middleofsomewhere | Adventure On!

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Adventure On!

"Good Morning passengers. Today is day six of the month of Horseshoe." The voice echoes through the train as passengers wake up in their beds. Not long afterwards their SCA’s glow with the colour of the void and a holographic image will appear.

Preparation

The dressing room is indeed open as promised. The dressers and wardrobes are full of many different clothes. Shirts, tunics, skirts, dresses, robes, cloaks, leggings and even an array of fancy hats.

The cloaks are notable in that they look like standard fantasy cloaks but are completely waterproof, much like a modern jacket and they will keep them warm and dry. There are also a good selection of furs for those travelling into the tundra as well as some leather armour, both for protection against monsters and fire.

There are an array of tents- in more neutral colours, a lot simpler than the tents they have used before as well as some basic pots and pans for cooking. There are a range of bags and pouches for carrying any essentials!
They are a few hours before arrival and so there is plenty of time to prepare before the announcement. "Shortly arriving on world 5382110341. All passengers get ready to disembark. Next stop world 5382110341. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

Arrival: Royal Lake Hill

The train jolts and shudders as it leaves the void. It descends quickly and lands with a small bump. The doors open, it is a bit of a jump from the train to the ground but they land on soft grass. Anyone looking back at the train will find it almost not there… Unless they focus very hard it will seem just like a shimmer in the air, passengers jumping from nowhere.

They are a short walk from what seems like a small town, surrounded by walls. The gates are manned but the large group of people only get a quick glance before they are nodded in.

They get a few curious glances as they enter the town proper. It is not exceptionally busy, indeed everyone out and about are older or small children, who dart around unafraid of the strangers, staring openly at times.

A market place spans the square, predominately selling food, stalls are actually small huts, the front part open to the street for custom and a back room that is presumably used for sleeping. Some, like the blacksmiths are more solid with multiple rooms.

Each voidtrecker will have a dot on the map on their SCA showing them to the inn that their team should head towards. If they ask around they will learn that there is indeed a call to for adventurers at three of the town’s inns and they are to report there in early evening. As it is still early morning they have almost the whole day to explore, enjoy being in a town full of people and, for those who are keen, earn some spending money.

Whatever they end up doing with their day it is obvious when evening is approaching by the stalls beginning to be packed up, the streets quieting as people went home for their dinners. The inns are easy enough to find, even for those that didn’t find them earlier in the day.

Orange

Recruitment

Ducks in a Bucket is at the western gate. It is quiet, usually a tavern used by adventurers, the custom has dried up with all the adventurers protecting the kingdom. It is filled with large wooden tables and sturdy stools, not a fine dining establishment in any way but it has a friendly air to it.

Not long after they arrive a woman in a long cloak arrives. "I am here to hire adventurers. You will be aware, I am sure, of the blight storm that hit the kingdom. Many people across the land have been effected. Many areas are out of the crystals needed to restore those who have been blighted and there are rumours the army is in short supply as well. We require you to travel to the Singing Woodlands to harvest the crystals from the calla lilies that grow there. I have an image if it is needed."

Here she takes out a small scroll and passes it around, it is a painting of a simple, dark purple calla lilie.

"The huma have agreed to transport the collected crystals to the areas that need it. Unfortunately the land itself has been blighted and has become unstable, floating into the air. We can provide you each with two flight potions to help you travel up into the woodlands."

She holds out a bag to pass around, there are exactly enough potions for each person to take two despite the face she couldn’t possibly have known who was going to turn up to head the call.

"Please be warned that transportation magics have not been working in blighted areas and so you will be taken to the ground below. If you accept this quest please get ready to gate."

A moment later there is a flash of light and any who want to will vanish from the tavern.

Arrival

They will arrive on a grassy verge, in front of them is a canyon of dirt. If they look up they will see the land that should be filling it. In chunks the forest is floating on a series of islands stretching high up into the clouds.

Many of the islands feel too high to reach in ten minutes but there are a couple of lower ones that might be good places to aim for.

The potion works swiftly, making those who drink it feel lighter, all they need to do is jump and they are floating, moving in the air is easy, they can walk up as if on a ramp or swim through the air currents if they are feeling a bit more adventurous.

The islands themselves are teeming with life, plants of all kinds grow there and as they reach the lower islands they will see the huma birds and hopefully spot some of those calla lilies.

Purple

Recruitment

The Lion's Mane is the largest tavern in town. It has some customers, sitting in groups and drinking. There is a musician in the corner playing a lively tune and sat on a central table is an official looking man with a scroll case and a worried expression.

"Anyone." He cleared his throat, "Anyone who has come to be hired… As an adventurer please gather around. Now. Now. Can everybody hear me? Yes? Right. Well I am sure as you know the blight… Yes? Yes! Well there are some clusters of villages up near the dusty rivers, I can show you on this map..."

He unfurls a scroll, which shows a large expansive land mass. He points to an area in the far west. "They have a golem problem, their own golems that is. Turned on them." He shook his head, "Crystal magic, very susceptible to blight. They need some help, clear the area, purify the crystals. That sort of thing. You’ll probably be there a few days."

He rolled up the scroll. "I can’t gate you into the villages, earths all blighted. But I can get you close."

He did a quick head count. "If you don’t accept the mission please step back. Ready?"

He opens a gate, a few gates, and everyone who accepts vanishes from the tavern.

Arrival

They arrive in a small clearing in a wood. It is quiet, with not even the sound of birdsong. Trees are all around them though anyone checking their SCA will see that the village is indeed close.

A moment later there are footsteps, a young boy, no older than ten bursts into the clearing. He reels backwards at the figures, surprised to see them but then seems to realise that they are, for the most part, human.

"Quick! Come quick! The village!"

He turned on his heal and heading no call ran back the way he came. For those that follow the route leads them through thick overgrowth, there is clearly an easier way, to a small village.

A small village with a large golem and a large troll stomping through it. People are cowering in houses or behind walls as the troll swings its club back and forth, smashing things in its wake.

Red and Blue

Recruitment

The final tavern is The Thrice Struck Tree. It is small, dark and has a heavy air to it. There are a couple of customers, sat silently with mugs of ale in front of them. They give the voidtreckers suspicious glances.

They may wonder if they are in the wrong place but after a few moments a young woman in a smart looking uniform, dark blue tunic, shiny boots, enters. "Adventurers? I am captain Sienna of Irivar’s third guard. We have reports coming from the southern lands. The blight has depowered the crystals separating the frozen tundra from the fire lands. A disaster could occur if the are not recharged. They must be taken into the central fire mountains heart. It is a fair journey and the crystals must be carried. Please, for those that known the secrets of it do not attempt to place the crystals into the spaces between for easier transportation, it would be disastrous." She gave them a serious look before continuing.

"Furthermore the creatures of the area are reporting that the Glacial Sovereign has not been seen since the blight hit." She shook her head, looking worried. "You must find their guardians, the crystal wolves and attempt to regain contact with the sovereign." She paused again.

"Both the sprites of ice and fire have been corrupted by the blight and the area is very dangerous. I can gate you to the border and from there you must split, please decide amongst yourselves who is best to journey into fire and who is suited to the cold. I will give you a moment to be ready."

It is indeed only a moment before she opens the gate. Any who choose to travel will vanish from the tavern.

Arrival

They arrive in a strange place indeed. To the east there is black rock, lava streams and mountains billowing with smoke. To the west is white, icy bridges connecting land and glaciers. Far in the distance there is what seems to be a swirling mass of snow.

And right where they are is… a mess. Melted ice and frozen ash mixed together into a slippery sludge that sticks to their shoes and makes movement interesting.

But movement may be necessary as it seems their gate has taken them to a place surrounded by two packs of fire dogs and a few regular wolves. All look surprised at the sudden influx of people but it doesn’t take them long before the blighted creatures move in to attack.

Splitting

Once they are safe from wolves and dogs the teams can split. The crystals red need to collect are obvious, set out at even distances from each other. Red team are to head east, into the volcano range, Blue are to head west into the tundra.

Good luck void warriors!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

prep (ota)

Kaiba's not the biggest fan of the fashion choices, but he eventually settles on a pale blue tunic, trim black vest, and dark brown trousers with a small burnt orange patch. He straps a belt on, adjusts the cloak...and still looks ridiculous.

Oh well. Can't win them all. He flaps his cloak for good measure and strides for the door, nodding as he passes familiar faces.

hauling it (sidequest, ota)

There are a number of interesting items in the shops, and he'd love to purchase...but that would require gold. And since anything he owns of any value is too high-tech to belong here, all Kaiba has to trade is his labor. Unfortunately.

He's ditched the vest and rolled up his sleeves, a wooden yoke draped over his shoulders. Two rather heavy buckets of spring water dangle from it, and judging by the splatters on his tunic he's been carrying water for a bit.

"This is why pipelines were invented," he grouses, hauling hismuddy booths through the dirt.

you can...fly? (orange)

The next day he chooses to join the group heading to the floating island, and after a strange warp that leaves him swaying where he stands, he stares at the bottle in his hand. Flying potion. What. How. He makes no motion to drink from it, he just stares, gears in his head turning.

"They really expect me to believe we can simply drink this and just...fly away?"

OMG Clothes
Xue Yang stares at the arrangement of garments and easily selects ones that very closely resemble what he would be wearing at home. Lots of black and dark leathers, and long layers that that decides to add a cape to just because they are there and look useful.

"It's about time we got something decent to wear." compared to diving suits and the other crazy crap they have been handed, this seems like a welcome change.

Shopping

Xue Yang has wandered through the shops more out of boredom then for any other reason. But when he comes to a weapons shop he stops and stares at it for a very long time. He doesn't have any of this world's currency but he will be damned if he is leaving this world without a sword when it is offered there so enticingly.

He enters the shop and looks at all of the different blades. None of them are as wonderful as Jiangzai but they would do. He makes note of the price tag of one and decides to figure out a way to be able to get it.

If he has to do manual labor in this town before the quest starts then he is going to do it. "Anyone want to take on some jobs?"

Wolves

Xue Yang saw no better opportunity for trying out the talisman way of fighting then right then. Nasty looking wolves trying to eat him is a great reason to experiment. Taking out a couple talisman that he prepared earlier as a test, he tosses it towards a very fast moving dog and hits it right in the face with a binding spell. The dog yelped and fell to the ground as all its limbs seized up. Xue Yang smirks. it's not nearly as fun as it would be actually taking them down but it will do. However the written ones are limited so he needs to figure out a more efficient way of doing things.

Fire clearly won't be useful right now so he will have to be strategic. It might be useful against the regular wolves at least but for now he will save those. He has to pick his battles until he has time to perfect drawing the talismans in other ways.

01 - preparation and mission briefing.
The moment the hologram pops up from his SCA, Roland is already up and about. He had been on edge, waiting until it was time for him to get to work - actual work. Immediately making his way to the dressing carriage, it takes him little time to pick out his outfit for the mission - a little mismatched for his liking but it would make due. He adjusts his cloak around his shoulders and for the first time in a long time, he finally looks the part of Chief Consul, serious and forbearing. He can be spoken to here, as he takes account of all the supplies granted to them by the train; or, even better, if you're passing by the dining car, Roland will be rallying whoever is around (Purple team or otherwise) in a quick mission briefing, side-by-side with his partner.

His arms are crossed as he begins. "We've been preparing for this day for some time now, but there's no better way to see if we're really ready than to just jump right into it." Roland nods, determination rolling off of him in waves. "Right. Let's get started. You all heard the mission details. This is going to be a challenge. Who's staying here, and who's off to help the other teams? How can we be of support?"

02 - arrival at royal lake hill.
As everyone settles around town, dispersing as needed, Roland does his own scope of activities and wanders about, doing intel on shops, stores, and locals as he finds them. His sword is out of its Arms Band, sheathed against his hip, and his pistol hangs on the opposite side of his body. Better to be subtle about his magitek, he decides.

If anyone wishes to join him on some errands however, they will find that Roland is keen on accomplishing small tasks to get some money for the entire Voidtrecker community. First, he goes to the innkeep and asks, with a sly look on his face: "Say there, are you up for a challenge from a wandering adventurer? If I can get rid of all your pests and rodents in less than a minute, would you be opposed to giving me twice the coin?"

...or if that's not up to your speed, Roland will later be seen talking to other citizens without any hesitation, as if he's done this a million times, and in fact has an uncanny sense of knowing who seems to actually need help: "Good day. I'm here on behalf of a neighboring guild to answer the call for help. But, you look like you could use some help of your own. Is there anything I can do to assist?" (Fetch quest time? Fetch quest time.)

03 - NPC thread: The Lion's Mane.
[ He's leaning on the table, catching the innkeep's eye as he makes a silent gesture with his head tilting forward. It's not at all a private conversation - anyone listening nearby can hear them speak. ]

Sorry to disturb your shift. [ His posture is tense. He's listening really intently. ] But I've just got a couple of things to ask about how things are going around here. Mind if I steal you away for some questions?

04 - action tag, purple arrival!
[ Don't need to tell Roland twice. His Interstellar Sword, glowing in swirls of dark purple and bright starlight, comes out of its sheath and he wields it against the golem who has struck with a downward swing against the blade. He pushes back and his pistol comes out after he gets some distance, shooting six times in succession, each meeting its mark. But the golem is a lot stronger than that, blighted as it is. ]

[ Fighting with them? Roland's got you. ] Hey, watch your left! [ He jumps out of harm's way again and brandishes his sword in the air. ] Those on offense, on me! We'll distract these two, please help the villagers!

05 - wildcard!
[ Private/Closed threads, anything discussed in plotting, or honestly, whatever have you! Roland is Raring To Go! Hit him with your best shot! ]

Edited 2020-09-11 06:17 (UTC)

-Prep-

10 Vigilant Gaze had carefully committed all of the briefing to memory, and was making appropriate preparation. Temperature was not a thing that worried him; he honestly wasn't even planning on wearing the train uniform. His armor was clothes enough. One of the cloaks, however, felt appropriate. If nothing else it would make his appearance less alarming to the locals. And there was even one in his size!

Aside from that, Vigilant Gaze was also loading up a backpack with supplies. Food, tents, blankets, first aid supplies...Nothing he would need, but definitely things his human companions might need, and it's not like he would tire under the load.

-Sidequest-

"I can't believe you're having us training against a damn golem! Give us a real opponent!" is what one young trainee at the guardhouse complained about, when their sparring partner arrived.

10 Vigilant Gaze was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a golem, but he could see why the locals might make that mistake, having seen one or two of the huge plodding things already. Still, apparently golems did not speak, so neither did he. The rule was to not reveal his true nature as a voidtrecker to anyone in this world, and by the gods that was what he was going to do.

That didn't mean he couldn't teach these young men and women a little thing about politeness...

...Maybe an hour later, all the trainees were THOROUGHLY sore and defeated, if not in any ways that left any permanent damage. He didn't want to actually cause trouble for these people. Just...make them think, for a bit. And none of them had been particularly gifted fighters. He had had trouble with mortals before, but against this riff raff he had had NO difficulty dealing with them in a flawlessly complicated whirlwind of martial violence.

Vigilant Gaze, maintaining his kayfabe as a silent machine man, bowed slightly to the instructor, then sat down in the corner until the class was dismissed.

-Red Team-

10 Vigilant Gaze stepped out of the gate and into a pile of slush. No matter there, mere physical discomfort was unimportant. What WAS important was the pack of twisted, blighted wolves that was rapidly closing the distance between themselves and the Red Team.

So, naturally, the angel decided that now would be an excellent time to start praying. He gave no mind as the wolves grew close, speaking with a firm, booming voice. "Pree Aesma. Yis-Asram the blooded one. Het, the watcher at the door. Prim-"

And that was as far as he got before he was bowled over by wolves. He defended himself, but all his moves were just that: defensive. He was making no move to actually DEAL with the wolves until he finished his prayer. "...Who swore by gentleness. YISUN! Forgive me, for the violence I am about to commit!"

Does he need help? Has he got this? Is this REALLY the time for prayers?

Edited 2020-09-11 06:21 (UTC)

[IT'S THE SHEEP'S SONG! | DAY 1]

FWWW-WWW-WWWWWT!"

About an hour after they've reached town, Katsuya is already outside the walls with a crowd of ten-odd sheep following his strange (but no less enticing) shepherding whistle. It's not the whistle that they recognize- it's more the aura of someone who has a good reason to have a pile of sheep following him.

It's working out rather well, especially since someone asked the lot of them to gather the sheep back together after the local situation spooked them.

Without his heavy furs as picked on the train, he looks fairly simple- if bracers and such were added it could have even been called light armor. Instead it's just a matching top and pants, airy and light because in a few hours he's going to be in like five layers of fur.

In any case, Katsuya's done this song and dance before. In fact, he looks like he fits right in with the lot, having grabbed some kind of stick that was lying around to carry out the role. "Heheeee... At th's rate, we'll be done b'fore it's lunch here!" He pauses, and blinks toward the one helping.

"Nyh...leas' I think it oughta be lunch by then..."

[RECRUITMENT - A MOMENT BEFORE IT'S TIME/VISION RELEVANCE]

Katsuya sits on a stool, his two pokemon sitting there (he's not too sure about using the pokeballs in front of these guys), and his furs sitting at the side. He'll put them on, or at least more than just his boots, once he's actually on-site. Otherwise he's pretty sure he'll bake.

As it is, with one eye open he's leaning back against the tavern's wall, arms crossed almost grimly as he recalls his dream from the night before. Ultimately he stretches, and grabs his pack of things. "Yeesh...Ain't lookin' forward t' this one..." he mutters, scratching his head. "But, I guess since I got a peek 'f how bad it is, I can' jus' sit aroun'...an' you two are up t' it too righ'?" he adds with a grin, looking to the pokemon in question.

Both Amar the Wooloo, and Kaseri the Ponyta seem to impossibly smile, giving bleats and whinnies to the affirmative.

"Yeah!"

[Oh No It's Bad Actually - ARRIVAL, RED-BLUE]

"NYYYHHHHH FUCK!"

Naturally not long after they arrive, they're being attacked. Trying to get his coats and things on is tricky while a fight is going on. "Fuck! AMAR, COTT'N GUARD!"

Amar is doing a spectacular job of being a large fluffy shield that cannot be bitten through.

Unfortunately, Amar is also incredibly flammable. "Kaseri! Psychic!"

Which is where the ponyta mentally throwing a flaming dog away is a good cover. Still, this is all very break-neck and terrible right away. Nothing too terrible, but still terrible. "Yeesh! There really ain't a break th's time huh..!"

[SPLIT UP - BLUE TEAM]

Well he got dressed. "Hahhhh..." The pokemon for now are safely back in their pokeballs. He's got a feeling they won't be able to help much now that they're actually out in the cold- the 'enemy' is the weather itself, if anything. But that aside, he's got the map open with a frown. "Well, guess th's is it...uh...anyone got ideas f'r findin' those wolves..?" he asks, looking around at the group.

A pause, and he grins. "Oh! An' Jackalopes, some guy back in th' town was askin' abou' 'm f'r cash!" .... "Uh." Right, mission.

"Uh, anyway, I got a feelin' we won' have much luck goin' righ' for th' dragon until we get all th' wolves so...yeah."

I. Prep (OTA)

II. Arrival (OTA)

III. Quest - Sparring with Guardhouse trainees (NPC Request)

IV. The Lion's Mane (Purple Team)

Hikaru closes his two eyes... and looks at the potion with his third.

“Yes,” he says, simply. “I believe it can. I wouldn’t drink any more than is needed in order to avoid a hangover - it is still a beverage with many things in it your liver will only begrudgingly process - but that potion heavily resonates with Air and to a lesser extent with Metal and Force magic. I suspect it grants you personal thought-directed levitation, along with a light magnetic field.”

He drinks his... and starts to float, wings unfurling.

“I suspect I’ll have greater control,” he says. “This is... curious. Localized microgravity?”

Edited 2020-09-11 07:36 (UTC)

A. Prep - OTA

[ Kity can't help blinking as she looks through the clothing options that are available. ]

Huh...these aren't really what I was expecting.

[ Though she supposes it makes sense, if they're supposed to be trying to blend in. Still, this is supposed to be a mission, so she should probably pick something a bit more practical to wear.

....but she can't help eyeing some of the skirts and dresses anyway. ]

B. Arrival at Royal Lake Hill and Retrieving Water side-quest - OTA

[ After disembarking from the train, Kitty follows the others into the small town. It is kind of nice to see people, although she already starts feeling a familiar sense of unease at being stared at.

She does spend a good part of the morning looking around town, doing some window shopping at the different stores and talking with some of the locals.

Later on, after talking with someone at the apothecary, she agrees to help get water from the spring to earn some money. It isn't a lot of money, but it's still something. ]

C. Purple Arrival

[ There's barley any time to look around before the kid shows up, asking for them to help the village. Kitty heads with the rest to follow the boy, her powers making it easy to pass through the overgrowth.

As they arrive she takes in a breath, seeing the golem and the troll destroying whatever was in their path. ]

We need to get the people to safety!

D. Wildcard

((Feel free to plot something else if you'd like!))

[All Off-Board - DAY 1, OTA]

It was tricky to pick clothes- frankly he's never really had much choice in them, after all. But utlimately Emporio has something on- there's no helmet or upper armor really, and while the cloak looks like wings when unfurled, it's largely just hanging around his shoulders.

He does, however, have some kind of...hat. It looks more like a bird mask that could be pulled down to protect his eyes.

That's probably exactly what it is actually, but he likes it more as a hat.

As it is, the boy hops off the train and looks back, adjusting his somewhat bulky tent pack and blinking as the vechicle seems to shimmer invisibly. "...I guess we're really not supposed to be noticed here... ...Do you think we'll draw too much attention?" Some attention is expected. Too much is concerning.

[GHOST ROOM SERVICE - DAY 1 OTA]

It does not take long for Emporio to find out how many ghost rooms- or perhaps more accurately how many ghost houses- there are. Within about ten minutes of entering into the town, he's vanished somewhere- popped out another somewhere- and so on, so forth, and while he's ultimately careful people from the train are undoubtedly likely going to catch on at some point.

He's ultimately a little more comfortable about it at least, which is why- whether they're inside a ghost house at this time or not- he somewhat excitedly carries on his conversation into a ramble while stuffing some things into a 'ghost bag' he found. The pouch itself is small. The tent he just crammed in there is decidedly Not.

"I think this place must have been entirely rebuilt at some point...or at least mostly rebuilt," he explains, looking around with wide eyes. "I didn't see anything like this back home, but there's too many buildings for something big to not have happened! If you look through some windows too, you can see that people made restorations of some of the things that used to be here!"

This is perhaps the most he's spoken since arriving on the platform in the first place.

[Rain Rain...Come This Way? - QUEST! DAY 1]

"Okay. They need buckets of water from the springs...but if you can make it rain into these buckets, that's even faster. So..."

Emporio seems to be talking to his Stand- specifically he's talking to the large humanoid figure made of hyper condensed clouds, who is doing a lot of unblinking staring and not a lot of raining. It's almost as if they're waiting for something else.

"...Please?"

Maybe the kid just needs a bit more confidence. Or...something else?

"It would be good practice..."

Hmm.

[ARRIVAL - RED + BLUE]

About a half second after they've arrived and the portals are gone, the dogs are around and moving. "Uh oh."

Weather, go figure, is quick to come to the defense- specifically, he's gone for the ever effective 'there's not a whole lot of ways a dog can avoid being blown away by a massive blast of directed wind'. Emporio adjusts his hat-mask.

"...We should...probably start moving pretty quick..." Where are those crystals again? They should probably grab those quick.

I. Arrival

demon!

II. Red and Blue Team Gate Arrival

~~cats~~

III. Splitting Off with Blue Team

Snip, Snip (OTA)
Picking an outfit isn't a problem. Wester already has one prepared; with just a few modifications to their suit, they look like a prim and proper magic user with a rakish flair. It wasn't exactly the image they wanted to project, but honestly they were just looking for a chance to bust the suit out again. It was way too stylish to let it languish in their closet forever.

No, the real problem is something else entirely.

Wester stares into a mirror, paralyzed as they hold a pair of scissors up to their hair. Which has become quite a bit longer than it was when they first boarded the train.

And oh, how they hate it.

But where are they supposed to start?

"Uuuugh. I really don't want to shave it off again, but I don't even know where to start..."

Lumberjack (OTA)
Wester cuts an incongruous figure as they march through the streets of the small town. On the one hand, they're dressed up in a snazzy, snappy purple suit that looks more suited to the ballroom than walking through a rural village. On the other hand, Wester is carrying a massive bundle of lumber over their shoulder like it's nothing, garnering the attention of many a bewildered local.

"Let's see here," they mutter, checking their map with one hand. "The guild was-"

They turn abruptly, and swiftly realize their mistake.

"Look out!"

Jump Up, Superstar (Orange Team)
Just because the flying potion only takes the team up to the lowest islands doesn't mean that Wester is content with scavenging the lower levels. Oh, no. There has to be some secrets at the very top of the airbound islands.

So as soon as they reach their destination, Wester begins hiking onwards, further, and up, sprinting across smaller gaps and leaping across-

-or not.

Wester hangs suspended midair for a moment like a Toon before falling. Their hand desperately reaches out, latching onto a root by the barest inch. They swing their body back and forth, back and forth, back and they use their momentum to backflip onto the next island, breathing heavily.

Turning back, they give a thumbs up. "I'm good!"

Cue the Woodwinds (Orange Team)
Wester stands amid a flock of young huma birds hovering around them, a dreamy smile on their face as they delicately hold a finger out. One lands on it chirping softly, and they gently wrap a tag around its leg before scratching its head with their forefinger.

"Shhh," they whisper. "Don't scare them."

[ 1; train ]

[ 2; royal lake hill ]

nice

explore

QUEST: blighted rats;

normal

sewers

Fire

QUEST: haul water;

sewers

splash

[ red&blue arrival ]

Crap,

[ She won't be on her own when she arrives to the springs, Tidus there with two pails beside him on the ground, though standing on his feet. He seems to be looking around, turning and--spotting Kitty too, a look of momentary surprise easing quickly off his face.

He doesn't call out, but nods when she comes near. ] Hey.

Was there a way for them to earn coin while they were here? Tidus was wondering that, and with the access they had to purchase items which were otherwise a hassle to get through the train, maybe there could be some bargaining. It's what takes him into the stores, even the weapon shop, seeing Xue Yang, but not immediately going over to him. He's checking out the prices, frowning to himself.

That's when he hears him speak up and looks over.

"Where're we gonna find any?"

Actually seeking out jobs in a place like this--not Tidus's forte.

Preparation

Senku wasn't terribly inclined to be excited about the fashion choices, but blending in came at a cost, perhaps. If they were going on some kind of mission, he wanted clothes that gave him the maximum range of movement he could have, which meant he was looking more at long tunics than anything.

He settled on a beige tunic with an orange belt to tie around the waist and black leggings. He wasn't giving up his homemade orange bracers though, his wrists just weren't very strong and he might need all the strength he could muster.

He added the cloak and looked at himself. It was passable, if mismatched with the hiking boots.

Arrival: Royal Lake Hill

Senku takes the opportunity to explore some of the stalls before deciding that since there are little things he can do to get money, he should do them. It would also help pass the time. He isn't the kind of person who can sit around and get intel from most people.

However, the inn was another matter, that Innkeeper must be used to dealing with adventurers by then, right?

When the day was done and they needed somewhere to eat, he would wash dishes for the Inn in exchange for food. He would, once finished with that, climb up on the roof of the Inn to take a look at the night sky, like he used to do on their storage shed before it became the observatory. It would be entirely possible that he might wind up falling asleep there, for a little while.

NPC: Innkeeper of Ducks In A Bucket

[ He walks up to the counter without any preamble. ]

Hey, can you tell me what's going on in the area?

Arrival: Orange Team

Senku was standing beneath the floating islands, his two potions in his pack for safekeeping as he stared up at the options. Some, definitely would be too far to reach, but others... "Probably better to go as high as is feasible, spread everyone out."

It seemed like a solid plan to cover as much ground as possible. He pulled out one of the potions and looked at it a little skeptically, but also he wondered how it was made.

"Guess this is going to be even more thrilling than a hot air balloon."

Once he'd decided on and landed on an island, Senku would be easily distracted by some of the other plant life. There was a wide variety after all, and he couldn't help but go after samples like the greedy scientist he is, all while looking for the lilies.

Prep: Larping Is Us (OTA)
Hikaru is in the dressing room with a pen, a pencil, a clipboard, and a checklist, ready to assist any and all who take up his offer to dress appropriately for the period.

He is, himself, dressed in wizardly attire, though more heavy on a more orange gold with reddish blues and blueish reds complimenting them than his usual red and black.

"Briefly, state your areas of expertise," he says to his clients.

Prep: Divine Vestments (Closed to Thorne.tcai)
"As I was saying," he says, as he looks for an appropriate shade of felt or velour, "there is an Adventurer and a highly accomplished chef among us. The dragonborn - she's quite insistent on that over Koboldt - named Isabel or Izzy."

He finds something appropriate, and pauses, considering a brooch of rose quartz and jade set in silver in the shape of, well, a rose. Then he takes a deep breath and adds it to the pile placed outside Thorne.tcai's dressing room.

"More clothes - and a rose for the lady of the roses," he says, not allowing his embarrassment to reach his voice - though the tips of his ears are red.

Royal Lake Hill (ota)
This place really does remind him of Viacruz, even complete with Pixies. He considers this as he walks down the street at the sights.

As he passes a haberdashery, he pauses to look in at a marvelous peaked hat - deep blue, with a gold band. He notes it's (extorbitant) price, and pauses.

"If funds permit," he says. "Essentials first. I suppose I'm sidequesting, then."

Royal Lake Hill Sidequest (npc thread; ota but take note Senku)
He presents himself to the Alchemists Guild, where he quickly finds he can save them much time and effort using his Spirit Sight to read the Aura of the potions, looking for obvious duds.

"This potion of fire resistance has almost no Fire or Water in it's Aura at all - it's mostly Metal," he says, examining one. "No wonder it's not working! Though Metal can be used to catalyze Fire resistance, so it's possible your reagents were degraded, and - hmn."

He straightens up. "Perhaps I should take a look at your alchemical texts and compare them to my own knowledge?" he suggests. "I confess my understanding of the elements to be... foreign. Perhaps seeing how your people categorize things will help me understand what's going wrong."

The Singing Woods: Air Sprites and Calla Lillies (to team orange)
Okay, these air elementals are becoming quite obnoxious. "That's enough of that," he says, closing his two eyes to look with his third.

It takes him some effort even then. "Discreet Aura," he murmurs. "Meaning that their invisibility is intrinsic and undispellable... meaning..."

He snaps his eyes open - it HURTS to overlay both, but he needs both gross and Spirit sight right now - and grabs sand from his pouch.

"Throw glitter at them!" he commands. "They're intrinsically invisible, but that doesn't stop matter from clinging to them!" he says, tossing the sand right into the face of one -

- and crying out in triumph as it swirls into it's form, making it visible.

The Singing Woods: ParsnipQuest (to team orange, npc thread?)
This is tedious work, made easier by the company. Having noticed a lack, he also got a sack of potatoes from the train's stores, and brought them with him so he might make a proper potato, carrot, parsnip and wild game curry rice at the end of the hunt, while others smoke and salt their kills.

As he expected, it's attracting some attention from the locals, who have never seen such things before. And given the centrality of the potato and of brown rice to preventing starvation in Viacruz...

"Oh, these?" he says. "The rice is from my home - it takes well to marshy areas - while these potatoes are from foreign trade, and very hardy. The leaves of the potato are quite poisonous, but the tuber itself is as nutritious as wheat, if not more so."

Sakura has dealt with the stink of the sewers in her own way, they smell of smoke and ozone around her, which announces her presence shortly before she rounds the corner to see Tidus in an actual rat pile.

"Tidus. Do you have a healing potion? You know what. Just defend."

With that she starts chanting, the ozone smell intensifying around her as sparks dance up and down her body.

"I plan to go to the alchemy guild, and offer my assistance testing potions," Hikaru says. "I have the ability to see the... personality, Aura, of a thing or person - it may prove useful here."

He looks around at the shops. "Apart from weaponry - and do let me see if you find a good bow - this is an excellent opportunity to stock up on spices, foods, and sundries. The hunting is good and legal, so we can stock up on smoked and salted meat, as well. And funds permitting..."

He smiles. "I do miss my old hat."

This one is...

He reminds him, inevitably, of Io. His awe is not quite religious, but it's getting there.

"Thank you for taking care of supplies," he says, craning his neck up. "I understand that there are people storing goods Elsewhere, but 'too prepared' is an oxymoron."

Edited 2020-09-11 14:44 (UTC)

Hikaru offers him two accoutrements; a pointy wizard's hat with a hatband in orange, and a belt with many pouches.

"You'll be the very picture of an alchemist... and better able to commit acts of wanton chemistry and geology with the utility belt," he suggests. "This will speed up the process of finding work according to your talents considerably."

Kaiba squints at him again.

"Thought-directed? But without wings..."

He eyes the bottle, uncorks it...and throws some back. Rough aftertaste. But it bubbles almost like carbonated beverages, spreading an odd sensation through him.

He lifts a foot...and the other leaves the ground. He flails gracelessly, tilting upside down before he manages to right himself.

"I'm just supposed to point at that island and think 'up'?"

"I do miss having a utility belt." Senku admitted, since that was primarily how he normally carried things at home. He took the hat and turned it over in his hands with a hum.

He crouched down, poked through his cargo pants for his stone knife and rope he'd made from plants on the last island, which might seem strange to carry around but he never knew when he might need things and he sliced himself a length of it.

"Guess I need to do something with this then." He set the hat down so he could tame his hair into a ponytail instead, proving that if he actually cared about it he could do something with it.

Oh, Kaiba's not scaring them. Unfortunately for him, he's just tall enough to be a stop for the birds as they forage between the trees.

One's found its way into his hair, and he glares up at it.

"I'm not sure I even know how to scare them, if this glare isn't enough."

He considers this, flapping his wings, ascending.

"...you're a player of strategy games," he says. "Imagine a flightstick or gamepad in your minds eye."

It's just a few rats, okay!! This is not what he left the train to come do: be gobbled up by rats!!

But defend, defend--Tidus can do defend! And maybe it's from actually having someone else there that he thinks to do ~~anything~~ something smarter than just flail around, growling huffily under his breath when a burst of air appears around him, and a sharp exclaim of "Back off-!"

--and a brrier throws the small rodents off from his body, squeaks popping off around. But there's still more rats around, and they'll be back on their feet quick!

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Adventure On!

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Xue Yang | The Untamed | OTA

Roland Crane | OTA

10 Vigilant Gaze Purges The Horizon | Kill Six Billion Demons

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Emporio Alniño | OTA + BLUE-RED TEAM PROMPT

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Senku Ishigami | OTA

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woodwinds

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