songerein | first slash ⚔ expedition log

Entry tags:

first slash ⚔ expedition log

Who: Anyone who was interested in exploring the surrounding Wildlands!
Which: Open Log
Where: Various parts of the Wildlands
What: Rokurou made a journal post for anyone interested in exploring the surrounding areas and now it's time for it to happen! This is designed as a log that anyone can make toplevels! Rather than specific prompts, there are various locations written with their describes and what can be encountered. In addition, some of the things thrown in here may show up again in the future (oooh aaah). Any questions can be thrown in the OOC Planning post!

Note: the timespan for this log spans for the rest of the month, so a character could go to one area one day and then another on another day.
Warnings: Potential violence during the fight encounters; everyone expected to tag warnings that might/unexpectedly pops up in their threads!

» OPTION A: PREPARATIONS «

The meeting place is at the north road at the Plaza where everyone can meet and greet. The other people around town (ie, our fellow other world NPCs) are also happy to lend a hand in offering whatever supplies, bags, and food they've managed to scrounge up so far. They've also made some requests to look out for while out there so finding them will be a plus. So there are bags filled with a few days worth of food, basic camping supplies like sleeping bags and basic kits, and some complimentary healing cupcakes provided by the Dreambucks fairies. Said to be good to heal most minor injuries including poisons. Everyone is given some rudimentary maps that show the main trails, and some landmarks, but otherwise it's called the Wildlands for a reason. People can group up to go wherever they want and how long people stay out there is up to them, but as this is an initial expedition it may be wise to not stay out too long or go out too far. If anyone hits the cliffs of the Wastelands, it may be best to turn back. Journals will be a good method of communication to share information and imprint images of places of interest.

The tapirs who come by to see them off will warn them to be careful and will give them a special totem that can be used once. If anyone ever gets lost or severely injured and unable to find help, they just need to hold onto it and think of any place in town and they will immediately be teleported back. Of course, as much as they'd like to give it for free, such a totem is hard to make...but don't worry, they just hope for tasty dreams later.

» OPTION B: MISTY FORESTS «

Requested items: herbs, wild fruits, animal meat, large branches, dark tree bark, gray moss

The first and largest area of interest are the misty forests north of the village. Along with the foggy mist that will obscure trails and easily turn anyone around, another warning is to not follow any wisps. These shiny orbs of light will try and lead any south to the swamps. The trees are also very...lively, their branches and roots occasionally moving. But many have delicious fruits and vegetables hanging from their boughs. Just beware of the blue mushrooms. They may look pretty, but they are extremely poisonous and can knock someone out within minutes. Otherwise there are plenty of bushes with berries and herbs and flowers scattered about. Areas where large pockets of sunlight poring through the trees will be the safest.

The one good thing about the forests is although there are threats, they are the least dangerous. Most creatures found will be "standard" woodland creatures. The rabbits may be more like jackalopes, and the deer may have flowers and moss growing on their horns, but they are recognizable. A few might spot some nymphs and pixies, but they will be quite shy and hide away. There are some interesting chickens that can be found and brought back to the farms. They are fairly docile, but beware of the rooster that may be hanging around. Now this big boy are big enough to be ridden and hitched onto wagons. But if offered their favorite food, cornflowers, large yellow flowers that are fortunately found nearby, they will become more amiable to follow. Some might encounter the chickens being harassed by strange snake headed creatures. They are easy enough to kill or scare away.

One creature in particular that one should be wary of are the Wild Willows. Located deeper in the forests closer to the Wastelands, it appears as an ordinary trunk of a weeping willow and can be found either in the middle of some large clearing or in a grove of smaller willows. Wild Willows lure their prey in by offering shade and other things usually found beneath normal willow trees. Once in reach, it will bind its prey by either draping branches or tendrils that have shot out from the ground before the "trunk" of the "tree" unwraps itself like a great maw, the inside strips covered in teeth and digestive enzymes meant to help tenderize and digest, and also act as something of a tranquilizer to stop struggles. Should any prey manage to escape, the Wild Willow reveals itself by standing. They range in size from full grown moose to as large as an elephant.

There are also bears, wolves, and other standard animal predators, but they will mostly remain unseen until nightfall. The most threatening and aggressive creatures will appear once the sun sets and there is very little light in the forests.

» OPTION C: THE LAKE «

Requested items: anything potentially edible, lakeweed

Although the river is a good source for fish, the lake is sure to have more variety. Plus maybe it'll be fun to swim around in. Although it can be walked to, some rowboats are salvaged and repaired by the southern docks and can be used to row down the river all the way to the lake. It's a mostly smooth ride, but there are small pockets where the water picks up and rocks need to be navigated around. There are also numerous splits as the river turns into streams that wind though the forests and swamps. The only guide they have is to keep left if they want to get to the lake. They might even encounter the singing fish who are happy to provide them traveling music.

Once there, the lake is calm, serene, peaceful. It almost feels like a crime to fish there, but so goes the circle of life. There are some water nymphs happily playing in the waters and will be quite curious about the newcomers. Fortunately, they are friendly and are willing to point out which fish, clams, crabs, and other small lake creatures are safe to eat. There is the rainbow pufferfish which has very strong toxins, but if cured properly is said to not only be extremely delicious, but also helps revitalize one's energy. The toxins if extracted can be a lethal poison or an important ingredient for antidotes. But should anyone be pricked by the pufferfish, they will descend into maddening nightmares, unable to awaken unless soaked in the blood of a kelpie.

Speaking of, there are other dangerous creatures that lurk in the very deep ends of the lake, although most will appear when the sun begins go set. Currently the more common underwater creatures can be found, with the kelpies in particular appearing on the shores to try and lure the unwary onto their backs and drown them.

BONUS: There is one particular branching stream where the water seems to sparkle. Should anyone follow it and look carefully, they'll see the sparkling is caused by white, shimmering rocks. Following the stream further will take them to a part of the forest that feels strangely chilly—the answer solved by the snow falling everywhere. The water remains warm so anyone can turn back...or they can disembark and check around the area. If they look carefully, they will find special white snow flowers that are not only good for tea, but can be used for various healing remedies.

» OPTION D: SWAMPS «

Requested items: various mushrooms, moss, blue mud, any wild flowers or fruits

One of the more dangerous areas to explore, the swamps can be accessed either by walking through the forest or by sailing through the river and following the ominous swamp trees. Some branches even seem to curl around and spell the word "SWAMP AHEAD"...

Any ogres dwelling in these swamps are on the far side closer towards the Wastelands, so it's unlikely one will find them without traveling deeper in. But there are numerous goblins, imps, giant toadmen, and other hostile groups that dwell within the swamp. The insects are also huge—that dragonfly could be big enough to ride on if it doesn't eat the rider first. The muddy ground is also deceptive as it can quickly lose its firmness and sink into the ground instead, making it more like quicksand. Other environmental hazards are the explosive bubbles that pop out of the water. Some are small and will cause small burns, but others can be scalding enough to be more severe. Fortunately, the blue mud that is abundant in the swamps can be used as a healing salve and would be good to collect. Also makes one skin silky smooth. The red mud, however, is toxic and more like destructive acid.

However, there are a few friendly faces who may try to help anyone in trouble. Although small, there are some pixies that can help guide travelers through and will be quick shoo away the wisps trying to lure any astray. Rainbow lizards as large as cats will just be cute, why would anyone want to hurt them? And there are large rock tortoises disguised as boulders that may try to push out anyone stuck in the mud.

» OPTION E: REDCAPS «

Requested items: OUR IRON

The Redcaps are scattered all through the Wildlands with their residences usually stone lodgings that resemble ruins or old castles. Asura is leading the charge for a particular castle raid that anyone can join. But there's plenty of other locations that can also be taken by those more reckless or determined, each with their own share of defenses. Some locations are equipped with cannons that fire either lead balls or magic explosives. Some will have ballistas that will fire volleys of iron bolts. Others will have dug deep trenches filled with iron tipped spears, scattered large bear traps...

One valid strategy is to just let the Recaps waste their iron and take what's thrown at them or left around.

But for those who want to do the raids, get past the defenses and let loose. The Redcaps are dangerous and will be out for blood, so reducing their numbers and proving who is the stronger isn't a bad idea.

[OOC: Make it simple, I said, it'll be easy I said— So this Expedition Log is more like some weird event log nevermind that. What's written is definitely not exhaustive as more and more of the setting will be revealed in other various ways, but this should give people a fun start! As always, anyone is free to make up their own creatures or locations that can be discovered while exploring. If you do, be sure to mention it in the OOC Plotting Post so it can be recorded officially later! As mentioned at the top, any questions and other comments can be left there as well.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"As long as this isn't some kind of trap... I've heard that fae creatures can be tricksters." It's only natural for him to be wary, but a part of him does want them to be as "innocent" and docile as they have been.

For now...he'll crouch down to further examine these foxes. The ones by him are red and have mushrooms on their back. It reminds him of the dogs he took in back in town, as well as those cows, and that makes him wonder again.

"...But it looks like there are things growing from their fur, something that I've seen in several animals now."

"Foxes are usual portrayed as tricksters in tales, aren't they?" An innocent question, "Still, these may be as innocent the fae dogs I'm seen about- Did you know often fae ride corgis in to battle as their steeds?" She read a lot of books whenever she was a child, and the Library in the Realm of Stories had certainly been where she spent a majority of her free time. "Or do you perhaps mean these could be shape shifted fae? Much like a kelpie, as even those take on some human form when they cannot lure one as a horse."

At least it also meant she knew the reason for concern but- well, didn't look it herself. Alice was taken in by the cuteness, but it wouldn't stop her from fighting back if the need arose. For now? well.

Fingers ran over one of the green fox's ears as she shifted so she could better support it on her lap, "I wonder if that may simply be a norm here."

"They rode corgis?" Eustace's eyes widen briefly as he looks at Alice in interest—before he quickly schools his expression to be more reserved again. "...But I meant either. I'm not as well versed in the ways of the fae, only just the general things you hear from stories and tales. They weren't as common in my world." If anything "pixies" were an actual type of monster.

The foxes around him start sniffing his legs and outstretched hands, one even putting its forepaws up on his knee to try and get a closer look at him. As they do, he takes the chance to lightly poke one of the mushrooms and is a little surprised when it falls off so easily. But the fox doesn't seem to mind and even shakes its body, causing more of them to fall. As it does, a smaller rodent like creature with a flower tail suddenly appears to take the mushroom and run off.

"...It seems there's some kind of symbiotic relationship between the creatures."

Cute. "They did- or some of them do. They take very good care of their corgis, even use them to pull coaches or help with their farm work. Not just prized by their warriors who ride them in to battle," if she noticed the change of expression? At least Alice's tone didn't indicate it, but she did happily go in to that bit of detail. "It's why some of them look as if the fur near their shoulders once held a saddle there," or so some tales said. "Most of what I know are from the books I was given, or that my father held in his library- and the library within the Realm of Stories as well."

Curioser and curioser. She wasn't about to touch once of the mushrooms that rolled near her, but it certainly wasn't missed—

"I wonder if they are all like that. Either by other animals or the fae and other beings that could harvest from them."

"...I wonder if they exist here..." He couldn't help but mutter in curiosity as he tried to imagine it. Those little short legged dogs... Used as steeds and to pull carts and wagons...

...

It really was cute he can't deny it, and again his expression loosened a bit. Still, he tried to maintain some focus and his thoughts were again distracted by the fox who suddenly hopped onto the back of his shoulders.

"Hey—"

He was a bit surprised by the bold move, flinching a bit as the fox balanced itself. But it was so!! Curious!! About his ears!! And it now had a paw on the back of his head as it sniffed them, causing Eustace's ears to twitch a bit.

"It's likely, given all of the other creatures here," why wouldn't there be corgis that belonged to fae who care for them here? "Perhaps, the more this place is cleaned up, the more likely we will see them," bringing life to this dream world filled with fae and other beings. The tapirs didn't seem to be fae but something else, if any of the books she'd gotten her hands on from the grand library was anything to go by on dream eaters.

Alice had to move a hand over her mouth to hide a little laugh, other hand still keeping to the fox that made itself at home on her lap. Oh dear.

It was hard not to smile given the scene. "It may be checking if you're friend or family at this point."

Eustace just made a slight noise of discomfort as he debated on staying still or grabbing the mischievous little thing.

"I'm not even remotely close to the fox clan..." A small mutter under his breath before he sighed and eventually reached back to pull the fox back and set it down.

It made a disgruntled squeak in protest and once again tried to climb on his back. But this time he was prepared and lightly grabbed it again.

"I'm not a fox, all right?"

"You've certainly gotten interest either way- or a fan."

At least with all of attention being given it wasn't likely they could do more than- well, Alice was gently plucking one out of her bag that had slipped inside of it. Some root vegetable in it's mouth as she softly tsk'd- "You can keep it this time, but I would be so terribly happy if you or your friends didn't do that again. You could simply ask."

It was curious when there was a disturbance if the brush near them- and it was a larger green fox, dragging along what looked to have been an abandoned leather satchel. Gnawed on, but otherwise it wasn't too worse for wear.

"I wonder what this could be."

As Eustace continued to try to keep the fox from climbing him again, he looked over at the newcomer with slightly furrowed brows.

"...That wouldn't belong to someone else, would it?" And if so, were they injured?

There was what looked like moss growing on the leather in places, and as if it had been partially buried for... who knew how long. How did time in this place work within it's own bounds? Hm. "I don't think it could, unless they've been buried alive."

She did reach out after the strap was dropped, a few smaller green and mushroom foxes settled on her skirt as Alice looked it over closely. It felt damp to her fingertips, and it might've once been white or a very light tan in color.

Dirt was dusted away from closed clasps, but she did hesitate in opening it. "This feels old, and heavier than it looks."

Eustace frowned at that as he looks over at the satchel, wondering what could be inside.

"I thought this world hasn't existed for too long."

"It's odd, isn't it?" Still, there was so much here that would need years upon years to exist. Seemed like there were seasons and so much else, as if this place had existed for a long, long time. "Time here may act strange; perhaps to seconds in other worlds, years could pass here," or so Alice could think.

Even to here own warped sense of time and everything else, there was some sort of order to it all. "So much looks as if there was some civilization here that has been abandoned for years. Even the Tapir act as if they've always been, despite that." Time was a funny thing—

"But... anything is possible in a dream. Why would that not hold true in a world such as this?"

He ruminated over her words, and even if it seemed strange, it didn't seem impossible, either. That town, for example—it looked clearly worn as if it had been around for ages yet apparently no one had ever lived there. The thought made him think of another possibility.

"It could be possible that like us this satchel—this place—was just dropped in as is. So it could belong to another world.

What's inside it?" Perhaps a clue would be found there.

Alice tipped her head, "Just as much of a possibility. Perhaps we'll find out eventually," mysteries of a world to unlock, and watch it grow in a way. Would it shape itself, rearrange, because it was so suddenly filled with people? Time would tell.

It took a little work, but she did get the rusted lock open to where she could unfasten the buckle and open the flap. Careful as a hand slipped inside and pulled out- fabric. Like a blanket of sorts. Laying it out would uncover it was wrapped around various tools and a small locked box.

She leaned over as she set the then empty satchel down and picked up an old corked glass bottle. Liquid swirling inside of it, "How peculiar. Some of that looks like it was meant to sharpen a blade and... clean a gun?" There were other pieces she couldn't identify, of course.

As Eustace peered closer, he could recognize some of the contents.

"That's what it appears to be... Perhaps it was left behind from a hunter, either lost or left behind with his remains." Though whether said remains were here or not would be a different question.

"Should we try and investigate the location the fox found it? Assuming it could lead us back to it."

"Perhaps so- if you can, or you simply know anyone who may, might be useful to take these items for some use." The dead could no longer use them after all, and for all either of them could guess this was some little gift offering for stopping by and not bringing harm.

Alice did closed the bag, didn't seemed to have anything else in there. All of it had been wrapped up neatly within the blanket. "Could be useful, and we've not really a time schedule to keep in this voluntary trek."

"...If no one else then I can take it." Although it felt a little strange to take the belongings of a stranger's—a dead stranger no less—it is true it would be a waste to just leave or throw away their items. And since he had a gun he could at least use it.

He then slowly stood, the fox that had managed to get onto his shoulder forced to jump off with a huff. "Let's see where it was found. It's not impossible there could be more items."

Her head inclined somewhat, "Better they get used to carry on while their original owner may not." She would take what he wouldn't, and perhaps it would help unravel the little mystery of this place in what the owner of this satchel was doing- or not. It was interesting all the same.

Alice gently shoo'd foxes off her lap so she could stand, the little ones hopping around her feet. "Hopefully my habit of following strange furry creatures doesn't rub off too terribly on you," a light teasing tone, but at least it seemed like the fox who had dragged it to them was willing to lead them somewhere.

Time to follow a strange fox.

There just a light hum of a laugh as he followed after Alice and the fox, a few of the ones that had gathered around them joining them to form a very strange entourage.

"I tend to wander myself, so it wouldn't be that much of a difference." He wouldn't always follow strange furry creatures, as she put it, but he might or might not have followed the odd dog or similar canine creature every now and then.

Not that she needed to know that.

But as they wander, Eustace will keep track of notable landmarks and even mark the way they came so they did not get too turned around. It was always better to be prepared.

"Wandering is a way to find things, after all." It's all she had these days- or so she suspected back in the world she was a part of. No home to return to, just what she could gather and go in to London itself. Whatever it could hold for her.

She could keep up with the foxes, careful of the brush they were being brought through. Deeper in, but nothing that was so close together that it seemed darker; if anything it seemed brighter, the further they followed.

... Were a few mushrooms glowing from their spots on tree trunks? Curious.

"Do you think we ought to bring a few of those back with us?"

Although he kept a wary eye and ear out for anything that might spring up, it did seem that wherever the foxes were leading them, it was safe. More notably he could hear the birds singing cheerily above as well as the soft rustle of other smaller creatures scattering as they approached, so no large predator was lurking about at least.

At her question, Eustace looked over the mushrooms. Hmmm...

"They did request us to bring in whatever we find that could be edible. However I'm not sure how it would be best to test these."

Mushrooms were already a difficult food as some could be rather toxic, but glowing ones? It added another complication.

They were nostalgic in a way, but this was no Wonderland- nor a Vale of Tears. It still was nice in a way, those glowing mushrooms; could imagine them continue to glow at night, and what a scene that could make in a forest if there were more around. Could even be a nice sort of thing if they took to the trees people were housing themselves in-

"If nothing else, they could be nice to see if we can get any to grow elsewhere." How did one grow mushrooms? "Might be helpful if we had these in the residential trees, or outside of them," night lights.

"As decorations?"

There was a slight arch of the brow as he looked at the mushrooms again. ...Hm.

"I suppose that could work when it's dark," he mused as his thoughts began to match Alice's. If these mushrooms continued to glow at night, they would serve a practical use as well as looking nice for those who may wish for them.

"Come to think of it, there isn't much in terms of lighting in town." Not even street lights, at least nothing functioning that he was aware.

"Taking some with the tree bark still attached could very likely help in ways of attaching them, and allowing them to spread for those who would like them." A few for her own treehouse- add a little touch that reminded her of better times. Wouldn't hurt to start a mushroom garden, would it?

Alice still kept the larger fox leading them in her vision- "Perhaps when we come back through, we can collect a few."

Fireflies and glowing mushrooms would do well for lighting up the 'neighborhood'.

"I'll mark it so we can find it more easily."

As they passed a nearby tree, Eustace drew his knife and cut into the wood, repeating the process on another tree once they've gone a measurable distance. Fortunately it didn't seem they would have to travel too far back as the fox suddenly bounds forward and stops by a large, old oak tree.

first slash ⚔ expedition log

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