The Forest of Light - Lanx V'reth

[Lanx V'reth]

Hour 13 of Kuras,

Brightening 15 of the Second Cycle of Ioannes

Summer of Era II, the Mageocracy of Julos the Mad

Lanx approached the forest with a weary eye, he could not know how his pack members ever found their way to the city, but he was determined to make it to the city and retrieve the house that was left for him. At the edge of the forest he slowly walked up to the edge even more, he looked around then straight ahead, he stuck out his left foot first and took his first step into the forest. Thinking to himself, Lets hope I don't get lost in this forest, I must find my way to the city.

OOC: Sorry about that Adder.

[Adder]

The margins of the forest, like those of any great forest were indeterminate. There was no great barrier of forbidding trees scything across the landscape like the city wall of a fortress established by the gods, neither were there great looping arches of bramble and briar with long thorns ready to entangle those bold enough to enter.

Instead, the margins of the forest were a placid place of openings and bright sunlight streaming down through gaps in the canopy to illuminate grassy glades where cabbits frolicked, well frolicked until they saw movement especially that of a young dorin.

But panicked cabbits aside the margins of the forest were a pleasant place, somewhere that might entice you deeper to explore these pleasant lands. The air was warm on this hot summer day and the shade of the trees provided a pleasant coolness against the sightly oppresive humidity. The sunlight in the glades took on a greenish cast as it filtered down through the leaves and the young dorin would soon find that the brush that obstructed his entry into the trees would clear leaving just the graceful grey bark of beech trees that waved their red leaves in the slight breeze that washed over the canopy.

Bright shafts of sunlight penetrated down and illuminated the forest floor, red tinged here and a cathedral like feeling of peace merged seamlessly with the silence. A druid might indeed be tempted to stop and worship Carmelya here and the trees soon gave way to one of the grassy, sunlit glades that were scattered through the forest. A small brook babbled quietly along the far edge of the glade and might provide a route, damp though it might be through the brambles that rooted on the far side of the glade, their tendrils arching towards the light and obstructing passage. It seemed the perfect place to stop and rest, and indeed even to forget the cares of the brightening and slumber instead through the long hot brightening.

[Lanx V'reth]

Lanx begins his trek through the forest of light, he slowly makes his way into the forest, going deeper and deeper. The whole time keeping his hand close to his dagger just in case anything was to happen. He moved with little grace as he stepped on sticks and leaves, he couldn't avoid them. The whole time looking around wearily, making sure that he was not being followed nor anyone could attack him by surprise. He should have know this would be the case since the elf from Ethgan'tor gave his pack a deed to a house for helping them out in a time of crisis when they were being attacked on a venture to another city for trade reasons.

This deed better not lead me to death. Lanx told himself as he continued on his way through the forest.

[Adder]

ooc: Try and post in the past tense, it will make your posts read much better. For example, Lanx began his trek through the forest of light, slowly making his way....

The brambles grew ever thicker as Lanx progressed into the forest. Once he had pushed his way through the brambles that lined the edge of the clearing, they started to grow larger and more entwined. The thorns also seemed to grow larger and the memory of the grassy glade would seem more and more like some vision from the past.

Soon Lanx would need to make a decision for the brambles were starting to get taller and their tips were soon waving higher than the tips of the dorins ears.

[Lanx V'reth]

OOC: Ok thanks, thats new way to play, I haven't played like that before.

IC: Even though the brambles kept getting thicker and thicker, Lanx would not give up, he knew this city would bring him something he could use, with this deed, he knew he must make it through the forest.

Before too long, he stopped, he looked around then thought to himself, Well this is becoming a bit harder but I must continue on. He stopped and took a look over his shoulder, I could turn and go back but that would not bring me satisfaction. He pulled out his dagger and slashed at brambles hoping it would ease his trek even if by just a little.

[Adder]

The brambles were strong, but not so strong that they could not be cut. But they had a means of gaining their revenge upon the dorin who so determinedly slashed his way, for the cut ends of the briars sprung apart and the thorns slashed across whatever was nearest. Thorns punctured his hands and they grabbed at his clothing, hooking in as though to tie him down and hold him back from the progress that he made.

The forest changed in nature as he made his way forward and the brambles became sparser, reluctantly giving up the challenge, or at least perhaps delaying and laying ambushes further in. Occasional beams of sunlight filtered down through the trees, the beams broken and scattered into shadow by small wings overhead and a background of birdsong, insects and rustling of leaves filled the air.

Where at the start there had been broadleaf trees, now the forest changed slowly into the confers for which is better known, and as it did so the ground rose up steeply, at times becoming sheer enough that only by grabbing onto the trees themselves and hauling himself up could Lanx make progress.

Where once the brambles had tried and failed to stop him, now the trees themselves organised against him, growning ever tighter together and leaving an impenetrably intermeshing of branches that had died as the branches further up blocked the light. The blocking out of the overhead canopy meant that the forest not took on a dim and gloomy aspect which only the odd sunbeam enightened.

[Lanx V'reth]

Lanx frowned at the efforts of the forest this time. He looks to the skies then began turning in circles, looking at each tree. His progress was becoming even harder and he hated to hurt that of nature but he was determined. He then began to speak outloud, talking to the forest, to the force behind that which tried to stop him, "Serale great Forest of Light, I am Lanx, I mean you no harm nor the city I seek. I only wish to enter the city to retrieve my house, sale it, and gain the training I need within the city so that I can protect you from those that come to harm you. Please do not stop me as this is my destiny, I must finish my trek to Ethgan'tor." He smirked as though knowing the forest heard him but didn't want to give an answer.

He then tried to push through the forest vines, trees, and such trying to block his way. He wasn't about to give up, answer or no answer.

[Adder]

The announcement to the forest did not fall on deaf ears. Legend would have it that the forest itself was alive, the trees talking among themselves and even sometimes taking action. Of course that was a ridiculous notion, for trees were not alive and nor did they move.

On the other paw, those who had spent time in this forest were not quite that sure about what was ridiculous and what was not. There were some strange things going on here and while there were other explanations it was hard to avoid jumping to certain conclusions.

But for now, whilst the forest might or might not be watching, it seemed that there were other eyes. As he started off, dagger gleaming, though perhaps waved with a futile vigour, there came a sound from overhead that could only be described as a titter. Not a full throated booming laugh, but a gentle titter like the peal of tiny bells. The sound drifted across and was swallowed by the trees, leaving just a few leaves floating down as any indication that anything had happened.

[Lanx V'reth]

Lanx did not hesitate, he tried pushing through the rest of the forest, hoping to reach his destination. Before long he heard just a peal, he stopped abruptly and looked around, he saw nothing and heard nothing more. He couldn't help but feel he was being followed.

Shrugging it off but keeping his senses at a level of awareness, he turned back to the viens and began pushing forward again. As he was walking, he called out again, "PLEASE FORGIVE ME AS I CUT THROUGH YOUR TENDER VINES, I MUST REACH THE CITY THAT IS HOUSED WITHIN YOUR LOVING FOREST." He began slashing again, trying to push through the forest again, hoping that the forest would forgive him and allow him to pass.

[Adder]

The forest seemed unimpressed and the branches that blocked his path were stiff, unyielding and dead. Not only were they dead, but they were still covered in prickly needles.

The dead branches resisted attempts to bypass them and the broken ends and needles cut at his hands, arms and clothing. Soon he was covered in numerous small cuts, abrasions and bruises.

A second titter echoed through the trees, this time it was longer and louder. The sound was followed by the snap of a breaking branch and an eek of surprise. Wings beat at the air for a moment as though birds competed in a race, then silence reigned anew.

[Lanx V'reth]

Lanx definately heard something that time, the branchs not giving way, he decided to take to the tree tops, find out what it is that was following him. He walked over to a tree trunk and tried to find a branch leading up as he did not want to harm the forest anymore than he had already. His claws would dig in quite deep and he didn't want that on his mind.

He looks for an alternate route in hopes of one opening up to allow him to go in search of the titter that was heard from above. Something or someone was having a bit too much fun following him.

[Adder]

The Dorins claws bit into the smooth yet deep trunk of the conifer and with some effort he was able to make progress. It was slow progress to be sure since Lanx was not exactly built for tree climbing and the conifer was noticably lacking, as were all that were big enough to climb, noticably lacking in lower branches that were anything other than dead, and Lanx took his life in his paws by attempting to put weight on them.

A quarter of a candlemark later and a hot and flustered Dorin stood on a substantial branch and clung to the trunk perhaps twice his height above ground. The trunk continued to tower above him for at least double that distance before he would hit the spreading canopy. It wasn't clear just how strong those branches up there would be, but it seemed the only way to be able to move from one tree to another. The branch he stood on did almost meet one from the neighbouring tree, but he could feel it flex under him as he shifted his weight and it would be optimistic to think that he could get onto the next tree that way.

At least at this height there was some breeze and it ruffled through his fur. The breeze also carried with it the sound of wings once more, and then movement came above him as a face no larger than his paw peeked round the trunk and peered down at him cautiously.

[Lanx V'reth]

Lanx was very cautious on the trunk, he looked around and started enjoying the breeze then he heard the sound of wings above him, he looked up immediately. Noticing a face peek around the trunk, noticing the cautious look, he spoke, "Don't be afraid little one, I mean you no harm. I climbed up here to find out who or what was following me. You must take care of this forest, thats just a guess, but if you do or know how I might get through, please don't be afraid and show me the way through. I have a deed to a house in Ethgan'tor and must reach the city. It was given to my pack members for helping the elves with a great problem when they were travelling." Lanx was not sure how this being would react but he hoped for the returned respect he had given it.

[Adder]

The face disappeared with another eek as Lanx opened his mouth to speak and displayed his predators teeth, but no wings were heard and it was clear that his words were being listened to.

Silence greeted the ending of his short speech, just the normal sounds of the forest intruding, if distant birdsong and the rustle of needles in the breeze could be considered an interuption.

The face reappeared, followed by more of the body this time and the tip of a multicoloured wing.

Ethgan'tor? The voice was high in pitch and even though it was soft, it conveyed a hint of curiousity in it.

You are going to Ethgan'tor? But that is the city of the elves, and they don't like anyone else visiting the city.

She edged a little further round the tree, her curiousity getting the better of her. How come you can talk anyway? I've never seen a wolf that can talk before, did some evil necromancer transform you?

[Lanx V'reth]

Lanx watches as the head disappears then reappears shortly after he speaks, "Yes, Ethgan'tor indeed. I do know it is the city of the elves but my tribal members were given a deed to a house within the city for the aid they had given the elves on their trek from Ethgan'tor onward to the sea, they were ambushed by thieves and my tribe had been venturing to the sea as well, they helped fight off the thieves and in return, the elves gave the tribe members a deed to a house within the city."

Lanx laughed slightly, "No no little one, no type of evil created me, as far as I know, our origins is unknown but I can promise you that no evil had a hand in our creation. Can I ask why it is you were following me and is there anyway you can help me reach the city?"