[Open] I was totin' my pack

[windandrain]

Who: Saori Kimura and Open to Anyone
What: Curious about the outside world (and sick of the desert), Saori grabs some things and decides to head out.
Where: Silverglen Retreat, maybe elsewhere?
When: Early April
Warnings: Possible swearing? Maybe violence? Possible dead bears, as well.



A) Amber Sanctum: For Bronze Dragonsworn

[Saori, tired of sitting in caves or working out under the lone raincloud, gathers up a few things from the open armory and heads towards one of the portals out of the Sanctum. With a bow for a walking stick, a sturdy hooded outfit of light leather, and sword at her waist, she might resemble a wandering monk instead of a proper priest. However, she'd grabbed a change in case it was necessary, hoping that the dragons wouldn't mind her taking an extra. Any Bronzesworn who approach are greeted with a smile, and she'll be happy to have company as she goes out to explore so feel free to catch her. Warnings of danger she's ignoring for the moment, as there's the lure of wetter climates, chances to gain more mastery over her new powers, old friends she must find, and a whole new world to see...]

B) Silverglen Retreat settlement and the surrounding forest: Open to All

[Once she's found her way into the settlement, Saori makes her way around the entire village, mentally mapping it out. Market stalls, shops, a smithy, and the local inns are all memorized and checked out. She'll poke her head into a few of them, especially if she sees anyone that looks Dragonsworn, but otherwise keeps on her little circuit. After a while, she'll probably attempt to barter for supplies with some of the baubles that were on her when she arrived before going out into the forest. She'll be happy to stop and talk to anyone who seems even slightly friendly. Or who just looks out of place, too.

Out in the forest, the adventurous goddess puts the skills she'd learned as a child to good use, tracking game and bringing it down with her bow or some of the other tools at her disposal. She also begins to practice some of the magic she's been granted in earnest, hunting with lightning, light or shadow for food and barter materials. If she spots a familiar plant, she might even grab that up too. You can find her standing over the smoldering corpse of a dead bear, trying to kill a giant spider, roasting meat by a small cookfire, or maybe even setting up a camp in a secluded area as the shadows grow long. Approach as desired, she may even share her nomnoms with you, if you ask nicely! After all, we're all in this together!]

Comments

Silverglen

[of_the_lake]

[Berserker's remastery of his own powers had been slow, but he had been exceptionally quiet about their utilization. He found a quiet place hidden from parts of the sanctum in a fracture of time, practicing his swordsmanship at the expense of the sands. Wherever he trained, the sands seemed to pile much differently, the force of his regained strength showing with each passing day.

When he returned to the lake, he had put his helm back on, his body now fully obscured as his ability to mask his identity had come back considerably more. Though, as he sat down the same way he had done on a daily basis, Berserker found himself impatient. Even a man resigned to his own suffering could get bored with his punishment. Standing up, he made his way towards the portal. He had yet to see it--what was beyond the sanctum, but... he wasn't exactly longing to remain ignorant of his future battlefield.]

[windandrain]

[Saori had barely bothered keeping track of the hulking knight, or anyone else in the sanctum except perhaps the Doctor...who was the easiest of the others to talk to, so it wasn't really all that troubling that Berserker had disappeared for a time. She'd been busy with her own retraining, as well.

Now, that doesn't mean she's going to ignore the knight when she sees him walking through one of the many glades outside the sanctum. She's not quite made it to the settlement yet, but she'll swerve off to approach, calling out to him.]

Hello, Berserker. Decided to leave our scaly hosts as well, did you?

[of_the_lake]

There's only so much sand and sun that one can tolerate. 'Madness' is inherent in my framework, but monotony is not.

[So, he could be snide, too. Berserker's presence in the forest wasn't quite welcomed, though. The darkness that constantly wrapped around him seemed to be pushing beams of light coming down from the treetops away, bending them so he couldn't possibly become illuminated.]

[windandrain]

[A curious phenomenon, certainly, but not one she finds all that odd. The company of many in her family is just as dark and there's nothing inherently wrong with shadows.]

My thoughts exactly. Honestly, I don't know what they thought we'd do. The very nature of their sanctum is lethal to my kind, and I'm not about to stay there any longer than I have to.

[She gestures all around them, at the greenery, the animals, the shade, and the blessed moisture, laughing slightly.]

It's like this forest has everything our 'sanctuary' lacks. And by the look of it, there may even be some good hunting to be had. Perhaps even some of those demons.

[of_the_lake]

I've noticed. Though, I don't believe the Aspect of Time would appreciate it much. He seemed to favor sand--as it's likely a reminder of the dust that comes after death.

[Poetic, but still morbid and depressing.]

Still, sand does not befit you at all. [What with rain being an aspect of life.]

[windandrain]

I cannot disagree with you there, not in the slightest. My kind were never meant for such places, and they do not exist in our lands.

[Airily, she twirls about, reveling in the sights and smells of the foliage around them. Berserker's morbidity can do little to dampen her spirit now that she's finally out of that dusty hole. It's like a new life, and like she can breathe easy at last.]

But it seems equally ill-suited for a knight, I feel. Surely it must've found ways into your armor, as unnecessarily irritating as the Aspect of Time himself.

[of_the_lake]

[There's a strike of surprise in Berserker's eyes, though fortunately they remain closed off by means of the black mist. He turned, slowly enough, looking to the treetops. There was still light coming through, but the atmosphere it created was the important part. This place was nearly a 'home' because it had a roof. Within, there was warmth and affection being showered down on everyone by the environment itself.]

There is a down-side to all places. I cannot truly be bothered by one or the other.

[windandrain]

Not all, and not for some. A matter of perspective, at least. I'm sure all manner of reptiles find the desert to be quite hospitable. [She laughs softly, stepping a bit closer and pulling down her hood.]

And surely you'd prefer not to be uncomfortable, bothered by it or not. [Her eyes flit towards the distant settlement now, curious.]

Have you been to the town yet?

[of_the_lake]

I haven't. [Nor would he ever go, at least willingly. Berserker was already at his capacity when it came to social interaction and he was even past his quota.]

I would not be welcomed in such a place, considering my own state.

[windandrain]

[His state is no different than others she calls friend or family. Darkness is not inherently evil, after all, nor is she naturally of the light.]

I don't know. We are supposed to be helping to save this world. I don't think they'd turn you away.

[She hopes not, anyway. She'd rather not live in that sanctum, but a roof might be nice.]

Though if you're right, perhaps they'll deal with me, and I can act as an intermediary for things you might need.

[of_the_lake]

[There was the slightest chuckle from within his armor. Berserker's laugh was anything other than pleasant, at least when it was obscured by the twisted filter his spell put on his armor.]

That would be for the best.

One should not underestimate those too impatient or ignorant to understand what lies before them.

[windandrain]

[The laugh is probably the most offputting thing he's done yet, and though she doesn't react visibly, she's left wondering what it is about that sound that sets her teeth on edge.]

A problem I'm well acquainted with. Too many mortals have proven that to me time and time again for me to think otherwise, but I've not yet given up the hope that somewhere they're capable of not acting like baboons.

[of_the_lake]

[Fortunately, he wasn't much for jokes. That would be the only unnerving chuckle for awhile.]

No, they're not. There are gems in the rough, but such hopeful thinking would waste your time.

[windandrain]

Of course. It'd be foolish to think mortals couldn't ever surprise me anymore, though. That is the simplest reason why I uphold the masquerade of humanity, after all.

[She turns to stare off into the forest, expression growing much more distant.]

But here I suppose there's little reason to bother with the illusion. It's like being hurled back to the time of my birth. Before the baboons forgot my people's existence.

[of_the_lake]

[For all his loathing and irritation, Berserker was still indebted to humanity to do his utmost to aid it. Thus, one of his worse faults.]

Ahhh, the gods. One would question why it is you all seem to value humanity so much.

[windandrain]

[She frowns, still lost in thought, and moves to take a seat on a fallen log.]

Because they're our children, in a way. We grow attached to individuals, and the actions of humanity shape the world we created. And because some of us...myself included...were born mortal. Our perceptions change with divinity, but the attachments we formed remain.

But I think it'd be difficult to value humanity as a whole. For any of us. Individuals are one thing, but the masses are another.

[of_the_lake]

[Now, that was an odd thought. Saori sounded incredibly human, by her own volition of opinion and desire.]

Selfishness of that caliber is an incredibly human trait, Lady Saori.

[windandrain]

Is that what you believe?

[She laughs, coming out of her reverie and turning back to the shadowed man.]

I'd disagree. Myojin, the proper name for god in our tongue, are hardly selfless. If anything, I'd say we're even more selfish. Those of us that enjoy the company of humans most of all.

[of_the_lake]

While gods are the essence of power itself, I'm afraid those in your lineage pale in comparison when it comes to the sin of humanity.

[There was nearly humor in his tone.]

In such matters, I'm afraid you cannot compete.

[windandrain]

At sinning?

[The mirth remains, naturally. She's not really sure what to make of Berserker, and that's a rare thing.]

No, they're much better at that than I am. I'm afraid that I can't break the laws of Heaven even if I want to.