voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-09-21 05:44 am

Adventure On: Finale and Conclusion

Blue

The Mountain

Once they get close enough everything is storm, ice swirls around them, stabbing them like knives. Winds seem to be actively pushing them away, no matter what direction they approach from. Still the crystal wolves walk on, heads down, paws silent, climbing upwards.

The higher they climb the colder it becomes. So cold that ice forms on eyelashes, that air seems to freeze as it leaves their mouths. So cold their chests hurt. They would not be wrong to assume that the only reason they can withstand this at all is because of the SCA around their wrist.

Ice tumbles down around them often, shaking the ground. The crystal wolves know the way and they keep going, steady on the path. They have spaced themselves out, to be in sight of all those who follow.

The Summit

As they finally reach the top of the mountain they reach a calm space, outside of the swirling storm. Domed across the summit is a fire cage, larger by far than any they have seen before. In the middle of the giant fire cage sits a dragon. White and blue, scales that look as if they were made of ice themselves. Their head was bowed, eyes closed but they are breathing, breath escaping in clouds of freezing mist that evaporated in the heat of the cage.

Around the cage itself are ice elementals, outside the storm these can be seen by the snow they whirl around inside them, each is about three feet tall but fly in a whirlwind as they attack. Like those in the storm they try and push people around and attack with shards of ice. These corrupted spirits seem to have no reason to their attacks, they are just as likely to push a combatant closer to the cage then they are towards the raging storm.

They can be fought, fire works well against them just as ice and cold magic works well against the fire cage itself.

A Sovereign Freed

Eventually the cage stops fighting, fading away into the snow before them. The crystal wolves spring forth, nuzzling at the dragon until they raise their head. Piercing blue eyes look over the group and the dragon bows their head once. They take a deep breath and breathe out over those assembled, cold fire washes over them, healing any hurts that they have, easing their fatigue som

The crystal wolves bow their heads too, a thank you. Aerlie flaps their wings, rising high into the air. Another breath of cold fire flies out around the area, clashing with the storm for a moment before overtaking it. Around the mountain the storm calms, the ice elementals stop and seem to sink into the snow or fade into the air. The mountain descends into a calmness.

The crystal wolves will approach all those who helped free them, nuzzling into their hands, a personal thank you before a shimmering gate opens for the adventurers to step through.

Red

Final Siege

It’s been a tiring three days of protecting the crystals from the creatures that sought their power. But now, as their power is fully recharged it is time to return them to the border. That is going to be a tougher job than getting them to the volcano’s heart in the first place!

They thrum with power and that power is a siren call to the creatures of the area, fire dogs, lizards, fire sprites. Just as the mountain attacked inside the heart, here the spirtes join with the rivers of lava to flood pathways, block routes, making it harder to cross already treacherous territory, or even driving them into traps of waiting fire dogs.

The heat is oppressive, heat from around them, heat from the crystals seems to sap the energy from those carrying them and so the duty is best shared.

Eventually though they arrive at the border, a mess of melted ice and frozen lava. Each of the crystals need to be replaced.

Restoring the Border

Replacing the crystals is a little more complicated than taking them was. Each one needs to fuse with the holder it sits in. It doesn’t take any skill, just someone to hold it in place for a moment whilst the two fuse together and the magic is channelled into the ground.

Holding a crystal in place is a little more difficult when being attacked by the creatures. The fire creatures keep up the attack until all of the crystals have been replaced.

The Land Repaired

When the last crystal is in place there is a ripple across the land. An invisible line, an ancient magic, connects the crystals, seperating the two lands. Ice recedes from lava and the melted snow refreezes. The borderlands of slush undergo transformation as the two elements separate from each other once more. A land of fire and a land of ice, with a pulsing magic separating the two.

The firedogs and lizards retreat, fire elementals calm and join with the lava streams once more. A shimmering gate opens.

Orange

An Important Message

The Huma birds have been carrying crystals and helping the harvesters, protecting them from the blighted birds and encouraging them to work hard.

But those returning to the floating islands on the afternoon of the eleventh day of Horseshoe come bearing black cloth bags in their talons, each has a scroll attached. The Huma birds will make it very clear they are to read the scroll first.

DO NOT OPEN THE BAG UNTIL NIGHT FALLS

Inside this bag are rare crystals. When they are exposed to the light of the sun they will cause the islands to sink back to the ground. After the sun has set tonight please distribute these evenly around the islands and then depart back down to the land below before sunrise. The lands natural magic will do the rest but we do not recommend being on the islands when they fall.

Thank you for your hard work.

The Adventurers Guild


With a long night ahead they may wish to rest for the remainder of the day.

Distributing the Crystals

If they do as they are asked then it will be a long night, there are many chunks of islands and a lot of crystals to distribute. The darkness makes it harder and the blighted birds seem even grumpier in the cover of darkness.

The wind sprites also are not resting and indeed seem delighted that playtime has been extended into the hours of night. Placing crystals is difficult when the Voidtreckers find themselves swept up into the air to dance around the trees.

Getting down by sunrise may be a little trickier than placing the crystals, especially if they have used up their flight potions, but hopefully there are enough people to help everyone get to safety.

Islands Fall

The sun rises, as the first rays of light hit the island they begin to vibrate, shudder. Then one by one they begin to fall, rapidly and chaotically. It is perhaps wise to not be anywhere near the crater as they do so.

They land in a crash of dust, which obscures the area. When the dust clears however they will see a perfect undamaged land. The pieces have fit back together, exactly where they should be, despite the chaos. The land is repaired and whole once more. Huma birds call excitedly as they dart through the air, their land restored.

A gate opens, for them to step through if they wish.

Purple

A Cure

It is day ten of Horseshoe when the first Huma birds fly into the village, they carry crystals either in bags in their talons or in their beaks.

The villagers clearly know what is going on for they welcome the birds and take the crystals thankfully. Anyone not currently fighting or purifying crystals is brought in to help distribute cures.

Actually curing someone is easy, it just requires the crystal to be touch an affected person or creature. The crystals are only good for one cure so those curing the blighted will be required to carry a few and run them to the villages.

Others can take crystals out into the woodland, looking for blighted animals to help.

A Final Fight

All but one of the golems have been found, defeated and restored. The final one has been elusive, not approaching the village or even the nearby woodlands.

The restored golems are back to standing vigil in each village, ready to deal with any attack that may occur.

But when an attack comes, it is not on a village, but on the shrine in the centre. A golem, three trolls and a host of animals, some blighted, some just angry. They attack in the early morning, the villages awoken by shouts and sounds of battle.

Luckily the blighted creatures can be healed, angry animals can perhaps be soothed. The trolls cannot be soothed though and will indeed try to rile up the animals again, to cause as much chaos as they can.

Peace Once More

Once the final golem is taken down, the crystal restored and the trolls defeated there is a quiet comes across the villages. Those who were blighted are cured, the golems are back in their place as guardians of the village and thanks to the adventurers the villages have gotten through this time with minimal damage.

The villagers thank the adventurers, tell them to come and visit whenever they are in the area. A gate opens, for any voidtreckers who wish to return to Royal Lake Hill.

Royal Lake Hill: All Teams!

They return to the tavern, each to the inn that they set off from. The town is a little busier now, more areas have recovered from the blight and it has brought more trade into the town. Everyone is still relatively elderly or young, non fighters. But the market is bustling, there is even a puppet show going on in the square.

Around midday a beeping of their SCA will show a dot on their map where the Voidtrecker Express has landed, not far out of town, and a message. You may remain here until sunset.

It is up to them whether they wish to return to the train or spend the rest of the day in the town. For those staying in town they will find word of their deeds have preceded them and they will find no end of young, wide eyed, budding adventurers ready to buy them a drink or two in exchange for stories.
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-09-27 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm sorry..." He apologised immediately. "The storm was bad."

It was hard to keep track of anyone out there, but he had been trying to keep Lea and Xion in his sight, even if he tried to avoid being around Xion too much. He knew he confused her and he didn't want to do anything to make her upset.

"I'm okay though, thank you."
hotheadwarmheart: (Interested)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-10-05 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Lea quirked an eyebrow. "Taiki, do you realize that you're almost literally apologizing for the weather just now?", he said. "Anyway, I'm just glad you're alright."

Though that brought to mind something else he'd seen. About the time he'd lost track of Taiki, he'd spotted an animal in their midst that he couldn't recall having been among the ones they'd rescued. And Taiki wasn't wearing anything like the clothes he'd originally been wearing. Could it be...? "Taiki, this might sound like a really weird question, but... that dark colored unicorn-looking thing that was with us for awhile toward the end: was that you?"
longforgottenpromise: (thoughtful)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-10-05 06:29 pm (UTC)(link)
He looked a bit awkward but smiled, cutting off the apology that wanted to escape.

The question sort of surprised him, but not too much. After all, it was not something people were used to.

"Yes." He nodded, "That was me."
hotheadwarmheart: (Dorky)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-10-12 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
"OK, that's really cool," Lea said. Because how many people could say they had a friend who could turn into a unicorn? "Though judging from what you're wearing, it seems like it's also a really great way to lose clothes."

"So could you always turn into... whatever that was? Or is this a new development?"
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-10-12 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
He smiled at that, it had been a bit of a problem, losing his clothes like that.

He nodded, "Yes. Sort of... Sorry... I am a kirin, that is my... natural form I guess you can say."

He shook his head slightly, "But some things happened, so I didn't know I was a kirin for a while, then I forgot... I was... injured for a little while so I didn't think I would be able to transform anymore until I did a few days ago."
hotheadwarmheart: (Small smile)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-10-22 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
"A kirin, huh?", Lea said. "Can't say I've ever heard of kirins before now, but given that we're literally from different worlds, that's not too surprising. Anyway, it's good to know that you can transform again, even though it would probably be kinda impractical to do it on the train. Space is tight enough for human-sized people, never mind horse-sized."

"What exactly is a kirin-though, if you don't mind my asking? I mean, yeah, I know what they look like now, but do they have any kind of magic or special powers or anything?" They looked a lot like unicorns, and Lea had always heard them associated with magic, so he felt it was a reasonable assumption. Besides... "There has to be some kind of benefit to it to be worth literally losing your shirt every time you change, after all."
longforgottenpromise: (thoughtful)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-10-22 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
That's a lot of questions and Taiki is quiet for a moment as he gathers his thoughts. "In my world kirin are creatures of the gods. There are only ever twelve of us, one for each kingdom in our world. Our purpose is to seek out the king, or queen, of our kingdom, bestowing the mandate of heaven upon them."

He glances at Lea, to check he is following along. "Once we have found our master we serve at their side, helping them stick to the Way, to rule their kingdoms with compassion and justice. Our natural form is that of the kirin beast, but we have human shapes as well and that is a bit more practical in court... and on the train like you said."
hotheadwarmheart: (Small smile)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-11-01 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Lea nodded. "Sounds like you're a pretty important guy where you're from," he said. "I'm guessing Gyousou is the king you picked?"

He was also curious about how there could only be twelve kirins at one time, but opted not to ask that one. Both because asking where little kirins came from would be incredibly awkward, and also, well magic. Magic explained a lot of otherwise impossible things.
longforgottenpromise: (listening)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-11-02 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes. Lord Gyousou is the king of Tai." There is incredibly pride in his voice when he says that. He was the king and one day they would get back to Tai, or whatever was left of it and bring peace and hope once more.

He looked down for a moment, nodding. He did have an important job, which made it even the more important that they figure a way to get back soon. He had already wasted so much time being lost and for the people of Tai, time was something that was rapidly running out.
hotheadwarmheart: (Small smile)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-11-15 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Well from what I've seen, you did a pretty good job picking him," Lea said. "I'm no expert, but he seems like the kind of guy who'd make a great king."

"So, what is it that kirins do, aside from picking the king and helping out at court? That is, do you have any kind of magical abilities beyond the whole shape-changing thing?"
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-11-15 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"He is a great king." Taiki might have no confidence when it came to himself but he had a lot of confidence when it came to Lord Gyousou.

"Helping the king stick to the way is our whole job, we have some other abilities. We can bind shirei, that is youma, demons, that we bring to the side of the gods. We make a pact with them and they protect us and our king. Kirin cannot fight, or really be near fighting at all so shirei are important and can help the king in times of conflict."
hotheadwarmheart: (Small smile)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-11-25 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
Lea nodded. "Sounds useful," he said. "Though why can't you be near fighting? Is it just a rule that you're supposed to follow, or is there more to it?" It sounded like the latter, but he couldn't be sure.
longforgottenpromise: (contemplation)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-11-28 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
"Both." He told him with a small smile. "I don't like fighting, no kirin does. It's..." He shuddered. "Blood makes us sick, even the smell. We can't be around it at all, that's why we can't eat meat, it's like poison to us."

Taiki was both more used to blood than most kirin and weaker to it's affects, but there was no kirin that could withstand bloodshed at all.

"But I also can't fight, unless Lord Gyousou orders me to."

It's not exactly true, but the fact that he is so broken as a kirin that he can do the impossible isn't exactly something he wants to even think about, never mind discuss.
hotheadwarmheart: (Pensive)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-11-29 09:11 am (UTC)(link)
Lea frowned slightly, concerned. If kirin couldn't be near fighting or bloodshed, and given how missions typically went... "Then that must make missions really hard for you, huh?", he said. He wondered if there was anything he might be able to do to help with that.
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-11-29 09:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Sometimes." He nodded. The missions were pretty terrible, but he tried his best to be useful regardless.

"Lord Gyousou makes sure I do tasks that will keep me away from the worst of the fighting though."
hotheadwarmheart: (Thoughtful)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-11-29 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, if there's ever anything I can do to make things a little easier on you, just let me know, OK?", Lea said. "Even with his help, it could get pretty rough on somebody in your position, and I don't want you to end up getting sick or hurt if we can avoid it."
longforgottenpromise: (smiles)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-12-03 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
Taiki blinked before smiling at him. "Thank you Lea, that's very kind of you."

He was a very kind boy, that was clear enough from how much he cared for Xion.

hotheadwarmheart: (Sheepish)

Good place to wrap?

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-12-16 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
"Eh, it's no big deal," Lea said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Anyway, on a lighter not, want to get a snack?" He indicated the glazed nut and fruit vendor. "Even if we don't really have time to stick around for the show, those nuts smell great."
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

yup!

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2020-12-17 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"That would be nice." He nodded, happy to spend some more time with Lea before he went to find Lord Gyousou and returned to the train.
hotheadwarmheart: (Got it memorized 2)

And wrapped! TY for the thread. :)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2020-12-30 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
And Lea was just as happy to get to spend some time with Taiki, flashing him a quick grin before going to get in line for the nut vendor. All in all, a very satisfying end to a mission.