The Dawn of New El'yssi

[Tsu]

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Chapter 2

The New Generation
​

A gentle beep filled the air with a rhythmic tone that expressed the good health of the three patients at hand. As expected by a medical facility, the present room was beyond drab, with only the bare minimum necessities inhabiting the available floor and wall space. In particular were three gurneys and a chair; the former of which held a Chitos and two Sari while the latter remained occupied by a particular black haired woman. At first it seemed as if she were asleep; however, it soon became obvious that her sprawled, lazed figure was the result of sheer boredom. In time, a dull thud came from the north side wall; in turn, sparking life into the woman who turned her head to gaze upon the doctor who entered in from the adjacent room.

"Vitals are stabilized to the best of our ability. It isn't everyday, you operate on one of the Tera Fysis. Our knowledge is limited, but we cross referenced any potential similarities with other known beasts. If it weren't for the god element, all would have been naught. Though...it begs the question how chil-...""

"You have done well doctor, you may excuse yourself now."

The woman's interruption was spoken with firm authority that sent the doctor rushing away. It was only after the exit door had firmly re-shut, did the woman walk towards the north wall where a large window allowed her to peer into the operating room. Inside, there as a single gurney housing a small creature hidden under the veil of covers. Suspended over his head was a small blue-green gem that occasionally dripped a small drop of water which fell directly onto the forehead which remained uncovered.

"Curse you...Vin..."

The words were muttered under her breath, and were likely bound to continue if not for the stirring of one patient in the room. A small escaped her lips as she left the window and returned to the chair where she seated herself in a somewhat proper position. There, she began lightly readjusting her hair before patiently awaiting the awakening that was soon to occur. Given the length of their slumber, they were unlikely to remember much past the fight against the Glutton. Though, this is why she had waited so long--To provide answers and to welcome them into their new life at the Guild.

"Please make an effort to awaken. I haven't got all day to babysit."

Of course, they could have still had the courtesy to not sleep so long. Another sigh escaped her lips.
​

~~~~

​

The morning sun glistened bright upon the streets of Pokos which were filled with excitement stemming from the post-Trial festival. Once again, it was that time of the year when the handful of Academy graduates and Trial survivors were inducted as new members of the Guild. As per tradition, the city was bustling with a plethora of events ranging from food to competition and everything in between. For most of the city, everyone was left to their own means of meandering enjoyment, but for a select few, there was a destination in mind. Of these few, it was a likely cultural shock seeing foreign peculiarities such as unmanned carts zipping down roads or the collection of inventions displayed in most shops. Regardless, Pokos was a welcoming experience, even more so, due to the festivities at hand.

For their first Quest, all graduates of a Guild Academy were tasked with journeying to the headquarters. Nonetheless, despite having no directions apart from "The City of Pokos", there was no belief in any official's mind that the task was impossible...or even hard. Even from the outskirts of the city, the Guild Headquarters were a magnificent sight to behold--the largest of any tower, scaling far into the skies above. Upon arriving at the front gates, any student or survivor with a writ of entry were given passage into the atrium within. Compared to the architecture of the exterior, the interior did not disappoint in the slightest. The atrium was a high ceiling room with panels of glass stretching all along the walls for an impressive display of natural light. In the center of the room, a large fountain statue was defined by a globe etched with exceptional detail that represented the land of El'yssi and beyond. Surrounding this fountain was a diverse collection of exotic plants, and all along the floor, various means of couches and chairs gave a plethora of lounging options for their guests. In the distance, there were two spiraling staircases while between them, an informational desk was occupied by a charming, albeit bored secretary. Regardless, for all the new explorers, there was no need for the desk since a particular man was waiting for their arrival.

Standing off to the side of the atrium was a older Fytali gentleman dressed in leather armor with a feathered hat atop his leafy head. His skin was defined by a bark-like texture while strapped across his back was a long wooden rifle. Along his waist, a large collection of pouches stored the plethora of herbs and seeds that he carried on his being. A warm smile encompassed his expression while a low, smooth tone spoke the announcements he directed towards any strangers carrying a writ.

"Over here if ya new. Tis the time we learn who our new explora's be."

 

[becna]

Reylla's dreams are filled with sweet Kelle and her family back in Lingivik, curled up cozy under a reindeer hide blanket before the fire. They're celebrating something, though Reylla doesn't recall what it is. She hugs Kelle close around the waist, and rubs her face against the sweet smelling fur of his blanket. But there's something off about the texture. It's rough, like thin cotton and nothing like the luscious fur she'd been expecting.

Reylla's eyes squint open and she regrets the action, groaning at the bright light. Should have stayed with Kelle in her dreams. Unfamiliar sounds and smells begin to overwhelm her senses and she pushes herself upright into a sitting position, her head swimming. "What the..." The giantess looks around blearily, blinking with confusion until she stops at the woman perched on the chair.

"Oh. 'Ello." She mumbles, still blinking sleep from her eyes. Reylla feels almost hungover, had she been out drinking last night? She wracks her brain for her last memory... The glutton. Instantly more alert, Reylla sits up straighter as her eyes dart around the small room. "Velos?" She calls with worry, then looks back to the dark haired woman. "You know where my wolf is? He's not great with strangers..."

 

[Arlathina]

Braniath Oakenwreath

❧ Speckled god; light dappled his skin, shimmering rays reaching through the leaves to caress him. All around he felt the vibration of the world, pulsating beneath the falsetto notes of birdsong, enveloped in the legato tones of psithurism. He hated to leave such tranquility, yet knew that he must. Dawn had come swiftly, like an enemy unseen in the night's dark embrace. Braniath was only alerted to his presence by the tolling of the morning bells, and mourn he did at their arrival. From his perch within the arms of an elderly sycamore, he peered in the direction of the cityscape that sprawled out before him: there in the distance, looming large even among the tallest buildings of the city, was his prison or palace, haven or hell. The sight alone left him feeling stifled. He clambered to the lowest branch of the tree before making the final jump, landing somewhat haphazardly on the ground. His slumber remained wrapped about him like strips of wet, sticky cotton; he walked to a nearby stream to see if he could wash them away. The combination of fresh air and icy water left him feeling renewed, ready to begin his ascent—although he undoubtedly regarded it as quite the opposite at that time.

❧ The daylight poured itself over the landscape quickly now, as if to remind Braniath of the time-sensitive nature of his quest. Emerging from the thicket, he set off towards the city gates at a brisk pace. From far afield, he could hear music raucously ringing throughout the streets, growing in volume as he neared the edge of the city. The energy networks here were so erratic, shifting endlessly like shadows cast by a flame. People, rushing to and fro, were the first thing that struck him. They pushed and shoved, moving past one another as their limbs waved flaccidly like the wings of a thousand decapitated cocks. It was intoxicating, making Braniath feel excessively large and extremely tiny at the same time. He did his best to maneuver his way through the large crowd passing over the narrow bridge that served as the city's primary entrance.

❧ After meandering his way through a side street, Braniath found himself cast away from the crowd, left in a marketplace of sorts. Lining the street on both sides were expansive glass cases that contained a multitude of dazzling objects, glinting softly at him in the dynamic light of the morning. A little up the path was a street performer, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. As Braniath passed, he caught only a glimpse of what appeared to be a very entertaining spectacle of the juggling of something alight with fire. A little more up the way, he heard a shopkeeper screaming out, "Precious dolls! Precious dolls heeyah for your littuh girls! Look at this heeyah littuh girl," The cacophonous man momentarily stopped his assault on Braniath's ears to extend a doll-filled hand out to the female child of a passerby before continuing, "innit it jus' precious, chil'?"

❧ "Mommy, mommy! Look at it," The young girl exclaimed as she tugged on the robe of the matron standing next to her, who had been quite engaged in perusing the selection of apricots in the next stall over. The moon-eyed girl's persistence, however, inevitably won over the distracted woman; she let out an exasperated sigh before digging into the folds of her robe for, Braniath assumed, her coin purse. Some time later, and after much gawking on Braniath's part, he arrived at the gates of what appeared to be the Guild Headquarters. He fished in his satchel for the writ of entry that had been given to him after his Trial, retrieving it with only minor difficulty. In another moment, he was within the confines of the geometric, gray building, staring up at a ceiling that made him feel extremely short with its daunting height.

❧ In the corner of his vision, Braniath spied another Fytálian man. After he had turned his head in the man's direction and inspected him more closely, it occurred to Braniath that this stranger appeared to be much older than himself. As he was approaching, he heard the man say, "Over here if ya new. Tis the time we learn who our new explora's be." In response, Braniath moved closer to the older Fytáli's position, but did not speak just yet.

 

[TerraBooma]

Caris own dreams were silent, a void of nothingness where memory and the like should have stood. It was an almost eerie feeling, as Caris was aware of this nothingness but unable to change it. He floated through a dark place for what felt eons, catapulting through space though he had no way to know for sure if he was moving. It was like this for awhile, and he found himself wondering just why he was going through this voice when a light appeared in the distance, a momentary hope that turned to fear as he raced closer. What was it? He couldn't tell...it was simply too bright. Eventually he began to fly faster and faster towards it, and just as he could reach otu and touch it...

The northern Sari woke with a start, body sweating slightly, but as he took in his surroundings it was apparent he had bigger issues to deal with over some weird dream. He could remember the glutton, his shock that it didn't explode into a mess of good, and the god element they had fought so hard for. He glanced abotu the room, the giantess...Reylla, was already awake, and seemed to be talking to a stranger. Did she know her then? That was probably a good sign. Then continuing to look over, Kula was there still asleep. He chuckled softly before chiding himself. Keep it in check...he didn't know where he was, and this curse- wait, it was supposed to be a blessing right? Caris still wasn't sure.- tended to flare up when he got emotional. It was hard for the big man to keep it in check when he wore his heart on his sleeve. That said whatever was going on, Kula should probably be awake for it. Caris trundled over to her before shaking her gently. "Hey Kula, c'mon. Something's up."

After doing his best to shake her awake, Caris turned his gaze to the dark haired woman. He was still groggy, but fairly certain she meant them no harm...after all, she could have taken them out when they all slept.

"So...who are you then? Where are we?" Caris paused, looking around. "Wait where's Shamitheo? Is he okay?" Caris' eyes dotted about. If he had gone and died after everything tehy did to save him, Caris would find the afterlife and punch him across the face himself.

 

[Jakers]

Kula awoke with a gasp, her body darting across the other side of her bed in panic as Caris shook her. As she came to, a wide and shining turquoise eye blinked slowly, focusing on Caris's face, realising it had all been some sort of nightmare. She looked at her hands, register they weren't the bloody claws they'd been transformed into in her nightmare. Her body felt under her own control again. And the dark splodge wasn't covering her from head to toe, making her body a black silhouette of a demon. Praise the Vrýsiliá. That had all just been some sort of sick, twisted hallucination her unconscious brain had come up with in fear.

The thankfulness she felt that all of that was a dream almost bought her to tears. All she could do in that nightmare was watch helplessly as her own body went out of control, and started ripping people apart. Murdering. And not just bandits anymore. People she knew. People she cared for. Just the thought of it made her ill, but she had to remind herself it hadn't been under her control. Just a nightmare. The anxiety she felt from this curse, or 'blessing' as he called it, was getting to her. She just wished she could be clean again, blessing or not.

The relief in her eyes quickly turned to confusion, and the confusion quickly turned into an apologetic look towards Caris.
"Oh... Caris. Thank goodness you're okay. My apologies... just... bad dreams." She murmured as she sat up slowly on the bed. She paused a moment, before looking down at her hands again, hiding them under the bedsheets. "If you're here, then... is Reylla... h-how did we..." She began, before trailing off as she examined the area.

Looking around, Reylla was in this strange building as well, along with a woman she'd never seen before. Reylla's pet and Shamitheo were missing from the scene. There was something about the room that made her nervous. How had she even got here? The last thing she could remember was that elder Fytali giving the gem after the fight with the gelatinous beast, then... it just wasn't clear. She couldn't even remember being knocked out.

Kula kept silent as the others asked questions, her head and eye trailing across the room with a look of suspicion on her face. Her eyes seemed tired, but her body shown no signs of wanting to go back to sleep.
"...This isn't right." Was all she whispered under her breath.

 

[rechonq]

Sergey was eager to make the trip to Pokos. He could barely manage to contain his giddiness. He learned and grew a lot during his time at the Afevresi Guild Academy, but now he had his writ and nothing was going to stop him from reaching the Guild Headquarters. Especially not some dumb festival dedicated to their acceptance as Explorers. Granted being accepted did warrant a grand celebration, but he was never really a fan of large celebrations. No one considered their first quest of reaching the Guild as anything difficult, but navigating the large partying crowds was certainly an experience, a sort of fun one at that. It was interesting to see all the mix of races too. Many of them were probably shocked with Afevresi's technology, but their magics were something that fascinated him as well.

It didn't take him long to reach the grand building. He'd been in the lobby before, just not in an official manner. It felt grander now that he was here to become a part of it. He entered shortly after another man. He had barely taken in view of the bored secretary when he heard a voice coming from the edge of the lobby. He quickly walked over to the two Fytali men as that was evidently where the new ones were supposed to go. "Hello, I graduated Afevresi Academy. My name is Sergey Ailein." He gave a quick and prompt greeting as names were pretty important, but he didn't go into great detail as he figured their would probably be a time for that and he didn't want to repeat himself much. He tried to keep a calm demeanor, but his excitement was truly brimming.

 

[Tsu]

Guild Medical Facility​

"On the contrary, it is quite correct, Miss Kula Aolani."

Despite originating from a whisper under the breath, the woman had no trouble responding to the girl's statement whilst ignoring the rest that were directed her way. In time, she choose to return to the northern wall where she began gazing through the glass--her eyes focused on the creature who still remained in a coma state. Seconds went by in this manner until she finally began to speak with her own agenda in mind.

"As you can imagine, the Guild has many questions regarding your involvement in the Glutton incident. Failure to respect the orders of authority...Failure to abide by a Class A sanction...Violence against Guild officials...Quite the record you have managed for yourselves, yet a recommendation from Geriza is not one that I can lightly ignore. He has done the Guild great favours in the past and apparently so have you unto him. Consider yourselves lucky in this case. Second chances do not present themselves often in our line of work."

The entirety of her speech was spoken into the glass, but soon after, she turned to face the three individuals whom were likely on the verge of an annoyed outburst. A smug smile formed on her face as she confidently walked past the two Sari and gathered a file which rested on the small bedside table found between them. After flipping through several pages, she once again began to speak; this time her words focused on the health of the patients in the room.

"No internal injuries...Minimal external injuries, mostly cuts and bruises...Overexertion and exhaustion...Finally, a mild case of nerve paralysis resulting from the gaseous toxin administered upon the quarantined zone. All afflictions shall pass with time and rest, effectively allowing each of you to be discharged from this medical unit. Good riddance in that regard since I am beyond bored with waiting for this moment. Additionally lucky, that you have the opportunity to make orientation."

With perfect timing, a light knock sounded from the door before it swung open to reveal a furry friend accompanied by a male Chitos who seemed all too cheerful to have delivered an over-sized dire wolf. Overjoyed to see its partner, Velos' actions were as expected by its nature whilst the Chitos performed a small bow before departing down the hall.

"If you think a member of the Guild is incapable of handling a mere dire wolf, than you have sore expectations for our organization, Miss Reylla Stonearm. As ordered, Velos, here, has been provided knowledge of our general facilities. He is more than capable of directing your party to the atrium of Headquarters. With that in mind, you are free to depart at your earliest convenience. The Tera Fysis...your critter friend, shall remain in our custody for the duration of his treatment. There will be no further discussion of this matter."

With her final announcement, the woman directed a firm nod towards each patient before strutting towards the exit where she departed with a quick farewell. Just as she had explained, Velos was well aware of the directions to the Atrium, and it was but a mere five minute walk to traverse from the medical facility to the tower. On another small table near the exit, three writs of passage were patiently awaiting their acceptance. Were they to be taken was left to the individuals, but like the woman had said...Second chances do not present themselves often in an Explorer's line of work.

 

[Jakers]

Of course she'd heard her. Of course they'd somehow been knocked out instantaneously and taken to The Guild. As the woman explained everything, frustration was evident in Kula's expression, though she still remained surprisingly calm for someone with such a grudge against Vin. The only reason she kept so calm was because she wasn't so blind as to think everyone in the guild acted and thought like Vin did. There had to be some sane people here, at least. Why they let him command things was a mystery to her. He deserved not power, but to be locked up somewhere dark.

Something was odd. When explaining the injuries, why hadn't they mentioned the curse? Could they not see it? Did they not consider it an 'injury'? It certainly looked abnormal, so why hadn't they at least mentioned it? It wasn't like it'd just disappeared whilst she was asleep. Kula was beginning to think that it might've been invisible to some people.

As the woman concluded with Shamitheo being kept into custody, Kula visibly scowled, her webbed hands balling into fists under her bedsheets. She didn't bring him here for him to be studied and kept like an animal. Perhaps that wasn't the case on what was going to happen, but if he turned out to be some sort of 'new species' to the guild, who knew how long they'd keep him there? It wasn't like Shamitheo was a close friend - barely even an ally, in fact - but she could still respect his status as some form of 'demigod'. In the end, it was her fault he was here in the first place.

As the woman left the building, Kula looked at the three writs, before looking out of the window longingly.

I could run away right now, she thought to herself. I could see everyone again... and explain the truth of what it means to be an 'explorer'. But... at the same time, it's too late for that, isn't it? I'd return to my family with my trident soaked in black; empty-handed of nothing but shame. They'd soon banish me. Going home isn't an option. Will it ever be an option?

The only clear option was staying here, signing the writ, and seeing where life would take her. But doing that would mean she'd work under that sadistic madman of a leader, Vin. Laying back on the bed in confusion and glancing at the ceiling, Kula didn't know what to do. Was she the only one who felt like this about the guild? Was she just overreacting when the reality of the situation wasn't that bad. Chewing her lip, her eye glanced over to Caris and Reylla, seemingly watching what they were going to do before her fingers curled around a pen.

 

[TerraBooma]

Caris own fists were balled up in frustration. He wasn't' very fond of the guild, but they had resources that would be critical to learning what he needed...and sure, the lost civilization was still in the back of his mind but Caris was more worried about the curse. Weather ot not it was a curse or a blessing was up in the air, but Caris wanted to hit the books and find out what in the world it actually was...and more importantly, it's effects. That said, leaving their friend in the care of the guild had him on edge, Vin's reputation was just as ruthless as he was in person, and Caris was worreid he would do some form of crooked experiment...

"I'm starting to wonder if everyone calling him was a fool was the only reason..." Caris mumbled out loud, more to himself than anyone else. Whatever had caused his grandfather to leave had to be big...was there more going on than he had thought? It was complicated, but Vin seemed just as harsh on his own men as the environment was on the northern Sari, and that was not an easily made comparison. Still he had come here with a mission, and if he still had a chacne to show the world his grandfather was right he would need the guild's resources.

"Kula." Caris said suddenly, brekaing the uneasy silence that had formed. "I think we should sign it. You too Ryella." He smiled over to the Giantess, she was the only other person who know of their curse, if only a small part of it. But without her Smatheio might not be alive, it was a close call...that made her as good as family in Caris' books. "I know the guild is...unsavory, to say the least, but with how you and I are Kula, we can't afford to give up the resources and knowledge, without them there's no way we'll be able to learn about what has afflicted is, that is of course with the exception of tracking down those fellows." Caris let out a sigh full of frustration, the Northern Sari didn't like feeling trapped. "And finding them of course, is much easier when the guild is on your side, they've got informants everywhere I assume." He looked down at the writ of paper, and grabbed a nearby pencil. "And I...well, I need some of the knowledge that the guild has, it's complicated and a little bit embarrassing, but the sum of it is I came here to join to clear my grandather's name. I know it probably sounds dumb, but I really do think he was onto something wi-" He realized he was rambling, and awkwardly cleared his throat, he had been caught up in the passion talking of his grandfather's legacy always envoked.

"I know you may be having second doubts about the guild, hell you'd be stupid not to really." Caris smiled sadly. "But for my sake, please, join with me. Even for a short time, it'd be good to have some people I can trust by my side."

 

[becna]

Reylla knew she was often a little obtuse when it came to the interactions of other races - it seemed that the Chitos people were more forthcoming and enthusiastic than most. But sensing the importance of this woman by the way she holds herself, Reylla holds her tongue as she speaks, despite how little information she really gleans from her speech. Her eyes follow the woman's gaze to the window and she spots Shamitheo, still as a statue beneath the crystal they had recovered. Disappointment rushes through her, and she drops her eyes to her hands. So they hadn't been able to help him. She had failed the quest given to her by the village elder.

Hanging her head in shame, Reylla absorbs the information the woman gives her without comment. Though she didn't know the name "Geriza" specifically, she felt certain that he was the Fytali that had favored them with his presence. She nods at the comment about second chances, knowing her words to be true.

She focuses back on the woman when she goes to collect a file and reads from it. Reylla is puzzled by the list of afflictions and though she doesn't want to interrupt and squander her second chance, her curiosity nearly gets the better of her when she's interrupted. A chitos man arrives with Velos in tow. The direwolf had been sedate and obedient while waiting for Reylla to recover. However as soon as he sees his Mistress awake he seems to erupt with excitement. Velos bounds across the room and jumps into Reylla's lap, the bed creaking in protest under their combined weight. Velos flips himself onto his back and Reylla leans her face into his furry chest, giving him a vigorous belly rub. Velos's leg pounds rhythmically against the bed as she finds the sweet spot just under his rib cage. Reylla returns the stern woman's nod as she departs, just happy to have Velos back with her. She'd felt too vulnerable not having him next to her, and from his reaction to seeing her again he'd felt the same way.

Reylla listens to Caris intently as her fingers continue to work on Velos's belly, his tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth. Slowly she stretches, shifting her weight to the edge of the bed and gingerly moving her feet to the floor. She stands slowly and Velos hops to the ground, putting himself in front of her for support. "Thanks." She said, stroking his head as she shuffles toward the writs. She unrolls one carefully, looking it over before looking to her companions and breaking out into a grin.

"No need to worry about me leaving Caris. I set out to join the Guild, seems to me I still got my shot, and I already got two friends by my side. I aim to help you with this curse, see Shammytho up and about." She offers her hand out to Caris to shake, "And I don't think it's dumb. What's more important than your family, eh?" Her smile grows a little rueful, and she grips the golden locket still tucked beneath her shirt. "I promised to keep living until I'm dead. I intend to keep that promise, and it seems to me helping you is a good purpose to have."

Reylla picks up the pencil and studies the writ again before signing with a flourish, though her smile turns sour. "Speaking of dying, '[BCOLOR=transparent]A mild case of nerve paralysis resulting from the gaseous toxin administered upon the quarantined zone'," [/BCOLOR]She repeats in a nearly identical voice to the stern looking woman, then wrinkles her nose, "So what she was saying was that they did this to us, yeah? And... You think we were the only ones to get out of the trial?"

 

[Jakers]

"We met some guild officials. And... yes. They told us we were the only applicants to make out of the trial alive," Kula whispered in reply to Reylla. "The only out of... what, twenty? And the way most of those people died... it gives me shivers, just to think about it." Kula mumbled, before she cocked her head and her glinting turquoise eye gazed to the pen in her hand.

After a while of thought, Kula's grip on her pen tightened a little, and she span it gently in her fingers in consideration. Hearing the words of Caris and Reylla had given her no real other choice, but it wasn't like she had much of an alternate choice anyway. Looking up, she spoke, but her body language and tone sounded a lot more like her old self: Eloquent, well-spoken, and polite, rather than entwined with anxiety like it had been recently.

"Then I'll do it as well. We've been in it together from the start, haven't we? It wouldn't be right for us to part ways," Kula said gently. Her body arching over, she began to sign the writ, each letter of her handwriting neat and pretty, like a picture. She continued to talk as she wrote. "And Reylla's correct. It's not 'dumb' at all if you want to vindicate the name of someone close to you. After all you've done for me, I'm happy to be at your side. Until the end."

As she finished signing, Kula looked up, placing the pen back where it belonged.

"And... Reylla. I remember right at the start of the trials. You went out of your way and risked everything to save a stranger. And now you help us save Shamitheo. It's been clear to me I can trust you for a while now, even if..." Kula trailed off, before shaking her head. "...No, that doesn't matter. I'm looking forward to knowing you better. We'll just have to see what's in store for us next."

But what did come next? On the inside, she was praying. For exploration, and not witnessing or performing any more murder.

 

[Tsu]

@Everyone​

One by one, the elder silently observed each new explorer who joined his exclusive party at the side of the atrium. Towards any of his own kind, he performed a short, yet eloquent bow while to the remaining others, he directed a small nod as acknowledgement of their arrival. All together, he was expecting nearly twelve individuals who were selected to join the ranks of the Guild. Of that number, five were arriving from the various Academies around El'yssi while the remaining seven were those who survived and passed the recent Trials.

"Let's see who we got here...Braniath...Sergey...and, Ah!
Here comes the first group."

The elder's sudden exclamation was in response to a group of four individuals who entered into the atrium and lazily settled along the nearest wall. The group consisted of two Chitos, a Thari, and a Synthi--all of whom gave off a vibe of arrogant and brutish. Subsequently, it didn't take long for this fact to be proven as the Synthi soon snorted whilst uttering a statement under his breath. Immediately, the rest of his group burst into a fit of laughter as they occasionally eyed the two Fytali with blatant stares. As expected, the elder took note of this presumably childish behavior; however, he remained purposefully ignorant in light of the second group who announced their arrival with the howl of a dire wolf.

"A quick recovery as expected by our second group. Even a glutton ain't enough to keep ya down.
And with that, I'd say we've got enough to move us along now.
For the sake of the stragglas' though..."

It was obvious by the elder's words that he was familiar with the second group who had arrived, but he quickly changed the subject towards the entire party as a whole. With a hand extended as if to say wait, the elder walked to the informational desk where he quickly informed the secretary of their soon to be location before returning to the group with a cheerful smile.

"There be much to learn, and little patience to do so. I'd say we dive straight into the first lesson.
After that,only several dozen more, and you'll soon be on your way to questin' and fun.
But for now, follow me..."

Apart from the sudden declaration, there was little warning before the elder departed through the atrium gates at a somewhat brisk pace. With the festival still in full-session, it only took a couple of minutes before he was thrust into a mass of participants. Thankfully, his stature allowed his feather hat to stand above the majority of heads, but even with this boon, a simple distraction was enough to lose his position in the bulk of the crowd. For a moment, the elder came to a halt and spoke a quick announcement of "Track if you can't keep up." ; however, such words were his last before he resumed his original pace without concern for the others.

For the next twenty minutes, the elder meandered throughout the city streets and into the neighboring outskirts which were occupied by a gradient of dense and loosely formed forest. In particular, the destination was a small hut located in a meadow that rested on the sidelines of Mikcho (Small forestry village on the outskirts of Pokos). As the only building on the meadow, the hut felt somewhat out of place, but its exterior was nothing out of the seeming ordinary--wooden logs combined with homey windows for an overall country feel. Its interior, however, was somewhat surprising given the classroom-like appearance defined by a chalkboard and a collection of a desks. Since he was likely to arrive before any of the others, the elder immediately walked towards the board where he began writing the day's agenda with a piece of chalk.

Lesson 1 : Survival

1. Icebreakers and explorer groups
2. Today's lesson and Quest Distribution
3. Field-study Lab
​

With a satisfied nod, he settled himself atop the surface of the nearest desk; all while patiently waiting for his students to arrive, assuming they hadn't already. For each individual to walk through the door, the elder first acknowledged their arrival with their name, before following with a subsequent question to be shared by each student.

"So tell me, (Insert your character's name), why do you wish to become an Explorer of the Guild."​

 

[AutumnWyvern]

Navigating crowded festival streets weren't exactly easy when your very appearance seemed to make people uneasy. Though, folks at least tried to seem amicable as Zahnii made her way about the streets, as not to put a damper on the festivities. But still the subtle ways their body would tense and how their eyes would dart, signs of fear and unease that she had learned to pick up on from years of hunting. But she wasn't one to let such things bother her. She took each step with pride, well when she had the room to do so. With how crowded the streets were it was like an intricate dance of stepping over and around all sorts of tails, fins, and clothing. Zahnii noted it would have been much faster for her to make her way across the rooftops but that is apparently "startling" and "very dangerous." Sure, it very well could be startling she agreed with that, but the paneling and shingles used on rooftops didn't seem any different than the slates of stone from back home. She had to trod on many new terrain throughout her journey, and while she is no stranger to flat terrain there is just something comforting about one's paws bending and molding to the rock underfoot like lock and key. She clicked her tongue at her own foolishness. She had a goal to focus on.

Standing before the tower Zahnii couldn't even see the top if she tilted her head back as far as she could. Inside, she regarded the luxury with minor curiosity. Back in her tribe furnishings were no where near as plush as the things she found in the more modernized world outside. Sure, things could be covered with furs and stuffed with dried leaves and bits of fur but it didn't have the same squishy feel. It was not quite the same as sinking one's claws into soft flesh, but it was about as enjoyable in her opinion. She made a mental note to test the squish factor of the couches when there weren't superiors around. A less enjoyable observation was the very synthetic floors. At least outside a paved or cobblestone floor also had bits of dirt and little plants trying to sprout up. Inside it was just cold and unpleasant to the paws. She then regarded the others in the room. She was only slightly disappointed she was the only Thari, after all it was to be expected, but she wanted to rub the success of her clan in someone's face. It was doubtful anyone outside of Agriagi even knew of her tribe, just as she had no knowledge of these other beings until they started venturing into her peoples' lands. She wondered if she should introduce herself, but was distracted by the other group who entered and the announcement the elder was about to make.

It seemed as though their first task was to follow the elder, which was something Zahii was good at. Following was just stalking without killing intent, really. But, with the crowds and inability to climb onto the roofs like she'd want to she couldn't exactly go at a fast pace (at least not without knocking someone over in the process) and there was also the matter that she was fairly short and couldn't see above the crowd... But, she wasn't about to be shown up and be one of the last ones to this new location! She had an ace up her sleeve, or rather on her face. The man had pouches of herbs at his waist, and she was able to discern the difference in scent between those and the plants by the fountain (admittedly only by proximity) while she was mentally examining the atrium.It was simply a matter of singling out the scent and ignoring all else, a proper skill for any Thari to have.

As the city turned to the forested outskirts Zahii was able to feel a bit more at ease. Sure, there weren't any forests proper in her home, but it was an area free of people that she could bound through on all fours without much of a care. By the time to forest dissipated into a meadow she was practically zipping about with the zeal of a kitten (likely a humorous sight for anyone following close behind her). As the hut was clearly the destination she let herself take in the other scents of the area once again, able to experience the blend of the soft earth, the grasses, flowers, and the forest to her back. Rather reluctantly deciding she had her fill of nature she stood up and let herself inside the classroom. Before she could get a good look around she was asked a question. One she already knew the answer to and responded to in a heartbeat.
"Manul is small tribe, secluded. Exploration is being called 'new era' for Thari. I will not let my tribe fall behind. Others think that staying same is best so I leave alone. It is okay though." She smiled, full of pride for her tribe that she is determined to represent in the expanded world.

 

[rechonq]

Sergey didn't quite pick up on the aura of the first group. He really just wondered what they were laughing at. He looked himself over and the eyed the two Fytali and couldn't really see anything wrong or out of the ordinary. Maybe the Fytali using a rifle was a little out of the ordinary, but he didn't think it was really that funny. He figured explorers would make use of all sorts of tools. It'd be foolish not to use all resources and Explorers didn't have the luxury to be foolish. The second group seemed more reserved, but her dire wolf still seemed eager.

He didn't have much time to analyze before the elder began walking off though. He only watched him speak with the secretary, but he promptly followed him out of the building. He tried to follow the man's brisk pace, but found himself severely struggling to navigate the crowds. He certainly wasn't going to be able to track right now either. That's when he realized that this was a party, a grand celebration. Trying to navigate a party was never easy when tense. Why was he even worried about being able to follow this guy. It was a task so easy it should be fun. That's when he started to pay more focus on the party and music. His body became lax as he began to flow through the crowd. He practically danced as he sidestepped wild twirlers and booty-bounced rampant hip-shakers. At one point, he even did a spin himself, just having let the music and atmosphere affect him.

It wasn't long before they reached the forested outskirts. He didn't feel as comfortable navigating the forest as he did the city. It didn't matter much though, because he just had to keep up with the man. A task that was easier said than done. He had almost lost him in the forest, but fortunately it turned to a meadow where it was impossible to miss the destination. He quickly followed the Thari girl who joyfully bounded for the hut.

The interior of the hut was not quite expected. He really wasn't expecting to be taking more classes, but it wasn't like he was going to object. He was greeted by the elder and asked a rather simple question. He chuckled a little before he replied. "To go exploring." It seemed simple enough. "Really though, I want to study and discover the chemicals that this world has to offer."

 

[Jakers]

As she arrived with the second group, the Southern Sári gave a small bow of her head as Geriza introduced them.
"You seem to be everywhere," Kula murmured as she looked at the elder fytali. She was aware that was likely for a good reason, but running into Geriza had become a common occurrence at this point. She was still suspicious about the man, though, deep down, she couldn't help but like him. She still wanted an explaination at some point about The Black Feathers, even if she'd recently discovered that - to her delight - the curse had actually disappeared from her skin. Although she wasn't smiling, Kula seemed to be in a good mood, all things considered.

Great. It seemed like they'd been paired with a group of brutes who laughed at just about anything. What was so funny about the elder fytali was a mystery, as the man had proved he could take on beasts that could swallow a nation. She ignored the rowdy individuals for the most part, though there did seem to be some seemingly mature people that caught her eye. Not wanting to stare, she averted her eye for the most part, keeping close to the people she knew as she carefully walked through the city streets, her gilded trident eloquently swinging behind her.

Thankfully for Kula, having two giant friends had its advantages. Sticking close to them, their imposing presence aided her from getting knocked about like a ragdoll when navigating through the crowds. Occasionally she'd get bumped into, but she shrugged it off and weaved through people where possible. The festival vibe wasn't one she was a huge fan of. It was where smells of all sorts of greasy foods that people somehow seemed to love lingered, and one where litter and a lack of space to breathe was as common as the air itself. Coming from such a rich background, it was hard for Kula not to look down on an event like this, even if she partially hated herself for being so snobbish. She took a deep breath as the crowds parted, enjoying the quieter atmosphere of the meadowed area lot more.

Coming inside the hut, Kula blinked in a slightly confused manner. ...A chalkboard? Desks? They were to be educated as if it were some sort of school? After the first intense events of her trials, it was certainly a huge change, but that certainly wasn't a bad thing. In fact, this was a huge improvement. Taking her seat slowly, Kula placed her hands on her lap and faced the front. An optimistic Thári was the first to answer the question, followed by the non-rowdy Synthi. Before she knew it, it was her turn.

In honesty, the real answer to Geriza's question was something along the lines of 'my family told me to, and I didn't want to disappoint them.' But that didn't really matter to her anymore. As she was asked the question herself, she looked down for a moment, her droopy, finlike ears tilting downwards as she did so.
"I suppose it's just to contribute, and to do my part. We're at an age where we crave discovery. And if I could uncover something that can increase the quality of life for people, that would be nice, too." Kula quietly replied in her usual soft and well-spoken manner. "...Also..." She hesitated, before shaking her head. "...Um. Sorry. Nevermind. I-Ignore me... aha..." She trailed off, letting the next person talk.

 

[Arlathina]

Braniath Oakenwreath

❧ As the elder Fytáli began to speak, Braniath was dimly aware of other recruits trickling in the building's entrance. He stood attentively and poised, a step or two away from the Synthi that had entered after himself. One of the arriving groups, consisting of two Chitósi, a Thárian, and a Synthian, began to laugh smugly while shooting occasional glances at Braniath and the older Fytálian. Although he was keenly aware of the group's heckling, the young man's features remained composed in a façade of placidity. His older companion, who appeared equally the punchline of whatever joke the rabble was currently amusing itself with, seemed to respond in a similarly stoic manner. The more troublesome thing, in Braniath's mind, was attempting to listen to what their instructor's words amid the piercingly obnoxious laughter of the Synthian; the sound reminded Braniath somewhat of the call of a Dázklian Hagrover, prompting a slight upward tilt in his mouth as Braniath attempted to suppress the blooms of laughter taking root in his chest.

❧ While this inner monologue played out, the recruits' instructor had stopped to murmur something to the office attendant. Braniath's efforts were ceased when, after returning to briefly address the group, he noticed the elder Fytálian walking towards the entrance of the grey building. A moment later, they were once again out into the crowded streets of the city, drenched in the tumult and chaos of the festivities. Braniath had inexplicably ended up somewhere near the back of their humble procession. As he side-stepped dancers clad in richly colored silks, it occurred to Braniath that the movements of the crowd were somewhat like a dance of monumental scale, playing out in the shifting weight of each passerby he crossed.

❧ He did not mind lingering a moment to witness the spectacle of this bizarre and enticing world. The elder Fytáli's intimate connection to the plant life of the area meant that his movements were easily sensed, emitting a path of sun-like energy amid the shifting sea of stars. Braniath was not the only one enjoying himself, as he noticed the Synthi who had arrived directly after him—Sergey was what Braniath thought he had heard the older Fytálian say—was similarly dazzled by the visual and rhythmic feast around them, even going as far as to partake; his movements came fluidly as he mingled with the people in the crowd, intoxicated by the enthusiasm of the revelers. His form was rather entrancing, as the Synthian performed a deft twirl that left Braniath's lips widening into an appreciative grin.

❧ Soon, however, the group extricated itself from the debaucheries of the crowd, entering a quaint forest. To the comfort of Braniath, he could once again feel vast networks of energy running underneath the surface of the Earth in what he could only describe as illuminated spider webs reaching out to connect the people to the plants, the plants to the ground, and the ground to back to everything that drew breath. His gait became more surefooted as he continued into the progressively rich environment until, finally, they reached a hut on the edge of a meadow. Outwardly, it did not appear to be anything out of the ordinary, but the inner-workings of the space were surprising. Desks and chalkboards were both foreign concepts to Braniath since there was no formal educational system in Dázkla. The knowledge important to anyone growing up in the dense Dázklian jungle was altogether radically different from anything required of a child born in Pokos. He stared awkwardly at the assortment of desks and seats while standing in the back of the room.

❧ Those who had arrived before him were busy giving their respective answers to the question, "Why do you wish to become an Explorer of the Guild?" A Thárian to his left discussed how she wished to help her tribe progress into the new era of exploration, while Sergey responded with a desire to experience the world. Braniath found the Synthian's answer very fitting. The Sári woman, who Braniath hadn't entirely noticed, answered next.

❧ "I suppose it's just to contribute, and to do my part. We're at an age where we crave discovery. And if I could uncover something that can increase the quality of life for people, that would be nice, too," She replied. It appeared that there was something else she wanted to add, but she let her voice trail off for some obscure reason. Braniath had been so engrossed in listening to the responses of others that he had failed to begin formulating his own answer to the question.

❧ After the Sárian was finished, the eyes in the room turning expectantly towards Braniath felt a lot like an assault. He felt trapped. His mind raced to construct a satisfactory answer, but his efforts proved to be as effective as trying to gather water with open fingers. After a moment or two of incoherent stuttering, Braniath's mouth finally spit out the phrase, "I really love adventure." As soon as the words parted with his lips, the nervous young man knew how disingenuous they appeared. He attempted a convincing smile in order to distract from his stumbling tongue.

 

[TerraBooma]

The mysterious laughter bothered Caris, although he couldnt' put much of a finger on why. The whole group seemed to be in one some kind of joke, only nobody else found it funny. Ah well, whatever they were dealing with was their problem. Caris had an elder to follow. Gerazi was a strange man, and the people he worked with had...questionable moments for sure, both in the guild and the black feathers. But if he had wished them some form of ill will he probably would have let the glutton kill them...to Caris, such a foe was his worst nightmare, being unable to get up at close and fight left him feeling marginally more useless compared to his teammates, and where he came from being useless was a frustrating feeling. Caris had been trained for battle since he was a kid, although it was more just survival back then. Feeling like he was dead weight was sickening, and the mysterious blessing hadn't left him feeling much better. At the very least it was calmed down, and there wasn't any apparent issues with it...for now anyway.

As Caris trundled calmly through the crowd with Ryella and Kula, he wondered what the big deal was. People always told him how bad the crowds in the big cities would be when there wasn't' some giant ocean for you to work with. But people here parted fairly easily, sure some required a bit of bumping around and they pushed back but being a giant fish had it's own advantages, and his blubber could absorb a bit of angry bumps from random passersby. Where some of the smaller candidates had to weave their way in and out of the crowd, Caris more or less barged through without much issue taking whatever physical contact came with it. The whole party was nice, but a bit above Caris' head. What he was used to back home was still as exciting but on a much smaller scale, as such he felt a bit overwhelmed by it all.

As they made their way into the cabin, Caris was a bit surprised by the Elder's question, as well as the whole "Schooling" setup that he hadn't been expecting. That said, he was never one to withhold information. Loudly and rather bluntly he declared to the elder. "My grandfather was an explorer, you might have known him? His name was Kyrik. I'm going to prove him right!" Caris smiled wide. "The Vry'chios has to be a reality, and i'm going to find them!"

 

[becna]

Reylla entered the atrium, following close behind the now happy direwolf. She laughed aloud, grinning widely and spinning quickly to take it all in. On her third rotation she spots the Fytali man called Geriza, and lets out a boisterous bellow of greeting, waving at him as she half jogs her way across the building, Velos loping along at her side. She doesn't even seem to notice the others, too focused on rejoining her quasi-teacher and guardian.

Almost as soon as she arrived in the little group, the Fytali man is off through the gates. Reylla changes course and walks abreast with Caris, Velos going just ahead of them and trailing his scent. The party atmosphere is infectious, and Reylla can't help but do a little jig as she walks. She even ducks by a fried dough stand, tossing a couple of coins to the owner and grabbing four Synthi-sized portions. She munches on her snack as they pass through the surrounding neighborhood, licking her fingers as she goes so as not to waste any of the incredible sweet syrup that the dough was filled with. She has no trouble keeping up, an eye on Geriza when she can, and following Velos when she loses him.

Reylla attempted to strike up a conversation with the two Chitos men who walked with them, but they made it clear they weren't interested in talking. Reylla couldn't help but wonder if they had been raised outside of the homeland - no trueborn Chitos would ever be so unwelcoming, in her opinion anyway. She gives up and stays with Caris and Kula, her two closest companions, as if to show them she had other people who totally wanted to talk to her.

As she enters the hut, Reylla meets the Fytali's eyes and smiles, placing a hand atop Velos's wide head. "I had a life back in Lingivik, but it ended." She responds honestly, "I found myself without a future or a plan. I needed something to focus on, and I met an Explorer passing through town. She told me about a few of her adventures, told me the Guild trained folks to discover the unknown. I decided - I wanna be a part of that."

Finished with her explanation, Reylla finds a desk near by Kula and Caris, pushing aside the one directly beside her so Velos can sit at her side.

 

[iiSaralaxyii]

Sea turtles and sea horses swam alongside her, their bodies moving gracefully through the water. Her body was like the waters itself, graceful and swift. She moved with the waves, a wide smile on her face, Her body blended with the blue waters she lived in, a clear sign of her race, along with a few other things. Without warning, she suddenly turned her body upward and swam to the surface where she leaped out of the water. Gravity pulled her down and Cerelia went with it, diving back into the waters. It was a sweet dream, her favorite one. It had been with her since leaving home. With it, however, came the nightmare. The once clear blue waters became black emptiness. She looked around in fear, trying to find even a sliver of warmth. Then a white light shone a good few feet away from her. Cerelia stared at it, unsure if she should advance towards it. Then she saw her home. Black shadows swarmed inside it and crashes sounded. She began towards it at a fast paced walk, which became a jog as the light began to disappear. With a scream from inside, she sprinted towards her home, a hand reaching out towards it. Just as she reached it though, it was gone and she ran into nothing. It was gone. She was surrounded once more by complete darkness and sank to her knees. It's your fault. You didn't save her. You left her for dead. She
d still be here if it wasn't for you. Voices echoed all around her, filling her head and twisting her heart. She covered her fins, pressing hard against them to be rid of the voices but they only grew louder. Eventually, when the voices were so loud they boomed, she screamed. It was loud, very loud, and full of fear. The scream one makes when they feel they are going mad.

Cerelia awoke with a start and jolted upright. Her eyes were wide, her body sweaty and shaking. She'd had the same dream and the same nightmare since she left home, yet it still terrified her. She stared at her bare legs, taking deep breaths and trying to calm herself. Yes, she may still be scared of her nightmare, but she knew how to calm herself. Within a minute or so her heart had slowed, her nerves had settled, and her body was calm. Cerelia sighed softly and looked up at the window beside her bed, looking out over the town. She had one reason for being here. To become an Explorer. Already she had graduated from the academy, which meant she was eligible but she still had to push herself to succeed at her new destination. Just thinking about it made her eyes come alive in a fiery blaze.

With a stretch of her body, Cerelia slid out of the bed in her pajamas. She walked over to a chair which sat beside her dresser and grabbed the outfit she had prepared last night. She swiftly changed, tossing her pajamas on the bed, and put her shoes on. She left her apartment and made her way down to the stairs, where she was greeted by a street. Cerelia looked over at the large building which reached to the sky, overlooking the rest of the town. That was her destination. She sighed softly, wishing she were in water so she could swim there quickly. But she couldn't, which meant she had to run. Checking that everything on her was secured so nothing flew off her, Cerelia looked down the street. She was great at weaving through crowds and tight spots, underwater and above, so facing the crowd in front of her right now caused a smile. How she enjoyed a challenge. With a sudden burst of energy, Cerelia ran towards the crowd, scanning everything and looking for where to go. Soon as she reached the edge of the crowd she was weaving, dodging everyone and constantly looking for an opening.

When she broke through, Cerelia felt proud of herself but didn't stop running. That was only one obstacle breached. Since she didn't know any shortcuts or back alleys she could take, she was limited to the main streets which were always packed with people. Of course, she didn't really mind. Just gave her something to do on her run.

Time passed and Cerelia finally found herself standing before the doors of the large building. She stopped from opening the door though as she was currently bent forward, hands on her knees, breathing heavily from her run. Maybe I shouldn't have ran the entire way here. She thought to herself as she caught her breath. When she was good, Cerelia placed a hand on the door and pushed. It opened. Carefully, she opened it further and walked in, unsure of what to expect. Upon doing so, she gasped in amazement at what she saw. The inside architecture was gorgeous and made the place look, to her, magical. She closed the door behind her as she entered and walked forwards, looking around with a wide smile. Because of her father working on making boats, Cerelia had developed a love for architecture. She noticed a desk in between two spiraling staircases and was about to make her way over when she heard someone call out '"Over here if ya new. Tis the time we learn who our new explora's be."'. Immediately, she turned and made way towards the lounging area where a Fytálian man stood. She approached normally, not being too fast or too slow, which she made sure to check. When she'd gotten closer, Cerelia stood off to the side, unsure whether to sit or not. Another Fytálian man was already here along with a Synthi. Suppose I'm late to the party. She thought to herself, feeling slight disappointment in herself.

Cerelia watched the man as he looked them over, bowing a bit to the other Fytáli while nodding to them in acknowledgment. Of course, she nodded back in a sign of greeting if you will, before he began speaking. Hearing him exclaim of the 'first group', Cerelia turned her body to see them. Indeed they seemed distant and brutish, however, Cerelia couldn't very well blame them. She had no idea what had happened with them, but she guessed it wasn't good. With interest she watched them, examining each of them. Cerelis turned her attention back to the man when he started speaking, listening with intent and curiosity. She nodded when he spoke of the lessons, and followed him swiftly, making sure to stick close and keep an eye on him. The crowd was large, but she pushed through and weaved, keeping up with the man easily. She didn't look back at the others, knowing full well they were with them, and if they weren't they would track and find them.

Twenty minutes passed and Cerelia had fallen a bit behind the man as she got a bit caught up unwillingly in the crowd. By a bit, she meant she could no lonegr see the man. However, she knew which was he was going so she merely treaded in the same direction as he. Within minutes Cerelia found herself at the edge of a forestry place which sat on the outskirts of the town. She looked around a little, walking into the green area, and spotted a country like cabin. It stood out among the otherwise untouched land, and Cerelia approached it with caution. Especially upon seeing someone inside. She opened the door a bit and, peering in, saw it was just the man sitting there with something written on the baord. The interior of the hut wasn't what she had expected, however she was pleased that is wasn't. That would be a bit boring. Upon entering the man asked her a question and Cerelia stood still, staring at him. "I want to be an Explorer so I can see the world, find out what's out there, learn many things. And also..." She trailed off for a few seconds before continuing. "To find my mother." She finished, her eyes glowing with a hidden fierceness as she spoke her last part. With his question answered, Cerelia made her way to any given seat and claimed it as her own, if only for right now. She had came in after everyone else, so while they heard her reasons, she heard none of theirs. Not that she really minded. All that mattered was that they were here, living in the present, with their own goals.

 

[Tsu]

The first explorer to walk through the door came as no surprise to the elder. Although some might argue against his opinion, there was no denying that the Thari were ultimately animals gifted with extraordinary senses of hearing and smell. To them, tracking was a second nature gifted at their birth. Nonetheless, it was surprising for the elder to hear her reason for exploration to the point that the he was slightly taken aback as he responded to her statement. "Unique trait in one of ya kind. Too often, they too busy warrin' for glory to consider the world an option to conquer. Good on ya, child."

His response was short and sweet as it came to a conclusion just in time for the next arrival. Upon assigning this task, the elder had expected Sergey to arrive last given the racial limitations of his kind. That being said, with second place claimed to his name and an interest of chemicals fueling his explorative desires, the elder couldn't help but direct an excited smile towards the man. "A bright future awaits ya interests. Faunology or Florology, there be an unfathomable number of compounds that might tickle ya fancy."

There was a small break in arrivals following the second, and so, the elder began humming a melodic tune whilst rummaging in one of his pouches for his pipe and a handful of crimson colored petals. In a short manner of time, his tune fell silent, only to be replaced by a waft of sweet smoke that began to gradually permeate the room. A satisfied sigh escaped the elder's lips only to be replaced with a cheerful greeting in response to the third arrivals--one of which who immediately questioned his consistent presence. "With age comes influence, my dear Sari. Now, I'll reckon we'll come to understand each other one day, but for now, ya got a good n' honest reason to be here. Hope ya enjoy the explorin'."

The elder took a moment to enjoy several more puffs of smoke before he turned his attention towards the giantess to whom he addressed with a short response of "Honest and with purpose." Again, he enjoyed several more puffs of smoke that exhaled with heavy sighs of satisfaction. Up until this point, the elder had been best defined as a calm and collected individual, yet it was in response to Caris' purpose, that he suddenly burst into a jovial fit of laughter.

"Y-Ya...T-The grandson of that old bastard? Khahahaha!
To think he was still kickin it. Figure he'd have lost his life to a biggun' in the sea.
If ya see him in the near future, give em my regards. Have em tell ya of the adventures we shared."

The final arrivals came in sequential order with the second group making their appearance first. It was no surprise when they ignored the question of the elder and settled themselves in a corner of the room--an action to which he only shrugged before addressing the Fytali who entered shortly after. "And there be nothing wrong with that, fellow child of Sylvanus. To enjoy the adventure is truly what explorin' is about...And for ya, fear not, ya be not late."

The latter half of his statement was directed towards the out of breath Sari who had obviously made an effort to arrive along with the others. Immediately, a warm smile was directed her way as he addressed her reason.
"Another with a purpose to explore. The giantess and ya have good reason to pursue such a dauntin' career. And with that, I believe this is everyone."

The elder took a final puff of smoke before dumping the contents of the pipe onto the floor while walking towards the door of the hut. There, he began silently inspecting each individual until he finally arrived at an acceptable conclusion.

"There be no reason to force differences amongst ourselves. The group distributions are simple.
The two existing groups shall remain as such, while our academy graduates shall define the third. If there need be change, we'll address it then. For now, let us begin our first lesson.
Group and follow."

Again, the elder gave minimal time for preparation as he quickly departed from the hut and began traversing across the meadow. At the speed he walked, it wasn't long before he reached a forest edge where he entered without hesitation. Similar to the location of the Trials, the present forest was defined by a species of Lokwood, albeit shorter in stature. Nonetheless, their dense foliage prevented an abundance of light which in turn gave an explanation for the darkened environment of the forest.

Although the walk might have seemed endless given the lack of enticing scenery, it was only after fifteen minutes that the elder came to a halt in front of a large rocky terrace which seemed to emanate wafts of gentle warmth. There he reached into a larger pouch where he retrieved three fused sticks along with three tattered sheets of cloth paper. Forming three pairs of equipment, the elder tossed each onto the ground before addressing their purpose as a whole.

"Ya first lesson will be on survival. As an explora', you will often find yourselves in foreign territory with nothing but the sweat on your back to aid ya survival. Now, ya can't perish just because ya lack food or water, which is exactly what this lesson plans to address. Under this terrace is a small entrance that even Caris can squeeze his ass into. From there, ya got a half a mile long path before it splits into three ways. Each group gets to choose a unique path. Retrieve the artifact at the end of ya path and ya pass. Simple as that...
The only catch is that ya must survive till morning."

The elder settled onto the ground in a cross-legged position. There, he once again reached back into a pouch for the same pipe and herb which he subsequently lit and followed several several puffs. It was only then that he nodded towards the provided gear before continue with his explanation.

"This is all ya get. Light the flare to signify a taken pathway. Use the map to navigate.
No more questions, and I'll see you all tomorrow...hopefully."