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 Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 11:09 am
The clearing by the entrance is all good fun, but you've heard of Carrmin the Elf. Where is he? You venture further down the path. The trees are growing thicker, and the path is getting harder to follow. Nature is taking over.
Further down the forest path, you encounter Carrmin's home - a large, hollow tree. Carrmin, the guardian elf of the forest, is always welcoming to students and is always ready to play with them. However, he warns you not to go too deep into the woods, for there are dangers he is unable to protect you against. Go at your own risk.
Somewhere in his house, if you can find it, is a tunnel that leads directly to the Catacombs. Carrmin breaks the rules and will sometimes let you down, but warns you that there is an unstable warp portal somewhere on the slide and you will be deposited in a random place in the Catacombs, making it highly dangerous to use.
Off to the side, you may notice another path, but a smaller one, a rockier one, and a far less-traveled one. You wonder if that saying about the road less-traveled is true. However, if you go near it. Carrmin will stop you. You are not ready, he says. It's far too dangerous for one as young as you. Besides, he will miss you if you are mortally wounded!
Mortally wounded?
Carrmin grins cheerily and politely asks you if you are willing to participate in a game of tag.
Welcome to Carrmin's Home!
Note: Students are forbidden to explore the forest alone.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 6:02 am
⊰ａｅｒｙｋａｈ - ｓａｍｐｓｏｎ⊱So having followed Vivian was a stupid idea. A very stupid one that had her locked out in Carrmin's house for two nights, freezing and trying to communicate, and trying to make food for them both. Carrmin was surprisingly picky. Probably the language barrier... Aerykah mused.
However she had spent the rest of the night wandering around calling out for Vivian. And then went to the house. The next day she wandered it again, with Carrmin's permission. It was finally time to give up search, temporarily, and head back into the Academy. She was sure that people were worried about her.
Closing her eyes and pinching at the bridge of her nose, Aerykah sighed. She felt responsible for this. If only she had stopped Vivian, or had at least gone with her. The girl knew Lumos. She could at least light herself a path. And hopefully the girl had basic survival skills. She did have a mug with her too, and a hat to keep her warm. Opening her eyes back up and then standing, she tucked her wand into her braid, and wrote a quick note to Carrmin:
Carrmin:
Aer went back to school. Thank you for having me as a guest. Please keep looking for her and let me know if you find her.
-Aer
And with that, she started her trek back to the school, on the third afternoon.
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Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2015 12:12 am
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2015 12:52 pm
  ➼xIt was such a perfect Winter Solstice Feast day.
A light snow dusted the ground and the treetops, enough to cover the ground but not to hinder the average forest walker. Carrmin had politely asked the trees to form a table, and they had obliged, and now a table made of tightly woven tree roots took up the center of the clearing in front of Carrmin's home. The forest had provided everything - the table, the chairs, and, of course, the food.
Carrmin was a vegetarian by choice (and because of a certain nagging voice in the back of his head), but he understood that not all the elves at the school were, and had prepared some rabbits and a fox or two in advance. Almost everything else on the table was from the forest - mushrooms, apples, pears, plums, and other things from Carrmin's own garden. He had even taken the time to bake some decent bread, and filled the cups with the sweet, icy river water.
As he set the table, he spoke.
This really isn't one of your best ideas.
[I think it's a perfectly fine idea,] Carrmin said in that ancient, archaic form of Elven that only he spoke. [The story's been utterly garbled over the millennia. It'll do them good to hear the most accurate version.]
But they'll see me as the antagonist. :T
There was silence for a moment, and then Carrmin laughed. [I daresay it'll be the other way around, old friend.]
You aren't still mad, are you?
There was another silence, and Carrmin's face darkened. [...I'm not,] he said at last. [Not anymore, at the very least.] He smiled at an empty patch of air. [You worry too much, old friend. Time has an odd way of quelling one's rage. It's the same for you, isn't it?]
...Of course not. I'm here to punish you til the end of time, remember?
A moment longer of silence, and then the young boy snorted. [Please,] he scoffed. [You're not quite as above it as you think. You've gone quite soft, I think.] He ducked an invisible blow with a childish giggle and finally took a seat at the head of the table. [Let's wait for everyone to arrive, hm? And do be quiet. I've no wish to look like a raving nut in front of my favorite friends.]
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Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 6:22 pm
 Adrιeɴe ElderɢreeɴAdriene was hopping along to Carrmin's house, just like the Headmaster had told her to! He was acting kiiiiiiiind of weird in the announcement, but it was okay! Adriene liked Carrmin. He was super smart and eloquent when you talked to him in Elvish. When she arrived at the clearing, her jaw nearly dropped at the look of the place. A table? With food? And chairs? Was there some kind of holiday happening? Maybe Carrmin celebrates Christmas! she thought to herself. Oh well, even if he didn't she was still going to see what the whole set up was for. [Hey Carrmin!] She said careful to speak Elvish for him, [Long time no see! What's all this stuff for?]
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2015 3:31 pm
 xxxx ❥xThis is sure to be a lot different than the Feast at home, Violet thought happily as she left footprints in the fallen snow on the path to Carrmin's. Violet hadn't actually visited Carrmin yet, so she wasn't sure what to expect. Was he going to be a tall, powerful elf? Someone that commanded the entirety of Nimue's Forest had to be impressive.
No, no, that's stupid, Violet chided herself, picking her way over a tree root. Go in without any expectations, Violet, then you won't be able to be disappointed. All she did expect was that it would be a little more impressive than their Feast at home. All the elves in the complex just picked a restaurant to go out to and Violet always had to go along, because her mother didn't want to leave her at home. Those were always so boring. Maybe this would be more fun?
Violet came up to the clearing and her eyes widened. Wow. Just... wow. The spread on the table was impressive enough. Where was the man himself? Violet only saw Adriene (who was much too in-your-face for Violet's taste) and a little boy with strikingly green eyes... oh. That must've been him. Violet felt strangely let down.
[Uh-uhm, hello, Adriene,] Violet muttered as she hurried past, not wanting to seem rude. She took a seat at the table, hoping this was what they were supposed to do, and waited for the other elves to arrive.
(She didn't think Muna would arrive, but she could hope.)
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:08 pm
 OOC: YEAH I'M NOT THE LAST ONE TO DO AN ENTRY POST HERE
End approached the feast with cautious excitement. End approached a lot of things with caution but the Winter Solstice deserved extra effort, especially this year's. He was still getting used to the traditions of the Solstice. He hadn't grown up knowing about it and he was more than excited to learn more but he knew that he had to pay a lot of attention in case he did do something wrong.
He glanced around the table. No Muna yet. No Shanta either. Adriene was though. He was glad to see the young Janus coming to enjoy her traditions. There was also Violet. For a second he was wondering why she was here. She was only half elf right? No. He was thinking of her sister. Again. At least he'd reached the point where he could do that without bitter feelings towards Violet.
He made sure to give a small nod to everyone currently present in greeting before sitting down at the table.
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:17 pm
 Ɛℓνιяα Ƈσятєz ❖ 1ѕт ❖ Jαηυѕ
xxx.xxxxxxAɢeɴder ⊰ Tнey/Sнe ⊱xxxxxxx.xx
ɢᴀɪᴀ ᴜsᴇʀ sɪʏᴀᴀʜɪ ɪs ᴀ ɴᴇʀᴅ
It was ******** cold, and Elvira had no idea why she was bothering to make the trek to Carrmin's house, but there they were. Doing it anyways.
Dragging in snow and looking quite irritated, Elvira grumbled the politest 'hello' they could manage before plopping down next to Adrienne. They couldn't even bring themselves to appreciate the way the house had been decorated and all the food that had been set out. God, why did Wales have to be so damn cold?
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Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 6:09 pm
 Kesi was more than a little excited to get to celebrate the Winter Solstice Feast for once, as opposed to just serving the food. The Headmaster, ineffective as he was, seemed to truly care for his students. It gave Kesi something to hope for, if nothing else. When he arrived at Carrmin's house, he surveyed the area for just a bit before taking his seat. He wasn't on very familiar terms with any of the other elves at the school, but End was here, and Violet, too. If he was in need of someone to talk to, he supposed that either of them would suffice.
He nodded toward everyone currently in attendance, quietly saying his hellos as he took a seat and waited quietly for Carrmin to begin the festivities.
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 4:01 pm
  Asha entered the forest. It was a calming place, reminding her somewhat of her own home. Still, her visits were seldom.
Perhaps I will rectify that, Asha considered. Or perhaps not. It will still be enjoyable to gather on the Solstice.
She wondered if the customs of Carrmin would be any different than her own. Asha raised a hand briefly to greet Kesi before spotting Elvira and Adrienne. After seating herself on the other side of Elvira, she briefly leaned down to them and whispered,
[There is something I wish to ask of you later.]
Figuring Carrmin would begin soon, she sat and waited, idly moving her fingers through her hair.
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 3:05 pm
➼xAfter a little longer, Carrmin decided that this was going to be the most of the turnout. That wasn't surprising - there weren't a lot of elves in the first place, and the fact that about half of them had arrived meant quite a bit in itself.
[Welcome, friends,] he said, the formal language sounding a bit odd coming out of someone who appeared to be a twelve-year-old boy. [I hope you're all as excited as I am for this feast. As most of you know, the Winter Solstice is the time when we retell the story of the First Elf, or at least the first chapter of the story.]
You literally called them all here to talk about yourself. I can't believe this.
Carrmin idly swatted the air as if batting away an insect. [The version I am about to tell you,] he continued, [is very different than any version of the story you may have heard at home. From what I know, the tale has changed quite a bit through oral tradition. I hope you will enjoy my... take on it.] He smiled happily.
"My take on it," please. Is that what you call "let me talk about myself for hours"?
[So, please, I invite you to eat,] Carrmin said, gesturing to the table. [While you eat, listen. And be quiet as you listen, as that is simply good manners,] he added, glancing to the space in the air beside him.
I don't WANT to be quiet! It's boring and you're the only one that can hear me.
Carrmin let out a small sigh and took a swig of water. He was going to be talking for quite a while, and he didn't want to lose his voice halfway through. Now that he was ready, the small boy closed his eyes and began to tell the story of the First Elf.
(here it ******** comes I hope you long long a** posts)
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 3:33 pm
➼x[Once upon a time, in the first age of humans, in a time where it was common to stay in a pack...
There was a man that was alone.
What a dramatic way to open your own story.
He hunted alone, he lived alone, and he slept alone. How the man survived those dark, difficult days was anyone's guess, but he did. A single figure on the plains, slaying great beasts that were hundreds of times his size. It was said he was the most powerful human, and thus he was also the most ruthless one. Men, women, and those that did not conform to the social construct we call the gender binary quaked in fear at the mere mention of his name. For this part of the story, he will be known as Cathmor.
Ah, that name takes me back~
Cathmor was a handsome fellow, with impressive skill in the hunt. Men, women, and those that did not conform to the gender binary, despite quaking in fear, also frequently swooned when he walked past, as he had a jaw that could make chiseled marble weep and dark, silken hair that flowed in the wind despite there not being shampoo because it hadn't been invented yet. He was solidly built, with sinewy muscles like cords of steel beneath flawless, smooth skin. It is also said he was quite fashionable with how he dressed in animal skins and set forward many trends that archaeologists would later accept as the only way anyone dressed, because how could you even think to dress any other way?
There's the narcissistic b*****d I cursed. I see THAT hasn't changed.
One day, Cathmor passed through a settlement on the way to his next hunt. He had heard of a powerful beast in a nearby forest, and passed through with the intent to slay it. However, the people at the settlement were particularly adamant. "Do not go into the forest," they said. "It is protected by a powerful Deity. If you kill anything in there, you will suffer a terrible fate."
You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you? Why am I asking? Of course you did.
Cathmor did not listen to them and continued on his way. Soon, he came to the forest. This forest was very thick, and as soon as he entered the light all but disappeared, and he navigated by skill alone. The roots at his feet wrapped around his calves like ropes, trying to stop him from going further, but Cathmor could and had already experienced crushing a man's head between his thighs, so he simply kicked the vines off and kept going. He had been told the beast spent most of its time in a glade in the center of the forest, so that glade was his destination.
I did try to keep you from coming. Perhaps then we wouldn't have met.
Quite suddenly, Cathmor was afflicted with sunlight as the forest opened up and he reached the glade. It was a beautifully peaceful place in the middle of the forest. A thin creek ran through one corner of the glade, providing a place for the creatures to come and drink. A soft breeze rustled the wildflowers, whispering secrets in the petals that only the forest knows. A few butterflies fluttered from flower to flower, drinking their fill of nectar. The clearing was the picture of the wild, untouched by humans.
One of the last Wild Places. And you...
And in the very center of the glade, there lay an infant dragon, snoozing in the sun.
...
Cathmor knew this species of dragon. This species of dragon would grow up to be bloodthirsty, a true bane to the existence of man. Once it reached adulthood, this small dragon laying in front of him would raze countless villages and have scores of bounties laid upon its head by those demanding its death.
Oh come off it, you're exaggerating. Mostly.
But for now, its talons were bloodless. Its heart was pure. It had yet to harm a living creature, for it had come into existence but a few days beforehand. This dragon was nothing but an infant, and for now it dozed in the sun.
Would you hurt a child?
Cathmor, however, did not care of the dragon was a baby or not. If it was not killed now, in a decade or so it would be razing the countryside and threatening young maidens. If it was not killed now, it would spread untold chaos and carnage. And so, he drew his blade and beheaded the beastling.
You would. What a heartless b*****d you were back then, Cathmor.
Immediately, the sky darkened. The breeze died. The brush behind Cathmor thickened, sealing him within the clearing. And a voice echoed through the glade.
If you do a stupid impression of my voice I'll flip this entire table over.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
Ooh, voice of the legion. I approve. The table shall stay unflipped for the time being.
The breeze picked back up, and transformed into a freezing gale that tore Cathmor's bloody sword from his hands and carried it far into the woods. A flurry of leaves blew into the glade, swirling about each other. When they blew away, Cathmor's breath hitched in his throat. Before him stood a humanoid figure, but Cathmor knew immediately that they were anything but human. The being was tall, with dark skin, and wore grass-green robes that flowed in the wind. Their hair, cascading down their shoulders in golden waves and curling around their feet, looked soft as a cloud, and Cathmor's fingers curled inward at the sight of it. The man's eyes traced every line of the being's angular face, along with the antlers sprouting from either side of their head and the beautiful golden markings that seemed tattooed on their skin. The being had narrow, piercing forest green eyes, and they wore an expression of total fury. Cathmor was aroused.
...Okay as flattered as I am for that description, Cathmor, there are children here. YOUR children.
Ahem, I mean, Cathmor was NOT aroused. Not one bit. Because this is a children-friendly story.
...We're having a serious talk about this later.
The figure spoke, and Cathmor recognized the voice as the one that had spoken a moment earlier. "You have slain an infant," they said, shaking in anger. "A child. What could you possibly say to justify the murder of such an innocent creature?"
"It would have grown up to kill my kind," Cathmor replied. "Hundreds of my people would have died for its meals."
What do you expect, anyway? You humans really were quite plentiful.
"And what of it?" the being snapped. "Do you think there are hundreds of dragons in this world? There are millions upon millions of you filthy humans. A few hundred of you can die and it will hardly dent the population. What of the dragon's mother, who will mourn the passing of her child?" The being took a step towards Cathmor, who tried to step back but found his legs fast bound by roots of nearby trees. "Do you know how many dragons your race kills in a year? Simply because a handful of you are eaten? You are the only creatures that try to lead genocides against such creatures simply because some of you die! That is the order of nature!"
"Do you expect us to stand idly by as our family and friends are eaten?" Cathmor shouted. "As they're killed to be a flying lizard's food supply?"
"Do you expect dragons to do the same?" the being countered, stopping directly in front of Cathmor. "As they are killed to sate the bloodlust of humans? Your actions will only lead to more useless carnage. Do you understand what you have done, human? You killed a child. An infant. And you attempt to justify it with what it might have done. Should I kill you, and justify it with what you have already done?" Cathmor opened his mouth to speak, but the being continued. "But death would be too simple a consequence for such a deed. You have killed something innocent and helpless." A cruel smile twisted the being's pretty features, and for the first time true fear chilled Cathmor to the bone. "Perhaps you should see how cruel the world is when you are also innocent and helpless."
Here comes my favorite part~!
The being put a hand to Cathmor's head and murmured something, and the world began to change. Cathmor's clothes grew, the trees grew, everything grew. And then Cathmor realized that it was not the world that was growing. Instead, it was he who was getting smaller.
Within moments, Cathmor had regressed into the body of an eight-year-old child, and the being released him. The once-fearsome warrior, now hardly much more than an infant himself, collapsed as the roots that had been holding him tightly unwound from his legs and sank back into the ground. "What have you done to me?" he growled.
You know, I've lost count of how many millennia it's been, and I still say you deserved that.
The being above Cathmor looked triumphant, a cruel gleam in their eyes. "I have cursed you into childhood," they declared. "Experience the world as a child once more, human, and perhaps you will see how truly terrifying the world can be."
Cathmor looked at the being looming above him, at the cold cruelness reflecting back at him in those bright emerald eyes, and realized that this being was far more ancient and far more powerful than he could ever comprehend. Over the years, Cathmor had learned to undo several kinds of spells, but never something like this. He didn't even know if it was possible to undo. Would he be stuck like this forever?
Yes.
No. Cathmor was not a man that would be defeated as easily as a simple aging spell. There had to be a magick somewhere that could undo such a curse. Or he could wait it out, into adulthood once more. Adolescence would be bothersome, but Cathmor did not think of it as much more than a bump in the road. There was always a way out of even the most impossible situations. This being could not keep him young forever.
Ah, Cathmor, how ignorant you were back then.
The being must have seen the defiance in Cathmor's dark eyes, because their triumphant smile faded. "What are you thinking?" they said softly. "That you will find a way out of this? That I am the evil one, because I have punished you for your actions?" They crouched down so they were level with the now-tiny Cathmor, and Cathmor held his breath. Those eyes seemed impossibly old. "Do you think you will find a way out of this?"
Despite the situation, Cathmor's defiance could not be held. He looked the being in the eye and said, with his small head held high, "There is always a way out."
Your arrogance really was your downfall.
The being's expression twisted in anger, and once again Cathmor felt that primal fear in the pit of his stomach. "You humans," they said, spitting the word as if it were a curse. "You humans always think you're the cleverest! That you'll always discover a way to circumvent the laws of nature! Do you think I will stand idly by as you find a warlock to undo my enchantment? Do you think you can simply outgrow your curse!?" The being drew themselves up to their full height, fury flashing in their eyes. Cathmor tried to shuffle away, but the roots of the trees snaked up once again from the ground and held him fast.
"No," the being snarled, beginning to crackle with green energy. "I will not let another human's arrogance defy my laws. I will not be thwarted by your ridiculous, stubborn nature." Their eyes gleamed with a sort of madness. "You will NEVER rid yourself of this burden, and I SHALL MAKE IT SO!"
The being launched themselves at Cathmor, and the world went dark.
You accuse me of being dramatic and then you pull this sort of drivel out of your arse. Hypocrite.
When Cathmor came to, there was a great pounding in his head. His entire body ached and steamed as if it was moments away from spontaneously combusting, and he felt quite sick. After some time, the pain finally began to fade and Cathmor could move again. He slowly got to his feet, clumsy in his new, smaller form, and looked around. The green-robed being was gone, and the forest was once again bright. Cathmor's clothing was quite baggy and difficult to move around in now, but fortunately he was able to improvise with a small dagger he still had and made them fit again.
Cathmor did not know where the being had gone, but he did not want to stay too long to find out. His throat was very dry, so he made his way towards the creek in the corner of the glade. Cathmor knelt to drink from the creek.
And then he froze. For the person that stared back at him from the water was unrecognizable.
The person was a child, which was somewhat expected. A child with dark skin and short, silky black hair. A child dressed messily in ragged fabric that had been altered to fit his new, smaller form. All this Cathmor had already expected. But the child staring back at him had long, pointed ears, though not as long as the being's. And, most strikingly, the child's large eyes were the same vibrant emerald green as the eyes that had looked at Cathmor with such utter contempt earlier.
As Cathmor tried to let these new strange features sink in, a voice spoke from within his head.
Pitiful brat, it said. Cathmor yelped and pitched headfirst into the stream, shocked, for it was the voice of the inhuman being that had attacked him. The voice snickered. Did I surprise you that much?
Cathmor spat out water and climbed out of the creek, which was fortunately not that deep. "What have you done to me, spirit?" he demanded.
How rude, the voice sniffed. I am far more than a simple forest spirit, ignorant human. And it is not so much what I have done to you, as I have done to us.
"What?"
Cathmor could almost hear the triumphant smile in the voice. I have used your own power to fuse with you - permanently. So long as we are like this, you will not age past adolescence. The voice paused. I suppose that also accounts for the physical changes on your body. I have certainly never done this before. It seems I've been absorbed by you - you humans are naturally more corporeal than beings such as myself. I expect I'll be able to manifest on the physical plane soon enough - likely only to you, though. Cathmor could definitely hear a smirk in the voice's tone now. If you speak to me too much, other humans may think you've lost your mind.
You're hearing voices, Cathmor. How do you know you haven't lost your mind already?
"Who are you?" Cathmor asked, squeezing water out of his waterlogged cape. His metal greaves were now useless in this small body, so he simply left them on the bank.
You only asked for my name AFTER I cursed you. So rude.
Ah? The voice sounded amused. Cathmor swore he could see the being's figure from the corner of his eye, just barely there. You wish to know who I am? Very well, since it seems we are going to be stuck like this for a long time, I will tell you my name.
The forest rustled as the breeze picked up. Cathmor, for the first time, noticed that the forest was somehow much more... welcoming than before. No, it wasn't that. He felt more at ease, more at home, as if the forest were his natural habitat.
My name is Eryl Lexi Fenna, the voice said, and this time Cathmor definitely saw them out of the corner of his eye. But when he turned, they were not there. I am the Deity of the Forest. And now that you and I are one, I expect you'll live to my lifespan.
Death, Cathmor realized. Death will release me from this curse. "And when do you die?" he asked warily.
Eryl Lexi Fenna, on the edge of Cathmor's vision, smiled cruelly.
Ohhhh, this line is so good. You'd better do it justice, Cathmor.
I do not.
Eh. Adequate.
And thus we end the Winter Chapter.]
Tune in next time for the Spring Chapter! Which isn't for three months. Hrmph.
Carrmin, his throat dry, lapsed into silence, and began to eat his meal.
(This will be in the library soon.)
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