drewccapp

Moonfiend

I'm actually having a hard time working on a post for Vincent... I keep feeling like I'm missing something. I'll come back to this after I've had time to think and clarify things. I refuse to post anything until I'm completely happy with it :|

Lantern

Hahaha, she considers giving someone the protection of the Kith's masks to be a success. Even if she can't directly save someone an indirect save is better than nothing.

Lantern

"Do you?" There was a lilt of amusement in her voice. "Tell me, whom have you helped? Whose life is better now that they've met you? The boy who held that Lantern before you? The old pirate who tried to protect you? The spirits still bound to the Lord of Shadow? The river boy? Hania, Randold, Talan, Simon. Reus. Tyaelaem." Her eyes were cold.

Anise's heart sank at the names given. The people she failed. They had all died or suffered in some way for her to get here now. However, she would use their sacrifices to push herself forward to her goal. Towards success instead of failure. "My quest has not been easy, I know." She looked the Lady of the Pond directly in the eyes. "I cannot give up the path I started." After all, she had successes as well: the stranger with the red lantern and the Lady of the Pond herself.

She pressed a hand to her heart. "I am the first to be indebted to the Lady of Light, am I not? You've decided you have no enemies, that your intentions are pure. That you will never return to your throne at Riverforde and your husband-to-be, instead to restore the gods and spirits to a foreign land. To save us all."

She nodded once determinedly. That was right. She would abandon Riverforde and her fiance. She knew that returning there after this life changing experience would be a mistake. Her connection to that place was superficial now that she had time to experience this world. She had grown up behind the safety of Father's castle after all with nothing but stories as her outside experience. "That is right. I abandon Riverforde. I don't think I could ever be happy with returning there anyways."

Her smile broadened slowly, and she raised a thin hand. The gold-flecked water around the raft began to swirl and churn.

"I'm sure you've realized by now that it is not an accident that you were brought here, Anise Sinclair -- but it is not the reason you think."

Anise hardly noticed the water as her focus was completely on the Lady of the Pond before her. Maybe she was destined to be here. If it wasn't for the reason she believed then she would find out why. She doubted that the Lady of the Pond would tell her though, so she decided not to ask. This would be something she'd have to find out for herself.

Cold water rushed up out of the lake and surrounded Anise's head, filled her mouth and nose, forced itself down her throat. The blue Lantern did not react, but was only passive and hollow. It did not see danger.

Startled, Anise struggled slightly as the water enveloped her. She was surprised and shocked about what happened. She was choking, but something told her that she wasn't dying, and the fact that the Lantern did not react helped her stay calm somewhat. Somehow, she heard the Lady of the Pond's last words to her.

"You amuse me. You may well accomplish all you declare. But first you may wish to ask yourself what happened to the last Lady of Light."

Then all faded to black. When she came to she was drenched and closer to the shipwreck. She looked around searching for the Lady of the Pond, but to no avail. She noticed the blue rune glowing on her hand and slowly fading and closely watched it inspecting it before it became too hard to see. She then refocused her attention on the nearer shipwreck. She grabbed the pole and pushed the raft closer to the wreck understanding the danger she was approaching. She decided that she would deal with the gryphon as soon as it became an issue to deal with. Right now there was little she could do, but forge ahead and make her way to the next Lantern.

Lantern

I really really like how the direction of this RP is going. Feels good to be a part of an amazing story like this.

Lantern

You should read some of the older posts, Anise was outright murderous...

Lantern

Anise became slightly distracted by the beauty of the flecks of light within the water. The sight reminded her of the open and starry sky of Riverforde. Here, everything was different. It didn't take long for something to happen, however, she turned around to face the ship to see a strange and yet pretty woman.

"I suppose you want something in return, Princess Anise of Riverforde."

Anise curtsied. How did the spirit know her name? Oh right! She had told her through the Spirit lantern. She smiled at the spirit glad to see that she was well. "I'm glad you are well." She glanced off towards the shipwreck: her next objective. Then her gaze returned to the spirit.

She thought briefly on a response to the spirit's statement, but she already knew in her heart what her response was. There really could be no other answer than this. "Thank you, but I did not do this to be rewarded. I only wish to bring the Forest back from the dark place it has become." She remembered Tyaelaem's tale about how this forest was once a lively place before the dragon was sealed away. "I am no longer Princess of Riverforde. I am the Lady of Light and I wish only to protect and save those that need it." She hoped the Lady of the Pond understood that she was included in that statement.

She felt slightly nervous to say that. While she had declared that to the Dragon and its overwhelming presence to ward off its tempting her with power saying this to a Spirit of the Forest left her uncertain as to what would happen next. She was not ashamed to declare this however and that alone gave her courage. She put on a determined expression to show that she meant what she said.

Moonfiend

So I just got Jim Butcher's new book from his new series the Cinder Spires, and the map of the city in the book looks dangerously close to the map we're using for the RP. It's not the same, but they're similar.

Moonfiend

I think I'm going to wait to post instead of jumping right on it like I normally do.

Happiness

*watches waiting to strike hungrily*

Lantern

"I'm okay," Morly huffed grumpily, puffing his cheeks. "I have a thick head."

Anise smiled at that comment although Morly wouldn't be able to see it thanks to the hawk mask. The fire didn't seem to be growing any larger which was good; this forest didn't need another fire to burn it down. The condition that Reus was in concerned her, but he seemed to be moving fine. Anise hoped that he didn't stress himself out too hard. She noticed that the raft was moving faster than it should, which left her a bit impressed and quite happy as she wanted to quickly journey to the lake.

"Why are girls stupid?" he said finally, unable to contain his complaints. "They just ruin everything!"

This caused Anise to frown. Things went well despite the dangers and she had successfully saved his life. Whatever caused him to say this made her feel unappreciated. However, she decided to say nothing as to not agitate the Kith further.

"They steal stuff and go running off and they say they're gonna come back with glowfruits and they never do!"

Now she felt simply uncomfortable around the frustrated Kith. This one incident really had an impact. It was understandable, she guessed as he did just go through a life threatening situation, but he was alright now and it wouldn't happen again. She hoped that this ride would be done sooner than later. Just as she finished that thought, the raft came to a stop.

On either side of the river there were runes carved into the cliffs and the water in front of her opened up wide. She clasped her hands together in an expression of joy. They were at the lake! She could see in the distance was a shipwreck and a gryphon. It was armored and saddled, which told her that it must be a tamed creature. Although hunger wouldn't stop it from attacking her if it really wanted to. She then listened to Morly's explanation.

"If we cross this barrier the witch will get us," Morly whined loudly. Whatever pep talk Anise had given him before had been completely erased by his more recent experiences. "I don't get why we're even doing this. This is stupid. I'm not doing it. I'm not. You can borrow my raft if you have to but I'm not gonna be gryphon food, okay?"

A part of him just wanted to show off, but mostly the sight of the expanse of water had scared him. Morly put down the pole and immediately stepped off the edge of the raft, onto the water. He stood easily on the water's surface, his arms folded in refusal. "I'm the river master and peacekeeper," he informed her. "That barrier is war."

She nodded as she listened to him. "I understand, Morly, thank you. I won't force you into danger. I don't want you to get hurt on my behalf anyways." She then realized that Reus wouldn't be able to follow her much further as he couldn't fit on the raft and she imagined swimming in the lake was a dangerous action. "I will be borrowing your raft, thank you." By now she had accepted the fact that each mask had its own unique powers and was mostly unfazed by Morly stepping onto the water.

She grabbed the pole and began to awkwardly push the raft along. She didn't want to waste anymore time accomplishing her task. Morly made this look easier than it actually was, since it actually took a fair amount of effort to get the raft going, but once it started it only took the occasional push after that. Even then, it didn't go nearly as fast as when Morly was in control.

Once Anise got further into the lake she stopped the raft slowly. She kept the pole sturdy and pulled free the chain and stone that held the Lady of the Pond. "We're home." She took great effort into snapping the chain and then tossed the broken item into the lake just as Wendetae requested. This would be her first step into helping the Forest recover balance. She rubbed her hands to sooth them as they now ached from the metal of the chain pressing into her hands. She waited to see what happened next, all the while hoping that nothing came at her from the sky or the water.