[Shrilaraune] Faye The Librarian (in training)

[Shrilaraune]

The Fourth Librarian (in training)

Let's be honest, Faye loved books. She really did! In fact some of her best friends were books! But when this mysteriously sparkly letter had arrived by post (almost eleven years ago, unless she missed her guess) she had been a. 15 and  b. teaching in the Nigerian countryside. Her parents--after the typical Nigerian fashion--would not have taken kindly to her dropping out of school (no matter how prestigious the position). She had barely convinced them to allow her to continue her studies remotely (though they could hardly object to her extending her stay in Nigeria to help people). And perhaps more importantly, she couldn't leave her students. They had gotten over her American birth (she was after all still daughter to two Nigerians), and even the fact that she was their age! Some of her students had taken to her Computer Skill training quite well and this was a critical point! So, despite the temptation the Metropolitan Library's offer posed, Faye could not simply up and leave. 

 

 

Now she was 25 and so buried by student loans she literally could not pursue another degree until she paid some of the debt off. Then, almost as if by fate, she ran into--literally ran into--an old friend. 

 

Challenge 1: Training with Eve +2 STR, +2 DEX, +1 WIS

 

 

Faye and Eve first met during their time at NATO. Faye, the lowly, ambitious intern and Eve fresh off her first tour. Initially, Eve had just liked Faye's dry humor and had taken her out for coffee to further explore. Eventually, Eve found herself closely mentoring Faye until the two fell out of contact during Faye's stint in Israel. One day, on what Faye considered an "Angst ridden romp through her favorite field of books", she ran headlong into Eve. Hours later, they found themselves laughing over coffee until Faye uttered with a wistful sigh, "You know I almost had a job here." Before either knew what had happened, a glittering envelope dropped onto the table between them with a chime like "clack," if such a thing could be said. While Faye's gaze began to explore the suddenly very interesting ceiling, Eve's brows found a place to rest somewhere along her hairline. And thus the fourth Librarian was born. 

 

Faye (basically a slightly fictionalized version of myself) is, of course, even more ignorant of her role than her freshly minted peers. And so, before tossing her into the field, Eve wants her properly trained. To this point, she will be working her way through 49 days of Hero's Journey in 49 days (yikes).

 

Challenge 2: Lamia's Lair +3 DEX, +1 WIS

 

 

Faye has been on the wrong end of Lamia's Katana before. It had been a friendly sparring match at the time but, Faye had learned her functional flexibility was not what it should be if she ever intended to defeat Lamia as a Librarian. So, when not huffing and puffing under Eve's tutelage (a rare event), she worked on that very weakness. At least five minutes everyday, Faye would stretch and stretch, growing ever closer to a split. 

 

Challenge 3: "Quiet, I'm doing Math" +3 CON, +1 WIS

 

Cassandra is the only other Librarian Faye has met. Eve is quite keen on keeping her away from Ezekiel's influence and Jake's "take charge" personality (the two would clash immediately). Cass and Faye, both synesthetes (this is actually true of me), are fast friends and often parse out the peculiarities of their condition together. Cass also works with Faye on monitoring the particulars of her training--especially keeping below her daily caloric intake. 

 

Challenge 4: Noli timere malum, sed time heroa +1 WIS, +1 CHA

 

Remember that next degree Faye wants? International Law. Now that the Library is paying her for her trouble, she wants to go to law school. Ostensibly counteracting the echoes of Morgan le Fay's presence throughout the centuries and perhaps becoming someone to fear. But that means actually getting those applications in! So, in the month of November, Faye intends to submit all her applications. 

 

 

I will try to keep the updates daily and in Faye's voice! They'll probably end up as journal entries or something of that nature. Wish me luck (cause I'm SO afraid)!! Will most definitely bribe self. 

[Artemis]

Sounds like fun!  Hero's journey for the full length of the challenge is definitely possible.  This is based on the Librarian tv show?

[Shrilaraune]

Yup! The premiere of season 2 was Sunday night, so I had it on my mind while I was coming up with my challenge. 

[lucky fire dragon]

Awesome theme!! That heroe's journey looks like something to be nervous of for sure. And super proud if you pull through

 

Best of luck, you will need have it!

[mom2sjm]

I love a good darebee workout!  FIrst introduced to them a few challenges ago when they were part of an Assassin's mini challenge.  Really sparked my competitive side if I remember correctly.  I have a darebee yoga exercise bookmarked that I've been doing while I recover from my gum graft surgery.  not counting it for my yoga goal since it's seated and only 3 minutes but that's what I like about darebee, it's a great resource when you are limited (by time, space, ability) to some degree.  

 

I've never seen "the librarian" although I have my masters in library media sciences.  I think I should check it out!  I've had challenges with a tv theme (breaking bad) and just a couple challenges ago I used music lyrics to structure my challenge (Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush). It's fun, gotta be creative!

[Shrilaraune]

Awesome theme!! That heroe's journey looks like something to be nervous of for sure. And super proud if you pull through

 

Best of luck, you will need have it!

Thanks so much!!! I can't wait to see more of your challenge!

 

Day 1 and Day 2

-------------------------------------------

 

 

Freaking Ninjas. I guess I should start from the beginning, right? UGH Eve if you ever read this just know I hate you. And love you. Mostly hate. ODI ET AMO. Day one seemed like it would be easy enough. Eve dared me to land 60 solid kicks on her. Anywhere on her--easy enough right? HAH. JOKES ON JOKES. I guess while I've been off peacekeeping, she's actually been getting paid to kick ass and take names. Worse yet, every time I missed I had to do a squat. I missed. EVERY. TIME. Then--perhaps out of pity--she asked me to try and dodge her. For every hit she landed, climbers. I hit 60 climbers before despaired of me. On the one hand, I'm a total newb. On the other, I had time to stretch?

 

Bearing all this in mind, it totally makes sense, her sending me through one of those doors to explore. It was a harmless forest really. Beautiful, all dew dropped with morning mist. Which brings me to the ninjas.

 

 

It wasn't awful. At first. I'd been tracking...something or someone. I couldn't quite tell because the signs of their passage were so light. Eventually, I neared a clearing ringing with the echos of clanging steel. And in the clearing, a literal horde of ninjas. Or would they be a murder or ninjas? Like ravens? In the clearing, a literal murder of ninjas. And what should I find in the midst of this...murder of ninjas? A wolf, naturally. The ninjas were attacking a wolf. It all made perfect sense, didn't it (no)? And if I were being honest, the wolf was really more of a direwolf in some beautiful armour. Yup. Ninjas and Jon Snow's Ghost in plate mail. I was entirely prepared to mind my own business...I mean this was straight out of a crack fic and surely that way madness lies. But something about the odds of that battle hit me the wrong way. And Ghost--yes that is the name I have given it in my head--was already slowing, nicks here and there on those bits that remained unprotected by armour, bleeding and marring an otherwise perfectly snowy pelt. 

 

So I did the hero thing. 

 

Fortunately they became somewhat predictable--approaching me in five different groups. By the time I was able to dispatch them...Ghost had disappeared (o rly?). So not an intelligent direwolf. Or maybe just a jerk? Whatever. Something tells me I did the right thing.

[Shrilaraune]

I love a good darebee workout!  FIrst introduced to them a few challenges ago when they were part of an Assassin's mini challenge.  Really sparked my competitive side if I remember correctly.  I have a darebee yoga exercise bookmarked that I've been doing while I recover from my gum graft surgery.  not counting it for my yoga goal since it's seated and only 3 minutes but that's what I like about darebee, it's a great resource when you are limited (by time, space, ability) to some degree.  

 

I've never seen "the librarian" although I have my masters in library media sciences.  I think I should check it out!  I've had challenges with a tv theme (breaking bad) and just a couple challenges ago I used music lyrics to structure my challenge (Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush). It's fun, gotta be creative!

 

So you're a real life super hero? XD The Librarian is a set of movies (kinda campy) that TNT has now made a TV show (much better, less campy). Check them all out! I think the TV version is a lot more fun when you've seen the movies. 

 

I hadn't realized darebee had yoga stuff!! That's awesome!! And a song based Challenge? I hadn't even realized that was possible! Such a good idea!

[Elastigirl]

Fun challenge.

[Shrilaraune]

Fun challenge.

Why thank you!

[Shrilaraune]

Day 3

 

 

There's this hallway in the library, a set of doors that all lead somewhere...miraculous. But according to Flynn, none of those doors lead to a forest. In fact the only place like the one I'd described is the Heart of the Library (??) which I could not have gotten to through the doors. His conclusion? I hallucinated everything. Of course that doesn't explain the bruises, now does it? So I decided to sneak back this morning, before anyone else got up. And just like yesterday, the door opened up into a beautiful forest wreathed in a sudden burst of sunlight. It looked like...like the sun was setting. What the heck? I hadn't really thought beyond arriving in the forest. Fortunately, Ghost took care of that for me. I saw...it nosing around a tree at the edge of my vision. It was watching me. And pensively too. What to make of a pensive direwolf? I approached Ghost cautiously, aware it's apparently benevolent mood could shift at any time. 

 

Ghost closed the distance with utter surity and narrowed it's eyes as if in question. It was then I noticed the red ribbon. What I realized I had mistaken for blood yesterday and at a distance this morning. 

"Wow, what've got there?" Ghost's ears twitched in response. Then, I found a wet nose in my palm. The giggle this elicits, fundamentally unlike me, is involuntary. Ghost makes a pleasant snuffling sound and retreats as I feel the ribbon...slither up my arm. Naturally, I freak out. 

 

Later, I'm training with Eve. I haven't been able to get the ribbon off my arm, which is unnerving. As soon as combat training begins though...

 

I'm a machine. The ribbon senses my every move, my every aggressive intention and guides me, wrapping around my arm in a punch, along my leg in a kick, supporting my limbs and making them strong and precise. I land 300 kicks. Eve is stunned. I realize I'll be sore for weeks. 

[Plitog]

Sounds like you are off to a great start on your Hero's Journey.  Keep up the good work!

[Shrilaraune]

Sounds like you are off to a great start on your Hero's Journey.  Keep up the good work!

 

Thanks!

[Shrilaraune]

Day 4:

 

To Eve's abject horror, I met Ezekiel Jones. He is my platonic soulmate. Mostly because he was there to see me prove Flynn wrong. Back a bit, right. So Eve was quite...annoyed about yesterday. I kinda cheated. And so today I was to be punished. Like biblically. Then I offered to let her be there when I showed the ribbon to Flynn. My sentence was reduced. See, turns out a magical kung fu ribbon that won't come off my body is essentially proof that I haven't been hallucinating. TAKE THAT FLYNN. This made Eve smile, just a little. Ezekiel, bless his soul, laughed straight in Flynn's face. We high fived, the rest his history. 

 

My punishment involved a lot of core and back work--which was good because my legs were rubber. All in all, a good days work! Still haven't stretched today yet, but I figure I'll get to that after Ezekiel has had his fill of impressing me with tech things. Back into the forest tomorrow?

[Shrilaraune]

 

Sorry, being Faye (i.e coming up with a story that fits all the sets) is a bit exhausting sometimes! I'll continue the story for sure, but for now know that I am still on track. I just completed day six (though I forgot to use my dragon for rest time) and I am flat on my back tired.

[Shrilaraune]

Journey Through the woods...the road ahead is blocked!

 

Flynn, in his infinite wisdom, attempted to enter the forest with me. This went poorly. Whenever I opened the door, there the forest would be. Evidently as soon as I walked through, the image would shimmer and Flynn would end up elsewhere. In the reverse the forest didn't even appear. Safe to say, the heart of the library (or wherever the heck this was) wanted me and only me. After being so handily thwarted, Flynn really was a good sport. He asked, rather than commanded me, to find out all I could about Ghost--if I had a chance. He was a touch sheepish, and I would have done so anyway. So I agreed warmly, and went on my way. I didn't have ...a sixth sense or anything. So I didn't know where to begin looking for Ghost. The direction I eventually dashed off in led me straight into a dense brush. I had to fight my way through quite a bit of greenery, but respite came in five small clearings along the way. In the fifth I found...something waiting for me.  

 

 

 

I'm not sure exactly what it was (some kind of idol?), but upon further inspection (a secret compartment!), I found a warm pulsing egg inside. I kept the egg of course as it was treasure. I couldn't know it would hatch six days later when I would really need it.  

 

At the end of the tunnel, Ghost was waiting for me. I can't honestly say I was surprised, Ghost tends to show up whenever...he,she,it feels like it. But this time, Ghost seemed to have an actual plan. 

"Climb on my Back."

Huh. Pretty sure that direwolf just spoke to me...

"Do it now." Not one to argue with a talking direwolf, I attempted to do as I was told ONLY TO BE THWARTED EVERY TIME. The task required a lot of upper body strength, since Ghost would not allow me the advantage of using my feet. I messed up my elbow in the process (true in real life), but eventually bested it.

"Good. Now all you need do is defeat the oncoming horde of enemies and we can be on our way."

 

What horde? Where exactly were we going? Ghost, found such details unimportant, but the former quickly made itself apparent. Ninjas again.   

[Shrilaraune]

The Oracle

 

"You are not and never shall be a hero."

 

Now, I hadn't actually considered this a hero's journey before my encounter with the Oracle. I was just trying to become a decent Librarian/guardian against dangerous rogue magic. But...well shit. You know me. Tell me I can't do something and...Well, I was pissed off. I mean what the actual? This...prick knew nothing about me! I decided right then and there that whatever this was, IT WOULD BE A DAMN HERO'S JOURNEY TOO.

 

Predictably, the Oracle sicced his minions on me. I had to high knee and duck five waves of minions (four because Karma) before I got to face the oracle face to face, Ghost by my side. My arm was still injured, so I had to use Ghost as support when I dropped down to avoid their projectiles. Until the last wave. By the last wave I was so sick and tired of the Oracle's cackling. For the last wave I dropped down all by myself, despite the pain, as a break for Ghost (but mostly to prove I could). By the time I arrived before the Oracle, I was so beat I could barely speak. I muttered the usual obscenities, to no effect. "You have only proven me correct, you know." I bit my lip, bracing myself as I tried to rise to a stand, but my knee and arm were pretty busted. All I got for my pains was a bloody lip. And then, I guess Ghost decided it had had enough? It growled something fierce, like I'd never heard before, and then just sort of shrugged into a human form. That's the only way I can describe what happened. It shrugged one shoulder, dipped around and then it was standing a head above me and human...ish. Silver hair, golden eyes, endless robes--I still couldn't tell where it stood gender wise ( I suppose that didn't matter?) but it was beautiful. Even more beautiful? The supremely elegant punch to the chin it gifted the oracle. 

 

Week Summary 1:

  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Average TOTAL Week 1
11/2 -11/8 Calories 1991 1621 1889 1518 1888 1681 1992

                  Hero's Journey X X X X X X X   100%

                  Stretch X X X X X X X 100%

                  Keeping it down X X X X X X X 100%

                  Applications     X X X X X  

[Shrilaraune]

A Night to Remember

 

Ghost and I made camp and while I tried to get in the core work Eve had made me promise to do, Ghost explained itself. 

"I see your questioning eyes; we are neither male nor female--not in the way you perceive. We are something of both." They** explained that the ribbon was a birthright of their people. And that someone, whomever was behind the corruption of the oracle and the disease in the wood, was after it. Ghost's people were pacifists, and so could not commit direct violence. They needed a champion and Ghost, despite some misgivings, thought I might be the one. I raised my eyebrow at the direct violence bit, to which Ghost (a name they quite liked and chose to keep) battered their lashes bashfully, color creeping up their neck. "I am still young...and could not abide the Oracle's ridiculing you." they said by way of explanation. The sentiment was actually rather sweet. The hint of embarrassment, adorable. 

"Well, I suppose someone had to," I responded cheerfully. That seemed to ease their guilt, if only just a little. 

 

(**I am using a gender neutral pronoun here intentionally)

[Artemis]

How are your arms feeling after the day 6 workout a few days ago?  Better yet?  

 

I'm enjoying the story.

[Shrilaraune]

How are your arms feeling after the day 6 workout a few days ago?  Better yet?  

 

I'm enjoying the story.

Oh really? âˆ©( ・ω・)∩ Thank goodness! I was pretty sure I was writing this to a yawning void. I wasn't sure that anyone was reading! You have no idea how encouraging your saying that is! As for my arm, I've been using Voltaren Gel to ease the pain (probably why I was able to do full plank jump ins on the last Oracle set. But, my arm/elbow is still hurt (not exactly sure what I did). I'm hoping nothing arm heavy comes up soon so I can figure it out (´＿｀。)

[lucky fire dragon]

Great story, definitely no yawning void here, very much enjoying reading it!

 

Bummer about your arm, you will have to give it some rest along with the gel - every hero has to from time to time. Your body is your most valuable tool, no good to damage long-term for short-term goals. Rest it up rather and work the lower body so long.

 

You did AMAZING so far, hats off to you girl   

[Shrilaraune]

Great story, definitely no yawning void here, very much enjoying reading it!

 

Bummer about your arm, you will have to give it some rest along with the gel - every hero has to from time to time. Your body is your most valuable tool, no good to damage long-term for short-term goals. Rest it up rather and work the lower body so long.

 

You did AMAZING so far, hats off to you girl   

 

Thank you so much! Yeah, I've been coming to terms with that slowly XD My arm is recovering though! Thank goodness!

 

The Collapsing Bridge

 

 

The egg sings at night. Sings and pulses with with a delicate light. I'm still not sure what it is yet, but I hug it to my chest that night by the campfire, as Ghost prowls around watching the perimeter. It's warm, and I feel the tiny rhythm within match to the thud, thud of my own heart. And it sings. I fall asleep to it's song. 

 

Ghost wakes me in the morning with a lick to the face. They are a direwolf again, which I cannot say I mind. As I nibble on a handful of nuts I'd brought for just such an occasion, they enter some manner of monologue. I can't for the life of me tell you what about. Elders? Something. It's way too early for this. I silence them with a nod, my fingers scratching behind their ears, and rise. 

"You're saying words. I can't really hear you on account of it being half past the crack of dawn. How about I follow you and at a less heinous hour we can try this again?" Ghost sniffs at me--which only makes me laugh--and acquiesces. I pull my awfully heavy rucksack on, wrap the egg in my jacket, and head off after them. 8,592 steps later, I hear the roar of water. And just around the bend, a long, elaborate rope bridge. That's right. A ROPE bridge. Ghost, returns to their humanoid form and begins making their way gracefully across. I, being the sane and human sort (woe is me) hover on my end mustering up my courage. The drop to the water below is...dotted with mist. Or were those clouds? Oh God...

"We must reach them before the sun is at it's zenith." Ghost called over the water. I sensed something amiss in their tone. As if they were...nervous. And that, more than anything, spurred me on. I inched my way on to the bridge, despite the rather precarious tilt it adopted when I did so, and very slowly crept across. I was almost half way across when it happened. Ninjas again. Rather than coming after me on the bridge ('cause they were, y'know, sane) they simply sawed their end off. Ghost let out a warning bellow, I looked back, and then hurried my pace to a slow shuffle. I really couldn't manage anything faster. I felt my stomach bottom out at the halfway mark. That's when I started to run, screaming. 

 

Long story short? I survived. Barely. I lost my backpack, almost lost the egg. The ordeal had me on my back, gazing up at the noonday sun. Crap. Ghost settled next to me a moment later--once again a direwolf--and huffed into my face. "Sorry..."

"You are hardly responsible for the dark ones."

"I meant the--what? The ninjas? No. I mean don't we have an appointment?"

"There is always tomorrow. Yes?" 

 

Not exactly.

[Shrilaraune]

Into the Storm

 

 

I awoke to bitter cold. I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. It was...winter? My only spot of warmth was the egg, clamped to my chest. Ghost...was nowhere to be found. This honestly wasn't the worst situation I'd dreamt up. Fortunately for me, the worst situation presented itself. Figures...five of them... approached slowly, almost ceremonially a la LOTR's Nazgul. These, as it turned out, were the only thing worse than real life Nazgul. Real life White Walkers. The smart kind. That direwolf analogy was really starting to seem apt, wasn't it? Speaking of which...

I felt the ribbon tense around my leg. A good thing too. With my arm still out for the count, and Ghost...gone, I was going to have to get creative with how I approached these guys. I should consider myself lucky that they didn't attack me directly, instead settling for hurtling massive sheets of ice and other pointier ice projectiles my way. After all, I didn't have a sword, dragon glass dagger or Valarian steel (that's if these even were white walkers and not creepy look a likes).

 

I smashed, dodged and punched my way through five waves of ice barrages before I realized what had happened. By then, I was already falling over the ledge, where the bridge should have been, and into oblivion. 

[Shrilaraune]

It's bad but not that bad

 

Bad news: Being bastards, the White Walker/lookalikes sent ice, snow and wind down after me. Seven, count them, seven waves of elemental fury. I did my best to dodge and shatter where I could, but I got pretty banged up. Good news? I'm not dead. My dragon saved me. That's right. That marvelous, glowing, singing egg housed a not so baby dragon. How that works, with physics and everything? No idea. She was much bigger than the egg she'd come from. Still, she was too small to carry me on her back--especially in that weather--but between every barrage she came in to help, blocking debris when she could and slowing my fall. I don't remember hitting bottom, though I'm sure it must have happened. But I do remember waking and gazing up, up up at where the bridge had been just hours before. From where the white walkers watched me now. Could they tell I was alive? Did it even matter? What was going on? Where was Ghost?? Black spots at the edges of my vision were a dead giveaway. I was going to...

[lucky fire dragon]

...     ????

[Elastigirl]

Interesting story. The bridge reminded me of a trip a took recently with a friend. We were at this scenic bridge that crosses between the mainland and the island. We were walking across it, and it was all covered in fog. You couldn't see anything below but fog, and you really could barely see in front of you. It was super creepy. Glad I hadn't read your story, or I would have been sure Ninja's were going to attack.

 

How is your arm? How is the challenge going?