With the day almost gone and the forest still not entirely as it was before the war, it's no surprise that a group of poachers has set up camp a fair distance into Arden. There have been rumors of a group such as this from local villages lately, but it seems no one has been able to do much about it yet. In the camp are a few men and women, one working on a few new critters while another cooks, fairly simple tasks.

Something in their camp however that stands out is an animal, a fox with once-glowing blue lines, now dulled into an ashen blue-grey color, the designs caked with drying blood.

Something... big, and heavy and ambling moved through the forest, towards the sounds and smells of human life, and the sight of cooking fires. As it moved the sound of trees creaking could be heard, undergrowth being crushed under the foot of something immensely heavy. It's passage could be marked by the glow of a fire moving through the forest, the light of flame marking the traveler's passage as it made a very definite straight line towards the camp. If there were traps from that direction, they could be heard being sprung. If there were guards on watch there cries were short. Something big moved ever closer towards the camp.

RPG: Ascian declares that he has the Construct (PHY-CN) gift. Use '+gift PHY-CN' to view the gift description. Last edit: 94 months ago.
RPG: Ascian declares that he has the Fire Mastery (FIR-MA) gift. Use '+gift FIR-MA' to view the gift description. Last edit: 128 months ago.
RPG: Ascian declares that he has the Strong (PHY-ST) gift. Use '+gift PHY-ST' to view the gift description.
RPG: Ascian declares that he has the God Eater: Wind (DIV-GE) gift. Use '+gift DIV-GE' to view the gift description. Last edit: 130 months ago.

Cale is gathering spiders. Again. Faust is, evidently, very picky about having exactly the right ones, of exactly the right kind. Non - poisonous, non - venomous, fuzzy and cute looking, about the size of your hand, or paw, if you should just so happen to be a large cat, right at the moment, and all also while required to be pleasantly aerodynamic. The spiders, that is. Yes, aerodynamic fuzzy spiders. For throwing purposes. It's a long and complicated plan. Still, Cale is doing his part. He'd already shifted through the shadows with the jumping poisonous butterflies and the swinging carnivorous vines, and had juuuuusssst managed to find four of the *perfect* spiders in this one. When. An enormous flaming crashing glowing bronze something whizzes by. Hm? Ascian? Cale puts one spider in each pocket, palms the other two, and sets off to see what his friend is all upset about. Carefully. Anything that get Ascian upset is likely a fearsome force worth reckoning with. And reckoning quite cautiously, at that.

It's the sounds that alert the poachers, they stop their work and a few take up arms, wielding fairly exotic weapons for Arden strangely enough! Small pieces of metal and wood, one with a pair just big enough for his hands while the others? They wield weapons that look like crossbows with no arms.
These folks may not be from around here.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Footsteps shook the ground as the sound came closer, eventually resolving into a seven foot tall figure, skin of bronze reflecting in the light of his fiery crown, and the wheel of fire that spun along his back, twisting into a mandala of light and heat. About as subtle as a quarter ton of bronze upside the head was Ascian, though he offered a smile and a polite nod to the assembled camp. "I thought I would come warn you that there seemto be a greater frequency of traps in the forest tonight." He paused to pull a sharpened stick of wood out of his side, tossing it away without apparent concern. "Also that there are individuals in the forest who will apparently attack on sight." His other hand tossed something into the light of the camp's fires, a clearly surprised and severed head, the stump of neck fully cauterized by some tremendous heat. The padded gloves he generally wore were tucked into his belt, leaving his bronze hands bare. "Though having taken a moment I realize you very probably knew this. I should at this time mention that as a member of the nobility of Amber I am required to detain all of you and bring you before appropriate justice." His eyes fell on the bloody and dim fox, the light of his eyes narrowing until they were pinpoints of blue flame in black pits. "However... given that Lady Mordecai or Prince Julian will no doubt simply kill you, I believe I will spare everyone the time. If you would like to tell me your names now, so that you may be properly remembered, please do so.

Cale follows along in Ascian's wake, making decent time, until he sees the poachers. Uh oh. Those are hunting rifles! Almost surely with enough kick to put holes in bronze. CERTAINLY with enough kick to put holes in Cale. Either would be unfortunate. Both would be quite tragic. Hmmmmmm... Cale ducks behind a tree a moment, thinking quickly. It might be too difficult to shift things so that gunpowder won't work here, if gunpowder has already BEEN working here. Which, given the rifles . . . . well, no doubt it has. Shifting things to "no gunpowder burns here" would probably just catapult Cale into the next Shadow over. The one closest to this one where guns do not actually fire. So, that's out. HOWEVER, that said, there's still a possible quick hack of changing the fulminates in the primer caps to non - percussive fulminates. Gunpowder -would- still burn, of course. It's just that pulling the triggers won't ignite the primer. Yup. That's the plan. Cale whirls around the far side of the tree, running laterally, and with each tree he passes, negates one of the possible percussive compounds' acuity. Starting with the fulminate ester salts of mercury, then silver, then the rest. Even if it's a partial nerf, from there it's trivial to alter probabilities to cause misfires. Cale whistles as he works. And then he stops whistling, because that might draw attention. Which would then attracts a hail of bullets. And Cale's not fond of lead poisoning. Nope! Cale makes as good a use of the time that Ascian's distraction is causing as he can!

RPG: Cale declares that he has the Non-Visual Shifting (PAT-NV) gift.
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Gift: PAT-NV - Non-Visual Shifting
Summary: Shadow-shift via non-visual cues
Cost: 0
Powerbits: type-pattern
Prerequisite:
  PAT-FS UL-SHADOW/5 PICK+1:UP-PHYSICAL/3.UP-MYSTICAL/3.UP-NATURE/3
==============================================================================
This character is able to shadow-shift based on more subtle cues than just the visual. Temperature, gravity, even faint gradations in color in an otherwise featureless sea or sky can all provide cues for shadow shifting. This means the character could conceivably shift shadow even when blind, but doing so is incredibly dangerous, since the features they cannot see are virtually random.
This ability also permits more refined probability manipulation, allowing alterations that do not necessarily manifest in visible ways.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<OOC> Cale says, "re: ((This ability also permits more refined probability manipulation, allowing alterations that do not necessarily manifest in visible ways.))"

Vael pages: challenge at 7 please?
Vael pages: cause that's a lot to do before any of them can pull their triggers.

RPG: Cale challenges a difficulty of 7. Cale chooses Wits and the gift FIR-FR. Cale almost succeeds.
<OOC> Cale says, "What does PHY-CN say?"

Vael pages: so, success with a consequence? or near miss? Will let you choose.

<OOC> Cale will take the Consequence

RPG: Ascian declares that he has the Construct (PHY-CN) gift.

<OOC> Ascian says, "Well, more like this particular construct is made out of metal, and constructs can heal themselves with whatever they're made of..."

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Gift: PHY-CN - Construct
Summary: Artificial life
Cost: 5
Prerequisite: CHARGEN
==============================================================================
This character is an artificial being, constructed by some manner of sophisticated art or science. Clay, clockwork, or reanimated flesh, their motivating force is artificial. This makes for an interesting life, but potentially a long one, as they may be repaired indefinitely. They do not bleed and cannot be poisoned by injection (though they still breath and eat, albeit for slightly different purposes) but they also cannot heal naturally, and must be repaired. One bonus of this is that so long as some part of them remains, and someone has the talent and the willingness, they can be rebuilt. Provided they are mostly intact, a "mortal" wound can be repaired in a day or so, with additional days added for each major part of the body that could not be recovered.
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<OOC> Cale reads!
<OOC> Ascian says, "And it's "bronze" in the same way that a shattersword is "glass". If you pop the shell it's full of cosmic fire so... still not a good idea :P"
<OOC> Cale says, "oooh."
<OOC> Ascian says, "The question remains, if he's already at full mass and you FILL HIM WITH METAL... does he just... get bigger?"
<OOC> Cale says, "Yeah, if Ascian is "leaking" cosmic fire, the smart move is to "Staty Away" :)"

<OOC> Ascian says, "Lol. He's better with it than that. I don't even make fire weapons. I just superheat his arm... and... also the wind"
You paged Vael with 'What's a good consequence for this? :D'.

Vael pages: I'd say a graze or splinters from whats about to happen/
You paged Vael with 'sure!'.
<OOC> Cale will take the "splintered" consequence!

The man with the handguns gives the towering man a glance, then gives a little grin and snaps, "Mercy! Give it to him!" and leaps back. It's not even a moment after that a pair of glass-ampules that have been bound together are chucked at the bronze man. It's about the size of a small bird and thrown with a fairly skilled hand.
It's an explosive device, something deceptively small but powerful still. With the vials in the air, the group all begin opening fire, their weapons trained on Ascian's head! Streaks of lead rip through the air, the gunshots ringing out like thunder for miles. If they're going to die, they might as well g out with a bang, right? But there's a problem.. They only manage a few shots each before their guns suddenly stop working, leading to a look of confusion and quite possibly, more explosives!

<OOC> Vael says, "before you ask, they're concussion bombs. Very little flame but a huge pressure blast."
<OOC> Ascian nodnods. I have something for that too ^_^
<OOC> Vael says, "also, forgot to put into the pose that they'd splinter the trees. feel free to add that in cale.; =P"
<OOC> Cale says, "Yup. I'll be getting wounded by that, as the Consequence!"

RPG: Ascian challenges a difficulty of 12. Ascian chooses Force and the gifts DIV-GE, FIR-MA, FIR-WR, PAS-HG, PHY-CN, PHY-ST, SKL-MA, and WIN-WS. Ascian succeeds.

<OOC> Vael says, "o.o Yyeeaahh.. They're very dead. lol!"

<OOC> Ascian says, "Usually I go for a 14... >.>"

Vael pages: some people know how to overpower their characters.

Vael pages: if you saw the full extent of what Vael is capable of on a battlefield, you might weird out too. =P
You paged Vael with 'I liked the scene with the pretty flowers, actually. :)'.

Vael pages: he has well over 130 focus worth of soldier style tokens backing him. another 30ish of random support tokens and will soon have the ability to create seige scale spells.

Vael pages: you should see the Tiny Teeth tokens.. lol! they are literally like bat-piranha with an endless apatite who are controlled by Vael's mind directly.

As rifles were raised at Ascian, he regard the weapons curiously and calmly as he did everything, along with the devices thrown at him. Entirely unaware of what these things even were, he simply stood as the bombs went off and bullets clanged and vanished into his metal frame. As splinters filled the air and trees were destroyed by the bombs, the construct was temporarily obscured by the blast. Only for a moment however, as enormous winds whipped up into the air, sending the splinters back at the poachers at high speed. Only a moment behind them was the construct, one arm glowing painfully bright as he charged in. Inhuman speed propelling enormous mass did most of the work as he charged, the first two poachers he crashed into going flying with bone and flesh broken by impact alone. His "cold" hand lashed out, sending cutting winds to turn another into blood ribbons. His eyes burned in his fury, though his face was as impassive as ever as he moved through the camp, killing without word or mercy. The only thing he said as his superheated hand sliced an arm off, his victim clutching the burning wound in shrieking agony.

Cale watches Ascian's rampage with his jaw hanging open, standing still in shocked disbelief after stopping the guns a moment earlier. Unfortunately for Cale, this nets him a whole lot of splinters from the exploding trees and lashing winds. Ouch. Note to self: Duck and Cover, next time!

Ascian's battle came to end as quickly as it had begun, stopping his destruction the moment the last body had fallen. He regarded himself for a moment, frowning as he looked at the char and stains on his clothing, and the holes where weapons had pierced. His eyes went down to his hands, brow furrowing as he regarded the blood on them, and the bodies around the camp. His eyes had, at least, finally returned to normal as well, though their glow was muted somewhat. He looked to where Cale stood, having been harmed and frowned. "Cale... I am sorry you had to see that as I am sorry it happened in the first place. Do you need aid?" Head tilting at the voice above, the eidolon looked up into the trees gazing at Vael keenly. "You are looking much better than you were. I am glad. What happened here?" His voice carried but lacked it's usual bass and boom, the construct still looking to the bodies around him in some concern.

Cale's jaw is still hanging open, and, so, he decides to close it manually by the expedient of pushing it closed with his left hand, in the process, settling down on one of the newly - made tree stumps and perching there, knees tucked up against his chest and elbows folded in, chin resting on his hands.  He blinks a few times at the sheer surface area of the mass of burning gore and he smells the smells of roasting human flesh and hair, mixed with bowel juices from the ribbon mist that used to be a man.  Until the winds carved him.  These will not be easy smells to forget.  And then the pain hits.  Cale looks down, blinks again, and starts the meticulous and uncomfortable process of . . .  de - splintering.  Quite a day!

Vael hops down from the tree, landing with a ring of wind slowing his descent and when his feet touch the ground? His glowing markings suddenly appear, materializing as the dull markings lift from the foxes corpse and drift onto the young mans body. "Yeah, they got the drop on me while I was helping a few saplings along." He pauses a minute as he studies Cale, giving a little smile before taking a small joint from his vest and offering it to the man. "For the pain, it'll make for an interesting night too." Then he looks to the concerned looking Ascian and walks over, reaching up to pat the man on the shoulder. "You were kinder to them than I was going to be. They made their choice and in all honesty? You showed them mercy compared to the suffering the forest was calling out for them to endure."

Ascian nodded slowly, looking to Vael as the forest god came over to offer comfort. "I did not wish for them to suffer no. But I could not allow them to continue. I... do not understand their behavior. I don't enjoy harming others." He shook his head, his brow smoothing out at least as the brighter fire returned to his eyes. He turned to look at the destruction of the forest cause by the explosives going off, and for a moment his serene expression was split by something... darker, before he sighed. "All this for... I do not even know. It seems so meaningless." He went to approach the damaged trees, and by extension Cale, looking down at the man as he got closer. He put a hand out to him. "Again... I am sorry that you had to see this. Violence, and even more so death, are never my preferred method of resolving a conflict. Under other circumstances I would have resolved things differently. But Arden... requires a certain necessity of protection." The stumps around him seemed to stir at his presence, the damaged trees swaying in the breeze and light he produced, turning towards the walking sun as signs of healing and new growth began to bud and appear. "Truly, I wish only to preserve and promote life." His attention went to the fox body lying on the ground, his attention going to Vael. "They were able to harm you then, to some degree? I am sorry to hear this."

Cale's eyes narrow a bit, as he works the splinters out some more and the blood begins to ooze in earnest.  He asks Vael: "What did you mean by: 'the suffering the forest was calling out for them to endure' . . . ?"  Cale pauses in his efforts, sitting still and simply breathing, resting from the de - splintering work and allowing the pain to subside a bit so that he's more free to pay attention to and comprehend Vael's answer.

Vael laughs a little and gives a sly little smile. "They killed me, actually. Or at least, they killed my body. They managed it a few days ago, caught me in the head with something metal and the next ting I remember, I'm being reborn from an old willow." He gives a little shrug, then adds. "Not many things can keep me down for long though." Then he cocks his head to one side as he looks around, giving a little sigh as he bows his head, his markings pulsing, causing the ground around him to shift a little as graves begin to open. Then he looks to Cale and explains, "These people have been killing everything they find, regardless of what. They've upset the balance here enough that nature herself had marked them for execution. Part of the reason for my existence is to act as an extension of the forests wrath." and to emphasize this, the slender man's markings pulse red suddenly and his eyes swirl black. The forest around them suddenly comes to life, countless hundreds, if not thousands of eyes suddenly peering from every crack, every hole, nook and cranny around this place. Tiny things scurry in the darkness, claws ticking away, scratching around like vermin waiting for their moment. Then the fox gives a little sigh, his markings and eyes return to normal and the creatures disperse, vanishing back into the forest from whence they came. "Those who choose to defy the laws of the forest or upset natures balance quickly learn that the forest has her own guardians, be it the Rangers.. or spirits like me."

Ascian nodded at the explanation from Vael, adding only "Arden is alive with a will of it's own. To harm the forest is exceedingly dangerous. Arden is to the woodlands as Amber is to Shadow, and so it must be protected." He paused as the woods came alive briefly with life, looking curiously about as he watched the earth open up to deal with the mess that had been made. "Ah yes. I understand this can be in the nature of godhood. I have never died, so there is a certain amount of speculation, but currently it's surmised that the energies housed within my shell would merely find a new source of metal to adapt and inhabit. Rather like you do." Again he looked to Cale, pensive for a moment. "I admit my methods are... by necessity different from yours. I much prefer your method of doing things. That being said, the tyrants and the horde will eventually have to be fought." He shook his head. "Though I would hope to spare anyone that pain." He withdrew somewhat, stepping back and looking around. "I will return here and help see to the healing of this place, if you aren't against it Vael. I know this domain is not mine, but I am close to the rangers as well, and I would help them if I can. Ensuring that the traps laid out by these souls do not harm any other animals as a start."

Cale sits and bleeds and wonders: "Where does the Mind of the Forest come from?  How does nature itself speak?  Does Arden conquer other forests, in the way that Amber conquered nearby Shadows?  I did not know that Shadows, of themselves, could think and plan and fight.  That's . . . "  Cale thinks, for quite some time, but, he cannot put his finger on a proper word.  Or even a sufficient word.

"Nature is subtle, quiet. But, when she wants to be heard she will be." Vael explains, then looks to Ascian and gives a little smile. "I have no issues with you coming to heal the forest when you can. It's good to see those who are willing to take a more gentle hand, rather than simply disregard the forest as something they can conquer." Then his attention returns to Cale as he explains, "Arden is not simply one forest.. It is a part of every forest, in every shadow. It does not conquer, there is no need for it to." Then he offers a bright little smile and muses, "It simply is. As for when it speaks? I have met a few humans who can hear the voices, but they are few and far between. Not many people care to try sadly. There are spirits however who are born with the ability to hear them. Where I was born, the voices were old, they sang me to sleep. For the first few hundred years of my life I didn't even know that nature could /be/ thrown out of balance actually."

Ascian nodded. "I myself have only existed for roughly thirty five years. Though perhaps it is now wiser to say that I have been aware of my existence in some state for thirty five years. No one is aware of what occurred prior to that time regarding myself. And whereas Amber sought out to conquer, at the same time many places are simply reflections of Amber. As every forest is a reflection of Arden. Sadly I am afraid I do not know much more, as such knowledge extends into pattern manipulation, which is beyond my capacities I'm afraid." He thought for a moment, nodding to Vael and Cale. "To say that the forest speaks to me would not be true in the way you mean it, but nevertheless I know what it requires. I will be happy to help in rebuilding, as I always am. I have agreed to work with the rangers as well in an attempt to revitalize the Hasp." He smiled at that, looking to Cale for a moment and finally nodding. "I must take my life and ensure my loved ones I am safe. They will want to hear of these events as well. Come to my home sometime Cale, if you would. There are some things I would like to show and share with you. House Solaris will know to have it's doors open to you on word of it's Baron." He reached out to rest a hand on the man's shoulder. "Violence is not inescapable, and it does not consume all. But sometimes for those you love and to stay true to what you strive to be, such things are necessary. It is something I greatly long to see changed. But I cannot say if it will ever truly happen." Stepping back, he smiled at them both. "I bid you both a goodnight and a farewell for now. I will return each day to add my strength to returning this place to the state it was once in." He began to walk off into the woods, sounding a hell of a lot quieter than he had coming in, though he couldn't muffle his existence entirely.

Cale takes this all in, thoughtfully. He looks back and forth between Ascian and Vael for some time.  "Hm!  Teach me how to hear the Voices of the Forests.  I would like to listen to what someone who 'JUST IS' would say.  Someone who, though unable to move, is present throughout all of Shadow.  Yes, I'd like to learn from them."  Cale nods, once, firmly.  "I like learning!"  Cale avows.

Vael bows his head to Ascian as he departs, "Safe travels, my friend." he says with a smile, then looks to Cale and tilts his head for a moment before quirking a brow. "For those who aren't already attuned to nature, it can be a very long process. I can let you hear their voices for a moment if you wish, though most who take this particular offer can't make heads or tails of it." he admits with a little smile. "If you're willing though, I suppose I could try and teach you."

Cale nods when Vael offers to share the ability to Listen to the Forest.  After composing himself briefly, he nods once.  "Ready!" Cale calls out.  At least, he's as ready as he knows how to make himself be. . .

Vael gives a nod and beckons for Cale to follow him as he begins to walk off. It's an odd walk indeed, only a few minutes and one turn, but the moment Vael rounds a tree? The forest is... different. Ahead is a clearing that was not visible before, trees that tower over the rest by far and a brook where there shouldn't be one! This place is unique and regardless of the winter chill, the air here is calm and warm, like something lost between the seasons. Vael walks towards a large, ancient weeping willow tree by the brook, giving a glance to Cale as he motions to the tree and particularly, to a stone slab propped against the tree itself, marked with words that few could ever hope to read and a symbol that makes no sense: A pawprint that becomes a different print depending on the angle it's viewed at or the level of light touching it.

Cale touches nothing.  Cale observes everything.  Cale is silent. Cale is Still.  Cale is Listening.  Whole - hearted - ly.

Vael walks towards the stone tablet, explaining, "All you have to do is touch the stone. It will allow you for a moment to see what I see of the forest and to hear what I hear." Then he gives the man a glance and a little smile as he adds, "And don't worry, it's safe.. Normally."

Cale steps right up and sets his own hand into the paw print on the stone, without hesitation.  He closes his eyes, and opens them, trying both ways to see which one works better.

It happens the moment his hand touches the stone. It's like a single second, locked in time, a simple moment is all that the stone will allow him to experience before it repels his hand from it. The forest becomes more vivid, flowing with life and muted by death at the same time. Every movement can be sensed, every heartbeat thrumming like chords of music from across Arden, every life a part of the melody, from the moment of birth to it's inevitable death. Old voices speak out, countless different sounds all molded into one almost thunderous roar, threatening to continue on into eternity. The well honed mind of a pattern walker would be able to pick out a few individual voices.. Prayers of mortals, both human and animal, the songs of the trees and somewhere deep within the chaotic jumble of sounds? Somewhere, something weeps.. Something cries out to be heard as it's life is cut short. There is an anger that surges through the melody, making it shrill and violent. Somewhere, something has gone wrong in that one moment.

Cale pulls his hand back from the Stone and looks on over to Vael.  "Thank you."  Cale bows his head in gratitude, holds that pose a moment, and then looks back on up.  "How long before I can touch the Stone again?" Cale asks.

"You can touch it as often as you want, but for most the moment never changes." Vael explains with a little chuckle. "It's a memory of sorts, a reflection of a single moment of my existence." He shrugs a little, then adds, "It allows others to sense Arden as I do, more or less. Such is the nature of my heart it seems." with a smile as he melts away into a fox, finally.

"Hm!"  Cale exclaims.  "Well, perhaps as *I* change, the moment that it shows me will change as well.  It's an experiment at least.  And, certainly I am young enough to have a lot of changes still in front of me!"  Cale nods.  "I'll try it.  Once I've been to a place, I can usually find it again."  Cale nods again.  He'll try.

Vael gives a little smile and muses, "This place is not so easily found, especially to those who believe they know the way." with a playful little hint to his tone. "But I'm sure you will be welcome back and if the moment changes, it will mean you have strengthened your bond with the natural world." Then he sprawls out a little bit and curls up near the stone as he adds, "Remember though, that this is not a place to explore lightly. This grove is as much a part of me as the fox is." the last part not spoken from the fox, but rather, a voice carried on the wind. "So long as the forest allows you, you will be welcome. Be ever mindful of the laws of the forest and do everything you can to abide by them."

Cale nods, pauses, and asks: "What ARE the laws of the Forest, then?" with a curious upward tilt of his head.

Vael gives a little chuckle and looks to Cale. "First of all, take only what you need. If you must take of the forests plant life, take only what you must and leave enough at least for the forest to restore what was taken. If you must hunt, kill cleanly and do not let your prey suffer needlessly." He gives a little yawn and smiles. "Never kill a mother or her children before their first year of life, to do so is cruel and the forest is well known for repaying cruelty in kind. Fire is prohibited for the most part.. If you must light one, keep it small and ensure it does not grow out of control. If you must burn something, let it be what has fallen, don't take from that which still lives." The fox pauses and gives a wide, toothy yawn before he adds the last few bits, "Never forget that the forest is home to many creatures.. If you must face another predator, they will test you. If they yield to your strength? Allow them to yield, it is not always necessary for one of you to perish and if you must take anything, remember the scavengers. Leave something behind for those who travel in your wake.

Cale nods, listening, memorizing.  "That's . . . a lot of rules.  I am from the desert.  Things are simpler there.  The desert has only one rule."  Cale ticks off the things that he's been told, looking up and to the left and nodding slowly as he repeats them in his own head.  Finally he nods, thinking that he's got it all.

Vael glances to Cale and offers a little chuckle. "The forest is ancient. If you stumble, it will forgive in time. It has watched countless humans break its laws and learn from their mistakes. Just so long as you try to make amends and avoid doing it often, you will find Arden to be a gentle enough place."

Cale hops up and bows one final time.  "Okay.  I will wander in the forest.  I will listen to the wind.  I will learn, and I will grow.  And, in time, I'll come back: Here."

Vael nods and offers a little smile, though it fades as he pauses for a moment, then adds, "One last thing, before you depart: Do not walk the forest at night. Arden is not meant for mortals when the light of the sun fades, not even the Rangers dare to tread this place without the suns light.. If you are caught in the forest when the sun sets, seek a rowan to sleep beneath and do not bring attention to yourself until sunrise."

Cale pauses, nods once, and adds this to the list of things he must remember.  Sometimes it's the simple things.  The little things, that save your life.

+++++++++

Ascian pages: Is Cale a bit worried about what he saw?

You paged Ascian with 'Of course! Who wouldn't be? Again, he's basically just a kid.'.

From afar, Ascian nodnods. Understandable yeah. Though despite being a total engine of destruction, this is what I like about Ascian... this is only his second time killing a human being (well... second through whatever), and the first was entirely a matter of mercy to ease suffering. No one else has ever actually seen him go full metal ugly...

You paged Ascian with 'Lots to think about!'.

From afar, Ascian nodnod. Again, partly why I made Ascian, so I could safely wrestle with questions of ethics and morality without an inherently human bias :P He's the sort of idiot philosopher character type

You paged Ascian with 'Huh! Neat!'.
You paged Ascian with 'So, figuring everything out from first principles, instead of relying on anyone else's bias or inherited wisdom.'.

Ascian pages: Yep! Making his own determinations and moral compass about how life works and what's important. As I try to do.
Ascian pages: Ascian is weirdly more me than any other pc I've ever played