He didn't know where he was going, but any excursion outside the Hollow was exciting. Isildur was on his best behavior, eager to show his father and family that he could be trusted to venture outside the pridelands even under their careful supervision. He tried extraordinarily hard to be the leader of them—he was careful to herd @Sorin back into the fold whenever she may wander, and cleared the path before @Dragana so that she wouldn't trip. He even paid special attention to his half-siblings, a reassuring smile sent to both @Anairë and @Dominic, though likely with vastly different reactions.

Eventually, they made their way toward the massive, sprawling tree. At its base lay an array of presents, and even his attempted bravery could not hold against his boyish, childlike excitement. Quick was he to abandon his role as guardian, bounding up alongside @Lilliana at first, before nestling himself between @Alexander ♔'s legs, pale eyes peering curiously toward the exchange of presents.

Ah! So he needed to give in order to get. Fair trade, he thought, but had little idea what such a tree would want as a present. Water, certainly, and sunlight, but both were things Isildur couldn't provide on his own. Thus, he found the smoothest, shiniest stone he possibly could, and present it to the ancient roots with a hopeful glint in his eyes.

---

@Anárion @Camellia
Offering Day 4 of Advent '22, adjust an RDG's mutation.

There is a rush in the air as the breeze picks up abruptly, just as the offering is placed near the base of the tree. It is cold and frigid, prying at tufts of fur and exposed skin as it lifts the uppermost layer of the freshly-fallen snow, causing the flakes to be swept up into the wind with it. Nafasi may be a troublemaker and, yes, they had done their fair share of tricking as of late – but this (thankfully, for everyone else) was harmless. Today, the sprite would be giving good things to those that were smart enough to heed her signs and recognize the pure intentions behind the appearance of these mystical trees – and, frankly, it was as simple as that!

The wind would swirl for a few more moments before finally settling back down, and it was only then that a twinkle would garner your attention. Which was something that, you were sure, hadn’t been there before. Looking closer, you would realize that a colorful variety of gemstones were the culprit, catching the light and veering your attention downwards, towards the tree’s large trunk. Alongside these jewels, you would find an impressive collection of trinkets, pelts, bones, berries, and herbs, all nestled comfortably in the crevice of the tree. Take your pick.

---

@Isildur

You have received Slightly longer claws from the giving tree! This shop item has been transferred to your OOC account.

You can continue to make offerings to the giving tree, interact with others, or exit the thread whenever you’d like.

pixel credit to ch4ron

Elaine moved through the snow high above the lands below, she dragged along a goat that she had caught when she caught a strange scent. She moved toward it and found that others were there also. She moved to @Io's side and looked around. The large tree was out of place and Elaine found herself having to sit as she looked up at the top of it. There was a hum about it that seemed to linger in her bones. She looked toward the others, her icy gaze landing on those who had caused her family so much struggle but decided for the moment to not push anything. Louve's word was her law, unlike them. She pushed the goat toward the tree as she felt the need to offer something to it.

Offering: FREE RDG RE-ROLL

There is a rush in the air as the breeze picks up abruptly, just as the offering is placed near the base of the tree. It is cold and frigid, prying at tufts of fur and exposed skin as it lifts the uppermost layer of the freshly-fallen snow, causing the flakes to be swept up into the wind with it. Nafasi may be a troublemaker and, yes, they had done their fair share of tricking as of late – but this (thankfully, for everyone else) was harmless. Today, the sprite would be giving good things to those that were smart enough to heed her signs and recognize the pure intentions behind the appearance of these mystical trees – and, frankly, it was as simple as that!

The wind would swirl for a few more moments before finally settling back down, and it was only then that a twinkle would garner your attention. Which was something that, you were sure, hadn’t been there before. Looking closer, you would realize that a colorful variety of gemstones were the culprit, catching the light and veering your attention downwards, towards the tree’s large trunk. Alongside these jewels, you would find an impressive collection of trinkets, pelts, bones, berries, and herbs, all nestled comfortably in the crevice of the tree. Take your pick.

---

@Elaine

You have received Coloboma from the giving tree! This shop item has been transferred to your OOC account.

You can continue to make offerings to the giving tree, interact with others, or exit the thread whenever you’d like.

pixel credit to ch4ron

Gauthier watched from the green furled heel of the lookout, sheltered beneath nested trees and the shadow cast by jutted rock. Though he had not been to the peak in a long time, he could not recall a sapling in the place of where a massive tree stood now – its leaves shimmering, its roots a-glimmer with the facets of polished stone and gleaming ivory. Gnarled at the base, these treasures lay clutched in the earth seemingly a grasp away, but when one reaches, they cannot be pried from its feet.

Until there is an offering.

The matters of divinity on Amaryllis are always a curious thing. His understanding of gods had always been things of quiet lore, Seranna wordless in her mountain halls, the Naesarpe whispering from the glowing heavens, the Dalea whisking wanderers into nothing through the labyrinthine woods. For a moment he’d wonder if this was an act of the Dalea – their cunning, to lure them in with the pretty trinkets in exchange for a parcel of flesh.

He watched quietly as others laid their offerings - and prized from its roots their rewards, unharmed. The tree did not writhe like serpents, pulling them into the earth, strangling them with its vines and barbs. No cry leapt from their mouths, only the smiling curl of their grateful lips. A piece of him grew disappointed to not see the Dalea at work. Another, curious.

His eyes are pulled to two who draw their limb up, letting from their veins sweet, wasted ichor on a being who had likewise accepted lesser gifts. Gauthier sneered, snarled, his lip pulling high over his teeth as his mouth filled with craving and his nose yearned for the smell. His body responded - uncoiling from the darkness of the shrubbery into the soft grey of diluted day. The tree’s paltry compensations were of little mind to him. But to watch blood wasted was a sin unforgivable.

One brought a branch to its base, as if it had need for any more of its upstretching limbs. Another, a smooth stone to add to the pile. None were damned by a fickle god or vindictive nymph, no chiming laughter echoed their drops to the jewel-littered roots. Looking quickly around himself he found a striped sheet of gypsum and pried a chunk from its back, carrying it to the tree.

But as he lay the piece at the tree’s roots, he gazed where the blood had not been collected by upturned soils —

And before he raised his head from the dropped rock, he licked clean the blood that had spilled on a root.

Offering: Advent '22: Day 8 Free RDG Re-Roll

There is a rush in the air as the breeze picks up abruptly, just as the offering is placed near the base of the tree. It is cold and frigid, prying at tufts of fur and exposed skin as it lifts the uppermost layer of the freshly-fallen snow, causing the flakes to be swept up into the wind with it. Nafasi may be a troublemaker and, yes, they had done their fair share of tricking as of late – but this (thankfully, for everyone else) was harmless. Today, the sprite would be giving good things to those that were smart enough to heed her signs and recognize the pure intentions behind the appearance of these mystical trees – and, frankly, it was as simple as that!

The wind would swirl for a few more moments before finally settling back down, and it was only then that a twinkle would garner your attention. Which was something that, you were sure, hadn’t been there before. Looking closer, you would realize that a colorful variety of gemstones were the culprit, catching the light and veering your attention downwards, towards the tree’s large trunk. Alongside these jewels, you would find an impressive collection of trinkets, pelts, bones, berries, and herbs, all nestled comfortably in the crevice of the tree. Take your pick.

---

@Gauthier

You have received WHite Pelt from the giving tree! This shop item has been transferred to your OOC account.

You can continue to make offerings to the giving tree, interact with others, or exit the thread whenever you’d like.

pixel credit to ch4ron

there was no reason for her to be here. nothing that made sense. yet she is drawn all the same to this peak, following an invisible trail that seemed to have been traveled by several others. more than once she thinks she should turn away, resist this unearthly pull that lures her paws higher and higher.

until a tree appears before her, and a crowd of lions that lay offerings at its roots.

louve watches for a spell, hovering back and away, until gauthier moves forward with his own offering. a small frown furrows her brow as he looks for something she can lay. if he thinks it a worthy endeavor then she trusts his opinion. there is a plant nearby with strange red berries. she is drawn to he color, carefully tearing a branch and approaching to give her own offering. as she places the branch she reaches to crush the berries; to smear the red across the bark.

Offering: Trick or Treat 2023 Free RDG re-roll

CODE•ART•BG

there was no reason for her to be here. nothing that made sense. yet she is drawn all the same to this peak, following an invisible trail that seemed to have been traveled by several others. more than once she thinks she should turn away, resist this unearthly pull that lures her paws higher and higher.

until a tree appears before her, and a crowd of lions that lay offerings at its roots.

louve watches for a spell, hovering back and away, until gauthier moves forward with his own offering. a small frown furrows her brow as he looks for something she can lay. if he thinks it a worthy endeavor then she trusts his opinion. there is a plant nearby with strange red berries. she is drawn to he color, carefully tearing a branch and approaching to give her own offering. as she places the branch she reaches to crush the berries; to smear the red across the bark.

Offering: Trick or Treat 2023 Free RDG re-roll

There is a rush in the air as the breeze picks up abruptly, just as the offering is placed near the base of the tree. It is cold and frigid, prying at tufts of fur and exposed skin as it lifts the uppermost layer of the freshly-fallen snow, causing the flakes to be swept up into the wind with it. Nafasi may be a troublemaker and, yes, they had done their fair share of tricking as of late – but this (thankfully, for everyone else) was harmless. Today, the sprite would be giving good things to those that were smart enough to heed her signs and recognize the pure intentions behind the appearance of these mystical trees – and, frankly, it was as simple as that!

The wind would swirl for a few more moments before finally settling back down, and it was only then that a twinkle would garner your attention. Which was something that, you were sure, hadn’t been there before. Looking closer, you would realize that a colorful variety of gemstones were the culprit, catching the light and veering your attention downwards, towards the tree’s large trunk. Alongside these jewels, you would find an impressive collection of trinkets, pelts, bones, berries, and herbs, all nestled comfortably in the crevice of the tree. Take your pick.

---

@Louve

You have received Underbite from the giving tree! This shop item has been transferred to your OOC account.

You can continue to make offerings to the giving tree, interact with others, or exit the thread whenever you’d like.

pixel credit to ch4ron

In an effort to not be greedy in one sitting, Chaeton had taken his gifts from the stranger upon last meeting and departed. Letting his gifts shine in his makeshift den as he was delighted that it finally felt a little bit more permanent. Though as he stumbled upon the same creature bearing gifts in an effort to trade, Chaeton knew what he had to do. Chaeton went about collecting everything that he could. Be it a fine piece of meat, a crystal, a fresh herb or feathers — he had come prepared. Pushing a pair of orange and silver crystals to the individual and hoping that it passed the first test.

Offering adjust an rdg’s mutation (lesser or equal value) from Advent 2023 Day 9

^{ART BY AURORA, CODE BY CALA}

The scent led her up there, but not from afar. She had already been around the area from searching for the infernal logs a time before. Loaded in her neck-satchel were the gifts from that, but now... now this scent that led her towards the Lookout was much more interesting. She thought she'd find exotic food up there, decorated with holiday spices conjured up from the gods of Amaryllis themselves here, but what she found instead was a huge tree. Bigger than her, for sure, and bigger than any tree she had ever seen before. She approached it with her mouth hanging wide as others sniffed and checked it out as well.

Nestled within its branches were special treasures, though as she tried to pry a shiny rock from its grip, she'd find that its hold was steadfast. Looking around, she noticed others leaving a gift at the base of the tree, and then being able to take what they wished. Hmm...

Syren nestled through her satchel and pulled from it, her least favorite shiny stone. A trade, perhaps, for a prettier shiny stone?


Offering: CIJ '23 Free Global Marking

art x code

In an effort to not be greedy in one sitting, Chaeton had taken his gifts from the stranger upon last meeting and departed. Letting his gifts shine in his makeshift den as he was delighted that it finally felt a little bit more permanent. Though as he stumbled upon the same creature bearing gifts in an effort to trade, Chaeton knew what he had to do. Chaeton went about collecting everything that he could. Be it a fine piece of meat, a crystal, a fresh herb or feathers — he had come prepared. Pushing a pair of orange and silver crystals to the individual and hoping that it passed the first test.

Offering adjust an rdg’s mutation (lesser or equal value) from Advent 2023 Day 9

There is a rush in the air as the breeze picks up abruptly, just as the offering is placed near the base of the tree. It is cold and frigid, prying at tufts of fur and exposed skin as it lifts the uppermost layer of the freshly-fallen snow, causing the flakes to be swept up into the wind with it. Nafasi may be a troublemaker and, yes, they had done their fair share of tricking as of late – but this (thankfully, for everyone else) was harmless. Today, the sprite would be giving good things to those that were smart enough to heed her signs and recognize the pure intentions behind the appearance of these mystical trees – and, frankly, it was as simple as that!

The wind would swirl for a few more moments before finally settling back down, and it was only then that a twinkle would garner your attention. Which was something that, you were sure, hadn’t been there before. Looking closer, you would realize that a colorful variety of gemstones were the culprit, catching the light and veering your attention downwards, towards the tree’s large trunk. Alongside these jewels, you would find an impressive collection of trinkets, pelts, bones, berries, and herbs, all nestled comfortably in the crevice of the tree. Take your pick.

---

@Chaeton

You have received Polydactyly from the giving tree! This shop item has been transferred to your OOC account.

You can continue to make offerings to the giving tree, interact with others, or exit the thread whenever you’d like.

pixel credit to ch4ron

The scent led her up there, but not from afar. She had already been around the area from searching for the infernal logs a time before. Loaded in her neck-satchel were the gifts from that, but now... now this scent that led her towards the Lookout was much more interesting. She thought she'd find exotic food up there, decorated with holiday spices conjured up from the gods of Amaryllis themselves here, but what she found instead was a huge tree. Bigger than her, for sure, and bigger than any tree she had ever seen before. She approached it with her mouth hanging wide as others sniffed and checked it out as well.

Nestled within its branches were special treasures, though as she tried to pry a shiny rock from its grip, she'd find that its hold was steadfast. Looking around, she noticed others leaving a gift at the base of the tree, and then being able to take what they wished. Hmm...

Syren nestled through her satchel and pulled from it, her least favorite shiny stone. A trade, perhaps, for a prettier shiny stone?


Offering: CIJ '23 Free Global Marking

There is a rush in the air as the breeze picks up abruptly, just as the offering is placed near the base of the tree. It is cold and frigid, prying at tufts of fur and exposed skin as it lifts the uppermost layer of the freshly-fallen snow, causing the flakes to be swept up into the wind with it. Nafasi may be a troublemaker and, yes, they had done their fair share of tricking as of late – but this (thankfully, for everyone else) was harmless. Today, the sprite would be giving good things to those that were smart enough to heed her signs and recognize the pure intentions behind the appearance of these mystical trees – and, frankly, it was as simple as that!

The wind would swirl for a few more moments before finally settling back down, and it was only then that a twinkle would garner your attention. Which was something that, you were sure, hadn’t been there before. Looking closer, you would realize that a colorful variety of gemstones were the culprit, catching the light and veering your attention downwards, towards the tree’s large trunk. Alongside these jewels, you would find an impressive collection of trinkets, pelts, bones, berries, and herbs, all nestled comfortably in the crevice of the tree. Take your pick.

---

@Syren

You have received Peach Pelt from the giving tree! This shop item has been transferred to your OOC account.

You can continue to make offerings to the giving tree, interact with others, or exit the thread whenever you’d like.

pixel credit to ch4ron

I got a gun for a mouth

As she made her offer, the wind picked up, whipping about the strange and decorated tree, calling Syren's eyes away from its base just long enough for someone to sneak some treasures down there. Because when the girl returned her gaze to where she had offered her stone, she found it gone, but replaced with several other treasures. Pelts, trinkets, gemstones, bones, berries, and herbs all looked rather tempting, and Syren wondered if she'd be able to take more than one thing here...

Hastily, she snatched up the fluffiest, warmest looking pelt - that of a musk ox, maybe? And then once she had that in her clutches, she reached for one of the shining gemstones. As she placed her large paw upon it, curling her toes to grab one of the rocks between them, a root coiled around her paw, preventing her from taking the item (or her paw!) back. "Okay, okay! I got it. I ain't gonna take nothin' else," she spoke to the tree's roots, releasing her hold on the gem, and attempting to pull her paw back. Only once did the gem fall back into place did the roots release Syren's paw from their grasp.

The colossal girl took the furry pelt up in her mouth, and after rubbing her paw with the other, she carried it off. /exit

and a bullet with your name on it

code x art x inspo