Let's write a story with the power of friendship!

[Odiumiumium Arbiter]

So I had the idea to work together and write a story, one sentence at a time. The only 2 objectives are to write a story, and try to keep it cohesive and as reasonable as possible. The genre is a utopian-ish fantasy, but it'll be very soft (meaning there are very few rules, think Studio Ghibli vibes). You can add magic if you want but keep it vague and Gandalf-y and avoid deus-ex-machina-y things. Try to keep to 1 or 2 sentences per post, but feel free to write more if they're reasonably short (or you are introducing something new). Also, try to use other characters/plotlines before starting your own. Here we go I guess!

~~~

Lylac lay facing the sky in a soft patch of grass, her bright purple eyes following a cloudship piercing the sky. Her focus shifted as a flock of starlings swooped overhead, rolling in the sky.

[Shallan Stormblessed Returned]

Starlings made her think of her brother, who was probably in another of those cloudships. Lylac missed him, but he was doing what was necessary. 

She hoped.

Edited July 20, 2022 by Shallan Stormblessed
Getting rid of a past edit that didn't fit with later responses

[dannnnnex Bondsmith]

Her brother was off fighting the rebels in the western regions. Looking at her gorgeous surroundings, you’d never guess the country was in the midst of civil war, and yet that ugly truth was present all the same. 

[UnfortunatelyNamed Steel Inquisitor]

Thinking of the war ruined any chance she had at relaxing, so Lylac sat up and started walking back to the house. At least there she'd have some busywork to keep her thoughts away from worrying over her brother.

[Odiumiumium Arbiter]

However, everywhere she looked was a painful reminder of the state of her nation. 

[dannnnnex Bondsmith]

Her country’s flag hanging above the doorway, a picture her brother had sent of him and his crew, the food rations she had stored in case of emergency. All painful reminders.

Sometimes she wondered if this war was worth fighting at all. She didn’t dare say such things aloud however. 

[The Bookwyrm Radiant Squire]

Before she entered her house, Lylac looked up in the sky. Veleni, the largest of her world's five moons, was clearly visible even in the bright daylight. It's slight purple hue and smooth surface was somewhat comforting.

Lylac shook her head to focus on the present and opened the door to go inside.

[Shallan Stormblessed Returned]

She didn't dare utter the thoughts she sometimes had inside. But Tria, Lylac's friend, did. Her words echoed in Lylac's head. You think it matters. You think this is a noble cause, and not just a suicide mission. I don't understand you.

[dannnnnex Bondsmith]

Come to think of it, Lylac thought, I haven’t seen Tri in a while. I should check in on her. 

Thoughts of the war vanished as she gathered her things and left to visit her friend. She considered taking her AirScooter but it was only a 10 minute walk. I could use the exercise, she thought to herself with a laugh. 

 

[The Bookwyrm Radiant Squire]

As she walked, through the valley where she lived, Lylac came to her favorite field of flowers. The flowers were known as Starmakers, and they grew in nice, cool colors, like blue and purple. Tiny motes of colored light rose from the flower field, produced by the Starmakers. The motes were hard to see in the sun, so the field was much more magnificent at night.

Once again, Lylac had to remind herself that she was going somewhere and turn her attention away from the flowers. After a few minutes, she reached Tria's house.

Quote

I really do love me some worldbuilding....

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by The Bookwyrm

[Shallan Stormblessed Returned]

She knocked on the door, and it was opened slowly. Tria's face came out, looking distrustful. "Who are you?"

[The Bookwyrm Radiant Squire]

Lylac sighed. Tria was always strangely paranoid, and the war hadn't helped that at all.

"Tri, it's me. Lylac Starani. I'm your best friend, and I've known you since we were six."

Tria's eyes narrowed. "How did we meet?"

And....now she wants proof, Lylac thought. Of course.

[Odiumiumium Arbiter]

Her paranoia could not be normal, Lylac thought. She had always been cautious, but she had never before forgotten her friend's face. 

[UnfortunatelyNamed Steel Inquisitor]

Tria's eyes narrowed at Lylac's hesitation, and she moved to withdraw back into her house.

[Odiumiumium Arbiter]

Lylac sighed. "We met 9 years ago, remember? In the springfields? We threw flowers at each other and I missed like a thousand times?" 

[UnfortunatelyNamed Steel Inquisitor]

Tria's paused, face barely visible in the dim light inside the house. "What kind of flowers?"

[Shallan Stormblessed Returned]

When Tria's eye's showed no sign of softening, and she didn't even seem to recognize Lylac, she started to get very scared.

[The Bookwyrm Radiant Squire]

Lylac tried not to let that fear show. "It was the Starmakers, of course. We liked the way they scattered the motes of light as they flew through the air."

As soon as Lylac said the word Starmakers, Tria's eyes finally softened. Lylac let out a small sigh of relief.

"Well, why didn't you say so earlier?" Tria said, finally smiling. "Come in!"

I'm going to have to ask her what that was about, Lylac told herself.

[Odiumiumium Arbiter]

Lylac walked in her house, feeling more at home than she did at home.

[The Bookwyrm Radiant Squire]

Tria lived alone, despite her young age. She kept her small cottage neat and clean, despite the fact that her hobby sometimes made a mess. The building was small, with only a few rooms, but it was cozy, if somewhat eccentric.

Magical devices lined the walls, and a table in the center of the living room had what look liked a half dismantled air scooter. The glowing magical core that powered the machine illuminated the otherwise sparsely lit room.

Tria had always had an interest in magical technology, and liked to experiment with it.

Quote

Someone else work on the dialogue. I'm not as good at it.

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by The Bookwyrm

[Odiumiumium Arbiter]

"So Tria, what meddling have you done today?" Lylac asked, stepping gingerly between the clutter of tools and instruments strewn across the floor.

[Shallan Stormblessed Returned]

"Oh, nothing," Tria said, but not in a friendly, "whatever" way. 

In a way that she'd interact with someone she didn't know or trust.

Or maybe Lylac was just spooked by Tria's reaction earlier.

[Odiumiumium Arbiter]

I'm becoming just as bad as her, she thought. "Well, you've been busy at least. Last time I was here I could still see the wall."

[Shallan Stormblessed Returned]

Tria couldn't disguise the small smile that crept onto her face. "I'm making a..." 

She seemed to reconsider giving the information away. Tahra's skull! Tria must be the most paranoid person in Riladi.

Tri overcame her momentary reluctance. "I'm making a... a weapon of sorts."

 

[Odiumiumium Arbiter]

"A weapon!" Lylac exclaimed. "Surely not...Not for the war?" she whispered,"Magic-based weapons have been banned since the Last Battle, you should know that right?"