Adventure On!

[voidtreckermods]

"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!

Comments

[xue_yang]

He quirks his eyebrow and takes the candy. Because of course he will. He has yet to try and buy any himself. Sometimes it seems like bribery for him to talk. But he can't really argue with it.

"Trying to expand what I can so I don't feel useless on a battlefield without a sword. I've been experiencing with talismans mostly. And learning about a few of the creatures we might encounter in the library."

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin grins in response to the quirked eyebrows. He really isn't trying to bribe Xue Yang to talk, though it probably looks like he is.

"There might be some way to get hold of a sword. Some of our missions are to planets that have enough technology to make metal-forging possible. I'd say, when we get dropped off, look around for a smithing shop in whatever town or village is nearest. Maybe you can trade something for a sword."

He thinks of what little he knows of the cultivation techniques of Xue Yang's people. "If you can work with talismans, then you have an edge over most people -- and perhaps over most monsters. That skill might stand you in good stead. Oh, and I still haven't spent much time in the library. Did you learn anything useful or interesting about the possible creatures?"

[xue_yang]

"I've been looking but so far these worlds haven't been particularly good about having something useful. But I will continue to look. Eventually I might get lucky."

The fact they get to enjoy some actual good clothing is making this mission already start off better then most. He can at least be a little hopeful.

"I can't say I've learned anything useful until I encounter one of the creatures I've read about. We will see if it does me any good here."

[so_dark_a_road]

"It would certainly pay to keep looking. I found my goblin sword on my first mission. It's not as good a sword as I could forge, but it's acceptable. And it does have a good edge."

Curufin is hopeful, too. He likes the clothing himself, and he really does think the style suits Xue Yang.

"What creatures did you read about? I guess there is no telling what creatures we might meet on this mission, assuming that creatures are even a problem. They have been on most of the missions, so I guess I'd expect them. Of course, it's usually Red Team that gets to deal with monsters, so it would be your problem. I hope those books contained something useful."

[xue_yang]

"They mostly have been books about monster anatomy. But by knowing that I might be able to determine a weak spot. Aiming for that will be more beneficial then countless attempts at just hitting it anywhere. I'm not sure if I will encounter any from the book on this mission, but perhaps when I have more time to read more of the book I will find it more useful."

Xue Yang has only had one sitting to really determine if the book might be useful. He isn't terribly confident in it yet but with enough information than he certainly will get close.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Monster anatomy," says Curufin, with a chuckle. "Makes it sound like a biology text. I wonder if the author thinks monsters have different weak spots than human beings?" He shrugs. "Oh well, maybe some of them do. I can guess that a troll or an Orc has a heart, just like I do, and that if I can stab down through its left shoulder between the neck and the collarbone, I'll kill it. But Balrogs are different, though they're organic. It's just that they're extremely flammable, and when they erupt into flame, you can't find a weak spot." He folds his arms and smiles. "Oh well, so far on these missions I haven't had to fight a Balrog."

He fishes around in his tunic pocket and finds another bag of candy, and he opens it and picks out a few of the red candies that he likes the best, and pops them into his mouth. If Xue Yang is going to eat candy, Curufin might as well, too.

"Still, it would be good if the author of that text has ideas of the weak spots of various monsters. Maybe you will encounter some that are like the ones in the book. I haven't used the library yet, really. Did you check the book out, or do you have to go back to the library carriage to finish reading it?"

[xue_yang]

"I left it in the library. Since I don't know how long it will take to finish it, I didn't feel like removing it." Xue Yang isn't sure if anyone else would have an interest in it but he also didn't want it to be common knowledge that he might be studying. Not that it matters. Xue Yang is actually used to absorbing whatever he can in books involving the dark arts in order to weave it into something he can use.

"Even if the books don't outwardly describe what a monster's weak point is, it can be determined with a solid knowledge of their physical make up."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Ah, I see. Leave it for other people to enjoy." Smile. Curufin used his reading for the same purpose, long ago.

"True. If the books tell you or show you where the creature's heart is, or other essential internal organs, or even just its major blood vessels, then you know how to kill it. Or at least slow it down."

[xue_yang]

"And if I find out anything while on the missions perhaps I can add some notes of my own." He isn't much for helping others but it is good to compile a list of things he has seen first hand. Besides, if they encounter similar creatures, having that knowledge will be helpful.

Xue Yang tosses another piece of candy in his mouth before tucking the package away. It will make for a good snack on the mission.

"I have a few other things I'd like to look up in the library once the mission is over."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Good thought. We can all get journals and notebooks from the store, and it's been suggested before, that we write our thoughts and experiences down and shelve them in the library."

He smiles when Xue Yang pops the candy into his mouth. It is nice to think that the candy has a purpose.

"What else would you like to look up in the library?"

[xue_yang]

Xue Yang nods as he considers that. He is starting to get quite the shopping list in his head from recent conversations and things he seems to be in need of. The points he ha somehow accumulated might be about to take a significant dip.

"Poisons." He has created some of his own before and they are also something that can be useful against monsters or anything that can breath air.

"I've created a few before but I don't have my typical resources."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Poisons?" Curufin is a little surprised. "For monsters?"

[xue_yang]

"It would be my first time using it on monsters, but it should be just as effective as it is against humans if I can come up with the correct formula for it."

It's not hard. Find something that the body can't handle to breath in. Or he could really get creative and figure out one to coat his sword with. But that is much harder to control and he wouldn't want to accidentally get it on himself or a teammate. But it also means coming up with the antidote which can often times be the harder one to figure out.

Want to wrap this thread and catch up sometime in the future?

[so_dark_a_road]

Not going to ask him what humans he used it on. "I wonder if the train would supply you with chemistry books?"

Curufin knows a lot about the chemistry of metals, but not about other elements or compounds. So, he has no useful suggestions besides the library or the train store.

Sure!

[xue_yang]

"Chemistry?" Xue Yang considers the word for a moment. It's foreign to him but perhaps if it involves poisons it might be useful. In that case he wonders if maybe he can request the assistance of Senku when it comes to creating such things if it involves some sort of advanced science.

Xue Yang is used to simply experimenting on whomever or whatever is available to get the outcomes he desires but he knows that is not going to be completely possible on the train. perhaps having a book about what to combine would make things easier.

And it's a wrap!

[so_dark_a_road]

"Chemistry, yes. The science that explains the properties of all material things by determining what elements they are made of."

The speaker crackles and the train announces the drop warning and starts the count.

"Uh-oh, we'd better get moving," says Curufin, shouldering his rucksack and his gear. He gives Xue Yang a salute and a smile and says, "See you in the library sometime!"