Ьȴʊє Ͻ a r a v a n (The adventure continues elsewhere!)

Where should the characters in this thread be transported to after leaving the treasure room?

Aboveground under the tree (i.e. directly to the camp).	80.0%	[ 8 ]
Underground under the tree (i.e. under the hole in the ground that opened up).	10.0%	[ 1 ]
Indifferent.	10.0%	[ 1 ]
Total Votes:			[ 10 ]

[Samantha Whitfield]

↻xxＴｈｅxxｗｏｒｌｄxxｉｓxxａxxｃｒｕｅｌxxｐｌａｃｅ ・ ・ ・

It was not long that Tobias had to wait before the others started appearing. They had all escaped the sight of those wretched things in the inverted tower. The part of Tobias angry at his ‘comrades’ for bailing out on the fight by this point went away. He might bring that up in some later argument—if there was a later for their group—but it was of no consequence now. Not with all the gold coins and jewels and treasure around. The others quickly went through the huge sum of treasure in the room. Tobias kept his eyes off of them, since he was attempting to engage in small talk with barrier girl.

“Hey, Daggers! Found something for yeh!” Aiden called out.

That gave Tobias more time than he would ever need to react. As he turned, he caught sight of the glimmering knife Aiden held. The male threw it at him. It was off-target, or maybe intended to miss. Tobias could not imagine why Aiden would actually want to hit him. Forget that the rogue had earlier thrown a knife right at Aiden’s own head. Regardless, the blade whizzed safely to his side, contacting the wall and falling into a pile of coin. There were two choices to Tobias: react violently, or enjoy the moment.

He shook his head, chuckling softly and turned to retrieve the gold-hilted dagger from the pile of coins. He judged it, finding it both valuable and well crafted. He slipped it into his lefthand chest pocket.

“Thank you, friend. I’ll keep it close to my heart,” he responded with a grin.

The comment was hardly heartfelt. It did sound that way, but he did not consider anyone he knew friend. Acquaintances worth not killing, perhaps, but not friend. Even so, Tobias lived quite in the moment, so while he could actually consider you worth not killing, he might kill you anyway in a rage or just because it was profitable. In this case, it was just not profitable to fight; the gold and jewels were also quite blinding. Nasrin’s earlier question was a good one, since it seemed like an ungodly amount of wealth they were just sitting in.

“Look,” called Nasrin to the others.

Tobias turned, curious what in particularly could be so interesting to actually warrant showing. With him, if it was important or valuable he would not flaunt it around. Oh well, he moved closer to find that Nasrin had discovered a tiny skeleton. It was most clearly a juvenille bird-reptile. Shortly after that, Nasrin pulled up what looked like a stone. However, it was not a stone as she seemed to realise.

“These are eggs, then?”

Tobias cocked his head to the side, unsure. After all, it sure looked like a stone. But then again, it also looked like an egg. That made it an egg of one of those bird monsters then. Tobias wondered how it got in here, unaware they were the cause of the whole attack when the bandits had opened the sarcophagus. He did not comment on her jest toward her blond comrade, though he did realise that their unofficial leader was slightly injured.

Time to play the concerned friend bit.

“Speaking of which,” he asked, motioning to her as she displayed some slight discomfort. “will you be alright with that. I’m sure no one will mind if you bandage it with one of these beautiful silk shawls”

He picked up one of them. It was in a small pile with some other high quality articles of clothing. Nothing that Tobias was interested. He had his tunic, his pants, his boots, and his cloak. There was nothing else he required in terms of attire. Besides, gaudy clothing with jewels or just flowy ones tended to get one killed. Tobias had killed a few idiots that way. He smiled at the memory of a particular would-be femme fatale. The natural smile might endear some trust in the young thief.

・ ・ ・ ｅｘｐｅｃｔxxｎｏxxｓｙｍｐａｔｈｙxxｆｒｏｍxxｍｅxx↺

[artfreek]

¥ Sebastian Beird ¥

Sebastian waited watching everyone jump through the portal. He was quite surprised at everyone's belief, but didn't question it. When in peril you generally won't question a prospective way out. As the last person jumped through he glanced around the room quickly before following everyone through. He hoped that the creatures were not smart enough to make pursuit.

He winced slightly as he land having forgotten about his leg.

“They seemed particularly fond of you, Sebastian.” He let out a little laugh at that.

“Oh yes they even gave me a token to remember them. They gave you one as well.” He said looking over at her and finding an egg in her hand, or she had gathered that it was an egg at least.

He steered his eyes around the room. A treasure trove most likely of a long dead king. A bit of greed swelled in him. He had never seen such wealth gathered into one place. The temptation to stuff his bag full was very high. He looked around the room weighing his option before finding a map as he picked it up he found that it was a map of Albrind. He quickly folded the item and tucked it into his shirt next to the book. It could come in use and he had always been fond of maps.

He looked around picking up the coins and inspecting them before setting them back down. There was so much around him that he wasn't entirely sure what to take. There were gold plates and goblets. Coins and bottles, then his eyes settled on a war horn. Plain ivory and silver, but for some reason he wanted it. He gathered the thing in his hands and looked at it for a little while before tucking it in his bag. If he found something more useful later on he might make a switch for the sake of space, but at the moment this was what he wanted. He didn't agree with how illogical the feeling was but he rarely wanted something without a reason. He felt when that happen there would be a reason relieved eventually.

He started collecting items then trying to find things that he thought would be the most valuable and , if possible, take up the least amount of space. He only had a small bag at the moment that could hardly carry anything with the horn resting in it.

When he seemed satisfied with his hull he moved over to Nasrin settling into pace with her. He eyed her shoulder trying to shove down the illogical worry that he felt. Her wound wasn't horrible and it was far from life threatening.

[Sypher-Anthem]

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXE l i j a h X A u r e l i s
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Why don't you let me Be
Leave me Alone
You start a fire Inside
That I could never Control
You wanna see a Reaction?

Inter-stellar teleportation wasn't exactly something that just anyone got to experience so it was needless to say that the tumbling feeling Elijah got the scenery flashed around him was...uncomfortable. It wasn't even really the feeling that enveloped him since it was one that could be compared to trying to swim for the first time, but the colors that seemed to swirl together was really making Elijah rethink his chances with the birds. That was until he landed. It was a rough and his large backpack made it even more uncomfortable as he slumped down a slope. Shaking his head slightly, the emerald eyed thief didn't open his eyes just yet in fear that his rainbow escape wasn't over yet, but as he used the ground to support himself a familiar jingle caught his attention. Easing his eyes open, the dark haired assailant was met with a room of treasure stacked mountains high to every wall. That wasn't all as the voices that echoed around the piles of gold and silver were that or his companions who'd escaped with him. Flopping back down onto the pile of gold coins that had broke his fall, Elijah couldn't help but laugh to himself over their fortune.

'Of course, the treasure that we all struck out to find would appear after we were all ready to run for our lives! Well best not be ungrateful.' he thought as he made his way back up to his feet and tossed his back pack off. At its bottom of his bag was already enough coin to set him for a few months courtesy of his last raid, and teaming up with this bunch was only a means to disguise his escape, but now they'd landed him into a room with enough fortune to set him for life. Unfortunately Elijah knew that he couldn't carry it all and thus settle on things that would hopefully be worth selling when times got hard. A crown meant for royalty, bracelets and charms of the finest decor, Elijah was at this point even removing small sheets and wrappings to make room for more treasure since it could all be bought again. Among the things that Elijah had decided to add to his bag a couple of vials with writing on the back of the them came into view. A larger one contained a thick concoction along with a brush strapped to it. Upon further investigation Elijah would add it to his bag finding it to n fact be acidic coating which would be sure to come in handy. Along with another large vial meant to heal grave external wounds within hours, and to smaller vials that did basically the same thing, the male continued to sift through what could make itself useful. All in all Elijah was happy that all he had to do was trade a manageable wound on his chest for these spoils.

“Oh yes they even gave me a token to remember them. They gave you one as well.” Elijah would hear Sebastian's voice from just around that next man-sized pile of gold and decided that it was about time to rejoin them and try and find an exit, unless they find themselves buried with it. Zipping up his bag, Elijah used one of the sheets he'd removed earlier and wrapped it up and over his shoulder to cover the wound before dawning his over coat and bag. At least now he wouldn't be bleeding all over he place, and although he was usually cautious whenever wounded he didn't want to waste one of his vials just yet.

"Glad to see you both in good spirits. Than again, landing here after that kind of encounter would leave anyone thinking a god was watching them. Well? How are you both doing?" Elijah would ask as he made his way around the mound to greet Nasrin and Sebastian with the others not being to far off. Again he was still contemplating how long he'd stay with the group, but if they always had luck like this maybe Elijah could profit more from there company.


Location:???
Mood: Where this goes, its gotta be better than here. Right?
Items obtained:Acidic coating, one Major healing poultice, 2 minor healing poultice.

╠ ◘ ✠ ◘ ╣"Good people only exist in times of peace. In times of chaos, there is no good or evil; Just survival."╠ ◘ ✠ ◘ ╣

Come on and cut me Down
You've gone as far as I'll Go
Now you're crossing the Line
And I am letting you Know
Well here's your Reaction!

[BallDrogo]

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The voice from behind had made her turn around in fear. Tobias, a man she did not trust one bit. He seemed ruthless in nature and Maria felt she would meet her end here, but that was not the case, just a remark on Maria’s apparent inner greed. She emptied her pockets; the coin would be useless due to being a unique currency, granted a historian might pay a pretty penny for it. She grabbed for the gems instead. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, all these colorful gems that could buy Maria a new set of armor.

There was no use in trying to argue that her armor was great, it was armor she had for the past five years and was getting old and worn. It was made from wood and didn’t protect much from sword blows, you can see the marks on the chest plate from where she had been struck. Plate mail, she always wanted a set of actual armor. Chain or plate, she could go for a set of either. Something that made her feel more protected. She didn’t see any platemail in the pile and even if she did, she didn’t trust century old armor to be of much protection, probably would fall apart the minute she put it on.

She examined the rest of the room that she was in. Besides being lined with gold, there seemed some potions in a pile in the room. Crawling over to the piles, descriptions of what each message did seem to appear out of thin air. She read each description to herself. The Major Healing Poultice was the best option for her. Grabbing it and uncorking it, she chugged the beverage as if it were life saving water, the potion coming down her cheeks, staining her clothing underneath her armor. She stopped when the potion was empty, dropping the empty bottle on the ground.

A refreshing taste and if the description was right, it would be healing her bones soon enough. She would be able to fight and roughhouse again without fear of breaking another bone. Panting, she felt something brush up against her shoulder, turning her head around to see Fatima extended a rope to her. Getting up on her feet, she took the rope, listening to Fatima’s explanation on why it would be a good idea to have one.

“Thank you,” was all she could muster, placing it on her belt for safeguarding. “So, if we ever go spelunking, we got something to help us out, I guess it could make a pretty hand weapon,” she joked, looking past Fatima at the rest of the group. Now would be the perfect time to make a break for it, granted Maria had no idea where she was going.

She had no bag, so she wasn’t going to be carrying anything else besides the gems in her pockets. Stepping closer to Fatima, Maria grabbed her shoulder, pulling her in and placing her mouth to her ear.

“Any plans on what to do? Think I overstayed my welcome, I tend to do that around people.”


_______________________________________________________________________

[Dayum We Roll Hard]

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As their time in the treasure room drew to a close, there was the sound of bells from a church tower ringing off into the distance. With each chime, their bodies began to feel every ounce more weightless, as if the mass was draining out of their very toes. After the third ring, a strong draft blew from underneath them and their bodies were lifted like feathers, spinning and swirling like leaves into oblivion.

The humans would wake from darkness beneath the shade of the large tree to the sound of birds chirping. The grass would be beneath them, still moist from the day's earlier rain, which had since migrated east. The bright glare from the sun now peeked from behind drapes of cotton white and grey. They were back at camp, where they had ran during their search for shelter from the storm. Was their latest adventure all a dream?

If they looked around a little more, they would see that it was not the case. There on their bodies were the red injuries and blue bruises they earned from the brawl against the reptilian bird creatures, and tossed carelessly all around them were all the treasures and gold they managed to recover from the golden room before they were swept away from it. It was as if a tornado had sucked them all up into the heart of its funnel and dropped them there at the end of its violent life.

The gapping hole to the underground was ever present. As was the rope that they tied to lower themselves down slowly into it. As were the mushrooms that cushioned their drops. As was the spindly path that wound up and up... to the tower that was no longer there. It was now all fog and darkness as far as the eye could see. The sounds of running water from the stone aqueducts still resonated through the cavern but the substance only fell straight down in a waterfall where the aqueducts ended abruptly in broken stone.

Now, it was the calm after the storm. What the humans do next would set the motions for their futures...


Nasrin Aidziam acquires... (with points borrowed from Maria Qhorin)


Egg - 1.5 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Contains the spawn of the hidden inverted tower's bird creatures that had attacked the humans.

Magic Negating Dust, potency: strong - 0.75 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Sprinkle it over any object to negate its magical abilities for a maximum of about two hours.

Major Healing Poultice - 0.5 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Can be used on the external body of any living organism. At most, can heal broken ribs or an injury to a limb (except a broken bone) within a few hours.

Sebastian Beird acquires...


Magic Map - 1.0 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

An ancient map of Albrind that is only as detailed as the map on the front page. The ink dances on the page, animating the map.

Signalling Horn, Plain - 0.75 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

A war horn crafted out of ivory and silver.

Tobias Kallith acquires...


Dynamic Local Map - 1.0 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

An animated map that reveals terrestrial data about the area local to the current location.

Minor Healing Poultice - 0.25 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Can be used on the external body of any living organism. At most, can heal a large scrape within a few hours.

Vial of Incurable Stomach Disease - 0.75 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Induces an upset stomach upon ingestion. Wears off after about four hours.

Elijah Aurelis acquires...


Acid Coating: - 1.0 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

A vial of a chemical that corrodes flesh upon contact. It has the consistency of a very thick syrup so that it can be applied to metal weaponry. Good for three uses. Handle with care. Comes with a basting brush.

Minor Healing Poultice - 0.25 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Can be used on the external body of any living organism. At most, can heal a large scrape within a few hours.

Minor Healing Poultice - 0.25 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Can be used on the external body of any living organism. At most, can heal a large scrape within a few hours.

Major Healing Poultice - 0.5 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Can be used on the external body of any living organism. At most, can heal broken ribs or an injury to a limb (except a broken bone) within a few hours.

Maria Qhorin acquires...


Rope of Never Breaking - 1.25 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

A sturdy length of rope that never snaps. It is about 20 feet in length. Its fibers have a slight pinkish hue to them.

Fatima Al'awhadi acquires...


Muscle Seizing Drug - 1.0 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Vial of a clear liquid. Upon ingestion, it paralyzes voluntary muscle movement from the shoulders down. Wears off after two hours.

Major Healing Poultice - 0.5 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Can be used on the external body of any living organism. At most, can heal broken ribs or an injury to a limb (except a broken bone) within a few hours.

Major Healing Poultice - 0.5 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Can be used on the external body of any living organism. At most, can heal broken ribs or an injury to a limb (except a broken bone) within a few hours.

Aiden Hale acquires...


Warm Orb - 1.25 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

A magical object that stays warm no matter what. A symbol is inscribed onto it, which allows its temperature to be adjusted with the correct spell. It has two temperature settings, one of which is high enough to boil water.

Minor Healing Poultice - 0.25 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Can be used on the external body of any living organism. At most, can heal a large scrape within a few hours.

Major Healing Poultice - 0.5 pts

Obtained from a treasurer room lost in the pockets of time.

Can be used on the external body of any living organism. At most, can heal broken ribs or an injury to a limb (except a broken bone) within a few hours.

[Agent Of Dreams]

Aiden Hale

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Remember the past, live in the present, and fight for the future.

Yeh know what I feel like?: Happy, ready to leave
S'nothing that I haven't dealt with before: Dry enough to be getting along with
They're not so bad...: Mr. Daggers, The Blonde, The Dark One, Green Eye, and then Axe Lady, and Armor Lady

Yeah, I've been around. Yeh wan' to hear about it?
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Daggers, infuriatingly enough for Aiden, did not respond how he had wanted him too. Instead, he just picked up the Dagger and pocketed, thanking Aiden for finding it for him. "Yeah, no problem." he responded, then sighed and laid down on the pile of treasure he had seated himself on. While he was not upset in any way, such a mountainous and fabulous treasure like this brought back memories he would rather stay buried. This was not the first time he had sat upon a pile of treasure. And it was not the first time that he had fought his way to obtaining such riches. No, while infrequent, such things had happened to him many times before. And it was these memories that he wished would just stay buried, where they belonged. While not exactly painful, they did remind him that, in some cases, there are things in life that are far more valuable then a handful of jewels and some magic trinkets.

Just then, a bell began to toll. From where, Aiden couldn't tell. With the first toll, he felt his body getting lighter. The second, and he felt weightless. With the third toll, a furious wind blew from nowhere and swept him up, up into darkness. For barely a second, he thought he was dead. But that thought passed, along with his consciousness and he fell deeper into the black.

He awoke, surprisingly, under a tree, out in the open air. It smelled wet, and when he opened his eyes, he saw it was because it had been raining not to shortly ago. He could see the storm clouds off in the distance. Groaning, he sat up, and saw that everyone else was with him, all sprawled out under the tree. And what was more, the bag of gems and other items he procured were lying about as well. So it hadn't been some crazy dream. He went over, got his bag, and pocketed the rest of his items. While his goal in coming to this distant land had been to get those seeds, now he had a different priority. With a bagful of gems, he needed to get back to civilization as quickly as possible. He knew a place where he could turn these gems in and get quite a nice sum of money.

The others began to wake up around him. He quickly grabbed his stuff off the ground, so there wouldn't be any "confusion" as to who's stuff was what. "Well, I guess we're out now." he said to them all. With one bag of jewels slung over one shoulder, and his crossbow up against the other, he turned away from the group. With the warmth that had been in the treasure room, he found that, for the most part, he was dry again. So making a fire was not really at the top of his priority. Getting away with this wonderful treasure, however, was. He could certainly make the trip over the mountains by himself, but that seemed idiotic. With the bagful of gems, he was a juicy target for whatever bandits and outlaws were waiting along the way. No, he needed to find a group to travel with. A group that he could trust. And that group certainly wasn't the people he was currently with.

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[WanderingMercenary]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
{{ϜᾳϮϊϻᾳ Ȧʅ'ᾳῳɧᾳɗϊ}}

Bounty Hunter

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indentFatima laughed. She hadn't planned on it, yet that could be said for all laughter. She laughed partly at Maria's joke, and partly that they were all safe and sound. She knew that before, but now it was concrete. "Yes, I suppose it would." she said. She wondered if her own rope was still tied around the tree, leading into the hole. That time seemed to be an eon ago.

indentHer laughter was stopped short once Maria brought her close in. She was about to respond when church bells began to ring. Church bells? Weren't they underground? But before Fatima could finish her thought, a strange sensation began to flow through her. Before she knew it, she was standing back in the forest, close to the hole. She looked around, making sure that they really were back in the surface. There was the tree, the hole, and Sadie, still grazing in the clearing. She breathed a sigh of relief, and patted Maria on the shoulder. "Looks like we'll be able to head out on our way to the town, though I don't think we really need to. You drank one of the poultices, didn't you?" she said. She walked over to the tree, untied the rope, and began to haul it up. She saw that her rope was connected to another. She undid the knot, and coiled that rope as well, leaving it at the base of the tree. She saw that the rest of the group had arrived, and knew that the owner of the rope would be getting it soon.

indentShe clicked her tongue in Sadie's direction, and soon the horse came walking over. "Hey there girl, did you have a good meal? It's time to head out." she said, patting the horse's neck. She noticed that the saddle and tack were on. Odd, she thought she had taken it off. She didn't think too much of it. After all, she had been teleported twice in the past ten minutes. At this point, anything seemed possible. She motioned for Maria to hop on the horse. "After you."

[anais nighteyed]

x

artwork by Midori Foo, from Book of Picturesxxx

xxxxxxxxＮａｓｒｉｎ Ａｉｄｚｉａｍ

She was very conscious of the egg in her hands. Turning it over this way and that, she was quiet as she contemplated what she was to do about the discovery. The small bones splayed across a glistening dune of coins drew her attention again. They appeared mostly undisturbed, and she was reminded of the fallen adventurer they’d come across in the tower. Occupied with her own thoughts, moments passed before she realized Tobias had addressed her. The note of concern in his voice took her off guard and she turned to fix him with a piercing stare, brows raised as she eyed the cloth in his hand.

A thief nursing her wounds in silk? She smiled at the prospect and had half a mind to retort that if she were truly pressed to bandage herself, a pauper’s rags would serve just as well as the finery in the chamber. “I suppose these hurts of mine look terrible,” Nasrin conceded. “But I assure you I’ll get along well enough… for a while.” But if she were some sap, as he’d put earlier, he would have offered her the vial of water he’d pocketed. She appreciated his concern whether it was hollow or otherwise, but he hadn’t gained anything by it. Not with her, at least.

She planned to ask Sebastian to apply the poultice to what ailed her once they found their way to the surface. Nothing in the chamber hinted that the creatures had followed them, but she didn’t trust they were out of danger just yet. She chose to wait even if it meant her injuries went unattended. Shifting in discomfort, Nasrin watched as Sebastian examined what appeared to be a map. A wise choice, but she wondered about its accuracy. The map she had taken to using could not be wholly trusted. Elijah was making his way toward them, remarking on their good fortune and inquiring about their well being in the same breath. “Wounded and irritable,” she answered humorlessly.

The distant peal of bells filled her ears, and she was overcome by a strange sensation. Inexplicably, Nasrin began to feel as though she would drift away. A wind rose from beneath, carrying them upward into turmoil. Darkness descended.

She could discern the twittering of birds. Nasrin began to stir as if roused from a deep sleep, eyes fluttering open. Tree boughs swayed overhead, and the sun that peeked through the leaves made her squint. She shielded her eyes with her hand. Through her fingers she saw that the sky was nearly hidden by the forest, but she caught small glimpses of blue. Sitting up, she brushed leaves from her clothes and saw objects from the treasure chamber strewn about them in disarray. The storm had passed; she could no longer hear the rain. She rose unsteadily to her feet and saw the egg had landed close by.

Her horse gave a snort as she approached, and she retrieved a length of rope from the saddlebag. Nasrin wandered to the cavern mouth, a wound in the earth. She followed the example of others and secured the rope to a tree, and without a word she began to make her way down into the cavern. When her feet touched the bottom, she was relieved to see her rucksack was lying just where she had left it. She then removed the egg from where she had tucked it in her tunic. Prompted by innocent curiosity, she brought it close and pressed an ear against the shell. There was a faint scratching from within. It was with painstaking care that she placed the egg in the moss and covered it with leaves. With that, she slung her rucksack over her shoulder and stamped out the dying fire with her foot.

[Samantha Whitfield]

↻xxＴｈｅxxｗｏｒｌｄxxｉｓxxａxxｃｒｕｅｌxxｐｌａｃｅ ・ ・ ・

Nasrin replied that it was worse than it looked. That brought a look of relief to his expression, briefly. Mentally, though, he wondered how much of that was keeping face. Surely those things’ claws hurt, but maybe it was just the same as his own leg injury: a lot of blood but little else. There was no way Tobias could know one way or the other, but he did prefer his opponents injured. Then again, who was to say these people were his enemies. At the moment, he had to rely on them just a little bit. As much as he hated that.

Alas, their time in the pocket space of the treasure room came to a close. Slowly, as if there was a bell out in the distance, they were transported. Tobias could not accurately describe the journey. It was not as if anything had happened in it, though. The group was returned to the surface, beneath the shade of a large tree. The sounds of nature returned, replacing the eerie dripping sound from the inverted tower. The rain had passed, and the sun was lighting up the environment.

Tobias had no fear that the whole thing had been a dream; however, he did reach to his rucksack and tugged on it gently. It was still heavier than it had been when he had murdered his horse. A brief smirk crossed his lips, but it subsided quickly enough. He did not tend to make many emotions aside from scowling and blank, stoic stares. But a bit of treasure always brought a smile to the young thief’s face. He was not going to think too much about their little adventure otherwise. He was more of a here-and-now sort of person, after all.

The blond member of their batallion, the one with the crossbow, decided to get a headstart out. He did not ask anyone to come along, or for their plans. That seemed about right. Tobias himself would not hike alone, but at the same time, he rarely enjoyed anyone’s company. It was a wonder he had not left before; however, now there was even less reason. Everyone here had fists full of treasure, at the least. Next chance he got, Tobias was certainly contemplating looting their corpses. But looking at him now, the dark-haired rogue just seemed bored. Which, honestly, he was.

It looked like the lesbian couple was departing as well. That would leave just Tobias with the terramancer, Nasrin, and her blonde understudy. Tobias had no idea their relationships to each other, naturally. Personally, he thought he was making a normal to good impression with the troupe. Of course that was far from the case. Nasrin delved back into the open hole. Tobias stayed above ground, but watched to see the woman retrieve her belongings and put out the fire with her foot.

“So, where to now?” he asked, turning to those still with him.

・ ・ ・ ｅｘｐｅｃｔxxｎｏxxｓｙｍｐａｔｈｙxxｆｒｏｍxxｍｅxx↺

[Sypher-Anthem]

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXE l i j a h X A u r e l i s
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Why don't you let me Be
Leave me Alone
You start a fire Inside
That I could never Control
You wanna see a Reaction?

From her response Elijah could only assume that Nasrin was more irritated by the turn of event than her previous tone had let on. Or maybe this was merely pointed at him since he was a bit on the bright side for nearly being killed just moments earlier. To the emerald eyed male though what was not to be happy about? Above all else they were alive, and to compensate there troubles they'd landed in a throne room stocked wall to wall with more gold than any old king could have hoped to garner in his life. Still to each their own and if this wasn't enough to bring a smile to the dark skinned female he doubted anything could have beyond maybe a cart to carry more out. Speaking of an out, it was before Elijah could even let out a response that a distant chime almost like a bell in a town square rung out. From the reactions on the others faces, he wasn't the only one to hear it as well as a second and moments after that a third chime would resound. Personally it was that one that made things on comfortable since he almost felt as if he couldn't keep himself grounded. Out of instinct the male would close his eyes and brace himself as what felt like a seemingly gentle breeze swept him off his feet and upwards. He didn't even notice the landing though as it was almost like he appeared they're instead of falling. What even prompted him to open his eyes were the chirping of birds and the slight breeze damp with humidity of a passing storm. After turning from right to left Elijah would test his luck at standing. His legs a little wobbly, but manageable the indigo haired male would make his way through a little brush until he came upon a familiar sight, base camp. It was clear at that point that some of the group had no intentions of coming back to camp or even giving their farewells as they made for the road. Deciding to take this time to set up the dressing for his wound as well as bundle up again, Elijah would remove his bag and adjust the bandaging on his chest before dawning his shirt, tunic, and scarf. Grasping his sword last, Elijah would rejoin what was left of the group just as a question was brought up.

“So, where to now?” The black haired male would ask as he stopped just in front of Nasrin who was stomping out he remains of the fire they'd started when they first stopped there. it was clear at that point that they'd dodged the storm in their time underground and with that knowledge Sypher decided that the answer was obvious.

"If you don't have any destination to make for out of obligation, A near by town with an inn might be the best place for now; If only to ensure a decent meal I mean." Elijah would say as he stepped over now fully set to travel. His opinion on going to town was partly based on giving them a more comfortable place to set up while they came to term with the events they'd just gone through. For Elijah though on another level, the male still couldn't count out that he may still have others looking for him from his earlier heist and thus still needed the group even if few in number to act as a cover for him til he could move past the town and into new territory.


Location:Under the tree canopy
Mood: Guess I should not be surprised that a place I was teleported would teleport me away.
Items obtained:Acidic coating, one Major healing poultice, 2 minor healing poultice.



╠ ◘ ✠ ◘ ╣"Good people only exist in times of peace. In times of chaos, there is no good or evil; Just survival."╠ ◘ ✠ ◘ ╣



Come on and cut me Down
You've gone as far as I'll Go
Now you're crossing the Line
And I am letting you Know
Well here's your Reaction!

[anais nighteyed]

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artwork by Midori Foo, from Book of Picturesxxx

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After making her ascent to the surface, she was fatigued and fighting for breath. Her patience was waning, and she had little to spare for more hidden caverns, aggressive beasts or trying people. As far as surprises were concerned, she’d had her fill. Unfastening the rope from the tree, she brushed dust from her trousers before striding purposefully in the direction of her horse. She tucked away the rope and began to secure her rucksack to the saddle.

The gelding had been nibbling on lush grasses when Nasrin interrupted him. He shifted nervously, turning his large eyes to the woman. She adjusted his bridle and gave him a furtive pat behind the ears, an apology. Her cloak was still draped over an exposed root, just as she’d left it earlier. She took up the garment and threw it over her shoulders before turning her attention to the others. The cook seemed to be taking his leave, and Nasrin doubted the two females would suffer their company much longer. This suited her.

The question Tobias had posed still hung in the air, and Elijah suggested they head for the nearest town. Nasrin remained silent. She drew her hood over her head, and the frayed hem trembled in the wind. Looking at her map earlier in the day had placed a certain town in her head, and she mulled over this for a moment before coming to a decision. “Lenti,” she announced. “This is my itinerary. A desolate town in the mountains attracts travelers of every sort, I suspect. I would like to see them for myself… I’m curious to know what they carry.”

A bird sounded in the distance, speaking to its partner, and the lilting call went unanswered. She looked about as the woods swayed and shuddered around them, reflecting on what had transpired. Mist drifted down from rain-laden boughs. If she hadn’t seen it for herself, she wouldn’t have believed that there existed such place where life was in evident abundance. She wondered if they had wandered beneath the earth for an age as opposed to a few hours. “I haven’t been entirely honest,” she admitted. “I’d hoped to meet with a few like-minded folk before reaching a town, and here you are.”

It was a strange gathering, and with the danger behind them they had little reason to tolerate one another. It was just as well; those who were departing were not the people she sought. She placed her foot in the stirrup and heaved herself onto the saddle, wanting a reprieve from walking. Taking the reins in her hands, she fixed Tobias and Elijah with a lengthy stare, scrutinizing the two. “Is this satisfactory to you? If so, then speak. If not, then we part ways here. The choice is yours,” she said. Nasrin hadn’t forgotten that her wounds required attention, but she could be quite obstinate when she had a mind for it. The way she saw it, if she could go on without a poultice she could save it for a dire injury.

She and Sebastian traveled with two horses, and this had been a good arrangement until they came across two lads without mounts. This would be troublesome if they both decided to join them, she could see that. “I want to see what lies ahead. I do not like this place, the earth is treacherous here,” Nasrin explained, trusting she didn’t need to elaborate. “Sebastian, lend those two your horse if they decide our company is favorable. It wouldn’t do to make them walk. You can ride with me.” She reached back to adjust her belongings. Then she nudged her horse forward, casting a lingering glance at the pale flower thriving on a tree. Unbeknownst to Nasrin, a slip of worn parchment had fallen from her rucksack. Caught in the wind, it tumbled through the air and was lifted high, appearing to be nothing more than discarded rubbish. The parchment landed in a pool and drifted across the surface like a leaf. It bore a portrait that resembled the cloaked woman, accompanied by lettering beneath.

[Samantha Whitfield]

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Tobias was ambivalent toward Elijah’s suggestion. A town with an inn would mean a larger one, and that meant people. Which was fine, he was not in the profession of raiding poor tiny villages. Plus, those sort of backwards villages reeked. And with the loot they had, they could even spend it on the nicest of the taverns. That would be nice. The last few places he had to sleep had been noisy and smelled of a poor man’s wine and ale. Regardless, Elijah’s suggestion was followed up with a more narrow destination from Nasrin.

“Lenti,” she told them. “This is my itinerary. A desolate town in the mountains attracts travelers of every sort, I suspect. I would like to see them for myself... I’m curious to know what they carry.”

That is quite an odd curiosity, he thought. Tobias imagined the girl hailed from the deserts, judging by her dark skin. At the very least her family did. So maybe she was just a curious traveler, wandering the world in search of intrigue and fantasy. Tobias was much too cynical to actually believe any of that bullshit. No, it sounded more like she was someone more interesting than that. Perhaps. The sound of bird song filled the brief interlude, before Nasrin spoke again.

“I haven’t been entirely honest,” admitted the bandit king. “ I’d hoped to meet with a few like-minded folk before reaching a town, and here you are.”

Now that was much more blatant. What did she know about Tobias? Because, if she knew what kind of a man he was, then that meant she was a devilish rogue as well, and one in search of companions. That meant that Elijah and Sebastian she had also run into along the way? No, probably just him and the indigo-haired male. She had thus far treated Sebastian as a well-known associate, which meant they were well acquainted with one another.

Tobias continued to remain silent through this strange scene. As the other three departed, it just so happened the lowlifes were left together. Nasrin gave them an offer. The two could join with Nasrin and the blond, or they could be left here and part ways. Now, Tobias was not much for half threats; however, if she was a roguish person as well, and was not willing to have her and Sebastian kill them and the others where they stood... Then this was a trap to make it easier later! Logical conclusion.

“Well, I think I’d like to join you. You’ve brought good luck so far,” he flattered the woman.

This situation had been rather lucky so far. The stumbling into that treasure trove far exceeding anything he had thus far come across on his own or with his previous partners in crime. So, even with his level of suspicion for Nasrin’s possible motives, he made the choice to come with the two other bandits. Besides, it was not as if he had much of a choice. The others foolishly deciding to trek out by foot was foolhardy. The area was not safe, from nature of from highwaymen. Then again, the parting of ways was for the best.

So, with that said, Tobias was prepared to take Sebastian’s steed and ride alongside the two. This was going to be interesting.

・ ・ ・ ｅｘｐｅｃｔxxｎｏxxｓｙｍｐａｔｈｙxxｆｒｏｍxxｍｅxx↺

[Dayum We Roll Hard]

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In the far reaches of eastern Bethryl, the downpour that had assaulted the spelunking party earlier had long departed and veered northward towards the rocky outback known as Cliffrock. Similarly the treasure hunting party was not sticking around. Having decided to head eastward, the group was wrapping up one adventure and setting off for another. For a night and a day they journeyed for Lenti and a sturdy roof for a shelter. Mistrust was definitely not lost amongst the travellers, but for the most part their time passed uneventfully, distracted as everyone was with the future prospect of comfort. But as much as they yearned for a soft mattress that they could undoubtedly afford with their newfound riches, these travellers were in no hurry to exhaust their horses, which were not easily renewable resources in the wilderness.

It was with this precautionary measure in their minds and hearts that the group decided on their pace. The plan was to not skip any supper, weary as they already were, and to spend the nights under the canopy of the trees where they could chart their course against the stars. Some hours would be left to hunt – because by no means did what they gather from the golden room include such things as salt, and the lack of it or other preservatives meant food had to be gathered fresh, not that it was a problem in the wild but bountiful forests of central Bethryl.

And so these travellers rounded their steeds and tied them down to make camp. The day was growing old, meaning that the preparations for supper were in order. It was another time for them to get to know each other better and to continue to recover from their previous battles. Surrounded by nothing but the rustling of leaves and the light of the afternoon, they were almost stars of their own galaxy, and lost to the rest of the world.

Only, of course, they were not, and even galaxies migrate and are part of a grander while. Between and hour and half an hour's distance from their camp was the one belonging to the Blue Caravan. There was plenty of room for them to never encounter, yet there was plenty too of the case opposite. How would the strings of fate intertwine, if ever? Already, the cook that had left the group in disgust of its outlaws was destined to run into the blue caravan's hunting party. Lucien, too, had also appeared almost out of nowhere – who was to say that no other newcomers would run into members of the caravan remained by Kemun's campfire, and continue to organize the evening's events?


AND THE STORY CONTINUES. . .
(Please do not post here any more.)