Gathering of the Figments

Shaye · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

Damien began to inch away from the grand bird, but found himself either backed up into the forest wall or backed up into a pool of blood.
"Damien," said a voice in the trees. As it spoke a butterfly fluttered out of the trees and landed on Damien's shoulder.
"Oh thank you for coming back for me -" began a shaken Damien, but the man -now emerging from the trees - held up his hand.
"Damien. Please forgive me. I forgot to tell you about this forest. And I believe you have met Osio, my phoenix."
Damien's face fell. "Phoenix? You can't be serious -"
"As I was saying - The place you are - Oh dear," he said, as he looked down at the dead men strewn about. "Well. This won't do," and he took his own staff and swept it in the air in a breif circle and the small stone at the end glowed for a second and the men began to be swallowed by the earth. The man, seeing Damien's shocked face, laughed and said, "It's okay, Damien. I daresay they didn't deserve a proper burial... and we shouldn't be here. Come, I'll take you to the place I was speaking of before - and this time - do not let your mind wander."
Damien readily followed the man, focusing every bit of himself to following him. When the man began to slow, a strange light flowed through the trees ahead and was slightly blinding for a second, and then the light was that of the sun.
Before Damien was a small village. He would have called it normal - except that it wasn't in any way. The huts were made out of a black and purple wood and the roofs were made of a vine with pink flowers that seemed to weave in and out continuously.
The streets were just soil, but bordered by golden flowers that seemed to hum as you walked by them. The trees around the small clearing were what could be called birch, but seemed to be too white to be anything normal. The strangest thing, however, was how there were only three houses, and they were connected by a trail of black stones.
There was also a very small pond - barely more than a puddle - with the most luxurious glimmer Damien had ever seen, and he began to realize how very thirsty he was.
"I know what you are thinking, Damien, and I advise against it. That is not a drinking fountain."
_________________
~Shaye

Look. I don't understand half the things I say either.

The Grey Dawn · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject:

It was, of course, Death who had implanted the thirst into Damien's mind. The Fountain of Youth (for that is what it was) may grant eternal youth, but at the cost of one's sanity. The three houses that surround the Fountain are the homes of the Jolk, an order dedicated to the prevention of the power of the Fountain from leaving the forest. If Damien had drunk from the Fountain, he would have been dead before the Fountain's water had reached the back of his throat.
Loki smiled, "nice try death but you should have guessed the monk would have warned him."
Death glared at Loki: "IT WAS WORTH A TRY."
"You are losing your touch, Death." Athena laughed.
_________________
Remember, a velociraptor can run at 10 m/s (indoors) and it knows no fear.

The Bee · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:36 am Post subject:

That's going to get annoying. I think this guy needs a name.

The man led Damien into the hut on the right. When they were inside, there was another man to greet them.
"Bayernet!" (Pronounced Bay-er-nay) The new man greeted Damien's leader with what looked like a bear hug.
_________________
~Michelle The Bee

If life is a highway I was drunk at the wheel. (Relient K)

Shaye · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject:

Okay, sorry. I'm going to say 'The Man' a lot because I actually wrote this last night but the Figs stopped working. So I saved it. I'm posting it now.

The man led Damien into what Damien guessed was his house, and Damien was glad that he was out of the forest, for his mind began to wander uncontrollably. He peered at every item that the man had, and found each to be extraordinary in its own way.
Various apothecaries lay upon the table and a wooden wand lay next to a chopped up carrot. The furniture was made of magnificent wood that came in many colors, each as stunning as the next. A fire crackled away with a kettle above it, and a couch and chair of fine material before it. The couch looked so comfortable that Damien had to put a lot of willpower into not jumping on it right away. There was a vast bookshelf filled with all different books, and there was a table by the window with trinkets that Damien had never seen before.
"Damien you can sit on that couch if you wish," said the man, as he was rummaging through a trunk by the bookshelf. "Aha. Here it is," he said, picking up a small green book.
"What is that?" said Damien, sitting down on the couch and resisting the urge to sigh with comfort as warmth washed over his whole body.
"This is the Book of the Fountains," he said, and he began paging through the book, and when he found what he was looking for he smiled slightly, and then began to read, "'In the mountains there lie a stream. A stream that sinks into the earth and washes the soil with its power. The power of this water came from the four original powers of the earth: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. The water that flows in this stream contains the power of the original water - the Waters of Life. From the soil blooms plants that the rest of the world will not be familiar and the creatures that roam it both too magnificent and too dark for the rest of the world to be introduced. The magic of the forest that hence grows is eternal for the Water of Life still resides in all that lives there...'" the man cleared his throat, "Now tell me, Damien, are you familiar with the voyages of Ponce de Leon?"
_________________
~Shaye

Look. I don't understand half the things I say either.

The Grey Dawn · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:06 pm Post subject:

CARROTS!

"Not really. I've heard the name, but not much more than that," Damien said.
Bayernet cleared his throat, "Well Ponce de Leon was a pirate. He sailed the Threi Seas and raided almost all of the coastal cities, include White Tower itself. However no one knows when or how he died; however, his diary was found and records some of his last voyages. It's the very last one that we are interested."
Unheard to the mortals Death chuckled, "NOW THAT BET I DID WIN."
_________________
Remember, a velociraptor can run at 10 m/s (indoors) and it knows no fear.

Shaye · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:

"Why the last one?" Damien asked.
"Well because it was the quest for the Fountain of Youth. Damien I know for a fact that you aren't as dense as you're letting me believe right now. Surely, you can put these things together. You have noticed this isn't a regular forest, have you not?"
"Well I -" he began.
"Put them together, Damien," said Bayernet.
Damien thought for only a few seconds and then began to laugh. "You expect me to believe that this forest contains the Fountain of Youth?"
"I don't expect you to believe anything, Damien. I'm just telling you what's the truth. There's no faith or wagering here. We know that this forest is the remains of the Fountain of Youth because we have proven it so. Surely you saw the water?"
"Well, yes, I saw the water - but it's just regular water."
"You wanted to drink from it very badly, did you not?"
"Well, I was very, very thirsty. You know how you made me walk hundreds of miles and become a mere castaway and savage for your silly quest? I suppose you recall that."
"Of course I do, Damien. I don't forget the people I give quests to. You know that."
Damien swore he could almost see his sarcasm slip in one ear of Bayernet's and out the other. "I suppose monks don't use sarcasm often, do they?"
"Oh is that what that was? Oh good, because I was beginning to wonder whether you had lost your mind on your journey," said Bayernet with a slight chuckle. During this conversation all Bayernet was doing was paging through a rather large book on a stand. This was obviously Bayernet's favorite book, because it seemed like it had been read myriad times judging by the frayed pages and tattered cover.
"So this forest is the remains of the Fountain of Youth?" Damien said, trying to suppress his skepticism.
"Yes, yes it is. And you have had a taste of the Fountain's magic, Damien."
"What?" Damien said, pulling himself off the couch. "What? No I haven't! I haven't drank a thing in three days! There's no way I could have been -"
"No, no. I cast a spell on you with the water when I told you about the quest."
"You never gave me anything to drink."
"Again, Damien. A spell," Bayernet said to the book in front of him, "You see, the magic of the fountain isn't exclusive to the water."
_________________
~Shaye

Look. I don't understand half the things I say either.

The Grey Dawn · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject:

Damien's jaw

Hehe, finish my sentence!
_________________
Remember, a velociraptor can run at 10 m/s (indoors) and it knows no fear.

Shaye · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

Fine.

dropped a bit, but he quickly shut his mouth as he stared at Bayernet intently. what magic had he used on him? Was it breakable?
"Yes I cast a spell on you which causes you to live forever - of course - it won't be complete immortality. You wouldn't want that."
Damien found this hard to believe.
"You know, of course, that immortality is nothing so good as it seems. You know that those who live forever rarely live at all, correct, Damien?"
Although the idea of living forever seemed like a great idea, Damien knew that it would be a terrible mistake to trade mortality for immortality. "Why am I not completely immortal?"
"Oh because you couldn't do that unless you actually drank the water. The spell can't possibly contain all the magic, because you didn't willingly submit to immortality, which is perfect, because it makes you quite vulnerable to me."
"What about if someone murders me?"
"Well, you will find a way to come back. The Phoenix that helped you earlier wasn't a coincedence. The way immortality works is that you escape death many times. See, mortals run from death their whole lives, and eventually death catches up with them. Immortals don't run from death. Death walks alongside them. Every move they make is in sync with death, and even though death longs to kill immortals more than mortals, it cannot be done. However, in your case, it can."
Damien didn't like that thought. Was death looming in the darkness outside? Was death just waiting for him outside the door? He didn't understand how he could be not-entirely-immortal.
"Now the spell I had to cast on you was a nasty one. See, you have to complete my quest, otherwise death will chase you the rest of the time you remain on earth. You will keep dying and coming back. You will have to lose your identity. You will be a slave to death until you complete my quest."
"You shouldn't have done that to me!" Damien yelled at the man. "What? You think you can just - you can just - and I - I have to - Or I will never die? Usually it's the opposite threat, Bayernet."
"What use are you to me if you fear death? You can't complete the quest if you fear death as mortals do. This is the perfect spell. As long as you complete the quest, your life will become mortal again and death will stalk you as it stalks mortals. You will die when you are meant to die."
Damien and Bayernet sat in silence for a few moments, and then Damien nodded solemnly. Then Bayernet said, "Cheerio! Good, then. You shall set out in two days' time, so that I know you are fed and watered sufficiently. But before you give into the sleep that's been looming in the back of your mind for quite some time now, I should warn you of the - ah - side effect of this spell."
"Side effect? Of a spell?" Damien scoffed. Something that was meant to hurt someone having another effect other than the spell was - for lack of a better word coming to Damien's mind - stupid.
"Well yes. It won't happen if you hurry, Damien, of course - Which I aim to make you do - but the side effect is your immortality will cease to exist if you fall in love."
"What?" Damien scoffed and half-laughed.
"If you fall in love, the power of the spell will be broken, and death will find you in the weakest state - lingering between mortality and immortality - and if death wishes to find you as I suspect it does - you will die."
Damien just stared at Bayernet for a few moments, then said, "Well don't worry. I can't fall in love even if I try. It won't be a problem."
"Well. That's why they call it fallling in love. You can't jump in love. It happens unexpectantly, you silly man," and with that, Bayernet walked out of the room.
_________________
~Shaye

Look. I don't understand half the things I say either.

The Grey Dawn · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject:

"Looks like we win old man." Athena laughed.
Death smiled: "YOU THINK I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS? I WOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED A CHALLENGE IF THE MAN WAS A MERE MORTAL. THAT IS TOO EASY. THERE IS A REASON THOSE WHO ARE MORE THAN MORTAL GET STALKED BY ME. IT IS BECAUSE I ENJOY THE CHALLENGE. I HAVE NOT WON YET, BUT THIS TIME I WILL NOT PLAY SO EASY."
Loki let a small smile creep on the side of his mouth, "that's the most i think i've ever seen you talk Death."
_________________
Remember, a velociraptor can run at 10 m/s (indoors) and it knows no fear.

The Bee · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:56 am Post subject:

You are so strange!

Before Damien could call out to Bayernet to ask where he could sleep, he noticed that the man who had greeted Bayernet was still there, sitting as quiet and still as a statue.
"So ... did you get stuck working for Bayernet, too, or what?" Damien asked.
_________________
~Michelle The Bee

If life is a highway I was drunk at the wheel. (Relient K)

Shaye · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:

The man smiled, "Hello Damien. My name is Roy, and I feel fine. Thank you for asking." The man reached out to shake Damien's hand. Damien took it, but still stared at the man - waiting for an answer. "I don't work for Bayernet. We work together. If you haven't noticed, he possesses extraordinary talents that I could only dream of, but I possess knowledge that he only dreams of. Don't misunderstand me, Bayernet is a brilliant man, but I am more brilliant than him. I'm being so humble right now because I know that later on you'll realize I am telling the truth." Roy smiled. Damien returned the smile.
Damien looked around uncomfortably for a minute or two and then said, "So... Do you know where I get to sleep?"
"Ah! That I do. Follow me," and Roy led Damien into a separate room that was obviously some kind of kitchen, judging by the hearth and jars of preserves and a little basket of raspberries. There were two doors off to the sides, and Roy led him through the left one and into a bedroom with a large four-poster bed and luxurious crimson sheets with ebony furniture and that same, mysterious purple wood on the floor.
Damien took a few minutes staring around at the bedroom, then turned to thank Roy - but he was gone.
Damien nodded and -in a childish fashion- jumped on the bed and fell asleep within seconds.
_________________
~Shaye

Look. I don't understand half the things I say either.

The Grey Dawn · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:40 am Post subject:

Damien was in a green field. He walked barefoot, the green grass cushioning his every step. As he made his way over the top of a hill, he saw a small stream winding its way through the lush scenery, and the most beautiful girl he had ever seen soaking her feet. He started walking towards her.

Did you know that was spelt backwards is saw?
_________________
Remember, a velociraptor can run at 10 m/s (indoors) and it knows no fear.

Shaye · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject:

The gentle mist from the waterfall behind her gently graced her beautiful red hair, and as her ivory toned skin reached up to brush it away, Damien felt a rush of emotion and his heart started to beat faster and he started to shake all over.
Damien woke up with Roy above him, shaking him gently on the shoulder. "Aha! You're alive! I just wanted to tell you that dinner is ready and if you would like to eat it warm, you should come join Bayernet and I in the kitchen. Goodbye."
And Damien was left staring at the crimson canopy above him, wondering what he just dreamt, and what exactly Bayernet and Roy made for dinner.
_________________
~Shaye

Look. I don't understand half the things I say either.

The Grey Dawn · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject:

The luscious smell of noodles wafted through the air, and Damien gladly ate his share, unaware of the toxins the filled the vegetables that he swallowed. It was not an intentional act, at least on the part of Bayernet or Roy. It was the work of Death.
_________________
Remember, a velociraptor can run at 10 m/s (indoors) and it knows no fear.

The Bee · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject:

The fungus from the mushrooms might have grown inside Damien's stomach, throat, mouth, and other things, were it not for the fact that Roy and Bayernet had made wasabi noodles.
_________________
~Michelle The Bee

If life is a highway I was drunk at the wheel. (Relient K)