When the note was finally passed to Tabi, her ears twitched worriedly. Monsters? Well, it didn't appear that this area had been ransacked by wildlife or anything, although the fact that the page was torn and... there was nothing else around was certainly concerning. "I appreciate your protectiveness, Eir," she admitted, face growing a bit warm. She found herself thinking that she had acquired two appropriate comrades for this trip - one who was scientific minded, obsessed with charting the landscape, and one who was more protective. Tabi didn't yet know where she fit in amongst the two of them, though. Maybe she was the person to keep everyone's heads grounded - she spent so much time at the ruins, discounting rumors of hauntings, that it would be easy to keep everyone calm regarding rumored monsters out here. After all, these unexplored plains were just that - unexplored. It didn't mean they were dangerous. But, still. It was nice to have a warrior at hand. "I also think it was a good idea that we chose to travel as a group. There really is safety in numbers. I can only hope Dr. Horn was resourceful enough to not get himself in trouble."
She quietly watched as Jin began to collect samples. Tabi hadn't seen any new plant or animal life that she was interested in, but she appreciated the younger hybrid's dedication to the archaeological art. "I don't particularly think that anything happened here. This likely wasn't a camp, if anything, and the claims of monsters are likely false. There aren't any fresh animal tracks or signs of violence, here. And the paper is fresh enough that it must have not rained since it was lost from Dr. Horn's journal. I agree with Jin, that the camp must be somewhere nearby." As if she might be able to see it from here, with all of the long grass, she stretched herself up a bit taller, peeking over the grass.
"Perhaps we could keep moving west. We've had good luck so far. There might be something over here."
--found 1 clue! wc: 344
Lural
Shaddaling
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:24 pm
Prompt for Square 5
There is a reflective light on the ground, almost blinding in the bright sunlight. Shielding your eyes, you can see it is a beautiful, glittering stone. Surely rocks such as these are found deep in caves? Perhaps someone had brought it along for luck. Very helpful - their luck is yours now.
Shaddaling
Lural
smolderingskies
Prompt for Square 7
You spend a few minutes chasing a piece of paper that has been picked up by the wind, evading you with its sudden movements. You finally snatch it out of the air; it’s a page from Dr Horn's expedition journal.
"Day Ten. Hilda and Nathaniel haven't returned. Have they abandoned me in hopes of finding some sort of lost treasure for themselves? I would say it's typical of bounty hunters, but I was told these siblings were reliable and professional. My team wants to investigate where they last disappeared, but I'd prefer to explore the meadows nearby. Some of this flora might be completely undocumented - I cannot simply abandon it because some muscle for hire is late to breakfast!"
You have found a Clue!
- Mynsed -
Porcelain Pinch
Prompt for Square 8
You feel around a small hole of dirt and sticks in a hillside, hoping it would have clues. Instead, you are jumped by an irritated jackelope. It seems you've found a burrow - not a source of clues but perhaps of friendship. Look at that jackalope's cute nose.
Avid_RPer18
Nightmare Adira Captain
Tipsy Regular
Offline
Shaddaling
Wrathful Shapeshifter
Offline
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:53 pm
Character:Jin Current Square: 5 to 10 Response: What was that... ooh. It was shiny! Jin squinted at the reflective light coming up from the ground. Perhaps they had found the camp? It could possibly be metal, or glass, even some plastics could give a sort of bright shine. He shield his eyes and gave a surprise noise at the fact it was stones. "How strange." He wasn't a geologist but these were not the average run of a mill pebbles that he was use to.
He reached up picking one up and held it up to the light, watching the sun shine in it and make a glimmering rainbow like effect. He rubbed it curious. "I'm not a geologist, but do these stones look like they been polished?” It was so smooth and brightly colored. Could it be opal?
He opened his messenger bag, humming slightly as he flickered through the supplies and picked out a collection bag, setting the shiny stone inside and placed them back in his bag. He choose a second to take a sample of the dirt and rocks around them. Alright. So rocks have been found, possibly having been brought by the people they were trying to find. He took another clipping of the grass and added his notes into the journal.
Maybe it could be a new clue? It seemed to be something that someone could have dropped. Certainly they had been collected by someone and cared for. “Not really the clue we were looking for… but I think it is one.” He was rather sure this met someone had been here and had dropped it.
Sylvia fluttered her wings as she got up and straightened her dress. Ugg, that was something. She took a moment to watch as nightmares and daydreams went this way and that, trying to decide where to go. Really, forward seemed like the best idea to her. Straight through the plains.
The nightmare huffed as she decided on her path. She was used to books, rules, and the classroom, not outdoors and the plains. True, it was a little odd to have a fey be so indoors, but what could she say, she liked to keep her mind busy. The daydream got out a sketchpad and started to write things down. Detailed notes. Thats how you ace a class.
Micillia
Dapper Duck
Offline
Avid_RPer18
Loyal Loiterer
Offline
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 8:56 pm
Character:Ligeia Current Square: 8 to 13 Response: Ligeia followed the rise of a small hill, hoping to maybe get more of a view from the top, and paused at seeing a hole in the ground. The way the dirt and sticks were arrayed didn't strike her as a naturally occurring formation. Was something tucked away in there with purpose? Or was it something so mundane as some local fauna? One way to find out, she supposed. Sure, she could have paused and took some clues from the others who had gone northward as she had, but she didn't. Squatting low in the grass, she tentatively reached down to move some of the sticks out of the way so that she could get a better look inside. Thankfully before she leaned in to peek, the resident of the burrow leaped out at her, sending her toppling back to land on her butt with an exclamation of surprise. The gentle slope of the hill caused the woman to slide backwards a few inches.
Blinking wide eyed at the irate, or perhaps defensive, jackalope that stood between her splayed feet, Ligeia glanced around to see if anyone else was seeing her predicament. Turns out, perhaps this was a bit of a colony, a few jackalopes were expressing their displeasure at their trespassing. Chuckling softly, the hybrid slowly shifted to her knees. "Hey, little guy, sorry for disturbing you. Didn't mean to spook you. Here, as an apology." The hallowed mix reach into her pack and withdrew a snack bag, offering the wary critter a small bite of a dried veggie stick. "Not your usual fare, I know, but it's what I've got for trekking around out here."
The earthy colored familiar sniffed the offering before scarfing it down just a few noisy crunches. Sniffing around for more, it reared up on its hind legs.
"Yeah, pretty good, huh? Better keep moving though. Doctor won't find himself. Be safe out here, cutie," The woman said softly as she rose to her feet, dusting off her backside and shouldering her pack again. Might as well keep heading north. As Ligeia started walking, she heard soft rustling behind her. Slowing to glance behind her, it seemed the jackalope was following a few paces behind her. Arching her brows, she crouched down again. "Wanna tag along? You probably won't be able to keep up just walking..." Sighing, she glanced around before pulling her backpack forward and unzipped it. "Hop in, but don't you eat into my snacks. We can share when we stop again. I'll need to think of a name for you." Once her new little friend was stowed, she resumed her northward march.
{WC: 441}
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:45 pm
Character:Saiph Current Square: 8 no movement Response: Saiph kept their eyes moving as they surveyed the ground before them. They could easily hear the commotion of some other search members but it sounded like they weren't giving this task the proper attention it deserved. Saiph couldn't help but roll their eyes at the nonsense going on behind them. It really was starting to feel all up to them to search this area properly.
Their eyes swept back and forth, the tiny hybrid taking even smaller steps then usual not wanting to miss a centimeter. There was plenty of insects that skittered as they neared, but nothing to indicate Dr. Horn's whereabouts just yet. Keep your nose to the ground, Saiph told themselves. It was hard, though, as their back and neck started to ache from almost an hour of searching. Their mind even started to get a bit distracted, bored of the monotony of the situation. "A moment to stretch, then," Saiph said to no one but themselves.
Saiph stood to their full height, fluttered their wings, and raised their arms high. Things popped back into proper position which caused the hybrid to smile. Their eyes swept the area near them. A spot on an upcoming hill caught Saiph's attention as the grass looked matted down as if something (or someone) had sat there for a while. There was also a hole near the patch. Saiph made their way over, keeping an eye on the ground below them in case of any other disturbances.
Once at the patch of grass and hole, Saiph decided to check out the hole in case something might have dropped down inside. It could potential hold a clue of a pen or button or... something that could indicate a person had sat here. The sound of shuffling from deep within the hole made Saiph still in their search. For a second they thought maybe someone was in the hole but this was too small to fit even them.
Next thing Saiph knew, a jackalope popped out of the hole, jumped at them, then ran down the hill. It turned to look at Saiph and when it realized they hadn't followed it, it came back to jump at them again. It fluttered its wings in Saiph's face causing the hybrid to attempt to shove it away. The jackalope then took off down the hill again. "Stupid thing, what's wrong with you?" Saiph turned back to the hole, ignoring the jackalope's antics now that it seemed to want to stay away.
The hole proved to be much deeper than Saiph could search, however. They tried to cast a light spell to see into the dark depths, but the jackalope came back up to them but this time it snatched the small notebook from their back pocket. Saiph instantly felt the item go missing and turned in time to see the creature race away.
"Come back here!" Saiph took off after the jackalope, swearing revenge when they caught it.
iMoony
Anxious Cutie-Pie
Offline
milki witch Crew
Offline
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:36 am
END OF DAY ONE If you have been quoted the same prompt, it is because you have not moved since the last update! This does not mean you can claim a familiar or trinket a second time.
Prompt for Square 2
You are standing in grass and surrounded by grass. You peer closely at a few blades in case there's some sort of clue but, unsurprisingly, it's just more grass.
Green Minuet
Prompt for Square 5
There is a reflective light on the ground, almost blinding in the bright sunlight. Shielding your eyes, you can see it is a beautiful, glittering stone. Surely rocks such as these are found deep in caves? Perhaps someone had brought it along for luck. Very helpful - their luck is yours now.
smolderingskies
Lural
Prompt for Square 7
This is where someone found a page of Dr Horn’s journal. Better find them if you want to read it!
Porcelain Pinch
- Mynsed -
Prompt for Square 8
You feel around a small hole of dirt and sticks in a hillside, hoping it would have clues. Instead, you are jumped by an irritated jackelope. It seems you've found a burrow - not a source of clues but perhaps of friendship. Look at that jackalope's cute nose.
iMoony
Micillia
Prompt for Square 10
You hear a crunch under your foot. Whoops. Upon closer inspection, you can see you have trodden on a pair of reading glasses that now sport a distinct crack across the glass. They are stained with grass - there's no way those stains are fresh.
You have found a Clue!
Shaddaling
Prompt for Square 13
It really is incredible how much grass there is. What an efficient and boring specimen of flora.
Avid_RPer18
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 9:07 am
Character:Jin Current Square: 10 - no movement Response: Jin wandered looking for more of the shiny rocks in the grass. Maybe there was more? He paused at a cracking sound, slowly lifted his hoof, and reached down to pick up the glasses he had trod onto. Ooh.. well that wasn't good. He lifted them up, tilting them. That looked old.
"Eir.. Tabi?" He asked, looking around. Ooh Dear. It looked like he had wandered away from the group. He probably should stay here till the rest caught up.
Trinket claimed!
clues
"Day Nine. There were a few mishaps along the way, but we've finally arrived. The rumours said this area was dark and twisted, filled with monsters and whatnot. Nonsense! This area is nothing but beautiful plains and flowers - I am sure the most sinister thing to happen here is a bee sting. Most of the team and myself will camp here tonight, while Hilda and Nathaniel ensure the neighbouring forest is safe."
You have found a Clue!
You hear a crunch under your foot. Whoops. Upon closer inspection, you can see you have trodden on a pair of reading glasses that now sport a distinct crack across the glass. They are stained with grass - there's no way those stains are fresh.
"Stones?" Eir looked at the glittering objects in the grass. She picked one up. It was smooth and kind of pretty. She didn't really have a practical use for it, but she liked it. Perhaps a memento of her time here. Sure. She started walking on, not thinking the stone was anything worth stopping long for, but Jin walked ahead of her, and she glanced back at Tabi, who was lagging behind. Eir frowned, walking slowly behind Jin to keep up, but also kept glancing at the naga hybrid. She was feeling conflicted on where to stand with the group. "Tabi, are you having trouble with the terrain?" She called back to the lagging doctor as she approached Jin. She didn't like walking so far away from either member of her little group. She felt… very protective of her friends, but at least she wasn't far enough away that she couldn't get to her quickly if something happened.
As she walked on, she found herself running her fingers over the smooth surface of the stone. She remembered reading, once, about 'worry stones' that were smooth and supposed to be calming to touch. Maybe that's what this was? No, she shouldn't let herself get distracted. She carefully placed the shining stone into her bag so she wouldn't lose it. As Eir caught up to Jin, she glanced back at Tabi. "Well, at least it isn't raining." So at least they could take a little time. "Have you found any other plants to study?" UGH! She was so bad at small talk!
Tabi also grabbed a stone, analyzing it closely. Jim was correct - it seemed tumbled, but it also might have been worn smooth by the wind, by a river that once ran through here. It appeared to be some kind of opal, or equally colorful stone. She wanted to pocket a few - this type of stone seemed unusual for this type of terrain, but she wasn't sure of the typical geological formations of this area. That was part of what was so fascinating about this trip - she wasn't an expert on plantlife or geology, but she certainly could glean many clues from the natural world.
She snapped out of it when Eir called her name, jumping a bit I'm surprise. She had been so engrossed in the stone that, somehow, Jin had moved on ahead! "Sorry, sorry!" she said sheepishly, hurrying to catch up. With her Naga tail, she was a bit smaller and slower picking her way across the grassy terrain, but her spaciness was the true reason for her lagging. She grinned at her companions once she caught up, pocketing the rock she'd brought along. "I was just studying the rock. There's lots of mysteries out here - I can see how a very curious scientist would get lost," she admitted. "Have you found anything interesting, Jin?" She peeked around Eir, looking at what the other hybrid was holding - a pair of glasses, old and broken. "Who do you think those belong to?" Tabi remarked, moving in closer for inspection.
--found 1 clue! wc: 250 exactly like a boss
Lural
Shaddaling
smolderingskies Crew
Adorable Autobiographer
Offline
Shaddaling
Wrathful Shapeshifter
Offline
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:57 am
Character:Jin Current Square: 10 - no movement Response: "Sorry... I sort of got caught up in finding more stones, that I didn't realized I moved forward so far ahead." Jin flushed slightly, fiddling with the wire arm pieces of the glasses before stilling. "Ohh, the plant life seems to be rather similar so far. I think I might take a sample of the grasses and dirt in this area... where the glasses where just encase we are missing something."
He hope there wasn't blood but it was starting to look a tad bit grim. "I'm not sure, did you know if the professor wore glasses?" He questioned, offering the frames to Tabi to take a closer look.
Trinket claimed!
clues
"Day Nine. There were a few mishaps along the way, but we've finally arrived. The rumours said this area was dark and twisted, filled with monsters and whatnot. Nonsense! This area is nothing but beautiful plains and flowers - I am sure the most sinister thing to happen here is a bee sting. Most of the team and myself will camp here tonight, while Hilda and Nathaniel ensure the neighbouring forest is safe."
You have found a Clue!
You hear a crunch under your foot. Whoops. Upon closer inspection, you can see you have trodden on a pair of reading glasses that now sport a distinct crack across the glass. They are stained with grass - there's no way those stains are fresh.
You have found a Clue!
Lural
smolderingskies
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:32 pm
Character:Ligeia Current Square: 13 to 18 Response: Her advance was an uneventful trek, the relative quiet of wind and grass only really broken by the crunch of her footsteps, the occasional shift from the jackalope in her pack, the odd snatched word or phrase carried up on the breeze from her fellow searchers. Creating a rise, Ligeia sighed at the sight. Nothing outstanding of note to her casual gaze, just further expandes of rippling grass. The familiar poked his head up out of the open zipper for the compartment that she had invited him to nestle. His little antlers jabbed her pulled up hair. Chuckling, she angled her head and glanced over her shoulder. “Used to this view, maybe not quite from this height though, huh?” The jackalope sniffled the air, the closeness to her pointed ear tickled her. Reaching up, she scratched under his chin with a long black claw.
“Really, I need to figure out what to call you if you’re going to be tagging along. Hmm... How about Kalon?” No response from her passenger. “Dyrk?” Nothing. “Bela?” He ducked back into her pack, perhaps to sniff at some snack back or the clothes and things he had been nestling in. “Hey, don’t go snacking. How about Tarot?” A beat then nothing once more. “Zephyr? Ash?” The crinkle that answered let her know that perhaps food was more interesting that those offered names. Shifting her bag around to peer down at her ride along little friend, she opened the zipper wider. “Hey, hey now!” The jackalope looked back up at her, quickly dropping the corner of the little bag containing the veggie sticks. “How do you feel about Udara?” At this, his velvety soft ears perked forward. Sure, likely it was because she had caught him trying to pilfer some of the initial treat she had offered him, but she took it as some sort of accord at the offered name. Ligeia grinned down at him and gently scratched the fur between those ears. “Okay, Udara, now that we’ve gotten you named, I guess you can snack some.” Peeling open the forbidden bag, she offered a few of the crunchy treats to her passenger, her Udara.
After a quick snack break, which Ligeia took part in, she once again shouldered her pack and kept going. Turning back to call to the other members of the Plains search party, to no one in particular, just so they know what she was doing. “I’m going on ahead! Will shout if anything goes sideways.” Satisfied her intent was announced, she kept northward.
{WC: 437}
Avid_RPer18
Loyal Loiterer
Offline
- Mynsed - Crew
Offline
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:47 pm
Character:Maoli Current Square: 7 to 12 Response:Maoli scowled at the nixie. Being screamed at made him sour but the moment to retort had passed with the arrival of twin jackalopes. Tentatively, he patted his own on the head, shoulders laxing when it leaned it though… it still chose to look very menacingly at him. Sucking in a breath, he chose to scoop it up next, standing with it. ”You’re not an alien but maybe you’ve seen one?” he asked the rabbit uncertainly, head tilting. There were reports of animals reacting to phenomenon, so maybe this could help similarly.
‘lupe’s yowl caught his attention and his head whipped around, eyes wide and expecting to see something extraterrestrial. What he saw was a similar jackalope attached to Guadalupe’s hand. Oh dear. ”I hope your sibling doesn’t have rabies,” he whispered to the familiar before fishing into his pocket and extracting a cracker. Feeding it to the jackalope, he placed it on the ground, fully expecting for it to go it’s own way… but no, it had devoured the cracked and was staring up expectantly. Frowning, he pulled out another, feeding it, before following after Maoli.
”It can’t be that big of a bite, you big baby slug,” he called out to the other, grinning as he watched the other rabbit follow. ”I think it wants to be your friend!” he yowled in laughter… and nearly swallowed a piece of paper that smacked him in the face.
Choking on it for a moment, he pulled the paper out and frowned at it. What in the world…? Wait! This could be evidence! Quickly, he pulled the slightly damp paper open, reading. Oh, this could be evidence! Those siblings could have been abducted by aliens! ”’Lupe, look!” he shouted, charging towards him, tiny jackalope following after him, faithful now and looking for food.
[wc: 302]
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:48 pm
Character:Saiph Current Square: 8 to 9 Response: It took Saiph ages to finally catch the jerk of a jackalope. Even at that, they didn't so much catch it as it dropped the notebook and ran off into the distance. Fine by Saiph. They didn't really want to harm the thing anyways but with how frustrated they were it would be hard to keep calm around the animal. "Go! Run away you damn thing!"
Saiph picked up their notebook and had to brush it off. Thankfully there didn't seem to be any saliva issues on the pages. Saiph would've been really upset if there had been. Instead it was mostly just dusted with the dirt the jackalope had dropped it in. "Rude." At least now Saiph could finally get back to searching for clues.
They looked around to get their barrings finding most of their search group had gotten further along the area while Saiph had been distracted. The hybrid huffed and tried their best to let go of their upset feelings. It was out of their hands. Hopefully there were more people that were giving this search the proper respect it deserved than some of the others they had heard. Saiph had to put their trust in their fellows that any clues that had been found were given the proper respect and recording.
Saiph analyzed the directions and decided that continuing forward from where they stood seemed best. It might have already been searched but judging from where they could see others, it might have been missed. "Nothing wrong with double-checking," Saiph had to remind themselves.
[[ word count: 259 ]]
iMoony
Anxious Cutie-Pie
Offline
Green Minuet Crew
Greedy Trickster
Offline
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:58 pm
Character:Sherbet Current Square: 2 to 1 Response:
Apparently, he was the only one who had a good feeling about the west, because everyone else veered off to the north and east, the latter walking right into the rising sun.
Not minding in the slightest, Sherbet hoisted his bag over his shoulder and waded into the grasslands. Travelling alone may not have been the wisest decision, especially given the previous expedition's disappearance, but at least this way he would not have anyone weighing him down. Besides, if trouble did appear he knew he could handle himself. The rucksack bumped against his back with a jingle.
An hour into the plains revealed nothing but barren grassland and the occasional fleeting rabbit. Not even the sky seemed to change much; it was the same boundless blue as before, patterned with unremarkable wisps of clouds. They were so faint and featureless, he could not even project shapes onto them to pass the time.
Sherbet glanced over his shoulder to mark how far he had travelled. In the distance, he could make out the dark dot of the caravan. Beyond that, he could not make out any of the volunteers. He pulled his bag off his shoulder and dropped it at his feet. Crouching low to the ground, Sherbet gave a pump of his wings. He launched into the air, and with a few more powerful flaps, rose a hundred feet.
The plains spilled out beneath him. They must have gone on for miles; he could see nothing but endless grassland. The longer he looked though, the more little surprises revealed themselves. In the nearby east and north, he could make out the indistinguishable blots that could only be the other volunteers. To the far, far east, he could make out the dark outline of the forest's edge against the horizon. Further out in the west and north, two faint splotches sat on the horizon, but neither was very telling at this distance.
Sherbet allowed himself to sail back to earth. It took him a few minutes to find his bag—he had drifted southward at the higher altitude. Throwing it once more over his shoulder, he continued the trek westward. The splotches could be nothing or they could be something. No one was out to look but him though.
