Lacerta

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Journal @Inksome

Journal @IJ

Surgeon Cry Wolf

Lacerta - The Lizard - Green - From the fertile mountain valleys, I've wondered about their bright uniforms... Such a cheerful splash of colors, but they've already declared they would take care of the injured... of both sides. Strange people, still smiling in war...

Weaver Memories (Link)

1:

[[You drift from bed to bed, doing what you can for those you see there. You make eye contact when you can, with those who can still see. The red streamers above the town would warn anyone that there was a sickness in the community, but there was no warning so universal, nor so brutally honest as to relay the painful, slow death besieging this poor town.

You murmur a prayer to [Angel] between beds. One was sitting at the edge of his, slumped, elbows on his knees. He speaks in raspy gasp. He speaks in short sentences. He tells you it only started five days ago. He tells you it moves like lightening. He tells you those, like him, who are still well are thinking of running before it gets them too.

You tell him you're sorry. You tell him it's just how it was. You look him in the eyes when you say it. You clasp his hands as he weeps. You kiss his forehead and brush back his hair. You leave him there, and continue on.

It is much the same in the next building. And the next. And the next. Until you have seen each, until you are certain.

You sigh, barring the gates. You doubt anyone is well enough to attempt to flee at this point... but it was only for the benefit of everyone to be cautious. You strike a flint, and watch the first path of oil light and the flames consume it, disappearing under the town's gate. It would find the haystacks, it would find the house, it would find the souls that were lost and send them back.

The soil would take them, and pure, new things would grow. It's how it was.]]

2:

You groan and rub your face with your hands as the lizard bones drop. You know the pattern before the last even rattles to the ground. All five of the narrow westward coast.

Yemen grins widely, dark skin showing bright, sharp teeth. "What ya say, another round? Can't have that kind of luck all the time." He picks up the bones and sets them into the green, wide rimmed dish again. "I'll triple y'win."

You curse, vividly, calling him the [Trickster] himself! And lay down all your hard earned coin. The faint purple metal glints in the light as if telling you goodbye already.

"Tell you what, two to the mountains to win." Yemen thumps you on the back and hands you the bowl with a friendly guffaw. You nod, casting a quick prayer over the gambling bowl. He laughs again. "You never know when to quit!"

New Uniform Description

Concept: White mages

Top piece: Knee-length long sleeved (m) or sleeveless (f) robe

Bottom piece: Simple pants

Outer piece: Hooded cloak

Accessory: Belt with hanging pouch

Footwear: Ranger boots, socks

[There is the gentle sound of a shuttle moving through taut thread, and as the memory settles deep, your eyes open to the familiar garments of your kin on both yourself and those around you, dyed dark and vivid.

Lacerta, the nurturers. Even new, their clothing is rich with the scent of earth and plants. Both genders have a set of long robes in the appropriate shade of green, though the women's garments are sleeveless. They're fitted with a belt of lizard hide with deep, emerald-green scales. Under the robe, both sport a pair of simple pants woven from panna thread. There's also a set of boots made from some sort of hide, much plainer than the lizard belt; they go up to mid-calf, with sturdy (if rough) laces made from braided roan fiber. A hooded cloak in the correct shade of green and a hanging belt pouch finish the outfit. Though plain, there is clearly space for embellishments farther down the line. It's important to start fresh, after all, and grow out from there.]

Surgeon Game

Surgeon Game Lacerta Side Full Write-up (gdoc here)

Pastoral lands

[Your trail leads you past verdant, pastoral fields. Long stalks sway around you, leaves spiralling around the stems and the pleasant rich smell, a little like chocolate, a little like lemon, tells you that the crop is blooming in preparation for the yield and harvest later. The single red moon in the sky is full and casts a warm light, contrasting greens and bringing out the depth in the orangish loam all around.

You see the thatched rooftops above the high leaves of the crops, signalling your destination to the north, and just as you would continue on to it, you see something dart across your path, you can’t make out the shape, but it squeals with something like laughter and disappears into the forest of plants. You might have thought that that was the only odd thing, when you hear another laugh, chortling this time and _______ feels a tug at their belt... and it noticeably lighter a moment later.]

Decision point one

North

[You ignore your lighter pockets and trudge onto the north, the pathway gives way to a lush forested land. The tips of pronged leaves of the trees all around you are started to yellow or redden, given peeks of color to the green forest you are entering. Small lizards dart about, almost invisible on the emerald barked trees until they move, skittering away to their next perch. Around, birds swoop and dive for each...

Your path continues to the north, a simple wooden fence visible through the breaks in the trees. Just as you are to quicken your pace, you hear a voice entreating you to the left.]

“Tell me... travellers... have you a healer amongst you?”

Fields

[You jump the fence and hurry after the offender... and are greeted with rustling plants and delighted laughter. Dark forms occasionally dart across your path... making odd footprints in the dirt you also race through. But no matter how fast you are and no matter how close they seem to be.

You can go back, or how will you continue the chase?]

Decision point two

Divide and conquer

[It takes all most of all you to pull off your plan...

As you lay hands on the first child... a bulbous lime green face with black, jewel-like eyes, grins up at you. And bites your hand, needle-like teeth digging deep into your flesh.

Instantly you feel weak, cold and dizzy... you drop the ‘child’ and the elfin creature scrambles back, laughing. You see your skin turning green and feel as though you’ll be sick.]

The traveller

[The woman looks horribly relieved as you answer her call. She kneels before you and raises her hands in supplication, taking your hand in hers. Her other hand reaches back and pulls back her hood, showing a horrible gaunt face, so pale you can see every vein, artery and capillary beneath it. Her eyes are gaunt and the whites nearly red they are so bloodshot, and the bags below them look like bruises. Her fingers as they close around your hand, are cold.]

[As you pour power into her, she shudders and shivers.... but her face begins to take a healthier tone almost instantly.]

[She seems to be regaining color and her eyes dart, alert... her lips turn into a smile..] My... my thanks traveller. But... I.... I’m not full yet.

[You seem to have no ability to stop pouring your magic into her... ... and all around, everyone around, seems to be taking that pale... gaunt look in her place. Your companions feel weak as well, dizzy... their lifeforce mingling with your magic and rushing out through her clasped hands.]

The village walls

[The village is protected by a simple, well build wooden fence, taking a green hue from the trees it was cut from. Before you can even lift your hand to knock upon the gate, a voice stops you, a feeling of a gentle hand on your shoulder stilling you.]

[Riddle]

Boss

Poison lizards

[The children seem to sense your aggression and grin at each other. They spread their hands, and drop the cloaks drapes around their shoulders... Their skin is bare... and scaled... they move almost in perfect unison, swaying, watching your movements... and as one they charge, spines lifting on their backs and arms as they dart forward. ]