Tempest watched the doe whom she had shared a vision with. Seeing as she couldn’t see very well in the tunnel despite three nouls using glow. Most of the group were inclined to travel to the left, but the other doe seemed spooked by it. One of the bucks was also going to the right. So only two of them. Tempest would normally feel inclined to join the majority. After seeing that creature in her vision, the other doe looking spooked by the left and the trees having lizard faces that they avoided also pointing left, Tempest was formulating her best choice based on that. She had nothing else to go on. Was it all connected? She had to make a choice soon as she would seen end up alone and behind the group.
Right it was, Tempest moved towards the tunnel and followed after Adahy and Ysalone. She just hoped they didn’t run into any of those horned lizards. They seemed like predators in this land, while Tempest had the legs and energy to get away, she’d feel inclined to make sure the others got away as well. Her flanks twitched with nerves as she felt the tunnel swallow her up.
WC: 202 Total: 4,423
[Heading Right. Inventory: Rope. Uninjured, normal energy levels]
The first thing Ralir noticed was that Viltalta was not here. That was strange: she'd proceeded ahead of them, but not that far ahead. Hadn't she wanted to stick together? Well, it didn't matter. He'd proceed forward with the group, since there was nowhere else to turn. An inspection of the walls revealed...nothing, to Ralir's perception, though he didn't have any glowing magic to help him out.
He hadn't seen any of the things people were pointing out, and they were certainly interesting info. It was probably best to head in the direction where the water Adahy mentioned could be heard, since that was what they'd come here to seek. On the other hand, though, he couldn't shake the thought that he hearing something - footsteps.
"I think...we're being followed," Ralir said. He scuffed his hoof along the ground. "If you all head onward, I'll try to get a sense of who it is, and then catch up."
It was most likely Isra, right? Ralir felt uneasy, though, and he tried to find a large boulder or a bend in the wall that he could hide behind, at least for a little while, to observe their pursuer. If enough time passed without someone stopping by, though, he'd head rightward. They'd come here to find water, even if those eerie reptilian figures were present. Then again, they'd seen an etching of a reptilian figure back at Wanderlust's place, too.
Quote:
staying behind + attempting to hide, if that's a valid choice. otherwise, ralir will head right.
thyPOPE
Devoted Hoarder
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Bugghnrahk
Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 7:19 pm
THE LEFT TUNNEL
Draven, Tsarine, and Moon Mist head down the straight tunnel to the left, using Tsarine’s glow to light the way. Unfortunately the light is still too dim to see much more than a few feet in front of their faces. It’s impossible to tell if the tracks continue. The tunnel seems to continue on for ages, the walls squeezing tighter and smaller until the group has no choice but to travel single file.
And then… light. A soft blue glow emanating from up ahead.
With the light comes another shout and a crackle of thunder. Lightning underground? The tunnel opens up again, revealing a wide cavern and the origin of the storm. It’s Vitalta! But she’s not alone.
A massive reptilian creature made entirely out of blue crystal has her pinned to the floor and is dragging her further down the tunnel. It’s twice the size of any noulicorn with three massive horns, one on its snout and the others rearing away from its skull like antelope horns. It’s crystalline tail lashes in anger and it drops its prey as the trio of noulicorns come into view.
Viltalta tries to pick herself up, but the creature slams her back down with a swipe of its clawed feet.
She looks pleadingly at the group and shouts, “Run!”
Quote:
Do you listen to Viltalta and flee back down the tunnel?
Or do you turn toward the crystal beast and fight?
Flee Roll 2d6 2-6 = FAIL in your haste to leave, you stumble and leave yourself vulnerable to attack 7-9 = Partial success. You start down the tunnel, but you’re still within range to be attacked by the beast. 10-12 = SUCCESS. You race down the tunnel to safety!
Fight Roll 2d6 2-6 = FAIL: Your attack misses! 7-9 = Partial Success: You chip away at the beast but leave yourself open to attack! 10-12 = SUCCESS: You hit the beast!
Using your abilities and/or inventory creatively will add +1 to your roll!
CRYSTAL BEAST: 100% HEALTH
THE RIGHT TUNNEL
Adahy, Ysalone, and Tempest head down the winding trail, following the sound of water, glow illuminating the way. As they travel, Adahy and Ysalone notice older hoofprints in the dirt, scratches against the cavern wall. A few scraps of cloth, as if they’ve been torn from cloaks or blankets, are discarded along the path.
A blue glow brightens the tunnel up ahead, soft and welcoming. The sound of water is clearer now. The trio enter a large cavern illuminated by an underground lake! The old footprints end at the edge of the water.
A voice shouts, distant and drowned, as if coming from the water itself. A deeper look into the lake reveals… there’s noulicorns there! A pale pink noul that must be Wanderlust, and 5 others that make up their travelling party! They’re underneath the water, trapped in some kind of crystalline cage that functions as an air bubble.
Quote:
Find a way to free Wanderlust’s group!
Roll 2d6 to look for ways to help them out!
THE TUNNEL ENTRANCE
Left alone in the entrance of the cave, Ralir manages to tuck behind a rocky protuberance just in time. The footsteps clipped nearer, and nearer. From his hiding spot, Ralir can’t see who, or what, it is, but those certainly sound like hoofsteps!
The stranger’s shadow heads toward the right tunnel without pause.
A shout of “RUN!” echoes down the left tunnel and the shadow stops, twirls around, and races down the left tunnel.
Kesmi rolled 2 6-sided dice:
5, 1Total: 6 (2-12)
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 7:28 pm
The tunnel was a long one, the air was near dead here as it grew tighter. The sides pulled in that Draven almost couldn't make it through with his gear. As it was the stuff was near useless here and should have been left at the entrance of the hole. But that was a thought not given at the time as he squeezed through and came up against a large Crystal beast. Growling in his own way, Draven edged off to the side of the opening. His dark gaze was on the beast as he made room for the others.
Ears flicking he looked down to see the Ascended whom was trapped by the beast. He was a grump most the time, but wasn't one for leaving a comrade behind no matter how big of a pain in the rump they could have been.
"Release the gear here Bluebell and stay here. This thing is bigger then what we normally run into and I can't have you getting into harms way." Draven commanded as the Jack Hop jumped and started pulling the ties.
The bundle tumbled to the ground before the basket was dropped, a little slower then the bundle before Bluebell dropped down and pulled both to the side. Her ears were back as she didn't like the looks of this. She was going to say something, but the grey buck charged forward to attack the beast. Of course his attack missed, but it could have been on purpose to give Viltalta a chance to escape to safety. As it was, he wouldn't be doing any damage at this rate if his attacks were going to miss...
"It's them!" Ysalone barked, rushing forward upon seeing the pale noul and her party, trapped beneath the water. The doe skidded to a halt just before the water's edge, throwing her glow this way and that in a desperate bid to find some clues that might help them. How could they get those nouls out without getting stuck themselves? "We've got to keep looking for clues!"
Quote:
Action: Looking for ways to help Wanderlust +1 for Glow?
The glow from her companion was certainly helpful in this dark place. But, it didn't light very far ahead. And the tunnel seemed to twist on forever.
Suddenly, the light at the proverbial end of the tunnel was quite real. Moon Mist perked up. Perhaps their journey has reached it's end! She took quick steps forward, excited to see what lay ahead. Well, she was excited until she actually saw what it was that lay ahead. A huge crystal beast, and it had Viltalta.
Despite Viltalta's shout Moon Mist rushed forward. "Help! We need help!" She shrieked as loud as she could. She hoped maybe the others who'd gone down that other tunnel could hear. And hopefully there wasn't a huge crystal lizard thing down that was too.
She tried to spin and kick at the creature's tail, but it lashed away, leaving nothing to connect with. Well, this certainly wasn't good.
Tempest raced forward as the other doe did, shouting that they were here. They. Wanderlust and their party? Tempest trotted to the lake edge and looked in. Her eyes widened. How were they down there? She looked up at Ysalone and Adahy.
“How do we get them out of there? What is it they are even in?!”
WC: 57 Total: 4480
[Uninjured, still have rope Looking for ways to help Wanderlust and party]
Tsarine walked cautiously behind Draven eyes darting this way and that he felt the corridor enclosing toward them. Taking awkward steps he's certain the tunnel is puller tighter to their sides.
"I don't want to just to conclusions but, I feel like the corridor is becoming thinner" he spoke aloud hoping Draven and Moon Mist had opinions as well.
As they thinned into a single file letting his horn light the way the corridor opened to a wider area . Eyes blinking there was a soft blue light emanating, pulsing ahead of them. Hooves quickly carrying the small party to the widened cave his eyes widened in terror. Their leader Vitalia appeared pinned on the floor by a horrific crystal beast. She was struggling to break free though its huge buulk had her pinned, trying to drag her away. Tsarine's mind raced then he landed on the only answer being this creature was the likeness of the etched images in the forest, the cave wall.
It was all starting to come to a conclusion now how things were laid out. Seeing that it was trying to drag Vitalia away it only spoke to him that Wanderlust, the party were definitely here, somewhere. When he heard her pleas to run he shivered from nose to tail, shoulders quivering. If they ran now it could lead to Vitalia's end. Making a strong decision Tsarine stood tall bracing himself, horn vibrating louder yet still that soft light.
"Ayala" he spoke as confident as he could, "Please.... hang on for life. If you get knocked off please find a place to hide". He turned to face the beast snorting with a pawing of his hoof, "This is for the party, for Vitalia, for you; Ayala".
Ayala knew this was coming soon as that creature made itself known. Tsarine was growing up before her eyes. She would never leave him, fight by his side if she had to. grabbing his mine tightly wrapped in her mouth she dug her claws inward. "I'll never leave your side Big Boy".
It was now or never...
Then he charged inward with vision fading to white as he blindly attacked with front hooves coming downward the creature's side while it still had Vitalia in its possession. Even if he started chipping away at this menace it would possibly buy some time along with the others to free her of that hold.
Adahy was grateful to have other from the group taking the same tunnel with him. They had been through a lot and he was sure they would need each other before the trip was over.
The sound of water clearly echoed off the tunnel wall and grow louder the closer they got to it. A warm comforting blue glow drowns out Adahy's own glowing horn. Walking over to the water Adahy jumps back in surprise. "Oh my goodness! They're here!" He says to the nouls with him.
Looking around the cave, Adahy begins to search for anything that might help get the Wanderlust out of the water. Whatever they used would have to be strong enough to save all of the group. "But what would a cave have? This was not the Homewood where one could find a strong healthy branch." He thought has he search for anything of use.
There was someone with hooves coming, but Ralir was too frightened to dare to actually look. Was this Isra - or perhaps whoever had been following them, when they'd come across that crystalline beast? It was hard to tell.
They knew where they were going, though, which led Ralir to believe they knew the area well, and they'd definitely decided to head right...at first.
The loud instruction to flee made Ralir alert, though he waited for the shadow to head over itself before following. The others traveling were long gone by now, so he could hardly rely on the light of someone's gift anymore. It might've made sense, to ask the group who'd headed rightward for help. On the other hand, Ralir didn't have it in him to abandon anyone when he knew they were in need. "Hey!" he shouted as he made his way down the cavern.
It seemed, fortunately, that the haste of...whoever he was following made it easy to know where to go. It wasn't like the corridor was forked, anyway, and it became more obvious what had alarmed Viltalta as he continued. He paid the other occupants of this path no mind, leaping forward to jam his horn into the shining crystalline flesh of...uh, of whatever this was.
[attempting to attack the beast in the left]
thyPOPE
Devoted Hoarder
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Bugghnrahk
Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 10:46 pm
THE LEFT TUNNEL
The beast lets out a vicious roar and slams it’s full weight on Viltalta’s wings, pinning her in place. The thunderous storms she called swirled against the cavern ceiling, snarling their displeasure as a sign of oncoming lightning and rain. The beast swings its head toward the group of noulicorns, slashing out with its horn.
The strike lands a blow on Draven! It barely missing Moon Mist as she attempts an attack.
kesmi
Draven is injured! -1 to his attack rolls until healed.
Tsarine charged into the beast and managed to chip a chunk of crystal from it’s side. The beast howled in anger and gnashed its jaws at Tsarine, barely missing him!
Behind Tsarine, a small bay figure rushes through the tunnel. It’s Isra! The buck rears up and a blue glow emits from his horn before a wild gust forms around it, kicking up the loose dirt around him. Isra throws his head and the dirt whips like a whirlwind toward the beast, blinding it!
Quote:
The beast receives -2 to its next attack!
Finally, Ralir brings up the rear, leaping toward the beast. His horn digs into the crystal with a CRACK, splintering fissures up it’s sides.
CRYSTAL BEAST: 80% HEALTH, BLINDED, 1 TURN
Flee Roll 2d6 2-6 = FAIL in your haste to leave, you stumble and leave yourself vulnerable to attack 7-9 = Partial success. You start down the tunnel, but you’re still within range to be attacked by the beast. 10-12 = SUCCESS. You race down the tunnel to safety!
Fight Roll 2d6 2-6 = FAIL: Your attack misses! 7-9 = Partial Success: You chip away at the beast but leave yourself open to attack! 10-12 = SUCCESS: You hit the best!
Using your abilities and/or inventory creatively will add +1 to your roll!
THE RIGHT TUNNEL
Ysalone spots a strange looking stone laying near the lake.
What could this be for?
Tempest also spots another stone, this one with a different design.
Adahy finds a strange painting on the cavern wall. How is this supposed to help?
It doesn't seem like enough clues have been found to release Wanderlust yet! Keep looking!
Ralir's tail lashed against the floor as his horn made its way home, and he stepped back to get a better sense of just what this creature was up to. It was...really, really big, and the fact that it seemed to overpower Viltalta, of all nouls, was terrifying. But Ralir wasn't really willing to trade one ascended noulicorn for another, either.
It looked like the shadow Ralir had encountered was Isra after all. A powerful gust had blown through the room, and that hadn't come from their party.
They didn't look like they were in good shape, though. It made sense; Viltalta hadn't called for a group of combatants here. Ralir wasn't much of one either, but he was going to try. Adrenaline seemed to surge through him as he dove forward again to smash his hoof against the large creature's tail. It'd certainly draw its attention, which wasn't necessarily a good thing...but everyone else had already spent time drawing its ire, so Ralir figured it made sense for him to give it a try, too.
[fight, using banked +1, not using warmth]
thyPOPE
Devoted Hoarder
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Kesmi rolled 2 6-sided dice:
1, 6Total: 7 (2-12)
Kesmi
Shapeshifter
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 11:08 pm
His first attempt had missed, but it seemed that those he was with had made a direct strike against the beast. With the assault on, the beast itself struck out against them with its head and scything horn. Draven leaped backwards to try and dodge, just his pace wasn't quite fast enough. The horn raked over his shoulder guard and sliced across his chest. Sliding backwards as a deep crimson smeared against his grey coat. It was going to take more then that to knock him down.
Shaking his head, Draven took another go at the beast, though the pain from the first attack was making it hard for him to move as much as he would like. Thus making this second attempt fall short once again. Growling to himself, he would have to step up on his own training to not be blindsided so badly...
Tsarine nearly felt those fangs brush his flesh yet it oddly missed. Thrashing his head out of the way a strange noul came into view revealing themselves as isra. Astonished he realized that that lost soul trapped in the gorge was actually lending a hand. A gust of wind sweeping past him in the sight of dirt blinded the beast. Pausing only for a moment Tsarine checked the weight on his back assuring she was still hanging on in this battle. His mind traveled to the pouch hanging from his chest hoping poor little Pippen was faring well. There certainly was no time to check on the little one.
Turning back to the beast he lunged again taking advantage of its disability coming in from the left side this time, hooves slamming inward attempting to chip more of this creature away till it wasn't a threat.This beast had to be nullified and quickly due to injuries or even worse. Somehow they'd beat this thing whatever it took in the long run.
The beast lunges for Draven with slavering teeth, but the buck manages to dodge out of the way before those vicious jaws can snap shut.
Ralir and Tsarine smash against the beast, chipping chunks of blue crystal from its form. As the pieces fall away, the insides of the monster are revealed. Bright blue light, pulsing with power.
Tsarine and Ralir are close enough to feel its power. The same odd feeling from the forest comes over them!
thyPOPE
rein_carnation
Roll 1d20 to determine the effects this power has on you! 1-5: You can’t feel your magic anymore! You won’t be able to use any abilities until you’re clear of this oddity. 6-15: Nothing happens. You’re fine. 16-20: You feel strangely energized by the woods. You can use your abilities multiple times, regardless of your rank!
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The tunnel was a long one, the air was near dead here as it grew tighter. The sides pulled in that Draven almost couldn't make it through with his gear. As it was the stuff was near useless here and should have been left at the entrance of the hole. But that was a thought not given at the time as he squeezed through and came up against a large Crystal beast. Growling in his own way, Draven edged off to the side of the opening. His dark gaze was on the beast as he made room for the others. 
