So much had changed since the last time she stood at the heart of Delumine. When she had last set foot here, she had been on the verge of leaving her new court for good. Now she stood rooted firmly in her home. It was starting to feel more that way since Callynite assured her that she would be safe here. That her Sovereign would protect her as best she could. For Meira, this was a foreign concept. To have someone truly and authentically in your corner. More importantly, Meira had someone else in her corner. Someone who had become her whole world, despite her origins. Illia stood beside her mother with wide and curious eyes. She was undeniably the daughter of Sebastien. Illia was equally her daughter. She was bright and full of love for adventure and all things knowledge. Meira smiled as her filly peered up at her with a look of amazement. Meira gave a soft chuckle in response.
Meira was here to introduce Illia to Callynite, partially out of gnawing guilt and partly because Callynite was someone she trusted. When Meira learned she was pregnant, she'd hidden away. She had not set foot outside of Delumine since then. Very few knew the reason she'd gone fully reclusive, although some had speculated. It was confirmed when she made her first appearance with the filly, and nobody commented on it. Meira was ashamed of how it happened, but she was not ashamed of her daughter. Illia was the only good and wonderful thing to come from all her encounters with Sebastien. The soldier peered toward the structure that housed the Sovereign. The white structure jutted out and reflected the sunlight that crept across the rooftops of early morning. Meira squinted as she peered skyward and gently prompted her daughter to follow her.
The pair approached the large doors where two guards stood watch. They were familiar to her only because she had worked with them before. "Can you go and fetch Callynite? There's someone I think she should meet... that might explain my silence." One of the guards nodded as he peered around her barrel at Illia. The filla responded by peering widely at him with a bright smile. It was hard to ignore her smile, and the guard returned it. With that, he was off to go and tell the Sovereign that Meira was here to see her.
@Callynite So sorry for the wait on this. I have this set for when Illia is still fairly young.
He stood beneath the waterfall letting its refreshing waters beat down on his tired back. A thick layer of sand and dust had clung to his flesh. With the passing minutes it slowly let go of its hold, getting caught in the mineral deposits on his skin. He closed his eyes and cherished the moment. The locals had told him of his place, that it was a gift from Solis. He figured it was as good a time as any to see if it had the feeling of this connection.
The lush landscape was an inviting reprieve from the desert sands. Enormous ancient trees casting their shadows across the water. Birds and other wildlife had clearly discovered the oasis as well, mingling and frolicking about. He shifted his weight, hooves clacking on the stone. With the waterfall pelting the stone, the entire place had a sort of rhythm. A calm and ever present order of life. He could see why locals revered it, it was quickly being added to one of his favourite places.
He produced a small pouch from which several small leaves were removed, with his mind he crushed the leaves into a lather. The soaped leaves rubbed against his flesh, easing the itching of his skin and releasing the last of the sand and dirt from his pelt. His long mane was normally contained in tight bands atop his neck. He had let them loose and was washing away the build up of sweat from within. The thick hairs wavy from being contained in the ties. It was a feeling Jarek rarely felt to be entirely sodden but refreshed. To an extent washing away the concerns of the day, relishing in the freedom of the moment.
Icey blue eyes closed with a sigh as the hulking stallion relaxed. He wondered for a moment if Solis himself had ever enjoyed this oasis. How many generations before had stopped and eased their worries, washing them into the oasis?
He found himself standing before a tea shop, the floral smells from within lured him further within. He dipped his head to push his way into the shop. He was rather large and he had to take care when moving to not cause injury to himself or to property. “Good morning, My name is Jarek. I am a soldier, and I have just joined the day court” he said with a gentle smile, making direct eye contact with icy blue eyes. He nodded to the direction of the shopkeeper and started to peruse what beautiful scented plants had drawn him inwards to the shop.
Looking from plant to plant, he admired how well taken care of the plants appeared. It made him think back to Caelum and her herbal shop. Perhaps there was the opportunity for trade and specialization between the courts. “Such beautiful blooms, and so well cultivated.” he praised with admiration. It was clear to see the shop owner was experienced and skilled.
“Say, have you heard of worms that weave fine threads? We had them in my home-lands but I have yet to see them in this area. They are of great interest to me.” he asked softly, looking back at the shopkeeper and away from the plants. He stopped for a moment to think about how to phrase their purpose.
“You see, when great care is taken these threads can be wound together into the lightest, finest silk.” He said as smoothly as he could manage with a gravelled voice. His craftsman skills were in conflict with his appearance. He was capable of crafting fine high quality linens of various sorts. It was at this moment he was reminded about his interactions with Torielle. He didn’t fight the memory, acknowledged it mentally and continued to look at the plants. The Veil Nebula had said that fighting wholeheartedly against his demons was acknowledging them, and in some way giving them power. He was trying so hard to change, to build himself a new life.
Standing in the kingdom of Solis, he found himself speechless. The sunshine embracing his darkened hide scattered with thick mineral growths, their reflection dancing on the ground. He moved with slow and deliberate motions, absorbing both the warmth and the excitement of the place. It felt like summer had truly arrived and he was awakening from a frozen dream. This place was all but familiar but different. The smell of rich spices and the hustle and bustle around him made Jarek hopeful for his future. He could build a life here, amongst these honest people.
He had felt the warmth of Solis in the frozen temple. His mind had been freed from the desert devils of his past by the prophetical mare. He had chosen this place for himself. This decision had not been made by fate, but by his own desire and instincts. He would need to find a place to rest and to claim for himself within these lands. In his own mind and in his blood he knew he had what it took to guide this place to a continual greatness. However he would not discount that the one ruling here was capable. He would have to observe and make his own mind up, would the ruler here prove adequate in his own mind?
It would be ignorant to simply bluster in and assume that he was better. That he was braver and larger. Jarek fit this picture when compared to most. Dry and arid lands required hardened battlers to survive; no doubt the day court was no different. He needed to make connections, get a feel for the land and the people. He needed to get to know the people. He yearned to brush his shoulders with each and every soul. What other secrets of this world would he learn?
He almost wished the Veil Nebula could be beside him right now, her guidance was precious. Not being native to novus there was much that he needed to learn. A history book on this place would be useful, or perhaps a beautiful dancer could also tell him of the history…getting the sides from all perspectives would be important.
He stood in contemplation watching the city whirl around him. Yes, this would be home.
Sunlight beamed down from the clear skies overhead, driving the sunset mare to cling to the sides of buildings as she passed down another cobblestone street. At early afternoon, the temperature was still climbing, and while not outright unbearable it was still uncomfortable enough for Phoebe to seek every cool shadow she happened to pass by, small bits of respite to be claimed whenever possible. Another little sigh slid through her lips as she ghosted through another shaded alcove, her magenta eyes closing in momentary bliss. She could only imagine how unbearable the weather would be in a few weeks' time, when summer was at its height and the heat was impossible to escape; she was in no immediate hurry to meet it.
She was, however, eager to locate a particular residence--operation?--that would assist in a longtime goal of hers. Since her childhood, Phoebe had longed to become a defender of those in need of one, each radiant heart that bloomed and brightened the world in which they lived. They deserved someone to watch over them, protectors to interpose themselves when danger threatened to snuff out their light. She saw it as her calling, her life's goal...only her efforts to achieve it had been meager if nonexistent of late. It was high time she put a more honest effort into becoming this better version of herself she so longed to claim.
In her mind, that began with arming herself properly. She had seen others wandering the court and beyond who wore swords, axes, shields as extensions of their own being, held aloft by the magical gift that embedded itself in every creature to enter Novus. It had seemed strange at first, a foreign concept to the young mare, but now it felt pertinent, a necessity to alleviate the seed of failure and guilt burying itself in her chest. If she acquired a weapon, if she mastered its use, she could at last properly defend her home.
Or...was she going about this the wrong way? There was, after all, another option--one just as tempting if not just slightly farther out of reach than the acquisition of a simple weapon. Just as a new magic to lift and carry objects had made itself an integral part of her being, there were other magics that could be learned, wondrous, miraculous shows of strength, power, and intelligence that defied expectation and could catch even the most stalwart of opponents off guard. Perhaps even more tempting than a weapon, magic too had become a dream, something else to achieve to better her desired role within the Court.
As the thought stole through her mind, Phoebe's surefooted forward momentum stalled, slowing until she stopped just inside another shadowy pocket of the street. A worrisome frown etched itself upon her brow and her expression pinched in uncomfortable thought, until her entire posture seemed to deflate in place with a quiet but audible groan. "Why does this have to be so difficult?" she grumbled to herself with an agitated swish of her tail, trapped in place by a sudden, heavy bout of indecision.
A weapon over magic...was she making the right choice?
It was always easiest to find her in the dark of the night, bathing in the comfort of the light from both the stars and moon, and if you knew her well enough you'd probably be able to guess what time she'd appear during the night. This night was no different from all the others with her wandering around like a lost soul under the moon. Io, technically, belonged to what one might call a home but she also knew that she didn't actually belong. Historically she had always been able to find some kind of belonging in whatever place she'd call home but it was almost like she was denied this comfort here. The moment the golden woman had learned that Luvena led the Night Court she had felt an uneasiness settling into her chest and this had caused her to avoid the Court, she only ever crossed the border to go back to Gaston, she knew only him and Luvena (who hated her) and she couldn't even point you in any simple direction there. Instead Io had taken to wandering around aimlessly in the same way one who belonged to nothing would wander. In truth wasn't that what she was? Someone who didn't belong? Either by her own choice or simply by the way of the world she felt...unwanted in what she was supposed to call a home. If she was being honest Io could only chalk her decision to keep clinging onto the idea of belonging to a Court to staying for Gaston; he had made a home there in the same way she had made a home in Hemanta and he had stayed for her.
Despite her returning to Gaston she would admit that it was getting rarer and rarer for her to come home. She would rather belong nowhere than to belong somewhere she felt only anxiety and guilt. This caused her to cling to lands that belonged to no one, dancing on the edges of the world with an itch to flee from every emotion that crawled up her spine. But she had promised that she would stop running away, stop bouncing from one place to another. This meant that sometimes she would simply vanish for a period of time before popping up again, she was like a weasel who hid in a hole before appearing twenty miles away from where it had just been seen.
Every step Io took was followed by the sounds of a whisper, she had left her tail unbraided allowing it to drag on the grounds behind her. The golden woman went nowhere in particular, she had no place in mind to go to despite her mind going a mile a minute. It was small and trivial thoughts that filled up her head, the current one was the debate on if she should cut her hair again. The braids and once blunt cut mane had grown out nearly to the same length she had kept them at for almost all her life. There's a faint smile on her face when she thinks about how long she had once kept it, to the point of having tripped, gotten tangled in the roots of a tree, and having been able to hide little foals in the thick loose curls. Maybe she'd let it get that length again, she could always find a way to have it braided like Shanti had done for her. Shanti...Thank you for coming back in Sovereign. Her golden eyes close at the idea of her beloved spectral companion, the owl had been a constant comfort to her in Elysium and she had returned to her in Sovereign for a short time. It felt like she'd had her for a second, a simple blip in her life. Io had truly enjoyed seeing the interactions between her first companion and Chandrakant when she'd had them both with her. A pain stabs her in the chest at the thought of her companions; one that she could never get back and the other missing.
She's gotten to the edges of the plain when she finally stops to look up, to wonder how many souls in Isilme were praying right now, how many nights had she spent in her life simply gazing up there? For a moment she thinks of how she had once been a constellation herself in Elysium, then the thought is pushed away with the closing of her eyes and a deep tired sigh. "Saesa ona amin y' quel re tul're, ona amin y' meetima eska atara ithil. Nyara amin manka sina naa manke amin naa." Opening her eyes a part of Io can't believe that she's sent out a prayer to her once Goddess after so many years of rejecting the Goddess that had turned away from her. It was always easier for Io to pray to whatever Deity in her own language, and it was also always easier for her to say all the words she left unspoken when she knew almost no one would understand her. "Please answer me...just this one."
"Talk." IO'S NATIVE LANGUAGE, HOVER OVER ME Thoughts Chandrakant
Upon bulletin boards through Dusk and sent to the other Solar Courts, the following message can be read.
First and foremost, welcome. Welcome to those of the beloved Dusk court and welcome to those from throughout Novus that wish to be a part of this festival. While it is dedicated to Vespera, all are welcome and encouraged to join us. Our court has been rather quiet of late and Uzuri wishes to change this.
There will be the following pleasures for you all to partake in:
Evening entertainment, including storytelling and refreshments
Within the citadel courtyard, we will be having a large masquerade ball.
There will be a potluck style picnic in Susurro Fields.
All are welcome to bring their favorite dish to share with those that join! There will be a variety of foods and drinks provided by Uzuri as well.
Our final piece for this festival will be a multi-legged race in honor of Dusk’s past. We will be reliving Halcyon’s race to save the princess Chenoa so many years ago. There will be three separate trials included, with a possible fourth if needed to declare a winner. The legs will become more difficult as the race progresses, adding new challenges to those that are taking part in the race. This event will need to be signed up for, rather than free for all and will take place in separate locations for each leg. I will be using random.org to choose the winners of each race to avoid any advantages that may come from higher experience and stats. Also, no flying will be allowed. Any pegasi that take to the air will be disqualified.
Leg one: The first race of this event will take place in Susurro Fields. This race will test speed. Each character will have two posts in this as they go around the field in a pair of laps. After each character has posted for the lap, there will be an Official Dusk Court post that will update the standings.
Leg two: The second race of the event will take place on the Praistigia Cliff. This race will test your agility. While there is only one lap, there will be three separate posts from each character as well as the updates from the Official Dusk Court. Runners beware! This leg may have random events that happen as the race is being run that your character will have to react to. These events will come from the Official Dusk Court account and will either affect one character or the entire group!
Leg three: The final leg of this event will test your stamina, as well as your courage. This leg will take place in Tinea Swamp. The mud and water of the swamp will challenge your characters. Again, this is a single lap race, but the danger will rise as the runners traverse the swamp. There are dangers here that are not found in the rest of the Dusk court, including the Bog Titan. While Uzuri has no intention of facing this creature, she knows that anything can happen and wants to make sure that all are aware of this possibility. Again, this leg may have random events that happen as the race is being run that your character will have to react to. These events will come from the Official Dusk Court account and will either affect one character or the entire group!
At the bottom of the letter, a sign-up sheet for the race has been posted. If you would like to sign up a character, please reply here with up to two characters. When each leg of the race goes live, I will post a new thread and tag each character. I will be entering at least one character, but will not be able to win any final prizes. Oh… I didnt mention prizes yet, did I? I cant forget that!
Overall first in the event will receive armor and 500 signos.
You can claim the armor item after the event has been completed.
If you wish to have Uzuri design it IC, I am more than open for that!
First place in each leg of the race will receive 250 signos!
Second place in each leg of the race will receive 100 signos!
Third place in each leg of the race will receive 50 signos!
If you wish for Uzuri to pop into threads outside of the race event, please feel free to tag her and I will respond as soon as I am able! Again, all courts and characters are welcome to come and enjoy this event!!
And so with the sunshine
and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees,
just as things grow fast in movies,
I had that familiar conviction that
life was beginning over again with summer.
The time since the last meeting with her court had been chaotic, so much for Uzi to learn as quickly as she could. Add that to trying to plan an event to brighten up those that had been quiet lately, and the sovereign was rather fatigued. But that was no excuse for the delay in speaking to the mare that she was seeking. A part of her had wanted to run after Asta when she left the meeting, to speak with her and try to at least offer her the option to stay in the citadel.
Instead, she had been forced to watch the pain in the other mare’s eyes when she left and wait patiently beside the stallion that had made so many large promises to those around them. A soft sigh escaped her lips and she turned to the metal on the table before her. She was working carefully on a piece, praying to Vespera every moment that she did. This was something special for her court, a prize to the one that could win her races that she planned.
"I think I need a break. Too much work can blind one from the flaws that could be worked into a piece." She murmured to herself before leaving the forge and locking the door behind her. Entering the courtyard, she watched Neema play in the sunshine. A part of her was determined that the maned wolf would never settle, bringing a smile to her face as she approached to let her bonded know that she was heading out.
Once the discussion was finished, the maned wolf went back to playing and left Uzi to her plan. Leaving the fortress that had become her home, Uzuri padded through the court and toward the bar that Asta had purchased recently. Flicking her tail, she took a deep breath and entered the building.
"Asta?" She called into the quiet space, happy that she had decided to approach the other mare earlier in the day when the bar itself would either be closed or simply quieter. She was not going to make the mare any promises, no talk of adopting her or making her family. At least not intentionally. But she did need to clear the air and let the mare know the words that had been buzzing in her heart.
"Uzuri"
@Asta Notes: No Neema today, but Uzi to speak to Asta <3
Credit: Character by Chaosy, Art by LizzArtStudios
Posted by: Jane - 05-03-2022, 04:52 PM - Forum: Terminus Sea
- No Replies
Jane
The ocean raged just as it had done before, all those years ago. She remembered it now, creeping along the sands with her old companion. The companion who had died for Jane, for absolutely nothing at all. The fury of wind whipped around her skin from where she stood at the top of the cliff, staring into the watery abyss. When she squinted, she tried to imagine the tiny frame of her younger, exiled self. Exile had been so much better than this…
Jane had left home in the morning with a request for fresh air. Her husband had not cared, not that he needed to. In the end, Jane had slunk through Novus as little better than an air spirit on her way to the coast. This was where it had begun, and it made sense that this would be where it ended. The only part of her life with any joy, had been begun at this place.
What had Hardison looked like, again?
Jane tried, but she couldn’t recall anything but a vague frame or silhouette of a rough woman. A woman who had given everything up in Mors Desert. She shuddered, and for the first time in years she felt the ache of the sandwyrm’s teeth in her skin. She had lived, once, hadn’t she?
As though trying to communicate, Jane felt a stirring in her womb. It was growing now, and she had tried to eat to keep others from wondering, but the rumours had certainly begun to swirl.
She couldn’t do it, couldn’t subject a child to herself. She couldn’t face the entropy anymore.
Jane closed her eyes and focused on everything but sight; let her nose be stung by salt until she swore it must bleed. She thought of the rage of the waves and the sharp rocks that waited in the depth. She took a step back, fear flickering in her heart, and then she jumped.
Posted by: Delphine - 05-02-2022, 12:28 AM - Forum: Amare Creek
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DELPHINE
Hell yes
This was the place, this was the energy. A lively market with all types of downdraught individuals with the devil on their minds, if not in their hearts. Delphine hadn’t been in these lands long and she’d traveled a long while to get even a glimpse of anywhere that resembled some kind of civilization. Though she supposed “civilization” would never be the term granted to the the equines and the culture they’d created around her. Delphine was intrigued and amazed by the depravity of some, and intrigued by the natural light others carried. Here in the markets was the best place for her to indulge in both her desires. She slithered along the streets, her smaller frame danced through the hustle of the equines around her. She danced through crowds as if she’d never been there in the first place. She fancied herself in this way, like smoke around a bon fire with the embers never too close, never too far.
She weaved through the various individuals around her through the side of the pathways, trying mostly to stay out of the light and no nick anyone with her silver talons. The light would have illuminated her glittery coat and she didn’t much feel like talking to the randoms on the street about her different design. She was here because she needed her “medicine.” Delphine wandered on, her thoughts quietly racing in her head as the pain in her hip intensified with her swifter movements. She needed something to fix it, to hide it. She attempted to sway differently around the hindrance but her limp was becoming exasperated terbated over the last few days. This was her given curse, one put upon her at the onset of her injury. She could not deal with the physical pain and so she was only at a point now where she sought out her salvation in time of great discomfort. It didn’t take long for her to find some weary individual petaling her needs.
She took the small vial close to her and exchanged what she had to the scraggly thing before her. In her luxurious cape her liquified salvation would be close and hidden. She quickly whispered her depart to the individual but no thanks to him. She didn’t see the transaction as something to be thanked for rather one the should be more shameful. Her dark purple-maroon stilts carried her away and in to a darkened alley between a few of the tents. The place seemed lonely, rather neglected. To anyone it may have seemed one of the more dangerous seclusions of the market. But Delphine knew predators and they were all in the light not here, where one could here themselves think.
It didn’t take long before in the darkness away from the noise of the street Delphine fixed herself. With a heavy sigh and a clink of the vial on the compacted dust floor she could feel relief. Her back was against the main wall of some larger grey-bricked building, damaged bone cocked slightly to relive some pressure from her hoof. As the main swash of betterment overcame her she flicked her head up enough to remove the top part of her cloak that covered her head. Her two silver, near metal like horns protruded forth and her head felt free. She outstretched her neck and took a moment to relax in the concealing dimness around her. The isolation a welcomed and familiar thing at that.
She took her moment of relaxation with the darker side of it. This had been the routines she’d known for years voluntary or not. But now in this darkened alley she found her moment of resolve free from the physical hindrance she had felt moments ago. It was time for her to go find some fun. Delphine flicked the top side of her cloak (“throw” as she called it) and rested it up close to her shoulders. The very front of it open revealing her slim yet tough chest. The furs lining the cloak puffing up around the edges to frame her small neck and delicate head. She was looking good and feeling it too. Now at the edge of the lighted paths again she searched to and fo to get the lay of the land and her next move.
The next move was apparently to move as quickly as she could back to the lands of no gods. She was never usually in one place for all too long and the initial journey had taken some time, but here she was. Delphine craved the night markets and often traveled to and from there for her various needs and whims. On this particular setting of the day she was back near the creeks, the place of lovers. She’d been around here a few times and hadn’t run in to anyone every directly. When she did it was usually someone unwilling to give her a glance as they were off in their own searches. But it was here now that she was finally alone again that Delphine rested. The strain from travel hanging just far enough away from her body that the goods she’d gotten from the night markets was keeping it at bay.
Her golden eyes gazed at the softly flowing water, clear as a a polished diamond. Everything in Novus seemed to have the essence of purity. Lately it hadn’t been Delphine’s style but when it fancied her it was nice to grab a rest in the lush mosses around her. The comfort from the bright foliage called her to sleep, to recover. She fluttered her eyes shut but kept a wary ear out for anything that may have been lurking…
