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Post by Lycia Mystwud on Jun 3, 2024 4:05:34 GMT -5
![](https://i.imgur.com/69Bmpae.png) A toad croaked off in the distance, stirring Lycia from the daze she had been wandering in. A week had passed since she had left her hometown, now idly roaming the wild swamps with no reasonable purpose. The sky was obscured by a thick, oppressive fog that hung just above her hat. It had to be what… noon? It was still daytime obviously, but her sense of how much time she had been wandering today was long gone. The soft plodding sound of hooves through mud came to a stop as she paused a moment, if only to gather her bearings. That’s right, Cupcake had been following her since she left. The patchwork leather bound doll of a unicorn nuzzled her arm, snorting raggedly. Where exactly was it she was going again? She couldn’t go home, mom wasn’t there. Dad’s house was too prim and proper, and she could feel the disdain he had for her. Lycia remembered why she had zoned out now. Thinking of her situation at the moment was incredibly overwhelming. Her heart rate was rising, and she could feel sweat beginning to drip from her forehead. She didn’t have anywhere to go, she was pretty much alone in the middle of a swamp, and she didn’t bring anything to eat. “I’m gonna die. Heh…heheh.” Fuck. ![](https://i.imgur.com/JOIhvIm.png) Quest Name: Ring of Flowers Participants: Exactly Two Location: One of the listed locations below Post Requirements: 6 posts per person, 200 words per post Reward: +2 Renown, 1 Mystical Archive Ticket Description: Strange things are occurring around these newly formed flower circles and help is needed in understanding why. Unfortunately, as one of the first groups of people to explore these phenomena, we are unaware of any specific strange or weird side effects interacting with these rings may bring, so be careful. Study the flowers, record what you see, hear, or even feel. Special Requirements: Your investigations will reveal that these circles are not native to Charon and are coming from some other realm. They are Fae in nature and give off similar magical traces as the Fae creatures that currently live on Charon, although much stronger and more potent. Upon arriving at the location, you will find that strange things have begun to happen, not only to the environment but to you as well, with prolonged exposure to the circle increasing the effects. Before you begin the quest, you must choose one of the locations listed below to explore, with a specific obstacle attached based on the region. These added effects cannot be ignored and must be applied to your characters during the quest. Marsh Flats Flood Road A ring of dark blue and purple flowers sits deep in the flood road. The closer one gets the more they seem to sweat, feeling cold and chilly while present. While investigating the flowers, both members find that everything they own on their person, from clothing, to gear, weapons, items and any other physical object has turned into mud. Lasts the entire topic.
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Post by naturalfaux on Jun 5, 2024 10:57:58 GMT -5
"What a beautiful day!"
Truth be told, the Marshlands couldn't quite be considered "beautiful" They were full of mud, razor-sharp plants, razor-sharp animals, and people that wouldn't take too kindly to Eduardo's... avocation. Sure, when he was in town he wasn't stupid enough to summon shadow beasts or take a tooth from a corpse (his healing ability could earn him some goodwill but not quite enough for that), but out in the wilds was an entirely different story. Out here, there was no one. No one to judge him, no one to hurt him (well no humans to hurt him anyway, the animals were just trying to survive), and no one to give him an ugly look because of his interest in the undead.
The thick fog that normally hung over the land like a blanket was also helpful with that. It was hard to see anything, let alone a sole person, tiny as he is, studying things that no law abiding person would study. The misty surroundings also hid the surroundings, which were far from pleasant. At least to most people. Eduardo had lived here all his life, and he saw the beauty in this place, but he knew from the few paintings and stories he heard that there were far more beautiful places.
Beauty wasn't really his aim though, although he did resent the difficulty of farming in such an area. Grains grow fairly easy here but... Eduardo really wanted to try crops grew far away.
Wait.
All the thought of beauty and food had distracted Eduardo from what he was doing, when he heard a faint noise not too far away from the crumbled ruin wall he was hunched behind. He thought he had heard... talking? Laughing? Oh, please don't let it be the voices of the dead come to haunt him. He really wasn't trying to be disrespectful of them. His mind raced, but then came to halt when he heard a sound he wasn't used to at all. Was that... a horse?
Eduardo peered over the decrepit stone wall (more of a pile really) and saw a faint outline of a person and... is that a horse? Horses weren't too common here, on account of the sucking mud that would inevitably halt them. This horse seemed peculiar though...
Eduardo didn't believe it himself, but he could swear the horse... had a horn.
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Post by Lycia Mystwud on Jun 5, 2024 15:10:32 GMT -5
![](https://i.imgur.com/69Bmpae.png) The rope that dragged behind her began to sag, a sticky wetness replacing the feeling of twine in her hand. A yelp of surprise left Lycias mouth as she dropped it, before realizing the feeling had started spreading to the rest of her body. She looked down, seeing that the robes that had only just been stitched back together were melting into mud, dripping into the swamp below. The little witch stomped her foot in frustration, before letting out a yell of suppressed anger to the foggy sky. A small tantrum that quickly came to an end, especially once she realized that most of the muddy clothing was keeping it’s form. Weird. The smallest of reliefs, but it was definitely time to get out of this wacky swamp. She bent down, trying to find the muddy rope that led to cupcakes bridle, only to find it had sunk into the actual mud. Oddly enough, so had Cupcake. “Come on Cupcake, what’s the matter? What’s wrong? Come on girl!” Lycia shouts, a sense of desperation overcoming her as the stitched unicorn sunk deeper into the swamp. “I…I understand, it’s too difficult for you.” She mutters, before circling the living doll, trying to find an easier path for it to take. The patchwork doll of a creature does little to save itself, mostly just standing there, looking dumb. ![](https://i.imgur.com/JOIhvIm.png)
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Post by naturalfaux on Jun 5, 2024 16:02:08 GMT -5
Eduardo sighed.
Someone not from around here, quite obviously, had now gotten themselves into quite a predicament. Loathe as he was to reveal himself to a stranger in the middle of nowhere, he also couldn't leave them and an innocent animal to die. Seeing as it was a rather large animal that was stuck, this might take some time too, and he was tired and covered in mud... well, his clothes are mud somehow, but that was besides the point. Actually that WAS the original point, but Eduardo was never good at focusing. Or literature. Or socialization.
What he WAS good at was magic and not sinking into mud bogs.
Steeling himself, he easily vaulted the stone rubble, and walked towards the figures, stopping when he could more clearly make them out. Now he was SURE that the horse had a horn... but it didn't look quite as majestic as he had been told it should. Maybe people were just exaggerating? Regardless, unicorns would only associate with someone of good heart and pure soul, so he figured he had nothing to worry about.
"Howdy there, need some help?"
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Post by Lycia Mystwud on Jun 5, 2024 19:22:01 GMT -5
![](https://i.imgur.com/69Bmpae.png) The appearance of a stranger so deep in the swamp startled the shit out of the young woman, sending her splashing into the mud with surprise. Lycia held her hands out in defense, trying to ward off whatever bandit was trying to rob her. “DON’T KILL ME I WAS JUST TR-TRYING TO SAVE CUPCAKE” She shouted, closing her eyes and cowering behind her obscenely large mud hat. A moment of not dying, and the raspy whinny of cupcake caused her to crack an eyelid to see who was actually accosting her. “Oh, it’s just a lil guy. Sorry, I…uh… you surprised me a little bit. Aren’t you a little young to be all the way out here by yourself?” She says, tugging on a tree to help herself back up. She tried to wipe some of the mud off of herself, but even after some of it slushed off, it seemed as though it largely retained the clothing function. Slightly relieved, both to not currently be on the wrong end of a mugging, and to have some help getting her creation back, she smiled at him. “Yeah, that would be nice. Cupcake might be succumbing to the sadness of the swamp… I’m not strong enough to help her out.”![](https://i.imgur.com/JOIhvIm.png)
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Post by naturalfaux on Jun 5, 2024 21:30:53 GMT -5
LIL GUY
Eduardo pinched the bridge of his nose and stamped down the frustration boiling in his veins. It's a BIT hard not to be so sensitive about his height when it's all anyone ever talks about. He sighed. At least it had the benefit of people assuming he was harmless.
He isn't technically harmless, but he doesn't WANT to be... harmful. People also tended to be more charitable when they thought they were dealing with a child, but they were also so damn condescending. Eduardo certainly didn't get his short fuse from his dad, and his uncle wasn't as bad tempered either... perhaps he had his mother to attribute it to? Perhaps his height shortage too.
Regardless, there were far more urgent and pressing matters to attend to. The sinking unicorn, the mud curse thing, his finances... and this girl didn't seem to be malicious, if her cowering was her default choice when approached. In fact, he was slightly relieved at her reaction; people could be so prickly when approached by a stranger in the middle of an isolated, foggy swamp...
Well, deservedly so, but beggars can't be choosers. And these two were certainly not royalty.
"I'm not too young in fact, seeing as I've lived in these parts for 20 or so years." he clarified, studying the poor steeds immediate surroundings. "Tell me, is your friend here intelligent enough to follow an order, or is this going to be like making a dress out of tadpole skin?"
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Post by Lycia Mystwud on Jun 6, 2024 2:00:43 GMT -5
![](https://i.imgur.com/69Bmpae.png) Crap crap crap, he looked annoyed. She really didn’t want to peeve the only person she’d seen in days, especially not after he offered to help her. Lycia bowed her head, bringing her fingers together apologetically. “Uh. S-sorry about that” She half muttered, before quickly nodding her head to the lil guys question. “Y-yeah, Cupcake is smart! She has the soul of an archaeologist sown into her heart!” the girl exclaims, before realizing how weird that probably sounded. Her face rapidly changes from excitement to shame, putting up her hands in a disarming way. “M-metaphorically of course, Haha.”
The Unicorn whinnied with slight distress, bubbles forming where it was attempting to kick it’s legs free of the mud to little avail. She had put a lot of work into crafting that unicorn, using only Straw, sticks, and the fully intact hide of a unicorn combined with some soul she found floating around that brought it back to life. It would be a disservice to both creatures to lose the creation to something so simple as a mud puddle. This guy had lived here for 20 years though, he probably knew how to get out of all sorts of situations. Even more, he probably had food. She would be a complete idiot to not accept the help. “So, uh, w-what does she need to do?”![](https://i.imgur.com/JOIhvIm.png)
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Post by naturalfaux on Jun 6, 2024 10:33:51 GMT -5
Eduardo was intrigued. Whether metaphorically or not, this creature surely seemed to be one of a kind, and it certainly would be a waste to lose it to an inanimate foe. Drowning in mud was also not a very pleasant way to go, even burning to death might be preferable to choking on the gross swamp water and whatever is in it.
And soul stitching? If he wasn't mistaken, that might mean that this girl was...
A NEW FRIEND?!?
No, no, he mustn't get ahead of himself. It's not adult like of him to get excited about things like that, but... when was the last time he had a friend? Someone who also considered him a friend? Eduardo didn't want to think about it, it was too sad.
Friend or not, he wouldn't even leave a hardened criminal to drown in this miserable place. Life in prison would be far preferable. Eduardo had plenty of time out here in solitude, so the creeping fear of sinking into the bog and never found again came up a few times... a day. He had far too much time alone with his thoughts. Maybe he should get himself a pet, it might stave off the looming mental insanity, but exposing any animal to the swamp would make him feel guilty. Case in point, this unicorn, and the girl for that matter
"Well, for starters, thrashing about will only make it worse. That loosens up the surrounding mud and makes you sink deeper. We'll need a large stick or rope... if any rope is still 'rope' that is." He grumbled, remembering with frustration how all of his things had turned to mud. He couldn't even write in his journal! Well, he might be able to... but it would be illegible either way. He wasn't sure before if this was a localized occurrence, but now this girl confirmed it, as all of her clothes were also mud. Which meant this was something he could fix, or better yet, learn how to do himself.
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Post by Lycia Mystwud on Jun 12, 2024 20:18:54 GMT -5
![](https://i.imgur.com/69Bmpae.png) Lycia was intruiged. This guy didn’t seem too weirded out by anything going on. On top of that, he was willing to help her out, and not stab her? Getting stabbed in the middle of the swamp was not a very pleasant way to go, starving would be preferable. Regardless, Cupcake was certainly better off with more hands to help. “R-right. Uh, I think I dropped the rope somewhere around here.” She said, excited to be able to help a bit. Her hands pawed through the thick muck as she whispered to the distraught unicorn, beseeching it to calm itself. Tracking her hands from the muddified bridle around it’s snout to a line of intact mud lying below the surface, she gave it a soft pull. A long string of mud emerged from the muck. Dripping with scum and dead leaves, it’s entire form was revealed to be largely intact, now just made from mud for some reason. Lycia gave it a bit of a tug, just to confirm, and it seemed to maintain it’s original integrity somehow. “Kinda freaky… but… I guess it works still?” She said, turning towards her new acquaintance in a befuddled manner. “N-now what?”![](https://i.imgur.com/JOIhvIm.png)
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Post by naturalfaux on Jun 18, 2024 7:35:04 GMT -5
"We'll need to get them to go backwards."
Eduardo found a decently sturdy stick and began stabbing at the ground a little distance behind Cupcake. When you get used to wandering the swamp, you learn what to look out for. Most people would think the beasts would be the main issue, but getting stuck in neck deep mud isn't exactly helpful for escaping the jaws of hungry creatures either. It's why horses were a rarity around here (much less unicorns), their density was too much for the mud to handle, unlike mules or donkeys.
"Good, there's solid ground not too far back. If they can get to here, then we can walk around the deeper parts."
He walked back over to the duo, and grabbed onto the mud lead as well.
"We can both help pull to get some leverage, just make sure not to pull too hard. You ready?"
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Post by Lycia Mystwud on Jun 19, 2024 20:41:56 GMT -5
Her floppy hat wiggles as she nods enthusiastically. Cupcake snorts a bit as the reins go taut, pulling her backwards. Lycia pulls, slipping slightly in the mud before finding her footing once more to pull again. It was arduous work, the mud making everything weigh significantly more than it would otherwise. But slowly, it seemed to be actually working. “C-cmon Cupcake, walk back to my voice, cmon!” She said, the patchwork unicorn slowly making its way to the stable ground. It’s rump was the first to break the surface, followed slowly by the rest of it. Weirdly enough, it seemed that whatever properties the unicorn skin had in life was carrying over to it now. The mud slid right off, sluicing back into piles as the creature emerged. A loud whinny and her back legs were freed, the ground under them stable enough to leverage the rest of her out. It had worked! Lycia jumped for joy, and leapt to the dolls neck, giving it a big joyous hug. “I’M SO HAPPY YOU’RE OK” she exclaimed, before realizing their visitor was still there. She dropped, ass first into the mud before picking herself up to bow deeply to show her gratitude. “T-Thank you so much mister! I don’t know what I would have done if she sunk any farther… I…I dropped the reigns when they turned to mud and she got stuck…” her fingers poked together in a mixture of shame and awkwardness.![](https://i.imgur.com/JOIhvIm.png)
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Post by naturalfaux on Jun 30, 2024 17:08:00 GMT -5
Eduardo observed the scene with a mix of concern and curiosity as Lycia struggled to free her beloved unicorn, Cupcake, from the stubborn mud. He couldn't help but be impressed by her determination and the unusual properties of the creature's skin that seemed to repel the mud effortlessly.
When Cupcake finally emerged, and Lycia's hug followed, Eduardo couldn't suppress a smile at the heartwarming sight. He was taken aback when Lycia suddenly realized his presence and shifted from joy to awkward gratitude. Mud-splattered and clearly overwhelmed, Lycia tried to express her thanks, her words stumbling over each other in her haste to convey her appreciation.
Eduardo nodded understandingly and offered a reassuring smile. "You did a great job getting her out," he said warmly, trying to ease her discomfort. "I'm just glad I could help."
As Lycia bowed deeply in gratitude, Eduardo's smile widened. "That's quite the friend you have there too! I've never seen a unicorn in person, I've always wanted to though." His smile turned sheepish "Well, I'm not exactly a pure maiden, so it's not surprising, but still..."
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