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Post by Valerian on Sept 6, 2023 13:01:10 GMT -5
Val sat alone at her camp. The air was heavy with the stench of the marsh just beyond. "What a gloomy night," sighed to a small creature that had crept out of the bog, no doubt to inspect her fire. Even small, it was attracting a bit of attention. Bugs darted in and out of her sight while bats appeared occasionally, plucking their meal out of the air. When she reached for her rations, she heard a sudden scampering and found only the bark of the fallen log she rested upon. That scamp! She'd been securing the rest of her food when Taki arrived. After agreeing on the quest and the details of their goal, she packed up camp, and the pair of them departed. They made good progress at first, but quickly became bogged down by the murky environment. Of course, she'd scouted a bit of the marsh's border, but she hadn't ventured into the Marsh Flats properly. Until now, of course, and with a stranger, no less. How trepidating! "It was cool of that researcher to set us up together, huh? I don't know if I could have tackled this alone." Conversation was awkward, as Val didn't know the first thing about her new coworker. Certainly, this was the first multi-armed person she'd met. that must be handy, she thought, facing more branches, vines, and mud than one set of limbs could safely navigate. Would that be a rude thing to ask about? Perhaps it would be better to focus on the task at hand. Navigating this sorry excuse for a path.
Quest Name: Into the Marsh Participants: Two or more Location: Marsh Flats Post Requirements: 4 post per person, 200 words per post Description: You have been asked by Lloyd to venture into the swamp and study a Bogaboo, however the trip has already started off rough. A thick mist has settled across the region making your trip into the swamp even more difficult than normal. The first part of your task is to simply find your way. After getting lost in the dangerous bog, you need to find an area that resembles some sort of safety, and set up camp. This venture may take you a few days, or even weeks, so you need somewhere safe to set up and stay at for a little while.
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Post by Shitakibo on Sept 6, 2023 16:17:26 GMT -5
Taki had recieved a note some days ago from a well known researcher in Charon asking for help with various projects. The latest was an excursion deep into the Marsh Flats in search of an elusive creature, with another adventurer who would be meeting her there. She took off a short while later, letting her companions rest from this adventure as it was almost certain to be an extensive one (and feeding a cadre of companions was a heavy task). Instead, they could rest up and watch over Taki's home while she was away for a while. Her gear bundled, the shaman took to the sky to enjoy the early fall weather and the scenery as she headed east and slightly north towards the swampy gloom of her meeting place.
She arrived later that evening to the area, flying quietly overhead as a Snow Owl until she spotted a small camp. Landing not far off, she returned to her usual form and strolled into the camp a few moments later. The young lass was a curious fae who seemed quite nervous and said little until they were well underway the following day.
"It was cool of that researcher to set us up together, huh? I don know if could have tackled this alone." She said as they were traveling into the increasingly dense bog.
"Indeed, it's always nice to have help when venturing into the wilds. I'm Shitakibo, or Taki if you prefer. Should you have questions or concerns, I'll help as much as possible." Replied the shaman, who hopped up into the low branches of a tree, swinging herself free of the deepening muck before ascending to get a better look. The bank of fog was heavy as far as she could see, barely able to make out the tops of trees she wasn't on or next to... this didn't bode well. They'd need to find shelter somewhere dry and secure enough from the local ecosystem, not to mention conduct and secure their research... No sense in worrying about later, they needed to solve their immediate problems of navigation and a secure camp. The rest was tomorrow's problem...
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Post by Valerian on Sept 6, 2023 21:54:48 GMT -5
It was all she could do to keep pace with Taki. That woman was more at home in this marsh than Val felt anywhere outside her grove. "Indeed, it's always nice to have help when venturing into the wilds. I'm Shitakibo, or Taki if you prefer. Should you have questions or concerns, I'll help as much as possible."At this, Valerian relaxed measurably. It was always good to know someone had your back in a place as dangerous as this. Yet, she felt they must be heading towards a safe spot- a refuge from the overwhelming life surrounding the two of them. As they disturbed the deeper, fetid water of the swamps, the stink of rot became overwhelming. This really wasn't the place for her. Not for the first time, Val's soul longed for her desert homeland. Up ahead she saw, through narrow gaps in the dense canopy, a pillar stretching up into a wide, uneven roof of leaves, branches, vines, and beautiful flowers. It felt as if it called to her. Perhaps this tree would help her understand how she relates to this land. "Hey, I see a huge tree in the distance!" Val called as she ducked under a fallen log, almost tripping on the vines hanging off it. She doubled her pace suddenly in an effort to get closer to the cool tree. As she ducked under a blanket of moss, she came into a small, mushy clearing, in which rested a rather grumpy Rune Bear. "Oh how wonderful, I haven't met a bear in a while. How are you tod-" The bear, rising to their hind legs, shook the trees with their roar. "Oh. Oh, somethings terribly wrong with you. Oh dear, oh-" Sensing the flow of magic through the clearing's interloper, the bear began advancing. Val backed away as swiftly as she could, encouraging the tangle of vines and moss to grow in her wake{1}. While the twisted beast shredded the foliage, Val called out for Taki. She desperately needed the shaman's help. {1}Plant Growth
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Post by Shitakibo on Sept 10, 2023 3:13:51 GMT -5
Taki looked up at Val's cry, sensing the bear behind her trying to slice through the vines and growth she was pouring magic into. Chuckling softly from her perch in a nearby branch, the shaman pulled out a round slug of coppery color and slipped it into a woven throng with a fingerloop on one string. She leaned out a bit, holding on to a branch to brace herself as the sling spun up whirling through the air with a frightening cadence. Letting loose one string, the slug came flying out with immense velocity at slammed into a nearby tree. The wood groaned and splintered as arcs of electricity popped and fizzled in the air around the impact.
The bear, hearing a loud noise suddenly in it's vicinity, thought better of it's pursuit and went charging off into the trees and away from the pair. Taki walked over to Val a few moments later and plucked her gingerly from the swamp with a soft chuckle.
"Just because one creature is friendly or curious, doesn't mean they all will be. I would advise against approaching any creature you don't take time to observe yourself first, or that you know already. While not everything in Charon is a life or death scenario, enough things are that one should approach curiosity with a measure of mindfulness. Now, let's see if we can find solid ground and a dry spot for camp eh?"
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Post by Valerian on Sept 11, 2023 13:50:41 GMT -5
Val scrambled back as Taki appeared at her side. She fired a slug at the bear and missed. A cross of violence and mercy more effective than a direct attack, which was made apparent when the Rune Bear veered off and fled. Just like that, she was saved.
Shaking from the close call, Val collected her thoughts in the projected safety of Taki's strength. "But that was a bear! I thought they'd be as friendly as the other bears I've met." Something about them was uncomfortably off, and she wondered if even Taki could have gotten along with one. In that setting, at least. She best learn as much as she could before they move on. "Taki, did I just glimpse evil? Whatever twisted its mind, is that what people mean when they say something is evil?"
She stared at her hands, trembling. She'd only punched inanimate objects until now. Could she defend herself against the world, if she was forced to? Quickly, she steadied. Still as a tree for a moment, she processed all that had happened. As she rose, she thought she could defend herself if she needed to. She might have been a bit more certain about her willingness to defend others, but Taki was the only other around. She certainly needed no protection out here.
At her guardian's direction, the pair of them wandered in search of camp. Valerian hoped she'd not need her newfound courage soon.
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Post by Shitakibo on Sept 11, 2023 14:36:21 GMT -5
"Evil is not quite the right idea in this case. Most creatures are fairly neutral in their outlook of things, no good or evil to it... so you must learn their other principles so to speak. Is a creature territorial? How does it eat, hunt, live and protect itself? Does it do so alone or in groups? By day or night? While your average bear is only territorial during rearing and mating seasons... A rune bear is fairly stoutly territorial, but won't fight if it doesn't need to, again unless protecting it's young. Evil is something far different to me, an intent of malevolent and self absorbed outcomes... most animals aren't that morally deep or philosophical." She answered, picking a direction that seemed to gradually slope up out of the mire of the boggy swamp.
Together the pair traveled for another hour or so until they came upon a thick ring of twisting mangroves. It took a few minutes of looking around the edges of the area to find an opening between two intertwining trees big enough to squeeze through. Inside, the area was cool but dry and dimly lit by the fall canopy above. Taki held up her hand in caution a moment as she entered, her senses indicating things were safe but the shaman knew some things were able to defy the senses. Once it was clear, she waved to Val to follow her in.
"This seems like a suitable place to make camp, shall we?"
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Post by Valerian on Sept 11, 2023 18:04:00 GMT -5
If a tree could be said to blush, Val certainly felt she was. Going on about evil. It seems she had jumped the gun. just because it attacked me doesn't mean its evil. sometimes a careful approach or a heavy hand is needed. both served Taki here, and they could have served me, too. I have so much to learn stillSlowly, the ground gave less as they pulled themselves from the worst of the swamp's pull. Taki demonstrated the principle of caution again as she inspected a mangrove-ringed clearing. The ground felt firm, and looked quite cleared. Perhaps others have camped here recently, though it was hard to imagine others this far into the swamp. A word from Taki snapped her back to the present: "This seems like a suitable place to make camp, shall we?" "Yes, its quite.." she noted a humanoid skeleton propped up in the hollow of a mangrove nearby. "safe? comfy? In any case, I agree." She wondered what in their previous life brought the skeleton here, and she worried about how they met their fate. They came here to hunt a monster, and here she was running from wildlife and not even sure she could defend herself if she had to. I sure am glad Taki is here. I'd be scared without her A strained gurgling accompanied bubbles of air escaping the swamp. I would be more scared, anyway. I can't shake the feeling somethings out there Her makeshift torch[1] wasn't enough to drive back the darkness, and the wood was all too damp for a fire. Perhaps her shaman savior would think of something. She stood up to peer out into the half-light of dusk, but dared not venture off their semi-safe plateau. It would be home for now.
[1]Light
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Post by Shitakibo on Sept 11, 2023 19:29:57 GMT -5
Taki chuckled softly and slipped out into the wilds for a bit. She didn't roam out of sight of the makeshift camp, but she was able to gather enough firewood, food and water to put on a modest meal and make a soothing green tea with chamomile, jasmine and lemongrass. It wasn't much, but adding some of the cured meat she carried as rations helped infuse a good deal of flavor into the mostly wild vegetable stew. As night drew in, she set up the fire to keep itself going as the night sky slowly crept over Charon.
"Rest well Val, and don't worry about tonight. Tomorrow will be full of things to worry about." Taki said as she lay down for the night. She watched the stars from her hammock, swaying gently in the flickering firelight as she communed with the spirits of the swamp. When deep in thought, she would hum soft tunes and sing quietly to herself in Druidic until she drifted off to sleep. How deep into the bog would they have to go to find this elusive quarry? How long would she be gone? Most importantly: Would she be able to keep Val safe on her own, without the aid of her companions? That question weighed on her mind as she slumbered, dreaming of drifting through the many ancient layers of the world below her feet... deep into the molten mess below.
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