Complete Private Eastern Brisshal A Shot In The Dark

[Athena]

The air positively thrummed with life, and even through her blindfold Athena could see the little wisps of magic that made up the trees and plants around her. What a fascinating place, and what a fascinating set of abilities she had been gifted. The blind warrior reclined against a tree, her long blond hair draped around her and her arms wrapped around her ornate blade, the scale built into the cross guard jingling softly as the wind blew.

Her ears were taking in all of the sounds around her, trying to map out structure of the ground and forest around her. She found the activity surprisingly easy thanks to all of her practice in the real world and the fact of the matter was she hadn't even activated the abilities she had selected to enhance her senses. She marveled for a few more moments at the small glimpses of magic she was occasionally able to catch before moving to stand up. She had spent plenty of time earlier in the day on meditation and self reflection as part of her duties as a shrine maiden. Now was the time for action, although what kind of action she wasn't yet sure.

Athena stretched, yawning softly and stretching her arms over her head before starting to stroll slowly and carefully through the forest, tapping her sheathed sword on the ground in front of her as a safety precaution. She didn't yet trust these new senses the way she did in the real world.

@Caelia Etterni

 

[Caelia Etterni]

She'd not been here long. Still grasping at the ways of this world like a newborn fawn getting its legs underneath itself, she had wandered somewhat into the woods away from where she'd started. Everything was so real, so lifelike. Sure, that was what had been the draw, but to really experience it was just...something special. A sword hung sheathed at her side, a weapon she'd not yet tried to draw and brandish. She would, in time, but for now it remained safely stowed at her side.

The young Faerin was looking everywhere. Up, down, left and right, she wanted to drink in the beauty of this place and never stop looking. Of course, though, when you were looking everywhere, you were also looking nowhere. So lost in the entrancing flora around her was she, the white haired player didn't notice another's approach until it was too late. Gangly legs still getting used to walking in this world suddenly found themselves caught up in the scabbard of a sword. With a yelp, she twisted and fell to the ground, sending up a small shower of leaf litter and other forest debris as she did so.

She turned to see what had tripped her, expecting to see a tree root or perhaps a wayward vine. What she wasn't expecting was a tall woman with blond hair and...a blindfold?

She blinked, just sort of watching the other for a moment.

"Uh...hi?" she offered, still sitting on the ground. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to - I mean, I should have been paying - I need to watch where I'm going. Sorry."

Smooth.
@Athena

 

[Athena]

The woman had certainly heard the other person coming, but was more than a little caught up in using them to process how close they were going to her. She felt her sword jolt as as she accidentally tripped the other woman. Athena paused, turning slightly to face the newcomer. She could see them! Sort of. It was exciting nonetheless. What sat in front of her was a vaguely human shaped swirl of red, purple, and black mist. What those colors meant she had no idea. What she did know was that the person in from of her was more than likely a child, based on their small stature.

"Do not fret young one." Her soft and breathy voice penetrated the sounds of the forest strangely well for being so quiet. "I'm sure it is fate that has brought you to me." She paused placing the tip of her sword into the ground in front of her and leaning on it gently. Her head cocked to the side, red lips pursing thoughtfully. "What is it that you seek?" She finally asked mysteriously, sitting down in front of her new acquaintance as though she held all of the answers to any question the Faerin could possibly ask.

@Caelia Etterni

 

[Caelia Etterni]

.

Young one? Well, she was small in this game, she supposed. Maybe this person just assumed that she was a bit more childlike than she really was? Caelia didn't immediately correct the other person, watching as she approached and sat down with her cryptic words. What was it she sought? She opened her mouth, almost about to ask if this was an NPC, but then stopped herself. Was it rude to ask NPCs if they were NPCs? They acted like real people, but they... They were just NPCs...

Looking again, though, she was certain this person had a player tag over their head. So, not an NPC. Just a strange person.

I'm not sure, honestly. I'm...trying to get better at the game? I mean, I've never played a game like this before, but it looked like fun, so...here I am! I suppose fate could have brought us together, sure. What's your name? I'm Caelia!

She smiles at the stranger, propping herself up with one hand behind her while the other was extended to be shaken.

@Athena

 

[Athena]

Her slender hand reached up to grasp the pendant around her neck, absentmindedly running her fingers along the golden edges. How strange, it seemed that she had run across another new player, just like herself. The aura in front of her seemed to smooth out, becoming more friendly somehow... The nuances of this type of sight definitely required more exploring on her part. Perhaps the slight change in their aura had to do with their emotions? She let out a quiet "... hmmmm..." complete missing the hand that was extended to her.

Instead she smiled gently to her new acquaintance. "Caelia. What a beautiful name, like something from a fantasy novel." This was followed by a quiet, high pitched laugh, almost reminiscent of wind chimes. There was another pause, the woman seemingly lost in thought, forgetting she was in the middle of a conversation. Finally she continued. "I'm Athena..." Her voice trailed off once again, totally distracted by the swirls of color that made up the vague shape of the Faerin in front of her. This time she quickly got back on track however. "I am new here as well. You'll have to forgive me, I can see your magical aura, but not much else. And it is quite fascinating." Her free hand would slowly reach out towards Caelia's shoulder, attempting to tap it.

@Caelia Etterni

 

[Caelia Etterni]

.

Caelia's hand hangs a bit awkwardly in the air for a moment before she withdraws it, unshaken by the other individual. She smiled a bit when the other laughed, hoping that was at least a good sign. She was trying to make friends here, after all. She tilted her head slightly as Athena mentioned she could see her magical aura. Was that a setting in the game, she wondered? How did you turn that one on? Then again, maybe she didn't want to see everyone's magical aura all the time...

What does mine look like? I can't see it.

She asks the question eagerly, shifting slightly to let Athena tap her shoulder without drawing away. She's curious now, eagerly awaiting the answer from the other.

@Athena

 

[Athena]

Emboldened by the Faerin allowing her tap, the woman reached forward to grasp her shoulder very gently, feeling around it. What she was able to see had no border, and what she was discovering was that she she was only able to see a sort of magical mist exuding from the person in front of her, rather than her actual form. Athena was unsure if this was how the magic vision she had chosen was supposed to work or if it was a side effect of her being almost totally blind in the real world.

"Its difficult to describe. Its a swirling sort of black and red mist, very vaguely in the shape of you." Her hand move again slightly on her shoulder, gripping again to ascertain how accurate her sight was. It was not, as it happened, all that accurate.

Athena withdrew her hand, not wanting to make the other woman any more uncomfortable than she was sure she already had. "What an intimidating color palette, if I do say so myself. Quite strange for someone as friendly as you seem."

The little scales on her sword seemed to tinkle , almost menacingly, in the breeze, although Athena's facial expression never changed from the look of friendly curiosity she had had the whole conversation thus far. She was in no place to judge, especially since she didn't fully understand her new sense. Yet.

@Caelia Etterni

 

[Caelia Etterni]

.

The small Faerin sat still while the blindfolded player before her felt over her shoulder. She wasn't exactly sure what this was doing for Athena, but if it helped her perceive the world any better, why would she stop her? Besides, Caelia couldn't feel her doing anything untoward magically, either, so it was all probably fine. She sat still to allow the other woman to feel what she needed, a curious look on her face as she waited for Athena to speak or do something.

Black and red mist? That must be because of the masteries she took...

Oh, well, it's kind of nice to know the aura I put off is intimidating. I'm pretty small, and friendly, like you say, so maybe it's good that I'm a bit intimidating in other ways!

She smiled brightly, shifting slightly and running her hand over the grass beneath her. It was still amazing to her to feel just how real everything was in this game. The grass tickled her skin as if she were in the real world.

It doesn't bother you, does it? My aura? I don't want to be too off putting. I'm here to make friends, after all.

@Athena

 

[Athena]

She calmly withdrew her hand, not wishing to overstay her 'welcome'. Athena supposed that this game would be difficult for her, as anticipated. The shape of her aura was difficult to see, which would make combat versus her... well, difficult. Athena still had a few other tricks up her sleeve that might help in that department, but she was hesitant to tap into such power on whim.

"I doubt you could do anything to change it at this point." She responded gently, her dress swishing as she crossed her legs. "I also doubt many others in this game would choose to see as I do." When she had chosen the trait she had been warned about potential negative effects to the sense she chose, but with her nearly blind condition she hadn't felt the need to give it that much thought.

"To answer your question, no. It is just swirls of color after all. And while intimidating colors they are still quite beautiful." Her head tilted slightly to the side, long golden hair falling like a curtain in front of her face. "I am quite curious to learn what it means. Perhaps when we reach a town I'll do some people watching."

With a flourish she reached up, grasping the hilt of her sword and using it as a prop to help her stand up.

@Caelia Etterni

 

[Caelia Etterni]

.

Caelia wanted to ask many other questions, if she were being honest with herself. She wanted to ask how it was the human woman saw her aura. What had she taken to do such a thing? Did she choose to wear the blindfold for a reason? Why? These questions hovered at the tip of her tongue, but remained unspoken out of a polite respect for the other's privacy.

When we reach a town? Oh, good, do you want to walk with me? I was a bit nervous trying to get anywhere by myself!

She scrambled to her feet after Athena stood, dusting off her trousers and the tail of her coat to get any forest debris off. She looked up at Athena with a bright smile she wasn't sure if the other could see, rocking on her feet a little bit.

Of course, you don't have to if you were headed somewhere else!

@Athena

 

[Athena]

This woman was extremely quick on the uptake. The 'we' had just slipped out, but it seemed she had betrayed her intentions before even getting to the question. Athena smiled back to the woman, hearing the friendly tone in her voice. The dry ground crunched as she wiggled her sword back and forth, getting it unstuck from where she had stabbed it.

"I was just about to ask you to accompany me. Would you like me to lead the way?" She asked, ignoring the blatantly obvious fact that it was a terrible idea to have a blind person leading the way through an unfamiliar forest. "I will clarify that I have no idea where we are, or which direction is which. Take that as you will." Athena cautioned, holding her sword next to her by the sheath. Regardless, she was sure that the gods would lead them where they needed to be, regardless of which direction they chose.

She waved her arm with a flourish, pointing in a random direction with conviction. "I have a fantastic feeling about going this way. Good fortune awaits those who follow their instincts." Unbeknownst to her the direction she was pointing led straight to a small drop off over some sharp looking rocks. It was somehow the only direction they probably shouldn't go. "I'll follow you though, if you want, just know I'm going to judge your decision."

@Caelia Etterni

 

[Caelia Etterni]

.

Caelia brushes herself off a bit more, laughing lightly when Athena clarified that she had no idea which direction to go. Well, she wasn't entirely sure how to get to the nearby town either, but there was only one way to find out, right? She was quite okay with letting Athena choose their direction at random, but when she spotted the drop off ahead, she reached out to gently put a hand on the other's elbow.

Judge me all you want, but maybe we should go another direction...

She speaks gently, trying to inject a little lightness in her tone as well without sounding like she was being too bossy.

Just saying, this direction seems less...rocky.

@Athena

 

[Athena]

"Hmmm... Perhaps that would be prudent." She responded thoughtfully. She had intended the judging thing as a bit of a lighthearted jab, but it seemed like as usual that didn't come across. She tended to use the same tone of voice for pretty much everything when she wasn't intently focused so she wasn't surprised that it hadn't come across that well.

She reached down and patted Caelia's hand that was on her elbow approvingly. "A very astute observation!" She moved to follow long behind the Faerin, weaving in between trees, her flowing dress swishing gracefully around her as she became more used to this magical sight of hers. "Onwards, to find the questions to answers we dont know we need!" She declared, her voice still breathy but with more than a little excitement in it. She had visions of dragons, and knights, and princesses, and castles. All that and more lay in her future, she was certain of it. Every step on this journey was certain to be a fantasy story worthy of publication in its own way. That included this walking through the forest searching for civilization.

If they didn't manage to find it this would just be her wilderness survival arc of the story.
@Caelia Etterni