Kaeli (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
savetreeswithaxe) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
eidolonic2015-01-28 09:30 pm
savetreeswithaxe) wrote in eidolonic2015-01-28 09:30 pm
Enchanted Forest meme
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.
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No, she definitely wasn't born when you left, Rath.Lugh shrugs. He wonders if it's odd or not, but he has no idea what's usual for the Sacaeans. It's not like Sue is very talkative.][Lugh draws back a little when he realizes that Rath wants him to get onto the horse. Yes, Sue rides one. So do Allen and Lance. Clarine, too, and she's probably the fussiest person in the army. but but Lugh has never understood how they manage to ride something that huge so effortlessly.]
W-what? But I can walk! I don't mind getting my feet wet.
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He kicks off his boots and picks them up with his free hand--no sense in getting them wet and possibly ruining them--then glances around quickly to make sure he isn't leaving anything behind. Boots, horse, arrows, bow slung over his shoulder... that's everything. With a nod to Lugh, Rath clucks his tongue at the horse and leads her into the brook.
The water is frigid, but only comes up to mid-calf. Rath decides to head downstream, if only because it'll be easier; he'll worry about directions once he's clear of this accursed forest. Carefully, mindful of his footing, he begins to wade along with the current.
...How do you know one of my tribeswomen? [He'll admit to being curious. The nomads generally don't have much contact with other nations, and while Sacaeans outside of Sacae aren't unheard of--he's met a few--they're far from common.]
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But he's s happy to start talking again once Rath asks about Sue. Not that Lugh truthfully has much he can say. He doesn't know her very well and as far as he does, she's not chatty.]
She joined us in Thria, when Roy brought us there--she helped us fight our way out after Marquess Orun's retainer betrayed Ostia. [That might be too much information, but Lugh can't hold his anger at Wagner in check. Not only did he kill his lord, he betrayed them to Bern. That's unforgivable.]
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Still, if there was fighting... that's hardly an easy thing to keep quiet. Yet there's been no talk of it. Does Hector even know? Rath considers for a moment, the only sound the splashing of their feet (and hooves) in the water until he speaks again.]
Who is 'us'? Who were you fighting?
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Bern, of course. We--we're the Lycian Alliance. Under Roy of Pherae.
[Is this man maybe a Bernese spy? Lugh wonders. Is it a trap? He would have thought that a spy would be someone ingratiating, maybe a thief or a mage like himself who could move lightly and disguised; a Sacaean tribesman is too conspicuous. But then, Lugh doesn't know anything about how spying actually works. There have been nomads on Bern's side, and he only has Rath's word that he's from the Kutolah.
Not that it would make sense for a spy to claim total ignorance, would it? Lugh waits for Rath's response, wary again.]
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The Lycian Alliance... [It's only been four days since Rath parted ways with the company to make his way back home to Sacae. Hardly enough time for betrayal, war, and the formation of an alliance. This is all sounding very suspicious. And who is Roy?]
...If Pherae leads this alliance, should it not be Lord Eliwood in command?
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anyway it's not like it's a secret.]
Well... no... he's too ill. That's why his son is leading us. [...]
[He's really trying to figure out how someone would not know this. Traveling maybe? But then how do you get back to Lycia without learning it?]
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[If Lord Eliwood has suddenly taken sick and there's war brewing, perhaps Rath should put off his homecoming for a little longer. His aid may be needed. But just how does this boy know any of this when Rath has heard none of it? And another thing...]
...And he has no children.
[This has gone from suspicious to just plain strange. Are they even talking about the same person? There can't be more than one Eliwood of Pherae, surely...]
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It's all too strange. Lugh decides to pick out the thing that jumps out the most from all of it.]
You... know Lord Eliwood?
[He stops as he asks the question. Lost-in-the-forest suddenly seems like a tiny matter.]
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[...Should he say more than that? The business with Nergal and the morphs and the dragons isn't common knowledge. Even though the threat has passed, if the general populace learned just how close they'd come to a second Scouring... well, it could be understandably upsetting.]
...I've fought alongside him.
[Hopefully that's vague enough. Rath says nothing further, in spite of the numerous questions swirling around in his head. He simply watches the boy impassively and awaits his response, ignoring the fact that his toes are going numb in the water.]
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You have? And--four days ago?!
[He tries to process this. Does that mean Lord Eliwood has recovered? Will he be coming to help them? But then Lugh puts it back together with the things Rath doesn't know, and it still doesn't make sense....]
You don't seem like you're lying, but....
[He trails off. Not lying, and not insane either. But that would be the only two things that would explain his story. Lugh just can't figure it out.]
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[That's a well-known fact. And no, he's not insane either... although the longer he spends in this maddening forest, the closer he's going to get. Rath clucks his tongue at the horse once again and continues walking, motioning with a slight tilt of his head for Lugh to come along or be left behind.]
You're not lying, either. [The boy's surprise and confusion are entirely genuine; Rath is sure of that much, at least. He frowns, gazing down at the stream as he walks.] Are you sure you haven't been misled?
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Ah--sorry, I didn't mean to call you a liar, it's just so strange.
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[The other names are unfamiliar to him, but Rath is starting to think he might need to meet this "Lord" Roy. This man must have powerful magics at his disposal if he can convince an army--and Marcus, of all people--that he's Eliwood's son.
And there's one more thing that seems out of place...] ...Lady Lilina? [Lord Uther had no wife or daughters, and Hector has no sisters as far as Rath is aware...]