Life, you found, is an experience that is hard for you to properly describe.
The act of describing something from within the privacy of your own mind is something that you take no small measure of pleasure in. It makes them clearer to you, it gave them a degree of meaning from deep within you. Allowing you to see them as them, for what they truly are for you. From the smallest of rocks to the very land that you lived on. You had tried to describe everything that you have seen using only your thoughts, and put a word to them for what you think they are meant to be. If for no other reason than that you could.
So far, you had managed to put some manner of opinions to all of them. No matter how small.
But life? You found yourself struggling to put any kind of word to it. Nothing ever seems to be really fit for it. Fit enough for something that is so broad, so undefined, and yet so personal for you. Not even after exhausting all the information that you had gained from the depths of knowledge that you still aren't quite sure the source of. No matter how hard you had tried, you still remain indecisive on what to think of it.
You found this difficulties that you are having to be....frustrating.
You aren't quite sure for how long did you have your life with you. Only that you did, and the moment that you did realized it was in such a long time ago.
Everything back then is pretty hazy as far as you can remember, with all of your actions back then being pretty murked up by simple baser instincts necesary only for your continued survival. Everything that you did, you just did them for the sake of prolonging your life. There's no deeper meanings behind your actions then. There's only a simple life, where all you did was living your days away ruled only by your instincts.
Those instincts do gradually fade away in time. Even though they lingered still. Colouring the way you see the world around you even to this day.
They are now mostly been replaced by clarity. Clarity of which you now used to think, to question, and to act. Where together, you used them all to determine exactly what you are.
Who you are.
You are....
[ ] A Creature: Body made out of flesh, and blood. You carve your own place in the world.
[ ] A Spirit: Born from hopes, and dreams of many. People's belief is both your strength, and your mission.
Your life after gaining your clarity has been pretty different since then. It is in some parts better than before, but worse in others.
The difference is just like night and day. Now that you can actually think for yourself, you have found many things in this world that you, if not enjoyed, then at least appreciate. Even the ones which had made your life all the harder.
Sometimes, you found yourself missing the days where all that you are concerned with is whatever it is infront of you at that moment. Because then you wouldn't even have the capacity to worry about your chances of living for another day. To worry of how you would get your next meal. How you are going to survive those who considered you theirs. Of how long you had been traveling from place to place, always hoping, and yet had never found the one place where you could just settle down for good.
A life where everything is just so simple.
You can't, however. No matter how much you longed for it.
Life is hard, you had found. What some considered good, more often than not is a detriment for others. You yourself is no exception to this. Many times in the past, you had taken from others what is theirs all for the purpose of fulfilling your own comfort. They too, in turn, had often times taken from you what is yours for much the same reason.
By living in this world, you had seen many things which you preferred to not had ever seen.
Yet, choosing to turn away from them also means choosing to turn away from what had made life to be so beautiful. As you had found many of what made life to be pleasant is also tied very closely to what had made it terrible. Such as the feeling of accomplisment you had felt after defeating a powerful foe, the joy you had expressed when you ate to your fullest after days of constant hunger, and the sheer level of contentment you had of knowing that you will live to see tomorrow yet again.
Life is hard, but there are things within it that makes them worth it to be had. You are sure of it. Even this very land that you are on, the only one you had ever known for all of your life, is the same. No matter how much it may had seem to want you to struggle for your life at times, it is still a place where if not home, then at least a place you are able to live with.
You are living in....
[ ] A Warm Forest
[ ] A Cold Cavern
[ ] A Scorching Desert
[ ] A Frozen Tundra
Alright, here we go. A New Quest right before a new year. Let's see how far can I go with this. Mythology had always been a favorite subject of mine, so I hope you all would enjoy this Quest.
"A creature with a good sense of hearing, and is very sociable. Pretty small compared to other Foxes though."
Health (+3)
AC (+10) Unstackable
Martial (-5)
Diplomacy (+5)
Intrigue (+10)
Type: Miraculous Deed
Worth: ☆☆☆☆☆
"On one day just like any other, a fennec fell into a very deep state of thirst after a long exhausting day exploring the mountains. The problem is, there is no water for it to drink as far as the fennec can see. So they howled at the sky three times and turns the day into a storm. Where it can then sate it's thirst for as much as it wants. For not even the sky dares to risk the fennec's ire."
Type: Minor Deed
Worth: ☆
"Far and wide did the Fennec explore the desert, the longer still was their search. Yet patient was the Fennec and bore fruit thus their perseverance. For between the Horns did they discovered an old tree. Tall and imposing it was, but also warm and welcoming. So underneath it's roots was where the Fennec did finally build their den. For food was aplenty, and the home is warm."
Type: Major Deed
Worth: ☆☆☆
"Yearning for peace, the Fennec dug through soil with ambition burning inside their heart. Seeking to make a refuge where pain and suffering can't find them while they are within the twisting dark paths hidden deep beneath the surface."
Type: Major Deed
Worth: ☆☆☆
"Long ago, in the hilled land of the Sun, lives the Slyvans of old in a peaceful harmony with their surrounding nature. So flourish was the Slyvans, a starving Rat began to devour everything that they have out of Greed and Envy. Bringing death and suffering to the once beautiful land."
"Devastated by the atrocity before them, a passing great Fennec then, in their mercy, began to struck down the Rat for all of their vile acts. Biting the rotten creature's head off as punishment for the sins they had committed. For we are the Gods beloved race, and in their worship, we shall always be protected from evil that would do us harm."
The Scorching Desert. The land of sand, and heat. Where the wind is strong and where the water is scarce. Deep inside these unforgiving plains where all life hangs in a balance, you sat alone atop one of it's many sandy hills, letting out a soft sigh. Watching serenely as the ball of intense light called the sun dissappeared slowly over in the distance, creating quite a colourful view by how their light envelops the land in a variety of red, purple, and deep shadows. Giving the harsh land before you a breath of personality that you usually didn't have the chance to see.
Funny, how a place as dangerous as the Blistering Dunes can be so beautiful at times. You thought as you shifted slightly from your comfortable position. Eyes still lazily transfixed by the spectacle that you had often saw, yet rare to just sit and admire.
It is really not often that the desert let you have a time of quiet such as this. Out of all the words that you have known in your life, kind is not something that you would associate with the land in which you dwelled. It is in peaceful moments like these however, is when you ruminate about how your life in the Desert might not be as bad as you had once thought.
Unbidden, you let your thoughts continue from where it was left before. A creature is what you are. This, you know for a certain. A being which lives off the land among many other creatures, competing with one another for any kind of resources that would benefit yourself in any way. All for the sake of survival. That is what you are.
And yet. You pondered deeply from within your mind as you silently watch the sun's ongoing dead throes, slowly making everything around you dimmer and darker. That is not everything that you are all made out of, isn't it?
You have seen many other creatures before in your life. You all come in a variety of shapes, and sizes. All of you are creatures, yet not one of you is the same.
Some creatures that you had met are so small, you are barely able to see them, while others you had seen from afar are just as big as the hill under you, or mayhaps even bigger.
There are other creatures that looks similar to you, but for one reason or another not exactly the same. They could either have a number of extra limbs, or maybe even lesser. The way they viewed the world might be something that you couldn't comprehend. It could also even be something as simple as the colour of their body being what is different.
Each and everyone of you is a creature, but none of you is exactly the same. There seems to always be something more. Something that differentiate you from one another.
If that is the case, then what is yours? Just what is it, that makes you more than just any mere creature? What is it that makes you different from the rest?
You are....
[ ] An Eagle
[ ] A Vulture
[ ] A Jackal
[ ] A Lion
[ ] A Crocodile
[ ] A Snake
[ ] A Scorpion
[ ] A Centipede
[ ] Write-In Any Desert Fauna
You can't stay here contemplating about your life or what you are for any longer however. The sun had just been swallowed by the land once again, and soon enough the rest of their light. Darkness would come then, and those who are as old as you know that they are no friend for the careless.
A moment was spend considering whether staying where you are now is wise, but you dismiss such thoughts quickly. This area is foreign to you, it's dangers unknown. You are only here to take a look, and now that you had done so, it is time for you to take your leave before the place becomes too lively.
Decision made, you thus raise yourself from your resting place with a huff. Stretching your limbs away to snap them awake, and ready for whatever trouble you would face in your journey to a far more familiar territory. It wouldn't be long, but who knows what you might found on the way there.
Wonder how long until I would get a chance to do something like this again. You thought to yourself in quiet longing as you move sedately to your destination. Towards the one part of the desert that you have known for the most. To the place where you had been staying ever since you were born.
To the closest place to what you can call as home.
You are going to....
[ ] The Great River
[ ] The Howling Canyons
[ ] The Red Valley
[ ] The Blistering Dunes
[ ] The Wild Savanna
-/-/-/-/-
Alright, after this we delve straight to the first turn. No name or something more personal yet, we would get there soon.
Also, whichever animal that you picked, you would at least be as large as a bear.
The time it took for you to arrive to your destination really isn't long. By the time you do get there from the edges of the Blistering Dunes to the Red Valley proper, the moon hasn't even reached the top of the sky yet, and you would be lying if you had said seeing the familar sight of the plains completely surrounded by red rocks to not have evoked a strange feeling of comfort from within you.
The night had truly come by then, and with it, the departure of all heat the sun just kept on sending out back during the day. The visibility isn't really good, even with all the stars helping you out, but you can make do with your excellent pair of ears. Unlike some other Creatures, you are perfectly fine with the dark.
It is your time now and with it, all that you need to start your night perfectly is some water for you to drink. Because my oh my, you are parched. Walking while the sun is still out really does not giving you any favors.
And wouldn't you know it? You found water somewhere nearby! Now, it truly is perfect.
If it wasn't for one tiny little problem waiting directly right next to it.
*Growllll*
That.
Upon perceiving the sound, you can feel your body beginning to tense up in anticipation, and it took some conscious effort from your part to not reflexively growl back in return to it's sender who is staying right beside the big pond of water that you are after. As you know exactly what that sound he is making actually meant.
A warning.
"Back away, fox. If you know exactly what is good for you."
Strong elongated jaws, a body compromised entirely without fur, and a set of pretty long spindly limbs. He seems to be some sort of canine. Roughly the same size as you, if not slightly bigger.
And he doesn't look happy. You thought as you watched him warily. Berating yourself in your mind for completely missing the canine's scent.
He does, however, looks pretty underfed judging by how skinny he was. Must not have a pretty good luck when hunting. Even still, you aren't exactly what you would call a fighter. A fight with him would still be pretty tough were you to let it break out.
If you let it break out. You mentally corrected as you began to slowly tread yourself towards him. Making him act much more aggresively, but also allowing him to see your muzzle much more clearer.
"Easy there. Easy." You said to him with a smile. Stopping where you think you might be just barely out of his range. "I did not come here looking for a fight. I smelled your water there from the distance, and was wondering whether you would like to share?"
At your question, the canine only seems to get angrier.
"And what." He growled again. "Made you think I would give even a single drop to you? I found it first. It belongs to me!"
Your response is to continue acting nonchalant. Even somewhat friendly. "Oh, come on friend. Don't be like that. There's enough water in that pond for the two of us and one more. The night had barely even started. Surely, you wouldn't want to waste all of your energy on me when you still have some hunting to do. Because I assure you, I will have that water, Mister."
"And let you attack me when you get closer? Do you take me for a fool!?"
"Look. You can have your fill of the water first. I would stay here until you leave. Only then would I take my drink." You said to him as you close your eyes with a sigh. Only to immediately snap them wide open after hearing his answer.
"What stopping me from just killing you, and eating your remains then, Fox?"
Oh come on! Back to death threats!?
"Looking like that?" You made a show of giving him a once over before visibly snorting. "No you wouldn't. I am not exactly an easy prey."
"Oh, really?" He threatened. Taking a step closer to you.
"Wanna bet?" You grinned as you set your body low to the ground. Waiting for his next move.
For a few moments, all the canine did was glaring absolute murder at you. Not saying anything nor approaching you any closer. Making you very very antsy until....
"Do not move a muscle." He finally warned you with a snarl.
Perfect! You mentally shouted, but from the outside, all you did was letting out a happy yip.
After that, things move along exactly the way you wanted it to. The canine had his drink first, warily watching you from the beginning to the end for any signs of treachery from your part. Not trusting you in the slightest.
A gesture which you also returned. By doing your very best of watching him without making any single move. Your tail being the only exception. As it quite often does. No matter what you do, it just kept swinging around back and fort from behind you without a care.
You can only hope the friendly smile you wear on your muzzle during the entire process would be enough to mollify him.
In the end, the canine decided to leave without anymore exchange of words. Still putting an eye on you even after walking a few meters away from the pond. He keeps on doing it until he suddenly make a run for it after making a far enough distance from you. Where he then eventually vanish completely from your sight.
You keep your guard up until you are convinced he is gone for good. Once you are sure, you let out a small sigh of relief. Glad for resolving the situation without any bloodshed.
You made your way towards the pond then. Not wanting to wait any longer for your portion of the water, only to scowl slightly after seeing how there is only so little of the water that was left. Far less than what it should have been.
You kind of expected it, but really? Drinking almost a third of his bodyweight in water just to spite you? Really?
Welp. You thought with a grimace. There's nothing that I can do about it now. At least he didn't drink all of it.
Before you could bend down to had your fill however, you managed to caught sight of your muzzle in the pond's reflection, and after seeing it you can't help yourself but to wonder.
That isn't your first encounter with a fellow Creature that went just like this. You had many that is similar. Infact, the canine is far from the worse that you had met. Unlike some others, he at least didn't attack you for even once.
You know why they did what they did. Sometimes, you had done exactly the same as what they did when the situation got tough. In their minds, survival is everything. It is hard to put your trust to any strangers when you had that as your number one priority.
So far, things kept on repeating itself over and over again. There are slight differences in them, but at the core of it they are the same.
And you do not like that. You really did not like how your life seems to be unchanging. You want them to change. You do not want it to be the same. You want to do something different with your life!
It's a little bit strange for you to think so negatively about something which had become your routine like this, but the reason why you did so now is because of the one thing you had only just recently noticed. You had improved.
They weren't very big, and you aren't certain you had managed to caught every single one of the changes that you have so far, but you can however confirm that you did, for some reason, improved in some ways. The most obvious one being your hearing. Infact, if you were to focus yourself, you can still faintly hear the sound of the canine even after so much time had passed.
The most important thing however, is how you are certain you are still very much capable of improving even more. Even though you really didn't know how, but the fact that you could in the first place is what important. As with improvement, come changes.
There are so many possible ways for you to improve you almost couldn't even imagine it. In the future, you can be so good at talking, if you were to found yourself in the similar situation like what you just had with the canine, you could not only convince them to drink together with you, you could also even convince them to be your friends! They would not want to hurt you then.
Or you could be very very sneaky. So sneaky, you could just howl on their faces, and they wouldn't even notice a thing! You can't hurt what you couldn't even find after all.
Or you could even be so strong, you wouldn't even need to pay even a single attention if they were to attack you. You could just ignore them entirely!
All of this is possible for you. As long as you are to keep surviving. Just keep on surviving until you don't even need to.
You can just live.
That is why, in the future, you would be better. You will make sure of it.
And with that happy thought floating merrily from within your mind. You finally had your drink.
What face did you saw in the pond? You see....
[ ] Picture 1
[ ] Picture 2
[ ] Picture 3
[ ] Write-In
-/-/-/-/-
Each turn you will have 1 Major Action, and 3 Minor Actions. You can spend 2 Minor Actions to do a second Major Action.
For now, unless there is an opposing roll, all actions will have the DC of 20/40/80.
Votes will be in the Plan format.
Major Action
[ ] New Ownership: You think this is finally the time for you to settle down somewhere. Truly made a home for yourself. The problem is, most of the good den spots in the Red Valley must have been taken already as someone else's territory. You would need to do something big to make them even consider wanting to part away with it.
-[ ] The White Meadows
-[ ] The Barren Cliffs
-[ ] The Rocky Mountains
-[ ] The Twin Horned Mountain
[ ] Is This Good Enough?: Or, you could, however, go look for a new territory. One that is just for you. The Red Valley is massive. There has to be some good unoccupied spots left for you to build your own den somewhere, right? Right?
-[ ] The White Meadows
-[ ] The Barren Cliffs
-[ ] The Rocky Mountains
-[ ] The Twin Horned Mountain
[ ] Cold Night: Usually, your fur is enough for you to keep your warm up when the sun is down. It just sometimes got very cold during the night. Even to the point where you feel you don't have your fur in the first place. Maybe you can do something in preparation?
[ ] WATER: You can't take it anymore. You are THIRSTYYYYYYYY!! Just where in the world is the water!? Oh, you are sure you would find it eventually if only you were to look for it longer, but you don't wanna! You want water, and you want it now!
[ ] Write-In
Minor Action
[ ] Sightseeing: You had been to every distinguishable location in the Red Valley before, you are sure of it. You're not really seeing anything that looks important while being there though. Let's see if you could found something interesting in some of them this time around.
-[ ] The White Meadows
-[ ] The Barren Cliffs
-[ ] The Rocky Mountains
-[ ] The Twin Horned Mountain
[ ] Hello There!: You are quite lonely. It has been a while ever since you got your last friendly conversation with somebody. Well, it is time for you to remedy that then! All you need to do is to keep bothering someone until they would want to talk with you. Easy.
-[ ] A Random Creature
[ ] Predator & Prey: You didn't need to do this as often as you did before for some reason, but you still remembered clearly just what it was like. To a Creature like you, survival is everything, and you survived by preying on others that is weaker than you. It is sad, but they do taste pretty good.
[ ] Veggies?: On the other paw, you did managed to learn of how to live yourself off by consuming plants. It's a bit hard for you to figure out just which part of them that you could actually eat at first, but eventually you did figure them out. They weren't very filling, but they at least didn't talk quite as much.
[ ] Moving Out: You do not want to stay in this area anymore. It is time for you to go to a new place.
-[ ] The Great River
-[ ] The Howling Canyons
-[ ] The Blistering Dunes
-[ ] The Wild Savanna
[ ] Write-In
-/-/-/-/-
My advice? When you are doing something, commit to it. To a God, every single action that they did reflects just who and what they are.
Also, I am very happy to finish this chapter while we are still within range of the new year. Making it truly feels like a new beginning for the Quest. Happy New Year everyone!
[X] Plan: Investigating the Mountain
-[X] Is This Good Enough?: Or, you could, however, go look for a new territory. One that is just for you. The Red Valley is massive. There has to be some good unoccupied spots left for you to build your own den somewhere, right? Right?
--[X] The Twin Horned Mountain
-[X] Sightseeing:
--[X] The Twin Horned Mountain
-[X] WATER
[X] Picture 4
-/-/-/-/-
Out of all the places in the Scorching Desert that you had visited, the Twin Horned Mountain is definitely among the most memorable one. It is largely due to it's unique looking shape of appearing like a very big pair of horns belonging to some great creature if you were to see it from the distance, but it is also because most of the creatures that lives there is a little bit friendlier to you than most.
The Twin Horned Mountain, despite the name, isn't actually solely made out of those two horn looking mountains. They were just the biggest ones around. There exist many smaller mountains surrounding and separating the two that made it very difficult for any creature to pass through this eastern most area of the Red Valley to whatever it is on the other side. Well, any creature that is incapable of flight that is.
Like any other area in the Red Valley, with the exception of the Barren Cliffs for obvious reasons, the place also isn't as barren as the rest of the Scorched Desert. Plant life is able to grow here, albeit with much painstaking effort. The reason for this is because when rain do occasionally falls, a temporary river would form that would flow from somewhere in between the two horns all the way down to the small lake in the White Meadows. This river is also big enough that all the water in it wouldn't just dry up immediately after the rain goes away. It would instead formed up into multiple small groupings of water holes called a wadi that the surrounding creatures would then use for their survival until the next rain arrives.
Here and there, you could see some small patches of grey grass that were able to eke out a living for themself on these mountains. Along with the occasional lone trees that looks only mere days away from dying. It is the existance of these hardy stubborn plants that made the creatures around here to be much friendlier with you, because with them around they weren't very desperate for food, which is also the main reason why you wanted to move here in the first place for at least a long while.
While there are a lot of different creatures that also exist in these mountains such as the frogs living around the wadis and the rats making a burrow at any small hole that they could find, the area seems to be dominated by two different kind of creatures; the cats and the goats. With the cats ruling using their might while the goats ruling using their numbers. Each of them also seems to have some kind of ruler among them that took one out of the twin mountain horn for themself.
On the western horn. The mountain is ruled by a cat creature that called herself the Leopard. A large feline with some odd looking patterns on her brilliant blue fur. It was said that she is the strongest cat alive in the Red Valley. Where she had apparantly able to beat off every other cat that had challanged her for her rule with an unbelieveable tenacity on her part. Even if she is againts a cat that is a lot bigger than her. Some of the creatures that you had talked with also tells you how she seemed to be following a very weird rule of hunting, even though they couldn't exactly tell you what they are. Curiously, she also seems to be missing an eye. Where it was said in it's place were a nasty looking scars that somehow still smells fresh.
Meanwhile, on the opposite horn in the east, it's ruler seems to be some kind of creature with an equally great singular horn himself, with the one he had on his left being seemingly broken sometimes in the past. He seemed to be some kind of goat with fur as red or even redder than the Red Valley itself. Every creature that you had met seemed to have some kind of unspoken agreement with each other to avoid the red goat whenever possible, (even the other goats), as he apparantly just charges immediately head first towards any creature that he met no matter what the situation, and is strong enough to mow down literally anyone with it in a single go. Hence how he become one of the Twin Horned Mountain's ruler by the sheer virtue of absolutely no creature wanting to stay even remotely close to him.
These are the results of what you can gather by looking around and briefly talking with the few creatures on your way that are willing to talk with you for even a moment. There are many of your questions that hasn't been answered, but for the most part you are happy with how much you had found out about the mountains while also being on the look out for a good spot to make a burrow. Looking back, you had also enjoyed the many friendly conversations that you had managed to make with the local creatures. Three out of a dozen is a lot more than what you had been expecting honestly.
Of course, there is also a few creatures that thought you would make an easy meal just because you are willing to talk at all. Most of them didn't actually do anything the moment you actually bare your teeth, and showing them that yes, they are sharp. Not wanting to risk an injury from a creature that is more than willing to fight back againts them.
You usually just leave them to their own problems at that point on, and avoid any area that they were in as much as you could. There is however, a single persistent cat creature that just doesn't seem to want leaving you alone. You often found her stalking you from a distance using your ears, and she usually backs off immediately the moment you talked or growled in her direction to show her you know she is there. Only to found her coming back again in the next day doing the exact same thing. Making you very annoyed.
One day, you can no longer hear her anywhere even close to you, and thinking she had finally given up, you then decided to finally take a nap under a random tree with a decent coverage on it near a mountain face after days of restless sleep that you had while being constantly on guard. Thinking you can finally have some rest. Only to wake up suddenly to the sight of her mid leap trying to pounce on you. Roaring triumphantly.
"Okay. Enough is enough!" You snarled as you whip your tail to her surprised face. Knocking her harshly to a nearby rock wall close to where you have been resting. Before she could even recover, you are on her already. Biting and clawing at her neck in immense fury of just how annoying this feline jerk is currently being.
Unfortunately, her mass is roughly the same as yours, and while you did manage to get up just in time, you are still pretty drowzy for waking up so suddenly. Giving her just the opportunity that she needs to escape your grasp and ran away as if her life depends on it. Because it was.
Hopefully, this would be the last time you will saw of her. You had managed to draw quite a bit of blood in the brief tussle that you had with her on the ground. With some luck, she will learn from this experience and will try not to have another go at something that is clearly beyond her.
Your rest ruined, you then decided to forgo it entirely and just go look around your surroundings for some water for you to drink. You need it to calm yourself down after what you just had.
Unfortunately, life seems to be in her cruel phase at the moment.
"Why is all the wadis dry already? Is it just my luck or what? All I want is just some water." You whined on top of a particular high ground overlooking a small wide area. The sun still shining uncaringly with unbearable heat to all who is below it including you. With an empty wadi sitting just right behind you with no water whatsoever within it.
It is not fair. I tried to be patient, but she just wouldn't have it. And now when I just want some water to drink for myself, I couldn't even get it? WHY!? You thought to yourself morosely. Unbelieving of just how bad your luck is today. Not being able to find any water even in the place where you are most likely to find them. Add in what had happened just prior to this, you can safely say today is a very miserable day for a Fennec. A very miserable day for you.
"Where in the world is the water!?" You finally yelled to absolutely no one. Feeling all of the frustrations that you are trying to suppress from within you to suddenly spiked and surged up so strongly like a freak flood out of literally nowhere. Completely filling your entire being even for just a moment. And with it you....
What are you doing? You....
[ ] howled to your damn loudest to the sky.
You howled. Straightening your small body up to it's fullest extent, you howled towards the sky at the top of your lungs. Drawing it out for as long as you can. Making sure the sound of your voice is spread to the entirety of the Twin Horned Mountain. Letting all who reside within it knows of your frustration, of how you can possibly be sated, and how you want somebody to take care of it. Right. THIS. INSTANT!
And then, as if it were answering your call, the sky responded.
They come from seemingly everywhere. From the north, the east, the west, and the south. They all come. One after the other, the once clear blue sky far above you is quickly being covered up by fast moving clouds merely moments after your howl. They only occupied a small part of the sky at first, but before you have even realized it, most of the sky had already been blanketed by them. All swirling together rapidly into a gigantic vortex of clouds, forming a shining bright center in the middle that took a shape similar to an eye. Located directly on top of the mountain where you are currently staying on.
After that, everything began to slow down. The wind had suddenly stopped blowing, and with it, the world had seemingly been engulfed by silence. Nothing is making a sound. Not even for a breath. The clouds are the only exception. They are drifting slowly in the sky above, circling the eye againts one another following an unfamiliar pattern. Faint sound of rumble can be heard from within them along with the occasional flickering of bright flashing light. Combined together, the sky above you acts more like a disgruntled half awake creature than whatever it was before.
The eye, however, remained stationary. It has not moved from the spot where it had first appeared at all. Staying exactly in the place where they can easily looked down upon your perch above your small measly rock. Where they can just wait and listen to what you had to say to them first before anything else.
You however, don't really care about any of that. What actually matters to you is how slow they are with all of this nonsense. Just where is the water? Why aren't they bringing it to you yet? Questions along a similar line of thoughts like those is what currently is passing through your mind, and with the narrowing of your eyes, you howled towards the sky for the second time. Demanding it to do whatever it was doing faster. Ordering it to give you exactly what you have wanted from them without anymore delay.
Immediately, the vast ocean of fluffy white clouds far above you becomes ominous and pitch black. The faint sound of rumble from before had now become deafening, and the flicker of light become blinding. Whatever it was that blocked the wind before is now also gone, and in it's place is a fierce gale of wind that wears down on everything around you. Turning the already desolate mountain that you are on to a slightly more broken state than what it was just before.
The cause of all of this is obvious. The sky is angry. They are indignant of your choice of words, irritated by your demand, and is affronted by the order you had given to it. Even though they were the one to answer your call, now they are refusing to give you what you have wanted from them just out of pure spite. Even to the point of them threatening you just to get their intentions clear.
And you will have exactly none of it. That is why, you then took a long and a very deep breath. Ignoring all of the ongoing havoc surrounding you to instead gather all of the air that you can down to deep within your lungs. Containing them all there close to your heart where you can take even just a moment to focus on yourself, empowering them before releasing all of the air you had just collected at once to the uppity haughty sky that dare to refuse you.
FALL NOW!!! You howled.
And fall thus the sky.
The rain, no, the storm that falls did not come slowly. Not in the slightest. It comes with the haste of a frightened little kit that is being scolded by their parent; it comes quickly, without even a moment of delay. At once, a vast amount of water is now being poured down from sky. Completely drenching the Twin Horned Mountain to it's entirety. Soon enough, all of the wadis are filled to the brim. Their overflow forming the raging river that had rarely even exist in these barren landscape. Changing your surroundings extensively with such speed that you had almost couldn't believe was actually even possible.
So, within seconds after your third howl, the Twin Horned Mountain experienced it's day of big rainfall far sooner than anyone had expected. Catching every being within it completely unprepared.
"Yip! Yip, yip! Yip!"
You however, barely took notice of it all happening. Prefering to instead guzzle down on the water that falls straight into your awaiting open muzzle. Yipping over and over again after each gulp as if you are just a young vigorous kit. All the while jumping around excitedly in the middle of a strong gusting wind that while it may have calmed down somewhat, it is still a fierce enough wind that could knock some creature over if they weren't careful. Exactly just like the way you are right now.
You however are just simply relishing the refreshing feeling that you had on your throat for way too much to even consider pretending that you care about what is going on. The taste of water after all that had happened on this day is just way too good. This intense feeling of satisfaction that you are now feeling is just too good. You can't just seem to take enough of it.
This immense sense of fulfillment from deep within you is just too much.
Gained A Miraculous Deed: Storm Howl.
"On one day just like any other, a fennec fell into a very deep state of thirst after a long exhausting day exploring the mountains. The problem is, there is no water for it to drink as far as the fennec can see. So they howled at the sky three times and turns the day into a storm. Where it can then sate it's thirst for as much as it wants. For not even the sky dares to risk the fennec's ire."
You do not know for how long did you stay there on top of the rock that is currently being in danger of being carried away by the newly formed river current that is now surrounding it. Only that it couldn't possibly be for very long time because the light that had just been the eye of the sky had barely even moved from it's position before it had suddenly disappeared amidst the clouds after your third howl of today. In any case, you are much more interested in taking a few more gulps of water for now before pondering on abou-
Whis~?
Flinching at the faint unfamiliar sound amidst the ongoing storm, you immediately turns your head around to the direction where the strange sound had just originated from, wary of potential new threats that may have wanted to use your moment of being distracted just like the cat from earlier. After quickly finding the source of it downhill near the base of the mountain, you can't help yourself but to become momentarily baffled after taking a single look at what, or rather who, had just been making that strange noise that you had never even heard of before.
There's only seems to be two of them down there. They are an odd looking creatures that seems to stand upright on top of their hind legs for some reason. Taking that into an account, the rest of their four limbs seems to be placed weirdly on their side where they can move around much more freely than what you had normally been used to see. Their skin also looks like they have a bark like quality on them somehow, and there are some weird growths on their head that looks like they are far more fitting to exist at a base of a beautiful flower than on a creature like them.
Overall, they are definitely the strangest pair of creature that you have ever seen during your entire life. You mused as you watch them safely on your perch above your precarious rock, before being surprised again after seeing their back unfolds suddenly into a pair of insect like wings that they then used to quickly fly away, rather clumsily you might say, to somewhere deeper into the red goat's territory in the eastern mountain horn.
You considered for a moment to give them a chase, but ultimately decided againts it. If they didn't mess with me then I wouldn't mess with them. You thought as you leaps away from your rock that had finally crumbles before the current it had unfortunately found itself in. Where after taking a few more gulps of water beside the still raging river, you then began to make track towards the few places that you had found during your look around the mountains where you can possible use one of them to make a good long term den for yourself.
There are a few ways that you can use to make your own den. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknessess, but for the most part? You can only choose one of them to make your home with.
In what manner will you make your den?
[ ] You will make your home in the same manner as you had always do, by digging it, only bigger. A large and spacious den beneath one of the smaller mountains surrounding the twin horns could have never do you any wrong.
[ ] Maybe a slight variation would also be nice for your new long term home. A den made underneath the roots of a large old tree that you had found on a mountain between the twin horns does sounds lovely.
[ ] Or, maybe you could try for something new? The local cats seems to be perfectly fine with sleeping on top a pile of big rocks. Just what is it that they found so comfortable with it?
[X] Maybe a slight variation would also be nice for your new long term home. A den made underneath the roots of a large old tree that you had found on a mountain between the twin horns does sounds lovely.
-/-/-/-/-
Usually, water had always been a resource to be treasured in the Scorched Desert. For their presence was fleeting, and their absence means death. The life of all creatures on these arid lands relies heavily on their capability of finding any source of moisture for themselves before their bodies became nothing more than a shriveled dried up husk. Even the Red Valley, the land where water isn't as scarce, is not an exception to this harsh truth of the desert. Or at least, it was supposed to be.
For days now, the Red Valley had been under the constant onslaught by the sudden arrival of the heaviest and the most relentless rainstorm the valley had ever seen. It's coming had caught many unprepared. Sweeping away all who is small, and all who couldn't escape to the higher elevation in time. Creatures, plants, fragile earths. All is the same againts the fierce current of the flood that has now formed.
Nothing.
And yet, destruction and misery is not everything that the storm had brought. For after death, comes life. Flash flood is nothing new to the desert inhabitants, and they have learned from past experiences how a large swath of land could bloom in green with vegetation after a big rainfall had passed. Providing them with plenty of food for weeks to come.
So, while many of them grumbles at the inconvenience of it all, most of the valley's residents waits in their shelters with eagerness in their hearts. Hoping for the storm to quickly take it's leave.
Wide Area Condition: Heavy Rainfall
How many turns? 1d3: 3
Effect: Impaired senses in the rain
"Shamed and humiliated, the storm released it's fury to the lands below. Claiming lives while rendering sight and many other senses impotent under the might of it's torrent."
Sadly, this particular storm in peculiar is merciless. The sun had gone to many of it's periodic rises and falls, and yet only those who resides within the western part of the valley had even noticed it happening as they are at the edges of the clouds covering. In the epicenter of it all however? In the Twin Horned Mountain? Beside the occasional illuminating moments when lightning is striking the ground, darkness might as well be everpresent. Silencing many in it's dark embrace.
And in the middle of it all. Atop one of the smaller mountains located between the two horns. Stands a lone old tree with an incredible size. Watching impassively as the land surrounding it is being ravaged by the tears of the sky. With it's only companion being the Sky Howler themself.
-/-/-/-/-
*Munch*
"Oooh, that's a crunchy one." You mumbled as you chew on a beetle the size of your paw. Savoring it's delicious taste and texture. Eyes already moving on to your next target that is trapped down here with you.
Much time has passed ever since you had decided to make your own den using this tree as a part of it. You weren't completely sure for how long you had been staying down here, what with the storm making the outside look dark all the time, but it's not really something that you get too much worried about.
There's a lot of critters that had made this tree their shelter to avoid the bad weather outside, with most of them you think had been originally here all along using it as their nest. With them around, you didn't need to concern yourself with the prospect of gathering food as much as you had been to. Not when the food is already here waiting eagerly for you at home.
Home. Even now that word still makes you feel giddy inside. You thought to yourself as you pawed another struggling worm full of juicy insides before bringing them over to your open mouth. Once again savoring their taste.
You're really liking the huge variety of bugs that exist down here. Beetles, caterpillar, worms. Them, and a lot more had all gathered here in mass. Looking for a safe refuge from the flood, but instead of salvation, they found you instead. Ready to devour them all to your heart's content.
Letting out a soft pleased hum and a chuckle, you inaudibly gave praise to your past self as you lay yourself down to the ground so that you can more easily relax. Finally settling in to this wonderful idea of a den is the best decision that you had made. Who would have thought living underneath a tree would be so delightful? You wouldn't before, but now? After you had taken a taste of the life down here?
*Munch*
Yeeeah, unless you really wanted to do something while being all wet, you wouldn't be going out of your new den anytime soon. You thought sleepily after swallowing your last bite of today. Belly well fed, you curled around yourself to get into a more comfortable position. Getting yourself ready for a bit of nap. Happy of how you had found your new home.
Gained a Minor Deed: Home Roots
"Far and wide did the Fennec explore the desert, the longer still was their search. Yet patient was the Fennec and bore fruit thus their perseverance. For between the Horns did they discovered an old tree. Tall and imposing it was, but also warm and welcoming. So underneath it's roots was where the Fennec did finally build their den. For food was aplenty, and the home is warm."
Hmm? It's that feeling again? You thought as you tensed your body up a little. A bit startled by the sudden timing of it. Slightly raising your head up, you searched around your new den with half lidded eyes. Looking around for the possible source of this weird sense of fulfillment that you had. Only to feel let down for a bit after finding nothing that seems suspicious.
Just what was that? You thought in confusion. Not understanding what had just happened. Now feeling irritated because you knew it was related to what you had briefly felt after you had berated the sky for it's transgression. When all of a sudden, the differences between the two became obvious to you. Wait. It's weaker? No, smaller? It's definitely smaller, but why?
Before you can ruminate on these questions anymore however, your attention was caught by a movement that you can see on the edges of your vision. When you hear the sound of a creaking wood along with it, you already know who it was by the time you turned your head around to regard them fully.
"Hey there. What's wrong?" You asked the few moving pieces of root tendrils that hang's from the ceiling in front of you. Watching how it moves, and wiggle in the air. Feeling more than hearing the tree's intentions. "Me? Nothing really. Just been having a weird feeling."
*Creakkkk*
"Yeah, I am sure. If it's really something malicious, then the feeling shouldn't be getting smaller like this. So don't worry about it."
*Crekkk*
"Not quite sure on that one. It's not something that is easy for me to describe." You said to them as you lay your head on top the fold of your front legs. Eyes narrowing down while being deep in thought. "It feels like I am both stuffed full, and yet is still lacking something at the same time. I can feel how there's a large reserve of energy deep inside of me, but I can't seem use them because there's nothing for me to put them in. Does that makes sense?"
*Crekk* A wiggle. *Creaaakkk*
"Wait, what?"
"Crkkrekk"
"Of course you do." You rolled your eyes at what they have requested of you after abruptly redirecting the conversation. Again. "I told you, I will ate them on my own time. I am already feeling quite full now, and this time it's literal."
*Creeakkk*
"Oh, don't be like that. With how big you are, it will take forever for even with all these bugs to finally be able to gnaw you down. More so when I keep focusing on eating those who bored holes to your trunk. So again. You don't need to worry friend, you are fine."
Hearing your clear refusal, the roots silently retreats back into the wall, knowing how it wouldn't be able to convince you to keep on eating all of the bugs that is infesting it this time around. You yourself quietly watched it go, feeling slightly more tired than before.
The tree just doesn't seem to be able to understand your situation no matter how much you had tried to explain it. While you are thankful for the den that it had provided for you, it is still quite frustrating when the tree keeps on bothering you at the end of your each meal. It usually stays silent outside of that, never doing anything unless you are the one who is starting an interaction with it. Directly after you had your fill of tasty bugs however, the tree would always decided to show itself up without fail. Asking you why you didn't eat more of the bugs.
Plant creatures and flesh creatures are different, you had always known that. That difference also extend more acutely with inanimate creatures, but this is the first time that you had ever need to deal with that difference so personally now that you are essentially living together with the old tree. It just doesn't seem to acknowledge some of the concepts that you had, or just ignores them entirely. You had tried to talk with it a few times in the short while of you living here, but beside the clear feeling of gratitude that it had expressed to you for eating some of the bugs, you got nothing really meaningful from your interaction with the old tree. Only simple disinterest.
You haven't even heard their voice yet.
In any case. You thought to yourself with a big yawn. Deciding to leave this problem as something for you to solve in the future as you curled around yourself on the ground once more. Ready to finally end the day with the sound of rain outside as your guide to the realm of unwaking. I can deal with it after I get a little bit of sleep.
And thus, peacefully fall asleep you go. Dead to the world underneath an old tree in the middle of a storm.
-/-/-/-/-
Each turn you will have 1 Major Action, and 3 Minor Actions. You can spend 2 Minor Actions to do a second Major Action.
For now, unless there is an opposing roll, all actions will have the DC of 20/40/80.
Votes will be in the Plan format.
Major Action
[ ] Ambitious Takeover: You are feeling very confident right now. Capable of besting any foe. It might be a little bit reckless, but you want to see whether you can take down somebody that you know has to be strong. Essentially taking hold of their territory for defeating them also sounds pretty nice. Taking this will result in a mini event.
-[ ] The Western Leopard
-[ ] The Eastern Goat
[ ] Home Grown: Now that you had a den for yourself, you would need to start thinking of ways for you to improve upon it. It's pretty bare bones for now, without anything unique or even a single defense to protect you from intruders. Unacceptable.
[ ] Delicious Pests: What you might consider to be a benefit, others might consider them to be a detriment. The old tree that you had made as a part of your den treats the large infestation of bugs that it has as an affliction. It's a bit sad, but maybe with some effort you can help your new den out by getting rid of them all tasty food for good.
[ ] Cold Night: Usually, your fur is good enough for you to keep your warm up when the sun is down. It just sometimes got very cold during the night. Cold enough even to the point where you feel like you don't have any of your fur in the first place. Maybe you can do something in preparation for it?
[ ] Into the Storm: You didn't really put much thought into it at first, but just what it was like in the storm? How did it able to create so much water? What was that loud and very bright things that is slithering it's way through the clouds? You are very curious, and are very much willing to get much closer to the storm that you had called.
[ ] Who Are You?: You had this strange feeling inside of you lately. One that is different from the strange sense of fulfillment. It felt like you were just on the cusp of something. Something that is great and bigger than you are. Where all that you needed to do to reach it, is to ask yourself a question.
Create for yourself an Aspect of Godhood. Choose as many deeds as you want. Total value of the deeds must at least be five, and at most be fiveteen.
-[ ] Write-In Deed to be used.
[ ] Write-In
Minor Action
[ ] Sightseeing: You had been to every distinguishable location in the Red Valley before, you are sure of it. You're not really seeing anything that looks important while being there though. Let's see if you could found something interesting in them this time around.
-[ ] The White Meadows
-[ ] The Barren Cliffs
-[ ] The Rocky Mountains
[ ] Strange Creatures: That pair of tree like creatures. They weren't like any other creatures that you had ever seen. It might had been days, and all of their trails might had already been washed away by the rain. But maybe you can still tract them down. Just in order to see them with a much closer look.
[ ] Unfinished Business: Honestly, you had almost entirely forgotten about that persistent cat that had just kept trying to eat you. Even though there's a very little chance of her actually managing to hurt you, she still had managed to greatly annoy you. It is time for some payback. Let's see whether she likes it when it is her on the receiving end.
[ ] Hello There!: You are quite lonely. It has been a while ever since you got your last friendly conversation with somebody. Well, it is time for you to remedy that then! All you need to do is to keep bothering someone until they would want to talk with you. Easy.
-[ ] The Western Leopard
-[ ] The Eastern Goat
-[ ] The Old Tree Den
-[ ] A Random Creature
[ ] Predator & Prey: You didn't need to do this as often as you did before for some reason, but you still remembered clearly just what it was like. To a Creature like you, survival is everything, and you survived by preying on others that is weaker than you. It is sad, but they do taste pretty good.
[ ] Veggies?: On the other paw, you did managed to learn of how to live yourself off by consuming only plants. It's a bit hard for you to figure out just which part of them that you could actually eat at first, but eventually you did figure them out. They weren't very filling, but they at least didn't talk quite as much.
[ ] Moving Out: You do not want to stay in this area anymore. It is time for you to go to a new place.
-[ ] The Great River
-[ ] The Howling Canyons
-[ ] The Blistering Dunes
-[ ] The Wild Savanna
[X] Plan Taking care of Home
-[X] Home Grown: Now that you had a den for yourself, you would need to start thinking of ways for you to improve upon it. It's pretty bare bones for now, without anything unique or even a single defense to protect you from intruders. Unacceptable.
-[X] Delicious Pests: What you might consider to be a benefit, others might consider them to be a detriment. The old tree that you had made as a part of your den treats the large infestation of bugs that it has as an affliction. It's a bit sad, but maybe with some effort you can help your new den out by getting rid of them all tasty food for good.
-[X] Strange Creatures: That pair of tree like creatures. They weren't like any other creatures that you had ever seen. It might had been days, and all of their trails might had already been washed away by the rain. But maybe you can still tract them down. Just in order to see them with a much closer look.
-/-/-/-/-
Your new den is a nice place.
It might be a little hard to see it in the middle of all this downpour, but you can still clearly remember just how it had looked like when you have first seen it after many days of searching. Seen just how breathtaking it was when sunlight was able to give a shine upon it's big towering form.
Your first look of it was of the tree that you can see even from a distance, it's big and green canopy being what had attracted you to it from afar. Thinking how it might provide you with a good place to rest under it's cool cover. As you began to make your way towards it however, you began to notice more and more details about it that slowly convinces you of it's bigger potential. How it might just be the place that you were looking for.
By the time you had arrived at the base of it's trunk and saw the large opening under it however? One that seems to be big enough to accommodate a creature of your size? You made your decision then and there. This massive tree would be your new home.
A decision that seems to be vindicated almost immediately after you had entered the opening proper. Finding within it not only a large space where you can freely move yourself around, but also a large collection of bugs that fits just perfectly with your taste.
"Woaah." You had said after seeing just what the cave has to offer. Eyes already wandering over from one bug to the next.
It wasn't that long ago, so you can still remember how you were just snacking on many of the nearby bugs at first, but as you kept on throwing more and more of them inside your mouth, you eventually just started chasing after every single bug that caught your eye in the end. Running circles all over your would be den. It's quite an embarrassing experience looking back.
"Hehahaha! That was fun!" You had said to yourself as you lay yourself around on the ground. Chest being slightly out of breath, and belly full. Already having such a great time even in a brief while of you being down there.
That is also when you have first met the old tree. Like what they have been doing now, they shown themself to you after you had your fill of bugs, asking you the same kind of question they had always did; why didn't you eat more?
It was already embarrassing enough with what had happened moments before, but even worse, your reaction to the old tree's sudden appearrance from behind you is just bad. It is so bad, even now you felt you just want to dig for yourself a new hole, and bury yourself in it.
You will forever deny any saying of how a dying shriek sound can be heard from within the tree that day, and how a bite mark from one of the old tree's root is in anyway belongs to you. Nothing of the sorts had happened. Nothing.
Thankfully, the baseless accusations of what had actually happened aside, the old tree seems to have not put your actions to mind. Which had gladden you immensely at the time. Your previous interactions with plant creatures had been very limited, and you were anxious what you had done would aggravate them to the point of no reconciliation. You were glad that just wasn't the case.
In the end, you decided to make the old tree your new den, promising to them you will help them in anyway that you can as thanks. It would be a shame to eradicate all of those delicious bugs, but after spending some time with the old tree, you think it would be worth it.
It is hard to find a creature as genuine as them.
Which, might have been the reason why you had been so eager to began exterminating all of the so tasty bugs that is trying to bring the old tree down. Even to the point of being willing to get completely soaked in the rain while you are combing through the massive upper root system that the tree has on the surface.
"Now then, where they could possibly be?" You asked to yourself. Your sharp eyes already looking around for any possible nesting spot that the pests can use to hide themselves in.
"Hm?"
In fact, you have been so eager, you had almost didn't able to notice the approach of a creature that is slowly making their way towards your position. Their loud, thumping sound that reverberates heavily through the rain being the only thing that warns you of their immediate presence.
Turning towards them, you wondered just what kind of creature they are to be willing to go out and about during such a bad weather. Only to have your question answered when you caught sight of their hardly visible, but obviously bulky form through the heavy torrent. Silently staring at you without moving a muscle.
Your first reaction when seeing how it was just a toad was to greet them. They were one of the most friendly creatures in these mountains that you have met. Very jumpy at first, but most are quick to become amicable when you shown them you mean no harm. Generally a good company to be around if you can manage to keep their attention.
"Kyaik!?"
Which is why, mid smile, you had almost been unable to react when you saw them open their large gaping mouth widely in your direction. Quickly launching their long sticky tongue towards you that you had only narrowly been able to evade with wide eyes. Managing to avoid being wrapped around them just in time, only to suffer a glancing blow to your left side when they use their already extended tongue to take a swing at you. Creating a rather noticeable bruise.
Dangerous Encounter Roll: 62
The Fennec lose 1 Health
*Rumble*
Above you, the sky rumbled. You are snarling now, angry from the sudden attack, you waste no time to begun your counter assault againts the toad. Quickly recovering from the strike, you immediately began running close behind the now fast retreating tongue, definitely catching the amphibian off guard with your speed by the sound of their surprised croak. Arriving next to them only seconds after they had closed up their mouth.
*CTAAAARR!!*
The sky thundered just after the toad had hurriedly launched their tongue again at you in defense of themself, but predicting it, you are able to jump over it with moments to spare. The flashing light making your shadow briefly covers their form from above, which made you realize how they apparantly are only slightly smaller than you are.
Landing on top of their bumpy back, you directly began to claw them a new one. Tearing and bloodying their flesh apart as the toad jumps around in panic. Desperately trying to shake you off by the sound of their pain filled croaks.
Croaks that only become more intense as you began to use your sharp fangs to bit and shred the skins surrounding their bulbous eyes. Almost managing to reach those two orbs even for a few times. Making the toad even more frantic than before.
Before long, the toad is able to get you off by rolling over to it's side. Threatening to smush you over had you stayed. Having no desire to be flattened, you jumped off from it's back before it was too late. Landing yourself with no issue on top of some roots.
After receiving your cold greeting, the toad doesn't seem to want to stay around anymore. Quickly leaving the area by rapidly jumping away in fear, they didn't spare you a single glance as they slowly dissappeared behind the dense veil of falling water. Leaving trails of blood in their wake that soon fade as well. Washed away completely by the rain.
"And never come back!" You yelled at them as you watched them go with a low growl deep inside your throat. Incensed, but knowing you will only receive more injury were you to give them chase beneath such a bad weather.
It is irritating, but you need to let that toad go. The risk is just too great, and you have better things to do beyond chasing a violent fool.
The bruise on your side then decided it was a good time to throb itself in pain. Causing you to wince as you take a much closer look at the injury. From a glance, it doesn't seem to be as bad as you had first thought. It wouldn't hamper your movements in anyway, and would heal by itself in a short while. The pain itself would be gone in an hour or two.
Doesn't mean it wasn't going to be an annoyance however.
You then turned yourself around to set your gaze upon the old tree that is your new home. Mind racing. You don't know whether it was bad luck for you to be up and around when a toad of all things decided they suddenly want to hunt meat, or whether it was a good luck for them to not be able to sneak up on you in your sleep. Because unlike the cat from before, the toad is strong, and you weren't sure you would be able to survive a successful ambush from them. Especially not when you are in your den, barely even awake.
If a fight were to occur in such enclosed place then....
You strongly shake your head from side to side. Banishing the useless thought immediately from your head. In any case, the answer to this problem to you is clear. The state of your new home is unacceptable.
The bug extermination can wait, you would need to start building up your new den to be capable of resisting invaders first.
What would you be focusing on? You will put your focus on....
[ ] The Old Tree.
-[ ] You will gave some of your teeth to the old tree. So that it would grow strong, and became more majestic to the eyes.
-[ ] You will gave some of your blood to the old tree. So that it would gain a taste of it, and the willingness to actually move by itself.
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] The Den itself.
-[ ] You will cover up the entrance to your den with a very big rock. Preventing anyone without strength from simply entering it.
-[ ] You will greatly expand the size of your den. By digging much deeper down, and filling it with many disorienting paths.
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] The Surrounding Area.
-[ ] You will carve the surrounding area with many of your claw marks. Striking fear into the hearts of those who would see them, and discouraging any from approaching.
-[ ] You will dig a very deep trench circling the surrounding area of your den. Creating a boundary between the inside and the outside.
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] Write-In
-/-/-/-/-
To those of you who is a fan of mythology like me, then you should be aware of how strange and sometimes completely absurd sounding some of the stories can be. The write-in option here is for that. For all of you to try on your creativity, and see whether others would like it enough to support it.
The rules are like this. Remember the 20/40/80 DC on major actions? Their result if successful are; Minor Deeds which is mundane actions that is only important because you are the one who had done it, Major Deeds which is mundane actions that is special because some of their traits had been enhanced/exaggerated, and Miraculous Deeds which is actions that are completely ridiculous.
Here's are some example. Claw marks:
-Minor: Express art, and sign of ownership. Nothing else.
-Major: Creates a particular fear effect on those who sees them.
-Miraculous: You literally wounded a part of the mountain itself. Those who are around it becomes weak and sickly as if they are the one being wounded in the first place. They can feel the pain of the mountain.
So in short. Minor is mundane, major is magical, and miraculous is godly. As your result is major, you can only offer something that while weird, still makes some kind of sense. I would verify whether what you suggest is acceptable or not. Happy reading!
[X] The Den itself.
-[X] You will greatly expand the size of your den. By digging much deeper down, and filling it with many disorienting paths.
-/-/-/-/-
The world is dangerous. That is what you have painfully learned shortly after you had gained your awareness. A loathsome lesson which sadly has been the main driving force of your actions as of late.
They are an integral part of life that you had found difficult to believe in at first, but eventually have been forced to accept. The world isn't a safe place. Violence can come at any time, and seemingly from the most unexpected of places. Welcoming death to all. Always waiting for the chance to snap you up the moment you let your guard down. An awful truth of the world.
At times, it seems the only place where you can truly feel safe was the numerous temporary dens that you have made throughout your life. Places where you can just close your eyes and, no matter how briefly, convinces yourself of how you are safe. How while in there nothing will ever disturb you. How there is peace within the safety of your den.
Looking back, you found those small moments in the darkness where no one can find you to be among the memories that you have treasured the most.
Your time of bliss however was just a respite. As even with the protection offered by the out of sight nature of your dens, those moments of peace was fragile. Easily destroyed by mere whims of random chance. Fleeting just like the cold morning air.
The desert is full of desperate creatures that is willing to go above and beyond to seek out anything that they desire. Whether those desires are food, shelter, or anything else that they had deemed as important, some creatures would always seemed to find you in abundance of them all, and haven't had the slightest bit of hesitation of relieving them from you. Greed, and selfishness in them apparent.
You had already lost count on how many of your dens that you have been forced to abandon prematurely. The most bearable ones were those when you have returned to your den after a long night of hunting only to find them already being occupied during your time of absence. Those are the easiest predicaments for you to handle, as after estimating the level of threat that you can perceive from the invaders, you can just instead choose to walk away from them if they were too dangerous and quickly go look around the surrounding area for a new shelter for you to be under. Before the sun raises themself too high and becomes too harsh even for you during the midday.
Those instances are pretty annoying, but they are certainly not the worst. Those that are were the times when you were being forced to frantically flee from your den after being woken up suddenly by invaders. Worse still was when the invaders are those who are a match or are even stronger than you are. More than once, those are the closest times death had almost gotten their cold dead grip on to you. Ready to make you say farewell to your life.
The sheer terror that you felt as you are being chased away from your den is not something that you can easily forget. Even to this very day, their echoes still haunts some of your dreams.
You had been hoping your new home would be an exception to this cruel series of events. Unfortunately however, that was just simply not the case, as had already been proven by the appearance of that bloodthirsty toad. With the only thing that the incident did well was reinforcing the lesson that now it, and the numerous other past examples had already teached you. An important one.
It is from them, that you have learned of how the world on the surface... of how just directly outside of your den... your home... pain and suffering can be found everywhere.
That awful lesson is why you are down here now, much below the ground than where you usually are. Currently adding the finishing touches to something that you had been tirelessly working on ever since the attack of the killer toad. Steadily digging your way deep and deeper through the hard under earth. Distancing yourself as much as possible from the cruel surface above.
"Huff... huff... almost done." You tiredly mutter to yourself in the darkness. Briefly stopping what you are doing to catch your breath before continuing on your work once more. Eager to finally finish your answer to the dangerous world that you are living in.
If struggle and pain are the necesary parts of the world, then you would make a place where there would be none. You determinately thought as you continuously claw down all the stones and soil that is in your way. Breaking them apart, and further extending the tunnel system that now almost span the entirety of the Twin Horned Mountain middle area. Giving you a vast amount of territory beyond anyones knowledge, complete with multiple hidden entrances scattered across the mountain range. The main entrance of it being your den which is located underneath the old tree. Right in the center.
If a den that is just directly below the ground is not safe enough, then why can't I just make one that is way deeper? You continued in your mind with a self satisfied grin. Proud of the ingenious idea that you had made. They were simple, but promising. Even untested, you are certain the many twist and turns along with the darkness of the tunnels would be completely able to befuddle all who entered. Leaving them free for you to deal with at your leisure, when they are weak and sluggish from exhaustion.
Afterall, you are the only one who knows of all the routes. Others would only get inevitably lost inside without any kind of directions to follow. They would have no hope of finding anything here. Nothing will ever be disturbed in these tunnels. Nothing!
Down here, there would only be peace.
You will make it so.
All that I need is to dig upwards from here and- . You voluntarily cut off your thought at the faint sound of rain coming from above. Digging a bit further, you smiled upon seeing a small stream of water that is now leaking through the tiny hole that you had just made. Telling you of how you had finally reached the surface.
Widening the opening further, but now horizontally up to the size of your head, you can see from it how the weather outside doesn't seem to be getting any better during your time in the underground. The storm still being as grumpy as ever.
Welp. You thought wryly as you silently watches the rain safely from the inside of your hole. At least my work here is done. A line of thinking that seems to be in support, as you soon felt the reemergence of the sense of fulfillment from before. Not as large as the one after the howl, but definitely better than when you had found your home.
This is when you build them down afterall.
Gained a Major Deed: The Underpaths
"Yearning for peace, the Fennec dug through soil with ambition burning inside their heart. Seeking to make a refuge where pain and suffering can't find them while they are within the twisting dark paths hidden deep beneath the surface."
-/-/-/-/-
"... They are close." You murmured after you took a close sniff from the base of a big tree that is before you. Not your old one, these plants seems a lot younger, but the one you had just found after following the trail that had been possibly left behind by the two strange creatures that you are currently tracking. Those who you were only able to see from afar at the start of all this rain.
It has only been a few days ever since you had completed your Underpaths, and left with nothing to do, your mind just can't seem to help itself but to wonder about those winged pair of creatures that keeps on reminding you of a tree. What with their bark like skin that they have. Even the old tree isn't much of a help, and he is a literal tree!
It is a strange feeling, to be this obsessed with some random creatures that you haven't even met properly. But no matter what you do, you can't seem to get them out of your head, and you don't even know why!
Something about them... just seems different.
Important somehow.
Important enough to make you travel through several mountains worth of distance, keeping watch of the probably mad goat that was said to be lurking around the area, and blindly looking around for every large coverings that you can find for their smell because, guess what, it is still raining flood!
Each of those alone is already frustrating enough, but what makes it all the weirder is what you thought (Thought! You aren't even sure!) you had felt on the day that you saw them. Something that you aren't even aware of was actually there until you began to refocus yourself on what exactly had happened then.
Because on that day, for the briefest of moments, when you are looking at those creatures, you can somewhat sense their... fear? No, awe? Something along those lines. Whatever it was though, what you felt then was so... natural and detached from you to the point you almost didn't even notice them. Very unlike the feeling of fulfillment that you had been recently having.
It is as if they were just a part of you that was just meant to be there all along.
Just like this thing right here. You thought as you side eyed something that had caught your interest, but not before looking at your surroundings once more. Observing where you are currently at after following the trail all the way here in the eastern most area of the Twin Horned Mountain. Where surprisingly not a small amount of vegetation was able to survive. Creating a rare sight of actual forest that you haven't been able to see anywhere else.
It is just unfortunate that the torrent makes appreciating all of this very difficult. You snarled as you rapidly shake your body away of all the water that was coating it. Momentarily releasing you of the burden that is their weight on your fur.
A burden that comes rushing back to you after you stepped right back into the rain. Away from the barely dry covering provided by the big tree. Continuing on your trek of following the trail of those tree like creatures that must have used the big tree as one of their many places of rest in their short journey. All the while putting to mind the steadily increasing number of things that had caught your interest about the forest around you. Those that do not seems to belong.
They are an ugly looking things. Somewhat reminding you of what had been done to the old tree by the infesting bugs, but worse. All around you, you can see many big trunks and roots that has been heavily damaged by something. Looking as if they had been chewed off by a creature in possession of a very large set of teeth. Leaving them covered in wounds that they never would be able to recover from.
More than that however, is how something yet still lingers inside of those wounds. Making them look dry, and far more shriveled up than any other part that surrounds them. Further damaging the trees long after the perpetrator had already left. Something that you can still felt very clearly.
Emanating from them as if they were alive, something...
Learning DC: 40
Roll: 46
... Hungers.
Shivering, you quicken your pace across the woods. Not wanting to stay around the place more than what you need to. Going deeper into the forest with the sound of your splashing footsteps as your only sole company.
The further you go however, the more of those hungering wounds that you can see. They appear more and more often, until all of the trees that is in the area seems to now has them. Even the leaves that was untouched seems to be affected, their green refreshing colour gradually changing into sickly purplish-red. The Hunger in them slowly becoming stronger.
You are running now, followed closely by the sounds of your rapid splashing footsteps. Feeling completely disturbed. Never had you seen something like this before. Where a forest seems like it is only moments away from trying to eat you alive. Just what had done all of this? Why would they even-
Whiiiiis!!
You abruptly stopped in your tracks upon hearing the sound that rang through the forest. The same sound that was made by those tree like creatures, but much louder and is now laced with a great amount of fear. Terror clear in their ethereal voice.
Sounding as if they were somewhere very close by.
You immediately turned and head straight into your north, to where your ears had indicated the sound had originally came from. Quickly passing through many of the changed trees to arrive at the top of a ledge. Where looking down from it, you can see...
Roll: 27
... the tree like creatures being completely massacred.
You gasped, and lowered yourself low to to the ground. Silently watching on as a large furred creature snatched one of the tree like bipeds in it's palm before proceeding to bite off the biped's upper body in half. Without a doubt killing them in one blow before quickly gnawing on the rest of the remains until nothing is left.
The creature seems to be some sort of rat, but much larger and stronger than what you have ever seen. For some reason, he is also standing on two of his legs but with a slight hunch on his back. Similar to the tree like creatures that he is currently eating not unlike the way you are eating bugs in your den.
Something that seems to serve him rather well, as he have no problem of tearing through many of the tree like creatures he is currently hunting by simply charging at them with his mass. A large amount of drool constantly dripping from his mouth as he hungrily engorged himself out of his feast.
Frankly, you are feeling quite indecisive to what is happening, and it is all due to what the rat feels like to your senses. Because even though all the signs seems to agree that the rat is the one who had spread all the Hunger to the forest, there is something about him that ran deeper and far more obvious to you. Something that you haven't felt before in anything else. Not in the canine, not in the cat, not in the storm, not in the old tree, and not even in the murderous toad. Just him.
To your senses, that rat feels just like you.
You don't know what exactly does that mean... , but you know that just standing still wouldn't achieve you anything. You need to do something, before the chance to affect what is happening before you is gone.
What are you doing? You are going to...
[ ] Attack: You need to join the battle. Completely dominating a side to quicky end all of this.
-[ ] The Big Rat
-[ ] The Tree Like Creatures
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] Talk: You need answers. Somebody should be able to tell you something.
-[ ] The Big Rat
-[ ] The Tree Like Creatures
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] Wait: You need to do something more before interfering. Just what though?
-[ ] Observe
-[ ] Reposition
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] Leave: Nope. You want nothing to do with this. This is not your problem, and you will not make it yours.
[X] Talk: You need answers. Somebody should be able to tell you something.
-[X] The Big Rat
-/-/-/-/-
You didn't waste a single moment. The more you wait in this damn rain, the more of these tree like creatures would die, and you still need them to understand just what makes them so special to your senses. If they are all dead, then the answer to your strange interest in them would be lost.
And you absolutely can't let that happen.
However, you also do not want to jump blindly into this conflict. At a glance, the situation appears to be simple enough, but who knows just what had caused the rat to attack in the first place? You certainly didn't.
And there's one fast way to change that...
So, you immediately jumped yourself off the ledge that you was on. Where you then landed gracefully at the shallow pool at it's bottom. The impact you caused creating a big splash of water that you ignored shortly before dashing straight towards the raging rat as fast as you possibly can. Swiftly evading all of the tree like creatures that are panicking in your way until you have finally reached your target. Not even 10 meters away from his vulnerable open back.
The rat himself doesn't seems to notice you yet. Him being far too occupied of using his massive set of teeth to tear through the side of another unfortunate tree like creature that he had caught, one that struggles to desperately free themself from his grasp all the while screaming in pure agony from the pain of having their belly being totally munched on. Splattering much of the oddly coloured brown blood everywhere that the rain then quickly washed away.
Strangely, instead of proceeding to entirely consume the helpless creature like what he had done previously, the rat simply let the creature go. Roughly tossing them to the ground without a care before aggresively advancing to another that is standing dumb still in front of him. Palms both spread wide open on his sides and ready to grab the likely scared out of their mind creature in a blink of an eye.
"No! Wait, stop!" You loudly shouted to the rat. Wanting, but having not much hope of a creature looking this... this ferocious from actually understanding you, let alone listen to you. Just like any other similar behaving creatures that you had tried to stop in the past. Once they had started going, it is almost impossible to persuade them from keep on attacking.
Diplomacy DC: 20
Roll (39) + Stats (5): 44
So, it is to your immense, but pleasant surprise to see your attempt this time around managed to actually work.
"Hm? You- !?" Grunted the big rat in surprise at the sound of your voice. Stopping his slaughter of the tree like creatures for the time being. After turning himself around, the rat's drool covered face momentarily showed bafflement at the sight of you, one which he quickly changed into what you recognized as utter contempt. Likely because he is annoyed by your sudden interference.
"What do you want, Fox? I have no ill againts you. Leave. Or taste my wrath." Threatened the rat. His hunched form looming slightly over you for about a foot or two. His gaze towards you looking absolutely murderous even when being hidden behind the rain's cover.
You are undaunted from the threat being displayed however. It will take much more than mere height difference to make you cower in fear, and you will show him just how unafraid you are of him.
"I will not, Rat!" You defiantly declared as you slowly circled the large furred creature around, all the while not caring how your movements are being followed closely by his eyes. Only stopping after you had reached the point where you are completely opposite from where you had originally began, where the rat will need to get past you first before being able to continue what he had been doing before. "At least, I will not before you explained to me just why are you attacking these tree like creatures."
"Tree like... ? You mean the Slyvans?" Puzzled the rat before growling at where you had repositioned yourself. Looking not at all happy about what you are doing and revealing to you just what the tree like creatures was suppposedly called.
At least, according to him anyway. You thought absently before replying. "Yeah, the Slyvans." You confirmed with a nod before continuing. "Why are you slaughtering them with such ferocity? It must not because you are hungry, you must have ate more than twice your size by now. There's also the state of the surrounding forest that makes me think otherwise. Had these Slyvans displeased you somehow? Wronged you? Just why did you take so many of their lives away?"
You silently watched with worry as the rat trembled at the word wronged. Looking as if he is only seconds away from continuing his rampage by how strongly he clenched his teeth together. Making you rack your head hard to find something, anything that you could say to pacify him. Only to feel dismay after finding none.
"I just want to understand." You simply said to him in the end. Hoping that with it, the rat would at least answer you.
He is glaring at the Slyvans at your back now, staring at them with pure disgust in his eyes, so you readied yourself for the moment he tries to dart himself past you, reluctant, but not wanting to let him do as he pleases without a fight.
Diplomacy DC: 30
Roll (43) + Stats (5): 48
Fortunately however, the rat managed to keep himself reigned in. Doing so by closing his eyes while also taking a couple of very deep breaths. Where he then simply exhales himself out after he was done burying everything inside.
Well, maybe not everything. You thought wryly as the rat finally opened his eyes again. His gaze now trained solely on to you. Hunger, you can clearly see is still lingering just behind his eyes even through the haze created by the rain, but there are sharpness in them that wasn't there before. Making you want to gulp some air because of the sheer nerve that they are causing.
"Fine." The rat slowly gritted out through his teeth. Looking completely calm for one moment before practically exploding in the next. His fingers pointed accusingly to the Slyvan's. "You want to know why I am taking their lives? It's because they didn't deserve any of them!"
"What?" You spluttered out in confusion. Quickly asking for a clarification. "Why though? Why didn't they deserve them?"
"BECAUSE THEY DO NOTHING WITH THEM!!" The rat suddenly ROARED. Shouting his words out with such force they echoed even through the deafening sound of the rain. Creating a strong gust of wind that for a moment blew all the falling water around him away, and silencing all who have listened to his declaration. Not allowing even a single argument to be heard as He has now spoken.
You yourself are barely able to resist the call of subjugation. Only managing to let out a pathetic "...huh?" as your only answer.
"You heard me." The rat, no, your fellow God Canditate growled. Eyes now back at the Slyvans. His voice is filled with disgust that ran much deeper than what you have realized was there before. "They didn't deserve their lives, because they did nothing with them."
"I have been watching them for a while now." The Go- the Rat explained to you. Gaze forlorn. "From the moment I first seen them, I knew they are special somehow. Important to me in some way. That for some unknown reason, they would be an integral part of my life."
"You know the feeling don't you? This strange obsession of ours to them?" The Rat asked you with a gesture to his chest. Making you widen your eyes to which he only chuckled at in response. "I myself don't know where they had actually come from, but I do want to know why they even exist. Just what is it with these Slyvans that makes them so different? I just need to know the reason why."
"So, I watched them." The Rat repeats. Movements now frantic. "I watched the first Slyvans that I had ever saw closely, and followed them to their little community here at the edge of the Twin Horned Mountain. Where I found more of them are residing. Where I stayed just out of sight observing them with care. Where I guarded them againts all sort of threats that they can't handle by themselves. Doing everything that I can to not let their lives be in anyway disturbed. I spent so much time with them, and do you know what do I found?"
"I found nothing but disappointment."
"Beside a few exceptions, these Slyvans didn't have much care in anything, not even in themselves." The Rat continued to explain. "All day, from the moment the sun rises to when it rises again in the next, the Slyvans wouldn't do anything unless they are being forced to. The most that they would do was run away when a creature tries to ate one of them, and even then, only the Slyvan being in danger would run. Others would only watch on in sadness. Simply accepting the loss."
The Rat then turn his gaze skyward. Staring straight at the pouring rainclouds above with an unreadable expression on his face. "The sun had even become harsher and harsher lately. Causing water that is necesary for their continued survival to dry up. They will need to move on to a new area to not die. Few did just that, but most didn't want to. Much more prefering to just stand around and slowly wait for their death to come. If it wasn't for this rain, then they would all be dead."
"Just look at them!" The Rat then suddenly shouted out in your direction. Causing you to flinch as he sharply gestured to the Slyvans at your back. Making you turn your head towards them, and finally see the sheer indifference that most of them have in their eyes. "Those who I touched have already fled and hide, while those who aren't still remains here. Just standing there while the being that have tried to kill them mere moments ago haven't even left yet. Going back to passivity the instant danger seems to have passed in their little ignorant minds."
"Do you understand now? They are literally dying, and yet they still do nothing!" The Rat now rants out in fury. His frustration immeasurable. "They have the capacity of doing many great things. They can move and affect the world as much as we do and yet here they are, acting as if they are just some plant creatures when they are obviously something more! Doing nothing when they can do anything."
"That is why I unleashed Hunger to the Slyvans. To the trees that they are all always hiding in. So that they can finally, finally start making something out of themselves. So that their lives can finally have some meaning. Hunger is capable of forcing the Slyvans to act, to search, and to be alive. That is why I have decided, those who struggled againts my Hunger shall live, and those who silently accepted them shall die. It is my gift of salvation to their sorry kind."
"So, there you have it." The Rat simply said to you at the end of his explanation. Sounding tired, but also determined as he stared at you directly in the eyes. "I took their lives away with my Hunger to drive them to betterment. All the loses that happened would be nothing compared to the realization of that purpose."
"So move aside, Fox. So that I can save them from their slow pathetic death into obscurity." Said the Rat as he slowly began to make his way towards you. Clearly having enough of all the talking, and is ready to continue giving his supposed blessings away to the Slyvans.
Meanwhile, you are too busy staring in shock at the Rat to do much of anything. Your mind still being absolutely reeled from the small realization of what the Rat in relation to you actually is. Never mind the sheer passion that you can felt from the Rat's speech. He believed everything that he had said to the core, and have no intentions of going back on any of them.
Something which troubles you, as you can somewhat see what he is on about. If the Slyvans are in any way similar to what the Rat had told you, then you would become very dissappointed too as that is exactly the way plant creatures have usually been behaving. Even under the threat of death, more often than not plant creatures wouldn't do anything to help themselves.
Which is also the reason why you are so awkward around the old tree. You are just too unused to see a plant creature like them being that active.
In any case, the Rat is almost in front of you now. You really need to think through just what you are going to do. The situation is far more complicated than what you had originally thought, and the result of your decision might prove fatal. You can't treat this lightly.
Whissss?
Glancing towards the Rat's back, you can see the form of a Slyvan that he had just tore their stomach open. The tree like creature is struggling to get up from the ground. Clearly dying, but their eyes are far more alive than the rest of the Slyvans. They are just staring at you. Not saying anything.
You grit your teeth, and decide.
[ ] You agreed with him. You will move aside and let the Rat do what he must.
[ ] You disagreed with him. You will stand your ground, and not let the Rat kill anymore Slyvans. You will do so by...
-[ ] Fighting him head on. This will become only between you and him.
-[ ] Rallying the Slyvans to fight by your side. Proving the Rat wrong.
-[ ] Talking him out of his decision. It's hard, but he obviously care about the Slyvans.
-[ ] Write-In
