Deptimaya / Voluspa

Dewna Tarill strode through the woods toward the southeast. The gnome walked swiftly for someone of her small stature, legs swinging briskly and with purpose. The end of the long metal rod she carried as a mark of her station as a Shepherd thunked into the ground in time with her step. She had a long way to go, and time wasn't getting any slower for dallying. The Shepherd didn't stop for hours, then pausing only for long enough to drink from a canteen, eat a dried fruitbun, and tickle the small fuzzy ears that poked out of her pack with a questioning mew, as if wondering whether they were there yet.

She looked around. Trees, as far as the eye could see. Dewna started walking again, keeping the now-lowering sun to her back. Trees was all she was likely to see for a while, but that was to be expected. If she was lucky, some of them would be interesting. After all, it was trees that had drawn the interest of the Deptimayan in this direction.

Some of the older gnomes remembered stories that Jagavi and Jeeva had told of the great walking trees and their parent whose roots spanned the worlds. Not long after the Deptimayan established themselves in their newly built cities after the awakening, some of the far-scouts in the southeast had reported a disturbance in the deep woods and a great branch that seemed to reach down from the heavens to the ground, and then vanished.

Dewna had gathered the news and brought it to Pyza Snowligh at the capital of Exodus, and had been quickly turned around to go visit the area to see who else might have survived the loss of Aliss. She traveled light, her pack containing a little food, a thin blanket, and a collection of small art pieces that could be offered with overtures of friendship.

"Well, " the gnome said, looking around her at the towering trees once more, "assuming I can tell which ones I'm supposed to talk to."

Skydda Skuldgren approached the current resting camp of the small figure who had wandered her way deep into the woods. She moved relatively quietly, despite her great stature, making an effort to blend with the surrounding trees the best she could as she observed the little woman devour a snack from her bags and stopping to show affection to some... even littler creature.

This must be the little one that Sotlila spoke of in her visions. She thought.

She had been exploring these parts of the forest as she was asked, remembering anything of note that she saw and keeping an eye out for monsters, rabid animals, or anything else that might threaten Voluspa's little ones. Skydda very nearly stepped out in front of the gnome and her metal walking staff before she even realized that she was there.

She certainly does not seem to be a threat. But she is so small, I shall need to be careful that I do not scare her.

Moving very slowly, she took a pair of small steps out from behind the tall brush and trees that shielded her from view. Standing still some 15 yard ahead of the visitor, she bent her knees to lessen her height, and opened her arms wide in the welcoming greeting of her people, looking half like she was beginning a curtsey, and half like she was offering a child a hug. She held herself at the bottom of the dip for several long seconds, offering a friendly smile with her arms held wide, before speaking as she slowly rose.

"Hello there, little one."

The gnome stopped, and stared up at the treant as it came into view in two massive strides. And then up some more. Her eyes were wide, and her staff was held only loosely in her slackened fingers. Goodness, it's as tall as the clay protectors. Maybe taller!

A squeaky mew from the top of the pack behind her head broke Dewna out of her staring, and then a tiny white kitten hopped down from the cloth roll and padded a few steps toward the moving tree, nearly covered by the low grass. The gnome quickly rushed over and picked it up, holding it under one arm while she looked back up at the Skydda.

"Hi there! Are you one of the tree people?" That was a dumb question, try sounding like you know what you're doing here. "I mean, are you one of the tree people from Allis? My name is Dewna, I'm here to meet your people and bring greetings from Deptimaya. We've been hoping to find some of the others that made it away."

The tree woman smiled, a happy realization playing across her features as she slowly moved forward towards the gnome. She had to slouch slightly and bend to look down at the smaller woman. Her voice had a melodic quality to it as she answered, sounding akin to a woodwind instrument that could speak.

"I am a treant from Allis, yes. You are welcome here in these woods, Dewna. The remnant of Voluspa is not far from here, and there are many among us who will welcome the news that others escaped from the fate of our old world. When we walked along the branches of Vardtrad, we thought we were the only seed of Allis to escape."

Closer now to the gnome, Skydda drifted down into a crouch  nearly on one knee. The simple wooden sword at her belt dragged on the earth as she lowered. Dewna struck her as a kindred spirit; despite her tiny size, she too protected and cared for a creature smaller than herself.

"My name is Skydda Skuldgren, and I am a protector of these woods. I would take you to speak with my people in Ormt and Grimnismal. If you wish, I could carry you. You seem to have come a long way, and you would not be a burden to me."

Dewna watched the treant as she approached, the serval kitten squirming under her arm and trying to get down. Even crouching to one knee, the forest protector was easily three times her height. She had no doubt that carrying her would barely be noticeable. While her Shepherd's training would warn caution, she'd always wanted to try riding on one of the golems, and been told not to by her more stolid peers.

"I would love to go with you to your people! I've been told to represent us if I found anyone, and we're willing to offer aid if your people are in need. I'm sure it's been rough on everybody."

The kitten finally twisted enough in her grip to flop out to the ground, and slowly padded over to sniff carefully around the feet of the tree. It looked up curiously into Skydda's eyes for a moment, then rubbed against the closer leg with an arch of it's back before padding back toward the gnome. That seemed to be all the assurance that was needed, and Dewna smiled as it put it's paws up on her waist to be picked back up. "Alright, let's go!"

They made their way southeast through the woods at what would seem to smaller races as a very rapid pace. With her new gnome friend seated safely on her shoulder, and the way home already scouted for dangers, Skydda's strides carried her quickly over a great distance. She moved between the trees, brush, and low branches with fluid ease, only occasionally reaching up with one hand to steady her passenger. Once or twice, it seemed almost as though they stepped directly through a tree trunk as if it hadn't been there, and it seemed entirely possible that the step carried them to the other side of a different tree, somewhere ahead of where they had been.

They traded words now and then. Though the crape myrtle treant was not particularly talkative, she was a good listener, and was eager to learn anything about Dewna's people that she was willing to speak of. The journey, by comparison to the little gnome's trek so far, took barely any time at all, and by nightfall, she found that they had stepped into an area of wood where the underbrush was cleared away. Other treants stood in soft earth underneath hanging houses and huts build in the high tree branches.

Everyone here in Ormt was happy to hear the small bit of news that the two had for them, and welcomed the new face curiously. There were a mix of peoples, many treants, but also humans, elves, and even a few sylphs made their homes here. The two stopped to rest for a few hours, before Skydda offered to take them the rest of the way to the "Great Old Tree" while her guest slept. "Then you can rest, and perhaps speak with him and Sotlila tomorrow? I wish to tell them of what else I have found so far, then I must continue to scout our new forest. I must make sure it is safe here for our little ones."

The Shepherd had dozed in short spurts as the treant continued carrying her through the woods at an astounding rate. Just after the sun was rising, the buildings and trees of Grimnismal came into view. Dewna could not stop looking around and all the fantastical moving trees and the strange arrangements of the architecture. Trees growing around stone foundations? How come we never thought of that?

While she gawked and waved, Skydda strode purposely through the town, bringing them to a calm area near the middle, where a small stoneworked area lay around a truly massive oak. Another treant stood near it, hair a flowing ribbon of lilac blossoms, who watched the two approach. Both treants bowed in a crouch with their arms out, in what seemed their customary greeting, and Dewna took the opportunity to clamber down from her riding position to the rich-smelling soil.

"Hi there!" she spoke up, speaking loudly and clearly once she caught the other treant's attention. "My name is Dewna Tarill, and I've come from Exodus, the Deptimayan city. We're so glad to hear that you managed to reach this new world!" The gnome spoke and moved energetically, laying her cloth pack on the ground and beginning to unroll it to show a number of small carved items, bowls and dishes and combs and fans. There were also several small ornate necklaces and other jewelry pieces, set with tiny white and pink pearls. "I've been sent to bear our greetings, and also bring you these gifts of goodwill."

The purple-haired treant stepped past the latest pile to look closer at the gnome and the objects she was spreading out. "Hello, Dewna Tarill, my name is Sotlila. You are welcome here in Grimnismal. Those look to be beautiful gifts which you have brought us." She looked over her shoulder for a moment at the great oak, waiting for his input. Then she sighed softly and shook her head before walking back to the tree and pressing a hand against it's bark. "Havamal..."

A disturbance appeared in the patterns of bark on the Great Old Tree, the knots began to slowly scrape across one another, shifting and twisting ever so slowly. While this occured, Skydda spoke up. "Though I had not heard of them before, she says that she and her people also came from Allis. We thought that she might be seeking refuge, but it seems she came to offer aid to us."

Sotlila turned and gave a slightly surprised look, reevaluating the little gnome who so happily came to their forest. "We are... not accustomed to such generosity from strangers, little one. But we are also not accustomed to being in a strange land and in need of things we do not have. Yes, there are some things we could use, and if your people have any need of food or growing things, we may be able to repay your kindness. I'm sure Havamal will agree... once he is awake again."

In the time since the gnome had last glanced at the changing patterns of rough bark, they had now formed an elderly face in relief, nearly the height from chin to brow of the treant standing next to it. "I'M ........ AWAKE. ................ I WAS ..... MERELY ...... RESTING ..... MY ... EYES....... SOTLILA." His eyes blinked open slowly, as his rumbling voice echoed with a surprisingly low volume through the grotto. "YOU MAY ...... NEED TO FILL ..... ME IN A BIT ... ON THE LAST ..... THING YOU SAID .........." he continued, as his gaze focused, and turned down and forward past the half-annoyed smile of his assistant. "OH. .............. HELLO. .......... WHO IS THIS?"

The gnome girl gaped as the face took shape on the massive oak tree. Her jaw dropped open, and her hands dangled where they had been showing off one of the necklaces. "Goodness, it's humongous," she whispered to no-one in particular, though it was notably audible in the still air of the grove.

An elderly smile, with perhaps a bit of a smirk, crossed the lips of the giant face. "YES, ... LITTLE ONE. ... I AM ... HUMONGOUS. ........ THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS TO MY KIND ... WHEN WE GROW ..... OLD ... AND BEGIN TO SLOW ... AND BECOME BRANCHES ... OF VERDTRAD. ........... SKYDDA, ... YOU LOOK WORN ... AND TIRED. ..... IF YOU HAVE NOT FOUND ... ANYTHING THAT POSES AN IMMEDIATE DANGER ..... YOU SHOULD REST. ..... YOU MAY TAKE ROOT IN THE SOIL HERE ... WITH ME ... AND THEN YOU MAY TELL ME OF YOUR ...... JOURNEY WHEN YOU ... AWAKE."

Skydda nodded and smiled graciously, allowing herself to show the fatigue that she felt from her long exploration. Stepping off to the side, she knelt into the soft loam. As she began to relax, her appearance did not change much; only just slightly did she look less like a person, and more like a tree as she closed her eyes with a peaceful look, and lifted her arms up around her head like branches. It seemed a special honor to be invited to rest near Havamal.

In the meantime, Sotlila had whispered to the great tree, introducing their visitor and explaining why she had come. "YES, ... SOTLILA IS QUITE ... RIGHT, ... LITTLE DEWNA TARILL. ..... YOU ARE WELCOME HERE ....... IN VOLUSPA. ...... AND YOUR GIFTS WILL BE ...... A LOVELY SURPRISE ... TO LIFT THE SPIRITS ... OF OUR LITTLE ONES. ...... YOU MAY STAY HERE .... AS LONG AS YOU WISH. ..... BE AT EASE."

Dewna looked around the grove on the side of Grimnismal in the small area she had been staying during her time with the treants of Voluspa. This area was mostly lived in by what they called the 'little ones'. All of them were bigger than Dewna.

She'd spent a few weeks there, getting to know the people of the woods and telling them in turn of her own people. She'd told them of the great and still-growing city of Exodus (though she'd had to explain that she meant 'being built' instead of actual growing) and of the talk of the great Twins' Temple that was being planned. She'd talked about the things that her people still needed, both resources and day-to-day items, and learned about what the Voluspa lacked in return.

Her stay had culminated in the ceremony of enshrining of the elder tree Havamal, three days ago. It had been very solemn and subdued, and rather more like a funeral than she'd expected. She still wasn't entirely sure what to make of it all.

Now it was time to return to Exodus with her news. She had left instructions with Skydda and Sotlila for finding the Deptimayan territory and encouraged them to visit. Her pack was much lighter with all the gifts and baubles given away, just her canteen and blanket and some fresh food they treants had provided.

"Come on up, Droplet, time to get home." The white kitten hopped up into her arms, then crawled over her shoulder into the top of the pack. Dewna leaned down to pick up her rod, and began walking.

As the little gnome departed, Sotlila strode after her, finding her just near the edges of the city. "Wait, little one." she called out.
Kneeling down, she opened her hands in offering. "You brought us lovely gifts, and we wish to send one with you to your home."

In her hands lay a simple fresh acorn a bit bigger than Dewna's fist. "This is the one of Havamal's last seeds. It is unlikely to ever sprout, but it is a precious thing nonetheless. He asked me to give it to you ere you departed, to carry back to your people. Perhaps you might make it part of some ornament, but it is yours to keep and do what you wish. May your journey home be safe."

---------------- [turn 3]

The folk of Voluspa who came to Exodus to trade found the city to be beautiful and more comfortable than they had imagined. The wide avenues and tall arches accommodated the treants without too much difficulty, and many of the buildings they visited were built with vaulted ceilings, so they did not have to crawl on their hands and roots as they had feared. Tiered gardens decorated the city, making all of the Voluspan traders and pilgrims more at ease, with fountains supplying clean water and creating a burbling music.

Bjorka looked over a garden that was presently being tended by a pair of gnomes, and was quietly impressed. She repressed the desire to ask if she might put down her roots and rest in one of the emptier spaces for a short time, it looked like the gnomes were busy filling those spaces in, or perhaps shaping them and bordering them with flowers. And she wasn't sure if a white-barked birch tree in a shape like a young woman was at all what they needed, artistically. Her foliage hung down short from her head, barely reaching her shoulders, and it was filled with green-brown hanging birch buds, which were not the prettiest bloom in her mind.

Still seated on her shoulder was a middle-aged elven fellow with shoulder-length sandy hair, wearing a traveler's tunic and a woodsman's hat. "I should like to stretch my legs a bit, while we admire the scenery." he said, prompting her to tilt her posture so that he could easily climb down using her arm as a step.

Standing next to one another, it looked as if each were meant to be a taller or smaller version of the other. They both had a similar thin, wiry build, proportionately, both wore a similar set of travel packs, satchels, and quivers, and both carried curved bows in an old elven style, though their hands and thoughts were far from them at the moment. The difference came in that she wore an extra set of leather straps on her torso and the shoulder where he had been seated, and carried under her other arm a large clay jar sealed by a wide cork lid.

"It is a very pretty garden they are tending, Raenn. And my roots ache." she remarked to him, sharing her desire to test the soil here.

Raenn lay a hand on her arm and offered a sympathetic smile. "That's because you did most of the walking for both of us. We'll be able to rest soon, Bjorka. The Deptimayans are ruled by their gods, twin artists. They receive instructions through two leaders called the "Voices" of those gods the same way we take instructions from Havamal. We have to find Dewna, or someone else with enough authority to either get us an audience with one of the Voices, or make decisions on their behalf."

"Right then." she answered looking around. "Perhaps we should ask for directions. Or perhaps we should start by that giant construction site where they are building those stone arches."

Near the center of the city was a constant bustle of movement and activity. Clay figures a dozen feet tall operated winches and cranes to lift massive stone blocks into place. Gnomes in large groups moved across the rising stonework on scaffolds and ropes, seating the blocks together. In more finished sections of the construction, artists worked to carve fine designs and recessed statuary into the wall, or fit frames to windows of stained glass to be inserted when the heavier work was completed.

As Bjorka and Raenn approached, and it became clear that they were more than spectators watching the assembly, one of the foremen stepped away from his workgroup. Standing not quite to Raenn's waist, he wore a padded brown tunic with heavy leather gloves, and round wooden cap that covered his head down to the ears.

He dusted his gloves off and spoke simply, "Is there something I can help you with?"

The two foreigners did their best to stand out of the way of the workers as they looked. As they were approached, both performed the half-curtsey with open arms in greeting. Bjorka looked to Raenn, and so he spoke up. "I'm Raenn Lomgil, and this is Bjorka Bagargren. We've been sent by Havamal Vardtradgren to speak with your leaders on behalf of Voluspa. Could you direct us where we should go?"

Bjorka's attention had been diverted by a pair of gnomes double-checking the measurements of a frame for one of the windows. "Those odd pieces we found in Grimnismal..." she murmured. "They were for windows. Patterned glass windows."

"Oh, diplomats. Well ..." the foreman looked at a tall, narrow scaffolding set a dozen yards away from the construction. On top, a group of gnomes bustled around a wide low table overseeing the entirety of the layout. It would probably not support the weight of the treant, though Raenn could fit with a little space.

"Sunda Stasreid is the Master Architect, though he's probably a bit busy, with the temple and all. I'm sure he could make time for ambassadors from Voluspa, though."

"Actually, you might have a bit more luck asking for Pyza Snowligh, at the City Center." The gnome gestured toward the large building at the end of the street they stood beside. Then he returned to his work, leaving the two to decide.

"Thank you." Raenn called out after him, before turning to his companion. "I think we might ha... what are you looking at?"

"These pieces of the temple, and how they're putting them together. It makes the ruins in Grimnismal make more sense." she answered. "I've never actually seen a grand stone structure like this intact before. What did you find out?"

"Ahh, one of the two Voices is here overseeing the construction. But we might have better luck with the other one, since hopefully we won't be interrupting her their work. He said she should be in the city center over there."

"Well," she acknowledged, "lets find her then. This pot is getting heavy, and I should like to only put it down once more."

The two of them made their way towards the building, ready to introduce themselves as diplomats.

The City Center, while only two blocks away, held none of the intensely coordinated labor of the temple construction site. There was a quiet bustle about the place though, with a half dozen gnomes moving about between offices or talking in the foyer. The front doors stood wide open, and were tall enough for even Bjorka to enter without ducking. There were no guards, and people seemed to come and go without much supervision.

An old gnome with thin tufts of grey hair on his balding head sat on a stool behind a wide wooden desk. He looked up at Raenn, and then even further up at Bjorka as they entered. His eyes glimmered and he smiled cheerily as he spoke, "Ah, travelers! From Voluspa, no doubt. Welcome to Exodus!

"How can I help you?"

They both performed their greeting again, and Raenn gave Bjorka a tired glance. "Your turn."

"My name is Bjorka, and this is Raenn." she spoke up, her voice carrying a high pitch, but a soft tone. "We are diplomats asked to come here by Havamal Vardtradgren, seeking an audience with one of the Voices of your gods. We were told we could find Pyza Snowligh here."

"Ah, yes, the Voice of the Painter is here today. I don't believe that she's busy at the moment, but let me just check for you. Wait here, please." The old gnome got up from his stool, picked up a small wooden cane, then made his way slowly up the wide steps on one side of the foyer.

After several minutes, the secretary came back downstairs. He seemed slightly out of breath from the exertion, but waved the two guests toward the stairs. "Yes, Pyza Snowligh will see you now. She said to send you right up, her office is the door on the right as you reach the third floor." He hobbled slowly back to the desk and sat again up the stool.

The stairway was large and spacious enough for them to move up easily. The steps themselves were built to gnome height, but were broad enough for much larger feet, so Raenn could take them two at a time, and Bjorka four. At the top of the stairs was a hallway, with one door immediately on the right that stood open, and several more further down that were presently closed.

Stepping into the office, the Voluspans had a moment to take in the bright imagery around them. All of the walls had paintings hung upon them, landscapes and portraits and abstract designs in vivid color. In a number of places, the walls themselves had also been painted, as if there had not been sufficient canvas at hand.

Then a cheery greeting sounded from the center of the chamber, as a gnome woman stood from a cushioned chair. "Hello! You must be the diplomats from Voluspa, welcome to Exodus!" She wore a soft white robe with black and gold trim, and her golden-blonde hair was twirled into a pair of braided buns.

"I'm Pyza. Please come in and have a seat, and tell me about your travels and what brings you here!" She waved to a chair that would comfortable seat Raenn, and an open space next to it, and added with embarrassment, "We haven't built any chairs for treants, yet."

"Do you want any refreshments or anything?"

Raenn turned the chair sideways before sitting on it with his arm laying over the back, while Bjorka lowered herself to her knees and sat on her legs.

"Some water would be lovely." Raenn answered. "I think we're both a bit sun dried."

Bjorka spoke up "We don't as often use chairs, as rest on the ground. If there is somewhere with soft earth where I might take root and rest later without displacing any crops, I would enjoy that. Raenn, is this the proper time for...?"

"Yes, you can put it down now." he answered, and the birch treant leaned forward, setting the large clay jar before them on the ground. It was practically a gnome's size, and set down with a heavy thud. "Your diplomat, Dewna, came to us bringing gifts, and we thought it would be right to do the same. Our people recently discovered a grove populated with healthy bee hives, and we've begun taming them and harvesting their honey and honeycomb. We've come along with the trade caravan, and they've brought more to barter with your merchants. But this one was one of the first jars of pure honey, and we'd like you and your people to enjoy it."

As soon as Raenn expressed their thirst, Pyza took a few steps away from her chair to a desk on one side of the room, and picked up a filled water pitcher. She poured some into a tumbler of colored glass. The gnome walked back over and handed the glass to the elf, and then offered the pitcher itself to the birch as she set the massive jar on the floor.

She curiously began examining the clay vessel, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet as Raenn described its contents. Her eyes widened as he finished.

"Honey?! Oh goodness, we haven't had honey since Allis. This is amazing, thank you!" Pyza took two bouncing steps over to Raenn's chair and leaped into a hug. When she came down, a thoughtful look briefly mixed with her exuberance.

"When the Twins' Temple is completed, there's going to be a big dedication ceremony. I bet some of the chef's can do something wonderful with this to make treats for the occasion!"

Raenn was a bit flustered by the jubilant gnome's embrace, but still returned the hug gently without spilling water on her. Bjorka, once over the second or two of surprise, smiled happily at Pyza's friendliness. "I'm glad we brought something you will like! We saw the temple you're building on our way here, it looks like it will be grand indeed." she said, giggling slightly.

"Ehem, yes. You're quite welcome." Raenn echoed. "There is a great deal we have to talk about it seems, and I don't wish to interrupt the proceedings of your dedication ceremony. Once the construction here is done, we might be interested in having some of your architects look at the ruins in Grimnismal, if they'd be open to the trip. But that isn't what we were specifically asked to come speak to you about..."

"Oh, I'm sure Sunda would love to see the ruins in your city. He's the chief architect for the Twins' Temple. And you can come to the dedication of the temple when it's finished!" Pyza cocked her head a little. "But what is it you did come for, then?"

Raenn and Bjorka shared a look with one another for a moment. Raenn began "We were asked to come and speak to you about the Golden Tree that you and your people found. Some of our people have already seen it and returned with the news."

Bjorka picked up where he left off. They wanted to explain their intent quickly so they wouldn't be misunderstood. "Though its magic is different than what we are used to, many of our people believe that it is a Vardtradgren of this world: A tree or treant that's grown so old and majestic that it has grafted itself onto the Life Tree and become a small branch. Vardtradgren are both respected elders, and conduits for Vardtrad's power and blessings to enter the mortal world. This is a very important discovery to our people."

Raenn picked up again. "We want to clarify, we aren't asking you to give us the tree or its blessings. Havamal was very clear on that. We believe that the Life Tree grants its gifts to anyone who rests under its branches, not only us. We're happy that you came upon this Golden Tree, and respected it enough to reap its fruit, er, leaves, as they fall, instead of ... *shudder* the alternative. But we also understand that your people are aware that it has some divine quality to it, and wisdom to share. We'd like to start by offering our help with the enshrining. Our people know a great deal about how to learn from and respect ancient trees, and many of them would quite enthusiastically offer to come help you care for it in return for unrestricted access to meditate on it themselves."