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>>37661221

For the moment you take in her features, and she takes in yours. She stands about a head shorter than you. Her hair is short, just past her chin, and is light brown in color. The gentle and smooth features of her face contrast with the focus present in her dark brown eyes.

She relents and returns her arrow to her quiver, and you reciprocate the action by sheathing your sword.

Since she acted first with her weapon you decide to act first with your words. “I’m Ed, that was quite the skilled shot,…” You pause to allow her to introduce herself.

She closes the distance between you and extends her left hand. You shake it awkwardly with your own, entirely unused to performing the action with your left.

“I’m Reina.” Her voice soft, contrasting with the intensity of her eyes. “It was certainly…brave of you to try to take on that creature on your own.” She looks behind you for a moment. “More introductions?”

At that moment you hear your group stop behind you. You step aside to allow them to introduce themselves to the new stranger.

After finishing the last of her pleasantries, Reina immediately turns back to you. “If I may ask, Ed. For what reason are you traveling that way to the next piece?”

You’re caught off guard on her knowledge of this world, and wonder briefly where she may have obtained it.

>Answer honestly.

>Lie/ Be vague

>Write in

>>37661245
>Answer honestly.
You haven't run into a man who teleports and wields a metal rod that issues explosions have you?

>>37661245
>Answer honestly

>>37661245
>Answer honestly
Ask her where she learned about the pieces.

Also heya auri!

>>37661284
>>37661347
>>37661384
>Writing
Hello everyone!

>>37661405
Hi Auri managed to catch this on my day off, so I am hype right now.

>>37661433
Great, today is set up to have some interesting things happen, so I'm glad you're here!

>>37661405

You regain your composure and hope that she didn’t catch anything. “Simply put, we want to leave this world. We figured the best way to do that would be to find where the sorceress resides.”

She closes her eyes briefly and raises a finger in the air. “You honestly think…” She pauses to choose her words. “You think that you can leave this world?”

“Yes.” You answer confidently and simply as the leader of your group, not letting your doubt show.

Reina scoffs. “Be logical! You’ve seen what this world is capable of.” She indicates the corpse of the hulking beast behind you.” She gestures with her hands aggressively. “What would compel you to drag all of them into what this insane world considers ‘the dangerous part’?”

Her tirade both annoys and confuses you. You breathe deeply to not let your emotions affect your response. “Every member of my group acts upon their own free will.” You answer flatly. “I already answered the rest of your question, we want to leave this insane world.”

Her response is almost instantaneous. “There is no leaving this world, only making due.” She looks to the rest of your group. “Surely the rest of you have more sense than him. There is a more peaceful piece to the south of here. Why not live there?”

Cecilia gives no answer, she simply pets the pup waiting for when it’s time to move on again. Erin glares at Reina, a cold and hostile stare that more than suffices as an answer.

“We’re fine where we are.” Autumn shoots back at her.

“You’re planning to set up camp on a sinking ship.” Vi responds to her question.

An intense feeling of satisfaction washes over you, forcing you to suppress a grin. A battle that you’re losing just as Reina turns her gaze back to you.
[1/2]

>>37662296

“Idiot.” She sighs and begins to walk off.

Vi has a hearty laugh and her comment.

“Wait.” You call out firmly and she stops. “You got your questions answered, now let have the same.”

Reina remains silent, but doesn’t move on, so you begin. “Where did you get all your information about the pieces?”

She sighs and resigns to answer your questions. “A masked merchant. W-“ She hesitates for a fraction of a second. “I traded for information and items.”

A likely source, you concede in your mind, but aim to address any doubts. “You haven’t run into a large man who teleports and wields a metal rod capable of killing people?” You ask.

“What?” She sounds genuinely confused. “No, I haven’t.”

“Fair enough.” You respond.

“You had your questions, now I’m going on my way.” She begins to march off.

The green cloth on her armor billows behind her as she walks into the increasingly dark valley.

>Let her go.

>Stop her. (Write in with what to say.)

>Write in.

>>37662312
>let her go

>>37662312
>Stop her. This world is falling apart all of it a little at a time, magic failing, structures breaking, things dying. There will be no safe places soon. Vi knows this, the guardian of this fragment knew it, I know it. if you wish to have the world collapse upon you fine, roll over and die. As for me, I plan to continue. Better to strive and fail than give in.

>>37662312
>>37662385
This is good. I'm putting my vote behind it.

>>37662312
>>37662385
Seconded

>>37662385
>>37662445
>>37662454
>Writing

>>37662472

You can’t let her give up without a fight. “Stop!” You call out but she doesn’t listen. You suppress cursing at her and continue. “This whole world is falling apart, little by little!” You walk after her to keep her hearing your words. “Magic failing, structures breaking, things dying…”

You quicken your pace. “There will be no safe places soon! The guardian of this fragment knew it. I know it.” You stop as she continues to walk off. Anger builds up in your chest. “If you wish to have the world collapse on you, fine! Roll over and die!” You shout out.

“As for me, I plan to continue. Better to strive and fail than to just give in.” You finish.

She stops next to the corpse of the recently slain beast and remains there unmoving. Finally she yanks the arrow from its head and marches back to you.

Her anger is clear in her movement, you’re half convinced she’s going to attack you until she stops just inches away from your face.

“You have no idea…” She responds voice quaking with cold fury. “Go on, bring them to the next piece.” Her dark eyes stare deep into your own. “Bring them along with your hopes and dreams of continuing.” Her words begin to shake. “Find what terrible things are there…” Her eyes begin to tinge pink. “And when you and they are crying out, begging anyone for the sweet release of death TELL THEM THAT IT WAS WORTH IT!”

She turns around without another word and marches away. Her words leave you speechless, you simply watch as she walks away. All her words race in your mind for the reason why she has given up so completely, perhaps it’s better not to know.

>Try one last time. (Write in.)

>Let her go.

>Write in

>>37663089
>Let her go
She had a group once, probably, and lost them. Let her wallow in her sorrow.

>>37663089
>You ran into the source of the guardian of this fragment's illusions didn't you? You lost a friend or friends. You've given up. I won't there may be nightmares and monsters there but I've seen and killed such thngs before. I've felled a guardian in combat. I may be afraid by I will not let my fear become cowardice, I will not let my friends die here because I feared what lay around the corner. If my death is the price of their safety and freedom it will be paid. No monster or demon will stop me.

>>37663209
See, I got more of the impression that she was in the other piece. If true for all we know we should be following her lead lol

>>37663284
I did too next fragment is likely beauty of darkness or beauty of dreams/nightmares.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>37663174
>>37663209
Was hoping for another vote, but writing the winner

God dammit. The thread updater didn't light up for me.

>>37663325
Wait these pieces have themes? I thought that they were just places filled with assholes
What's this pieces theme?

>>37663417
Beauty of the desert duh. Harsh, austere, forbidding, but warm and bright. Each fragment was basically an idealized version of a type beauty in the land. The first was the forest, colorful, temperate, calm and serene

>>37663469
Oh, I thought that they had to do with faults with the wardens, thus the sorceress. Like the first piece was the fault of pride, and this one is like the fault of duty or something, I'm not quite sure yet

>>37663525
Know the failings of the wardens affect and diminish the beauty of the fragment. Auri's work is pretty heavy on detail and symbolism.
Forest guy's pride caused the forest to be ill, Pretty sure the desert warden was sloth. There are 6 fragments and the sorceress' mian hold which equals 7 so we're likely to see the seven deadlies affect on the land in a fisher king sense.

>>37663606
Archive says there are 6 pieces in total, but I still like that theory

>>37663673
6 pieces and The sorceress is in the center and likely has her own home/tower being the seventh. I'm guessing here. We'll see I guess.

>>37663364

The green cloths of her armor billow smaller and smaller. Soon she fades from sight completely leaving you with nothing else to do but return to your group and venture onwards.

The sun hangs low in the sky, leaving your group with little time left to travel. Already the moon has appeared, but not in its traditional color that it takes in this piece. It blurs into view taking on the deep color of rust, hanging in view as your group ventures toward the next piece, getting closer and closer.

~

A grouping of small boulders is the sight of your group’s camp tonight. The small pup ambles in between all your group member. It’s in better health than when you first found it, but it still walks around shakily.

The events of the day has left you exhausted and you feel like doing little more than watching the pup go from your position sitting with back towards a boulder. You’re pondering over Reina’s words describing the dangers of this world when someone settles down next to you.

You lazily look to your side to see Cecilia staring back at you.

“Heya, Ed. Been a while since we talked just between the two of us.” She smiles her carefree smile.

“It has.” You respond balancing between not wanting to be rude and being plain tired. “Something on your mind?”

“Not really…” She answers seeming distracted, but then something comes to her mind. “Oh yeah, I remember what you told me happened with Talrith.” She pauses for a moment. “It was really sad.” She looks back at you. “I don’t blame you or anything like that, it’s just…” She trails off. “Do you think that duty can be a bad thing?”
[1/2]

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>>37664300

A heavier question that you were hoping to be asked. “Hmm.” You say aloud as you think about it.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.” She reassures you. “Instead…” She looks around for something to help her think of a question. “Oh right! What do you think of Ed’s name?” She points to the pup.

“Ed?” You ask incredulously. “You actually listened to Vi and named it Ed?”

“Yeah!” She answers enthusiastically. “But I was thinking that it might get confusing…What do you think? Should I come up with a different name?”

>Let it keep the name.

>Have her name it something else.

&

>Answer yes to her question about duty.

>Answer no to her question about duty.

>Don’t answer the question.

>Write in.

>>37664325
>Have her name it something else.
If only because people might start thinking I'm a dog, or in two places at once. It'd be confusing. Maybe Lucky?

>Answer yes to her question about duty.
It can be, any ideal or devotion followed blindly can be turned to malicious ends. A sword must have some flexibility to not shatter against it's target.

>>37664325
>Have her name it something else.
&
>Don't answer the question.
I have a bad feeling.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>37664410
>>37664494
>Have her name it something else.
&
Rolling for the second part.That should probably stop as we get further along...

>>37664538
Well we still have one late anon and that spoiler is putting me ill at ease. As does her picture for some reason.

>>37664538

You lightly chuckle and shake your head. “Name it something else. It’s bound to get confusing eventually, and I’d be glad to avoid any association with being a dog, lest Vi find something else to entertain herself with.”

“That makes sense.” She replies. “If not Ed, then hmm…” She thinks deeply for a new name.

Many seconds go by without her saying anything other than voicing sounds of thought so you decide to move on.

You briefly consider answering her question about duty but choose not to, it already looks like she’s long forgotten about it, probably.

Your body lets out a yawn which you’re quick to cover to not be impolite.

“Ah, I forgot that you’ve been up all day.” Cecilia stands up quickly, her dress flowing the same direction she does. “Good night, Ed. See you in the morning, probably.” She flicks her head to side and smiles.

You laugh lightly at her dark joke. “Good night, Cecilia.”

~

An oppressive darkness engulf your whole body, concealing from view even from your own eyes. You cannot move, you cannot speak, there’s nothing that lets you know that you even exist other than the thought perceiving all of this nothingness.

Then, a familiar voice echoes around you. “Ed!” A woman’s voice calls out to you happily.

The sound is perfectly clear, and you perceive it all from beginning to end.

You attempt to wrench your mouth open to speak, but it either will not listen to your commands or simply doesn’t exist at all.

“Ed, it’s time to go!” The voice calls out to you as blinding light fills into view.

You resist, desperately tugging away from it with every fiber of your current being, but the light gains ground and moves to overtake you.

The voice laughs, sweet notes that you thought you had forgotten. “We’re going to be late!”

Finally your mouth opens and your lungs fill with air instantaneously. You gasp and gulp terribly to regain your breath. Your mouth free to form words.

>”Who are you?”

>”Where am I?”

>Write in

>>37665192
>”Who are you?”
>”Where am I?”
>What is going on?

>>37665192
>"Who are you?"
Probably only enough time for one so im making it this one

>>37665192
>”Who are you?”

>>37665235
>>37665309
>>37665351
>Writing

>>37665379

The words are hard to form, but you struggle through it. “Who are you?” The voice sounds far away, as if someone else were speaking the words.

The voice is no longer crystalline, it fades further and further away with every syllable. “Don’t be silly Ed, I’m your—“

The sun fills your eyes as it begins to peak over the horizon. For a brief moment you think that you’re looking at the sunset, but then the memories of last night fill your head. As they do, something else leaves, you strain to remember what’s no longer there.

Angry with the cause seemingly just out reach only serves to frustrate you more. You rise to your knees to dispel the anger, the day has begun and it’s about time you and your group head out to leave this piece.

~

The immense and border spanning rock wall has served as your target for many hours. When you’re finally able to make out the gate to the next piece, the sun has just its journey downward.

“To be perfectly frank, Ed.” Vi chimes in from Autumn’s shoulder. “I never thought you would have made it this far.” She finishes with extra emphasis on the word “You.”

“Well, it wasn’t due to any of your help, Vi.” You shoot back quickly.

“What was that?” Vi leans forward and flashes you an annoyed look.

“Nothing, nothing.” You wave her off, not playing any more into her games.

The gate finally towers over your group. Its design reminds you slightly of Talrith’s fortress. A collection of stones make up a wall with a ladder leading to an archway. The archway itself contains the portal to the next piece.

You lead your group up the ladder to the clearing containing the archway. The portal is made of the same steaming mist that the last gateway had. Cecilia still pokes it with a large stick, only confirming what you already knew. The mist is deadly.

[1/2]

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>>37666205
You walk over to Erin who’s carrying the staff you inherited from Talrith and see that she’s already struggling to hold onto it as it vibrates in the gate’s presence.

You’re quick to shave off a slice of the staff’s shaft and present it to the gate. Upon impact, the gate turns a pale yellow color and the mist quickly dissipates.

The feeling among your group is much less tense than your last gate crossing.

“So…” Vi speaks up, “Ed first again?”

You sigh and resign yourself to your position, but Autumn steps forward.

“If you want Ed, I could go first.” She turns her head back to look at you and flashes you a grin. “You went first last time, so nobody’s going to think you’re a coward if you pass on this time.”

You think about Autumn’s proposition and can’t think of a reason why it matters who goes first. It’s likely to end up in the same result. Regardless a decision should be made soon as you can see the pale yellow aura begin to recede.

>Volunteer to go first.

>Let Autumn go first.

>Write in.

>>37666240
>Let Autumn go first.
I'll take rear then.

>Volunteer to go first.

>>37666240
>Volunteer to go first.
Leader leads.

>>37666269
>>37666299
>Writing

>>37666271
>>37666299
Meant to quote these two, but my brain did not compute at the moment, sorry.

>>37666410
It happens. We going to get split up?

>>37666433
If you're talking about the group you'll just have to wait and see~

>>37666467
Sometimes you can be scary auri, quit it you're supposed to be nice

>>37666467

You step in front of Autumn and face the portal. “No time to waste. Leaders lead afterall.”

“Wait, Ed.” Cecilia steps up with you with large stick in hand.

You open your hands already knowing that she means to give you it.

“Wow, how did you know?” She marvels at you as she hands it over.

“Lucky guess.” You reply and finally take a tentative step into the gate
.
The yellow aura surrounds weighs heavily on your body and severely dampens the sound of your own breathing. The instant the hand shaped scar breaches the portal, searing pain shoots throughout it. The pain ceases your movement and you fall to your knees. The weight on your chest keeps you from screaming in pain, and you desperately crawl pushing the thought of using your sword to end the pain from your mind. Just as you begin to make it through to the other side, the sound of man quickly chanting fills your ears, becomes louder and louder, and then stops.

[1/2]

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>>37667320

“It’s so beautiful!” Cecilia approaches from behind you and marvels at the sight in front of her.

Flowers, flowers of all colors extend for as far as the eye can see. Unlike the plants of the forest, those here are all orderly, and trimmed. In fact there aren’t any trees present that in the midst of flowering.

Structures are present everywhere giving you the impression that you’re on an estate, a far cry from the wild pieces you came through earlier. And above all else something floats into the ears, music. Music seems to emanating from the ground itself, a number of string instruments playing a lightly flowing melody.

You stand in awe. You didn’t know quite what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t this. You inhale deeply, reveling the sweet and subtle aroma of the flowers, but a more earthy smell catches your attention and you follow it to its source several feet away.

You’re moderately surprised you find it to be a large pile of compost. You briefly look through its contents of various leaves, old fruit, bone, dirt, of course, and chunks of flesh For some reason you know that the contents are unusual but your reaction to it seems dampened to mild curiosity.

A portion of the compost pile seems to be breathing, but you push aside some dirt only to find the skinned body of a man, still breathing. His limbs have been removed as well as most of his insides. You push more dirt to find his face, with exposed eyes boring into your own, unblinking. Some supernatural force is keeping him alive, since he should have been dead long ago. Without his flesh it’s hard to tell what emotion he would convey, but if he could, he’d probably be screaming.

>>37667359

Okay~ That's where I'm going to end it for today. Thank you very much to everyone that played today! If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them in the thread, and I will do my best to respond to them.

If not, then I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri
>(Previous threads)
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=otherworldly+arboretum

>>37667359
Thanks for running auri.
Any chance we can go back to first piece and go live out the rest of our lives there instead?

>>37667412
So did we run into a fae garden? Cause this sounds like a fae garden. Also are our friends still with us? Is the music familiar? Was the man's chanting familiar to us in act or in voice?

Thanks for running.

>>37667522
You're very welcome!
It's probably a little to late for that.
>>37667605
The exact type of garden is unknown right now, your friends are indeed still with you, the music is not familiar, but the man's chanting was the same voice you head last gate crossing.
Also you're very welcome!

I'm going to be stepping out now. Thanks again, everyone.