Tradesfolk
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Renown
Female
Fellblood
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Post by Issala 'Izzy' Arodre on Mar 3, 2024 18:23:55 GMT -5
"Shouldn't be too far!" Izzy called out over the wind, trudging merrily through the sandy dunes outside of Zeinav. A thin sheaf of linen was wrapped around her hair and face to keep the wind and the worst of the sun off-- the curse of having such pale skin. No melanin to speak of to save her from the Solaria's wrath. She twists around to see how Morrigan is faring with the wagon, one hand cocked self-assuredly on her hip as she waits for them to catch up. "From what the weirdo at the docks said, it's just over the rise."Who better to wrangle into another misbegotten scheme than Morrigan Moonweaver, Champion of Zeinav and Wizard of the Wastes? Though this was less of a scheme and more of a prime opportunity that had simply fallen into their laps. The rumour went that people were going missing in this area, backed up by a frantic man, delirious from dehydration, who said that his party was dragged under sands, as well as all the mined gold they had brought with them. So even though there was no initial call to action regarding the issue, it stood to reason that if someone were to get there before anyone else, then they would stand to benefit. People were going missing! It was important to find out why that was! It was also important to "find" the bodies, and bring back "proof" that was "salvaged" from the corpses or the belongings of the missing. And if they couldn't return all of it to the families of the missing persons, well, that truly was such a shame, but that was the desert for you. It was full of surprises. And, Izzy hoped, a fair bit of gold to line their pockets.
Quest Name: Surprises in the Sand Participants: Two or more Location: Zeinav Post Requirements: 6 posts per person, 200 words per post Reward: +1 Renown, Choice of 2 Common crafting materials Description: The increase in seismic activity over the last year has caused all kinds of subterranean creatures to stir, increasing both sightings and attacks by monsters from beneath. One such creature is the wild Kruthik, which bores beneath the surface of the sands, pouncing on their prey and pulling them below to die. Travelers through the desert are being warned to be cautious and stay on the look out. However, they have gotten the best of you and your traveling party. Instead of a helpless civilian, it is you they have set their eyes on, and while traveling through Zeinav, you find yourself ambushed by the sand dwelling tunnelers. Take care of the threat before they can drag you down below.
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Golden Consortium
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17
Renown
Zeinav Desert
Scam? I’ve never pulled a scam in my life! I don’t even know what a scam is!
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Post by Morrigan Moonweaver on Mar 4, 2024 7:58:32 GMT -5
It was a testament to Morrigan Moonweaver’s growth that they’d even considered this job in the first place.
See, the old Morrigan would have heard all the salacious details about desert-farers and their treasures being dragged into the depths of the sands, and figured, the risk is far too high for the reward of a good deed and only the possibility of treasure. This was the stuff of real legends and adventurers, not confidence men pretending to be one. Why actually put one’s self in danger when they could merely lie about it and reap the rewards?
Yet… the past few months had proven Morrigan was far more than that.
And now with their new, evolved self, Morrigan was more than confident in their ability to tackle any challenge that life threw their way! Whether for fame, or for the sake of their country, the false Wizard was unflappable in their own belief of their skills.
… The money was a big plus. Oh Ginma, was it a bonus.
Besides, who could say no to a good old-fashioned hunt with one of Morrigan’s best friends, the Meddler of the Wastes (the name of which Morrigan was still workshopping), to search the sandy seas for treasures untold?
They’d already been out on the town for a while now, though Morrigan was having a markedly easier time than their taller fellblood counterpart. They lounged on Seth’s saddle while their squire, Concorde, hopped along them and held an umbrella aloft to keep their face shaded from the harsh sunlight.[1] They pulled down their lavender-rimmed glasses when they heard Izzy speak before clapping their hands together.
Concorde closed the umbrella and raised a tray which bore a single cocktail of rainbow colored liquid, complete with a little umbrella of paradise and a lemon wedge, and crisp ice that had miraculously had yet to melt in the scorching heat.[2]
“No need to be so hasty, Issala-Izzy-Arodre, darling!” They said, like they weren’t the one currently lounging it while Izzy was suffering in the heat. Hey, they’d just given her their last cocktail! Being that kind of selfless was a thankless task, but, again; they were their new, evolved self after all. “Even without the Wagon of Wonders,” Which they’d deigned to leave behind at risk of it being submerged by whatever was causing this, “There’s no need to neglect traveling in style. Come, enjoy a drink and some shade from Sweet Concorde.”
As if in response, Concorde opened the umbrella and cast some shade on the tall fellblood. The scarecrow servant had to stretch… rather far up to cover her face fully.
Man, Morrigan thought, I am being such a good friend right now!
They waved a hand in the air. “We’ve got any other interested parties beat by miles. The evidence of the victims, and the treasure, may as well be ours.” The manor with which they spoke indicated that they believed that the two of them had just won the lottery.
But they were rapidly approaching the rise in question, so Morrigan hopped off of Seth and grabbed the war camel’s reins to continue the rest of the journey on foot. The Unweaver hung from their hip, and various other blades and poisons concealed on their person. They traipsed with a purpose and confidence that didn’t exist for the benefit of others.
As the two reached the top of the hill, Morrigan waved a hand, sweeping across the arid, empty lands. “We have arrived… at opportunity.”
And below the surface, something sinister writhed. 1. Umbrella Combo 2. Kvasir’s Pride of Solaria Elixir given to Izzy in the form of a road soda
Bringing Pets Seth - War Camel, counts against NPC Cap Concorde - Scarecrow Squire, doesn’t count against NPC Cap Junior, Black Bog Leech - doesn’t count against NPC Cap Nugget, Phoenix - counts against NPC cap
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Tradesfolk
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27
Renown
Female
Fellblood
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Post by Issala 'Izzy' Arodre on Mar 24, 2024 16:00:17 GMT -5
Izzy looked up at the underside of the umbrella as Concorde reached to what seemed an almost impossible limit for the scarecrow, and back to Morrigan, who was, by all accounts, basking. Something in the back of her mind told her she should be on her guard; whatever had befallen those travellers was still out there, and it would be a good idea to be wary.
But... the icy drink on the tray was tantalizing...
Ahhh, what the hell.
"Twist my arm, why dontcha," Izzy's face splits into a grin as she gratefully accepts the drink off the tray, sipping through the grass straw. Ahhh. Refreshing perfection. Besides, she was no good to the already-dead and all their belongings whilst parched! "Mmm! Ooo this one's lemony. You are too kind." she smacks her lips, awaiting Morrigan to join her up the slope with their camel now in tow. "We can travel in allll the style we like on the way back. Just imagine how resplendent you'd look reclining on a bed of solars as we roll back into town. Think of the gratitude! The aweee." Izzy didn't really need to play it up quite so much, but it was a nice visual. The "nice" Morrigan was certainly an interesting deviation from the norm; not that Izzy was complaining, she had found them a good friend regardless, but it was interesting how seriously they were taking it.
As they broached the top of the rise, Izzy glanced down at the Wizard, grinning broadly. "And all of it? Ours."
There is a rumble beneath the sand. At first, it feels merely like the dune itself shifting, which, while occasionally dangerous, was a fairly common occurrence. Seasoned Zeinavian's like herself and Morrigan ought to be able to navigate the loose sand without issue.
Oh, if only it were that simple.
Behind Izzy, to the left, a portion of sand shifts upwards, rippling as though something was travelling just beneath the top layer, like a shark gliding through the shallows. Then, it sunk back down into the dune, vanishing from perception. Hers at least.
Izzy does glance over her shoulder, brow arched, thinking that for a moment she sensed movement. But. Nothing. Oh well.
"Welp! We best make use of what daylight we have." she claps her hands, rubbing them together, as she starts down the hill.
Not two seconds later, something lanky, chitinous, and large launches out of the dune on her left, tackling her straight down into the sand proper.
Bringing 1. Obsidian Wyrm (Counts against Pet Cap)
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Golden Consortium
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Renown
Zeinav Desert
Scam? I’ve never pulled a scam in my life! I don’t even know what a scam is!
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Post by Morrigan Moonweaver on Mar 28, 2024 13:48:04 GMT -5
Envy. Avarice.
Two sins one might closely associate with Morrigan Moonweaver.
They couldn’t help it. They wanted to experience all under the sun. Could you blame them, when they’d been born with nothing to their person? Yes, Morrigan Moonweaver was quite the collector, a hoarder in almost every sense of the word. They coveted stories, fame, money, clothing and jewels, all for themselves. This venture, it was no different.
Their eyes practically sparkled as Izzy mentioned a bed of solars.
“What makes you think I don’t already lay my head atop my fortune?” Morrigan teased. “Still… I can think of plenty of other uses for money. For instance, melting it down and having a gilded statue carved in my honor?”
Oh, yes, that sounded like quite the grand idea.
Hey. You can knock the enormous ego, but at least Morrigan possessed healthy confidence in spades. And if no one else was going to lift them up, they may as well lift themselves. Their lips curled into a triumphant smirk at Izzy’s declaration. They quite liked the sound of that.
Unfortunately, Morrigan wasn’t as naturally perceptive as Izzy. They had no idea anything was wrong, not when their gaze was filled with the glitter of gold and the promise of another fortune to be found. Morrigan and Izzy worked well together. Their last venture had netted them much profit, the renown of catching an embezzler, and the satisfaction of scamming the piss out of him. Cocky as they were, they didn’t spare a moment to think about the possible dangers the two might face in the sand dunes.
Perhaps they should have.
“IZZY!” Morrigan yelped as their friend was tackled by an impossibly large blur. The desert was no stranger to thick-shelled creatures; the rough conditions could only be roughed out by beasts who could stand the heat. Born amidst the dunes of this very desert ocean, Morrigan was no stranger to chitinous creatures and the dangers they brought.
And yet, this one was unfamiliar.
This was why Morrigan hated beasts. They didn’t have the same brains that could be charmed like people did. There would be no talking their way out of this one, and Izzy was in danger.
“Concorde, my weapon!” Morrigan called out; the scarecrow squire responded, wordlessly tossing Morrigan their umbrella. Morrigan snapped open the umbrella at the same time the sand to their side shifted, and another Kruthik leapt from the depths. It smacked against the shield, falling to the ground.
Their camel wasn’t so lucky.
Behind them, Seth let out a pained noise as another one of the Kruthiks leapt in the air, an impossible speed for their hefty size; Seth’s armor shattered in a single blow.[1] The beast was okay, but the damn thing was so spooked it reared back and sprinted away, back up the sand dunes and out to safety. Morrigan’s one escape route, gone.
“Damnit!”
In their distraction they missed their own opponent getting back up, grabbing Morrigan by the ankles and yanking them off-balance. The umbrella clattered out of their hands, rolling to a stop near where Izzy was grappling with her own foe. They were being dragged, tugged across the earth. Morrigan scrabbled for purchase, raked their claws against the sand, anything to get free -
The creature gnashed its teeth, grip tightening around Morrigan’s leg, and began burrowing into the earth -
Morrigan reached for their belt and grabbed a potion at random, lobbing it at the thing’s gnashing maw. Luckily for them, the potion was acid.[2] The thing screeched as chitin melted, the toxic liquid eating through its defenses and opening up a vulnerable spot. Vulnerable enough for Morrigan to strike at with the concealed blade on their tail.[3] Enough for Morrigan to desperately secure their freedom. The fellblood stumbled as they picked themselves up, sprinting to where Izzy had been tackled by her own foe.
And perhaps, if it had just been the three monsters, Morrigan and Izzy could have handled it. But below their feet, the sand simmered with the activity of numbers beyond their comprehension. A nest, a hollowed out spot of earth.
And as another Kruthik snapped upwards from below Morrigan, latching onto their legs and pulling them straight down into the earth until they were buried to their torso - Morrigan realized they were about to learn exactly where all those travelers had disappeared to. 1. War Camel hit prevention (1/1) 2. Parasite Poison 3. Prehensile Tail, Dagger attached
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