- Invitation Status
- Posting Speed
- 1-3 posts per day
- Writing Levels
- Adept
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Genres
- Adventure, Mystery
Among the outskirts of Aesyth, in her thick forested woodland and uncharted backyard. Teaming with the chatter and calls of blooded beasts and insects alike, but far away from the subtle buzz of human and magical activity. One could hear among the infrequent silence, the sound of vines forced to bear an uncomfortable weight. With the creak of a branch, an exhale of air, and a groan.
A man took a seat upon a thick limb overlooking the rolling green hills below him. Breathing heavy from the climb up, fresh sweat trickled down the sides of his face as it rested on the tops of his brow, and clung to the pointed edges of his light reddish beard. Parting a branch overhead in order to see further, his eyes scanned the horizon to reveal the white and green peaks of Aesyth in the distance.
Reflected brightly in the the suns rays, the man soon after repelled down the large oak with a crash. Shaking leaves, causing wildlife to flee in terror, and landing with a hard thud on the forest floor. His loose grip sent him tumbling backward where a rotten log was fortunate enough to break his fall. Collecting himself just a bit more dirtied than before, he quickly set off on foot in the direction of the city.
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At the front gates, he watched dazed as a water sprite darted inside ahead of him. Weary wanderer that he was, he soon attempted to follow suit as the guards spoke to his left.
"They're magicals. What do you expect?" "Hope the next ones aren't as weird." "Next!"
Being berated with yells to halt and escorted back to the line. The man was asked to allow a search of his person and belongings before gaining entry. Obliging the request with a weak nod, he removed his outer layer to show a mess of roots and herbs underneath. Emptying pockets in similar fashion, they revealed his collection of animal bones, crude crystals and oblong stones.
His knapsack having been forcibly taken and dumped upon the ground. Caused a weird face to occupy the guardsmen to empty it. Pouring out a mix of dirt, sand, and mangled fauna at his feet. Weighted to the bottom and last to pile out were rune stones and what appeared to be a stalagmite covered in black buds.
"What the hell is this?" ... "Sir." ...
"Name please." The second guard cut in.
With his gaze glued to the doorway of the city, where the smell of warm food emanated. It took several moments before the man turned to them and muttered. "Bryte..." ... "It's bat guano."
"G-uano?" ... "Huh? What's that?"
"Bat shit. ..."
"The hell you carrying that for?"
"It's... important ingredients."
"For? -" "Forget it. We don't have the time to be asking why he's carrying bloody shit. Next!"
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After collecting his things, Bryte once inside was too numbed by fatigue to take notice of the city, her crowds, or the chattering gossip that had seized them. His body sore from several days of hiking, climbing trees, and exploring ruins. Was now overwhelmed by the scent of fresh food permeating the city, to where his feet unconsciously dragged him onward in its direction. Suddenly finding himself standing beside a gentleman at an outside eatery. His face was hidden behind a book as he awaited his dinner, which was not too shortly brought out there after.
At the sight of the steaming bowl of brown broth, and its meaty aroma, Bryte's senses returned to him. For the past week he had only lived off scavenging. Sucking on tree bark to fight hunger pangs, lining his stomach with water, berries, and whatever else nature bore. It had allowed him to survive, but only just. Without something of flavor, of warmth and essential protein, he was desperately deprived the joy of meat.
The savory juices of fat and its saltine taste that coated your tongue. How the scent just made your tongue mad and cry in anticipation of its warmth to soon fill your mouth. All of it was practically within his reach. Before anyone could guess or contemplate why Bryte was standing as a stranger. He spit the dry piece of bark nestled within his jaw for the past day onto the pavement and grasped the bowl tight. Raising it to his lips with shaking hands, there wasn't a moments hesitation before it was tipped back.
Affording no time to breath nor to chew on the particles within the soup, the heavenly liquid ran down Bryte's neck as his throat made joyful guttural noise with each swallow. It's all encompassing warmth spreading throughout his body, it was almost as if he was tasting the fabled elixir of life. Revitalizing his body and mind in the instant, after a minute of uninterrupted fine dining Bryte stood there eyes closed in the afterglow of delight. Opening them only at the cleared throat next to him, he greeted the odd looks of the waitress and those seated with an unforgiving smile.
Seating himself across from the man who's dinner he just stole. Bryte looked out of place with his ruffled hair of leaves, cobwebs, and white stains, matched only by the grime of his muddy trousers. Calling over to the waitress and ordering for more of the same dish, a centipede crawled over his shoulder from the edge of his back to her horror.
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