Welcome to Gaia! ::

I've been considering this for a long while, and I've finally decided to close Zahdl. There are multiple reasons for this.

First, I'm fairly tired of the missing/dead owners issue. People keep popping in and out at random intervals, or buying a zahdl and then disappearing. Quite frankly I'm sick of chasing after owners to roleplay, or trying to hunt down others. I appreciate the many good roleplayers we do have, but there are so many others who have completely disregarded this shop. The roleplay never really started up fully after the hiatus anyway.

Second, I don't really have the time to take care of this shop or the energy to do a unique four stage pet for so many people. As a full time student, I have many other activities that divide my attention along with other art projects.

Third, the roleplay requirements issue, among other things, has lead to a lot of...how shall I say, drama in the thread. Gaia is supposed to be a fun place for everyone, and seeing these arguments, quite frankly, is just causing more stress for me as the owner. I have to confess that I've never been really good as a conflict mediator and I'm not sure how to bring this to a resolution that would be satisfying for everyone. More stress.

So, I've decided to close down Zahdl. For those of you who just bought your pet and for other owners, don't worry. You'll eventually get all the art that you purchased. I will be finishing up the final stages for all of the currently active owners.

I won't be leaving the breedables forum forever though. I'm probably going to end up opening or taking part in a new shop (RP optional).

I hope you all understand. I'm sorry for springing this on everyone, but I think it's for the best.

Mari's End

The night was bitterly cold, an all-time low for the entire year.

Snow swirled down from the heavens in an endless deluge, becoming freezing projectiles upon hitting the fierce winds below. The icy crystals seemed to coat the air in an impenetrable white wall. The weather screamed its fury in a frozen howl, challenging all who dared to oppose it.

Mari let out a gasp as another bitingly cold gust attacked her vulnerable body. No amount of woolen scarves or designer jackets could protect her from the freezing temperatures that buffeted her lithe form. Hugging her numb arms close to her body, she trudged forward, attempting to force her way against the gale.

It had been two hours since she had left the comfort of her home to pick up her purchase at the post office in town. She had expected to beat the impending storm back to her house, but the monstrous snowstorm had caught her halfway. And now, with the blinding swirl of flakes and tormenting gales, she had lost both the path and all sense of direction.

And she was quickly losing all hope as well.

Finally, too exhausted to cry out, she collapsed into a snowdrift. She lay prostrate in the knee deep snow, one cheek resting amidst the blanket of white. Her lips, lined with ice crystals from the long excursion, fell open one last time in a silent plea for help. Then, with agonizing slowness, her eyes fell shut, darkness devouring her.

Mari's Beginning

Mari awakened to find herself hovering in a void of black. Her body felt paralyzed, practically nonexistent. It was as if a terrible lethargy had settled on her, numbing her very existence. She felt cold inside, frozen by the monumental circumstances she found herself in.

Is this the end? she wondered, suppressing a sob within herself.

It doesn't have to be

The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. It felt androgynous, yet had a decidedly feminine ring to it. Heart fluttering with a barely formed hope, Mari called out from within herself once more.

Please, what do you meant?

"Although I am not capable of restoring your life, I can give you a second chance to continue your existence." The voice paused for a moment, as if waiting for something to happen. Mari remained silent, anticipation growing. Finally, the voice continued.

You will be sent to another world as a spirit, in order to perform a very important task. As the voice continued speaking, its tone increased in intensity and strength, resounding in the emptiness around Mari. She trembled in awe at its might.

Great changes are occurring in that world! An evil force greater than any known before will rise up, casting shadows over even the brightest of souls. The world has given birth to new warriors, but they need nurturing and guidance before they can grow strong enough to oppose this evil and be ready to fight! That is why you are needed!

Me? Mari asked, incredulous.

Yes. Your body died before you were able, or willing, to accept death. Thus, your soul still remains. If nothing is done, or if you choose not to accept this task, you will slowly fade away into nothing.

No! Mag cried, heart wrenching with fear.

Then hear me now! Go to the other world and become a guardian spirit! Your soul will live on so long as the other's does! Guide them well, and your legacy will live on through eternity!

Mari pondered the enormity of this for a moment in silence. Then, excitement growing in her heart, she answered.

I'd be honored.

Snow's Beginning

The plains were devoid of all life in the wake of the oncoming storm. The dark clouds rolled and boiled overhead, and the long grass waved merrily in a quickly forming gust of wind.

Suddenly, a spark formed, close to the ground.

It danced playfully along the tips of the grass, jumping deftly from one blade to the next. It spun and pirouetted in the gale.

Then, consciousness.

Slowly, the spark came to a halt, then, gradually, expanded outwards. As the clouds overhead grumbled and crackled, the spark grew and solidified into a form that almost resembled a human toddler, albeit the strange markings on the face and wing-like structures hovering near the back. It looked skyward, as the first drops of rain began to fall.

Who am I? Its voice echoed over the empty plains. As its first words took form, another consciousness awakened.

Who do you want to be? The voice, decidedly feminine, spoke into the creatures mind. A strange, yet warm presence surrounded it. Startled by the sudden intrusion, the creature jumped several inches into the air, before looking around for the source of the voice. Finding nothing, he called out timidly.

Who are you?

My name is Mari, the voice answered gently. I'm your guardian spirit.

The creature was startled by this proclamation. But, as her warm spirit enveloped it in a semi embrace, its trepidations began to fall away.

You're here for me? All the time? it asked, wonderment in his voice.

Always and forever, she answered firmly. The creature nodded, accepting this. Then he felt an urge to return to his original enquiry.

Could you tell me who I am? Mari rippled with laughter.

That hasn't been decided yet, kid. But I'm sure that you could be whoever you wanted to.

It frowned, obviously not satisfied with the answer. Mari, if she had still had a mouth, would have smiled at the perplexed expression.

Would you like to start with a name? she asked. It looked up, hopeful.

We will call you Snow from now on. And someday, you will change the world.

Current owners of Zahdl can be found here.

Zahdl Name/Guardian Spirit(Owner)/Element/Breed/Gender/Journal Link

2. Paia/ Hikari (Minamoto Tennyo)/ Fire/ Kitsune/ Female/ Journal
4. Rufus/ Samaridi (Coronaviridae)/ Earth/ Fox/ Male/ Journal
7. Kiyoshi/ Chizu (Aletea)/ Water/ Mouse/ Journal
10. Izabelle/ Skit (Cheereo)/ Earth/ Deer/ Journal
12. Aya/ Nakari(Yuki-Sahoma18 )/ Darkness/ Bouncywild/ Female/ Journal
12. Stellata/ Vin(Kyocho)/ Earth/ OakTree/ Female/ Journal



Definite Participants

Snow/ Mag(M)/ Electricity/ Bird/ Male/ Journal

Myu/ Nyx (seeingwhenblind)/ Wind/ Cat/ Female/ Journal

Taeyeoung/ Xiao Shen (Xiao Shen)/ Fire/ Tiger/ Male/ Journal

Chaya/ Black Lily (Black Lily)/ Ice/ Dog/ Female/ Journal

Cloud/ Midnight (Eclipsed Soul)/ Ice/ Cat/ Journal

Falco Eis/ Sarah (Rapidashtrainer)/ Wind/ Peregrine Falcon/ Journal

Page/ Cosmic(Kesmi)/ Wind/ Cockatoo/ Male/ Journal

Chihiro/ Michiyo(Kahara_Michiyo)/ Fire/ Ring-tailed Lemur/ Female/ Journal
{Latest Growths}

Whitelist
People who have really helped out, or donated, or just been all around good people.
None yet.

Greylist
People who have recieved a warning, and are currently on probation in the thread.
Kahara Michiyo
Yuki-Sahoma18
Aletea

Blacklist
To land here, you must be a real a*****e, or have broken one of the big ones. Banned from shop.
Minamoto_Tennyo - Why am I even putting you here? I don't even think you actually exist anymore. O.o

Staff:

M--Shop owner, idea for shop, colorist, lineart
Yuki Himitsu/Torati/Xiao: Good ideas person/roleplay manage/Guest artist&colorist


::LOOKING FOR GUEST ARTISTS::

Interested in making Zahdl for future auctions and raffles? Well you'll get 75% of the profits for each Zahdl sold. After all, art is an important thing! Please PM me with some samples of your art if you're interested in

::Just a Little About Roleplay::

First off, it should be said that those who roleplay, have Zahdl who grow faster. It also should be said that those who roleplay may get bonus images, such as !sketchu!s and updates to your Zahdl's appearance within a stage, if something major should happen. (A major twist in personality/emotion that may reflect in appearance, scars, mystical marking from some magical experience, etc). If you think your art should be updated from a major experience, then feel free to PM me! (M-chan doesn't bite!) I'll probably do it on my own too.

Alrighty, for those who are wondering how RP works, M-chan gives you the skinny on where to find it!

1. Free Journal RP: This can be one on one, guardian and Zahdl RP. It's always fun to see interaction between owner and pet. It can be one of the two's deepest thoughts on something, or a private interaction. Or, you can invite somebody else to a private RP within the journal, for a more intimate, less interrupted RP experience.

2. Prompt Journal RP: Every once in a while, or if there is a major event going down, M-chan will post a prompt in your journal. The title of your journal will change to reflect this, and the prompt will appear in the first three posts. It is to give you inspiration and ideas, and to see the reactions between you and your Zahdl in different situations. Respond to these in journals. Prompts may also be used to spur on growth, and will occur before the update to the next stage.

3. Quests: Ah, quests are a horse of many different colors. All quests are voluntary, and you must sign up for one in the quest subforum. Each quest has a different theme, can be anything from the retrieval of an item, to bodyguarding, to rescuing a cat out of a tree. Quests also have different number of participants. There are individual quests, which will be played out in one's journal similar to a prompt, NPC quests, where you will be sent to an area to RP out with an NPC, group quests, where multiple people sign up and are sent to an area to RP out a situation, and NPC group quests, which is, well, the same thing as an NPC quest but with more people.

4. Major Event: Usually announced in the main thread, this has much to do with plot and is free participation. Look out in the guild areas for major events, which are usually instigated by one or more NPCs.

5. Random Event: M-chan may post a random event in one of the areas of Avryn in the guild. This can be almost anything. Just be on the lookout, and then you can RP them out until the event ends.

6. Free RP: Just choose an area and go for it! RP with friends! Feel free to just join in!

7. Private RP: Feel free to start a thread beginning with [PRP] in the guild in order to RP alone with a select group of people. Just make the setting reasonable, and not some space station floating around a random planet. (You get what I mean, neh...?) You can also have private RP in journals.

8. Shop RP: This can take two forms! Either informal (which doesn't count as part of the storyline, but M-chan does take into consideration that your here, which is awesome), and formal RP, which involves the portal from Avryn, etc. Mostly added to make people's life earlier so they can just RP in thread. NOTE: If you do not have a Zahdl, you can also RP in the thread. However, you can not touch the portal or go to Avryn through here, etc. But people can come in and interact with the Zahdl, etc.
I think that's all...M-chan may add more information later!