welcome respite: A lake, wide but not too wide. A placid lake with algae floating on the surface and a rocky summit poking out from the middle...
> from the middle...
<SirGavin> "I can see why this place has gone generally unnoticed," Gavin huffed. "It certainly isn't friendly territory to travel through."
<Seryf> "It's perfectly fine terrain," Seryf scoffs, shaking out a leaf from her ponytail. "Don't we head northeast from here?"
<Elaine> "I agree with Gavin. Damn bushes," Elaine complains as she pulls a stuck thorn here and there from her cloak.
* Darius walks through the bushes, ignoring the leaves on his person.
<Darius> "This is great land. I don't see what the problem is."
> So they go on, Saul quietly picking a thorn from his leg. Wincing as that finishes, "We head to the northwest from here into deeper forest?"
<SirGavin> "That's what I recall," Gavin ignored Darius' prompt.
> Serith strides through the forest with an easy purpose, making it through and sticking to Seryf with practised ease.
* Darius walks through the growth with practiced ease, watching the surrounding area.
<SirGavin> "Anyhow... Seryf, any chance you can find a better path to continue on from here?"
<Seryf> "Sure, I can try, not familiar with this area, though," Seryf nods, patting Serith's head. "Mmm..." shaking her head, Seryf ducks back into the woods, beginning to circle the lake to find a route going the right direction that's maybe a little easier.
* Retrieving #dunes modes...
> As Seryf goes off, Serith slinks back to Darius, sitting at his feet.
* Darius rubs the side of her head.
<Seryf> roll 1d20-1
<Misukibot> Seryf rolled 1d20-1 --> [ 1d20=9 ]{8}
* Darius grins at Serith with a glint in his eyes..
* Darius begins softly whistling, looking elsewhere, but unable to keep a grin off his face..
> Serith stretches and then slinks low, approaching behind Elaine...and then, as the girl winces about her thorns, a light smack of the paw to her back then another, as if they were clawed it would take Elaine down! Meanwhile Seryf works, finding a very well hidden path in the forest. It's overgrown, yet still notable - as if it's used by expert foresters.
* SirGavin blinks, turning to Serith and glancing between the tiger and Darius.
* Darius looks back at Gavin.
> Serith rears up slightly, on her rear legs as she bats at the back of Elaine. Good things her claws aren't out, but it's still enough force to give her pause, as Seryf works away.
<Darius> "What? She's on her own here. I didn't do anything."
<Elaine> "What the?" Elaine mumbles as she looks back, and then down, and notices the toothy tiger. Blinking, she asks outloud, "Serith? What are you up to?" before looking towards Darius.
* Darius shrugs at her.
* Elaine raises an eyebrow, not buying it for a minute.
<Darius> "Hey, don't look at me. She's her own animal, you know."
> Serith only purrs deeply, before lunging into Elaine's legs, a darting move! Something that sends the bard end over end, and then Serith is at her face as she looks up at the canopy in a daze, a paw on her chest. Then she looks up to Darius and the others in triumph, settling down.
* Darius starts laughing.
* Seryf grins, noting the location. She'd better not let the concealment be entirely destroyed. Heading back to the group, "Found one...oh, is Serith expanding the pack?" she asks, eyebrows going up and looking to Elaine.
* SirGavin eyes Darius. "You let your tiger get a little too bored?"
* Darius shrugs.
* SirGavin walks over to help Elaine up.
<SirGavin> "Off now, Serith..."
* SirGavin pushes gently.
> As Gavin does, Serith perks up, looking at him...and lunging right at his legs, playfully batting!
<Darius> "Now this is worth watching.."
<Seryf> "...Yeah, this looks vaguely like dominance," Seryf shakes her head, moving over to help Elaine up as Gavin is tiger tackled.
> "I think she wants company. That or a chewtoy," Saul quietly observes, "Found something?"
* Darius leans against a tree and watches with a wide grin.
* SirGavin laughs, not shaken in the least. "Seryf, found a route?"
* SirGavin leads the batting Serith off Elaine's chest.
> Serith continues on Gavin's legs, even lightly but toothlessly biting them once, before returning over to Darius.
* Darius looks at her.
<Darius> "Don't even *think* it."
* SirGavin helps Elaine up.
* Elaine grumbles as she takes the helping hands up. "You get bored entirely too easily, Darius. I have no doubts you told Serith to do that..."
<SirGavin> "More likely he simply can't control his steed...or it controls him?"
<Darius> "Me? Bah, if I wanted to pick on you, I can do it myself. I'd have picked you up and tossed you into the lake back there.
<Darius> "
<Darius> "No one controls anyone. We're just pack-mates>"
> Clearing his throat and suppressing a grin, "Be that as it may, can we continue on this path Seryf found? I would rather not spend a week here debating smilodon specifics."
<Seryf> "Pretty much how Serith is," Seryf shrugs, smiling a bit. "It's over on the norhtwest side of the lake, I'll show you, but be careful, it's well concealed...and I'd rather not anger the locals by messing up their camouflage.
<Seryf> "
* SirGavin nods and follows Seryf.
<SirGavin> "Let's head out."
* Darius follows after Seryf's lead.
* Elaine sticks behind Darius and Serith, where he can keep an eye on the two for their 'jokes'.
> On the party goes, from rumpled bardess blade to tiger companion. It's a difficult path, but it's all softer vines here. Not a single thorny bush or anything out of place - too perfect, you notice, as you walk on. Almost tamed, not nearly a hard a path as you had before. Yet as you go, it's single file - only five feet across at most, with super thick trees clogging both sides beyond it.
* Seryf leads the group out to the trail, showing them how to get through, and then staying behind to make sure the cover is all back in place right.
* SirGavin whispers to Seryf. "You sure this isn't a trap? Seems almost too easy and if someone was to come from the sides, we'd have trouble responding."
<Seryf> "It could very easily be a trap," Seryf answers, shifting towards the front of the group. If it is one, though, it's an elven trap...and I think they'd take pause before shooting their own kind."
<Darius> roll 1d20
<Seryf> "If it is
-> [Misukibot] PING
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* ChanServ sets mode: +oq Misukibot Misukibot
<Darius> roll 1d20
<Misukibot> Darius rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{6}
<SirGavin> "So you lead, to minimize chance of them shooting at us?"
<Darius> "We need to be careful.. This isn't natural in anyway.. And it's being maintained, and a weak attempt to make it look natural, too."
<SirGavin> OOC: Remove that line by me.
<Darius> "I wouldn't be surprised if they're already aware of us.."
<Seryf> "An elven land that truly doesn't want to be found would indeed be difficult to find in such a manner," Seryf agrees, remaining relatively relaxed, but a touch more cautious as they head down the trail.
* SirGavin kept his eyes open for signs of traps, but largely trusted that Seryf would see them first.
> OOC - Everyone roll a d20, please.
> roll 1d20
<Misukibot> Anastasia rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{6}
<Darius> roll d20
<Misukibot> Darius rolled d20 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{18}
<Seryf> roll 1d20
<Misukibot> Seryf rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{16}
<SirGavin> roll 1d20
<Misukibot> SirGavin rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{15}
<Seryf> "Certainly, they are aware of us," Seryf says as she looks up into the trees, elven eyes trying to track the movement.
* Darius rolls his shoulders and rests his hands on the hilts of his blades, subtly loosing them in their scabbards.
<Elaine> roll d20
<Misukibot> Elaine rolled d20 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{3}
<Darius> "They certianly are, aren't they?"
> Serith sniffs around, nose down to the ground...
> roll 1d20
<Misukibot> Anastasia rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{14}
* Elaine keeps her ears open, listening for signs of danger.
<Elaine> roll d100
<Misukibot> Elaine rolled d100 --> [ 1d100=29 ]{29}
* Darius glances through the trees, trying to catch good sight of anything around.
> Saul shakes his head, "Let's keep going...especially if they're watching us. If they don't want us around, I imagine they'll let us know."
* Darius crouches down to rub Serith's neck, using the action to cover him looking the area over..
<Darius> roll d20
<Misukibot> Darius rolled d20 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{15}
<Seryf> "Saul has my opinion," Seryf agrees, continuing to walk the path.
<Elaine> "I'm hearing branches bending and the sound of feet landing. So there's definitely movement going around," Elaine comments.
* SirGavin follows behind Seryf, his agreement implicit.
* Darius stands up with a grunt and follows, hands still on his blades and watching the area.
> So continuing on, the group pulls it's weight through. Onward they go, the forest thicker and thicker...and finally, the path comes to an end of sorts. Two trees, one on each side, jut out. Their branches are like a curtain preventing further coming, or so ita ppears. You can catch glints of light from the other side, a few slits in the branches, enough to get that through.
* Darius goes up to the left tree and puts a hand on it, inspecting it and the area around it for anything of note..
<Seryf> "Would you mind our entryy, folk of my blood?" Seryf asks the trees surrounding them, speaking in her native tongue rather than common.
> As Darius touches it, the branches gently recede. Opening a path ahead - a clearing of sorts. While there are trees ahead, there are mainly buildings around and above, build around, in the branches of, and INSIDE of old trees. A great spread ahead with a gigantic tree at front, it's green leaves shimmering in sunshine. Waiting there is a single elf - ancient, skin liver spotted. My Gods, how old an elf must be to look as such! He leans on a heavy cane, hadn on his back. "Welcome...travellers..." his voice is a soft whisper, heard in the forest. A pair of cats are at his feet, one green and one midnight black. "Travelers..." the green one sing songs.
> He leans on a heavy cane, hadn on his back. "Welcome...travellers..." his voice is a soft whisper, heard in the forest. A pair of cats are at his feet, one green and one midnight black. "Travelers..." the green one sing songs. (more)
* Darius blinnks at the elf, looks at the tree and his hand, and back.
* SirGavin glances at Seryf, clearly ceding to her in this area.
> Faintly you can hear a harp playing in the distance, a few elven faces seen looking out of vine doors, yet none come. "Welcome, ones of our blood and ones that are not. Welcome to the Holy Ground of Corela."
> His voice is a dry crackle like dead leaves, yet his face is friendly and kind. His clothing is a loose green robe and nothing else, only a single gold earring in his left ear.
> His speech is in the Common, fluid if slow.
* Seryf smiles more easily, stepping through and in. "Do you mind those that are not entering the holy grounds?" she asks quietly, looking around herself. An old elven place such as this...
> "No. We welcome all that come in peace, young child." Warmly looking to Seryf, Saul, Elaine and then Darius, "Be they elven, human, or creature of the forest."
> roll 1d20
<Misukibot> Anastasia rolled 1d20 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{15}
<Elaine> "Greetings, elder," Elaine greets respectfully, entering as well once he gives his approval of their entry.
* Darius gulps slightly and slowly removes his hand from the tree, letting it fall back onto his hilt and watching Seryf and Elaine closely.
<SirGavin> "Greetings, sir." Gavin bowed slightly.
> Serith stops before approaching the man, head low and his free hand going to pet it. Serith is limp and obident, oddly so. "Yes, please. A knight of the human lands beyond? What brings you to this secluded dale? If not for you and another recently, I would continue to believe humanity had forgotten entirely about us."
> *obidient.
<Darius> "Greetings to your land, Elder."
> "Knight of the human lands..." the black cat sing songs in a light, catchy voice, like the murmur of the forest. "Bring big sister cat!"
<SirGavin> "I would suggest that we have, but it would please me greatly to correct this oversight and remember the wisdom of neighbors of old."
* Seryf laughs a little as Gavin explains, bowing to the elder in her own greeting.
> "I see, I see....Do you act as an envoy from your kingdom, or as a private citizen?" So asking, "We are old ones, bound to this forest by choice and love. We do not hold any hostility, but we do value our privacy. We do not turn those that wish to come away, but we do not entice others to come."
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> Serith sits, a bigger cat by two smaller ones. Totally dolice is the great cat, lying at the feet of the elder.
> *docile.
<SirGavin> "As a private citizen at the moment. The kingdom is currently unaware there was even a village here, at least to my hearing of it."
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<Seryf> "We...or I at least, came because of the tale told of Corel," Seryf answers softly. "As told, I think, by your other recent visitor, who told us how to find this place."
* Darius relaxes slightly, but keeps a watchful eye on Serith.
> "While we value your intentions, we prefer to remain secluded." So saying, "But do not let that turn yourselves away. Come, we enjoy stories of the lands outside greatly and would gladly exchange them for rest and food..." However, he pauses at that, "Corela, eh? I see, this explains much. Come, we can discuss this as well over rest and refreshment."
* SirGavin nods in confirmation of such.
* SirGavin follows~
* Elaine perks up at the thought of sharing stories. It's always nice to be the center of attention.
* Seryf nods, following along behind her elder.
* Darius follows after the group shrugging further into his cloak and pulling into himself slightly, rapidly looking around nervously and oddly subdued.
> To a building you go on the outer perimeter, a great oak build around the building, or is the building grown around the tree? You really aren't sure, but only soft, green vines serve as a doorway, admitting you to...oh wow. It's like the insides of a tree molded into an area, even stairs and tables rising up from the living room. Flowers are in wooden vases, fragrances heavenly and unknown teasing the noses of the party. As you go, you see a grand table that could seat twenty ahead, already being laid out by a golden haired lass. Slight and elven, her smile is heartrendingly gorgeous as she sashays about. (More)
> As you go, you see a grand table that could seat twenty ahead, already being laid out by a golden haired lass. Slight and elven, her smile is heartrendingly gorgeous as she sashays about. (More)
* Darius hesitates at the door slightly before going in, sticking close to the party and trying keep distance from everyone else.
> A gown of the purest dandelion silver is worn, thin and shimmering as she goes. "Welcome, guests," she nods before putting down the last tray of ripe, juicy fruit. "Elder," she bows her head to him as well, before going off. There is no fireplace - only little flat plates where a glowing white moss is kept, shedding a gentle light about. That and window admit sunshine, giving you more than enough light to suffice.
* SirGavin stays close as well, though he cannot hide the sense of awe on his face.
> "Please, sit." So gesturing, he bows his head. "Great Corela...bless our meal coming and our visitors from the world beyond. Look out from your perch in the Elysiums and grant this meal your mercy." Praying softly, "Now please, I insist."
* Seryf smiles a little, finding a place to sit, and settling in. "It feels...almost like home, only a touch different..." she murmurs. "I've spent a long time with humans, however.
<Seryf> "
* Darius takes a seat, placing himself in the middle of the group and eating little.
> The food is fruit, fresh and tantlizing, sweet. A few cheeses and nuts are added, as well as pitches of pure, sweet juices. A fine meal indeed, one that restores your body and spirit as you consume it. Sitting at the head of the table and eating little, "Indeed it has been, child? The world of humans is a world that changes with a tempest of speed and chaos."
> Serith finally returns to Darius at this, coming to lay at his feet.
<Elaine> "You'll have to show us your home someday maybe, Seryf. You've already seen mine anyhow," Elaine comments as she also finds a spot to sit. "Thank you for the kind invitation, Elder," she adds as she turns to look at the eldery elf.
* SirGavin sits down paying more attention to the host than the meal. "Perhaps you could share with us the tale of Great Corela? I admit, I am not familiar with it." His voice showing interest in this foreign tale.
* Darius begins petting Serith, taking comfort in her familar presence.
* Seryf casts a smile at Elaine, nodding to the elder. "It would be nice to hear the tale so close to the source...I only heard it distantly in my homelands, if you would not mind, Elder," she agrees.
> "As you wish, young ones. I am not the one to tell it...the only proper was is by a bard gifted with elven capacities. Nothing but the highest song is suitable; a bard will be along in due time." So resting, one of the cats hopping to his lap and making little mewing noises, "I am glad your companion likes me, wild one," he then observes to Darius. "It is no surprise, I have been gifted with animal empathy and calmness for a very long time."
<Darius> "I have... Felt it through her. A great gift."
* SirGavin blinks.
> "I see. You share a kinship with your noble companion?" Asking and then looking to all, "This is truly a group I had not expected to see within our holy land again. If I may be so bold, may I enquire to what your goal is here?"
<Seryf> "Curiousity...and the mention of ordeals with rewards to match at their end of some variety," Seryf answers honestly.
<SirGavin> "We are, in a sense, explorers. We came as we heard the legend of this place and of Corela and wished to see it for ourselves."
> Bowing his head thoughtfully as you speak, listening. "I see. Young one, you have heard of the Ordeal of Corela and the search for an Ascendant? Do you intent to challenge this Ordeal? To challenge the seal of the Troll and claim the gifts she left in this world?"
* Darius sighs and begins to look around, taking in the room fully.
* Elaine looks interested. Ordeals? Searches? Challenges? Definitely a quest that mage sent them on. Neat!
* SirGavin eyes Seryf. "Perhaps we should hear more of the details..?"
<Seryf> "I heard it mentioned in passing...details were not forthcoming, which was further reason to come here, and entreat you for the tale, elder," Seryf agrees quietly.
> It's not so big, mainly well crafted. The walls are pale wood, fresh and living and kept smooth. Not a single splinter, the chairs wood but giving, comfortable. The serving elfess lingers near the exit, waiting quietly against a wall. Damn, she's a looker.
* Darius looks away, but starts glancing at the elven maid..