Disciple of Stone and Wood

Disciple of Stone and Wood

There once were two great beasts that roamed these lands. The God Beasts, they were known as, for their power and might. One was a beautiful Bird, whose feathers were all the colours of the rainbow. She soared through the sky, free as could be.

The other was a Deer. His steady stride was unimpeded by mountains or forests. They roamed where they willed, and occasionally met. When they did, they would discuss what they saw on their journeys.

The Bird was fiery and passionate, composing songs as she blazed a trail across the sky, and fighting when any offered her insult. The Deer was patient and kind, carving mountains into beautiful sculptures. Each gave perspective to the wonders that they had seen.

They started meeting more and more frequently, until they just never left each other, wandering together across the land.

Until one day, they came upon a people. They lived in a forest, and were kindly folk. When they beheld the beasts, they bowed in respect, and offered their hospitality.

Intrigued by these little ones, the beasts accepted, and they were glad they did. So taken with the food and drink provided to them, the God-Beasts gifted the mortals their boons.

The Deer claimed the menand the Bird claimed the women. The men inherited the Deers vitality, growing horns and his eye for working wood and stone; while the women grew beautiful wings with which to soar through the air, and some of her fiery temper.

And thus, the men lived with the Deer, and the women followed the Bird. They waded across the lands, meeting to trade stories about life in the sky, and life on the earth.

Things were good for a time. Until the demons came. They poured over the land, consuming everything.

There was but one safe haven; and thus, did the Bird pluck up the Deer in her talons, and carry him to her nest, while the women gathered the mentogether, they settled on Soaring Heavens Isle.

The Deer crafted great wardsa wall of mist, and hid the isle from the monsters, creating a safe haven.

But their wanderings came to an end.

The Disciples of the Deer settled in the forests and the mountains, living a life of simplicity. The Deer taught them to be kind and respect all things; from the beasts they ate to the water they drank. Under his direction they crafted great fortresses, and defensive formations.

The Disciples of the Bird claimed the meadows and hot springs. They too lived simple lives, living off the land, and honing their bodies. In the blue sky, under the direction of the Bird they trained in the arts of war, honing their blades, and learning songs with which to woo their male counterparts.

And thus their life continued, with them only meeting to have children, and trade stories, as they had for so long.

The Deer and Bird too consummate their relationship, their Qi mingling to create all manner of little beastsall with their mothers beautiful wings and their fathers kind heart.

But the men had a dream. They dreamed of being able to fight alongside their sisters. To fly as they did, and never be helpless again. They did not begrudge them their flightand so they went to their sisters, and shared with them their plan.

The women, so touched by their brothers desires and pleas, agreed.

The men gave their horns unto the earth, and from them sprouted great trees. With their sisters, they sung them into shapeand then the sisters gifted the men their feathers, infusing them into the earth and the masts.

And thus, the First Skyship was born.

He offered the Disciples of the Bird a chance. Join him. For vengeance.

It was an offer they would never refuse.

The Skyships rose once more, battered and beaten. But never broken.

And thus, did the Demons learn fear.

They warred for centuries. They warred until the demons fell, and were banished from this world.

And then, they returned to their Isle. The Disciples of the Bird standing alone.

They lived as the Bird had bid themkeeping to their own sex. Even torn in half, and without their counterparts, they were mighty.

But the ships were never again as powerful.

They tried to recreate what had been lost. But too much was gone. The men they chose, sheltering them in the last God Ship never did learn how to harmonize their souls with the Disciples of the Bird, and never did find the seeds that suited them, even as they nearly scoured the forest clean.

They tried and they tried.. Until the practice petered out, lost forever.

===============================

Then one day, the dregs of an Old Deers soul noticed another that was broken and repaired with gold.

He traveled with a spirit of wind and fireand two Disciples of the Bird.

His soul yearned for freedom; to soar high and free.

The others burned with an earnest desire to help him achieve his dreams.

He traveled the forest and gave thanks for each seed; Even his enemys spirit was freed.

The ancient, spent Deer observed it and found it good.

A Disciple he would be, of Stone and Wood.

==============================

===============================