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!

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This was oddly cheerful for a battle. It reminded him of Glorfindel briefly. There wasn't much time for random thoughts though (and Reno wanted to ignore that one anyway) as the monster tried to retaliate against him.

He flipped away and landed nimbly with his feet on the ground. "I got plenty more where that came from!" he called out. His arrogance kept the focus on himself rather than returning the favor. He noted she was getting the job done though and was not at all displeased.

His real grin was returning. He dashed back in and threw more lightning at the big guy.

Any rats that Tidus missed, Tangle manages to yank off using her tail. What follows is more sounds of retreating squeaking... before silence.

"... I think that was the last of them."

[ Alice's eyes go wide. ]

What?

[ That's just about the last thing her mind was on right now. She glances around them, almost as if she's worried about someone overhearing them - yes, only now, and not during her whole cat speech just now - before looking back to Della. ]

What is cute about this? [ At least she doesn't sound mad? It takes effort, but she's trying to not be mad, okay. Since Della says it's coming from the heart, and Della - while.. just.. very, very wild - has seemed relatively kind enough for Alice to give her the benefit of the doubt. ]

"And people pay so much for that?"

Alice looks so confused. Really, it shouldn't surprise her. People are terrible and dumb, that's something she's always thought - though some people in this place are rather okay in comparison, at least.

"Do they not realise that they are being taken for fools? It sounds like some sort of scam!"

[ He laughs. No matter what kind of negative thoughts he may have, it seems he manages to push them back far enough that the laugh isn't just faked to look genuine - it is genuine. ]

Right! It must be really hard for you to not accidentally do it. You're incredibly likeable, after all. [ It's hard to not be able to genuinely laugh and smile while thinking about how great a friend is, after all. ] The moment they see how cool you are, it'll be a lost cause!

[ Somehow Inigo has already been using new hip slang like 'cool' for months now, and yet he still sounds like a grandpa trying to be hip.. ]

"I have a little brother."

Who she hasn't spoken much about ever since showing up here, but it's just-- it feels a little weird, doesn't it? Talking about her family while they aren't here, or while she will probably never see them again. But Tidus is so nice and warm about it that Madoka can't help but talk all the same.

"He's a lot younger than me though, yes. He's only three years old.. So since there's quite an age gap between us, I help a lot with taking care of him too! He's really cute.."

"Oh.."

Apparently she's surprised by the offer. Not because she thinks it's beyond Piccolo. She's seen him do enough nice things. It's just.. with the way he was encouraging her to do this by herself earlier, she wasn't imagining he'd offer so readily. Even with her safety at stake.

"Are you sure..?"

There's something hopeful in her tone though. Honestly, Madoka doesn't need to be flown all the way over. That'd be too much even for her. She'd feel so helpless, so tiny. Even though crossing the bridge is scary.. She wants to at least try.

It's just.. trying is a lot nicer when you have someone next to you, right? Especially when it's someone you like and trust holding your hand.

Her hand is already halfway through reaching out to his, but she stops there, searching his eyes for full approval first.

"I haven't really looked around town to see what they have." She was hiding, because there's a murdering criminal on the loose. Unsaid. "But I suppose some extra potions for study. The rest depends on what's available."

And there they are.

He's never cast this spell before, but it was in his book, and it's the best option he has.

"Rego caeli, afferentem meridiem."

A blast of wind meets and overpowers that coming from the air sprite, sending it tumbling.

"Go, before me, I'll follow! I have 15-30 seconds under my own power and am smaller and take more time to process the potion!"

He bows his head.

"I am sorry," he says.

Still, he's not surprised Vigilant Gaze's gods could die, either.

"I thought coming back alive was what counted most?"

Said completely seriously and with a straight face. She's... laughing a tiny bit inside, though.

A deep breath.

"Luck, if you can call it that. Certainly, I'd build your talents in my game with Mind and Resolution. And I am... not looking forward to winter in Viacruz, oh no. We're only to the harvest, and things are bad enough with the early renaissance. At least we've got potatoes."

He snorts.

"I'm surprised they left in the references to Mutan's genderfluidity," he says, voice flat. "But then, they're a lunar deity, and the excuse was more ready to hand for them both siring Aurora's children and suckling Inpew's in Bastet. A mythic cycle that would send a Terrestrial Egyptologist into conniption fits, I'll note."

"It's... the word we use for magical energy," he says, trying to explain it, and thinking about it. "Breathing exercises help replenish it, and my teacher would say it's aspected to the aura of a thing."

He casts his eyes on the fire beads, closes his two eyes, takes a deep breath, and opens his third. What does he see?

"Winter is always trouble." Senku agreed. "We don't have potatoes, but we have introduced bottling and food preservation to the village, so it should turn out alright. It has for the last two winters anyway. With flour, we should be in a better spot for the next winter."

"The alchemist's shop was pretty interesting." Senku informed her. "So there's a bit of a selection there, but some of them are expensive. I'll see how much we can give you. I don't think the Mentalist will mind."

"Your condolences are appreciated, but no longer necessary. The gods were done with this world, and so moved on on their own, leaving the rest of us behind many, many years ago. Their bodies have now been hollowed out to use as warehouses and housing, for they have no further need of them. Even someone as old as I do not remember them clearly anymore. Those early lives of mine are hazy memories at best."

He's... going to avoid thinking about living in the hollowed out bones of gods, thanks. Io's death was fresh in his mind.

"Thus 10 Vigilant Gaze," he murmurs. "Ten lives. Am I wrong?"

"Only when we have to be, but I'd say the same for humans. And speaking for my own clan only, we always said we don't have to crouch as far for rice and millet paddies. Or ride a towering horse."

He has no idea if other Pixies do agriculture, but falling back on being a dang ferner may help. No one can contradict him, either.

"I'm curious - other than the staples, what do you grow, here? I've appreciated the honey in my tea when I was in town - you must have quite contented bees."

So it does.

"Quite. I'll have to speak with Senku, our alchemist friend. See what potions and pills he can make for this. Until then..."

His gratitude is palpable as the crowd starts directing them towards the inn. Once they get tables, and even a drink for a magic trick, he turns to Gen.

"Gods, the marketing department back in San Jose would dearly love you in their team," he says, in genuine admiration. "No wonder you're the face of Senku's fiefdom."

"We can easily cook our meat separately, and second," he says, nodding. "I was going to do a vegetable curry."

His potion tingles; it makes the air feel more... airy, like you're getting more oxygen from a breath of the same depth.

"I'll admit that I'm not really used to having to explain it but yes, that is actually exactly correct. When my kind dies, we turn to invulnerable stone and sleep for an age before reawakening with naught but scattered memories of the life that came before. And the gods all passed on in my first incarnation."

"Wow, a younger brother huh..." That's pretty young too. Do they really do anything at that age than sit around in diapers and need to be fed?

"That makes you a big sis then! He'll be looking up to you." Right? That's how it goes. "What's he like? Does he talk?"

It's pretty each to talk about little kids, isn't it. Then again, what did he know about them? Other than he was one, once.

First... life? Itsuki felt a bit out of her depth at the moment, and now definitely wasn't the time for that. Sunshine shrugged slightly. "I can imagine it would be. Armor isn't exactly standard-issue, especially the kind others give you instead of being bought off the rack." Not that she needed it herself, given what she was, but the sentiment was what counted.

"Well, if we can keep it still for a moment, I can probably purify it myself - it's an ability I've had to use at home." Tsubomi and Yuri probably ended up moving to secure the other villages, so she couldn't just Fortissimo her way across the landscape, but Gold Forte Burst should still work...?

It'd been too long since she'd gotten to go all out; the rush of actually landing one of her signature abilities - and pose after, it was important! - was enough to get Sunshine's blood pumping and bring a smile to her face. "Mm! Yes, just the golem left now. Do we want to just take the crystal, or try and finish the job all at once?" If they were purifying the crystal... could they actually just. Purify the crystal? They were magical in their own right, maybe they could skip the ritual.

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Adventure On!

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