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 Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 7:35 pm
  Lvl 32 Luck 36 Loot: Quote: +80 exp + 2 Luck exp +1 Luck +2 Ysali Orbs +1 Climbing kit Quote: Rumors of strange creatures and places appearing have popped up ever since the Moon began to glow an amber red. People call this event the Blood Moon. Once such place was recently found by your friends. When the Blood Moon is full, a passage appears on Ayr that leads to a strange swampy glade. Gathering together a group of people, you've traveled to this place to test yourself. Your friend challenged you to a test. They said that deep with in the swamp, if you follow the twisting pathway, past the dead white tree and across a fallen statue, you'll come to a glade surrounded by a ruin. In the middle of this glade is a black flower that pulses with a dim purple glow. They have challenged you to go and pick this flower and bring it back as proof of your courage. If you don't, they said, you're a coward! You may have just one person be challenged, or multiple and you all meet up outside the cliff that the challenger told you opened up to reveal the swamp. Go to Below the Cliff
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 8:18 pm
Laesara was restless, as she often was during the months of the blood moon, and the fact that it was nearing the time of its rising made it all the worse. She was an orderite, a creature of light, but the night – these nights – brought unease upon her, like an itch in her very blood, unscratchable and unignorable. Aestival, for once, did not pace. He was tired – the nighttime was not his time. He was a beast of the day, absorbing the sun on his back to bolster his power, and the night was when he happily slept. But he could not sleep while his mistress paced, and so he watched her, laying his head on his claws. “We will have more hunts tomorrow, mistress...” he rumbled, blinking his emerald eyes slowly, sleepily, “More prey, more kills. You should save your energy.” Laesara paused briefly. She knew. He knew she knew. She should be reserving her energy – one never knew when those reserves would be needed, after all. But she couldn't – it just flowed out of her, and she had to move. She was, in truth, also tired but how could she sleep, when she could feel the pull of the bloody moon? Aestival shrugged vaguely – he'd tried. “Laesara.” She paused in her pacing, standing up with regal straightness as she turned to face the tall, pale Orderite man. “Yes, father?” “Come with me – There is something I want you to see.” He beckoned to her and walked into the woods. Laesara looked back towards the hunting camp, but it appeared that no one else followed. “Aestival...” but the Khehora was already up. “I'll fetch your weapon, mistress. Follow him.” he said, trotting to where she had stowed her bone boomerang. Laesara nodded – she could see no reason why she shouldn't follow her father. After all, she trusted him. “Have you ever heard of a rare black flower that only the brave may reach?” he asked as she followed him. “Maybe.” I have heard something of the sort... but it was vague and unfounded, mere rumor. “They say” he said, “It only grows during the blood moon.” “I had heard...” He stopped at a forested bluff, tangled with roots and stones. “It would make an excellent trophy don't you think?” Quote: You have arrived at the foot of the cliff. The moon hasn't risen just yet, but it should soon. All about you is darkness, broken only by the far off starts above you and the pale mists swirling about even though there is no breeze. The night is silent; no insects buzz, no dragons call out, there is no sound except what you make. As the Blood Moon rises in the East, casting a reddish amber glow upon the swirling mists, you hear a rumblings sound and soon the earth beneath you shakes and quivers. The cliff suddenly breaks apart and a howling wind rushes out from the newly opened crack. As suddenly as it began, it stops. And silence descends once more. Before you is a large crack in the cliffs... shall you enter and test your courage? If you enter, Go to Passage.
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 8:26 pm
“I suppose it would, father...” she said, peering curiously over the edge of the bluff. It was only forest debris and stone, nothing particularly interesting in the silent evening. “But why do you mention rumor and legend?” He smiled, a sharp smile. “I mention truth.” As if on cue, the blood moon rose above the horizon, bathing the forest in renewed, red-orange light. It was not like fire – rather, it was like a great eye watched them, its gaze turning everything bloodthirsty and hungry and red. The ground beneath her shook and quivered, and her wings came out on instinct to balance her, flapping as it shifted beneath her. “What...?!” she exclaimed, readying her magic. And then, suddenly, it stopped – a howling, almost screaming wind came from the bluff which now had... a cavern of some sort... in its base. Her father had already leapt to the bottom, his delicately white wings fluttering elegantly as he landed on his prosthetic leg. “Come, my dear.” he said, looking up at her with challenge in his eyes, “Let us take that trophy for ourselves.” Aestival came up to her side and she took her weapon from his mouth. What the ever-crass and lovin' ******** is going on? exclaimed Jiae as the bone touched her hand. Laesara didn't answer the weapon – she only shook her head. She did not know. However, she was intrigued. “Coming.” she said, leaping over the edge, her pink-tipped wings carrying her safely to the ground. “Aestival?” He grumbled something unhappy about missed sleep and followed suit... Quote: The crack in the cliff is filled with sharp rocks and is barely lit. Only a faint red glow comes from above where the cliff's broken halves meet. As you stumble your way through, you are continuously surrounded by a wailing wind that howls by you as it flees the Swamp. The further along you travel the stronger the smell of decaying life and stagnant water gets. Finally you reach the end of the cave. Before you lies a swamp like no other you have seen before. There are trees here, but most of them look like they are dying; drooping and covered in hanging moss as if they don't have the will to stand up straight any longer. Strange pale blue balls of fire float about the swamp, meandering about on unseen paths. Small red dots flicker towards you then vanish, eyes of the animals that live here. As you walk forward, you notice that there is no boundary between land and water. grass grows on the water, making it look like land; while the land is often submersed under the water so that to follow the path before you, your feet get soaked. Strange hooting calls echo about, and you feel as if many eyes are upon you. In the distance you spot a pale white tree, shining through the gray-green mists that lurk above the water and obscure everything. You may continue forward, Go to Path
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DraconicFeline rolled 3 100-sided dice:
3, 24, 39
Total: 66 (3-300)
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 8:40 pm
 The crevice – for that was what it was – was eerie. It was almost un-Serenian in it's stone, breathing a wailing wind that taunted her sanity and courage. Her father seemed unphased, and honestly Laesara's drill instructor was worse. Aestival, however, did not like it at all. He slunk behind Laesara, hissing and muttering at the wind. Soon, though, there was another thing to hiss at – a swamp, a very definitely un-Serenian part of the landscape. “Ah, yes.” said Baelen, “Here.” Laesara watched him with interest. “Have you been here before, father?” “Yes.” he said, looking around him with stony resolve, “Once, when I was very young.” I've never thought of him as ever being young she realized, I suppose it must have been so, but... She tried to visualize her father as a child, and found that she couldn't. To her he had been and would always be the aged, white-haired statue of predatory ferocity that he had always been. That he had been anything else was strange, as alien as a Dovaa without horns or an Orderite without wings. “Oh?” she said, assessing the swamp – the terrain was treacherous, and there were wildlife here – of what sort, she could not begin to guess. They would have to be wary, if they continued on. “Yes. I came upon it on a hunt, long ago.” he breathed in the rank air, “Alas, I was forced to leave without the legendary trophy” he moved forward, walking onto the path with the confidence of someone who expects the world to bend before him. “Not this time, however.” Lae followed him, staring. My father... a youth. she thought, incredulous, My father, failing a hunt. “And will there be enough of this trophy for me as well, father?” He stopped in the swamp, the mud squelching about them both. “No.” he said, looking her in the eye, “If you want this trophy of courage, you must vie against me.” his smile was challenging, but Laesara could sense the good nature behind it. Competition... it is something that we can share. She met his eyes with equal challenge. “Very well, then.” she said. Aestival hissed at the shadows, and Laesara's attention returned to the path. Ahead, beyond the dying trees, she could see a single white tree through the mists, beautiful and sombre... Quote: As you walk along the damp winding trail that meanders through the swamp, you sense something following you. Before you is the pale white tree that you were told to pass so next must be a fallen statue. As you look about the mists swirl about and you see in ahead of you a huge shattered stone facing staring at you. Then the mists swirl and its hidden again. Was this perhaps the statue? Every other direction has trees and more trees. As you stand by the pale tree that glows in the red moon light you hear a sound. Spinning around you spot :: 3 Draugur (LUK 30) From the mists emerge the shape of flowing black shadows. Even though they enter the red light of the Blood Moon, you can only see black shadows in the shape of a large bird.. if a bird drooped and rustled like a cloak in the wind. It's the Draugur! You remember the rumors of how they are the spirits of the angry dead who possess the carrion birds that flock to battle fields... Go to Encounter!
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:18 pm
(one win, two losses) (Lae gains 80 exp, +1 Luck, +2 Luck exp) Laesara was aware of a growing sense of trepidation, of not-belonging-here, in this dark place where only red moonlight dwelt. Creatures hooted from the shadowy mists around them, and splashed in the murky water – soft and unseen. I am not scared Laesara reassured herself, I am not... But, in truth, she knew she was. She just could not show it, not to her father. Not even to him. He was her father, and went to great lengths to help her, to have her at his side, to keep her a part of his life. He loved her, and she loved him. But he was as predatory as any member of her family, and daughter or not, he could not resist the urgings of his predatory nature if he smelled whatever he percieved to be weakness. How that would manifest, Laesara didn't know. She didn't want to find out. So, instead, she channeled her fear, watching the forest warily, holding back the bloodlust within her to focus on the dangers that might lurk in the woods... Aestival was very definitely afraid, but instead of putting on a stone face and focusing it into watchful wariness, he covered his weakness with aggression. He snapped at every moving shadow, at anything that moved even just a little funnily in the periphery of his vision. He snarled and hissed whenever the glowing eyes of the wildlife came too close and he tensed whenever a branch – from the dead trees, perhaps, or beyond the mists – snapped. Suffice to say, he was not a happy khehora, and he made it very known. He is not a subtle beast Laesara observed, as she observed everything – the sulfurous yellow flowers on the lake, the slimy moss of the trees, the dark, living, shadows of the mists... ”None of us are, lassie.” her weapon commented. Out of the group, Jiae was the least rattled. But why should she be unnerved? She is a weapon, born to slay. She has no fear...”Oh, lassie, I can fear plenty.” Jiae corrected, ”I just ain't afraid of no swamp, is all.” ”And what are you afraid of?” Baelen's weapon asked. The staff gleamed in his hands, a work of art whose intricate details hid a potent weapon. He was a mage, and his magic was strong. As mine is Laesara thought... though she had chosen a ranged weapon, instead of a magic one. She did not regret her choice. ”Lets hope we never find out, eh?” Snickered Jiae. The white tree grew ever nearer, and Laesara felt her nervous anticipation increase – something was there, something she had to be wary of and... “Look out!” Aestival barked. His surprised bolt of light lit the darkness, reflecting silver-green on the mists and revealing... ShadowsThey swooped out of the light, cackling like demented birds and Laesara cursed inwardly – of course only a single moment of distraction, a small relaxing of her guard, would bring an assault. But there was no time to levy blame at herself or anyone else... she had to fight. The swamp lit up as Baelen's magic joined the remains of Aestival's spell, the light searing Laesara's eyes with it's brightness as she readied her boomerang. What were these things, these shadows that shrieked and fluttered and darted just beyond the light? Baelen's weapon replied. Jiae said incredulously as she slipped into Laesara's hand, ”Ain't they only in Soldul?” Laesara threw Jiae, directing the bone boomerang to one of the creatures. Baelen's weapon said, blazing curtly. It did not, Laesara knew, approve of chit-chat during battle. Jiae crashed into the beast with a brittle crack. ”Hoo, they's as fragile as wee birdies!” Commented Jiae, surprised, ”I'd have thunk a Soldul beast'd be tougher!” She said, as Laesara directed her in for a second blow, returning finally to Laesara's hand. Laesara watched as the shadow fell, barely even twitching, into the murky water. She did not think it was boring at all. The other two were organizing, their laughter apparently stronger after the death of their comrade. They called to each other, dodging the group's attacks until, suddenly, they shot up into the night sky. Black on black she thought, bitterly, looking up at the fogged blackness above the swamp. They are using it for stealth – an attack from the shadows... She tensed, expecting to see their wickedly sharp claws coming at her, out of the nothingness... She was right enough. Aestival screamed his defiance as the Draugur converged, suddenly, on him, rending into his black, scaly hide with gleeful, cackling cries. He clawed one of them, but they quickly flew out of reach, back to the sky. Laesara grit her teeth against the psychic pain she felt through the bond, her hands clutching Jiae tightly as she tried to predict where they would strike next... ”Or, ye know, ye could just throw me, an guide me to where ye need to go? I might be able to sense for ye too... or not. Kinda iffy on that 'un, lassie, but ye can't sit there like a stupid stone...” Jiae chattered, seemingly carefree... but she was watching too, wary. Not so easy after all... Lae thought, And a good idea. she threw the boomerang into the sky, it's glow lighting the mists around it with an ethereal glow as it sliced through the air before returning to her hand. the weapon said. Claws appeared from nowhere, again, and Laesara swung the boomerang wildly, as if it was a club. A surprised shriek told her that she had struck one, while a warm pain in her shoulder told her that she had been gotten in turn. And, soon enough, they returned to the sky... “They'll be back.” Baelen said, strained, “Lets find better ground, shall we?” Laesara agreed – fighting in the mud was not good at all... (992/900) Quote: After losing the fight: As you run away from the creatures towards the huge face you spotted before the fight, the mists swirl about you and a strange scent fills your nose. Leaping across the huge stone head, you can see that it is attached to a huge stone body. This must be the fallen statue! As you hurry past it and look over your shoulder to see where the creatures are, you see that they won't venture past the statue. How odd. The look pissed but fearful and slink back into the mists from which they came, leaving you alone in the silent marsh. Now all you need to do is find the glade surrounded by ruins... As if in response to your thoughts, the moonlight seems to brighten and the mists part briefly, revealing moss covered ruins before a cloud crosses the moon and the mists close up once again. As you walk towards the ruins your foot hits a patch of slime. The strange disgusting scent suddenly increases as your foot slides in the pale orange slime.
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:23 pm
The three of them – not including weapons – struggled to find their way to higher ground. The mists swirled as if disturbed by some wind, and they saw the perfect spot before them – solid ground, just beyond a stone head. Baelen summoned his wings and flew over to it, and Laesara followed suit. Aestival lagged behind – one of his injuries had been to his shoulder, and his wings were not developed enough yet to do much more than glide. The Draugur noticed. They came at him, screaming out of the darkness, and he ran for his mistress. The moment he passed the statue, though, the Draugur stopped cold in the air. They hovered for a few moments, taunting, and then vanished into the mists. What was that all about? Laesara wondered, her heart racing as she soothed her very unhappy bonded. Murmured Jiae. Laesara had a feeling that the weapon didn't want to know. Her father gasped behind her and, surprised by the unusual reaction, Laesara had no choice but to look... Before them was a path of orange slime... Quote: The ruins loom out of the mists and as you pause beneath a shattered arch, you can see a pond illuminated by the Blood Moon at the center of the ruins. The reddish gold tint of the moon causes the water to look bloody. All about are patches of that stinking pale slime. Along the edge of the pond you spot the flower that you came here for. Black petals and emitting a dim purple glow, quite visible in the reddish gold light of the moon. Before you start forward, you suddenly hear a gushing sound. Something large and damp approaches. From your left, a huge pale orange-yellow monster steps into the glade, the mists swirling about it. You can see slime oozing out from between it's armored skin and it's single red eye glares about angrily. You've heard rumors of these beasts. The Babosa: hunger incarnate, and dangerous. You thought that they had all been hunted down years ago... Should you fight it? Or try and sneak about and grab the flower that way? Babosa's have a LUK of 40. If your group cannot beat that, then you must sneak!
Go to Sneak!
Go to Fight!
or you may flee, Go to Flee.
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DraconicFeline rolled 2 100-sided dice:
72, 44
Total: 116 (2-200)
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:29 pm
“Is that...” Laesara whispered. Her father was tense – tenser than she had ever seen him. “Yes.” he hissed, “A babosa.” Suddenly, the acid scars – mostly hidden beneath his clothes – were strikingly apparent. There, on the bloody-looking, slime-coated water, was one of the fabled golden gluttonous monsters – a beast of appetite so voracious that Aevah Avi could not allow it to exist in her land. Aestival began to hiss, only to have Laesara clamp her hands around his maw and hold it shut. “What do we do?” she asked, watching her father. “Shall we fight it?” If so, they would need to discuss strategy while they still, apparently, had the advantage of surprise... “No.” he said. What?! her father rarely would turn down an oppurtunity to hunt... The storied encounter he'd had with the babosa, long ago, must have been truly awful, beyond the scars and the loss of his leg... “No.” he repeated, “We sneak around it. Our quarry, you see, is there.” he pointed to the island and its lone black flower. “Sneak...” Laesara thought about it for a moment. Its worth a try. “Very well.” she said... Quote: You are attempting to sneak about and not alert the Babosa. Try not to slip in any of the slime! Roll 1 d100. 1-75: You fail! The Babosa has spotted you! Now someone must run and grab the flower while the rest provide a distraction then you all get to run away! If you have a Group LUK of 40 then you may try to fight it, Go to Fight! If not, then you get to RP a running battle/distraction. 76-100: You succeed! The Babosa is unaware of your presence. As someone sneaks off to grab the flower, another person spots a shiny object behind a fallen pillar.
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:43 pm
Quote: If you failed in the fight or sneaking then as you are leaving area with the dead white tree you spot a half buried damp sack. Inside it are a climbing kit and 2 Ysali orbs They crept forward into the stinking swamp, splitting up for best effect. Laesara could see it now – the flower – and, though it wasn't much, she did want it. This sneaking was as much a race as anything – who would reach it first, her or her father? Or Aestival, though in truth, he counted for her... She glanced, checking on her father's stealthy progress – his colors did not help him, but he was used to stalking and tracking – he was doing well so far. So was she. Aestival, however... not so much. His wounds seemed to hurt him, and she was concerned... Suddenly, the creature's terrible head swung towards her and she froze, trying to make herself inconspicuous in the mud. Did I do something wrong? Did it see me? she wondered, trying not to breathe too much of the disgusting air. Apparently so. It let loose with a metallic bellow and charged at her, many-rowed teeth bared for her flesh... Aestival would not let that happen. He bellowed a challenge and charged, surging through mud to protect his mistress, and in the scuffle, they all lost track of where Baelen had gone. Laesara fought the golden monster, slashing at it with her sword as Aestival kept it off of her. I am outmatched! she thought, unpleasantly concerned as the creature's saliva burned at her clothes, This is not good!Suddenly, orbs of light crashed down around them, and the creature collapsed back, away from the light. “Lets go! Now!” Baelen shouted, his pale – but powerful – hand taking hers and pulling her out of the muck. His white wings beat, carrying her away until she could gain her balance with her own wings. “Are we?” “Running? No, my dear. We have what we came for... or, rather, I do.” Aestival ran below, and Laesara caught her breath for the moment. “You mean...” “Yes. You provided an excellent distraction.” he said, showing her the delicate black flower in his hand as he protected it from being battered by the wind of his wings. He alighted on the ground near the exit, waiting for her to land. “Ah. I see.” she said, taking a moment to catch her breath as Aestival bounded out of the mud near her, “So.” “So. Next time, perhaps, you will take the trophy.” Baelen said. “Come, let us return.” “Yes.” Said Laesara, smiling at Baelen's back, “Next time.” It was only later, back at the hunting camp, that she realized that Aestival was carrying something – an old bag, with ysali orbs and an old set of pitons. She did not tell her father about this find – after all, he had his flower trophy. Why, indeed, should she spoil his mood with practical winnings?
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