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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 11:46:46 GMT
 | Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.
Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom,
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.
"The wolf is baring down on us!" Cries for help echoing around him, the Shaman glanced back and forth over the cavern interior; gruesome sights greeting him wherever he looked. Blades and bows clashed in unison, as the ferocious, colossal form of Fenrir snarled it's fangs. It had been waiting for them, it's claws prepared as they entered it's domain, the icy walls of the cave penning them in deliciously for it. But they did not falter; Adventurers, standing together, raging at the impossible. They pierced and prodded, attacking wherever they could find a gap in it's defence. But Fenrir lived up to the name; the Indomitable, it's hide simply brushing off the pointy attacks that would decimate a normal beast. But then, what of this new world was normal?
The Shaman raised his sword, but felt his own heart stop for what seemed like eternity, as the howl of Fenrir burst forward, it's snarled maw aiming a torrential blast known as Frost Cannon; in the blink of an eye, the entire group of Adventurers was frozen into a crowd of statues, their last moments captured in an icy cage. "Your nightmare has only just begun!" For the first time, the wolf's growls became tangible words, as it looked over it's handiwork. It's beady eyes finally fell on the Shaman, who was paralysed with fear, instead of ice. No words were exchanged, the shaky hands of the young man raising his sword up in a feeble attempt to defend himself. But Fenrir merely cackled, it's head bobbing in a mock stare as it slowly stepped closer.
Turning his sword in his hands, the Shaman aimed the tip of the blade towards the ground, and with a sudden burst of fiery determination, he plunged his longsword down, plunging it deep into the snow-covered ground of the cavern floor. "Cherry Blossom Barrier!" And with that firm and powerful shout, a flash of light burst from the Shaman's body, swiftly spreading from his form and obliterating the ice that encaptured the other Adventurers, freeing them from their brief imprisonment. Fenrir roared with anger at his work being undone, snarling his face full force towards the Shaman, the gaping maw blackening his vision and blotting out all the light from the world around him.
Dorian awoke with a gasp, sitting up straight within his bed as his eyes burst open; unblinking, he glanced around the room, as if looking for where the giant wolf had disappeared. "It was only a nightmare," he realised in an exasperated tone, shaking his head as he slowly clambered out from under the covers. It was then that he realised his skin was covered in a layer of sweat, no doubt the result of his dip into the horrors of deep sleep. "Blegh..." Slipping on a ragged cloth shirt, he moved silently towards the door of his room, gently opening it slightly and stealthily escaping into the hallway. From there, he made his way across to the other side of the building, heading for the Gym; after all, a nice soak in the indoor pool would do him some good.
As he approached the one end of the pool, Dorian slowly removed his shirt, not bothering to remove anything further for fear of any of the girls being awake at this time; he wasn't about to give them a fright just because he wanted a swim. Releasing a relaxed sigh, he waded into the deep, cool waters, letting himself float for a few seconds before pushing off into a forward stroke, zipping through the water towards the other end of the pool. The sound of water splashing past him with each stroke filled his ears, before he finally took in a deep breath and dove head first under the surface, submerging himself completely. Beneath the gentle ripples that lay across the surface, he found a moment of silent peace, the only sound being the echoes of the water within his ears.
Unfortunately, it would not last, as his lungs slowly degraded into a cry for air; kicking against the pool floor, he swam upwards towards the surface, emerging with a splash as his hair flicked back over his head, his skin giving off a sheen as the light reflected playfully over his soaked skin. "Refreshing." Using his feet and hands as paddles, the Shaman glided the last few meters towards the opposite end, swiftly hoisting himself up onto the side and completely vacating the water, looking back over his shoulder to see the surface gradually settle back to a transparent flat. Grabbing a towel from a selection that had been left stacked by the pool, Dorian dried himself off, releasing a heavy sigh as he redressed himself. "That skill... Cherry Blossom Barrier... I need to learn it," he muttered to himself, his mind still thinking back to his nightmare.
It had been a few days since the turmoil against Fenrir, the Indomitable; a collection of mishaps and so many twists and turns. But what impacted the Shaman most was the colossal beast himself. During the fight, a certain knowledge had been unearthed in his mind, his mana conjuring almost on it's own in the form of an array of barriers; the skill known as Cherry Blossom Barrier, but for the life of him, the Shaman couldn't figure out how to learn it. His interface had no evidence that it even existed, let alone how to attain it. But one thing kept playing back in Dorian's mind - the cherry blossom is a familiar flower that is native to the area known as the Moon Dance Forest; with any luck, he may find the answers he needed there. But it was a long journey to Sarum.
We've been walking for four hours now, you'd think we'd be there! Once again, the Shikigami threw another complaint, his metaphysical body strained by the amount of travel he and Dorian had endured so far; despite the fact that the Shaman was the one doing the walking. "You do realise that we still have another day's journey ahead of us to get to Sarum? Literally, it's going to take us at least another twenty four hours." Skrowe gave an audible groan within the confines of the Shaman's mind, going silent out of spite towards the road, the journey, Dorian... basically, anything and everything that the scarecrow spirit could think of. Shaking his head, Dorian trudged on, until he managed to spot a small roadside tavern; no doubt it had been set up by wandering Landers as a sort of pit stop for weary travellers. It's likely it had lost a large portion of it's customer base, now that the train system was operational again. "We can rest there for a bit; would that help?" Skrowe merely nodded in silence, not bothering to give a word of thanks. Rolling his eyes, the Shaman branched off the main road, turning instead towards the tavern, aptly named 'The Road to Sarum'.
Notes: Cherry Blossom Barrier Skill Learning - Part 1
Word Count: 1163
Tags: N/A
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2015 7:41:56 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
As he approached the tavern, the noises being emitted from it started to get louder; albeit, it wasn't that loud to begin with, given how many people were likely inside. It was the middle of the day, so even the tavern's already small customer base would not be in for another 6 or so hours, perhaps even more. Still, there were enough people inside to make it known that the place was inhabited, and there were the occasional fluttering images of people walking past the front-sided windows. "Busier than I thought it would be, but then, it is Snowfell Festival." At the mention of the current holiday season, Skrowe lit up like... well, a 'Snowfell' tree, blabbering continuously with question after question, finally finishing with a demand that they join the celebrations. The Shaman, sad to disappoint, reluctantly shook his head. "Not yet, pal; we still have our current task ahead of us."
The Shikigami became sorrowed, his metaphysical head drooping as he made his sadness felt. Dorian scratched at the back of his neck, his eyes drooping to the floor as the in-built connection between their souls seemed to share the emotions between them, his own head hanging low. "We can always join the festivities in Sarum once we're done," he finally seceded, bringing Skrowe back into a joyful mood. Releasing a sigh of relief, the Shaman made his way towards the door, gently pushing on it with the palm of his hand and slipping inside, his movements quiet as his 'dancing feet' made little sound. It was only the gentle clunk of the wooden door closing that alerted the room to his arrival.
Most of the tavern-goers kept to themselves, enjoying their meals, drinking together, a few people humming or singing out traditional tunes of the season. A few of the rank and file managed to lift their eyes up at the sound by the door, stealing a glance at the newcomer who had entered, only to return to what they were doing. The Shaman, giving off a subtle smile, bowed his head in a few directions to set minds at ease, before gracefully moving towards the currently tended bar. The petite woman currently serving behind the counter, a spirited human dressed quite obviously to impress, and draw the gaze of, any males that would perhaps pay extra on their tips. A normally harmless and fruitful way of business, Dorian still felt bad for the poor girl.
Hoisting himself up onto the only vacant stool, situated uncomfortably between two rather large and burly males, Dorian gently tapped the counter with his fingers, alerting the barmaid to his presence. She gave a flirty wink and a smile - what Dorian assumed was her usual customer service - before signalling she'd be there in a moment. Turning himself slightly, the Shaman looked over his shoulder at the rest of the room; the walls and windows were almost covered in decorations, various leaves and flowers pinned up on strings wherever they could fit, and the rafters above were equally resplendent in various colourful baubles. It wasn't difficult to tell that this place was one of the more festive locales within the Unfounded Kingdom.
It was only a few moments before the light-hearted human girl practically bounced over to the Shaman, his form quickly turning back to face her as she asked what he'd like. "Just a tall ale, please. We... I have been on a rather long journey, and have an even longer one ahead of me; I'd be glad for some sustenance and rest before I head out again." The girl seemed enthralled in her own curiosity over the Shaman's words, no doubt her mind was swimming with questions; where had he been from, where was he going? But, likely realising her job took priority, she gave a curt nod, grabbing a tankard from cabinet beneath the counter and pouring enough ale in to fill it to the top. "There you are, handsome!" Her voice was a pleasant coo as she slid the tall beverage over, Dorian seemingly unfazed and as calm as ever; which was usually about as much effect as flirtations had on him.
Taking slow gulps at the beverage, he slowly began to notice eyes being drawn towards him, the cold stare of a certain individual starting to become glaringly obvious. "Is... there a problem?" Dorian turned to the burly man on his left, who had somehow turned his attention completely towards him. "Yeah... I don't think I like you," he grunted, his breath reeking of alcohol and other foul smells. Leaning backwards slightly, Dorian accidentally bumped against the shoulder of the man on his right, causing him to grumpily shrug him back in the other direction, knocking the Shaman into the angry individual staring him down. A disgruntled tussle later, and Dorian and his sudden adversary were off their stools, the former having been knocked to the ground.
Slowly gathering himself back onto his feet, it was clear that the sudden outburst from the burly man had gathered the attention of a crowd; clearly the rest of the tavern was actually just waiting for something interesting to happen. Turning his attention back to the angry face that was previously looming over him, he lifted his hands up to wave calmingly, palms out. "Please, I didn't mean to upset you, sir; this is a time for celebrations and festivities, and I would prefer not to ruin that with a bar fight-..." Alas, as soon as the last two words left his mouth, a chant began to break out from the crowd, every patron quickly picking it up as the air filled with 'bar fight, bar fight, bar fight'. The burly man clenched his fists tight, rolling his neck to hear it crack menacingly, a stern but eager grin playing across his rather gruesome teeth. This wasn't going to end well.
Notes: Cherry Blossom Barrier Skill Learning - Part 2
Word Count: 981
Tags: N/A
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2015 14:25:44 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
Eager to go and hoping to pander towards the crowd, the rather large man lumbered towards the Shaman, swinging his enormous fist - at least compared to Dorian's own anyway - looking to get in the first hit. Quickly side-stepping the man, it would have been all too easy to take advantage of his adversary's slow speed and slam a punch into his hip to disorient him, but he simply avoided the punch, merely slipping through the air and sliding across the wooden floorboards with a bit of a flourish to appear behind the angry bar goer. He was too sturdy for mere fisticuffs, but even if he could put a dent in the man, Dorian wasn't about to; he wasn't here to fight. He once again put his hands up in an attempt to calm, only this time taking a defensive stance.
"Please, this is ridiculous; I beseech you to stop fighting at once." His words of dissuasion were drowned out swiftly by the unanimous boos of the crowd, chanting for more fighting; most of them probably already drunk off of the ale that was being sold here. Which reminded Dorian, he hadn't even finished his ale yet! But alas, alcoholic beverages were a thing of the past now. His attacker made another move towards him, this time opening his arms out wide in an attempt to grapple them around the Shaman, aiming to hold him in place, no doubt. Dorian quickly made the reversal, cutting forward with lightning speed and cracking his palms into the insides of the man's elbows with a crunch and a yelp of pain. He hadn't broken anything, fortunately, but it was enough to leave a couple of bruises, one for each arm. Slipping his own limbs under the man's pits, he curled them back on themselves, locking them over the top of his shoulders and pulling him down into a grapple of his own.
In that split moment, where his head was wrenched down towards the ground, the attacker panicked, his entire outlook changing in the blink of an eye. He made an obvious glance towards the bar, Dorian following his gaze; to his surprise, he saw past the jeering crowd of men along the counter, peering behind it to the young barmaid who stood motionless with a pained, frightened expression on her face. Looking back to the man locked within his arms, the Shaman sensed a growing sadness in his aura; and it all began to clear itself out from there. The man had become threatened by the barmaids flirtations towards Dorian, and took the obvious route - to him anyway - of winning her affection by defeating him in a fight. Realising the angry bar-goer's motive, the Shaman released his grip just enough, moving one of his feet onto a weird angle.
Thankfully, the burly man was able to pick up on the change in his guard, instantly reversing the grapple back onto Dorian and knocking his legs from under him, giving a push upon his upper body; with a rush of air, the Shaman found himself flat on the floor, seemingly bested by the man looming over him. Coughing as he writhed slightly on the ground, the wind slowly returning to his sails, he eventually managed the strength to gather himself up. Dusting off his coat and pants, he lifted his head, glancing over at the bar, where the winner of the bar fight was seemingly being heralded by his compatriots; even the petite barmaid was starting to warm up to him. "Our job here is done, Skrowe," Dorian remarked, releasing a soft sigh of relief. Can we at least finish that drink before we leave? Rolling his eyes, the Shaman nodded, swiftly moving to the bar and grabbing his tall tankard of ale from the counter. Downing the last of it with one big swig, he gave a curt nod to the fellows either side of him before walking away and slipping out the door.
I think you should pay more attention to women; who knows, you might actually get yourself a girlfrie-... The last of the Shikigami's sentence was cut off as Dorian snapped his fingers, seemingly activating the off switch on the chibi scarecrow's voice. After his spat with the darker forces of Londinium a few months ago, and after his death and subsequent rebirth into his new self, the Shaman had learnt how to cancel certain parts of his connection with Skrowe; such as his voice, or his emotions. He only ever used them if the Shikigami got overly annoying and unbearable, or in dire situations; prolonging the lack of connection usually resulted in a loss of energy, or worse, becoming comatose. The two were two parts of the same soul - without one, the other is severely weakened.
With Skrowe having learnt his lesson and dropping on the subject, the two of them continued down their journey, conversation limited due to the Shikigami's fear of being cut off once again. They had been travelling for 10 hours now, which added onto the first leg of their journey, put them half way towards reaching Sarum. With the sun having dropped below the horizon for a long while now, and the night sky resplendent with twinkling stars, it was time to set up camp and rest for the night. "We have a lot more walking to do tomorrow, so best we get as much sleep as possible." He would hear no arguments from Skrowe, undoubtedly.
Gathering up a few logs of wood from the fringes of the nearby forest, and gathering a few rocks together, Dorian managed to create a shabby but workable fireplace, using a bit of his mana to strike a flame upon the wood. As he set up a decent area for sleeping on, he began to recall the last time he went camping; it had been many years now, long before the Catastrophe, when he was perhaps 14 or 15 years old. His father and mother had wanted a road trip, and of course he had to come along; it was a pleasant enough experience, but at the time Dorian would never have thought of doing it again. Now, here he was, cherishing the soft ground for him to lay himself down on. It wasn't long before the Shaman found himself drifting off to sleep, the stars shimmering above him.
Notes: Cherry Blossom Barrier Skill Learning - Part 3
Word Count: 1062
Tags: N/A
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2015 6:24:43 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
After a long and mostly uneventful journey, 14 hours quickly went past them, and the Shaman and Shikigami duo found themselves at the edge of the Moon Dance Forest. It was quite the sight to behold, unlike anything he had witnessed before; with various different colours spanning the entire forest, it was a rainbow of pinks and yellows and oranges. Dorian had to stop for a moment and take a deep breath, breathing in the gentle aroma of the breeze that drifted past him. "We're here. Or... well, we're almost there. The village is said to be in the middle of this forest." The Shaman gently rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tired form of Skrowe slump at hearing there was still more walking to do.
How will we know it when we see it? Dorian rolled his eyes, simply stating a short, "We'll know." Stepping forward, he began to move into the forest, occasionally feeling a light crunch under his feet whenever he would accidentally step on a stray leaf that had tumbled from it's perch atop the branches above. The smells got stronger and stronger the further in they went, and the colours even more vibrant and spectacular; it was almost like a fever dream, the Shaman every so often pinching himself to make sure it was all real. "This is what we've been missing out on these past two years, stuck back in Londinium..." The Shikigami nodded his metaphysical head, agreeing wholeheartedly as he joined in staring with wonder at the vista before them. We definitely need to get out more.
A little bit more walking, and the crown jewel of the Moon Dance Village became visible just above the canopy, through the leaves; the Moon Spirit, as they called it. It was an impressive sight to behold, even from this distance - which made Dorian wonder just how spectacular it would be when they eventually arrive. Hard to make out the details, it was still grandiose, a colossal floating orb that was said to hover above the centre of the village; beneath it was the Giant Sakura, a large tree that held the Sakura Tree Spirit, the guardian of the orb. Dorian had heard little else other than meaningless superstition; but he was hoping for a lot more information on the two landmarks from the villagers themselves. The stories they would no doubt tell were enough to keep the Shaman going, his excitement knowing no boundaries.
Eventually, the pair came across a flowing stream that seemed to span way out into the distance; this was probably the one that ran throughout the borders of the forest. Near the east, somewhere off in the direction the stream was travelling, the water flowed into a small lake; the Shaman made a quick note in his mind to make a visit there at some point. "This is a very spiritual place, Skrowe... I can feel it. A lot of the aura of this place is a mystery, but perhaps we may yet find the answers we need." The Shikigami merely nodded his agreement; it seemed he would be happy just to be somewhere comfortable to rest. Rolling his eyes, Dorian continued on, hoping to get to the village by nightfall. It wouldn't do to stay out in the forest too long past sunset; there would no doubt be a range of creatures roaming after dark.
Just an hour past the sun setting over the tree tops and eventually past the horizon, Dorian found himself entering the outskirts of the Moon Dance Village; from here, the giant orb floating above them was quite the sight to see, and with the snow of the season fluttering down around them, it made quite a visual. Snowfell Festival was under way even here, but Dorian and his mind companion were much to exhausted to participate or even observe; besides, they had come here for a reason, and there was no time for anything else until it had been accomplished.
Having yet to reach the centre of the village, where most of the busier crowds were, the Shaman decided on staying in a small inn just along the outskirts, amongst the various small housing plots that were dotted about; the architecture here, Dorian noticed, was quite Oriental, a design base he had never witnessed before outside of internet pictures and such. Slipping inside as always, he kept his movements soft and light, entering the gentle abode that welcomed all Adventurers and Landers to it's rooms. A tall, beautiful fox tail woman appeared from behind the counter, eagerly and yet calmingly asking how she may be of service to the Shaman.
"Just a room for... one, please." No doubt his trepidation would give off the idea he had plans for another, to which the innkeeper simply smirked and bowed her head understandingly. Skrowe continued to snicker, utilising the fact that the Shaman could not cut him off, for fear of looking a fool as he simply snapped his fingers at the woman attending to his stay here. She directed him to follow, leading Dorian down a short hallway off to the side, behind the receptionists desk she had been standing on the other side of. "Here you are. Room for one. And only one." Her tone was stern but accommodating, the Shaman swallowing hard as he nodded and entered the room. He hoped to anything that was listening he didn't have to interact with her again in the morning.
Placing his things down in the corner of the room, the Shaman moved down to the ground, settling himself down upon the mat that had been comfortably laid out for him. A good night's sleep was really all he needed; but as he lay there, alone with his thoughts - or, well, as alone as he could be - he thought back on what he had come here to do. Learning such an advanced skill would not be fast, at least not as fast as clicking a button; it might be easier for him, given the fact he had already used it back in the dream world against Fenrir, but it would not be lacking in it's difficulties. He released a heavy sigh, closing his eyes as he focused on his new life, and what he needed to accomplish for himself.
Notes: Cherry Blossom Barrier Skill Learning - Part 4
Word Count: 1054
Tags: N/A
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2015 14:32:56 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
After having woken up and gotten ready, it wasn't long before Dorian found himself traversing the outskirts; he had a bit of time on his hands due to an early morning wake up, so the Shaman chose to instead explore the village and all it's fascinations. The Oriental design of some of the buildings was enough to intrigue him, let alone the colourful gardens that most of the villagers kept outside their homes. "A beautiful place to live; perhaps we should get a home here?" The Shikigami, still weary from having been awoken early, gave a dreary groan in response. A home away from home. Don't forget we have a room at our guild's house in Londinium. Of course; how could the Shaman forget his guild. But, this world was an ever-changing one, and perhaps some day he would enjoy the chance to settle down. A good home would be helpful whenever that day came.
Moving up towards a lavishly designed store front along the main road through the outskirts, Dorian inspected the exterior; it was a jewellery shop, evidenced by the sign hanging beneath the awning that spelled out the words "Trinkets of Luna". An intriguing name, one meant to draw the attention of passers by. Lifting his feet, the Shaman slowly ascended the rickety wooden steps that lead up onto the front porch. Along the railing either side of the stairs, the shop owner had managed to decorate it with a few baubles reminiscent of the decorations that had coated the interior of 'The Road to Sarum'. Even here, Snowfell Festival was celebrated; Dorian wondered what birthed this prestigious holiday for the Landers. In most fantasy realms, it was darker events that lighter celebrations were usually born from.
Gently pushing on the door handle and swinging lightly into the room, the Shaman was greeted with various display cases, set up along the walls and clumped together in the centre of the room. At the back, situated between too lavishly adorned displays, was a small desk, no doubt the cashier's place; sat behind it was a frail old man, probably in his last quarter of life, selling whatever he could to pass down to his current family perhaps. "Good morning," Dorian greeted, his voice soft as he gently closed the door behind him. The old man lifted his gaze from whatever he had been working on behind the desk and gave a silent nod of acknowledgement; he was likely just as tired as Skrowe was, preparing for the onslaught of shoppers that Snowfell would bring into his store. Dorian was surprised he still had anything in stock; by now anything good would have been swept up.
Moving toward one of the centre clump of displays, the Shaman glanced over the various selections through the glass; the one he had picked on first was showing off various sets of earrings, with pearls and emeralds and other jewelled assortments, adorned in a range of artistic designs. Some were quite simple, minimalist one might say; but of course, many people appreciated those kinds of designs, the simple and blissful all represented in one. As they got higher in price, however, the designs became more intrinsic, more meaningful; emeralds and rubies adjoined to create a more Snowfell Festival theme, or perhaps a dashing collection of blacks and whites, to represent the balance, the yin and yang.
Dorian moved away from the earrings, instead looking towards the display that had been set up on the left side of the old man's desk; the woodwork was of a lavish design, the material quite gorgeous when contrasted together with the glass, most likely lumber cut from the trees in the surrounding forest. Through the glass, the Shaman picked out various different crystal orbs, some of them bland and simple, while others were extravagant and - obviously - quite a lot more expensive. He remembered hearing of some magic-oriented Adventurers using orbs such as these, linking them to their own mana and allowing them to channel magic through the crystal. Looking at his own currently equipped weaponry, he was lacking in something to channel his skills, utilising his hand, which often times proved to be to broad. With a free space for an extra weapon, perhaps a crystal ball might come in handy? But no, he had other things to focus on here in the village.
Shifting himself over, Dorian stood in front of the desk, gently tapping on the wooden surface to alert the old man to his presence. A subtle splutter and cough of surprise, the shopkeeper turned his chair to face the Shaman, his eyes straining to see through a pair of thin spectacles. Not bothering to use words, the old man merely gave a grunt, as if to ask what he was needed for. "Um... yes... would you happen to have a general price range for your crystal balls? I'm thinking of perhaps picking one up later." Another grunt, the old man pulled out a notepad, scribbling down a set of numbers before ripping the page off the top and handing it up to Dorian, who delicately retrieved it from the old man's calloused fingers. Inspecting the values written upon it, the Shaman gave a nod of thanks, before turning and exiting the building.
Stepping out into the open, fresh air, Dorian was startled to see another person stood at the bottom of the steps. A soft, yet stern-faced woman, donned in a lavish robe of crimson, her eyes trained upon the Shaman's face as he moved towards the end of the porch. "I see you have found your way here," she spoke, her voice calm and serene, but echoing a certain aura of power from it. This was a woman of the spirits; a priest of the Moon Spirit perhaps? "You... were expecting me?" She shook her head, lifting one of her arms up to gesture towards the giant orb that floated above the centre of the village. "The spirits expected you, young one. I merely listened." She turned swiftly, her long robe bending through the wind; looking over her shoulder, she gave a beckoning wave of her hand. "You have come to learn. Follow, and you shall find your answers."
Notes: Cherry Blossom Barrier Skill Learning - Part 5
Word Count: 1037
Tags: N/A
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2015 3:58:39 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
Following the woman, Dorian was escorted through the village outskirts, eventually reaching the more centralised area that housed the richer district; here, the houses were more intricately designed, their expensive price proudly displayed through the Oriental architecture, as well as the lavish gardens that sprung up in front of them. As they walked, the Shaman was unable to resist glancing around, amazed by the beauty that surrounded and enveloped the centre of the village. Eventually, the woman came to a halt in front of a large tree. At first glance, it wasn't really anything special, the only thing particularly intriguing about it being it's position - right in the middle of the village.
But, one extra glance revealed the true beauty of it; the Giant Sakura, as they called it here in the Moon Dance Village, it was an incredibly tall and enormously wide cherry blossom tree, the pink flowers covering the various branches that sprouted from the trunk. "Incredible," Dorian whispered softly, to which the woman in front of him merely turned and smiled. "The Giant Sakura is sacred, perhaps even more so than the Moon Spirit above..." She pointed up through the foliage that currently shaded them, directing the Shaman to look up.
Hovering solemnly above the Giant Sakura was the giant orb that he had seen earlier, first when arriving within the Moon Dance Forest, then again in the outskirts; it was quite the sight to see up close, however, even with all the branches blocking it. Through the cherry blossoms, Dorian saw the glowing swirling Moon Spirit at it's finest, floating in suspension above the tree, as if looking down over the village, a silent and calm protector. "The Moon Spirit... and yet, you say the Giant Sakura is more sacred?" The woman chuckled, gesturing forward towards the section of the trunk in front of them. "Within this Sakura tree, resides the Sakura Tree Spirit; where the Moon Spirit watches over us, the Tree Spirit protects the Spirit above. Both are sacred, but without this tree, our village would fall to nothing."
Then, suddenly, she turned back towards him. "You have come to learn this duty, this guardian's promise; and to learn from it. The power which you call 'Cherry Blossom Barrier', 'tis the natural embodiment of the Sakura Tree Spirit itself." Moving closer to Dorian, she made no attempt to ask him for his hand, simply wrapping her fingers sternly around his wrist and tugging on it. With little choice, the Shaman followed her lead, extending his hand out and placing it upon the trunk, spreading his digits out to squeeze his palm over the rigid bark. For a few seconds, here merely stood motionless, amazed by the cool feel of the tree's surface, as if it was completely made of ice. Then, in the blink of an eye, he felt a sudden force pull on his mind, and he was suddenly plunged into the Great Sakura; waiting for the crack of his head smashing into the bark, he was surprised when he felt... nothing.
It seemed like eternity; his form, his soul, merely floating through the void, unable to move, unable to speak. It was emptiness, but gradually he began to feel... something. A nagging tug, not so strong that it was yanking him, but not so light that he would not feel it at all; it was merely a soft drawing sensation, as if his soul was being beckoned through the darkness. Then, suddenly, as if by the snap of fingers, he felt a rush, a surge of feeling and emotion that burst past him, and the darkness was lit up with vibrant colours. Finding purchase on solid ground, or at least what he perceived was solid ground, he glanced around to find himself in the middle of a dense sakura forest. And then... a voice.
"Welcome, young Shaman. It has been some time since I have greeted one of your kind." Dorian glanced around for the source of the voice, but saw nothing; strangely, the voice seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once, but without any emotion or gender to it's tone. It was merely... calm. "I find myself somewhat confused... I don't know who you are, or where you are for that matter." As if on cue, a sudden burst of light erupted from the ground a few feet ahead of him, sprouting into a large sakura tree that towered over the rest. In that moment, it resembled a familiarity that Dorian could not quite describe, until he saw what lay above it, hovering on it's own; the Moon Spirit.
"You are... the Sakura Tree Spirit?" In answer, the tree began to collapse in on itself, it's wood and blossoms coalescing into the form of a radiant being, made completely of light, the colour of which resembled the cherry blossoms that had once grown upon it. Slowly, this being began to shrink, it's glowing form becoming smaller until it matched the Shaman in height. As the light dissipated, a young woman emerged, wearing a similar robe to the one worn by the woman he had just been conversing with, except instead of crimson, her garments were coloured that of the cherry blossoms. "If that is what you wish to call me, it is an apt name. The villagers could not fathom my true namesake, and saw fit to don me with one of their own. It will do." She smirked, approaching the Shaman with a graceful edge to her step.
"You have come to learn from me, yes?" The spirit posed it's question, continuing to walk as it circled Dorian, eyeing him with a calm yet impressively stern glare. "My powers... are nothing, compared to yours. I wish only to protect my friends, and to show those who have fallen to darkness the way of the light." The spirit, who Dorian had taken the liberty of calling Sakura, merely broke it's calm demeanour; it smirked, the expression dancing over her palette, and yet she remained as calm and poised as ever. "The way of the light is a difficult path; but it is gladdening to see it championed. But unfortunately, the world is not as black and white as you perceive it, and not everyone is worthy of saving." The Shaman blinked, looking down at the ground as he heard the undying wisdom of this ancient spirit. "However..."
Dorian glanced upwards once more, seeing Sakura standing directly in front of him. "Your goals are worthy, and I sense you tell the truth. But, if I am to pass on this boon of mine, you must pledge not to follow light, nor to fall to darkness; you must promise to protect balance, above all else. Do you so swear?" The Shaman stopped for a moment, contemplating what the spirit was asking him; long had he believed that with hope, the world could be saved. Many had thrown that belief into doubt, and now he stood here, his own values questioned. Could he do this? Cast aside his duty to protect and help others, all for the sake of balance? A sudden image played across his mind, and he saw the towering London Infirmary, his guild's house. What would they think, seeing him here, so unable to decide?
"No." His words echoed through the realm of the spirits, through Sakura's domain, his voice brushing through the cherry blossoms and dancing across the wind. "The world may be dark, and perhaps hope is not enough; but the light only fails when we stop fighting for it, and I will always fight for it." For a moment, everything was silent; Sakura simply remained motionless, her demeanour calm and unnerving - the patience of a spirit, no doubt. She finally glanced upwards, towards the Moon Spirit, staring at it for a few minutes before nodding, as if in agreement. "You... have passed." The Shaman blinked, his surprise clearly visible upon his visage, to which Sakura merely chuckled. Moving towards him, she placed her hand upon his forehead, closing her eyes as a sudden surge of energy transferred between herself and Dorian. "Go now, young Shaman... make the world light, give it the beacon of hope it requires."
Dorian suddenly plunged backwards, re-emerging from his brief disappearance into the spirit world, his hand still clasped upon the Great Sakura. Stepping back, he felt a strange tingle run down his back, and then a sudden searing sensation; it was as if his Ritual tattoos were beginning to spread and grow and change. "I think she likes you," the woman spoke, her crimson robe billowing through the wind. Dorian turned towards her, still wincing from the branding that had been placed upon his back. "She has a painful way of showing it." The woman merely chuckled, nodding her head before directing him onward. "Come, we must see how well you do with this new boon of yours." The Shaman glanced about - glad to see that there wasn't anyone staring at him and the escapade that had just occurred -before finally moving, standing straight as he followed the woman to the next part of the process.
Notes: Cherry Blossom Barrier Skill Learning - Part 6
Word Count: 1526
Tags: N/A
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2015 6:51:17 GMT
| Dorian HP: 100% MP: 100% |
"Concentrate on the power... Let the mana surge from your body and emerge as the sakura blossoms." The training had taken the better part of the afternoon, but it had all culminated in this one moment. Holding out his left hand, Dorian focused his mana, letting it flow within his body and conjuring it forth from his hand. "Cherry Blossom Barrier!" With a sudden wave of energy, the trio of target dummies that crowded near him were surrounded in a dazzling display of blossoming flowers, the pinks and whites coalescing together in a radiant barrier for each of them, protecting their forms. They had been set up for him to practice, and he had been at it all day before he finally achieved the skill just now.
Nodding her head, the crimson-robed woman pulled her lips into a smile, beckoning her hand out, gesturing for the Shaman to continue. For there was a second part to the skill that Dorian had not utilised before; whereas the Sakura Tree Spirit watches over the Moon Spirit through her protection of it's vulnerable aspects, it also uses it's unseen ferocity to systematically ward off and decimate any foes that would harm the balance and peace that the Moon Dance Village had so rightly created for itself. And with that knowledge in his mind, Dorian clenched his fist, bringing forth the wrath of his barriers and exploding the Sakura blossoms through the air, watching them lash out at the next set of dummies with blinding speed.
"You have done well; the Sakura Tree Spirit watches over you and is proud of your accomplishments." The woman stepped forth into the centre of the ring of dummies, holding out her hand towards the Shaman; politely taking it in his own, Dorian gave it a gentle shake of gratitude, bowing his head low with respect. "Thank her for me... And tell her, I'll use it well." Merely chuckling, she shook her head, stepping back slightly and outstretching her arms. "Young Shaman..." With a gentle breeze, her form suddenly dissipated into an array of cherry blossoms, the flowers lightly scattering into the wind. "I already know," beckoned a familiar voice, the words dancing over the air. He could almost see Sakura's face smiling at him through the clouds above.
Blinking slowly, the Shaman stared up into the sky, amazed by what he had just witnessed; or... more specifically, what he just heard. And with that, Dorian could not help but smile. I like her. We should visit her more often. The Shikigami always had a soft spot for other spirits, but this was a genuine, respected appreciation that the Shaman had not seen Skrowe share before. "I suspect we'll see her again; but I think now would be a good time to look into getting a house of our own here." The Shikigami nodded it's agreement, the pair smiling at each other through the metaphysical. "In any case, it seems we have more work ahead of us." With a whole new chapter of life ahead of them now, it was time they started making a bigger impact on the world; but, such things took time, and perhaps a little help from others...
"But first, I think I know just the place to set up our house," Dorian remarked, turning to head towards the outskirts of the village. If you're thinking what I'm thinking, I like it! The lake they had heard quite a bit about, situated down the stream that ran through the forest border, ending towards the east; it was secluded, peaceful, and would no doubt have quite a bit of spiritual energy floating about the air near it. The perfect place for a Shaman to set up shop. And, with his skills, he'd be able to protect himself quite well, the lake's waters allowing him to see the nearby area through the use of Holy Water Divination. It was practically beckoning for him. "Shall we then?" Dorian waited for the go ahead from Skrowe - which was merely a hummed nod of approval - before setting off in the direction of the lake; this was going to be an interesting day indeed. "To the lake then!"
Notes: Cherry Blossom Barrier Skill Learning - Part 7
Word Count: 698
Tags: N/A
Coded by @serenityspace of LH |
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