thehometree | Log 1

| characters |Amonir and any

| date/time |June 9th

| location | bottom floor

| rating |pg

| summary | Amonir tries to figure out this strange place, which may include howling.

Amonir arrives in his wolf form, confused as to his suddenly different locale. He carries on his back a harnessed backpack. Instinctively, he lets out a low growl as he raises his tail a bit and looks around the room. Unable to sense an immediate threat he tries howling to see if any of his pack is close enough to come to his aid.

He notices the bag waiting for him to pick it up, and hoping it might have some answers to the mystery that is this place, he shifts into elf form in a single graceful step to more easily examine the contents of the bag.

Determining the bag to be of no immediate use he stores it in his own backpack and moves onto the stones that seemed to be calling to him. He approaches warily, sniffing at the air about it. He determines that it isn't too dangerous and places a hand on the stone.

He sees the growth of wings out of the corners of his eyes and looks behind him to discover the silvery dragonfly wings that have grown from his back. He spins, trying to get a better look at them in one direction and then another. He looks down at the stone in his hand in awe and smiles. Apparently this place wasn't so terrible. He was filled with fear, but some of that melts away now that he has found something that feels to be brimming with good magic.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Amonir looks up from his stone to see Ivaera. He is surprised to see another elf here. He was hoping for lythari, but he could sense that she is not one.

"Yes, I was calling for my pack," he answers as if trying to hint that they would be here any moment. He could tell they were too far separated from him to hear his call, or they would have returned it.

A werewolf, then? If so, he seems much less aggressive than any she's encountered. Ivaera still remains cautious, but not hostile. The least she can do is try to explain what she knows, as such was done upon her own arrival. A small, sympathetic smile forms.

"I wish I had better news for you, but it seems you have arrived her alone, as did I. There is no indication when -or if- others familiar to us will arrive, though it seems possible. I am Ivaera, and I have arrived scarcely a few weeks ago."

"I am Amonir," he says as he frets over the prospect of being alone in a strange place. He wondered who could summon people to this place. Surely a powerful wizard or some such.

"I suppose that is was the same for you then? Has anyone an idea about who does the summoning? Is there a way out?" He had too many questions to ask, so he started with the basics while trying to ignore that empty feeling of lost pack mates. It made him want to howl again.

"If there was, this tree would be empty. As it is, there are enough of us to form a small community within it, housed on the floors above. And yes, it was largely the same though I chose the other gem. What significance that has beyond the type of wings, we have yet to discover."

Ivaera heads on over to the Life Stream, though not into it, looking up. "I was told that a denizen of the Tree called Chime said that there's something wrong with it. She indicated that we were to keep ascending the Tree for answers, though currently crystals block passage past the sixth floor. Riddles and solving them are involved in all this."

Amonir has never been the best with riddles, though he does enjoy them. "What happens if you don't solve the riddles?" It is a simple enough question, though he suspects that it is something unfortunate.

Ivaera sighs, resting her staff against the wall while she leans against it and crosses her arms. "To begin with, we don't make further progress in the Tree. Resources and denizens have been discovered when further floors were revealed, so I imagine there are more above. Their lack could cripple us later. It also seems that amenities granted can be taken away. Fire, for instance. I was told that someone managed to get a flame started but after a riddle relating to it wasn't solved, the fire was then replaced. By the way, I should warn you; if you have any fire or lightning spells, don't expect them to work here.

Though even if the riddle is solved, all is not necessarily at peace. A previous riddle was solved before my arrival, only for a horde of spiders and their queen to be unleashed. I almost wish I had arrived earlier, to aid in that battle."

"I have no fire or lightning magic anyway. So it is important to solve these riddles but even if we do solve them, something bad could come of it?" He wants to make sure he gets this right. Riddles hadn't ever been his strong point, but he isn't terrible at them either, so he doesn't know mow much help he can be.

"Where are these riddles found? Can you guess more than once?"

"The riddles are found on a mirror that's located on a branch connected to the fourth floor. As for guessing, I do not believe it can be repeated should we attempt to answer and fail." Ivaera's careful to phrase it that way, since she's still fairly new and has yet to see much of a pattern in person. "And yes, that seems to be so. We can potentially access more areas, but who knows what dangers await within. Even so, they could provide us with some benefit as well."

Amonir listens carefully, nodding. It is a lot to take in having just arrived. Concentrating on the situation and details about this place helped to stave off the pit of loneliness in his core.

"That does make the riddles more challenging. Is it possible to not answer, or does something happen if you do not give an answer?

Ivaera's brow furrows as she crosses her arms, stumped.

"That...is a good question to which I have no answer. As far as I'm aware, there has always been an attempt to answer the riddles. Perhaps nothing? Good or bad. Though at this point, it's only speculation."

Amonir nods, "Perhaps the next riddle we are stuck on we should try to not answer."

She smiles wryly at that, shrugging. "You can mention that, but I think there are enough here who will still wish to solve them regardless. I can't blame them, as it might be connected to us being able to leave. At least, that is the hope."

Amonir considers that for a moment. Of course it may help them get home, but, "If we found out more about how things work, couldn't we prepare better?"

"I would say we'll manage that either way, through action or inaction. Though at least attempting to solve the riddles gives us a way to keep our minds occupied. Otherwise, I hate to think what boredom might do to those around here."

Glancing upward, Ivaera remembers why she returned to the inside of the Tree. "I ought to check on my mabari, he's probably restless by now. If you wish, you can follow me and I can at least point the way toward the food altar?"

[There's a pregnant pause before he sighs and agrees.] I can't stay down here forever....

No, indeed. There's little to do on this floor, as you can see. Once you're given what every newcomer receives, then you've witnessed all it has to offer. If it helps, you get used to the wings fairly easily, even if you've never flown before. Just try not to over-think it. Flying is easiest when you let instinct take over.

[Letting instinct take over is something Amonir us used to doing by now. It is what he does on the hunt. He looks up and just wills himself to he air the same way he would will his hand to grasp something. His flight is a little rickety still, but he seems to have enough control that he won't plummet. He makes his way up to the next floor and looks around with wonder.]

Log 1

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