in-the-aerdo - Tumblr blog

[in-the-aerdo]

As you are exploring the forest, you feel a chill running down your spines, as if a million icy needles were lodged into your backs. The wind picks up in moments and with a single forceful blow, the leaves of the trees are all torn off, swirling around you as if you were stuck in tornado. If you look to the sky, you see something similar happening - the colors are changing in quick succession until all you see is a blur, shades and hues washing together on the blanket covering the strange forest. 

As quickly as it started, however, the phenomenon was over. Everything was back to normal - or rather, as normal as it gets within the Aerdo. Everything, except for... where did the animals go? Because once you look around, you will find you have lost sight of your companions. In their places, you each see a single shadow - one who looks a concerningly lot like the one you cast.

[in-the-aerdo]

Tree of life

[in-the-aerdo]

Photo Study sketches by Lorenzo Lanfranconi

[in-the-aerdo]

Oh, it's a FRIEND! Day can scarcely contain her excitement as she keeps up the careful chase, ignoring the little scrapes to her knees and hands as she stumbles along. Each new shape is even better than the last in her opinion, and every single one is shaped like an absolutely wonderful friend. "Come on... just stop for a little bit, please? I just want to say hello and maybe be your friend if that's okay?"

It appears once, twice, three more times and... it's gone. Out if sight, impossible to see, despite you feeling like you were just about close enough to reach out and touch the creature. And finally, you feel a breeze of wind on your shoulder, almost like someone exhaled and behind you is an absolutely massive creature, the size of a polar bear at least. It appears to be somewhat like a dog, but with little differences here and there. Long horns, several tails, long fur, short horns- short?

Indeed. You don't have to look too close to see the creature is fluctuating between forms, like water made of pure light is sloshing around, reshaping it at every moment. The only thing remaining the same is the curious look the beast keeps on you, watching your every move.

[in-the-aerdo]

Now THAT’S something she has to see. Grinning widely, Day sets off in a careful jog, dodging tree roots and branches as best she can as she tries once more to spot the creature. If it’s anything like Seeker, she’s going to love and cherish it with all her tiny might.

While you do trip over a couple of roots, you never fall or lose track of the creature. You see it again for a moment behind another tree, this time with less tails but thicker and again with more and longer tails. It also appears to be alternating between heights and looks, as every time you see it again, it seems to be a slightly different creature. A moose, a horse, a pony, a dog... it simply continues to shift, only to remain a pure white at every turn. It does, however, seem to be stopping closer and closer to you...

[in-the-aerdo]

... The shadow seems to be following her, right...? Which means that she can always turn back and find it. But the light isn’t making any moves to stay, so it’s probably better to go after it. Carefully approaching the spot where it vanished, Day keeps her voice low and calm. “Hello...? It’s okay, I’m not going to hurt you.”

It seems to be a good choice at the moment. You can still see the flash of light - or was it a flying, glowing orb? vanish behind a tree and you almost spot a creature. It seems to roughly resemble a deer with at least three tails you could count in a moment, but once again, it‘s gone with the wind, leading you deeper into the forest.

[in-the-aerdo]

It was supposed to be a quick stroll to the forest, they say. They told her to stay put and wait for a moment, they say. And yet, here she is - already wandering through the Aerdo and being distracted by the flora and fauna around her. With a look at each plant and flower, the young girl greeted them with a smile and a happy wave of a hand. Just like what they taught her to do. -☁️

They taught her right. And while fauna doesn‘t quite seem to appear, save for the birdsong in the distance, some of the plants seem to almost wave right back at the girl, vines being blown towards her by the wind and almost embracing her in a warm hug. And despite the weather outside the forest being quite burn-your-skin-off hot, the breeze within the woods seems to make sure it‘s simply kept warm and comfortable.

[in-the-aerdo]

She pulls her hand back in surprise, leaning in to get a closer look without touching this time. She absentmindedly heals the small wound on her finger. Upon identifying the creature, she smiled brightly. "Oh, aren't you cute? I'm sorry little one, I wasn't trying to take your treasure." 💙

It hisses at you in disbelief. How dare this person disturb the creature‘s slumber? Do they know nothing? With a surprisingly fast and forceful kick, the turtle takes off in the stream, seemingly leading the other to... somewhere. The only way to find out seems to be to follow the creature, which may become a challange the further down the river you go - those rocks are quite large and unstable-looking and the water is only getting deeper.

[in-the-aerdo]

/Over root and rock, he follows the mouse readily this time. Seems cautious trust is setting in. When they reach the lake, he pauses, taking in the colourful beauty. Then he kneels on a rock by the edge and tentatively cups the cool, clear water in his palms, bringing it to his cracked lips. A soft sound of relief escapes him as he drinks and he quickly cups another handful, and another and another, until his immediate thirst is quenched. Then he slowly slips into the water with a quiet groan./

It‘s simply perfect, just like everything seems to be in the forest. The temperature is just right, the water is moving slightly and washing all the dirt and grime away and the little mouse also seems to enjoy it, swimming around without a care in the world. There are even a couple of rocks that almost look like birds by the side, simulating the feeling of life and fauna.

[in-the-aerdo]

World’s Most Haunted Forest: The Hoia-Baciu Forest 

The Hoia-Baciu Forest is situated near Cluj-Napoca, Romania. It is often referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of the country. It has a reputation for intense paranormal activity and unexplained events. Reports have included, ghost sightings, unexplained apparitions, faces appearing in photographs that were not visible with the naked eye, and in the 1970s, UFO sightings were reported.

Visitors to the forest often report intense feelings of anxiety and the feeling of being constantly watched. Moreover, the local vegetation is somehow bizarre in appearance, like something out of a make-believe story with strangely shaped trees, and unexplained charring on tree stumps and branches.

The forest was named after a shepherd that disappeared in the area with a flock of two hundred sheep. Most people who live near the forest are afraid to enter it due to the stories and legends that have been handed down. They believe that those who visit the site will never return back home. Many of the locals who have been brave enough to venture into the forest complained of physical harm, including rashes, nausea, vomiting, migraines, burns, scratches, anxiety, and other unusual sensations.

This dense forest first gained notoriety in the late 1960s when a biologist named Alexandru Sift snapped several amazing photos of a flying disc-shaped object in the sky above the forest. People who have entered the forest to this day get inexplicable rashes or they begin to feel very light-headed and ill. Moreover, the electronic devices are known to malfunction when introduced into the area. Some paranormal investigators have associated these strange malfunctions with supernatural activity. (Source)

[in-the-aerdo]

The woods are lovely, dark and deep 🍃🍂

[in-the-aerdo]

She feels like she could drink forever. She might have, except something catches her eye that stops her. It's blue, her favorite color, and the shine is so alluring. What could it be? Her curiosity is simply too strong. She reaches down into the water, attempting to grab hold of it. 💙

Just before she can touch it, however, the thing moves, biting down on one of her fingers. It's not particularly painful, wouldn't even crack a bone, but it's still unpleasant and does puncture her skin slightly. Within about a moment of inspection, she can determine the thing is... somewhat like a turtle. Except, this creature has six legs instead of four, though two of them are slightly hidden under itself and almost look like they're holding onto something. Perhaps trying to take it from the creature is not a very good idea.

[in-the-aerdo]

Of course, she's terribly thirsty. It must have been ages since she last had a drink, and it looks so refreshing! She falls to her knees and dips her cupped hands into the stream, quickly bringing the captured water to her mouth.💙

It's... it's so hard to describe. The best way to do it would be to say... It's the best water she's ever drank. But that's an understatement by a long shot. She must have more, more, as much as she can possibly have- what's that at the bottom? It almost has... a shine to it. Like a large, blue gemstone.

[in-the-aerdo]

/Order is for walls and courts, not the wilds of a forest. His fingers brush over the bark of the tree that gave fruit, following the rough texture and patterns, then to his own face, marred with mud and grime, as is the rest of him. It pulls at his skin, matted in his hair, long time unkempt and uncared for. He turns to the mouse. "Water?"/

It answers with a squeak and drops from the branch, beginning to make its way through the woods once again, running past trees and bushes, flowers ad mossy trunks, rocks and pebbles until finally... they reach a lake. And not just any lake - a large, beautiful one with a waterfall coming down from a cliff, the clear water even forming a rainbow in the sunshine. Aerdo said gay rights.

[in-the-aerdo]

/Hungry, he's so *hungry*. The fruit doesn't seem like it should fill him up, and yet as he licks the juice from his fingers... his hunger is sated. For now at least. He groans as he rests one hand on his gut, it's been so long... But with hunger no longer an immediate and painful need, he can turn his attention to other matters. His toes pressing into the dirt and vast network within with each step, he slowly makes his way back to the treeline. Should try to learn just where he ended up./

The forest doesn't seem to want to give much of an indication as to where he is - it's simply a wide clearing with soft grass and occasional patches of only dirt. In the middle stands the hollow tree, its bark seeming colored differently from every angle he looks.

All around him are trees and bushes, varying in size and look. Is there any order? Maybe. Maybe not. Does it matter?

Not to the vine-tailed mouse. It squeaks on the hollow and, hanging from a low branch, looks at the wanderer with a silent question. What do you want to do?

[in-the-aerdo]

Though all forests should have been home to her, the young wood elf somehow finds herself lost. There is magic here, she can sense that much, but something about the place feels... different. Different from any magic she had yet encountered in her short 19 years. Mismatched eyes look around curiously as she stops by a stream. The water looks clear, and she is rather thirsty. Can she trust it?💙

Perhaps she can, perhaps not. It definitely looks safe, smells safe and sounds safe. And it looks oh so thirst-quenching, she must try it! When was the last time she drank? A few minutes ago? Yesterday? Or perhaps, an eternity ago. It doesn't matter. Her thirst seems unbearable now - taking the risk doesn't seem to risky anymore, now that she may drop dead into the water if she doesn't take a sip.

[in-the-aerdo]

Generic it might be to some, but to Day it's all wonder after wonder. She stops to stare at the beautiful flowers and listen to the vibrant birdsong as she goes, taking care not to spend too long lest she miss out on another beauty the Aerdo has to show her. But then- Day's head whips around to the flash of movement, eyes widening in surprise. "What the- hello...?"

For a long time, nothing happens. You could wait and wait and wait for the flash to happen again, for an explanation to come... and you do. You wait. And wait. And wait longer. And finally, you blink as you look away... and the flash returns.

This time, it dashes behind a tree with blue bark that can be pulled off by a simple brush of the wind, as you have noticed during your journey on others of the same type. And so, the bark drifts from one side of the trunk as the creature pauses behind it, hidden completely from your sight.

In the corner of your eye, however, you can see a familiar figure - a dark humanoid with long, flowing hair, watching you from behind the bushes. Will you follow the unknown flash of light? Or will you pursue your own shadow?