It's the end of the 19th century and the end of an era. Humankind begins to expand into Mother Nature's domain, leading to disastrous consequences for the natives of the land. Many grow desperate to maintain their territory or stake their claim in any land in any way they can. As human settlement continues to threaten nature, the wolves of the five western states face a grueling decision: survival by all means necessary or die trying.
We are a semi-realistic, liquid-time, sandbox-esque wolf roleplay very loosely based off of the world of Red Dead Redemption II. Vestige offers a variety of diverse regions spanning five different states to explore, an automated shop, and user-led packs. How will you leave your pawprints on the world of Vestige?
WEATHER Snow finally arrives to the West with the arrival of winter! Ambarino's nights get colder and longer, while the states of West Elizabeth and New Hanover get their share of snowfall. New Austin and Lemoyne are spared from the frost, but there is a distinct, wintery chill in the air.
EVENTS Rumors spread of NEW PACKS FORMING throughout the five states. In addition, canines in the region of BIG VALLEY, WEST ELIZABETH are having more frequent run-ins with hunters seeking out prized commodities: wolf, coyote, and fox pelts to trade.
updates
PACK & STAFF TRYOUTS We are hosting staff tryouts HERE! Pack tryouts are also linked in our Events section on the left.
NEWBIE SIGN-ON BONUS New to the site? Register and get up to 2 SHOP ITEMS on the house!
REWARDS PROGRAM Vestige has launched its new Rewards Program - reach site and character milestones for Dollars and new roles!
Post by Wrathmange on Sept 11, 2021 0:09:38 GMT -5
WRATHMANGE
"Lay bare you soul to the beasts of the woods. Nature itself will whisper your secrets to me and I promise I shall give them purpose."
Heat bore down on the wilds, a scorching, unforgiving temperature which pervaded the air so thoroughly, not even the canopy of leaves hanging overhead could provide much relief. From within such shade could be heard a gentle humming; it was soft and throaty, a stark contrast to the piercing song of distant cicadas. The humming would continue for a few lilting cycles, then stop, and a low rumble of words would take its place. This utterance was, to the untrained ear, unintelligible and otherwise meaningless. To fully understand, one would have to draw so near they risked detection by the one carrying out this dirge.
The entity in question could be seen between the tree trunks placing certain items around a middling sized rock pile. Perhaps it was of their own making, or perhaps someone else had amassed these rocks as some sort of unofficial landmark to get them through the wild, wild lands - these answers would not come unless the right questions were asked. With the light growing dimmer and the shadows growing deeper, the ashy grey wolf continued her preparations. Golden light which cast briefly across the shallow valley caused water to sparkle and trees to light up as though set ablaze right there at the end of the day. Finally, the sun sank down into the horizon, taking with it some of the heat and all of the golden rays.
Now, with the moon rising and diurnal beasts settling fully into their nests and their burrows, Wrathmange could begin her vigil. She brought out the final element of the makeshift shrine, a lifeless lump of fur splashed with dark, glistening liquid, and started up the humming once more.
They had never experienced heat the way they had today. The sun beat down upon their pelt, their lungs were set ablaze, and their brain fumed with confusion and fear.
They were well-adjusted to the harsh never-ending winter of Grizzlies West; the sun was bright through the snow-tipped mountain peaks, but its harsh rays could never be physically felt. Not like here, at least. Jax did abhor the cold regardless, and initially they were able to appreciate the rolling meadows of the eastern region of the Grizzlies, the vivid and beautiful greens and browns with dots of vibrant flower patches in the distance and all around. It was a blessing to be in this heavenly place, a stark contrast from the endless chill his half of Ambarino was burdened by. He was at least grateful for the snow's ability to wash away his sins in cold, melting water, bloodied paws turning back to their natural (albeit damp) brown; regardless, the warmer conditions were far more favorable. But the heat was far more pronounced when water and food were now strangers to their body, melting their mind into a daze.
Then they saw the eyes. Their mind was lost altogether.
Finally the sun began to sink beyond the mountains and beyond the world, giving way to the moon and its starry servants that rested upon the cool and dark night sky. The sun seemed to expand in size, growing brighter and brighter and morphing its color to whatever it decided at that moment. Jax struggled to make any sense of the phenomenon, narrowing their light-colored eyes to avoid losing his vision, all the while keeping an eye on the spectacle before him. Six black dots formed upon the fiery ball of gas, changing shape to form six glaring, unwavering eyes. They realized now that the blood roaring their ears is—
It's growling. They're growling at me.
They screamed, ears pinned back, and scampered away.
Even with their eyes shut, Jax saw those six eyes blink at them as they sprinted off in whatever godforsaken direction they were going now, anywhere to get away from that. They would frequently throw their frenzied head over their sturdy shoulder, light blue-green eyes wide in apprehension of the being in the sun. Is it still there? I don't see it... All caution and logical thought cast into the wind, the frantic and distracted coyote hardly noticed the direction he was headed: directly before him lay a wolf that, unbeknownst to him, was carefully establishing some sort of vigil. Their speed unwavering, the smaller canine found themselves slamming into the wolf, knocking them from their own feet and sending themself tumbling to the ground beside the female.
running away is easy, it's the leaving that's hard
Post by Wrathmange on Sept 16, 2021 13:34:22 GMT -5
WRATHMANGE
"Lay bare you soul to the beasts of the woods. Nature itself will whisper your secrets to me and I promise I shall give them purpose."
A rustling of bushes and a displacement of dirt unseen within the trees was not uncommon, so as Wrathmange placed the semi-moist mass at the base of the rock pile. she paid no mind to such trivial distractions. The vigil was serious business and those who intended to participate were expected to be focused; as such, when a large mess of fur and terror came barreling into her while she raised her face to the sky to howl, she was not ready. With one swift, powerful smash, wolf and coyote became one, a colorful blur crashing through the bushes. They both landed as separate lumps on the grassy ground, and as she rose, the sharp sting of being hit on a sore wound became a ravenous delight which festered in her mind. She growled, ears pressed forward and teeth bared briefly as the low rumble rolled forth from her throat.
"What!?" Wrathmange snarled, still battling the thoughts in her head and the feelings in her gut for full control. Her irritation overpowered the brief wash of pleasure she had felt upon being struck. This creature had just interrupted something very important to her, something vital to her plans in a-- frantic, chaotic rush... Her body relaxed a little, stance once rigid and wide now more loose as she shifted her weight. Still, her tail remained fluffed and her hackles stayed up, though she could now properly see that this coyote was just scared. "Hmm..." The mildly indignant wolf set her dark eyes upon the canid before her, partially shadowed by the leaves overhead and speckled with moonlight.
Their eyes were still clamped shut far past the second of impact, their hind leg sore against the rock it fell roughly against. But they would need to see at some point. The canid's eyes flickered open finally, their smaller cranium snapping towards the voice of the poor wolf he rammed into at full force not just a few moments ago. Vivid blue-green eyes widened at the much larger beast who stood in a veil of shadow with hackles raised. She didn't seem to be violent - yet. If anything, there was a mutual confusion between the two, in somewhat different forms.
"S-S-S-S-Sorry," the coyote stammered, the words struggling to exit from his maw. They were typically a well-versed, patient speaker, but in their current state they were anything but. A stuttering, babbling mess was the most Jax could offer the female given the present situation. The six distinct orbs of darkness that jumped about in their vision began to lose their opaqueness, though they were still in existence to torture the shaken up canine that was devoid of most resources the average animal would need to maintain their sanity. Food and water were strangers to him, and it was clearly taking its toll.
Jax's eyelids flew down again as they pondered what to do next. They noticed the rock pile that the wolf was gingerly creating - were they interrupting something? Apologies were already made; now was the time to explain. "Th-the beast...six eyes in the Sun..." they began, though it seemed they didn't intend on finishing. Their mind still raced at one thousand miles a minute. "There's something there. I-It growls to me. Please, what is it? What is it?" Their voice wavered in desperation and sheer hysteria, their tail lashing and their body carrying them about unknowingly in an anxious back-and-forth pace in front of the wolf. It didn't matter if they couldn't understand the answers to their question. They just needed answers, now.
running away is easy, it's the leaving that's hard
Post by Wrathmange on Sept 21, 2021 1:58:59 GMT -5
WRATHMANGE
"Lay bare you soul to the beasts of the woods. Nature itself will whisper your secrets to me and I promise I shall give them purpose."
Wrathmange's expression softened as her hackles slowly lowered. Though the coyote was still stammering and giving very broken responses, the apology was genuine. Her thoughts wandered briefly to the vigil she had been holding for the friend she had sacrificed; their remains she had scattered all over her altar. The only remaining piece of that beast who had been Chosen was the mound of blood-splashed flesh now laying limp and lifeless by her rock pile.
Soon enough, the other canid's eyes flew open... Finally. Why had they-- what!? Wrathmange's thoughts came crashing to a halt against the wall of her disbelief. "You-- six eyes, you say? That is remarkable, my good friend. Shhh, hush now,"she ushered the smaller creature over to where they would both be standing in a spot of moonlight. Should they acquiesce, she would gaze intently into their eyes and speak to them softly and clearly. "Everything is well. You are all right, I am here. What you saw was a foreshadowing... Something of great significance. Perhaps you were meant to be here." This last part, she spoke more to herself than to the coyote. She would place a large paw gently on the coyote's cheek, should they let her, and would proceed to glide from cheek to forehead, pressing firmly but clearly without any intention of injury. Her entire demeanor had shifted, she was on the precipice of full-on glee. Knowing better than to scare a potential new member with too much zeal, Mange reined in her enthusiasm but her voice, though smooth, was most definitely excited. "That was The One. They spoke to you... ! So wonderful." She would offer no explanation past that, unless directly asked. In her mind, it made perfect enough sense, and in the moment, she had no capability to consider how it sounded to someone who hadn't devoted their entire life to the One. Mange was giddy with anticipation. She wished to ask so many questions, she wanted answers immediately. But all that would have to wait.
To their surprise they were not met with a disgusted, appalled, or annoyed reaction by the much larger female. Upon hearing their words, she was even quick to alter her demeanor. What on God's green earth had changed her so much? They listened with pursed lips as she spoke, their legs no longer carrying them back and forth in spite of their body still trembling from the previous experience. The wolf's gaze was much warmer than before - welcoming, even. Enough to calm their nerves, if only by a little. Remarkable, she said. What was so remarkable of the demon awaiting him in the Sun? They had never felt so content and safe in the moonlight...not in a very long time, at least. Jax paid attention with twitching ears and keen green eyes, but her words only confused him more.
"The One," they echoed dully as the female traced her paw along their cheek and forehead, a touch that the coyote were too dazed to comprehend and back away from. They met The One. What the hell was The One? "Like...Like God?"Foolish question, they thought. He wouldn't let you live. Maybe this was a test from Him. Maybe they were doomed to die soon. One final glorious encounter before their inevitable downfall from their sins from years prior.
Jax looked down at their paws when another sensation came upon them, and they lifted a paw to reveal a fresh coat of blood upon them. Upon processing the stench of the lifeless, they glanced over and finally took note of the flesh beside the rock pile. I was right, then. This was a place of death, they decided. The kind words the female that spoke to him now felt venomous. "I will die here, won't I?" they asked as they returned their gaze to the wolf. There was an edge of panic in their voice, though they were more composed now than before. Rituals as these weren't uncommon to them, but it would be the first time they were on the sacrifice's end.
running away is easy, it's the leaving that's hard
"Lay bare you soul to the beasts of the woods. Nature itself will whisper your secrets to me and I promise I shall give them purpose."
"Oh no, not the elusive God many groups seek. The One is-- well they are the earth and the trees, now. They are the beasts, the rivers, the sky. Everything we do comes back to the One," Mange explained, voice soft and reverential, as though regaling and audience of some grand tales around a fire. It was dramatic, in a very down-to-earth way, and as the two conversed in the spotty moonlight, a cool, refreshing wind raked once more through the trees to start a chorus of wordless whispers above. Wrathmange flicked her ears when came the hollow hoot of an owl. With a twitch of her nose and a shift of her weight, she followed the coyote's gaze down to their paws then over to the small rock monument nearby. They seemed to be putting evidences together, but had very clearly come to the wrong conclusion.
Wrathmange waited a moment, simply peering at the small, nervous canid before her. When the moment was over, she spoke. She began slowly, gently, taking a deep measured breath and making like she would put her paw under the coyote's chin. "No, dear friend. Though death seems to very likely be scratching at your walls, you are safe from that, here. Here we pay respects to one who has already gone. I--" The wolf paused, looking away a moment to entertain a thought. "Perhaps I have been seen," she muttered to herself, though as she continued, her voice grew more present as she shared her thoughts with this new fellow. "Yes, The One has judged my sacrifice to be sufficient! You!" Mange gently reached to touch the coyote on the forehead again, briefly, before proceeding with poorly contained enthusiasm coloring their tone, "you've brought the message of success! You were gifted with a clear purpose, my friend. Please, if you would, join me in my vigil tonight. And then we may talk more seriously later. My family lives within these flourishing lands, as long as you are a friend here you are safe and will be nourished."
Now, with that said, Wrathmange moved calmly past the coyote creature and sat back near her makeshift shrine. She pushed the flesh against the rock pile to a spot where it would be touched by the moonlight, and arranged some previously gathered sticks and pebbles around the whole thing. Then, she sat, head bowed, remaining silent amongst the ambient noises of nocturnal life.
Still frozen to their place, Jax had nothing else to do but listen to the wolf, who seemed more than happy to offer some sort of explanation to them. The earth, the trees, the sky, that was all God's job, wasn't it, though? Perhaps He goes by different names. It would take time for the coyote to understand the difference, not that it would be possible for them to now at their current mental state. They were still frazzled and dazed as is, hardly able to even move or speak. The ability to communicate was one that was slowly but surely making its way back to them.
They frowned at the female's next words that boasted them as a success, a gift to her. She sacrificed someone for this? They figured that being the gift to a sacrifice would not feel this way, so helpless and confused. Surely she was mistaken. There was a hint of madness in her tone, but perhaps they judged too harshly and too illogically. She won't hurt you yet. This is all a coincidence. We're all confused here. At her request of him joining this bizarre moonlit vigil, he merely responded, "Mmm...okay." Head turned over their shoulder once more, they realized now that they were truly alone and not a single malevolent soul was awaiting amongst the shadows and bushes to pounce upon the wolf's signal, whatever it would've been. Maybe it truly was safe here.
The coyote huffed quietly. What else was there for them apart from this? Was it worth the risk to venture out in the midst of their own insanity and delusion? They needed food, water, rest, things they could not operate without for very much longer after the countless length of deprivation. And it most certainly wasn't worth turning back to Grizzlies West, where death surely awaited them. In this moment, joining the hospitable female who they now knew for sure was alone was more than likely their safest option. Wordlessly they trailed after the wolf to the pile, the whispers of wind and God knows who else in their ears as they took a seat by the rock formation. Noticing the wolf's head bowing in silence, Jax followed suit and let their weary eyes finally rest.
running away is easy, it's the leaving that's hard
Burn (guest): Hello, just thought I'd say that this is a really awesome idea for a roleplay! Wolves and westerns are two of my favorite things; I'll definitely be stalking this! Best of luck with your roleplay ^^
Aug 12, 2021 14:06:24 GMT -5
psy: Thanks Burn! Feel free to hop in our Discord if you're interested in keeping up or if you have any questions ^^
Aug 12, 2021 18:02:29 GMT -5
Sacred Hearth: so i can't seem to post in affiliates as a guest. I already added your button to our website (sacredhearth.proboards.com) Was trying to get you guys to do the same
Aug 16, 2021 18:01:31 GMT -5
