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xxxSummaryxxxxxxxxxx

PART 1: THE CALL FOR AID

After gathering clues in Wanderlust’s grove, Viltalta and those who have volunteered to join the rescue mission set off through the barrens South-West of Homewood to search for Wanderlust and the mysterious caves they were heading for.

CLUES FOUND



xxxNPCSxxxxxxxxxx




Quote:
WANDERLUST - they/them

A mysterious ascended vivify noulicorn that appears in Homewood from time to time, known for their adventurous streak and grand discoveries. Wanderlust found the first set of jack hop bones and brought the species back from extinction. Eccentric but kindly, they’re appearance in Homewood always causes a stir - both good and bad. Wanderlust’s insatiable need to explore has gotten them into trouble before, but they’ve never been away from Homewood for so long.




Quote:
VILTALTA - she/her

An ascended Atmos doe, one of the oldest noulicorns in Homewood. She is treated as a respected elder among many noulicorns, wise and experienced. She herself worships Grandfather Tree and the gifts it bestows upon the nouls. She is unwavering in her beliefs and sometimes frightens others with her extremism, but no one can deny how much she’s helped keep Homewood lush and safe.

Viltalta has grudging respect for Wanderlust. Their personalities and ideals are vastly different from one another, but she would not see another elder lost forever to the barrens.





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ISRA - he/him

An adept atmos buck, known as "the traveler" who was exiled from Homewood for reasons that Viltalta hasn't revealed. He provided Wanderlust with information about the mysterious caves and appears to be romantically involve with them.




xxxHOW THIS WORKSxxxxxxxxxx


This is a roleplay event! Please make sure your posts are in-character and wait for someone else to post before replying again.


Throughout the event there will be various skill checks to help the party get through obstacles. All skill checks will require a dice roll of 2d6, and sometimes you’ll be able to add a modifier depending on your noulicorn’s gift and abilities!


A roll of 1-6 is a failure, 7-9 is a partial success, and 10-12 is a complete success!


Skill checks will earn you tickets in the Party Raffle as well as the potential for additional prizes.


There is the possibility of characters receiving injuries from this event! Fortunately, there are plenty of healers in Homewood so no one needs to keep any injury they suffer beyond this thread. (There will be no chance for character death, no worries!)


If your character misses out on a skill check, that’s okay! You are still free to continue the roleplay, but please act as if your character rolled a partial success. You won’t be eligible for a raffle ticket or extra prizes for that skill check.


If you have any questions please use the discord channel or DM the mule. Long OOC discussions shouldn’t happen in this thread.


Use of abilities is encouraged in this thread! They may often help with skill checks or can be used in place of them. For this adventure, a noulicorn may use their abilities once per in-character day rather than once per thread. The Mule will post when the next day begins!


xxxPRIZESxxxxxxxxxx


Participation earns you tickets to the party raffle! Two of the noulicorns will be raffled off based on posts (eg. page number and then post number in this RP will be rolled to determine the winner) and two will be raffled off from skill check tickets.

Alternating. The first winner will be rolled as a post raffle, the second for skill check tickets, the third for posts, and the forth for skill checks.

You can only win one noulicorn from this event, including the custom concept contest.


Additional items (some not yet released!) and familiars will also be found during the roleplay.

Adahy and Furry Tail had packed light but had all they needed for a journey though the barrens. Though he had never been on a long journey, he knew form others the type of wasteland they would be going through. The air was cool but Adahy knew that would change.

" Alright Buddy you ready?" He asked Furry Tail. Furry had made a small breaded harness for the journey. They would need to travel fast so it seem like a good idea to him to ride on Adahy but with all that bonusing he didn't want to fall off. Ripping the breads tight Furry Tail answered "Ya lets do it."

Viltalta called to the group that they would need to move quickly and to keep their eyes open and off she went at a brisk pace. Adahy took off moments after her and was a nouls length to her left. With Furry Tail keeping look out, Adahy said "YA bubby if you see anything just yell." It was harder to hear with all the sounds of crunching earth and hoofs stamping so Adahy didn't hear Furry say ok but he knew the young hop wouldn't let him down. Adahy focused on the path set in front of them, It was a new terrain and he did not want to get hurt right out of the gate.

wc:225

They had been keeping a steady pace through the barrens. No one spoke to each other the mission of finding the Wanderlust was just to important. Adahy had not ever been on an quest other then the one to the Grandfather Tree, but he felt he was holding his own so far. Really he was just grateful he had not tripped over a rock or anything yet. Not that he was clumsy but the ground was new for him and it was getting dark.

A buck that had come very prepared at the back of the pack spots something. Slowing down to see if he can see it to or anything else new, Adahy falls back to back of the group. Looking this way and that, Adahy hopes no danger is about. "After all as the sand cools the predictors will wander." Adahy's inner voice says.

Coming up close to the buck, Adahy askes "What did you see?" He knows the buck can by a little hard around that edges but this was a matter of safety. For this reason Adahy felt that it was important to have as much information he could. It was a fifty fifty shot that the buck would answer Adahy at all. Adahy mentally shrugged and waited for the buck to answer or not.

wc:447

Dousan made a point to go to bed early so as to be as rested as he could possibly be for heading out with those going to find Wanderlust, and their party. He wanted to spend as much time preparing as he could. He had to have a long conversation with his Scuttle Scale friend, Romy. She had asked to come along. She didn't say she was worried, but her tone and the fretful way she watched him packing told him all he needed to know. Dousan reassured her that he would proceed with the utmost care, that there were a bunch of other heading out too so there were plenty of eyes to keep watch. He expressed his own concerns for her. The road ahead was likely long and dangerous, into areas unknown. He didn't want to risk her getting hurt. So, to hopefully help her, Dousan asked a favor of her.

"Would you keep an eye on things here for me? Keep my home safe, let anyone who may come seeking me know what I'm doing. If you feel up to it, help those who may ask, or let them know I will return. It would be such a relief to know that my home and my affairs will be looked after by such a capable and trusted friend as yourself. Please, Romy, would you do this for me?"

Now, she wasn't much one for showing affection normally, and she didn't respond immediately, but the scuttle scale clambored her way onto his back, flattening herself against him and heaved a heavy sigh. She remained quiet and still. Dousan slowly began moving about again, checking and double checking things, packing. Finally Romy softly piped up. "Don't forget to bring extra water. More than you think you'd need. I don't need you shriveling up and dying out in that wasteland." She slid off his back to land in the soft grass. "You don't need to worry over things here...You'll have enough to worry about out there."

Dousan smiled and gently nuzzled the top of her head. "You are the absolute best, Romy. And I'll be missing you something fierce."

She made a vague, noncommittal sound but headbutted his snout back before heading off to perch on her sunning rock. The rest of his morning went smoothly. When the time came, he donned his gear and bid Romy adieu and went to meet up where everyone was supposed to gather before departing. Soon, they departed.

Viltalta's announcement to the group helped focus his resolve. There was a mission to accomplish and they had a long, long way to go. It was best to be on the lookout. Never know what one might find out in the barrens. With the map in mind, Dousan scanned around as he went.

[WC: 456]

There had been no question that Ralir would be making his way into the Barrens with Viltalta's party. Father had no room for argument; an ascended clearly knew what she was doing, and they'd been careful to gather information before they set off. Ralir had reviewed it with Father: the landmarks to look out for, the sorts of sustenance that would last over the course of the journey, how to dig for water if necessary (though it probably wouldn't be, given Viltalta's own gift). He didn't own much in the way of armor, though, and figured it would be best not to encumber himself with gear he didn't have much using. He draped himself in dark, flowing cloth to allow for air flow as he traveled, though, and carried a pack of tools for their trip.

He was not, unfortunately, friendly enough with a familiar on his own to be able to rely on their help, so he stuck to items that he could operate once someone had helpfully removed them from his bags. Fine motor control was certainly not a noul's strong suit, but he could carry preserved food and dig for water where he saw scant signs of life. He'd repurposed a smooth piece of metal from the Ruins for that: it was lightweight but sturdy enough to pierce the Barrens' cracked earth. Of course the party contained atmos users - well, it contained Viltalta, who could almost certainly provide for more potable water than she herself needed - but he wasn't quite sure whether there would be enough. He didn't even know who was coming, other than Viltalta. It wasn't like anyone had made any promises...but he hoped the party grew, now that they were going somewhere.

Viltalta had chosen the evening to begin their journey, which was probably wise. The light was low, of course, but the heat was far more manageable with the sun hazily drifting beneath the horizon. Ralir didn't know anyone well enough to be talking as they traveled, and he didn't have much to contribute to the dominant conversation, anyway. He didn't need a reminder to be scanning the horizon; no one ever needed to be caught unawares, even if they were in a large group. And there were enough nouls talking about it that he didn't feel the need to pipe up himself.

To be honest, he felt like figuring out where they were headed had been his strong suit. He wasn't very experienced in the ways of Vykeli yet, but he was good enough at conjecture. He liked it, seeing the pieces left behind and filling in the story of the hero whose hooves had paved the way. Well: he hoped it was a story of a hero, anyway. Honestly, he wasn't sure what really could've waylaid Wanderlust for so long. What Viltalta had said in that clearing had been right: it didn't seem reasonable for them to stay away from the Homewood, if they'd already succeeded. And they'd brought other nouls: surely at least one swift-moving one could've headed back with information and a plea for help, if it'd been necessary.

Regardless, there was no need to think about that now. Outside of Homewood, Vykeli was dangerous, and one thing at least had become clear from their investigation: Wanderlust had traveled far. Right now, they needed to ensure that they'd all make it to their destination together.

Ralir squinted into the distance from his position somewhere in the middle of the pack, trying to see the danger that the others had spotted. He didn't have much to go off of, though. What did it mean, that something seemed off?

He couldn't tell, at least not from this distance. Perhaps that was inexperience, but he hoped someone with sharper eyes would figure out what exactly was strange about the path they were taking. That was why they were all looking themselves, right? "I don't think I see it," Ralir said, "But I know the sand does funny things to your vision, in the Barrens." He took a breath, addressing Tsarine now. "Which way is it? I don't think we should, ah - "

The mention of a chosen noul to venture forth sounded excessive, to Ralir. "That is to say, I think it'd be better to learn as much about the danger as we can from far away, rather than sending a scout to experience it. Perhaps if we all list the things we notice, someone who has experience navigating the Barrens can direct us best?"

That was probably why Viltalta had asked for information to be reported to her.

Just then a buck with a little jackhop curled around his horn trotted right by Ralir and up to Viltalta by the vanguard of their pack. Ralir tilted his head, trying to refocus his attentions on the terrain ahead. Would it be best to redirect, or would they just get lost? Well - he supposed that was up to Viltalta. It wasn't that they needed dictatorship, exactly, but a group of their size needed to be coordinated with each other.

Of course, if what had been spotted was signs of a predator, Ralir wasn't sure redirecting would help at all. The group was so large...but between Viltalta and that grumpy buck, who wore a metal shield, of all things, he was fairly confident that no solitary catbeast could take any of them.

He craned his neck to look in the direction Adahy was indicating. What was everyone seeing? It looked fairly still, in the distance. What was the Barrens supposed to look like, and how did this differ? Was it the color of the sand, there, or the shape made by that rock formation? Was there something moving, masked by the haze of the desert? Ralir didn't know, but he also didn't want to say something for fear of ridicule. It'd have been easier if there was someone for him to try to help, instead. He could recognize, he thought, someone asking for distress.

"Not long," Aldwyn promised.

His answer was the lash of a tail, pinning of ears, a disgruntled puff of sound from Bryon'e lips. His foal wasn't thrilled about such an abrupt departure- at least, not one where he wasn't invited. But Aldwyn had already decided that he didn't really have the choice of not joining Viltalta's venture. Even if he didn't know what use a denbody like himself would be on the journey, he had already partaken in the hunt for clues, the divulging of what information they had. He should be there to lend whatever help he could, even if any aid he could provide wouldn't involve much from a physical aspect.

He'd packed lightly, necessities only. It as easy to think that aside from protection from the elements, most necessities of food and water could be provided by the gifts of those on the trip, but Aldwyn didn't want to assume. After all, most of them were still new to their gifts... He shouldn't expect that they would be able to rely on them.

So Aldwyn packed vials of water, bundles of herbs, a cloak to shield from the cold, and a looser wrap to guard against the sun. He wished he was someone with maps or knowledge of the creatures of the barrens...

But he wasn't, so providing for himself was the extent of what he could offer their party. He wouldn't be much help, but he would certainly do everything in his power to not be a hindrance. After assuring his foal that he would return in as timely a manner as possible, and sending up a plea to Grandfather Tree that they would all come home safe, he met Viltalta and her group on the edge of the Barrens as the sky cascaded across the barren ground in waves of pink.

Not long after, they set off at a brisk pace.

And as they traveled deeper into the Barrens, some of the group noticed something strange with the earth ahead. Aldwyn cocked his head as they approached, leaning to sniff warily at the nearest traces of the cracks beneath his hooves. He definitely didn't think they should take any unnecessary risks. Viltalta was an ascended with great magical prowess, but she did not have the powerful abilities of a Vivify noulicorn. If any of them were grievously injured, it could be a struggle to move forward- or to get them back to Homewood for that matter.

"We should go around," he stated quietly. "Wanderlust's party left weeks ago. A few extra hours of us being cautious likely won't make any difference to her."