the greatest illusion in this world
#1
[html]
<style>#sieLoc td {vertical-align:top; text-align:center; padding:3px; font-size:11px; }
#sieLoc td.header { font-size:15px; }
#sieLoc #location{background-image:url('http://www.soulsrpg.com/images/BSMapPixels_subterr.jpg'); width:100px;height:100px;border:1px solid #000000;background-position:29% 12%;}
#sieLoc #pushpin{position:relative;left:40px;top:45px;}</style>

Setting Location Form NPCs
Location: Grand Lake, VN borders

Date: 06 July (backdated)

Weather: Clear, muggy and hot

Time: Mid-afternoon
Optime
--


(368) She's near the lake, if that's unclear. :> For Lilin.


The name alone had spiked her interest. Siv was not fluid in the old tongue, though she was capable of imitating and pronouncing the words correctly, and only recognized it was familiar. It had been lucky that the whisper of trade had come first, and given her an excuse to go. She had tacked up Hildr and, after a wash in the river and an application of Isbella’s most useful perfume, she smelled less like a pack wolf and more like a garden. This hadn’t been ideal and so she had further marred her scent by burning sweet-smelling sage, which now coated her in a smoky sort of scent that would block any indication of home. Even Hildr smelled like the smoke, which pleased Siv greatly.

Her path was an ambling one, skirting up towards the city. She hadn’t gone far before running into a small camp of wolves, and there made her trade. It had been for small things, and she was glad that they had agreed to hold onto the mewling kitten she had decided to get for her daughter. Riding with that thing would have been a nightmare, and she was glad to have thought ahead.

As she cut through Amherst, she noticed not one but two unique scents coming from the forest ahead. One was lower, and heavily wooded, while the other rolled down from the mountain and smelled musky despite the crisp air. Peculiar things, she thought, and traveled south.

Siv arrived on the borders on horseback, though she dismounted. Hildr’s headgear was removed and her saddle loosened. The mare immediately began to graze, and Siv dropped to lap up water from the lake. She stood and adjusted her cloak—her clothing was not typical. Boreas armor covered her body, as did a cloak taken from the fallen. It had been dyed a much darker shade and was black, save for the raven-banner sigil that she had carefully and delicately drawn and dyed white. It would serve as an appropriate disguise, she had reasoned, and allow her to tred the water lightly. Salsola’s values encouraged such protocol, and for a woman who was as silver-tongued as Loki himself, it was hardly a challenge.

<style>
#siv-thor {
font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;
font-size:14px;
width:95%;
margin:0px auto;
line-height:18px;
}
#siv-thor p {
text-indent:50px;
padding:0;
margin:10px 0;
}
#siv-thor p.siv-img {
text-align:center;
text-indent:0;
font-size:11px;
font-style:italic;
float:right; margin:5px;
}
#siv-thor .txtooc {
text-align:left;
font-size:12px;
font-family:georgia, serif;
text-transform:none;
font-style:italic;
font-weight:normal; }
#siv-thor .txtooc .word { font-weight:bold; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style:normal;}
#siv-thor b { letter-spacing:-.5px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; }
#siv-thor u { text-decoration: underline; }
#siv-thor b.npc { letter-spacing:.5px; font-style:italic; font-weight:normal; }
</style>[/html]
#2
[html]

(337) ohai, i backdate this to july 6th as discussed cuz can.


Lilin shuffled her feet in the rippling water that restlessly encircled her ankles; a guilty pleasure on a hot, sunny day. She had always been fond of the Grand Lake and its breathtaking beauty- as suspected by the Virding, Vinatta's lands had been blessed by the land wights. Although she would have wanted nothing more than to see one, their imperceptibility did not nullify their existence. Miskunn had done well as the pack's Godja, allowing the Soulstorm heir to carve Azathoth's flawed beliefs into a bigger, better religion. The road to redemption had been full of hardships - all of which she'd overcome thus far.


A chocolate lock whisped by her ear, carried by nature's scented sigh; a mixture of pine needles and wild flowers. Lilin took it all in with a deep inhale, delighting in the simple pleasures of life. A familiar floral perfume flowed through her nostrils with each breath, as it had every day since their arrival. Weeks prior, she'd been able to circle the entire lake on her afternoon walks but then a wind of change had blown their way, barring the western side of their most important landmark. Another group had settled there, their scented claim confining Vinatta to the seaside section of the Wabanaki Coast. She wasn't pleased about it, not quite understanding why a pack would be so bold as to settle this close.

While Saul had suggested not to stray in their direction nor start an argument over a claim that was technically legitimate, Lilin couldn't help but wander closer and closer. She had expected to run into one of them this far north, and not a resting passerby. Lilin froze momentarily, nose twitching with the potent smell of sage emanating from the ebony female and her grazing companion. The Virding couldn't very well turn back at this point, so she offered a hesitant wave of her hand in greeting. Small-talk would surely ensue and then both women would part, as was customary when crossing paths with a stranger.


<style type="text/css">
#lillin-1 .txtooc {
text-align:left;
font-size:12px;
font-family:arial, serif;
text-transform:none;
font-style:italic;
font-weight:normal; }
#lillin-1 .txtooc .word { font-weight:bold; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style:normal;}
#lillin-1 b { letter-spacing:-.5px; font-family: arial, serif; font-size: 11px; }.
#lillin-1 u { text-decoration: none; border-bottom:1px dotted #000000; }
#lillin-1 b.npc { letter-spacing:.5px; font-style:italic; font-weight:normal; }
#lillin-1 p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
#lillin-1 {margin:0px auto; width:80%; background-color:none; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/ijCRS.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:none; padding: 80px 0px 0px 0px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#111111; line-height:16px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>
[/html]
#3
[html]


yup yup, edited it in :>


The lake was calm, but Siv had seen many lakes before and knew that this was not always true. A storm could turn even something placid into a death trap, and an exhausted swimmer could sink to depths still dark and cold. It was not the sea, but water like this, it still held power. She suspected most people underestimated such places, but Siv suspected most people were fools to begin with.

Hildr’s ears flicked forward but she did not stop her grazing. Siv turned her gaze and spotted the approaching woman. At first, she imagined the darker half of her was caused by shadow; her coat was, Siv realized suddenly, spit in a peculiar fashion. Siv wondered if there was dog in her, as there was in Reykr and her own daughter, and suspected this might be the case given the sharp, piercing gaze she spotted even from this distance. Her whiskers curled up towards her muzzle as a smile twisted across it, and she lifted one hand (donned in a leather bracer she herself had made and decorated in the same pattern as her cloak) to return the greeting.

She adjusted her stance, showing she was aware of her size, and spoke only when the woman was close enough. “I hope I’m not too close to your borders,” she offered apologetically, certain that this was one half of the dominate scents that marked them. A couple, most likely, though she had been wrong about that when confronted with Salsola.

<style>
#siv-thor {
font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;
font-size:14px;
width:95%;
margin:0px auto;
line-height:18px;
}
#siv-thor p {
text-indent:50px;
padding:0;
margin:10px 0;
}
#siv-thor p.siv-img {
text-align:center;
text-indent:0;
font-size:11px;
font-style:italic;
float:right; margin:5px;
}
#siv-thor .txtooc {
text-align:left;
font-size:12px;
font-family:georgia, serif;
text-transform:none;
font-style:italic;
font-weight:normal; }
#siv-thor .txtooc .word { font-weight:bold; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style:normal;}
#siv-thor b { letter-spacing:-.5px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; }
#siv-thor u { text-decoration: underline; }
#siv-thor b.npc { letter-spacing:.5px; font-style:italic; font-weight:normal; }
</style>[/html]
#4
[html]

--


By the time an appropriate conversational distance was reached, a brief sweep of the woman's actions and attire had been executed. Her attention to detail was, more often than not, fueled by her curious nature and her nonsensical need to know everything. She was well aware that this personality trait of hers presented considerable risks, occasionally putting her at the mercy of the corrupt and their exploitation. Thankfully enough, her childhood had been filled with immorality. With her dam's parental mistakes and religious misguidance, she had acquired the uncanny ability to wiggle herself out of many problematic situations. Very little surprised her anymore, and that often made her too careless.


The ebony woman's greeting did not disappoint. Lilin returned a lopsided smile for good measure, enticed by her individuality- her size alone was uncustomary in comparison to the Virding's. "Close but not too close. I'm Lilin," she offered plainly, her tone of voice friendly yet distant. Mediterranean irises were still acknowledging the armor, cloak and leather worn on display before her; all of which soaked up most of her attention. "Do you hail from the west?" she theorized openly, her nose twitching lightly with the floral scent that appeared to point in that direction. Lilin could not associate the peculiar scent with any pack or group she'd come across, but her repertoire wasn't exactly extensive either.

<style type="text/css">
#lillin-1 .txtooc {
text-align:left;
font-size:12px;
font-family:arial, serif;
text-transform:none;
font-style:italic;
font-weight:normal; }
#lillin-1 .txtooc .word { font-weight:bold; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style:normal;}
#lillin-1 b { letter-spacing:-.5px; font-family: arial, serif; font-size: 11px; }.
#lillin-1 u { text-decoration: none; border-bottom:1px dotted #000000; }
#lillin-1 b.npc { letter-spacing:.5px; font-style:italic; font-weight:normal; }
#lillin-1 p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
#lillin-1 {margin:0px auto; width:80%; background-color:none; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/ijCRS.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:none; padding: 80px 0px 0px 0px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#111111; line-height:16px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>
[/html]
#5
[html]


yup yup, edited it in :>


It would be wise to know a woman like Siv Helsi for what she was. Isabella was the closest thing she had to an equal, but their talents were meant for opposing venues. Isabella could control the body, and Siv the soul—it was inevitable they be united yet remain divided. This helped Salsola’s function as a whole. While the dog soothed the King’s body, the wolf slowly tightened her grip on his spirit. Even if Sirius did not believe (and Siv doubted this, in the depths of her heart) he knew better than to underestimate the gods. Not after what she had shown him, many long nights ago.

The woman’s name was musical but otherwise meant nothing. Siv watched her look upon the armor, as modified as it was, and imagined she saw approval there. There was something telling about her work, even if this was not it—she certainly considered her own armor far better made, though she had been focused on so many other things that her projects had stalled some.

“I was,” she offered, but did not elaborate. “My name is Siv. I heard of your home…heard that your people keep to the old gods.” A pointed look came, searching, daring to hope.

<style>
#siv-thor {
font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;
font-size:14px;
width:95%;
margin:0px auto;
line-height:18px;
}
#siv-thor p {
text-indent:50px;
padding:0;
margin:10px 0;
}
#siv-thor p.siv-img {
text-align:center;
text-indent:0;
font-size:11px;
font-style:italic;
float:right; margin:5px;
}
#siv-thor .txtooc {
text-align:left;
font-size:12px;
font-family:georgia, serif;
text-transform:none;
font-style:italic;
font-weight:normal; }
#siv-thor .txtooc .word { font-weight:bold; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style:normal;}
#siv-thor b { letter-spacing:-.5px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; }
#siv-thor u { text-decoration: underline; }
#siv-thor b.npc { letter-spacing:.5px; font-style:italic; font-weight:normal; }
</style>[/html]
#6
[html]

--


''Siv,'' she repeated the name thoughtfully, pairing her silent contemplation with a head tilt. Her knowledge was nowhere near as extensive and in depth as the Godja's, but she recalled the second wife of beloved Thor bearing a name nearly identical to this woman's. A mere coincidence, perhaps. ''That's quite a name to live up to,'' she answered carefully, clearly bewildered by the passerby's inquiry. These conversations normally turned out one-sided, with non-believers (often too analytic for their own good) struggling to find a connection between faith and rationality. Miskunn often saw these situations as beneficial challenges, to which she usually responded in hopes of swaying her interlocutor's opinions. Lilin, on the other hand, did not make it her personal goal to convert foreigners.


This woman was different though. It couldn't have been just a coincidence - wherever she came from, whispers of Vinátta and its customs had found their way to her. ''Some of us, yes. Unfortunately, faith isn't as strong in the younger generations.'' The Stormbringers here in the Maritimes were nowhere near as devoted to the Gods as the elders living in Solbjorg. But with the Godja's guidance and determination, Lilin knew her family would follow in the right path. It was only a matter of time. She found herself wanting to know more about the raven visitor but not knowing where to start. ''What family do you belong to?'' she questioned warily, painfully aware that this female could've been a nemesis by blood, should the Dawnrunner surname be hers to bear. Playing it safe was the smartest thing to do.

<style type="text/css">
#lillin-1 .txtooc {
text-align:left;
font-size:12px;
font-family:arial, serif;
text-transform:none;
font-style:italic;
font-weight:normal; }
#lillin-1 .txtooc .word { font-weight:bold; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style:normal;}
#lillin-1 b { letter-spacing:-.5px; font-family: arial, serif; font-size: 11px; }.
#lillin-1 u { text-decoration: none; border-bottom:1px dotted #000000; }
#lillin-1 b.npc { letter-spacing:.5px; font-style:italic; font-weight:normal; }
#lillin-1 p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
#lillin-1 {margin:0px auto; width:80%; background-color:none; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/ijCRS.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:none; padding: 80px 0px 0px 0px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#111111; line-height:16px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>
[/html]
#7
[html]



The myths were not unknown to her—indeed, Siv had found early on that her parents had chosen her name so that it might earn her recognition. She wondered, less often as an adult, if there had been some reasoning behind her being given the name. Did they think she had been touched by a god? Two, in fact, when Loki cut away her golden light and turned it the color of night? She inclined her head slightly at the cautious words and smiled to show she knew it.

“Helsi,” she gave freely, unafraid of her surname. It had been stolen, of course, but she found the name far more fitting than the one she had been born with. Her bloodline belonged to it, after all, so why not make it her own? There were no ghosts following her from the Hearg, and Reykr’s silence was taken as submission. She would not need fear this odd looking woman. “I am a foreigner,” Siv further went on, though another secretive smile cut across her face. “Though I have made my home south of here. That is how I came to know of this place,” she explained, and shrugged lightly. “Even strangers carry familiar tidings, yes? The old ways draw us together.”


<style>
#siv-thor {
font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;
font-size:14px;
width:95%;
margin:0px auto;
line-height:18px;
}
#siv-thor p {
text-indent:50px;
padding:0;
margin:10px 0;
}
#siv-thor p.siv-img {
text-align:center;
text-indent:0;
font-size:11px;
font-style:italic;
float:right; margin:5px;
}
#siv-thor .txtooc {
text-align:left;
font-size:12px;
font-family:georgia, serif;
text-transform:none;
font-style:italic;
font-weight:normal; }
#siv-thor .txtooc .word { font-weight:bold; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style:normal;}
#siv-thor b { letter-spacing:-.5px; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 12px; }
#siv-thor u { text-decoration: underline; }
#siv-thor b.npc { letter-spacing:.5px; font-style:italic; font-weight:normal; }
</style>[/html]
#8
[html]

I have been neglecting this thread and I am a TERRIBLE person. ;; Kick me.


The woman's family name rolled off her tongue with ease. Helsi. Lilin nodded quietly, committing the name to memory. Chance meetings such as this one were unconventional. She would not forget this stranger nor the name she bore. Perhaps one day it would come in handy. A second gesture of her head was provided when Siv labelled herself a foreigner- an acquiescence of sorts. She was most obviously a woman a few words, a trait they obviously shared. And yet, it seemed they understood each other without the new for superfluous talk. ''Does your home have a name?'' she inquired curiously, visibly intrigued by the woman's environment; a place where the Old Gods and floral scents prevailed.

It felt as though she was questioning this stranger and while it didn't feel right, Lilin could not control her thirst for knowledge. Had it been any other passerby, she wouldn't have cared. But in her worlds, similar beliefs were a connection worth acknowledging and tapping into. It was her turn to smile, as Siv voiced exactly what she'd been thinking only seconds prior. ''It does, and I think we ought to get better acquainted. Don't you think?'' Out of all the envoys she'd encountered, this female had been the only one worth acknowledging thus far.

<style type="text/css">
#lillin-1 .txtooc {
text-align:left;
font-size:12px;
font-family:arial, serif;
text-transform:none;
font-style:italic;
font-weight:normal; }
#lillin-1 .txtooc .word { font-weight:bold; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style:normal;}
#lillin-1 b { letter-spacing:-.5px; font-family: arial, serif; font-size: 11px; }.
#lillin-1 u { text-decoration: none; border-bottom:1px dotted #000000; }
#lillin-1 b.npc { letter-spacing:.5px; font-style:italic; font-weight:normal; }
#lillin-1 p {text-indent:25px; padding:5px 10px; margin:0px;}
#lillin-1 {margin:0px auto; width:80%; background-color:none; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/ijCRS.png); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:none; padding: 80px 0px 0px 0px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size:11px; color:#111111; line-height:16px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;}
</style>
[/html]


Forum Jump: