BWP can't stop, addicted to the shindig

BWP can't stop, addicted to the shindig - Printable Version

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can't stop, addicted to the shindig - Sólúlfur - 5/9/2025

backdated loosely; likely pre-beltane

This made her nervous. In so many ways, this was a waking nightmare for the fra Nordri - a calamity on the heels of newborns in their pack; a looming threat that dragged Solulfur away from the security and power of her collective packmates, all for a spiritual calling's demands to do what was right. What was her destiny.

Solulfur dreamed of killing the Visitor sometimes.

It was just the leftovers of her subconscious cobbled into a casserole of toxic slop. It didn't make the dreams any less disturbing. Otherwise, she slept hardly at all - fitful snatches of rest between duties. Solulfur didn't feel the sleepless nights too much, really. Her focus was a finely honed thing these days - going from one problem to the next and routinely dissecting them with the brusqueness of a war general.

They were going to fix this, and then she could rest.

It had been a blessing when Tiberii had agreed to go with her on a Rune-hunt. Solulfur had felt the weight of everything lift off her shoulders a little, enough to sip at the air for a bit of oxygen. Being away from the borders of the packlands did not normally bother her, but in this context, it grated on the Sun-wolf's awareness. Still, Tiberii's fiery presence reminded her that a bit of home was here by her side, and that they would return to the pack's borders soon enough. Hopefully, with success to report.

Solulfur halted, perching all four paws with uncanny resemblance to a mountain goat, upon a little outcropping of stone. These mountains were warmer than the Vale, but still cool and dangerous to traverse at their higher elevations. Her snow-filled ears pricked as the Sun-wolf glanced over her shoulder. Her brow was furrowed, a distinctly pensive and almost petulantly serious expression contorting her features before she seemed to remember that Tiberii could see what her face was doing. Solulfur smoothed her expression to neutrality, observing her Shakti-Vaes companion coolly as she caught up. Anything from the Visitor yet? She huffed a somewhat annoyed sigh. I wish he'd been more specific.

Tiberii

RE: can't stop, addicted to the shindig - Tiberii - 5/9/2025

Skill:

[Image: dcsbjjt-52cff3a4-215c-4aa4-9158-77d8ee37...cgbtcI5RJ4]

Tiberii's skin felt like it was crawling. She didn't do this ethereal shit. Ever since Ragnhildr had explained to her the concept of multiple lives, she'd quietly stuffed the thought toward the back of her brain — the very concept made the cogs of her mind seize up. She'd only known one life. She only understood one life.

And now that one life was threatened by some asshole in her dreams?

In everyone's dreams?

The bull would huff, stomping along the ground behind Sólúlfur in an awkward silence as the two determined women made their way South. The snow would slowly melt, the air becoming warmer as the morning sun began to peek above the horizon. And the two climbed, searching for everything and yet knowing nothing.

Finally, Sólúlfur stopped. And Tiberii, so distracted with her own mind, nearly plowed right into her, managing to slide along her heels just in time as she turned her head away from the horizon and toward her companion. "Anything from the Visitor yet?" Tiberii would snort, shaking her head in poorly veiled frustration.

"I wish he'd been more specific."

Tiberii would push air from her lips in a harsh pffff. Yer tellin' me, she'd quip, sighing heavily as she flicked her ears forward. For a moment, she'd allow her gaze to scan the area around them, citrine eyes peeled to look for anything that seemed out of place. Anything unnatural. Sól, she started, her tail rattling for a moment. What even is a 'Rune'? It sounded stupid, and perhaps she hadn't wanted to ask in front of everyone for fear of sounding incompetent.

Her gaze remained on the Throne.

RE: can't stop, addicted to the shindig - narrator - 5/9/2025

Rune Discovery : 「 Pending Success 」

The sun continues to rise. At first, the day is cloudy and dreary ... but as you continue to investigate the Throne, the sun breaks through the skyline in a sudden burst. The clouds disperse as the beams of light from above cascade through the atmosphere and illuminate the very ground you walk on.

They seem to illuminate a path for you.

The granite seems to glow softly, illuminated pawsteps suddenly catching in your mind's eye. You follow willingly, having an unwavering sense that this is the direction you are supposed to be going. You can almost hear the pawsteps whispering to you.

You follow the glowing pawsteps to the base of a tree. The ground around it is glowing intensely, a soft and subtle blue. As you stare, you hear a voice. A whisper.

Yia nad ali dig.

It is foreign.

But you understand it somehow.

You need to dig.

The ground glows blue beneath your feet.

Do you listen?

RE: can't stop, addicted to the shindig - Sólúlfur - 5/11/2025

Tiberii skid to a halt, huffing derisively at the mention of the Visitor.

As was the correct response. Solulfur huffed softly through her nose in rapport, flashing a toothy grin as Tiberii bemoaned their situation. It felt good, to complain about it. The moments after the second dream - that nightmarish moment standing before the council, Solulfur's carefully constructed world imploding on her like a black hole, her heart on her sleeve and in her throat - she didn't wish to dwell in that place. It almost made it easier to act like petulant teenagers about it - a pair of unruly young women against the world, bending it to their whims despite their reluctance.

She shook out the ruff of fur around her throat, turning her attention ahead once more. Tiberii's voice rumbled behind her, and Solulfur turned an ear attentively to catch the words. She was silent for a moment, as the clouds above shifted shapes in the tumultuous breezes far overhead.

The word means some kind of...sacred mark, was my understanding. My family never used any, I was never taught of them. My Afi spoke to us in other ways. She remarked idly. The clouds had thinned greatly, spilling bright beams of sunlight that pooled on the granite Throne. Solulfur narrowed her molten gaze at them, then began to follow.

A mild smile smoothed her features as a sense of righteousness settled over her. This was right - the clouds had parted just so to show her the way. She didn't need any foolish Visitor. Her Afi was guiding her, and his approval was as warm as sunlight, as refreshing as rain. This way, I believe. Her paws dislodged miniature pebbles, sending them tumbling raucously down the treacherous cliffsides. Solulfur paid them no mind, trusting in her surefootedness to carry her safely.

The Runes the Visitor speaks of seem to be similar. Marks made in the earth that mark or hold some kind of power. What it is, how the Runes summon that power, I am not sure. I saw them in the cave - blue, and glowing, like the surface of a pond in the brightest moonlight. She halted at last, sunlight spilling warm across the planes of her muzzle and cheekbones. A tree clung to the rugged mountain terrain desperately, trunk gnarled and twisted with the wear of weathering the elements. The Visitor's voice echoed, ghostly, in her ears. The Sun-wolf tried not to bristle, looking instead toward her Pillar. Do you hear it?

RE: can't stop, addicted to the shindig - Tiberii - 5/14/2025

Skill:

Sólúlfur would speak, and she sounded so knowledgeable about this that Tiberii started to feel embarassed at her own ignorance. It was frustrating, being so illiterate in the mythological ... especially when all she wanted to do was help. And it was frustrating, wanting to help and being so completely unaware as to how she was supposed to do that.

She needed to just be gently lined up with the problem.

So that she could charge it.

If only she could see it.

That damn Visitor better hope he didn't show his ugly mug, because she'd be sure to headbutt his smile clean off his face.

As Sólúlfur spoke, suddenly it became bright. The clouds parted in a very peculiar way, beams of sun filtering down and illuminating a path for them. Tiberii's ears would perk, noting that Sól saw it too. "This way, I believe." And Tiberii would nod, feeling in the very pit of her bones that Sól was right. And the two women would move, twisting down the precarious, narrow path and following in some invisible, glowing pawsteps.

It felt like they were stalking someone.

And finally, they reached the tree, and the sun seemed to stop them in their tracks.

And then, the voice.

Aye, I hear it, she'd reply, gaze twisting around as she searched for the mouth that spoke. Where are ya, huh? Her words were a quick bark at the sky before she huffed and turned her gaze back toward the base of the tree. It said ta dig ... she spoke, her words softer now as she glanced between the tree and Sól.

And she felt so compelled to do as she was told, taking her massive paws and beginning to dig ... noting the soft blue glow that emanated from the soil. It seemed to vibrate with life. Tiberii had never felt dirt that seemed so ... alive. So she kept digging.

RE: can't stop, addicted to the shindig - narrator - 5/19/2025

Rune Discovery : 「 Success 」

It was much deeper than you had anticipated.

After digging for what felt like an eternity, your paws rough and raw from the enormous mound of dirt they had managed to displace, your claws finally rake against smooth stone. The sharp corner of a tablet rests half-submerged inside the hole you're staring into, and after a few more clods of earth are removed you're able to pull it out at last.

It seems as if making contact with the open air causes the stone to flare to life, and the glowing blue inscription suddenly pulses with a much greater intensity than before - you find it almost hurts to look at directly.

The voice from before returns.

Eif lak, eif lak, it seems to crow, infused with excitement. The foreign words take shape in your mind. At last, at last...

The Rune tablet pulses again, shining impossibly bright, and then suddenly - with a great crack!, it splits in half.

Dre drra hale ban fialn, aln nie laba sagmelk fier iar kak canal iat, the voice reverberates. The three have been found, and now a fragment of our past calls out.

Dre ulh kimal ali life, uth sagmelk rekirind lat sepil lok - af an kok dre surth, fir mire remon, it continues, the air around you crackling with an electric anticipation. Iar wanind kieir ali filn aln oken dre wa dekelnal shial ut... eipal muk kikyl. Dre furk ertifarn sepal hire; eip hale muk enial krenddr ali gede yia...

The earth hums to life, each fragment restoring what was lost - do not stop the search, for more remain, it translates within the confines of your mind, a strange understanding that you have no knowledge of or control over. Our waning power to find and open the way depends on it... we must hurry. The first artifact is here; I have just enough strength to guide you...

The voice fades, but a shimmer in the air remains, and it seems to beckon you to follow...

Eip win shielfirm dre odrir rune-buriral, it finishes. I will inform the other Rune-bearers...

On weary paws, you are led by the spirit to your destination.

RE: can't stop, addicted to the shindig - Sólúlfur - 5/21/2025

Tiberii began to dig at the voice's behest, and Solulfur stood by and inspected their surroundings for signs of that unfortunate lethal plague that seemed to be spreading. It didn't take long for it to be apparent the rune was not buried shallow, and then the Sun-wolf procured her assistance, digging until her usually pristine fur was resembling of her father's fur-tone and mud stuck the strands into unfortunate clumps that hung around her neck and elbows.

Solulfur's expression was one of extreme petulance, but her energy returned once the rune was found. The rune at the pair's paws pulsed and glowed, brighter, then brighter still, until it cracked in half. Solulfur squeaked in alarm, pawing frantically at Tiberii's side. IT BROKE- She wheezed, panicked - how on earth were they going to fix it - when the voice started up again.

The voice spoke within her mind, an unnerving blend of the Visitor's language and the translation overlapping like an overeager echo within the confines of Solulfur's skull. It seemed the Rune breaking was normal. They were beckoned elsewhere - it seemed the Artifact was now here. She offered Tiberii a conspiratorial, unsure look in response, although the Visitor's beckons did urge her paws to begin moving no matter how weary they were.