STORY

STORY

A WALK IN THE WOODS
[Wind Waker Ambiance - Forest Haven]
"Hey, thanks folks for coming to help me gather some potion ingredients in the fey woods!"
"I mean, like. You guys are technically Drakken slaves, but I don't agree with slavery, so I'm going to pretend like that's not happening and you all agreed to come with me of your own free will."
"At least working with me is better than being in that horrible field!"
Joshua
2025-10-01 22:13:10
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:17:24
"It's really no problem! I'm always happy to help a friend!" He does a little bow, trying to come off as being silly.
Sal nods silently, full of acknowledgement. Indeed, it'd be better to help than to be stuck in those fields.
"Hmmm, hmm. Anything to see more of this terrible forest."
"Perhaps it's odd to say I find myself drawn to it despite knowing its dangers!... Eh heh."
"I, guess the woods are better than the former... At least there's more space."
"You really wanna see more of this stupid forest? I mean, this place kind of sucks! The last time I was here all I get was this stupid thing!" The child points to a fey keeping lookout from one of the branches above.
"Bonded to a suffering creature. Your disdain is understood, and yet I feel no shame over it. The punishment I inflict on others by my mere existence is not forgiven."
"...Felt"
"LIKE, COME ON, I WANTED A COOL FEY, NOT WHATEVER THIS IS!"
"I don't even think it eats people!"
Joshua
2025-10-01 22:23:44
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:26:44
"Ah! So that's a Fey! How interesting! I've been overhearing stories about these while passing by!" He stares up at the Fey, giving it a small wave.
"It's not INTERESTING, stupid! It's actually VERY BORING!"
"Are they...good stories?" His eyes are towards the Fey, yet he's asking Joshua.
"More on the uh...gruesome side of things to be honest, but it's still interesting! Never heard of anything like them before!"
" 'I don't even think it eats people', and you wonder if the stories of the fey would ever be good?!"
"Hmm hmmmm pal, I fear not much that lives in the woods ever ends up to be particularly 'good'."
Cúno the Fool
2025-10-01 22:27:17
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Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:28:31
"I'd never say no to a forest 'expidition', though! Hee hee! Any dangers foreseen just makes it more - hmm - fun, to explore!"
"True, even if its not all good, there's bound to be something interesting lurking around. Such surprises being what little joy in life one can derive."
"That is fair..." Says the guy who would camp in other, less dangerous woods sometimes.
"There exist joyful stories of fey. A fey can help one find their expression in life. A smile. A laugh. A warm hug upon the heart. Many fey can show you these emotions, but I am not one of those. Born without a smile or cry, I feel nothing but an empty void of which I do not even attempt to crawl myself out of."
"But in that way, I am not a fey who can trick you. I am only a fey that can abuse you via your own hopes and dreams for my improvement."
Fey of Mourning
2025-10-01 22:30:08
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:30:59
"Unless you wish to know how to smile, a fake smile, even in the worst of times."
"It's a skill that would have saved quite a few, I fear."
"Oh, I don't need that...I already...." He mumbles something.
"Are you really sure there is zero happiness in your life? No fey whimsy? Nothing at all? Not even for the briefest of moments?"
The fey of mourning slinks down its tree and towards Joshua. "You....I have nothing to teach you. I see it in your heart. You have already mastered the expression of lies."
"Yeah, well maybe you should be his stupid fey if you're going to compliment him like that!"
"Huhu...How interesting..."
"There is no happiness in my life, nor suffering. I live as I am. Any flickers of happiness that I have chased have always been a lie."
"Once I grasp it, I break it like glass. I destroy kindness given to me, and its shards dig deep in my hands."
"It is better to never expect anything of value to come forth in my life, than to honor and wish for it like a deity."
"Happiness... something unattainable yet always tempting to pursue..." Something she knew all too well.
The fey looks to Wendell. "So many souls I sense today that understand the pit that I sleep in every night."
"When you look upwards from the pit in your heart, do you see the stars? Or have even clouds taken away that joy?"
"Perhaps even the shards of kindness can form a mosaic of love..." He pauses, trying to think of what to say and how to answer that question. "I, for one, can see a few specks...remnants, if you will..."
Joshua was going to come up with another lie, a cover up, but instead he keeps his mouth shut. He glances almost frantically at Sal.
"Alas, sometimes the faintest of sparkles can be gleaned, under the right circumstances, yet it forever remains obscured."
He looks back at Joshua. His expression is blank, but his eyes say, It's alright.
The Unnamed Child pushes the fey onto the ground and steps on its back.
"THIS IS NOT A FUCKING THERAPY SESSION. I'M LIKE. NINE YEARS OLD AND YOU GUYS ARE SERIOUSLY BUMMING ME OUT!!!!"
"LOOK IF I DON'T KEEP UP THE LIE THAT I'M A WIZARD, ME AND MY DADS ARE D.E.A.D. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS????"
Unnamed Child
2025-10-01 22:42:19
Unnamed Child Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:42:58
"TOTALLY DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"And you don't see me depressed about it. So get over it!"
Joshua
2025-10-01 22:43:11
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:43:48
"Ah! Sorry sorry I..." he puts his hands in his pockets, "...Sorry, yes, okay, we must focus on the task at hand!"
"Oh... Sorry... I'll shut up..." Probably more useful that way
He doesn't seem to have a problem with that, but it'll stress everyone else out so he has to focus.
Cúno the Fool
2025-10-01 22:45:04
Cúno the Fool Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:45:43
Cúno the Fool quickly picked up a joyous tune on his lute - its bright and 'major' sound clashing with the thick gloom surrounding them. Not that he cared, actually he loves playing music!!!
Wendell perks up a bit from the tune, not full on joyous it but, any music at this point helps her be, at a neutral state at least.
Unnamed Child
2025-10-01 22:50:05
Unnamed Child Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:50:55
The child sits on the back of the fey and pulls out a map. "Ok lets see......We got this special like, plant to find? Called "Tears of children" or something. The weird fey told me it was needed for this potion that makes Drakkens get over grief of dead sons or whatever. I dunno why I gotta make this thing, but bosses orders! I need you guys to pick where's the best spot to hunt for this." The unnamed child flips over the map. It is written in crayon and has the following locations on it.

  1. That weird place with all the broken buildings around it. (BORING!!! HE LOCKED THE DOOR!!!)

  2. Forest of red lights.

  3. Big big big big big rock!!!!

  4. I don't know this one just has dead body parts all over.

  5. Seeeeecret Federation base but they suck at hiding it. Idiots.

"...Dead bodies...don't want that...Might be too stressful..."
"This is true! But it sounds like a place something like Tears of children would be grown in..."
Joshua
2025-10-01 22:53:55
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:54:23
"Maybe..the lights? That sounds like a spot for a plant so interesting as well!"
"Danger does seem to yield the best rewards... yet it could also just be meaningless suffering."
"What joy in life is there without dissonance?"
"What joy in life is there without tension?!"
"(.................)"
"I'm just saying the dead bodies could be, heh heh, fun."
Cúno the Fool
2025-10-01 22:57:03
Cúno the Fool Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:59:36
"Just imagine the animals we may see!... Not that it particularly matters, plants are just as nice, too, I've found..."
Joshua
2025-10-01 22:56:54
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-01 22:57:20
"Well...it seems the dead bodies is the main consensus!"
"It seems so, yes..."
"You people are crazy. You seriously don't want to look in a place without dead bodies in it?????"
"Bodies do make decent fertilizer though..."
"Whatever. If a big monster comes to kill us, you guys jump in front of me, ok?"
"I'm the youngest, and also not a slave right now, so I have much more to live for."
"All right, sounds good to me! Lets carry on then, lead the way!"
The team follows the Unnamed Child into some of the deepest parts of the fey woods.
[Eldritch Nightmare]
2025-10-01 23:05:41
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-01 23:06:16

The pet of Wendell, Tomooo, is [too smart] to go deeper after it starts seeing dead bodies. It turns and flees.

"COWARD!!!!! IT'S NOT EVEN THAT SCARY!"
"...Figures"

A beast falls out of a tree. Its body has been mangled.

"Uh...."
Unnamed Child
2025-10-01 23:08:09
Unnamed Child Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-01 23:08:21
"Mmmmmmm um...I'.......I'm not scared! But if you guys want to go somewhere else, this is our last chance, ok???????"
"Urk-" A strangled yelp is held back in fear of alerting whatever did that to this unfortunate creature.
The beast falling makes Sal instinctively go in front of the rest, as if to shield them.
"It'll just be quick! In and out! All we need is a plant, nothing too crazy!" He refuses to look at the disfigured corpse.
His confidence seeped from him quickly, his music growing haphazard and clumsy. "It's not... the worst thing I've ever seen. Terrible forests with terrible manglings..."
"I say they don't call me a fool for no reason! Maybe whatever predator lurks will be offput by my music! Ha, ha."
"Yeah...uh...in and out. Easy peasy......" The unnamed child looks around before seeing an odd flower. "Hey....do you think those are what we're looking for? They're crying!"

A corpse twitches, still holding on to life by anomalous means. Flowers that grow into it cry, as if they fear something horrible.

Joshua
2025-10-01 23:15:29
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-01 23:15:48
"Ah! That must be what we're looking for!" Joshua approaches the body, trying his hardest to focus only on the flowers and not the corpse they were growing out of.
Cúno the Fool
2025-10-01 23:15:51
Cúno the Fool Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2025-10-01 23:18:23
"(Ooooh, this one's actually kind of pretty!...) Eh, yes, I'd reckon 'Tears of Children' would grow out of such an... Innocent thing!"
On edge, Wendell can't help but glance about everywhere, a feeble attempt to detect definite danger, whatever caused all this.
Sal himself twitches a bit, but moves towards the body and the flowers growing out of it.
Wendell rolls a 20 sided die. An 11 is rolled.
Wendell notices that there was something horribly wrong with the tree they all stood under.

It wasn't a tree. But a large horrible camimo. A beast known for tearing people apart to let them rot in the open air. The camimo was getting its large thorns ready to attack everyone on the team. Had Wendell not taken the time to look up, there would have been no way for anyone to escape the attack.

"Guys..." is all Wendell can manage to squeak out, frantically pointing up to try and warn them.
He looked up - something he would later terrorise himself over not doing earlier - as his music halted that very second. The idea of a man-eating tree was not necessarily foreign to him, though seeing one in person was... Exhilarating, maybe.
The nameless child follows Wendell's hand, and looks up at the many eyes and thorns pointed at all of them. "RUN!!!" She screams as she scrambles out of the path of the camimo.
Cúno the Fool
2025-10-01 23:26:29
Cúno the Fool Profile
Posted by ID #53
Last edit: 2025-10-01 23:28:35
"Yes, yes, I look into the mouth of the beast, and realise... Hmmm, maybe I'll be off to live another day!" Despite his freezing feelings he knew his music would not quell the thing - and off he ran! He ran as fast as one may expect a prey-thing to run, weaving through the surroundings as best he could...
Joshua
2025-10-01 23:26:46
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-01 23:26:56
In an instant, Joshua grabs Sal and drags him out from under the Camimo.
"Wait-!" It's too late, he's already being dragged off.
Wendell may not have an enviable life, but it was still a life worth living, thus she scrambled away as fast as her legs (and arms) could muster.
Camimo of the Woods
Everyone flees from under the camimo as its spikes shoot out, impaling the floor. The only thing it manages to strike is the mangled corpse, which it reels back into its body. The creature rubs its many hands together, as if plotting, before it calmly begins pacing towards the unnamed child, arms reaching out to grab her.
Unnamed Child
2025-10-01 23:33:45
Unnamed Child Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-01 23:34:08
"Yo-YOU GUYS HELP ME OUT!!!! THESE LEGS AREN'T LONG ENOUGH TO OUTRUN A FUCKING TREE!!!!"
Sal, wriggling off Joshua's grip, climbs up his thornhead. "Come on!"
Sal rides towards the camimo and attempts to grab the Unnamed Child.
Sal rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +3. A 21 is rolled.
Sal's Thornhead rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +3. A 17 is rolled.
Camimo of the Woods
2025-10-01 23:43:09
Camimo of the Woods Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-01 23:43:21
As soon as Sal and his thornhead are within its sight, the beast shoots out another round of long spikes. Sal is prepared for this, and expertly turns his steed away at the last moment. The camimo's thorns impale themselves into a tree. It struggles to reel them back in, but it appears to be horribly stuck, and unable to move. Sal picks up the Unnamed Child and places her on his thornhead.
The child brings her hands up to her mask. For all the bravo she put on before, she starts crying. "I....I thought I was going to die and never see my dad....and...and my second dad ever again!!!!" Tears begin to leak from under her mask.
The fey of Mourning collects the tears in a bottle.
"DUDE WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!?!!? I'M LIKE. GOING THROUGH SOME FUCKING TRAUMA HERE AND YOU'RE COLLECTING MY TEARS LIKE A FREAK!!!!!!"
"I told you, we needed tears of children for the potion, which could be found in the forest. As you see, we found it."
"EXCUSE ME FOR NOT REALIZING YOU WERE BEING FUCKING LITERAL! I THOUGHT IT WAS A FANCY FLOWER NAME!"
Sal
2025-10-01 23:44:12
Sal Profile
Posted by ID #103
Last edit: 2025-10-01 23:56:45
"Someone grab that corpse, now!"
He's steering the thornhead, signaling for the others to follow. It's too dangerous here.
Joshua follows Sal out, looking back at Wendell, but knowing that staying would just make everything worse.
As she ran, the whole reason for this expedition crossed Wendell's mind. Realizing it would be all for naught if they left empty-handed, Wendell looked back, and seeing the, position the camimo finds itself in, attempts to retrieve what she believes they were still missing.
Wendell obtains the twitching corpse filled with flowers.
"Pal! Pal! Throw that thing to me, and I'll run my way back to the entrance - where we met the wizard!"
Adrenaline coursing through, Wendell chucks the corpse at the fool, hoping that this truly was what was needed. But something keeps her from running away immediately...
The velocity of the rabbit almost sends him tumbling despite his considerable height (5')! Though he regained his footing and left their sight, careening through the foliage as if he knew this forest well.
Wendell
2025-10-02 00:01:01
Wendell Profile
Posted by ID #262
Last edit: 2025-10-02 16:25:38
Leaving this dangerous creature here, seemed, too risky. Others may meet the same grizzly fate that almost befell them. If only one could lead it away, to somewhere that it couldn't harm any others... Or, if one made it so that it wouldn't...
Letting her impulses take the lead, Wendell attempts to hum a familiar tune as loud as she could towards the creature, away from the others and not too close to it. Noticeably muffled, she unzips her mask to let the sound travel better, in a wavering but resolute tone. Such a bad idea but alas too late for doubts, she resigned herself to whatever fate had in store.
Wendell rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of -3. A 13 is rolled.
Even as the Camimo of the Woods pulls itself away from the tree, Wendell does not flee.
Camimo of the Woods
The creature seems perplexed by the noise. It's not the sharp screaming everyone else makes when they see it. In fact it's something delightful. It gets closer and closer to Wendell to hear it better. Even as it reaches to touch Wendell's head, Wendell continues to hum.

The Camimo of the Woods does not believe Wendell is food anymore. Food runs, food flees, and food has a piercing voice that drives it mad. Wendell was something else. Something it loved. As Wendell backs away, it follows, gathering up body parts it had hoarded for the road. The Camimo of the Woods has been tamed.
Back at the Drakken wizard tower.....
[Areias do Tempo]
"Man, what a lame adventure. I think that oomn or whatever like, totally froze up and died, but what's worse is that YOU TOLD ME YOU WOULDN'T TRICK ME, BUT YOU DID!!!!" The child accuses the fey.
"My apologizes for my words. I told you to get tears of children. I had assumed the direction was clear."
"When you see me doing something wrong, you should tell me next time, idiot!"
"Who am I, an idiot, to judge when things are wrong?"
Sal decides to tap the fey on the shoulder. "I have...questions for you, fey. Many to ask...not enough time..."
Fey of Mourning
2025-10-02 00:26:14
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-02 00:27:52
"You may ask them while I assist the child with potion making." The fey notes as it grabs the carefully gathered ingredients, handing them to the child as she demands.
"You mentioned...a while ago...of stories about the fey. Joyful ones."

He pauses.

"Would it be too much...to inquire if there is a shard of happiness..."
"...That fills your heart with longing?"
"No." It states plainly.
Unnamed Child
2025-10-02 00:30:41
Unnamed Child Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-02 00:30:57
"Yeah, super dumb question, dude. It makes it known all the time that it has a huuuuuuuge void in its heart. It's not HAPPY nor SAD. Dumb dumb!"
Joshua
2025-10-02 00:35:21
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-02 00:36:10
"Is there really nothing of note? No anecdotes about living all your life as a Fey? Just a void?"
"CAN YOU GUYS STOP ASKING STUPID QUESTIONS. IT'S NO! NO! NO!!!!!!!"
"You think I would hate this thing if it had a single happy thing to talk about????? There's nothing happy, nothing sad. Nothing nothing!"
"I'm a hopeless spirit. While I have wandered this world for ages, there is nothing to note, no joys-"
"-no sadness! Nothing!" The child mocks.
Unnamed Child
2025-10-02 00:40:21
Unnamed Child Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-02 01:51:56
"All this dude knows is how to feel like nothing, and also how to make ancient potions. That's it, and I don't even think that second part is special. I think any super old fey could do that."
"...Child, do you have plans for this fey once that potion is done?" He asks, peeking. "My friend, Joshua. I do not believe...I will be able to stick with him for long as there is plenty of work to do..."

"He could use some company afterwards...don't you think?"
"Joshua, would you like a new friend?"
"MY FEY IS NOT FOR FUCKING OFFER! I OFFERED YOU GUYS IN THE WOODS EARLIER, AND YOU ALL DIDN'T EVEN SAY A THING!"
"If I knew you wanted a sucky fey, I would have been like "yeah sure, let's go to the weird guy's place and steal another fey, that'd be great."
"BUT I. ONE, NEED A FEY. I'M THE WIZARD. HELLO!!! AND TWO. I'M NOT FUCKING GOING BACK INTO THE WOODS WHEN THAT BIG TREE MIGHT STILL BE THERE TO EAT ME!"
"Why are you guys so interested in this stupid thing anyway? I'm LITARALLY A DRAKKEN WIZARD MAKING POTIONS, and you're like-"
"Oh my goooooooosh, dude with no feelings, no happiness or sadness, please tell me more about how you don't feel anything in your soul!!!!!"
He very slightly has regret over rescuing this child.
"This is common. I've known many people who see the emptiness within me as a challenge to overcome. To tame. They believe if they keep asking, if they keep trying, they will find these feelings which I lack."
"This is why.......I like being your fey, child. You are not attempting to fix me."
Unnamed Child
2025-10-02 00:49:31
Unnamed Child Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-02 00:51:11
"Gross. Never say "like" to me again." The fey's head raises ever so slightly. Maybe it's the closest thing to happiness it can express.
"Who are these other people that you knew? Can you tell us about at least one of them?"
"There are too many names. Happiness, Celebration, Joy, Sorrow, Growth, Withering, these are just a few names of emotions that have tried to help me. Of emotions I've let down, over and over. I do not want to be helped. No. I cannot be helped." It hops to one leg, and does a slow twirl. A fey dance. As the two watched, they felt ill, a despair washes over them.
"I am the fey of Mourning. Though there is no corpse before me. As such, I am nothing, from birth, to death."
"Growth...what an interesting name to have tried and help..."
Joshua
2025-10-02 01:05:57
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-02 21:32:02
"Can you tell me more about Growth? If you could?"
"They told me many things about themselves."
"If I was a better person, I would have cared to listen."
"But I am not."
"Sounds like they were FUCKING BORING and you were in the right to ignore them!"
Unnamed Child
2025-10-02 01:09:45
Unnamed Child Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-02 01:53:48
"JUST LIKE HOW THESE TWO ARE REALLY PUTTING ME TO SLEEP. LIKE COME ON, I GAVE YOU A FUCKING HINT THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULD PAY A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO THE WIZARD, BUT YOU GUYS GOT 1 BRAIN CELL BETWEEN YOU TWO, CARING ABOUT A LITTLE 3 FOOT FAIRY DUDE WHO HAS TOLD YOU.

OVER!
AND OVER!!!!!!
THAT IT JUST WANTS TO BE NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"So leave before I wake up my dad to rip you into little itty bitty pieces."
Joshua
2025-10-02 01:11:16
Joshua Profile
Posted by ID #64
Last edit: 2025-10-02 21:31:30
"Oh okay! Goodbye! Bye! I hope you save your dads!!!" He rushes to the door, but looks back to signal to Sal to follow him.
"Have a good life." He says, plainly, before taking the rabbit and following Joshua. Seems like he doesn't want to cause trouble, either...
At least something came out of it.
"People keep trying to fix what cannot be repaired...."
Unnamed Child
2025-10-02 01:13:49
Unnamed Child Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-10-02 01:17:16
The child picks up a box and flips it on top of the fey. "Nighttime. I'll take it off when I actually want to hear you talk, dumb dumb."
Off in the woods, if one keeps quiet and carefully listens, one could swear they could hear the faint sound of humming intermingled with creaking branches and swaying leaves.
No one is typing.