Setting
Lifegiver Grotto. Supposedly the oldest tree in Alneh, and possibly the world. Its sheer size is a testament to this marvel of nature, easily towering above one thousand total feet. Some people don't understand that, much like an iceberg, more than eighty percent of the tree itself is hidden under the water of the Channel.
It seems to draw all manner of life towards its trunk, which over time, has slowly collected sand and debris on the north side, turning it into a half island, with a beach of mud and sand to climb out of the water onto. The tree itself is sacred to the Bogscale people, and it is the number one spawning ground for the Reshar to build their birthing pods on. The tree itself shimmers with life force itself, making this one of the few truly beautiful patches on land in the entire region. Flowers found no where else in the world grow on the island side of the trunk, as well as many exotic fruits and vegetables.The dampness of the area itself has also given rise to many odd varieties of fungi, both poisonous and friendly, safe to eat.
The Bogscale view the tree itself as an object of holy worship, but allow the Reshar to breed there, mostly because they use the remains of their birthing pods to construct and repair their homes, as the embryonic goo left behind is incredibly durable, long-lasting, and insanely adhesive, and surprisingly water resistant unless completely submerged for weeks at a time.
The tree itself has been named the Protecting Mother, and even the Alneh, who view it as nothing more than a tree, treat it with at least with a due amount of respect.
It seems to draw all manner of life towards its trunk, which over time, has slowly collected sand and debris on the north side, turning it into a half island, with a beach of mud and sand to climb out of the water onto. The tree itself is sacred to the Bogscale people, and it is the number one spawning ground for the Reshar to build their birthing pods on. The tree itself shimmers with life force itself, making this one of the few truly beautiful patches on land in the entire region. Flowers found no where else in the world grow on the island side of the trunk, as well as many exotic fruits and vegetables.The dampness of the area itself has also given rise to many odd varieties of fungi, both poisonous and friendly, safe to eat.
The Bogscale view the tree itself as an object of holy worship, but allow the Reshar to breed there, mostly because they use the remains of their birthing pods to construct and repair their homes, as the embryonic goo left behind is incredibly durable, long-lasting, and insanely adhesive, and surprisingly water resistant unless completely submerged for weeks at a time.
The tree itself has been named the Protecting Mother, and even the Alneh, who view it as nothing more than a tree, treat it with at least with a due amount of respect.
Lifegiver Grotto
At the very center of the widest section of the deepest depths of Hearthwater Channel, there grew a magnificent tree, ripping from the surface of the waterway an impressive two hundred feet. However, well below the water, it grew all the way to the bottom
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
| "out" to Hearthwater Channel » | ||
Lifegiver Grotto is a part of 
Hearthwater Channel.
4 Characters Here
Empyrea [9] Spirit of the Empyrean seas
The World Spirit Of Gaia [8] The World Spirit of Gaia, ancient and powerful.
Ceil Tullius [2] "Why does everyone keep calling me this so called 'Dragonborn'? What in the name of Oblivion does it Mean???!!!"
Knights Kazuki [0] "Being a hero is one thing. Doing what is right is another"
Start Character Here »
There were faint whisperings deep in the waters of the grotto. This place was sacred. Despite Eras gaining so much influence across Gaia, here he still could not touch. It was a shame what had happened across the seas in Siv'en. Gaia had no choice but to flee here as there her pool was tainted. Eras seemed to have worked strategically, for now she was trapped in Ellaria.
"Worry not, they will heed the call..." Empyrea was not so sure. She meddled all she could. Any more and those who regulated beings such as herself may sweep in and...She shuddered to think of what would happen.
"They have been called. Now, we let everything fall where it shall," The World Spirit of Gaia sounded weak, but she knew too well of fate and what happens when you meddle beyond where you should. It's almost a sick joke. Whatever you try for fails. Gaia had learned this the hard way, the first time. After all, Eras rose for a reason, did he not?
"Worry not, they will heed the call..." Empyrea was not so sure. She meddled all she could. Any more and those who regulated beings such as herself may sweep in and...She shuddered to think of what would happen.
"They have been called. Now, we let everything fall where it shall," The World Spirit of Gaia sounded weak, but she knew too well of fate and what happens when you meddle beyond where you should. It's almost a sick joke. Whatever you try for fails. Gaia had learned this the hard way, the first time. After all, Eras rose for a reason, did he not?
"Sagittae and Atargatis, how did Eras get his power back from him?" Empyrea wondered. Tartarea spoke up. Nobody had noticed his presence arrive, but he wasn't happy.
"The stones have been removed from the tower, is how," He rumbled. From above, the pool would emit the sounds of crashing waves as the spirits of the seas on Gaia went back and forth, blaming each other for losing track. Had anyone alerted the dragons?
"Patience," Gaia whispered. Eras had been hard at work over the thousands of years since his power was so stripped. The pool pulsed as the powers shifted and some of it was returned to Gaia.
"The stones have been removed from the tower, is how," He rumbled. From above, the pool would emit the sounds of crashing waves as the spirits of the seas on Gaia went back and forth, blaming each other for losing track. Had anyone alerted the dragons?
"Patience," Gaia whispered. Eras had been hard at work over the thousands of years since his power was so stripped. The pool pulsed as the powers shifted and some of it was returned to Gaia.
"A great threat to the grotto!" Gaia wailed as she felt the jotunn shift. She knew it wasn't what it seemed; they all did. As there was a great disruption in the Weargtooth Mountains, the pool began to whisper. The Bogscale began to gather at the edge. They heeded the call to action, but knew they had little power. The Reshar too understood, quizzically enough, and scattered to warn the Alneh.
The waters grew still as Tartarea leapt to action, channeling his flows to strengthen the waters of the grotto and beyond, the channel to the sea. The grotto must be protected!
The waters grew still as Tartarea leapt to action, channeling his flows to strengthen the waters of the grotto and beyond, the channel to the sea. The grotto must be protected!
”Oh ye of little faith…” Ha’Ari spoke, a purring bass that filled the air with a serene peace.
He appeared in the grotto, an enormous lion of fire and light. Leolik looked upon the three spirits with eyes alight with compassion. His flame was like a soothing balm - a comforting hearth - and the light that shone from His face chased away the darkness of the heart.
“I have heard your cry, children of the cosmos, and I offer salvation from the Longest Night if you only ask. My own champions have been called, and I have claimed the land of the Royale Prairies as an inheritance for my children.”
Far away, amidst the rolling plains of the Royale Prairies, the Avatar of Ha’Ari roared in defiance of Eras. No, it was more than defiance. Leolik, the King of Kings, rebuked the errant star and its wicked heart. His gaze peered into Eras’s innermost being, into the crooked corruption within, and He felt both pity and disappointment.
But the Everlasting Flame still burned, and as long as He willed it, that region would be protected from the life-sapping power of the evil star.
He appeared in the grotto, an enormous lion of fire and light. Leolik looked upon the three spirits with eyes alight with compassion. His flame was like a soothing balm - a comforting hearth - and the light that shone from His face chased away the darkness of the heart.
“I have heard your cry, children of the cosmos, and I offer salvation from the Longest Night if you only ask. My own champions have been called, and I have claimed the land of the Royale Prairies as an inheritance for my children.”
Far away, amidst the rolling plains of the Royale Prairies, the Avatar of Ha’Ari roared in defiance of Eras. No, it was more than defiance. Leolik, the King of Kings, rebuked the errant star and its wicked heart. His gaze peered into Eras’s innermost being, into the crooked corruption within, and He felt both pity and disappointment.
But the Everlasting Flame still burned, and as long as He willed it, that region would be protected from the life-sapping power of the evil star.
"Gaia would rather destruction than her Spirit feed Eras back to power," Atargatis swept into the Grotto. Periwinkle twinkled on the waters above. Still the Groenbogs were hubub with chaos as Nightfall was realized.
"Those from elsewhere have really opened the door. We need to return the stones-" Atargatis was silenced by a harsh look from Tartatea.
"The stones are a lost cause," Tartarea sighed. He retired to keeping an eye on the shorelines. Gaia herself had fallen into a slumber.
"They aren't," Atargatis calmly finished explaining how the stones had saved them the first time around. The acid lake, true enough, was no longer a challenge. The rooms, though! Still a few stones remained. Sadly the number, unless all, would never be enough to stop Eras.
"We can improve upon it later," Empyrea chimed in with a yawn on her breath. Something was draining her more so than the others, "Welcome to our humble Dance."
The Lifegiver Grotto was all the much more radiant and potent with the giving of life to the Alneh now that a new God had been welcomed.
"Those from elsewhere have really opened the door. We need to return the stones-" Atargatis was silenced by a harsh look from Tartatea.
"The stones are a lost cause," Tartarea sighed. He retired to keeping an eye on the shorelines. Gaia herself had fallen into a slumber.
"They aren't," Atargatis calmly finished explaining how the stones had saved them the first time around. The acid lake, true enough, was no longer a challenge. The rooms, though! Still a few stones remained. Sadly the number, unless all, would never be enough to stop Eras.
"We can improve upon it later," Empyrea chimed in with a yawn on her breath. Something was draining her more so than the others, "Welcome to our humble Dance."
The Lifegiver Grotto was all the much more radiant and potent with the giving of life to the Alneh now that a new God had been welcomed.
Leolik nodded to the two spirits. “Eras’s hubris is great, and he has hardened his heart to almost the point of no return. My prophet conveys my warnings to him as we speak, but he will not heed my voice. Though I protect Gaia from his fury with my outstretched hand, and my champions stand against his titans, I will only stand against his authority for so long.
“If the stones will not be retrieved, then a plan of redemption for Gaia must be written into the Weave - a plan that will release her from Eras’s yoke.”
“If the stones will not be retrieved, then a plan of redemption for Gaia must be written into the Weave - a plan that will release her from Eras’s yoke.”
"The champions have been called," Atargatis continued as if he had no ears, when he knew the fate of Gaia truly rest in the hand of her children, and the Champions. Tartarea grew dark and disappeared. With him the twilight glimmer faded. Empyrea frowned after him, then after a moment her astral eyes grew wide as the moon. She too grew dark and disappeared back to her waters.
When Atargatis spoke of Champions, he was not just speaking of those native to Gaia. When Gaia, the planet, sent out her call, he felt it brisk by his spacial mass. Atargatis had no doubt the call would reach those from other realms - just as he remembered a different type of call reached other realms not so long ago.
Atargatis pondered on this, before finally speaking up again to Leolik.
"Redemption, is for the guilty. Of what guilt should Gaia be redeemed?"
When Atargatis spoke of Champions, he was not just speaking of those native to Gaia. When Gaia, the planet, sent out her call, he felt it brisk by his spacial mass. Atargatis had no doubt the call would reach those from other realms - just as he remembered a different type of call reached other realms not so long ago.
Atargatis pondered on this, before finally speaking up again to Leolik.
"Redemption, is for the guilty. Of what guilt should Gaia be redeemed?"
Leolik smiled upon Atargatis. “Redemption can be offered to all who serve under the yoke of Death - either redemption from transgression by forgiveness and repentance, or redemption from a cruel master to a loving one.
“By cosmic law, as written from the dawn of creation, a daughter lives under the authority and protection of her father until the day she leaves his house and joins with her husband. In this sense, she is redeemed from her father and into the embrace of the bridegroom - who takes on the role of protector and provider to his new bride. The father no longer holds sway over the daughter, having relinquished his authority to the bridegroom in exchange for a bride price.
“Tell me, Atargatis.” Leolik looked from the celestial spirit to the grotto’s pool, “Can Eras be convinced to release his control over Gaia? Is he willing to bargain?”
“By cosmic law, as written from the dawn of creation, a daughter lives under the authority and protection of her father until the day she leaves his house and joins with her husband. In this sense, she is redeemed from her father and into the embrace of the bridegroom - who takes on the role of protector and provider to his new bride. The father no longer holds sway over the daughter, having relinquished his authority to the bridegroom in exchange for a bride price.
“Tell me, Atargatis.” Leolik looked from the celestial spirit to the grotto’s pool, “Can Eras be convinced to release his control over Gaia? Is he willing to bargain?”
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