The Essence of Souls [Open, PM me for bio submission]

[Ellebelly24]

*Lily opens the book to Barry's page*

"There you go."

[Blewcheese]

J skims the page.

No magic will come out of an instrument that isn't a bard's. It's not all the skill of the player, the instrument is infused with magic. Only when a Bard plays his or her instrument will there be a result.

He begins to think.

This hex is fairly powerful. It'll last a couple weeks before wearing off... And the Grandmaster is angry with me to. Damn it all!

[Battal]

Oxryklne stumbles around some more, somehow managing to reach everyone else without breaking anything.

<You think he has it bad?!?!  Look at me!>

[Ellebelly24]

*Lily starts to laugh at the two animals*

"You guys look ridiculous!"

[Blewcheese]

Hardly hilarious. 

 

Even J doesn't know how to fix this...

[Ellebelly24]

*Lily continues to laugh*

"I'm not serious if you haven't noticed."

[Battal]

<I'm sure the Dyrads won't be happy about us rummaging through their books, either.  So we may be forced to smuggle an illegal fish out of town.>

[Blewcheese]

(ILLEGAL FISH AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHFEHFWKEUHRIUHI Okay sorry)

I doubt that would work. What happens in The Grove, stays in The Grove. Magic cannot leave here if it was created here.

 

I suppose the Grandmaster is our best option...

[Ellebelly24]

*Lily falls in a fit of laughter*

"I'm sorry! I can't take you seriously though Oxry!"

[Percival]

Petal appears less soaked.

 

"Fish does smell. Need something to cover."

 

(I want to control a small object now.)

[Blewcheese]

Barry glares back up at Daniel.

The dryads won't notice us... Or at least you. I've visited the Grandmaster, so they'll see me. As long as one of you carry the bowl, he should be invisible to them. Unless, of course, we try to leave The Grove.

[Battal]

<So they'll just miss the giant rabbit jumping around and breaking things?>

[Blewcheese]

If you can manage to not touch anything, then yes. Someone can carry you.

[Battal]

<No!  When I'm in beetle form, it's fine when needed, but not like this!  I shall walk!>

[Blewcheese]

I'm not sure I can allow that, Oxyklne. If you are to disturb the dryads, you will probably die.

[Percival]

Petal seems to be uncaring about the situation.

 

"Now that I lost paper, just want to leave place."

[Battal]

<Yeah.  Let's just get some rest and get out of here.>

[Blewcheese]

J nods.

Fine. Rest up.

You'll need it.

[Battal]

Oxryklne climbs clumsily up the stairs and flops into one of the beds.

[RainyDoodles]

It is usually said that there is a silent moment before all hell breaks loose. The calm before the storm, the hesitation before the click of the trigger. For one dryad, this did happen to be the case once, and it changed her life forever.

It was late, very late, when Telumi returned to the Grove. As per usual she received odd glances from curious onlookers, other hooded figures who watch her pass and wonder what kind of life she leads. Once, she cringed from the piercing stares but now she let's them illuminate the path she steps upon. The stars sparkled in between the gaps in the sky blue leaves, the pale and chilly gaze of the moon reflected on her long, wavy white hair and the night was disrupted by rhythmic clicks of her shoes upon the scattered stones and hard-packed earth. It was very late, most of the Grove would be asleep, assumed the Dryad. This was her first mistake.

She walked the path to a run-down house, the trees practically embracing the painted walls, roots creeping through the floor in corners of rooms, various books and belongings strewn between dry, dark blue leaves and moss clumps. It was her home; she did not mind the state of disrepair and in fact enjoyed the warmth that the trees growing in and around her house provided.

Silent as a glittering shadow, she opened the front door and the clicks of her shoes were muffled by the moss. She climbed the surprisingly sturdy stairs to her bedroom and opened the door to a fish, a rabbit, some young humans and a moving doll.

There was the aforementioned moment of silence. Telumi stood there, shocked, while the others got their first glimpse of a proper Dryad. Pale blue skin, darker blue lips, tall and thin with glowing white eyes, a mass of well-kept white hair and ears with simple silver piercings. A mint blue dress with gold trim on the sleeves, decorated with royal blue leaves and a violet cloak with embroidered silver foliage. The whole thing made from some kind of silken material that shimmers, catching iridescent colours in the moonlit bedroom.

The moment passed.

Telumi crossed the room in a matter of moments - one hand reaching out to grab J's throat and the other pointed towards Lily. The moonlight shuddered and parted upon a whitened wooden staff, carved with leaves, that materialised out of thin air. The whole house trembled violently and it becomes clear why the house went to seed - it was intentional. The trees are moving.

And in an exotic, otherworldly accent, Telumi snarled out:

"Explain why you are here."

[Blewcheese]

J's eyes widen, and he chokes out a swear.

We have permission from the Grandmaster for a days worth of refuge. You are the Grove keeper, correct?

Barry the fish flops about in his bowl, confused.

[Battal]

Oxryklne wakes up suddenly.  Upon seeing the Dyrad, he poofs away into thin air.

Gah!  What is this??!

[RainyDoodles]

The grip on J's throat loosened, then let go altogether. She regarded the group warily, her eyes fluttering across the books that were open. Straightening up to her full height showed that she was at least six feet and five inches tall, practically towering over Lily and the others. "Very well, human." Spat Telumi, but the more observant ones may have noticed something intriguing about the sentence. "Leave this building and I will not hesitate to end your short lives."

Telumi left the room and a thundering groan came from twisting bark. One of the three trees covering the building had moved itself so the thick branches barred the only window, the thinner twigs creeping like vines to block the doorway. The thinner branches and sticks intertwined so tightly that it looked like the room was a massive wicker basket.

Telumi set off briskly to the Grandmaster's abode, knocking sharply on the door. The moment it opened, Telumi threw herself onto her knees, reverently inquiring, "Grandmaster, some humans and their pets have intruded upon my home. The blonde one has knowledge on our rankings and even guessed my role in the Grove."

For a brief moment, some internal struggle took place. Telumi was silent and she bowed even deeper, whispering "I can destroy them from here, Grandmaster. Just give the word and their remains shall strengthen the Grove with the others."

[Battal]

<What's going on?!?!?  What's happened to me?>

[Percival]

Petal, slightly dozing off, doesn't notice the dryad coming in, although the doll did shift a little.