The Lost Gifts - The Blacksmith

This package--wrapped in brown paper painted with green trees--was dropped to tumble down into a meadow in Eridanus. It lay swathed in wild ferns, a few Catsquirrels scurrying down to get a closer look. The box was a little heavy, but it wouldn't rattle if someone were to shake it.

The tag said, "To: The Blacksmith," but anyone unable to read who might touch the package would also know who it was for. This package would need to be escorted to Leo, to its recipient. Otherwise, the Blacksmith's holiday gift might never reach him! Oh, no :(

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This is one of six Lost Gifts threads in the Holiday 2023 event! Characters may each choose one NPC to aid this year, but players can have as many characters as they like take part.

Characters who wish to aid the Blacksmith should first post in this thread, and can then create more threads to travel with or simply deliver the package! Anyone may join any of these threads (but remember, just one NPC per character).

The delivery thread can be found here.

As of late, due to a combination of inconvenient weather and the risk of consuming whatever putrid fungus coated the cave's greenery, Fahl more often avoided Eridanus than visited where he'd once frequently foraged and fished for food. Better to trust the waters of home and the finned denizens dwelling within which remained free from an insidious film of scum than risk courting infection here. Furthermore, the Eyes had been robbed of the satisfaction it'd used to bring him, its latest prisoner loosed upon the world again to his immense, unending horror.

All that could be offered for him now was art supplies. No harm could come from dabbling in a pastime such as that, surely, even with the current unfortunate state of the berries. And so it was he stumbled upon an unusual sight nestled in the brush.

"What the...?"

Whatever Catsquirrels gathered around the package who didn't flee at his approach were shooed away by a sweep of claws overhead. Once he settled beside it, the wrapping decorated with images of perfect green trees received a quizzical eyeball, purple pinpricks of confusion speckling his dark hide. The tag was utterly meaningless to the illiterate like himself, an oddity whose purpose eluded understanding. Therefore a tentative poke transferred the much-needed information he desired.

Visions hit him, accompanied by a strong impression of "Blacksmith" that announced itself in every corner of his mind. Fahl, blinking away mild disorientation from the sudden intrusion, became more emboldened by the realization of the gift placed before him and slapped an entire paw down on its surface. He did not know the intended recipient too personally, having only helped among a substantial crowd of others when asked to venture to the Black City and free Artio for Farina. Nevertheless, this being had set off unintentionally the chain of events that had allowed him to help his teacher regain sight.

He nudged at the package, testing its weight. Making sure this found its proper owner was the least he could do for repayment.

Reverend had managed to make its way home - for better or for worse. He could no longer see it, whether it was its original green or its current pallid white. For truth, he didn't even know he was in his hatching-cave, with it so alien in feel and his eyes taken from him.

Since struggling his way out of Hydra, it found that despite the darkness of its sight, he could 'see' the movement of others. He'd wrapped the chain and bauble he'd warn around his neck for so long around a gnarled piece of wood, and each of the makeshift staff's strikes at the ground lit his way, so to speak.

The package, dumped unceremoniously into the mold and brush, was more than obvious to Reverend in his ears and his blind-sight. He'd turn, blinking empty sockets out of habit, before hobbling over to the package.

"What's this?" he'd whisper, just loud enough for Fahl and any other onlookers to hear. It knew he was there, hearing his voice and his movement, but that was all. But it'd reach a clawed hand toward the package, brushing against the ribbons decorating it.

He did not know who The Blacksmith was, but the overwhelming urge to see the package to its intended destination quickly took him over. "Do you know who this 'Blacksmith' is?" he'd ask Fahl, looking somewhere in his general direction but not quite at his face.

@Fahl

"Beats me," Fahl grunted with a roll of his shoulders. "But the Blacksmith... I guess works with the Masters of these caves. He does 'smith' things?"

A wholly unenlightening answer. "Eh, I don't know the details. Just helped him out with something before, that's all."

If he had been younger, the sight of this newcomer whose fur and feathers carried an otherworldly sparkle might have been far more of a surprise to encounter. Having worked alongside all manner of oddly shaped beasts over the cycles though, not to mention dealing with his own body warping according to another's will, appeared to have disabled any possible alarm. With no visible sign of a threat exuding from Reverend, he found no harm in silently observing the odd way it avoided looking directly at either him or the package beneath its light touch.

He then tapped a claw on the wrapping and watched to see if the sound managed to better center the other Gembound's attention on him.

"Whatever he does, this thing's a long ways off from where it ought to be. And unless it can handle a soaking, Leo is an age away from here on foot."

@Reverend

Rift was watching from the trees above, nose twitching with interest. He'd come at the sound of something heavy tumbling through the trees, curious and alert, but relaxed at the casual exchange he was eavesdropping on. He didnt know these two, nor the Blacksmith theu were discussing, but the there was a package there - inviting and festive. Rift wanted to help.

He called out with a gentle meow as he climbed down from the tree, landing heavily on the forest floor near the other two. "Hi," he greeted them, warmly. "Did you say you're going to Leo?"

He leaned down and gave the gift a gentle sniff - mmmm like holiday cheer, whatever that meant - and the gentle touch of his nose to it sent understanding. Yes, this had to go to Leo, to this Blacksmith! "Well, we dont want it just sitting here, then, if it needs to go to Leo!" At a touch of his paw, the ferns swaddling the package slowly twisted away, giving him space to reach over and carefully lift it in his jaws. It was...wow, kind of heavy! Manageable, though he may have to shuffle the carry between the oyhers on the way. He looked towards the lizard and blinked, signaling for them to lead the way.

Acheron plodded over, pausing to lift a hind leg and scratch hoof-on-jaw vigorously. Her eyes flicked from the bag to the gathered Gembounds, and she stifled a yawn--they'd woken her from a bit of a nap, but that was fine. "You guys goin' to Leo?" she asked cheerfully.

She tried to call on her magic, but nothing came; she pushed the thought away and looked to Fahl. "If you give me a bit of time I can make it easier for you to get there. I'll come along, keep it going," she added. Hell, maybe she could help a few of them along at once.

The hybrid offered a friendly glance to the group as a whole, then a nod, casual. A journey sounded fun!