ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

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Tolin

ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

Post by Tolin »

Tolin was sitting in his sherrifs office in bravia watching through the window one of his guards walk along Bravia's wall. Since Dwayberry's rebellion his guards hadn't had really much to do since then. Life in Bravia was turning back to normal. Tolin however was restless. Since he made his home in the city of Bravia he had not really left the city. Sure he left the city to tend to his fields and go home for rest in a little hovel but compared to his homeland living in a city full of mammals was odd to him. He wasnt used to tight, cramped spaces of the city. He felt the need to go exploring a bit.

He turned around looking at his desk. It was emoty of any type of paperwork. His scales shifted a decisive orange as he decided abruptly he as going to go explore a bit outide the city. He moved through his office surprisingly quiet for a creature of his large size and headed out toward the north east gate of bravia. He believed the road going throught that gate ended at another Bravian city called stenchvill (staunchville) or some such wierd name. He nodded at one of the guards who was stationed by the gate as he passed. He paused a moment, scales shifting a thoughtfull green and blue. He switched directions to his home then since he had reasoned in his head *I'm going to need some supplies if im going exploring...food of course. Maybe his spear as well.*

He thought of other supplies as he made his way over to his field then past the low gate heading to his small home. To him it had everything he needed. He was a simple creature only requireing shelter, food and the means to support himself with a few hobbies here and there for his own entertainment.

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He stepped into his run down little home its door squeeking loudly as it opens, the top hing the only thing keeping it in place as it opens. It wasnt much but he was happy with it until he could find a more permanent home. He moved around his house the floor boards creaking loudly as he gathered his salamander pack and stuffed food, rope some extra clothes and a few medical herbs and bandages. You never did know when you would need them. He swung his pack over his shoulders, grabed his barbed spear and leaves his little run down home in search of a new place to live, following the road toward stenchville (staunchville).
He thinks to himself *Wierd village name...sounds like a terribly smelly place. These mammals dont even name their cities correctly.*
Tolin

Re: ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

Post by Tolin »

Tolins journey so far had prooven to be uneventful as he walked along the path. It was a rough path and seldom walked on. Tree roots had grown on the road as trees grew on either side of it. Tolin saw a few deer, rabbits and other creatures as he walked. He made note that this area would be excellent hunting ground for later.

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Nothing but quiet and the sound of nature could be heard, the birds and frogs ribbeting as he went. He especially listened to the frog calls since among his people singing was important to them. After a while he began calling back to them using underdeveloped gills making his own ribbet like duet as he walked.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LZUOiZG84c0

Pretty soon the frogs all around him began calling back to him with their own melody. He thought this was quite nice feeling like he was more insync with these strange lands like he had never been before. Tolin continued along the path like this for a while more till the land on either side of him began to become a bit more moist then usual. His forked tongue flickered tasting the different scents in the air. He thought he could taste the scent of water in the air.

He continued along the path noticing that on either side of the path more and more water began appearing from small puddles to ponds. The path was now just a very mossy wet mush. He came up to a crossroads where one path steadly went up while another seemed to go down. He decided to take the path that seemed to slope down. He followed it till it abruptly ended under a marshy water. He stared out past the dead end of the road at a simply delightful sight! His scales flushed a pleased blue and pink as he looked over a swamp!! Just what he was looking for!

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It seemed like he had just found his new home!!!....
Tolin

Re: ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

Post by Tolin »

Tolin waded into the water until the water reached him about knee deep. He then dived into the water as his spinal ridges extended all along his back alowing better displacement of the water around him as he swam. His hard scales on his head were slightly pointed enabling him to carve easier into the water as he swam. He primarily used his powerful tail for swiming, his arms by his sides. As he swam he saw small fish scatter as he passed as well as a slumsy turtle bobing like a cork above him on the surface of the shallow water.

He thought to himself *I cant even remember the last time i did this.*
Tolin slowly swam back to the surface and hung floating there, closing his eyes and relaxing, feeling at home in the emvironment he had so long been deprived of.
Hearing a small splash he opened eye just in time to see a log slip from the muddy shore into the murky swamp water. The log slowly floated toward him. He didnt think much of it until it got a bit closer and realised the log had eyes! By that time it was too late and the creature had gotten within a arms length from him. Abruptly the creature sprang into action sending water splashing into all directions as it tried wraping its long jaws around him. Out of reflex Tolin droped his grabed either jaw preventing the creature from biting him and stared face to face with a aligators mouth full of dangerously sharp teeth.

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Luckily they were in shallow enough water that Tolin could stand and anchor himself. He growls and hisses at the alligator as it splashes its tail trying to get leverage but Tolin wouldnt let go and was digging into the swampy floor with his clawed feet. Tolin jerked the jaws sideways catching the gator off guard and pounces on it wraping himself around it using his tail to blugeon it with his tail in its softer (but still tough) belly. More water thrashed now as the gator tried throwing him off. It began barrel rolling violently, attempting to twist him off or drown him. Tolin hit it hard on its sensitive snout with a hardened, scaley fist. It bucked violently enough to throw him off then retreated hissing then sunk beneath the water disapearing. Tolin waited alert for it to begin attacking searching beneath the water as he retreated backwards toward land. He quickly climbed out the water, sat down then burst into laughter.
He says to himself as his laughter dies "I am definately home...reminds me of the old gator wrestling days." Still chuckling he got up again and explored his new lands searching for a place to build his new dwelling.
Tolin

Re: ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

Post by Tolin »

It had been a week since Tolin's encounter with the aligator. Throughout that time Tolin had explored his new home. He even managed to sketch a map of his new home. It was roughly sketched but he figured it was clear enough. His home contained many small water ways and swampy rivers. He was on his way to search the last bit of land. He had made his decision that this spot would be where his new home would be built.
The spot was a small hill that peaked out of the swamp lands. It over looked a small clear fresh water lake on one side, perfect for drinking as it was continuously filtered through the trees and land around it. At this lakes bottom were many rocks layering its bottom wich helped to further filter it. He asumed the river from the mountain to the north had brought the pebbles and rocks there. How he had no idea all he knew was that it was a perfect water source for him. Surounding the fresh lake and his hill was the rest of the murky muddy swamp that stretched as far as the eye could see. For him it was a perfect home away from the loud and cramped mammal cities.
Tolin looked around as he stood on his hill then bent over grabed a odd looking green plant and cracked it in half. It oozed a thick green liquid. He smudged the green substance right on the top of his hill on his map, marking where his new home was going to be.

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Humming to himself he made his way back to bravia city to gather materials for the begining of his home. He had alot of work to do if he was going to make his vision of his home come true.
Tolin

Re: ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

Post by Tolin »

Tolin woke the next morning in his temporary and run down house. He didnt sleep well that night. He had tossed and turned all night worrying about his new home. He got out of bed, scales displaying a deeply depressed slate grey. He pushed his bed to the side and knelt down and thrust a finger in a hole in the floor and lifted a large section of the floor. In the floor was a secret compartment that housed a rather large and very weathered leather sack. Old blood stains and gashes could be seen here and there on the sack. This item had been through alot with Tolin since before arriving in these lands known as Secfenia. Tolin bent down and almost reverently took the sack out. He untied the sack and pulled out a large seed pod about the size of his torso. The giant seed pod glowed a feint pinkish white. Its shape was ovalish with a smooth surface. However veins could be seen just below its surface criss-crossing here and there.

This pod would soon grow into his home. He was worried tho. Most Lizardmen went out into the wild during their right of passage into adulthood to find these. Once they returned to the tribe they were to pick a place to plant it. Once 15 years passed when the tree was mature the Lizardman could move into it and begin their family. The seedpod represented life, death a begining and a end to Tolins people.
Tolin was stuck. Tolin should have planted his seed pod 15 to 16 years ago.

However due to certain circumstances Tolin had no control over, he never had the chance to plant it. Tolin had carried this pod with him for 15 years and recovered it multiple times under various circumstances until he arrived here. Tolin stared at it for a moment wondering what to do. The only solution he could come up with was to find someone to help him grow it or age it by 15 years. Abruptly making his decision he took the seed pod and hurried out with it to Bravia city. He had many posters to pin up everywhere looking for someone to help him.
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Dahlia
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Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2014 3:45 pm

Re: ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

Post by Dahlia »

The trip through Tolin’s territory was something to behold, to say the least. From her perch on the large lizard’s shoulder, Dahlia twisted this way and that, eager to take everything around them in. Curious by nature, she loved going into places she had not been before and being not only allowed but welcomed into this place delighted her. But Dahlia had a very specific purpose in being here.

Said purpose Tolin had clutched beneath one of his scaly arms; the seed from which his home tree would grow from. Her role in all of this was to make the tree grow.

How? One might ask. Well, since her death and subsequent return to life, courtesy of Casimir and Ambra, Dahlia possessed certain abilities she had not before. One of those happened to be charming plants, in a manner of speaking. Dahlia could speak and coax them to grow for her. At first this came as quite the surprise to her but during her months away she practiced with this talent (as well as the others) endlessly, growing more comfortable and proficient, to the point she truly enjoyed it. She’d always been one for nature anyway. This simply affirmed that bond.

Finally Tolin brought them to the location for his home tree, depositing the seed in its correct spot and settling the Fenian Princess next to it.

Dahlia examined the seed thoughtfully. She reached out and smoothed her hand across the warm surface, trailing her fingers along it as she walked a circle around the perimeter with an almost dreamy expression on her face. First glancing up at the sky, then making a small adjustment to the seed’s position, she looked over at Tolin who seemed to be hovering anxiously. “You might want to stand back a bit.” Dahlia offered a reassuring smile and turned her attention back to the current task.

Positioning the palms of her hands, fingers spread, just barely above the seed, the Fenian Princess leaned over and began whispering in a tongue not native to her - the knowledge of the language seemed to have come along with the ability but still felt natural in her mouth. Made her wonder what else might manifest itself later in time…

For the moment Dahlia focused entirely on the seed.

At first nothing happened aside from a slight increase in temperature beneath her hands. The whispering continued into a smooth and steady, melodic murmur. A tiny sprout broke through the top of the pod. It grew slowly at first, delicate light green leaves unfolding off of equally delicate branches. Dahlia smiled. She moved her hands down, mirroring the curve of the pod. Paused. Then curled her fingers and mimicked an enormous heaving motion, as if attempting to lift a huge weight.

The sprout responded - And positively exploded upward, outward, and downward. Branches sprang forth, leaves bursting into lush greenery, roots buried themselves deep into the ground. All the while Dahlia’s words never faltered. Not even when one of the branches swept her up onto it because she didn’t step back quickly enough. So it carried her skyward and all the while she spoke sweet nothings, until the tree reached what it would have been at fifteen years of age. When the growth finally stopped, the Fenian Princess peered down at the ground far beneath her feet and giggled. That much magic flowing through her veins made her feel giddy, almost drunk. She kicked her feet back and forth. Now she had to get down… Easy enough.

“If you wouldn’t mind setting me down, please? Yes, yes, I promise to come back and visit.*” The branch she sat upon bend obligingly and extended down toward the ground, allowing her to hop skillfully from offshoot branch to offshoot branch, finally gripping a vine that lowered her the rest of the way. Once her feet touched the ground, Dahlia gave the vine a little tickle and looked about for signs of her lizard friend.

“Tolin? Does this suit you well? Or shall I ask it for more?”

* = whatever that different tongue is... Too lazy to come up with something.
** Mild godmodding permitted by tpb Tolin.
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Tolin

Re: ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

Post by Tolin »

Tolin knew how big the tree was going to be before dahlia began coaxing the sprout to grow. He had stood well back from where the seed pod originated. However it still didnt prepare him for the roots chaotic growth. He heard a low rumbling and grinding sound as he watched roots shoot out the ground showering dirt in all directions cris-crossing and growing before diping back into the ground again. The roots formed arches as they surfaced from below the ground just as Tolin had planned it. Tolin grinned as the roots formed a perfect bridge from his hill like island to the "mainland".

It was now Dusk when he answered Dahlia "It is perfect. Just as i envisioned it. I wish to show you something." he tried turning dahlia around just as the last threads of sunlight faded away from the sky. It was however not dark but illuminated by soft glowing lights from his new home.
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Eudoxia
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Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:26 pm

Re: ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

Post by Eudoxia »

After a few conversations with Tolin, Eudoxia decided it was time to scope out the swamp. He had graciously said it was okay for her to find a nice inlet to call her own-providing she didn’t mind piranhas or gators. She had assured him she didn’t mind. Admittedly, she hadn’t ever encountered such creatures. Her whole life consisted of being in or around the waters of Lake Fenia. Now here she was, following an overgrown path deep into the woods of Bravia. She hastened her step, anxious to be in water, no matter what the threat of odd flora and fauna.

Finally, she reached water. Well...it wasn’t any water she had seen before. This water was thick, murky, and covered with a green mossy sludge. Standing at the water's edge, she put her arms akimbo and furrowed her brow. Did things actually swim in this sludge? With a tiny shrug of her shoulders, she lifted the edges of her pale skirts and walked in. The moss parted easily, revealing fresh water beneath, albeit still murky. As her body slowly submerged in the relatively shallow waters, instantly she felt more at ease. It had been a week since she had replenished properly. Baths at the Inn didn’t give her the replenishment needed; rainwater never did.

Letting out a sigh, she dove under the water, her long red tresses capturing moss as she went under. Eudoxia wasn’t a telepath, not by any means. But she could sense the life forms that occupied bodies of water. As she swam down the swamp, she could tell where Tolin called home and where he swam. She kept swimming, wanting him to have his space.

By dusk, she made her way quite a bit down, eventually having to get up and walk, as the water started to dry up. The swamp area this far down was rather dead looking. It could have been a result of dry seasons prior. Of course, she had assured Tolin that her presence could revitalize bodies of water.
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Glancing around, if there was ever a place that needed revitalizing, it was this. The question remained: was there enough water for her to even submerge in to make a difference? To herself and to the swamp? Again, she shrugged and walked through the muddy waters, finding the deepest part, which really wasn’t all that deep. The muddy sludge came up to her knees at best. She sat down, the mud chilling her, which wasn’t terribly common. Usually water temperature had no effect on Eudoxia. Supposing it had to do with the high levels of..well, everything, Eudoxia lay down into the sludge and closed her eyes to sleep.

Waking to the sun rising above the cypress trees, Eudoxia swam up to the surface of the water. Sucking in a deep breath as her face crested the surface, she beamed a wide grin. Turns out a good nights sleep was all she and this section of the swamp needed. A good nights sleep and a woman's touch. Glancing around, she took in its splendor.

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The water, still murky, but with life rather than sludge. Vibrant flowers grew on the waters edge. The trees had all regain their glory, leaves and buds hanging from the limbs. It was truly remarkable. She felt quite proud of herself and felt fully refreshed. Yes, this spot in the swamp would do quite nicely for her new home in Bravia.

Next order of business though: find a quicker way into town. There had to be a shortcut around here.
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Nikola
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Re: ORP Tolins swamp/ territory

Post by Nikola »

“Boots,” the blonde muttered as she picked her way along the edge of the swamp. “All this for boots. I’ve never even made a pair of boots before,” she lamented silently to herself. She really did need to just stop frequenting the taverns. Sure, they were a great place to visit with friends and meet new people, but then there were those times when everything she said was misinterpreted and her words got all twisted around themselves and she could never figure out how to sort it all out. Then there were the young ones, like Saphia, who heard she was making a kilt and a dress and wanted a pair of boots.

She offered to try to make them from a cow’s hide, but that would not do. No, these boots needed to be special and on a lark she had wondered aloud about using alligator hide. Unfortunately, the girl had heard and thought that would be just the thing. So, she had written to her friend, Tolin, as she thought she remembered that he had alligators in his swamp. She had hoped that perhaps he might have a spare hide or two lying around just waiting for a reason to be used.

He had written back straight away. He was delighted…delighted…to have her come to his swamp and wrestle an alligator for its hide. She! Nikola Ballintyne. Long time Vicerine of Bravia, now Finance Minister to the King of Fenia. A mere slip of a girl. And he thought it would be FUN to have her wrestle an alligator for its hide!

For some reason, all sorts of people seemed to believe she was far stronger than she was. She remembered trying to convince Alder that she was merely average, if that, and he scolded her saying that she sounded like a mere artisan. She had given him a curious look before informing that that as a matter of fact that was exactly what she was…an artisan. Still, no matter that she kept telling people she had no special strength or skills, they continued to treat her as if she did. One would think that being trounced thoroughly in the arena would be convincing enough, but they kept coming. Now Tolin seemed to think that she would be capable of wrestling an alligator and winning. She had no doubt that she could begin the wrestling match. It was the winning and subsequent survival that she seriously doubted.

Yet here she was, skirting the edge of the lizard man’s swamp, hoping he found her before an alligator or other swamp creature did.
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