The World of Nibel: "The swamp is home."

[Lucid Dream]

The world Xib once knew had been turned upside down. The train that he thought was a drug induced hallucination was real. And with that big thunk, the turtle felt like a hatchling. The safety of the bog had been challenged. He now knew there were significant threats submerged outside of view. He had heard such stories from the wise woman of the shell before but assumed they were just myths meant to inflate her status.

Xib grumbled as he paced through the marshland. The swamp was all he had known, yet the scale of the world was beyond his big nogging. The reptile dragged his log behind him as he stomped through the foliage. His footprints sunk deep into the mud while the hanging willows brushed his shell. That earthy smell and the buzzing of the giant insects reminded the waddler that he was still alive. That somehow, against all odds, he survived the choo choo of doom.

Angrily, the turtle clicked his snappers as he approached a clearing. His eyes independently moved as he took in the mire and its beauty. This spot was a popular basking location. The mossy rocks were ideal for soaking in the binary sun's tender rays. The soil here was good, the mud revitalizing and helped with sore muscles. Xib remembered his time training and how his tribe would come here to become one with their motherland. A memory, while sweet, brought with it a sense of sorrow.

The world was changing, and the turzien's place in the new order was uncertain. Unlike most, Xib had seen the folly in their ways. The former thirty tribes were too busy warring with one another and the toadlins. Meanwhile, beyond the swamp, the other races were merging into one group. While not the sharpest rock in the bag, the simpleton understood the trajectory. If they refused radical change, they were destined for either conquest or extinction. And in his eyes that wasn't a battle they could win.

Florentina's appearance in the swamp, while accidentally, was their only hope for deliverance. Under her banner, the tribes fell, one by one, becoming absorbed into a single identity. The toadlins resisted, and more conflicts were waged across the fenland. But now, after all that thwacking and head butting, the swamp was united. And since he knew they couldn't beat the Dynasty, he found their assimilation preferable to annihilation.

Xib groaned, his stubby digit scratching the top of his head as he returned to this moment. Were the Turziens and Toadlins loyal to the spider queen? No, they followed her daughter, Florentina, the wise woman of the rear shell. She encapsulated their way of life, espoused their culture, and became something more than a mere giant. In their eyes, she was a marriage between the swamp and the jungle. The best of both cultures. The ideal war chief to lead their sons and daughters into glorious battle.

War was imminent. Its stank was undeniable. Although, Xib didn't know what form their enemy would take. That thing he saw on the train, whatever it was, wasn't friendly. And his leader had labeled it as worthy prey. And even once they bonked it into oblivion, it spoke of many more of its kind that would swarm their world. Xib wondered if they could best such an enemy. A thought that troubled him even as she now sat on a rock in the boggy waters.

Meditating with that log across his legs, he pondered over it all. Periodically belching and snacking on a few raw truffles and onions he brought as a snack. He needed to know more about this new enemy. However, He needed to decide if he should demand answers from the chieftain. Maybe he should approach the noodly one who loved books? Zelena had a big brain and was less prone to anger. And whether or not he should reveal what he learned to his people. He had time to think and take it slow and steady. Whatever was waiting for them beyond the world wasn't in a rush. And sometimes, panic will do more harm than ignorance. Something the waddler knew all too well.

 

[Zedrasil]

Jasper had to admit defeat- in that he was undeniably, indisputably lost. His time on the train had done him no favors as his stock of medicinal plants and seeds had been left behind. he was back to square zero. but thankfully his time aboard had given him something in return. a new home and gainful employment with the Giantess Florentina and the others. it took some time for the Rakata to figure out all the things that had changed since he first vanished onto that train. and he was not idle during it, coming to terms with the immediate surroundings to help memorize his new swampy home would be far from immediate. still he lugged around his large bag despite the weight of his supplies as he was yet to set up his own lab. but to the rat it simply meant he was free to sample and refine the various plants he came across- as well as gain some much needed exercise.

he was truly out of his element and he knew it as he set about on yet another wander through the swamp he now called home. he longed to return to his homeland, to once more rest under the cold sands and feel the pure heat of the desert on his face again. no small part of him would weep if given even a simple cactus fruit for all the memories it would bring. but he had a job he needed to do- and to do it he would have to set about learning all he could of the plants and animals in his home that he had to work with. and knew exactly who to seek out for this.

the Turizen Xib was somewhat of a Naturalist as far as Jasper could tell, and he certainly had his own wisdoms to share- but most importantly he was a native to the area and Jasper was woefully of short supply of those whom he could talk to without having to climb a nearby tree to be eye level with. as much as he certainly enjoys the safety that the giants provide- it does prove inconvenient attempting to speak courteously with them as equals.

such is why he wandered out into the marshes on his own in search of Xib. they had not spoken much in their time aboard the mysterious train; in fact they had not truly even shared a word- the Rakata too busy in his own head to properly socialize with them. but the respect that Florentina had for him was enough to convince the alchemist to trust him enough for help. and the process of finding him was no small annoyance either, not used to such muddy and sodden terrain jasper had to fasten his robes into a simple tunic as too frequently his muscle memory of running atop the sands led him to trip and sink in the mires and hidden pools. he couldn't run as fast as he was used to, having to carefully plod his way through yet fast enough to not allow himself to sink into the morass.

what likely was supposed to be a short walk through the swamp turned into a undignified slog as the Rakata kept getting caught in the various mires in his quest to locate the Turizen sage, and the irritated Rakata knew he would have to do it once more to return. so it is that Jasper's arrival is heralded by angered curses, loud squelches as his feet are fiercely pulled and plunged into the muck, and the slashing of overgrowth as he managed to at last arrive- at once out of breath and equally short of temper.

"Now... then, i don't suppose you are Xib? i believe we have not had the chance to properly talk, and as we will be working together, i figure i should get to know you, and these lands, better." his breath coming swift and shallow, showing how unaccustomed he truly was in addition to the exertion of his burdensome lab-pack at his back. his glasses already smeared with mud just from this trek alone yet the vials fastened around his belt and tied tightly to his tail held various samples of the foliage he came across.

 

[Lucid Dream]

The calmness of the marshland had been violated. Xib's wonky ears overheard the bad words coming from the rat man. All he wanted to do was relax under the suns, yet his station didn't afford the reptile much downtime. Those snappers clicked together as the great waddler moved his right eye alone to study the tiny mammal. The shelled one growled as he suffered the flapping lips of the plant picker. These warmbloods were all the same, always in a rush with their speech.

Annoyed, Xib wiggled on his basking stone as his stubby fingers clutched his log. The two stones attached to his side banged against that remarkable shell. The algae Xib had collected over the years was lightly abraded off. A development that didn't please the great pillowsopher. He huffed, popping a snot bubble as that head elongated as the head turned to face Jasper. Xib blinked one eye after the other while he removed his dominant hand to scratch his bum bum. He'd inspect the odor stealthily, only to recoil from disapproval.

The choo choo rank was still present. Its mark was foul, unlike the welcoming fragrance of the bog. A goofy grin appeared across the reptile's face as the fast-talker complimented him. It only made sense that such a tiny brain would seek the wisdom of the turzien. Xib wasn't a miracle worker, but he wasn't one to hide from a challenge. Gayly he would totter ahead and thwack the hurdle into submission. He chuckled before wiggling that neck so that its flaps clapped. The misquotes were shooed away by his jerky motion as the shelled one prepared to address the rat man.

"This one be Xib. Xib be I. Does rat man wish to speak? Does rat man desire wisdom of the shell? Why chatter so fast? Bah! Warm blood always in hurry, Soft backs no appreciate conversating. Varlet! Slow down. Company is meant to be enjoyed, like steeped bog water." Xib groused in his native tongue as he slowly rose. His knees popping as a gargling sound echoed from his gullet.

Those two eyes moved in different directions as Xib turned his body to the left and right. His eyelids narrowed as he was confident that they were alone. His neck stretched out as he shielded his snapper with a hand. "We not talking correctly? What is proper way to chat? Whatever. Xib no care. This one humor flat back. Tell Xib why you wish to become intimate with the marsh. This one had much knowledge to share. But this one no gives to sand chimps. Tell Xib, why do you wish to know the secret of the fen?"

The reptile questioned as he began to wonder what Rat would taste like. Xib had never eaten Rakata. He weighed if they tasted like Bovinite or Mer. Doubtful, Jasper looked far more gaunt. There wasn't enough meat for those brittle bones. Lucky for the uncultured rodent. "You know Xib's name, but this one no know yours? Is it not custom to give a name?" He added before dropping into the water, paddling closer to the alchemist as he lugged his log close behind. Bubbles were visible that rose to the surface. And it came from a rearward position.

 

[Zedrasil]

Jasper's hopes were at once sunk as he was scolded so fiercely after such an arduous trek between the fens and through the mires. though far from one to restrain frustrations with the environment: right now his anger was more directed inwards. has he truly been away from this world for so long that he had forgotten common decency? with a heavy breath and some effort to pull his sinking legs once more from the muck, the Rakata spoke once more, in slow measured tones. "My Apologies. my name is Jasper. and yes i am seeking to learn more of these swamps." scrabbling his way onto a sturdy displaced log in the waters, the alchemist sat and took a deep breath. his optimism still held that he would gain valuable insight into the various plants, but the prospect of a Rapid exchange was more than sunk.

as he sat on the moss-coated lumber, he let his eyes wander through the small glen, what was likely a beautiful resting spot was little more than a garden to the rodent, who's eyes saw ingredients, medicines and potential poisons that needed to be catalogued, memorized, and stored. his heart rate steadied as he was made to take a moment to slow his pace down before continuing. used to frustrations he would play his hand completely straight, not wishing to agitate what may be his best source of information about life in these bogs. and he could not afford to waste such an asset due to cultural divides.

"Simply wish to understand more. help make medicines for peoples. avoid making sick if can help it." he picked and chose his words carefully, trying to simplify his choice of words while also slowing down his speech. but being out here on his own was still intimidating to the rat- causing him to instinctively rush his words near the end of each fragment, glancing around even when at ease. too often he was ambushed in his homeland- but in the desert it was easier to see the predators coming as each had their tells. here, amid the lush greenery; ambush was more than likely at any opportunity. and he was more than aware of his vulnerability.

 

[Lucid Dream]

The tiny mammal seemed skittish. Xib was proud that the might of bog and log still struck fear in the hearts of the sand chimps. He wondered if they told stories of the day when the turzien thwacked their forces into red paste. The very thought of reliving those days caused the shelled one to chuckle. His attention would return to the flat back as he spoke a name. Jasper, it didn't sound like a word the smooth brains of the south would say. Then again, Xib put little thought into their inferior culture.

Jasper got comfortable, resting his bum bum on the mossy carcass of a tree. Xib often flipped over such things to find shrooms, and sometimes he would discover a stick. A stick, to Xib, was the baby of a log. He often planted them, thinking they'd one day become big and strong like the willows. But alas, it never came to be, making this big thunker consider if he was doing something wrong. Not wanting to dream while awake, the turtle tried to keep his attention on the rodent.

Curiously he'd tilt his head, each eye blinking independently in an awkward pattern. His stubby free hand scratched away at the flap on his neck as he pondered. "Forgiven. Softback comes to this one. Claims to be shaman, yet why should turzien share nuggets of knowledge?" Xib's stomach growled at the mention of nuggets. His mind formed the image of some dino nuggies, a popular and delicious meal.

"Ah, witch doctor seeks to cure? No, not cure. Xib heard jaspear say op-opti....optional. That be word." He added with a few nods, asserting his superior intellect over the rat. "Bah! By who orders does Jaspear come? Or does flatback wish to steal for self? Xib knows of sand chimps, tricky things, always scheming. So this one been told. What in it for Xib? A tot for tater arrangement. No work for free when one can get paid." He pointed out while patting his tum tum.

 

[Zedrasil]

Jasper lets out a low sigh as he shifts on the log, his tail already unfastening one of the very many pockets in the large pack as he takes it off. without looking away from the Turizen, the Alchemist pulls out a few parts to his lab and a plank of wood to rest on his lap- though judging by the myriad cuts and gouges on its surface this plank in particular was mainly used for cutting things- not serving as a desk. "I work with Florentina. Jorgenskull? i was recruited on that infernal train..." his ears flattened back just mentioning that contraption. a lot of his collection of seeds was left behind. and loathe as he was to admit it, alot of what he encountered there had shaken him to his core.

shaking away the wisps of bad memory, Jasper pressed forward with his attempt at garnering good-will. "if you think i am doing this strictly for pay, you are mistaken-" the rat once more lapsing into his hurried speech patterns until he catches himself with a slow breath. "I ask because i work to learn. i have no interest in selling away my knowledge. i only wish to use it for those who would appreciate my craft." it felt wrong to the Rakata. to slow down something as important as the transfer of ideas. but he already assumed that this was just a part of living in his new home.

as he explained he would carefully set up the simplest parts of his Mobile workshop- a Mortar and Pestil, and what looked to be a pair of large bowls with a Sieve. carefully he would scrape off some of the bark of the log he sat upon and set it in the Mortar and from one of his flasks he would add in some water. and with a steady and patient hand he would set about attempting to pulp the semi-decayed Bark. "as for why specifically i am here. back at my old home i made Medicines for those who asked, and needed to tell which plants were safe and which were not." he never looks away from his improvised desk as he works, immersed in the task at hand. "i am useless if i do not understand the plants of the area. so i came of my own will so i can learn and do what Florentina asks without fail."

there is a bit of Pride in the words he says. though if they are about working with Florentina or about himself it is open to interpretation. but the Rakata simply continues at the milling of the bark until it is evenly pulped and he looks up at Xib. "So, will you help me? or am i to work blindly?" there is no hostility in his tone, but the Alchemist was already preparing to work with or without the Turizen's aid. in truth Jasper would rather have assistance though if his former peers had asked he would staunchly deny. it is one thing to work with Familiar plants and animals and indeed- he was in a completely new area with not even a cursory understanding of what to expect. there is a Craftsman's Pride; but Hubris in alchemy is how apprentices and masters alike die.

 

[Lucid Dream]

Xib kept one of his eyes on the rat man as it spoke. The other one moved about as if studying the bog. The swamp was a hostile place; it didn't favor wimps. And as a result, the people who called this marsh home were hearty. The alchemist mentioned the choo choo dream and the wise woman of the rear shell. Jasper was an operative now? Then that made flat back a friend. New information for the turtle to nom on.

Jasper went on to defend himself. Xib trusted the rodent's words. It made no sense to trade secrets at the risk of earning Flo's anger. The waddler had seen his war chief kill for less. And the fact he kept using his oath to the red sap made him all the more trustworthy. Xib had heard enough and would fulfill his duties. However, the occasional picking up in his speech's speed was offputting to the bog dweller.

"Wise woman of rear shell kind. She let sand chimp in. This one no trust desert softbacks, but Xib makes exception. This one trusts war chief's judgment." The reptile hummed as he waddled to the left and right as if looking for something. This part of the fen grew many shrooms. It was a holy spot to the turzien due to the eye opening fungi. 'Follow." Xib commanded.

He tottered off, approaching a log on the perimeter of the resting spot. For once, Xib let go of his trusted bonker, bending over as he overturned the log. Those eyes opened wide as he saw a stock underneath. His snapper was left open as he picked it up, only to bury it in the mud. "It had a child, plant to become strong tree." Xib laughed before using his stubby fingers to rip out a single shroom.

He rose and turned to face Jasper as he presented it to rat with the offering. "Blue spots, brown body. This sacred. This one noms truffle for the experience. Rat will do the same. It opens the mind and eye, see the world clearer." Xib dropped the shroom into his hand. If the witch doctor failed to catch it, that would be seen as most disrespectful.

"Red is dead. Green is clear. Blue to see new. Easy saying turzien teach hatchlings. Red poison, green food, blue holy. Blue with green breaks the world, limits pain or awareness of pain. To us, red gives mushy poop and stuff. Warmbloods, they no longer move. Blue grown in wet areas, on bark close to earth. Red on mushy soil. Green grows everywhere. Only have small bite. Get a feel, to know swamp one must experience swamp."

 

[Zedrasil]

with precision, Jasper's tools were again stowed away sans the Mortar; which was being emptied into a small jar as he followed the Turizen. watching how the seer moved amid the marsh, the Rakata imitated: even if in the vain hope it would help him avoid sinking in the marshes as he had on the trip here. it was foolish to believe the entire swamp was so infirm: but the rodent was unsure of his surroundings. and was taking to it so far like a Cat to Bathwater.

at the mention of the log having children, Jasper was about to speak, prepared to give the same chiding speech his teacher had for him when he was first learning; but before even beginning the lecture the sage- he had turned to speak in turn, silencing the alchemist as he cautiously caught the fungus- his nails digging into the truffle's flesh. he thought intently on what was said- 'This truffle is eaten for the Experience, opens the mind and eyes' already cataloguing the potential effects and committing its shape and color for memory. in the very least so that he would remember it is Sacred to the Turizen, so if it turned out useful, he would seek permission later to attempt to cultivate it privately.

with each mushroom type listed; he would repeat constantly to commit to memory. Red is Poison, Blue Dulls Pain, Green is Food. with this Mantra committed to memory he would nod and take a bite out of the bulbous blue mushroom- trusting implicitly Xib's judgement and wisdom in this. and in truth it was not the first time he has had to eat strange plants to determine it's effects. he chewed slowly as he focused not on the earthy taste or scent, but on the effects it could potentially have on his body.

he stood there in silence as he focused on his senses. likely looking like a fool for quite the moment as he chewed and swallowed piece after piece of the large bite he took. bracing for the 'Eye opening experiences' that the turizen had described before taking a seat on the upturned log. he let his mind wander for a moment as grey wisps picked at the edge of his awareness- he felt rather silly, sitting there in the midst of a Swamp, somewhere perhaps hundreds of miles from where he was raised, upon a felled tree; in what may be the spitting image of when he was tricked by one of his brothers in eating his first Cactus fruit in his youth.

he chuckled a little to himself at the idea- that a part of his own history repeated itself... no, it Rhymed- then he let out another couple of chuckles. Time Rhymed- Time Rhymed like Thyme and Brine, and now they were growing out like a Grapevine in realtime! he thought at first to share these revelations to Xib, but at once he realized what was starting- he let out a sigh and decided to instead resign himself to the road-trip of the mind he just accepted. struggling to keep a straight face as his internal monologue kept listing off rhymes. "Alright, Xib. i Trust you to keep an eye on me?"

a slight tinge of uncertainty struck clear in his voice. as much as he trusted the swamp sage's knowledge, the Alchemist was about to become a non-entity on a mental journey for an unknown period of time. in a swamp he has no experience in. and the last time he had such a trip: he was left in an Oasis to find his way home with his brother and his friends as 'Guides' fresh in his mind.

 

[Lucid Dream]

The turtle waddled close, ignoring the witch doctor's chuckles. The colors of the swamp shifted, the vibrant hue replaced with a pallid world. Jasper was about to commune. He would become one with the fen. Xib would be here as his lodestar. A guide ensuring the rodent's first journey wouldn't end horribly. The reptile would partake of what remained, snatching it from the alchemist's hands as he gulped it down.

The earth underneath them began to thump, its rhythm imitating a heartbeat. Xib seemed unconcerned, but it was unclear if they both beheld the same vision. The truffle Jasper had eaten was different; it didn't originate from this world. And soon, the fast blabber would realize the truth. A secret safeguarded by the turzien and their allies. If Jasper was to be of any help to the red sap, he needed to know where the ichor their name was derived from originated.

All around them, thorns sprouted, and along these twisted barbs, flowers of a vivid array bloomed. Spores, like rain, descended from the heavens as Xib clicked his snappers. "Become one, commune with swamp one must." The shelled one explained, even if the literal interpretation of those words escaped Jasper's grasp. Calmly, Xib waddled forward, the plants retracting as if the bog welcomed them.

"Mortetor. This one knows the word means nothing to sand chimp. But rat will come to know shelled ways. We move now, deeper. Follow this one close. No guarantee the great turzien will approve." Xib added as he stepped through the mud that had given his kind life. A growl, like thunder, resonated around them. Its source was impossible to pinpoint, but the stream of fireflies overhead simulating an aurora borealis wasn't so easily overlooked.

Xib stopped, looking overhead as an unearthly fog now blanketed the murky surface of his home. "Not dead? Good sign. Don't be afraid, Xib give word no death. And if hurt, use redundant nervous system." The turtle laughed, aware that mammals weren't so blessed and lacked such a great evolutionary feature. Xib continued moving ahead, the thorns slithering like a snake. The sound of other footsteps racing across the water could be heard somewhere within the eerie film.

"Xib speak truth. Bog alive, big secret. No tell, or it kill. Not wise to betray..." He forewarned.

 

[Zedrasil]

Jasper's vision was Clouded, a Thick colorful mist obscuring everything but the way ahead of him. his entire body was abuzz with imagined sensations as his footfalls landed unerringly on solid ground despite his tottering. his eyes beheld marvelous visions as he gazed onwards: he could see the mud pulse and sway as the shifting Dunes of his home; his fur felt the bright heat of the Desert despite the humid fens. and every step he felt what he imagined to be the heart-beat of the ground itself. but the Rakata was far from being a captive to this intoxicating experience: a strained fragment of his Ego sat in that pristine workshop of his mind and struggled to rationalize what it was subject to.

Far from being a sage master or a Zen Monk, the alchemist could only brace his mind so far in anticipation of this Psychological Trip. and while he had experience with intoxicants and other mind-altering substances. nothing could truly prepare him for this otherworldly experience. buffeted from all sides with Tactile sensations and visions, Jasper was barely able to even take note of the myriad effects he was having, let alone deciphering which ones were real and which ones were placebo. in perhaps the most concerning note to the alchemist's obstructed rational mind is that the usual intrusive thoughts that came with new discovery were silenced. as though they were Afraid of something.

outside the Addled Alchemist's mind, his gait followed an unseen path as he tread behind Xib. the low rumbling growl causing his ears to twitch incessantly yet the impending threat meant nothing to Jasper in this state. "Nature Nurtures the Vultures Features~ Healers Handlers? Cultures and Courtiers~ Gardeners Hasselers are Cadavers and Creatures..." the rhymes still spilled forth as he trundled onwards, every pause between verse punctuated by further hushed giggles as the rodent babbled to the air. some providing somewhat lucid intents, others clear mindless babble as his mind fixated on a random drifting thought.

though as the pair advanced deeper and deeper in the Fens, the Rakata would breach lucidity close enough to ask meaningful questions. "Who are we Visiting? Testing? Cleaning?" he would ask as the thrumming guiding his footfalls ebbed enough to make him uncertain in his gait. his clouded, addled eyes 'Focusing' instead towards Xib instead of the path ahead.

 

[Lucid Dream]

Xib watched the little rat as he succumbed to the effects of the truffle. Jasper was tiny and cursed with warm blood. It made sense the flatback wouldn't have the tolerance of his kind. The turzien held a resilience to the shrooms and their effects. They regularly ingested it and walked this path. Xib was calm, as if in his element. That booming voice and twisting vines produced no outward effect.

Everyone's first exposure to the will of the bog varied. So the witch doctors rambling were of no concern. And it seemed Jasper held enough control to speak clearly and ask questions. Xib laughed, clicking his snapper as he shuffled his legs through the fetid waters of his homeland. The ground under his stubby feet pulsated, its rhythm resembling a heartbeat. A sensation that brought comfort and not fear to the turtle.

"Testing, cleansing? Softback is the one being exposed to such things. Xib guide, promises nothing other than truth. Rat came for turzien knowledge, Jasberry leave with it." The reptile paused his speech, that log dragging against the mod as it left a visible streak under the water. The ripples of their stride raced ahead as the sepia light glow strengthened across the wetland.

"Many words, many names. This one knows it by inzitkilmeth. Friend of turzien, guide of wise women. This one knows only it be old and watchful. No more, no less." Xib's voice gurgled while they trekked together. Japser's eye seemed glued to his mossy shell. Could it be the warmblood recognized the superiority and beauty of this one's back? Or was the alchemist looking to him for sull support?

The booming voice resonated louder. It's shrill haunting as the haze that loomed over the murky surface of the bog vanished. Barbed vines, like tendrils, shot from the mud around them. These feelers frantically whipped around as the brush surrounding them creaked and rustled. The willows and plant life of the mire fused into an effigy. A face that resembled a dragon emerged as the sockets where the eyes remained empty.

Xib paused, scratching the side of his nogging with that stubby digit. Odd, typically, it formed once closer to the center of the fen. If Jasper paid close attention, he'd see that the turtle wasn't afraid. However, his puzzlement was visible while he swayed in place. Xib dropped to his knee, lowering his stretched-out head and letting out a watery growl. The mass of plants remained inert. The two may feel like they are being watched despite the tangled assembly having no eyes.

"One marked by the profane dares to traverse my hallow land? You reek of crossing the divide. Your presence is an affront to the order, unnatural. Yet, you show reverence by ingesting my spores. Odd that so many sojourners mark this cycle. However, your stench is far from the most abnormal." It paused as roots ripped from the moist earth and snaked under the water toward the towering face.


"I've tracked your imprints since your incursion into my grove. The trees and lilies whisper. Your voice was carried by the wind and into my roots. Such colorless language. Crude and unspeakably plain. And yet I must indulge in its inferiority to commune. Such a grand and intoxicating exhibition of humility." It growled while the totality of the swamp's vegetation swayed under its song.

"A corpse of any origin smells the same. A garden tainted by the soil of another world...Speak, and accept the seeds of enlightenment I'll sow within that barren mind." It was evident this primordial entity wasn't fond of their language. It spoke with frustration. Xib rose, using his log for support as he gurgled and snapped his beak.

"This one vouch for outsider. Witch doctor seeks knowledge of bog and its plants. It pursues blessing to use. This one will let rat explain." The puppet appeared unamused by Xib's words. However, its anger did wane.

 

[Zedrasil]

at being directly addressed; the clouded mind of Jasper stirred as the cobwebs of Placebo intoxicants faded away into dust as his mind rushed to make full sense of what was going on. the rakata's eyes darting back and forth with renewed clarity chasing away the fairy-lights of low bloodflow as far too quickly he tries to center himself. but as he comes to grips that he'll be far from his peak performance mentally. the situation he's in comes to his complete attention. what first seemed to be little more than a mass of tangled reeds and moss grew out from the murk- and grew until it revealed a truly colossal dragon looming over the Alchemist.

To say that Jasper was afraid would not be dissimilar to accusing the Desert of being Dry; or the Oceans of being Deep. his every instinct screaming at him to flee, to find the nearest hole to dive into, to be every bit as craven as he could to turn tail and cower. but his curiosity had its claws buried deep into his heart and what he was bearing witness to was shattering his every concept of nature. it was not Reverence in the traditional sense; but his every thought in that moment was theorizations on this being's anatomy and properties. he was all too aware that at any moment this great floral beast could end his life in a multitude of ways but his desire to understand kept him firmly locked in place.

"Jasper i am-" he stumbles over his own mouth as he shakes his head again to try and shake off the fog in his mind further as his mind sketched every detail it could of this Dryadic Dragon. "Ahem- I, am Jasper. it would be polite of me to give my familial name, but i fear i may have been absent for longer than i can properly understand." he bows his head low in a kneel, all the while his nails dig into the fen instinctively should he attempt to try and bolt for it. "i came here seeking knowledge of these fens and marshes; for I am a stranger to these lands; and have been chosen to serve Florentina and the Red-Sap as an alchemist and herbalist." despite the tremors of fear and occasional pause to collect himself, Jasper sticks to his professional tone. putting everything upfront in the belief that now of all times is the least appropriate to attempt to deceive.

words twisted and coiled in his mind unbidden, blackened shades of intrigue tugging at him as his normalcy creeps back into place. and with the deconstructive end of his curiosity returned- bit by bit his gaze sharpened. "I must apologize for my rudeness- but i have truly never met your equal before; but i will keep my questions mercifully few, and beg you to help me understand these swamps so i may help those who will rely on me."
his eyes studied inzitkilmeth's form like an artist before a block of marble: visualizing every aspect of it to the best of his sobering mind's ability. the Rakata already plotting a return trip in the future to try and find out more of the mysteries of this particularly peculiar Fen.

With a deep breath he continues. perhaps his inhibitions still lowered as further truth came unbidden. "In truth, i fear i have signed on for far more than i am able to provide. so in truth any help is more than i could rightfully ask for." his tail twitched and thumped at the ground as Jasper stood once more upright and awaiting inzitkilmeth's judgement as he struggled to keep his nerves steady. a small part of him worrying that if these sorts of things keep happening he'll be a White-pelt before his time.