originally posted in:The New Dojo
https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/238589065/0/0/1
[b][i]The Trees Have Eyes...[/i][/b]
[b][i]Afternoon, Dojo Forest[/i][/b]
[b][i]The sound of a rifle going off was heard, as a deer in the woods fell dead. Three hunters walked over to it, one smoking a cigar as he did. He looked at his kill, laughing a bit as there was a hole straight through the eye.[/i][/b]
Smoker: "Dead shot perfect, as always." [b][i]He said bragging to his friends[/i][/b]
Hunter #1: "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Cmon, grab the antlers so we can continue." [b][i]He said, as the third hunter, easily the youngest of the bunch of males, cut off the antlers and put them in a bag. The smoker stood up, as the three walked off, leaving the kill there. But they should've known the saying "The trees have inquisitive eyes"[/i][/b]
[b][i]The sun was beginning to set as they moved, not yet using flashlights to guide their way. As they walked, they chatted about other kills, the price antlers would fetch, as they came across a small sapling. The smoker laughed, coughing a bit as he walked over to it, crouching down.[/i][/b]
Smoker: "Hey, watch this." [b][i]He said, putting his cigar to the tree as it began to catch alight. Soon, the tree was burning and became nothing more than charcoal. The three laughed, as the began to walk once more. But they stopped, a presence washing over them. They should've remembered the saying "The trees have inquisitive eyes"[/i][/b]
[b][i]Vines snaked across the ground towards them, moving along the highest branches of trees as well, as the theee stopped, looking around. The smoker reached for his rifle, but vines pinned it to the ground. They were lifted by their legs by vines, being dangled from a tree as a figure approached. It's form was like a woman, though made of wood and vine, claws for hands. It spoke to them, its voice raspy and feminine.[/i][/b]
Dryad: "You should not disrespect nature. It could have quite dire consequences." [i][b]It said as it moved around them, inspecting them. One went to speak, but the Dryad let out a growl to silence him. As another reached for its pistol, it noticed it was snatched, What looked like some naturally made satyr having snatched their weapons. The Dryad spoke to the three again.[/b][/i]
Dryad: "Those who have done nothing wrong but witness these crimes here today, by happy Gaia is a forgiving Mother. She shall spare you torment..."
[b][i]The vines released them, dropping them to the ground as they took off running.[/i][/b]
Dryad: "As for you..." [b][i]She said looking to the final one.[/i][/b] "Gaia demands life given for life taken." [b][i]He was dropped from the tree, only to have his neck ensnared by a vine. It constructed around him, crushing his neck as he now dangle their from the tree. He would be a warning to others.[/i][/b]
[b][i]To outsiders of the situation, the Dryad would look to be in her true form. It was a human female, her skin the colour of redwood, her black hair in short dreadlocks, tied back into a somewhat ponytail behind her head. A mask covered her face as her body appeared to be free of tattoos. Her upper chest was only covered by a wrap of leather, covering her breasts fully and a bit above the gut, a band around her left arm with three small bones on it. Her lower half were covered by woven pants, stopping about midway on the calf to reveal the coverings on the lower leg made of leather and wrapped with dark brown linen to stay on. They came under the sole of her bare feet like a stirrup would. The same kind of covering could be seen on her hands, as she wore claw like gloves. Two spikes sat on her hips as her weapons, with a bow on her back. She turned after giving punishment, not sure where she was.[/i][/b]
[spoiler]open. Meet Daun, the Shaman.[/spoiler]
English
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"Not worth the effort..."
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"And that is where we differ in opinion, but I shall respect your ideas." [b][i]She says, bowing a bit.[/i][/b] "At least you are on our side then."
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"Close enough to being on your side, but I could easily just end up backstabbing you. Wouldn't come as a surprise."
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"We both know how that would end for you. You may have magic, but I, the blessings of the spirits."
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"The spirits are just as powerless as we are. They're just those of us who've already proven too weak to be alive."
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[b][i]Daun growled a bit, before snapping back[/i][/b]"Bite your tongue! The spirits are Gaia Mother's children, great Shaman who passed to serve her! They passed because she called them to a greater purpose, as she will all Shaman one day."
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"So she's like a leech. Takes spirits for her own power. You can't possibly say that all spirits willingly submitted to her. Guess you could say that your prophet is somewhat false, huh?"
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"She created us, and when we have done what she has called us to do in this life, we return to her. The spirit's that give us shaman our abilities are her most devoted! All spirits come from her, and we return to her care and peace willingly. All of them." [b][i]She said. Daun was devout as her companion would know. Probably one of the most devout there were. Every festival was celebrated without fail, every ritual done when required.[/i][/b] "And we do not have a false prophet, as there is no prophet. We speak through to Gaia Mother, and she is our creator."
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Edited by Apple: 11/18/2017 4:47:41 PM"And so your prophet calls for the murderers like me. Seems like you've got a problem. Your prophet is the one responsible for what I've become! If you ask me, she should just stop meddling, and go die like any normal person."
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"Or you've strayed from the path she had planned for you. If this is who you are, perhaps she called you to defend people and nature from those who seek to harm like this man." [b][i]She said, gesturing to the body.[/i][/b] "No matter though, Gaia Mother shall forgive you for whatever you do, as she knows we as humans are flawed beings."
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"and she created those flaws. It's all her fault. All of it.'
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"No, it is not. She created those flaws to teach us to work through them and to better ourselves. Do not blame Her for your lack of control."
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"I will. She could have done something, yet never did."
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"Because she is not here to spoon feed you. She gave you life, made you flawed so you can learn to be resilient, and so you can do your part in her plan, and then you will return to her in eternal peace. She will take care of you, but she will when we return to her."
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"I won't return to her."
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"Then you can enjoy wandering the world in agony for eternity."
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"I don't believe in just one creator. I'll just lend my strength to some god of destruction, or something.'
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"And doom yourself and the rest of the world to eternal torment? Well, I see you're intelligent."
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"I'd be dead, what do I care about the others?"
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"But what happens after you die? Do you think a creature who's only love is to cause torment is going to let you spend eternity in peace? No, they will subject you to the same torment as all other souls."
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"And what if my turn on is eternal torment, huh?"
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"Eternal torment is being subjected to whatever you hate the most. If you enjoy pain, you will he sealed away where you can cause no harm to yourself or others."
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"That's hot."
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"I... i will never understand you." [b][i]She said, a mixture of wonderment and disbelief.[/i][/b] "Though, this reminds me, I must look for Devil's Horn and Bristen for a ritual."
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"Never asked for you to understand me. I'm one of a kind."