EVENT | LANDFALL | VALISHAERA | MISSIONS

[ironwood]

Characters: As listed below
Date: JULY 13-26
Location: Valishaera, various
Situation: Tu Vishan has made landfall on Siaxhi, to explore the Dreaming Watch City of Valishaera. July's missions are part of the landfall, as noted below.
Warnings/Rating: Please indicate content warnings in subject headers as applicable.

→ DREAMSCAPE (INFORMATION)
→ NIGHT'S WOOD (EXPLORATION)
→ INAN (RETRIEVAL)

OOC INFORMATION
Landfall Questions | Approved Item Requests | Pocket Dreaming Signups

CITY OF VALISHAERA
Exploring the Coast | The Arybar | A Ruined City

WITHIN THE TEMPLE
The Monks' Domain | The Labs & Library | Gathering Rooms & Garden | The Pocket Dreaming Realms

LANDFALL MISSIONS
Dreamscape | Night's Wood | Inan | OOC Organization

Comments

THE HEART OF THE FOREST

[raavashing]

Wan stood staring at the tree with the heart in it for a long moment before glancing back down at the map. This was where it seemed to lead. The whole scene before him made him feel uneasy.

"We found where the map leads," he said in a slow, hesitant voice. "I think we should go back and tell Wlodzislaw where it leads and be done with this place. Leave it alone."

[skeletonenigma]

"By all accounts, we're the first to make it this far," Skulduggery said with a nod. "The map works for us. That could mean there is something we're meant to do here."

He watched the pulsating heart for a moment, and then gave another nod, followed by a step back. "It could also simply mean the map likes us, and we'd be better off doing nothing. In my experience, killing apparently sentient trees without just cause will only come back to bite you."

[raavashing]

"I don't want to kill it," Wan shook his head even as he approached the tree for a closer look, his hand reaching up to touch the trunk just under the hole with the heart. "I don't know why that's your first thought, and I don't think I want to. But I'm not entirely sure the tree is um, sentient? What does that mean anyway? Does it have to do with rocks?"

Sediment, sentient, they sounded really close, okay.

"Wlodzislaw might ask us what this looks like, though, so I want make sure I can remember this."

[skeletonenigma]

"No," Skulduggery said with a chuckle. "Sediment is the deposition of rocks and soil. Sentience has more to do with being capable of rational thought or emotion. I try to avoid breaking organic things which might be sentient - at least, not without asking first."

In light of that thought, Skulduggery stepped forward and carefully touched the bark of the tree with two fingers. "Are you alive?" he asked. "And, if so, would you have any issue with us removing what looks like your heart?"

[raavashing]

"I would have issue with you removing the heart even if it doesn't," Wan muttered not-so-quietly as he waited for an answer. When enough time had passed that he believed none would be forthcoming, he set a hand to his hip and shrugged.

"I don't think it's sentient in the way you and I are. But I also don't think taking the heart out is a good idea regardless. It's there for a reason and for all we know, it's keeping the tree and the whole forest alive and healthy."