Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Dec 5, 2021 16:37:06 GMT
He sat back and watched her in silence, content to merely observe the process. Gating was one of the harder spells of magic to pick up, especially since it was so unique compared to the other range of spells. A magical hole in space that you can shove things into, and in turn pull things out of, wasn’t something the average human would expect an ander to be capable of. But it was the very same magic that had allowed the original anders to cross into this realm in the first place. It was just a super charged version cast by anders who had a lot more time and training to learn the spell. Lasair suspected that the old world had more magic free hanging in the world too, the kind of thing that would let every spell be cast quicker and easier and without feeling so drained afterwards. There was no way to ever check this, but it was a theory he had no reason to abandon.
Her first strokes on the page brought a strong blue with it. Lasair liked the color, and thought about commenting as much. Her question interrupted him though, and he needed a moment to come up with an appropriate answer. “That depends,” he said first. “On when you’re ready to get the tour.” She could get a taste of it as soon as she was free of the ties to the other guild restricting her. Maybe that had already happened. Lasair hadn’t checked in for updates in a bit, what with the whole taking too long to see her again, and all that.
Post by Elaine Anncroft on May 17, 2022 1:59:52 GMT
Elaine had almost laughed at the reply but it was instead a lighthearted snicker as she shot him a sidelong glance with her brow arching nimbly, "That's part of the reason I wanted you to come by! I've been resigned from CAEsAL for a little while now. Not terribly long so don't come after me for not 'telling you sooner'." The feline points the blue tipped brush at him in playful warning as if it were going to keep him in line. It drops from being eye level with him as she propped a hand on her other hip and plunks the tool into her jar of water with a ping off the glass rim. Another brush is found with a finer tip that is doused in a stark white that is added to her canvas without hesitation and a keen green eye on the work of her lines and the blending she's doing almost of second nature. "That being said," She flicks her bangs out of her face with a tilt of her head and takes another pause, "I tend to share your habit of getting a bit absorbed into what I'm doing. But I'm hoping you'll show me the little castle you continue to hermit down into. I miss you now that you're not just a skip away from me."
She did miss him terribly when he wasn't around. Almost as much as she missed Zona and her completely vanished fiancé who's engagement ring she wears around her neck. It was distracting for her if she didn't have it hid away from time to time but she did occasionally play with it while it hung there, just a reminder, one may suppose, that it hadn't all been a dream. It still made her anxious when Lasair didn't surface for extended periods. A lot of that was to blame as anxiety left behind when Castamere crumbled in front of her and then she lost track of a lot of people at once but she did make herself acknowledge that not everyone just goes missing. She's working on it... "So, when do you think we can pursue that tour? I'm ready for it."
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Oct 2, 2022 3:00:11 GMT
The man blinked, somehow almost surprised at her news. Already resigned from the entertainers? A lot of time had passed, yet he still felt like it must not have been that easy. He didn’t want to ask about the details right now, but the thought of it would still linger in the back of his mind. “That’s great to hear,” he said with a genuine smile. “And don’t worry about the timeline of news delivery; it doesn’t really matter when things happen. We all get around to it when we can, ya know?” The statement felt heavier than he meant for it to. His eyes followed her hand as she changed brushes, watching carefully as more color was added to the canvas.
“I can show you around my supposed ‘castle’ tonight if you’d like,” he tentatively offered. Lasair took a step forward then, to get a better look at the painting. One of his hands reached out gently to rest on the back of her arm as he came near and he leaned in a little to see her work. “I love that you can look at this and somehow see how to add color in just the right way to make it match what you have in mind. I wouldn’t know how anything about what colors to add or how much to use. It’s intriguing.” He paused again, and then jumped back to the topic of the guild hall. “There’s some other information I can tell you during your tour, also. Just to give you a bit of warning; there’s still some work you have to do before officially joining.”
Post by Elaine Anncroft on Oct 2, 2022 3:29:31 GMT
She paused her strokes of the brush when he leaned in and she felt the temporary touch of caution so he didn't disturb the process at hand. Her lips pulling into a smile as he compliments her skill and then warns her it's not all as simple as a 'hello! I am here now!'. Alas, nothing was ever quite that simple was it? Elaine laughs and turns the brush over in her fingers once before going back to blending lightly. "Thank you, color is a magic of it's own isn't it?" As soon as she's satisfied she changes out her brush again and gives the canvas just a few moments to dry in the air. "Though I never expected it to be that straightforward."
Her hands wipe off on a rag hanging from the tray of her easel before propping up on her hips. "It'd be wishful thinking to imagine I could just waltz in, even invited. However, I can come out tonight." It wasn't like she had any other important plans to really have to move and rearrange to fit him in. Bare bones really in her scheduling aside from these canvases. Gating would be a good one to keep her occupied for a little while and if she went out to meet him tonight and explore this lovely little mystery she might get some more magic inspiration. Who knows! "Any time that's best for this particular tour?"
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Oct 2, 2022 3:59:10 GMT
His hand lingered on her arm for a little while; he couldn’t help but indulge in a little bit of touch. They normally didn’t do anything more than hugging. “I think it’s pretty straightforward, when I can spell it out at least,” he chuckled lightly, as a means to transition. “and I can take you there any time.” He smiled, having a hunch that she was easy going on her schedule today. “We have to sneak out of the city and head towards the borderland forest, which isn’t so hard if you know where to look. I’ll take you on a nice little stroll. If you’re nervous, there’s no harm in waiting until sundown or the dark. I don’t shy away from daylight however.” There were many mornings where he’d wake up in his parents’ house and head over to the guild hall first thing. A part of him felt heavier as he remembered them and their lack of presence in this world, but he tried not to dwell on it.
He turned away from her, taking a step away and then swinging back around to look at her anew. “What would you like to do, m’lady?” he asked with a grin.
Post by Elaine Anncroft on Oct 2, 2022 4:19:52 GMT
With nothing else stopping her aside from the silly threat of daylight she slides a ribbon off her wrist in one smooth lift of her hands from hips to hair. Pulling whatever hangs in front that's not the stubborn and too short bits of her bangs back to tie it off so it's all behind her shoulders and ready for an adventure. "Well, it sounds like we aren't waiting for much! I don't have any stage fright in the sun either Lassy." She grins with cheek before checking the edge of her work station to make sure nothing is left where it shouldn't be but her habits seemed to have kept it all in check. Cas seems to know this is the sign to get up and get moving so he pushes to his feet and hops off the bed with a trot out into the rest of her home.
The petite feline watches him go and follows for the door behind as she slides one hand into Lasair's when she passes by and pulls gently. She twisted on her heel to walk backward the few steps across the room and then press to the doorframe as she playfully and elegantly spins the taller Ander out into the hall. The door clicks shut as she closed it behind them knowing all she needs is her coat and she was set for a walk. She walks down the hall with a quick duck into her sitting room to snatch the coat off the back of the plush reading chair alongside the lounge. Cas apparently intends to stay as he lays out on the rug by the chair and huffs at her. If that's what her little pup wants! In foresight it's probably best to leave him for her first trip and bring him along on a later date. She flicks her coat out quietly and slides it on before meeting him at the intersection of the hall. Elaine motions towards the door leading downstairs with a bright smile, "Ready."
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Feb 22, 2023 3:10:16 GMT
Lasair couldn’t help but smile as she twirled around him. First with her hair, and then on her feet. His lips stretched into a soft grin as his eyes followed her around. He wanted to linger in the hold of her hand as it left his fingers, but the urge stayed nestled in his thoughts. He could tell she felt at home in this space; it was the way she moved around corners, and past certain edges. She came close, but never too close, to touching them. Her posture was on point, but relaxed, and she traversed her mental checklist with ease. Once she was done with her motions, she took a calm pose and smiled at him. Lately he was starting to feel like she had a sense of staging and style like he did--right now it was the way she stood with the light of outside framing behind her.
Walking to the door, he nodded to the dog and then up at her. “Shall we?” he asked, extending his hand towards hers. He hoped she would take it, rather than his arm this time. As they began their walk, he couldn’t help but bump into her every now and then, playful with his actions. He couldn't help but be playful, there was an inherent excitement in their journey. It was finally time to let Elaine see what exactly has eaten up all of his time over the years. The one thing that he devotes himself to. During a quiet stretch of time in the city, he turned towards her and asked, “What are you hoping to find?” Lasair had no idea what kind of answer he expected from her, but he was curious all the same. When he first walked into the woods, he never could have dreamed up the things he would find.
Post by Elaine Anncroft on Feb 22, 2023 5:29:47 GMT
Elaine is quick to fall into pace at his side as he all but prances on the way. He's excited and it's very much intoxicating which leads her to swinging their hands between them as she walks by his side. His hands are warm she very much appreciates it in the slightly chilly weather but has not yet decided if it was his adoration of pyromancy that left them warm or just his natural state of being. Either way, she is content with the outcome. His question brings her a thoughtful look as she reaches across with her freehand to tuck a stray curl behind her ear as it's come loose. Returning it to the collected mess as it should be.
"Well, I'm hoping to find whomever or whatever you've married that keeps you-" She took one glance his way and laughs with mirth as the tease sank in before gently pulling his hand in hers up to her shoulder to squeeze it and let it fall into the light swing once more. "I'm kidding! I have many questions..." Her voice softens to something wistful and ardently so. "I want to find answers. Which sounds ridiculous when I don't even know what I'm really getting into yet. It's often a dreary and utterly disappointing task really, and I tend to find more questions and less justification each time but that's the fun of it all I suppose. Besides, I'll at least have you there to enliven the occasion of adventure from time to time if I don't find what I want so it can't be that terrible now can it?." A heartfelt smile brightens her face as she looks ahead at the few passers by they encounter who seem to pay them no mind. Just another set of faces in the vastness of the city. The idea of her search for various answers to countless questions isn't abnormal. She often seeks the whys and how's of the world around her with the same intent a fox seeks mice under the snow. Attention full forward and perhaps a little spring in the step along the way. She spins the conversation back to him with a precious doe eyed tilt of her head his way despite the mischievous nature she contains in that wry and clever grin, "What are you hoping for me to find?"
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Aug 1, 2023 0:23:19 GMT
The swing of their hands was a relaxing rhythm to follow. It felt good to have a conduit for the energy building up inside. A part of him wanted to run and jump just so he’d maybe feel tired afterwards. However walking was alright, fine, it kept them moving. Besides, no one wanted to draw attention in the middle of the day like this, not when they were being discrete. Lasair liked that she had questions; questions were the fastest way to learn. Answers lead to more, and suddenly you’re spending all your time in a library.
Her joke make him laugh. There was truth in it; a part of him was married to the guild in some degree. After all, he was its leader. “Finding answers can be one of the most exciting pursuits in life,” he said, referring to her many questions. “And I’m hoping that you can find your answers, find what you’re looking for.” He smiled, but then paused. There was more he wanted to say, but the words were slow to form in his mouth. “Also, I hope you can find the same sense of… passion for it, that I’ve found. That might not be the best word but, well, you’ll see when we get there.” With a smile on his face they continued their walk, coming to a part of the city that wasn’t in good repair. It was quiet in the day time, and he lead her towards the city limits and the edge of the forest.
Post by Elaine Anncroft on Aug 6, 2023 23:19:11 GMT
Elaine ponders his reply for a long moment to just herself as they walk out past parts of the city that hadn't seen a loving hand in what could probably be decades. The crumbling bricks displaced by weathering and the perseverance of flora that sought to reclaim the slowly decaying structures. She observes several lizards, scurrying little creatures they are, racing their way back to the cooler depths of cracks as they walk by. Their quickly vanishing tails the only glimpse she gets as they are spooked by the shadows of two Anders who pass by. This is probably another good thing to add to the list of why she left Cas at the house. She'd have a hard time distracting him from the temptation of a lizard luncheon.
As the buildings begin to thin and the forest stretches out before them she feels that dizzying sense of having done this before. Deja vu kicking in as she realizes she's only been out of the city on a few occasions and most of them have been with Lasair. Her fingers squeeze a little tighter around his as the feeling passes, her green eyes flickering in focus as she looks out over the tops of the trees that sway lightly. The feelings of fond and wistful memories stirring as she glances up at Lasair to meet his eyes only to smile warmly. She wonders if he's been to visit the meadow recently. The one he'd shown to her a long time ago now and she hadn't been back in a good while for various reasons. The current scene makes the feathered grass in that comforting place far different from the wry, relentless weeds that grow in abundance as they approach the shadows of the trees. The young feline slowing a bit as she feels the familiar sensation of apprehension knock at the back of her mind and he can probably sense it as she scans the depths as far as she can see with a cautious kind of curiosity. The way she pulls back a bit against his headstrong march with the slightest of hesitation. A learned habit from sticking one's nose into trouble more than once though she doesn't fully remember what kind of trouble she's been in.
It doesn't stop her from relying on the instinct and thus falling on the same distinct feeling of knowing she can handle anything put in her way. Very well placed confidence as they stand before the forest that definitely has not seen a single day absent of Lasair in a long time. He felt at ease which soothed down any of her concerns by a gracious margin. Elaine hums once mostly to herself in a manner as though she found exactly what she'd imagined.
"I don't think I've ever been this close..." She scrunches her nose for a second and tilts her head his way with teasing sarcasm, "You do have an actual library here correct? Not just a thousand trees and the wistful desire to turn them into said library?"
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Sept 27, 2023 22:31:53 GMT
As they reached the edge of the forest, a thought struck Lasair. The guild had customs, traditions that he had been following faithfully up to this point. Should he break one now? On account of Elaine being an invitee, rather than a stray wandering in. His fondness for her said yes, hold her hand and lead her in. But his duty, and his place as guild leader, nagged him in a different direction. She might be upset, but it shouldn’t be lasting. As much as he wanted to debate it in his mind, it was already made up.
When they reached the edge of the trees, he stopped. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and listened to the breeze, trusting his senses to notice if anything was different today. Nothing was amiss, it felt like any other day he walked in. Good, he didn’t want any trouble today. Well he didn’t want it on any day—but he especially didn’t want it today. For Elaine’s sake. Her questions made him open his eyes and he smiled at her. “Why don’t you find out for yourself? Every human and most of the anders are too scared to take even a single step past this point.” He took several steps forward, letting her hand slip from his for the moment as he twirled to face her, leaning against a tree. “But those who know…well, they know what’s waiting for them. And you’ll have to trust that it’s waiting for you too.” Lasair started walking into the trees, holding his hand out for her to take it again if desired. It was scary his first time too, but no one can make you take that first step. It’s yours to take alone.
Post by Elaine Anncroft on Sept 28, 2023 0:21:15 GMT
She had glanced up at him as he stood for a moment breathing in the surroundings like greeting an old friend, he was familiar with this place as she expected him to be. If this is where he came to disappear into a security he's alluding to, despite the apprehension in it, then there had to be more than just rolling a little faith here. Elaine finds herself asking where her uncertainty bubbled up from? She trusted Lasair, that goes without question, and had spent so many nights sitting at her desk thinking about this. This choice. She's made choices before, both easy ones and harder ones that still hang like lead around her neck. If anything, she'd had enough thoughts about this that it almost made the hesitation she felt ridiculous to her in hindsight. What could possibly be waiting for her back home that could be any better than this chance?
Standing alone at the edge of a forest that stretched on for miles with trees so tall the shadows they cast at her feet appear like a pool, separating her from what lies ahead. Her hands wringing lightly against each other as all it came down to is one step of faith, right? She lifted her head to chance a glance for the redhead pacing off without her and spots an open hand held back...
There was a moment before the crunching of leaves grows close and a gloved hand slips into his securely. Elaine ducked forward just a bit to use her free hand to push a branch over her head as she steps out from under it as she caught up with him and when she looks up he catches her brows raising a little. His look had the feline turning her head away some with a mild sheepishness as she straightens up. Giving her attention to looking up through the canopy at the leaves rustling against each other. It's... actually very pretty.
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Sept 28, 2023 0:40:21 GMT
Lasair was worried for a moment that she would get caught up with her nerves. But when her hand slid into his, he knew she had conviction. Good, she’d need that for the next trial she was about to face. “Shadow monsters don’t generally come this close to the city, not anymore,” he said casually. “The guild is to thank for that fact.” They walked mostly in darkness, but once in a while they’d pass a beam of light illuminating his red hair. The trees were usually too thick to allow much light. The forest was quiet, quieter than any other forest in the world, so their walk felt noisy when all other sounds were dampened by the brush. The trees all looked similar to one another- tall, thick, old and imposing. Once in a while there would be a tree with a unique growth, or a branch that was lower than the others, but most of them were smooth and like every other. It was easy to get disoriented and lost. Which was why it was MI’s home.
Their walk was calm for the first ten or so minutes. But then Lasair slowed down to a stop. He looked at her with a splash of sadness in his eyes, served with a full cup of trust and faith. “The woods will guide you,” he said cryptically. “Believe in the place that you’re going, and they will take you.” His eyes were intense as they looked at hers. Her confusion was plain to see. Without answering any questions, he darted off, slipping behind a tree, and another one, and another after that. Silent with his steps until he was certain of the escape.
It was tradition. If someone was meant to join, the magic would twist around the woods and take them there. And if not, they’d wander for hours until dark. Lasair hoped she wouldn’t be too mad at him for this, but the leader in him felt strongly on the matter. Can’t make exceptions for favored people; trust the system to bring her in. If she truly wanted to join, this would be the first real challenge.
Post by Elaine Anncroft on Sept 28, 2023 1:14:11 GMT
Shadow monsters being further away from her for any reason was one she could gladly contend with. A thought that made the walk quite a bit more bearable actually even with the eerie similarity of the trees eliminating her sense of direction. She could almost tell you what direction she thought the city was in and felt somewhat confident in the matter but when they finally stop she's in for a bit of a shock. The strange phrasing left a definite crease in her brow at least until the fierceness of his gaze catches the words in her throat. Her stance shifting with bewilderment as he suddenly bolts. Now, there was a brief thought of chase because Elaine is certain she could catch him. She was hard to outrun. However, that also seemed to defeat the purpose of his enigmatic instruction beforehand. "Well..." She turns in a circle to look at the woods surrounding her.
"Not exactly what I would consider my usual run." Elaine shakes her hands out and gives another once over before just... picking a direction. From the sound of it she was just going to have to rely on whatever felt right without knowing her North or South. But with a headstrong march she starts and weaves through the trees mostly keeping on a generally straight path... she thinks.
There was no telling here and the loss of navigation had her on edge enough that she steps on a twig and the resulting snap actually scared her. The feline frowning with a huff as she shakes out the sense of terror it had given her for that split second. This surely couldn't be a long walk? A guild that was going to be impossible to find wouldn't draw anyone in so arguably it has to be near enough for her to hunt it down. She'd come this far and she was not going to put out by a bunch of trees with a complex for being mysterious. She flicks her curls out of her face with conviction and takes a slight change in her path only to feel like the trees were beginning to thin out. It wasn't much but it was enough to capture her attention and it sparks an ember of anticipation as she jogs on.
The break in the trees she finds makes her nearly do a double-take back into them as the looming eaves of a building meet her eyes. "Holy-!"
Post by Lasair Landevier Lupen on Sept 28, 2023 14:10:14 GMT
Lasair reached his familiar guild hall quickly, smiling as he looked up at the grand structure. It was tell, yet the trees still towered above it. The staircase up to the front door was simple, old, and two braziers burned on either side. There were a few logs in the large bowls; the same logs that had been there when he first joined. He took a seat on the steps and pulled out a small notebook from his chest pocket. It had little ideas and reminders for him, and whenever he needed to kill a small amount of time, it was what he opened up to pass it. A part of him was still nervous for Elaine, but he believed in her. Every other member had to do it, and most did it with far less information and instruction, and usually at night.
When he heard an approaching footstep, he tucked the little notebook away and smiled. She had appeared on the far side of the clearing and although her face was a little too far to make out the fine details, he knew her jaw was open and some kind of shock and wonder filled her eyes. He stayed quiet for a minute or so and let her drink it all in. And then he waved as she walked over to him. “Glad you made it,” he said warmly. “Welcome to headquarters.”
"All you need is love." -John Lennon
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