Legend of Ransera

A teasing smirk was given in response to Sivan's 'if' statement.

A brief but necessary amount of scene change time later.

A large, adult green dragon could be seen lifting off from Kalzasi's hospital, with two passengers nestled in behind his wing joints. No saddle would be needed, the flight would be a comfortable one. As they started to leave from Kalzasi, a few hundred meters above the ground, Laurevere spoke into their minds, "And yes, all elves are secretly something else. However, it is considered impolite to ask them to reveal that before they are ready. Better to just befriend them and let them come to you in their own time." This was accompanied by a small mental chuckle.

It was a short flight out of Kalzasi, and by extension, out of the protective divine aurora of Arcas. Once they left that umbrella, the world outside was one of snow and darkness. Outside of this barrier, magic was stifled, and down below, herds of shadow creatures could be seen racing across the white landscape, reminders of what the world was like without a god's touch. Thankfully, no people were seen running from these beings.

After going due south for several hours, a plume of steam could be seen rising from a large forest. For those familiar with the region, this was the Enchanted Bog situated roughly halfway between Kalzasi and Zaichaer. Laurevere banked downward, coming to a gentle landing in the snow outside the edge of the forest.

"You two must make your own way in. It is the law of this particular land and one I cannot break. I will welcome you upon arriving in Blacklily. Best of luck."

With a flap of his wings, he took off once more, heading deeper into the Enchanted Bog, leaving the pair on their own.

!	Message from: Aegis
	In accordance with the protocols listed in the Enchanted Bog page, make your way through to Blacklily. This can be done however you so wish. Once you've arrived, tag me and we will continue.

Destyn's mouth went o-shaped as he began to recognise the landscape below them. His clan had travelled the waterways of the Northlands for longer than he'd been alive, and there were few spots they actively avoided. It had always been confusing to Destyn to know that this place was an artefact from the realm to which they sought to return and yet it was off-limits to their travel.

"An portach draíochtúil..." He said softly, a chill creeping along his flesh and leaving goosepimples in its wake as he uttered the words in his mothertongue. He got up to his feet on the back of the dragon and spread his wings, dismounting in that fashion and alighting gently on terra firma to regard the strange vista while he waited for the wingless ones to join him.

"I thank you, Agdus..." He bowed. It had been a privilege to be transported this far by the sagacious creature, but he would not dare counter what was described as 'the law of this particular land' to sue for more aid... even if it was quite tempting to do so. With Agdus in flight, Destyn regarded Sivan and Laurevere.

"This place is of the Aos Sí. That is to say, they are my people, but also not my people. My clan is... was... Old Order Fae. We kept the ways of the Wilds, and our elders sought to lead us back there. Here dwell the Fae who were content to remain... I was not allowed to know them, but... Secretly, in my heart, I do not think I was ever of the Old Order. This is the only land I have ever known. All of my friends are here. Even though they spoke of the Wilds like a paradise, I never wanted to go... not really." He wrinkled his nose and shook his head.

"Anyway. Shall we?" He gestured forth with one hand, even as he reached for Laurevere's hand with the other.

"Is file den sórt sin tú! Is dócha mar sin...." Destyn replied to Laurevere with a shrug. As he set foot on the supple soil of the bog, Destyn paused with a start as he felt the magic of the Everwilds course through him like a sudden chill. He had only ever broached the very barest hints of this feeling before, when he touched artefacts that had been kept by his clan or those shared with them in passing other cousin clans. This was fuller and richer.

"This place… they never told me. It is… Other.” He lacked the words in Common or any other tongue for what he was feeling.

"Can you, you know, hear the plants all crying out in warning? The spirits all singing songs of discouragement? I think that we need to, you know, speak with them that protect this place… To tell them we are peaceful pilgrims who wish no harm to them or theirs." With that he paused and knelt, carefully setting his knee down upon the moss and leaning down to whisper.


“Lichen, moss and grass and fern,
We are come in peace to learn,
Wishing harm to none of thine,
Prithee share these truths of mine.
Tell each plant, each shrub and tree,
Tell the beetle, ant and bee,
Finally inform the Fae,
Three have come who would parley.
Lest intentions be mistook,
Stay we here in this green nook.
Elf and elf and fae to fae,
We wait for leave to wend our way.
Should no answer come by morn,
We depart come break of dawn.” And, with that, Destyn plopped down in the moist moss and criss-crossed his legs.

The residents of the bog were asked and the residents of the bog answered.

It started first with a pale green powder settling upon the skin of Destyn and Sivan, and with it, a sense of embrace and comfort. A million knowing hands laying upon the summoners, imparting nourishment and energy into them. As the feeling grew, so did the lichen that was forming upon the flesh that was exposed to the air. Some energy was taken in exchange, but not enough to damage or bother, as a symbiotic relationship was offered up to them, one that came naturally to mages such as themselves. As it continued, they were soon covered in the fluffy appendages of many a different lichen native to these swamps.

And then one might notice the hair upon their heads turning a deep, dark green. The strands grew short, twisted, became thick and stout, and soon a warm dampness spread upon their heads and anywhere else that hair once grew. As this grew, with it came a sense of softness, one of protection of water and soil and life, of patience and humility. The moss replaced the hair of brows and head and all other sorts, capping the emerald green upon the paler green of their lichen skin. Fingernails grew long and wispy, shifting to a vibrant yellow, glowing like an evening sun, before barely shifting into the greens of grasses that now hung from finger tips. Ears, noses, and other appendages shifted into fern like structures, able to find growth and ambition in environs not suitable for most others until both the men appeared more akin to swamp nymphs than other hominids.

As this transformation completed, the songs of discouragement from the spirits shifted slowly to light and airy ballads of welcome. The swamp was welcoming them directly, before even the first fae resident had been met. The denizens though could feel the shift, and they joined in the songs of the swamp, and soon, pathways that had always been there yet unseen were now flagrant and obvious to their viridescent eyes. And one of which had a swarming flurry of beetles that would look rather familiar to Destyn fluttering about at its entrance, the same beetles once seen in the vision that started this entire venture.

The path was long but not tiresome, was full of fruit and root both edible and delicious, mossy stones perfectly suited for resting upon, with bugs juicy and crunchy, and of creatures curious and friendly. And eventually the path ended in a small clearing, one that smelled, well, overwhelmingly of the fertile compost they had come to retrieve. The kaleidoscopic beetles were abound, as were many other creatures that feasted upon such a boon like the sea dwellers during a whale fall. Now it was simply a matter of gathering how much of the massive pile they needed and returning home.

Once this compost had been applied to the sapling, a vision would once again make its way into Destyn's mind, one that was more real than any reality head experienced. It was fast, racing, first starting where Destyn was but a single water droplet leaking from a deep, cerulean gemstone the size of a small house, floating within a cloud. This droplet joined countless others, forming a river in sky, racing across landscapes before plunging over the edge of a cloud's cliff transforming into a waterfall, traveling miles down toward the ocean below, plunging into a whirlpool until the world went black. In the darkness, a massive being could be seen moving but no details of it were clear, but the pull of the currents caused by its movements were enough to sink ships and send tidal waves to crush coastal cities. A flip of a tail Destyn the water droplet was sent spraying into the sunlight above, landing upon the leaf of a thirsty palm on a beach somewhere. The water was absorbed by the plant and it relaxed, content to have received such precious nourishment.

Destyn

Loot: Sheltered status within the Enchanted Bog

Enchanted Bog Transformation - The swampy physical transformation is a gift for the Sheltered status within the Enchanted Bog. This transformation can be activated and deactivated at will, and increases Destyn's communication and bonding with bogs, swamps, glens, fens, and other similar biomes.

As much dragon poop as Destyn feels like carrying back.
Injuries: N/A

Points: 25 points, not eligible for magic.

Comments: 2 benchmarks done, 3 left to go.


Sivan

Loot: Sheltered status within the Enchanted Bog

Enchanted Bog Transformation - The swampy physical transformation is a gift for the Sheltered status within the Enchanted Bog. This transformation can be activated and deactivated at will, and increases Sivan's communication and bonding with bogs, swamps, glens, fens, and other similar biomes.

As much dragon poop as Destyn feels like carrying back.

Injuries: N/A

Points: 25 points, not eligible for magic.

Comments: The things we do for besties.