Enchanted Forest meme

[savetreeswithaxe]

one → small quest it might be a rare herb or a cup of magic water, but someone’s life depends upon you going through these woods and getting it. will you find it right away? have to battle a witch for it? or maybe you don’t want to succeed at all.

two → lost how did you manage to get lost in these woods? you had that map, right? how did you even get to this part of the country? whatever happened, you’re stuck until someone helps you out. if they want you out in the first place.

three → chased these woods weren’t exactly the place you wanted to go, but you had no choice. innocent or guilty of a crime, or a victim of circumstance, these woods might buy you some time… wait. was that a wolf in the distance?

four → the old castle sometimes when you’re lost or wandering about, you see something really amazing or unusual. or something you were never meant to find. like that old abandoned castle people have been whispering about…

five → passing through the forest has a well-worn path that no one ever strays from, lest something magical happens to them. you’ve traveled it often enough, but just because you’re on the path doesn’t mean you’ll be left alone.

six → refuge it might be dark and cold, or entirely welcoming, but it’s the only place those nasty goons or insane villagers won’t follow you. but what exactly is keeping everyone else away from here? or did you want into some danger yourself?

seven → chance encounter it’s a fairy! no, wait, that was just an ogre. an ogre?! from sorcerers to talking deer, you can meet anything in an enchanted forest. so will you meet someone who wants to help you, or will they want to eat you instead?

eight → danger this forest doesn’t like newcomers, and the creatures don’t like humans. its ways are old and strange, and just because you’ve been able to enter it doesn’t mean you’ll be spared. no one likes trespassers, after all.

nine → large quest the forest might be the end of your quest, or it might be a large part of it. you’ve been fighting hard for a long time to rescue the princess or defeat the wizard, and this forest isn’t going to scare or defeat you. will it?

ten → spell trapped in an ancient oak tree? put under a sleeping curse? or maybe you’re the one who is causing that mischief from that little cottage you’ve hidden in the old forest people are learning to become wary of these days.

eleven → magical not all enchanted forests are scary! some of them are filled with sunlight, fairies, pretty little birds, and all those big-eyed creatures, all of them singing along with you, having a wonderfully good time.

Comments

[monster_san]

2!

[glorifiedtrash]

[Zelos had been given a list of directions before he came into this forest, but...]

They know I can't read Japanese right?!

[This whole quest he was on wasn't going as smoothly as he'd figured. Squinting at his piece of paper...]

Re: 2!

[monster_san]

[Fuu, meanwhile, had gotten no directions... she did have a magic compass, but the needle started spinning in circles a little while ago, and she's now wondering if people really do start walking in circles in the forest...

So another voice, although it's that of a flamboyant stranger, is not entirely unwelcome.]

Ah! Excuse me, sir, but perhaps I can help you with that? I can read Japanese.

[you know, because she is.]

[glorifiedtrash]

Ah? [He turns to look at the unexpected company.] You sure? It's all gibberish to me.

[But he holds out the paper to her. It's directions to a magic tower in the heart of the forest because WHY NOT.]

[monster_san]

[ALL MAGIC FORESTS NEED A TOWER, OBVS. She takes the map and looks it over.]

Ah! This may explain why my compass has stopped working--this tower probably interferes with it. [She frowns.] But I don't see any paths out of the forest...

[if this was an RPG... they'd need to head for the tower. And while Fuu is VERY LEERY of trusting RPG tropes these days, it's also the only landmark. So they might as well head for it than not.]

There appears to be a short path, which is marked as very dangerous, and a long winding path. Do you have a preference?

[Asking like she's talking about a preference between having sugar or not in his tea.]

[glorifiedtrash]

...You're asking that a little too casually, don't you think? If it's between my life and my time--

[...Well. He did tell his sister he'd be home to have dinner with her today. Disappointing her wouldn't be anything new, but it'd be a seriously depressing way to end the day.]

Aaah... Well you know what they say. The pretty die young! As long as we don't act too glamorous it should be okay. Let's take the short path!

[What...amazing reasoning. Truly a king among logicians.]

If you'd care to come with me anyway. I certainly can't read this thing.

[monster_san]

[At his complaint of 'too casual', Fuu just smiles brightly. But she is surprised that he decides on the more dangerous path... and at... his logic?]

[seriously Zelos she's from CLAMP you have just doomed their quest]

I'm afraid I haven't heard that saying... I certainly hope the monsters will abide by it. But as I am lost as well, I think it would be prudent for us to stick together.

Before we start, however, we should know each others' names! I'm Fuu Hououji.

[glorifiedtrash]

[He doesn't realize she can't turn off the pizazz, oops. THIS WILL GO WELL.]

Fuu, hunh... A cute name for a cute girl 🎵. You can call me Zelos. Zelos Wilder.

[He holds out his hand for hers.]

Nice to make your acquaintance ❤️.

[Though he's somewhat wondering what wondering what a kid is doing wandering around alone... She only looks fourteen or so.]

[monster_san]

[w-what um um what. TURNING RED NOW.]

Ah... likewise, Mr. Wilder! [because that's an English name, right? uh she'll just shake his hand and she was going to ask him about his abilities, if any, but you know what uh.] Shall we get going? We shouldn't dally here, I think.

[The shorter path does appear more inviting, with multicolored fairy lights drifting around. Much like the luminous organ on a deep-sea fangly fish. Fuu is visibly wary of them as she starts forward.]

[monpetitchat]

1

[scionoflegend]

[There is really no need for Owain to have his sword drawn. All they're doing is searching for a little village girl's lost kitten that ran off into the woods, but to look at him you'd think he was stalking a hungry lion.

...And to listen to him narrate their search, you'd think it was a hungry dragon.]

A foul shadow of evil looms over the Thicket of Eternal Deadly Peril, but our brave heroes press ever onward, undaunted! Fearing neither pain, nor death, nor... other equally unpleasant things, they vow nevermore to gaze upon the realm of light until their sacred quest is--ACK ptoo ptooy!

[Yep he just walked face-first into a massive spiderweb. Turns out his sword is good for something after all--flailing it around gets him free pretty quickly.]

...Beware, my lady! Vile Webs of Entanglement have been set to ensnare us!

[monpetitchat]

[Aire is honestly having a hard time believing this guy. She's taking the girl's request seriously, of course, but Owain's narration is something else.]

Whoa, watch out! [For a second she worries about how to get him out of the web but he takes care of it himself.] How about taking a look where you're going?! Before you blunder into a monster's teeth.

I think I'd better take the lead if we're going to find this poor kitten. [She tosses her hair and nearly strides off confidently... but she doesn't want to be eating her words, so she looks first. Which is good because the web's owner is waiting above them to see who lunch is. Aire whips out her Black Mage hat and casts a fire spell at it, but the spider is already dropping to the ground and she misses.] Look out!

[scionoflegend]

[Owain is carefully pulling residual web tendrils from his sword, and getting them stuck to his fingers instead, when sudden fire commands his attention. His first thought is to wonder where Aire's cool new hat came from... but then the spider drops down out of the shadows and Owain spots it.

...He was not expecting any, you know, actual deadly peril when he agreed to look for a cute little kitten.] Oh wow, that's a really huge--er, I mean HAVE AT YOU, LOATHSOME DENIZEN OF DEEPEST DARKNESS!

[And then Owain is dashing at the creature, quick to get over his surprise, sword raised and gripped tightly in both hands. He strikes at the nearest hairy leg, but the spider is fast, dropping down just beneath his swing and Owain instead slices through the string of webbing by which it was suspended. It hits the ground and immediately skitters back just out of reach, regarding them with multiple beady eyes as if deciding which of them will be the easiest to eat first.

Owain doesn't let it think long; with a shout he's slicing at legs again, driving the spider back off the path and into the denser forest.]

[monpetitchat]

[Let's not wonder too much about where the hats come from.]

[Aire hits the spider with another blast of fire at its rump as it runs off. Apparently it's not interested in any lunch that bites back, because it's hell-bent on retreating... at least, for now.

But that's fine with Aire. Kitty is her first priority.]

Don't go after it! Oh--[Hurriedly, she searches through the spiderweb, but there's nothing else in it. Whew. She pulls a little bag of kitty treats out of her boot and starts shaking it.] No shouting until we find it! We don't want to scare the poor little thing, do we?

[except it's. probably up a tree. That' where she would go--did go--as a scared kitty.]

[scionoflegend]

[That second blast of fire seems to do the trick, and the spider turns and flees as quickly as it can, soon vanishing into undergrowth and shadows, the rustling of leaves and grass the only clues as to where it's gone.

And if Owain heard Aire tell him not to go after it, there's no indication. He follows the sound, struggling and hacking his way through dense, tangled foliage... but he can't keep up. He finally stops and sheathes his sword, breathing hard, as he realizes he's lost his foe.]

...You've escaped your fate this day, evildoer! [Yeah he also conveniently ignored the part about not shouting. He shakes his fist in the air.] But woe upon you, should we chance to meet again! WOE, I SAY!

[Owain has lost the path and his companion as well, but it's not as though it will be difficult to follow his trail of hacked-up branches back. He does so, shoulders slumping dejectedly... and he's almost back on the path, wondering what it is that he hears shaking, when he hears something else. A faint mew.]

Hey, this way! Over here! [...And he's crashing through the bush again.]

[monpetitchat]

[Oh man, she thought she would never meet anyone more gung-ho than Brandt. SHE WAS WRONG. She covers her ears, which is kind of overdramatizing things herself.

She's not about to plunge into that brush after him unless she has to, so she waits, tapping her foot impatiently until she sees him reappear--and then plunge abruptly into the foliage again after the faint mewing noise.]

Whoa, whoa, hang on!

[She rushes after him and grabs his shoulder.

And then she meows back--it sounds really, uncannily like a genuine cat. The answer comes, as she feared, from above.]

...Are you any good at climbing trees? [She might be less of a brat than she used to be, but snags and sap and twigs in her hair? Still not unless she has to.]

[scionoflegend]

[Owain stops and turns as Aire grabs his shoulder.] Huh...? [...And then she meows.]

...

You... you can speak in the tongues of beasts! [His eyes are wide with amazement.] Oh man, that's so AWESOME! You have to teach me! ...I mean, not right now, of course. There are heroic deeds that need doing first. But upon our triumphant return to the village--

[The meowing above them grows louder and more insistent. Kitty does not like waiting longer than necessary to be rescued. And there, Owain finally spots the little patch of orange fur huddled in the branches overhead.

...Huddled quite high in the branches overhead. But Aire is welcome to be a brat, because Owain is more than happy to be the gallant savior.] Ha, I never met a tree I couldn't climb! [Never mind all the ones he fell out of as a child. Those don't count. He shouts up at the kitten.] Fear not, poor helpless feline, for I shall save you!

[The tree is sticky with sap and covered in ants. But heroes do not fear such things. Owain takes a running start at the trunk, and starts up.]

[bakedtarts]

2

[bloodofpride]

[...Forests. Rath may not have spent much time in them over the course of his life, plainsman as he is, but the ones he has spent time in have not done much to endear themselves to him. Dread Isle comes to mind.

This one is not quite that bad... at least not so far. It's not exactly proving to be enjoyable, either. The path he's been following, if it can be called that, is so narrow and twisted and entangled with roots and undergrowth that he long ago had to dismount and start leading his horse through. He's been walking for hours, just trying to get out, away from the closeness of the trees and back under the open sky... and he could swear he's crossed that little brook already. Twice.

He stops, and sighs. Might as well admit it--he's definitely lost.]

[bakedtarts]

[Lugh has been lost for a little while, long enough to start getting worried. What if the army moves on without him...? Well, no, Chad wouldn't let that happen, but what if he holds them up enough that Bern gets the advantage?

It's not good. And... now there's someone coming. Lugh quickly ducks behind a tree, holding his book close--it's a horseman. But when Lugh takes a peek, it's not a soldier--in fact it looks like he's Sacaean, like Sue. Maybe an ally? Not an enemy?]

Um... hello?

[it's kind of a risk, but if this is an enemy, Lugh is pretty sure he's more nimble in here than the stranger.]

[bloodofpride]

[At the sound of an unfamiliar voice, Rath whirls and plucks an arrow from his quiver, fitting it to his bowstring in one swift motion. He hadn't expected to encounter anyone here, be they friend or foe... but if it's the latter, and if that book the stranger is clutching is a magic tome, Rath knows he could be in some trouble. Not only will the boy's smaller size let him move about the trees more easily, but Rath is not accustomed to fighting on foot. And in the few seconds it would take him to mount up, a skilled mage could have a spell off.

Still, if this boy were an enemy, why call out a greeting when he could have simply attacked without giving himself away? Rath is silent as he ponders this, and holds the arrow ready, although he does not draw it back. His horse leans over the brook for a drink.

Eventually, he speaks.] ...Hello.

[bakedtarts]

[Lugh goes rigid when the stranger readies his bow, but the weapon isn't pointed at him yet. He doesn't say anything either, and the silence gets uncomfortable as he readies himself to dodge, but finally the man replies.]

Ah... you aren't working for Bern, are you?

[Better to ask that than anything about the Lycian Alliance. Lugh very much hopes the answer is no, because the horse is just drinking from the stream and that kind of... very normal thing makes it hard to work himself up to a fighting mood. If this man is Bern, though. Lugh will fight. He has to.]

[bloodofpride]

No. [The response comes quickly enough this time. What an odd question, though... they aren't in Bern, and Rath can think of no good reason why anyone affiliated with Bern would be wandering around in this forest.

...Granted, a Sacaean probably shouldn't be wandering around in this forest, either. The road went around it, leagues out of his way, and he'd thought to save some time on his long journey back to Sacae--back to his tribe--by cutting through.

So much for that. Seems like the road knew what it was doing by going around.

Rath studies the boy curiously. Perhaps he's run into some trouble with Bern... but that's his own business. Whatever the case, he hasn't made any move to attack, and Rath decides he's most likely not an enemy. He returns his arrow to his quiver and strides over to his horse, speaking to the stranger over his shoulder.]

Are you lost?

[bakedtarts]

[Whew. Lugh finally untenses when the Sacaean puts the arrow away. Now curiosity can take over: who is he? Why is he alone in the woods here? That's not a good place for horsemen, he's heard the two cavaliers complaining about it...]

Yeah, I--I am. I didn't think this forest was so big. [He takes a step closer.] Are you lost too? Maybe we can help each other find a way out.

[It's a risk; this man is still a stranger. But really, it's better than blundering around on his own.]

[bloodofpride]

[Rath reaches his horse's side and strokes her neck. She raises her head from the brook and looks at the stranger, water dripping from her nose.]

This path will take us nowhere. [Rath lifts the flap of his saddlebag as he speaks, reaching one hand inside.] It's brought me to this place three times now.

[He's sure of it now; he has crossed this brook twice before, and in this exact spot. The path is taking him in circles. It shouldn't be possible--his sense of direction is hardly so poor that he would fail to notice. But somehow, no matter how straight he thinks he's traveling, he's not getting anywhere.

He removes two pieces of jerky from the saddlebag, unwraps one for himself, and holds the other out for the boy. If he's been lost as long as Rath has, he must be getting hungry.]