City of IF

[Masterweaver]

The following story was inspired by a dream...
Jenaru

There is a world, with a core of crackling energy. From this core, countless tendrils emerge. They are a sandy color, with brown fins occurring at random. The smallest are fifteen meters thick. The largest are used to hold up castles, villages, crops…

This is Jenoru.

The cast is in place. A sixteen-year old girl who lives in a craft-shop and is about to face a rite of passage. A boy, though nearly a man, leaping the tendrils and searching for a quest. Two young children, from off-world, curious and exploratory. A being, unseen and unheard, wishing to extend power.

And under it all, the energy throbs.
***
Korlem landed and regained his balance. The tendril was certainly stable. He looked down, through a small gap between the tendrils. The blue sea rippled underneath. He shrugged and turned to walk down the path he had found.

He was about six feet, with slightly brown hair and defiantly brown eyes. His skin was a mere peachy color, and his clothes were made for travel. On his back, he carried a little knapsack, filled with provisions and a rolled up sleeping pad. His gaze was the intent one of a searcher that does not know what he is searching for.

He walked a confident walk down the path. It was not a swagger, for that would suggest he is trying to impress someone. No, it is the walk of one who knew, absolutely knew where he was in the world.

Right now, for example, he was on a path.

Some might wonder what motivated him. Sometimes even he wondered that. But the village he lived in was small, rarely frequented. He did not doubt that it was important. He just felt…

Adventurous.

And so now, he walked down the path he had set for himself. The sun hung in the sky, but it was low. Soon, it would set. And then, he would lie out his sleeping pad and rest. Hopefully in a building of some sort, but he couldn’t be picky.

And so, intent on his goal, of which he was unaware, Korlem walked on.
***
“Melar, you must stop fiddling with that.”

The girl, in a pink shirt and work pants, dropped the chisel and put down her project. “But father—“

“You must get changed,” decreed the man wearing the suit. He had a round brown beard, and his hair was frazzled slightly. “It is almost time for your coming.”

“I do not like the coming, Father.” But she stood, grudgingly, and took the blue silk dress he handed her.

The man watched as she went into the private room and shut the door. He sighed and sat at the desk his daughter had recently occupied. In front of him was a work of art, which looked like what a person would look like if you took away the detail. The leg was still unconnected, and the head drooped, but it was a mannequin that could be posed, about a foot tall. He reached for it, but then thought better and retracted his hands.

Age weighed heavily on him.

Melar came out of the small room, resplendent in her dress. “Father, I am ready.”

The man got up. “Of course. Let us ride to the shifters.”

He took his daughter’s hand, and led her to the carriage. It had six wheels, and was constructed solidly with no flashy additions. In front of it, a pair of grey, two-legged mammalians rattled their harnesses impatiently. The coachman, uncommenting, set them off.

The girl stared out the window, contemplative. Her blue eyes did not truly take in what passed, and he black hair whipped in the breeze. Her father sighed.

And finally, they stopped and stepped out, into a town square. Both of them had seen it all before, but now, they were the ones going in. Man and daughter ascended the steps solemnly.

At the door, a shifter stopped them. “What business have you here?”

“She has come of age.”

“She must continue alone.” The shifter nodded and opened the door.

With a final glance at her father, she walked on.
***
The machine was a strange one. It breathed fire down and it stood on three legs. It was about twice as high as a man. From one side, a door opened.

“Well, Norren, I think we have found a new land.” A red-haired ten year old stepped out and prodded the ground. “It appears to be made of rock.”

“Rock?” asked the other red-haired child that stepped out. “Are you sure, Florren?”

“Completely.”

The two were brother and sister. They both had green eyes.

Florren looked around her. “There is a castle or something over there.”

And indeed, there was a building, tall and looming against the sky. It would have looked more frightening in the night, but now, it just looked old.

Norren sighed and stepped down. “I do not think we should go there.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“Because… Well, we are children, and they may eat children in there.”

“Childrens!”

A tall man stepped out of the machine. With wild grey hair and darting yellow eyes, he looked as though he would fall apart any second.

“Childrens, of what do you speak?”

“That castle, Jhule.” Florren pointed it out to her grandfather.

“Oh,” Jhule replied. He thought a moment.
***
A century? A millennia? A decade? It could not tell. But now, now others were close. SO very, very close. Perhaps it could use these ones.

Certainly, they were on the land. And thus, they were trespassers. It had reason.

Age-old devices hummed to life at its call…
***
“Perhaps… Perhaps we should call back? See what the home base says.”

“Good idea,” said Norren, heading back towards the machine.

“Well. I want to explore!” pouted Florren. “I am sure there is no danger.”

Jhule looked between the two. “Well, we must stay together, whatever else we do.” He paused, and thought. “I know. This is what shall happen…”
>>>>>
Well? What is the decision? Do they all go along with it? That's up to you!

[algu95]

Nice new story, mr. Masterweaver. Well, anyways, I think they should stay together.

:off: First Post! :off:

[Masterweaver]

Anyone else?

[Chinaren]

I've read it MW, and it's well written I have to say, though possibly the DP needs a bit more background to help with the decision.

However, I'm not going to comment until you reach chapter 4. I want to see if you can commit to a SGame and do more than a couple of chapters before abandoning it and starting another.

[Masterweaver]

Fair enough. Given my history...

Okay, Chin's given me a motive, now you give me a choice! Yes you. Reading this.

[Mephistopheles]

always follow intuition. If one feels it unwise to continue, then it may best to not do so.

look forward to seeing how you do with this MW.

[Cyberworm]

It's a good start MW, but I don't have enough information for the DP... :)

[Masterweaver]

We've got Stay. Anybody else?

[Syranore]

Interesting beginning. Anyway, since this world is filled with opposites, for every stay there must be a go. There might be something useful. Also, I f5 the others about the lack of detail.

[Novelest_Ninjagirl]

IT was slightly vague, but I think it helps the mood of the stoy. Mysterious, unknown, powerful. I saw they don't go on, not at firsst. Then one of the boys, or maybebother, go on anyway.