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Home » Search » Roster » Whitepages » Records » FAQ » Guidebook
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Open Rainforest Cliffs 
Rift Presence
Currently championing:
#1
the Rift
By the time the eldest matriarch of the Loricatrunc returned to the beach below the Rainforest Cliffs, most of the creatures of the deep had returned to their homes. She couldn't blame them. It must've been uncomfortable for them to lay upon the sands, baked by the relentless sun, with the waters never quite closing over their backs. A couple of kalofin and a naridon remained, and, of course, the baleano. It dwarfed the rest of them, its massive mouth closed and the long, serpentine body disappearing in the sea waters.

When she returned, it opened a bright, green eye. The corners of her mouth crinkled in a gentle smile. She had had very few dealings with the creatures of the deep, but she knew the baleano were a terror, beholden to no one. They were vicious and quick, and she doubted any baleano had ever been this close to other creatures without eating them.

And to think that this giant was not yet fully grown—either that, or the tales of their monstrous size were exaggerated.

Or perhaps, a little bit of both.

"You return," it stated, its voice strangely amplified by whatever magic allowed it speech above the surface, yet thin and hollow when snatched up by the air. She assumed she'd be blubbering if she were to speak in its domain, so she figured that was just how things went when one was out of their element. Still, the deep voice vibrated in her bones. "Alone," it added after a moment.

"Yes," she responded, stepping into the shallows to soothe her aching feet, "I ate them all."

The baleano narrowed its green eyes at her, and then made a sound like rumbling thunder and dry, windblown leaves. "You did not!" it finally said. The matriarch assumed it had got her joke, then, and one of her black, bright eyes winked at it. The baleano tipped a little sideways. She wondered if it had been lying here all the time, or if it had smelled her return and crawled back onto the beach for her. "No," she agreed warmly, "I did not."

And so, they settled in to wait, a few of the smaller creatures running around in playful chases, while the elderly Loricatrunc and the young baleano traded stories of their vastly different lives.

This is the RETURN THREAD for the SWP task forces!
If you want to join the SWP but have been unsure of where to put your character, posting here is a great place to start! :D

* Each round is 48 hours (give or take), and has no posting order. If you miss a round, don't worry - just post when you have a chance to! The round is open until Rift Presence posts again.
* New characters are always welcome to join the plot
* If you find the pace too high, let us know, and we'll slow down!
* Posts are encouraged to be 400 words or less.
» Presence of the Rift «


Otem the Hopebringer
Currently championing:
#2
 

With only herself around to offer praise for her actions, Otem was indeed feeling quite proud of herself. While it was true that on one level she'd always thought the encounter with the Metus would go as well as it had (she had visited him twice before after all), on a deeper more genuine level, she'd actually been terrified. It wasn't immediately clear whether her fear had been of the Metus, or of failing in front of so many (very likely the later), but the fact that it had gone well filled the soil and sap coloured girl with a renewed sense of purpose.

As she returned back to the cliffs, she abruptly halted upon seeing the Matron speaking with one of the beleano. Despite her victory with the Metus Otem was under no pretence that she was somehow protected the Rift's other dangerous predators, and so she kept a respectful distance.

"The Metus ate the light.." Otem offered, coughing slightly before she spoke to try and get the attention of the Matron in the least obtrusive way possible. "It didn't seem to have any bad side effects ... I hope that's alright."




otem

I'm a cold day in august, I'm a stream too shallow.
I'm a heart-shaped box with no letter inside.
Image Credits

You may always use magic/force on/against Otem.
Roscorro the Dragon Heart
Currently championing: Caevoc
#3
ROSCORRO
you and atlas are one and the same, my dear

He was not far behind Otem, his lips curling in an amused smile when she reported to the Matron. Though his gaze had drifted to the new, giant creature that lay upon the beach. He was like a child experiencing his first snow, awestruck and excited. Though he too kept a respectful distance, he eagerly took in every new thing with delight. His long pointed ears were perked forward, one slightly angled to catch and words spoken by the Matron as he inspected each new creature. Several small ones were running about in play and his side shook in silent laughter when some scurried underneath him. He dipped his head downward to watch them run, jerking it back when one of them came barreling between his front legs. He snorted, clearly more amused than bothered by their antics. He wanted to join them in their fun, but remained still. Now was not the time, nor place.

He doubted he would ever get the chance to play with them, however. Once their quests were through, things would most likely go back to the way they were. They would not play with him, the Matron would not ask things of them. Nor would this giant exist beside them without trying to devour them. He was saddened by the thought. If only things could keep going on this way. Predators did not need to eat meat, and malice was not found in the hearts of others. But the world was not so perfect. So he would savor these moments and cherish them long after they had gone.



"Talk."

cursed to hold a weight you can't bear and still standing
not because you can — but because you have to



img
You have my permission to use magic/force against Roscorro.
Maiming and killing is not allowed, though. 
Waker
Currently championing:
#4
WAKER
It feels like you forgot some part of yourself in the waters below the Siren's Summit—like something was scooped out and you've been left with a hollow inside. You don't even know what had originally been there, what it is that you have lost. Innocence, perhaps, or even trust. Night Sky's obvious concern and care helped, but as you once again step onto the beach, you still feel subdued.

Maybe you will bounce back. Maybe you won't. Not a whole lot you can do about it.

Otem delivers the report on your rather strange mission. You wouldn't say it had lacked excitement, just that it had had a very unexpected and sudden end. Twitching your ears, you look around. Dragon Man seems at ease with the critters running around in play, but you notice that no one goes near the massive creature lying in the shallows.

You also notice that none of the others are back. You frown slightly, then turn to observe the matron, waiting for her to react to Otem's news.
Varuna
Currently championing:
#5

VARUNA
A commotion down by the beach caught the boy's attention. He'd been keeping to the Rainforest Cliffs lately since the trees gave a bit of shade from the sweltering sun. Between the trees he spotted a gathering down by the sea and his curiosity was piqued.

At first he observed from a comfortable distance, unsure of the strange creatures. Varuna was well aware that the rift's beastlings were not often kind - in fact, rarely so. It wasn't until he saw a familiar shape speaking with them that he worked up the courage to go down and investigate. It was the golden filly, who he'd met not far from here many months ago when the chaos god unleashed specters of the dead upon them. When Varuna had tried to sabotage his ritual and escaped with only half a face.

The yearling approached skeptically, ears swiveling as he came up on the group. It was truly a peculiar assembly - a handful of horses mingling with monsters of both the sea and of the land. He chose to approach the most familiar of them, Otem. He remembered his father explaining that the pair of them shared the same blood - or something.

He stood there feeling and looking a bit out of place, observing the exchanges and trying to make sense of things.


but calm your heart
the dark is still the dark
image || coding


@Otem
Rift Presence
Currently championing:
#6
the Rift
She truly appreciated the moments when the Rift came together, bound by magic. She only wished it could happen under less dire circumstances. It was desperation that gave them strength, and it saddened the great matron. It was the inverse of a silver lining, the dark cloud on the otherwise bright horizon. Would it always take a disaster to bring about unity?

Still, for the time being, she sought to banish such thoughts, and focus instead on the nice, bright things in life. For example, learning of the peculiarities of the deep sea fishes, and of a world without sunlight. She could not imagine such a thing.

One of the groups returned, and the baleano fell silent. The matron stepped back from him, and focused upon the equines. Roscorro and Waker remained silent, while Otem delivered the report of what had happened. The Loricatrunc chuckled, a deep and pleasant sound. "Somehow, I am not surprised," she said merrily, the corners of her eyes crinkling with a smile. "That is quite alright, dear. And, oh—" She noticed Varuna then, and turned to face the colt. Her long trunk waved a little in greeting. "Hello there. Have you come to join in our efforts to bring hope to the world?"

Once he had either answered, or had been silent long enough for her to assume he wasn't going to, she turned her attention back to Otem and those hovering behind her. "I must ask even more of you. Hope has abandoned my home, Uwaritace, along with the deserted Akvo City, and the ruined Halyven. You must go, to one of these places, and restore the hope there. Which one will you choose?"

The result of the poll was that the groups will be kept for the duration of the plot!

Group ROWK (+ Varuna if he'd like to join them; he could also wait to join one of the other groups when they return) get to choose between bringing hope to UWARITACE, AKVO CITY, or HALYVEN. You can decide OOC on which you'll pick. :)

* Each round is 48 hours (give or take), and has no posting order. If you miss a round, don't worry - just post when you have a chance to! The round is open until Rift Presence posts again.
* New characters are always welcome to join the plot
* If you find the pace too high, let us know, and we'll slow down!
* Posts are encouraged to be 400 words or less.
» Presence of the Rift «


Otem the Hopebringer
Currently championing:
#7
 

Otem was relieved that the Matron wasn't angry about the Metus. Then again, Otem wasn't exactly sure what she would have said in her own defence if the Matron had been. It wasn't like anyone could really make the Metus do something if he didn't want to - or refrainn from doing something.

Ears forward, Otem's mind immediately lurched as Halyven was mentioned. If Halyven was to be the current meeting-place for the make-shift 'herd' she had tried to start, then that was a reason to bring hope there above the other two locations.

"Can we go to Halyven?" Otem immediately offered, looking towards Roscorro and Waker for confirmation. She glanced towards Varuna, who hadn't been present for the 'meeting' which had been called a week or so earlier. "Hey, just so you know .. a few of us decided to sort of ... uhm, band together. Sort of like a herd. We're going to meet in Halyven during the next half moon if you'd like to join us." Otem's bi-coloured gaze briefly flickered to Waker and Roscorro, who had both been present last time.
"Just so you know." Otem added again, forcing a smile despite how awkward she felt. She wasn't trying to recruit anyone, but nor did she want anyone to feel left out. Otem could recall how political herds could be, back in Helovia, and whatever this thing was she was trying to start, it certainly wouldn't be like it had been at home.



otem

I'm a cold day in august, I'm a stream too shallow.
I'm a heart-shaped box with no letter inside.
Image Credits


Varuna - Otem says you can come to the next 'herd' meeting, if you want! :D

You may always use magic/force on/against Otem.
Varuna
Currently championing:
#8

VARUNA

The trunked creature took notice of him, waving its absurdly long nose in greeting. Varuna made no motions of acknowledgement but listened to her words with hearkened ears. Hello there. Have you come to join in our efforts to bring hope to the world? 

"Hope?" He questioned. He wasn't sure what she meant by that. Was there no hope to be found in the world already? Varuna wasn't all that familiar with it, himself. How does one go about gathering up hope to give to the world? Before his question could be answered, the beast turned to the others who had gathered. She spoke of lands whose hope had left them. That made more sense to him. He remembered his own home, long lost, swallowed by shadows. It was hard to tell now if it had ever been real, but he understood hope to mean what was lost when he was dumped out of the sky and into this strange place between worlds.

The golden filly turned to him, explaining that a few of them had banded together. Is that how they meant to bring the hope back? "Where is Halyven?" Varuna had never been part of a herd. He was skeptical of these monsters, who reminded him of gods. All he had ever known of gods was deceit and abandonment. The chaos god had taken his mother. He was skeptical of their intentions. Mismatched eyes met those of the trunked creature, the one who had spoken, with a cold stare. "Who are you?"


but calm your heart
the dark is still the dark
image || coding


@Otem
Roscorro the Dragon Heart
Currently championing: Caevoc
#9
ROSCORRO
you and atlas are one and the same, my dear

He listened to the matron as she spoke, telling of other lands that needed light. His ears flicked back as Otem selected the fallen city. Though he had not been able to speak, himself, he decided to go with the young mare. He was not keen on the idea of letting her wander off alone. He had a soft heart for younger horses. She acted tough, but she was an innocent thing and he could see her easily getting in over her head. Best stick with her. He looked to Waker, wondering if he would join them. He looked exhausted, drained of all life. The giant moved towards. Stretching out his soft nose towards the other stallion he would aimed to touch him on the shoulder, if he'd let him. A gentle smile would brush his lips, a light of concern in his eyes. Accompanied by a question. Was he alright to do on? He would understand if the other needed to back out. To stay and rest. He had been through a lot. His gaze drifted to the semi healed wound on Waker's neck. Yes, it might be best if he rested rather then pushed himself more. he would wait for a response before going to Otem to confirm that he was going. He kept an eye on Waker out of the corner of his eye, just in case he needed anything. He was impressed by how tenacious the Pegasus was. Sticking with them through it all despite all that he had gone through. He would be honored to travel alongside him again. Even though he felt he shouldn't be doing any more of these quests until he had rested.


"Talk."

cursed to hold a weight you can't bear and still standing
not because you can — but because you have to



img


ooc; Rosco will be joining Otem and he looks to Waker to see if he is up to coming with them. (He personally thinks the guy needs to rest. The poor thing.)
You have my permission to use magic/force against Roscorro.
Maiming and killing is not allowed, though. 
K'yarie the Hopebringer
Currently championing:
#10
K'yarie
Oh this matron... K'yarie did he best not to roll her eyes. Had they not gone through enough? Descending into the depths of the lake. Then she had them trekking to the labyrinth, before returning here to receive, another task. And this time the young girl chose to go to the fallen city that had entered the rift when Helovia was devoured. The mare had never been there before, but she knew how far it was. They had expended a lot of energy swimming in that blasted lake, then the path to the labyrinth was not a short jaunt either. They needed rest. Even a creature built for long, heavy hauls like her could feel the weight of weariness tugging on her muscles.

Her gaze drifted toward Waker. He most of all needed some time to rest and recover. He had been quite shaken by the attack. No one could deny it. He did little to try and hide it. She was worried that if something did indeed happen, he would not have the strength or resolve to fight it off. Worn down, almost broken, but not completely defeated. Yet. At least he was putting one foot in front of the other, still working to breath in and out. . So long as he kept this up, there was hope that he would recover.

So long as his spirit was strong enough. The Rift had a habit of straining and testing one's soul. If you were not strong it would break you. He fought this far, so K'yarie believed that he had it in him. Though he may not see it. Again the large mare would go with him, just to make sure he didn't get himself killed. It would not do for her to have followed him this far just to get himself killed again. She blamed her soft spot given to her by her mother for this. She had already done her part in helping bring hope to this land. So why stick around. Because this stallion needed her. Foolish. Weak hearted. Kind. Everything she was doing now her father would have spat upon. But since when did she care what her father thought? He was long gone.

talk talk talk talk
Fear not this Night.
You will not go Astray
Though shadoes fall, still the Stars find their way
image credit to Achiha-Azteca.


K'yarie will stick with Waker. Though she be irritated with Matron for working them so hard.