Private One Thousand And One Nights

[FORTUNE]

Come closer, dear reader. Yes, closer still, so that I may tell you a story.

A story of magic.

A story of wild imagination, and what lies beyond it.

But most importantly, a story of two Seekers, and the endless, interwoven nights.

We begin in a forest, just beyond the walls of Hiscop, in Astorea. Oh, you know its kind very well. A quiet, sleepy little village, tucked away in the comforting embrace of the thousand trees that surround it. Looming high above, a tall mountain, it's stony peaks reaching so far up, it touched the heavens themselves!

Here in this forest, a lone woman stared into the deep dark maw of the mountain, a great cavern! Oh, but she was afraid of the dark, little reader, for she knew that though a great many mysterious, mischievous things lurked in the dark corners of the world, so did the silly, the surprising, and exciting. You just had to know how to feel around in the dark.

"It's not so scary," she said as she peered deep into that pitch black. "I wonder what's got everyone so spooked? There's no lights, no sounds, no shaking of the ground." The woman shook her head in despair. "Oh, darn, I was looking for something fun tonight. And someone, where is that elf anyways?"

@Rael

 

[Rael]

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Are you in a comfortable position?

The tale we weave may be a lengthy one yet, or it could very well be short and sweet.

Tales are not to be judged for their length, but their very contents. Sit, or lay down now, and listen closely now...

A story of two Seekers.

Yes, yes, how entertaining shall it be?

Watch as the two protagonists of our tale meet for the very first, a most unusual circumstance for two so very unlike one another, yet all the more precious for it.

One of them isn't quite punctual, but contrast does make for a good balance between characters.

Here in this forest, the sound of rapid footfalls softly broke the atmosphere of tranquility that kept this particular corner of the world tucked away. Metal clinked as she swiftly advanced, and the swish of fabric could be overheard if one so much as possessed sharp enough senses to do so, but here was a woman in a hurry, for you see, theirs was a night full of wonders to seize.

"My apologies," spoke the Elf no sooner had she caught barely a glimpse of her would-be companion for the night, stepping up to the one who stood by the mountain's maw. Keeping the disappointment from showing was a daunting task as she peered into the void. "...That is odd, the rumors said there was supposed to be something here, except there is not, and..."

"Well, I brought things to light our way should we need it."

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@FORTUNE ​

 

[FORTUNE]

Clink, click, the tell-tale sign of an adventurer drew the woman's attention.
Clink, click, the elf came into view.
Clink, click the two women met and their exchange began.

"My apologies," said the elf, to which the woman replied, "Pay it no mind. You're here now, so we might as well begin."

Rumors abound, and rumors did they heed. But rumors, dear reader, as you should well know, are often untrue, the spring from which they flowed dried up long ago. So our adventuring duet should not have been surprised by the lack of sights and sounds.

But every once in a while, like when the sun sets beneath the sky and flares green, or the hare beats the tortoise, or the clouds part to reveal heaven high above, rumors are true.

The thin rays of light cascading through the trees slowly grew shorter and shorter, and the shadows too. As soon as they disappeared from sight, the cave alit and glowed.

Laughter echoed from within, the clinking of glasses and music of a bard.

"I don't think we'll be needing that light," the woman said, before gesturing towards the warm inviting light. "Shall we?"

@Rael

 

[Rael]

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What is a story, but a series of winding twists and turns upon which to delight ourselves in?

What is adventuring but following the path set before oneself, unknown of its myriad sorrows, hopes, defeats, and victories?

Why, if every step taken along the way never allowed for the spark of curiosity to be ignited, for hearts to beat faster as secrets and mysteries were unveiled along the way, it could hardly be called worthwhile.

The elf held a lantern high above her head, bathing her immediate surroundings in its dim warmth, unwilling to delay the start of the chapter any longer than she already had.

If the interior of the cave set before them grew brighter, it was in no part thanks to her efforts. Laughter echoed, inviting and haunting in equal measure, contagious in the way that just the trickle of it managed to pull at the edges of her mouth into a specter of a smile.

"Out of all places for a tavern to be established..." A breathless affirmation as she started down the path, the cadence of a bard's music growing louder and wilder, no doubt at the helm of a secret party or celebration of sorts.

"If we have nothing to report, then I will invite the drinks as payment for being late. Would that be agreeable?"

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@FORTUNE​