Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
12 years ago
Dreamweavers' Guildmistress
Dreamscape Artist
The two teams chatted easily as they drank, the tensions between them having dissolved with the water. As Stephanie took the water offered to her by Gina she watched the templeguardians who stood by the table laid with food. She felt one of them watching her and squinted to identify which it might be.
A hush fell over the teams and Stephanie returned back into the fold in time to realise that Faadri was standing over the group. The silence was broken only when Faadri spoke.
“You have noticed the food that has been brought out by the templeguardians.†He did not wait for the nods that followed. “By now you may have guessed that it is not for you.†A few people looked at Gina. “That is correct, however not entirely true. You must finish the task at hand. After that you may eat, for we know that your bodies seek nourishment beyond water.†He walked off, leaving behind silence, broken only when Darren stood.
“Let’s get back to work then, I’m starving.â€
Gina smiled as she stood with the rest of the group. “We are almost finished.â€
Mystic Ward
12 years ago
Mystic Ward
Twentyfamilies Gypsy
"OML!" Sent Inanja to Poppy. "If she gets any more sugary, my teeth are going to fall out."
"Don't be nasty." Poppy returned. "She's been pretty much right so far, so lets get to it. I'm starving too."
Those who had digging instruments returned to scraping sand out of the hole. Darren noticed that the roof was beginning to crumble so quickly shoved his wooden planks into the hole to shore it up. Garret forced the shield up into the roof and wedged it above the planks using Robert's hammer.
One side of the short tunnel was quickly filling with water so Alfred and Stephanie used some of the wet sand to build a barrier, making the walls higher and patting the wet sand down firmly, they stopped the water from filling the entire tunnel.
Poppy dug a hole in the sand and placed her bucket in it.
"What is that for?" Asked Titania.
"You'll see in a moment." Was Poppy's reply as she tilted the bucket just so and lay some of the lined over the top. She then carefully broke through the wall of sand holding back the water. Using more linen to create a small stream running into the bucket, Poppy sat back and grinned. "at east now we have a constant water supply," she said.
Titania was impressed despite herself and clapped Poppy on the back by way of congratulations. "You know, it's not so bad working with you lot after all."
Not long after, they finished digging and the tunnel was complete. Everyone sat back with a sigh and dropped their tools on the ground. The teams were visibly more relaxed around each other as well, after digging the tunnel together. Faadri walked over to them once again and were told to follow him back to the table of food.
“Now, you may eat,†he said simply.
Both teams dug in eagerly, they had not realised how hungry they were while they were busy digging, but now that there was food in front of them, they felt starved. The brothers Garret and Darren were clearly trying to get as much food as possible, without a thought for anyone else. Titania gave them a disapproving look which they didn’t miss.
“Boys, share,†she said sternly. “You are not the only ones who need to eat.†The brothers stepped back from the table reluctantly and glared at Titania who ignored them. Poppy smiled at her thankfully as the members of team Oberon started to eat.
Mystic Ward
12 years ago
Mystic Ward
Twentyfamilies Gypsy
After stuffing themselves with the food provided, the two groups separated to discuss what they had done. Team Oberon sat in the shade of a nearby tree and Team Titania sat near the entrance to the freshly dug tunnel.
"What do you think that was all about?" Asked Syl.
Inanja replied, "I have no idea.:
"But it's very pretty." Said Gina, dreamy eyed. "Though it will be better once some plants have grown around it."
Inanja shook her head at the young futureteller. "I thought you only had a slight talent." She said.
"But we still don't know what it's for." Stressed Syl.
Team Titania were have a similar conversation when Faadri called the two teams back together. "The results are..."
12 years ago
Mon Oct 24 2011, 03:49pm
Team Oberon and Team Titania gathered before the great Sadorian, most of them smiling wearily. That they were glad their task was over was written on more than a few faces.
"The results are," boomed Faadri. "Both teams have successfully demonstrated that they can co-operate despite differences in thinking and acting. This is good. You pass this test." He paused, as both teams turned to each other, perplexed.
At first they were exultant that they had been successful, but something in the Sadorian's choice of words troubled them. This task? Surely there wasn't something more? Faadri's next words confirmed their suspicions.
"However," he continued, with the barest of smiles tugging at his mouth, "you have not completely finished the task of The Gate. A gate in Sador is first built, and then used. It is not left to stand alone, unwanted, unnecessary. For this, you must use your Gate." He stopped once more, leaving all team-members thoroughly perplexed as he stepped backwards into the marquee's cool shade. Then they realised that he was looking passed them and down, and, following his gaze, they noticed that Sahr was standing beside their sand tunnel, beckoning to them.
With groans and muttering aplenty, they approached him.
Happy Moonfair everyone! Sorry I'm late here. I hope my post is understandable...
[ligne][/ligne]
Obligingly both teams moved over to the tunnel.
Sahr gazed at all the competitors, and there was an uncomfortable silence as everyone waited for the elder to speak. However, he didn't. The Sadorian simply continued to stare at both Team Oberon and Team Titania until someone could stand it no longer and called out.
'Well, go on then! Tell us what this is all about.' It was Garrett. His outburst was echoed by a similar cry by his brother, Darren.
'Hush.' Titania was looking at Sahr's face with a strange determination. She held up one finger to silence the men, and the stern manner and almost formality of the gesture made the brothers turn to examine what it was that their leader watched.
Sahr smiled gently. 'It seems that you are eager to continue, even after such a wonderful hiatus. Yet what you failed to notice was that your feast was also a part of this challenge.'
Everyone exchanged nervous glances, fearing the worst. Had the Sadorians poisoned their food? Syl wondered. Her unguarded thought reached the farseeker Rosa, who was about to open her mouth and ask aloud as much when Poppy suddenly screamed and collapsed.
Someone yelled out the girl's name. Titania couldn't tell; she was still fixated on the cool expression Sahr held over the group. The man was up to something. Not long after Poppy's fall Darren emitted a bloodcurling cry and fell to the ground. Chaos broke out. People tried to help their fallen comrades before teams began launching accusations at each other.
'What must we do?' Titania yelled over the babble to Sahr, who still had not reacted to the hubbub.
'Every traveller passes through The Gate, some before others. You have constructed a passage that will stop this progression occuring for all of you right on this day.' Sahr's words seemed to breach the pandemonium. Everyone was now listening, intently. The Sadorian went on. 'The water you have all drunk from is also a remedy to what we Sadorians call the reaping herb. Your feast was laced with traces of the platn, which when not countered with the remedy is fatal. But as you can see, there is only a mere puddle of this water. You must use your newly constructed Gate to either save all, or send all through the Gate from which you may never return.'
Titania understood. She had even started to feel a numbing sensation behind her temples. They had all been poisoned, and there was only a small puddle of water that could prevent each of them from going through the final Gate and into death.
Both teams eyed each other. They could feel it too. Then their eyes travelled back to their own makeshift tunnel. Poppy and Darren were beyond helping themselves now, and Titania truly understood that this test was not each team for themselves, but every person for themselves now.
Syl watches as eveyone eyes each other suspiciously, no one daring to be the first to move. He looks at Titania but can see at a glance that she will be no help, her expression shows the same fear and desperation as the others'. Even with his weak empathic talent he can feel the fear and tension rising to braking point. Someone starts edging towards the Gate and the dam bursts, people scrambling to reach the entrance, heedless of those they push out of the way.
"Stop!" He yells, projecting calmness and reassurance with all his strength. Remarkably everyone does slow and stop, turning to look at him. "If we keep calm, don't panic and work together, we can still save everyone. Do we know how much of this water we have to drink to counteract the reaping herb?" Silence greets his words and Sahr's face reveals nothing. "Ok, so we'll have to work that out." He keeps projecting stillness and reasurance despite the fact that the effort, or perhaps the herb, is starting to make him dizzy.
"When we built the gate we dug away from the water, it should be easy enough to dig in towards it instead. In the mean time, we need to give what water we have to those who are worst." A rumble of discontent swells. "Yes, I know we might be wasting what water we have but we have to try. We are Misfits! We can't just step back and let our friends die when we might be able to save them."
Rosa groans and falls to the ground clutching her belly. Syl feels the panic rising again and starts moving towards the Gate. "Hurry, the more time we wait, the more of us get sick."