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

Indeed, the warning was needed as Rokurou was ready to just go in for the kill. Unfortunately that had momentarily blinded him from realizing that it wasn't just it shaking the ground—it had a whole body laying in wait and was the true source of disturbance. Before he could pull his blade away from getting trapped, the roots shoot up and he was forced to let ago and jump back or else he'd be skewered.

"Shit, there's more to it!?" A surprise and a bit annoying...but it quickly changes as he grins. "Fine, just means it's even bigger challenge than expected!"

He might have lost one sword, but he still had another. "Time to see how much it likes fire!"

A fire that was now ablaze as he dodges yet another attack before rushing through, activating one of his artes as he zig zags over the ground, stable or not. All he needed to do was keep moving, keep jumping, and keep things burning.

"You know what they say-" Even if Alice was pulling backwards, dodging roots whipping upwards and trying to knock her down in to growing cracks in the earth, "-bigger they are, harder they fall!"

She was no stranger to fighting against gigantic monstrosities after all, and this would just be another added to that list. Better or worse that it was a list at all, but at the very least this was some destructive thing well outside of her Wonderland than within it. Even had to take a great leap to avoid falling in to one chasm where it simply went down in to darkness. How deep had this thing dug it's roots?

Alice did make a noise at the fire, the light of it catching her, and eyes narrowed. She wasn't going to play in it -to her knowledge- but was still dragging attention. Making it have to divide between Rokurou and herself as pepper pelted it, only stopping when the grinder needed to cool off from the rapid fire.

Those flames grew higher in places the pepper hit, taking on a brief blue and red coloration; burning hotter, eating through bark and down to 'flesh'. The heat being felt audible with the haunting howls emitting from the now even larger beast.

The fire doing its job, Rokurou took whatever opportunity he could to dart in and slash his sword on the exposed sides, careful this time to not dig in too deep as he didn't need to lose another sword. He could only make quick strikes as it would immediately lash out with its thorn whips, but that was fine with him—he was a fast fighter and he executed whatever quick artes he could to deal even greater damage.

At some point he managed to rejoin Alice, the Willow taken quite a lot of damage by now.

"Looks like we almost got it. Ready to finish it once and for all?"

The ground wasn't just littered with disheveled mounts of earth and chasms anymore, but also large burning portions of bark and roots that had been chipped away, exposing so many tender and vulnerable portions of the creature. Alice skidded back, leaving marks from the heels of her boots, letting out a breath as a few butterflies and even now colorful feathers fluttered away, scattering.

"Certainly," there was a much heavier weight in her hands, that hobby horse of a mallet once more making an appearance, stance changing as needed to hold it and be ready to move. "It's about time to sink this thing back down where it came from."

Slice and dice, and then hammer it in to a hole.

He glanced at the new weapon and laughed. "You just have everything, don't you? Then no need to hold back!"

And with that, he charges forward. Even with one blade he was deadly, cutting through the weakened armor. Of course, his real goal was to get his sword first, so after targeting the flank, he moved to where the hilt of the blade jutted out from the entangled mess of vines and roots that encased it. But a quick slash was enough to loosen it, just in time for him to jump back before he got speared by more whips.

Though hopefully this also provided a bit of a distraction so that Alice could focus on her hits.

"A girl must be well prepared if she's to venture out, and I'm nothing if not so." No stranger to battle, great or small. Even if she never sought out a battle, the fact that she was willing to fight all the same had kept her going for quite a while, and she didn't plan on stopping anytime soon.

Alice was using the time to position herself, running along and dodging vines and chasms with a leap or two. Keeping her eyes on not just everything being thrown at them, but Rokurou as well. Only a little slowed down by the great hobby horse of a mallet, managed to keep ahead.

When she saw her moment? Alice took it, using the weight and momentum of her weapon to nearly launch herself skywards, bringing it down on to Wild Willow with a thunderous crack that shook the beast and the ground. It trembled from the force down to its roots, and Alice was taking the moment to retreat as it fell, weapon tucked away as to not have it in her way, that blade back in had slicing her path clear of vines and roots.

It was certainly falling hard, parts of it still very much on fire, what could only be red sap leaking from the beast as it went.

With both blades back in his hands, Rokurou twirled them once before sheathing them as he slowly stepped to the edge of the hole where the Willow disappeared to. Given how the vines, although struggling, were losing strength, it was clear that it was done for.

"Hm...should we bury it or throw some more fire on it to make it sure it burns completely?"

For the moment, the hobby horse vanished from Alice's hands and left them empty all so she could smooth her skirt down idly. It could still be heard, struggling even if it was slowly fading. Not about to risk stepping any closer to the hole than she already was. Well then-

"Burn it completely, and then bury it. We can take a little break while it burns, and make sure it doesn't crawl back out." Be done with it, and keep mind there were no doubt others like it out here. Burying it would ensure it would return to the soil in another way, and put out any burning embers at the same time.

"Then leave it to me," Rokurou grinned. "I'm no mage caster, but I can still get the job done."

With his sword in hand, he executes one of his artes, flames appearing on the blade and enlarging a fair bit due to his high energy remaining from the battle. It then casts out into the hole, the sound of it igniting and the scream of the dying Willow faintly heard.

"Also considered using another one of those bombs, but that's probably overkill, huh? Are you limited on those?"

At least one of those things were going to be one less in this place. Hopefully no one not experienced in fighting, or not a quick runner, encountered any of these things on their own.

Alice reached behind her, pulling out another clockwork bomb, the stop watch timer in her other hand. Ticking away calmly, "It is something where I can only pull one at a time," no flinging several at once. She could detonate one early to pull another after, but that was beside the point. "A little over kill, I believe, is called for with this," and she did step close enough to drop it in, leaving it to detonate on it's own rather than chance causing it to go off early.

A lot hum- "I don't suppose you'd be opposed to having a snack while waiting to bury this?" Perfect time to have a bit to eat, right.

Rokurou stared at her for a moment before he laughed.

"You really are an odd one, but sure. Could use a drink to celebrate as well." As he spoke he reached to where he always carried a jug of alcohol by his side. "Unless you're underage."

"May as well keep energy up, you know." Trekking off in to the woods, it was better to have something rather than getting tired and hungry. She'd gotten a bit of dried fruits and meat to take along, which was honestly better than nothing. Able to take the paper package from the bag with her.

Alice glanced up, "I wouldn't say I am, given even toddlers are allowed where I'm from." Buying it was one thing, but even then she was nearly twenty. If she wanted she could buy it. Just didn't make much of a habit unless it was given to her.

Well that caught off guard.

"Toddlers? I mean I got a sip from my brothers when I was a kid but it wasn't actually really, you know, allowed."

"It's rather common- though I will admit the toddlers tend to get that heavily sugared portion at the bottom of a rum toddy, or whatever sugared alcohol their parents are drinking." A small shrug, "Helps them sleep, so I've been told." Amongst other things, but that was the more common reason she'd heard.

"Some children get a glass of wine with dinner."

"...Damn. Have to say I'm a little jealous," he laughed before he poured her a cup for her. "This is just something I managed to find in town. Seems like some kind of ale, but it's pretty good."

She'd be taking that cup once it was offered to her, "Things a little more strict when it comes to a drinking age, I take it?" There was an age one had to be to actually order or but alcohol, but that was pretty much it. "All one can ask for," A good drink, even if Alice didn't partake often.

Why not? "Cheers then, yes?"

"I wouldn't say 'strict,' but more rules about it, yeah," he mused. "Of course families could always do whatever they want, but mine was a bit more disciplined—except during parties or festivals. Then we'd let loose."

A grin before he raised his cup. "Cheers."

"I never much cared to drink often once I was old enough to purchase it," there were far too many things going on, too many troubles and- well, she already wandered and drifted about. No need to add on to that. "A glass of wine with dinner had been fine enough," until she'd had no family.

A raise of the cup before taking a sip, and while there was a small face made she didn't choke or cough from the burn that tended to come with things. Wasn't an unpleasant face made, but- "It has been a while since I've had anything. This has a nice taste to it."

"Pretty good, right?" Rokurou grinned as he drank his with a bit more ease while still savoring the taste. "Think I'll try and 'get' some more before more folks find it."

Hey, if he didn't have to pay for it, no harm in taking what he found, right? He'd still share it.

Some.

"But that's not a bad way to drink, either. I'm a pretty heavy drinker and perk to being a daemon is I don't really get hangovers. Downside is it can shoot straight to my head if I'm not careful, haha."

"It is," stronger than she was used to, but that was fine. The burn was a bit welcome and almost all the reason needed to sip at it rather than set it aside. Why not have a good drink after a fight like that? A decent enough way to pass the time while waiting or a giant creature to burn before moving on.

Alice hummed lightly, "Seen it go to enough men's heads to know how that can be." whenever she visited her Nanny, though there wouldn't be any more of that either. "Better to keep on shoulders and covered- No hangover is at least a plus, seen enough men sleeping those off in jail cells as well."

Her life had been very... interesting, to put it kindly.

He just laughed. "Right? Sometimes I miss it because it's always an experience, but I don't really miss the feeling of it.

But what would have made you see men in jail?" Wait. He leaned in with a grin. "Don't tell me you served time?"

A low hum- "Oh no, just a few hours or a night in a cell of my own. Most of them didn't like the fact I would wander the streets in a daze at times, and would rather do so to keep me safe." It was a side effect of things, she knew that. Who even knew what exactly that bastard had actually had her taking- "Side effects of what was being done to me."

Vague, yes, but as much as she would go in to all of that. "Not much of a problem these days, at least." Alice peered towards the hole after another sip, smoke was still rising but it wasn't as dark. A bit lighter, smoldering almost.

Done to her? There was a slight arch of the brow as he wondered what this girl had been through.

"Sounds like you had it a bit rough time, but I won't pry." Everyone had their own stories they either loved to share or would rather kept to themselves.

When you've got someone actively trying to outright destroy and replace memories on top of some diet of drugs- well. Things do most certainly happen. While she wasn't completely well, she was far better. Her head tipped a little.

"The important part is it's over, to be terribly honest." Vague? Yes, but that was that as far as she was concerned. "Do you suppose it's time to bury what's been burned?"

He just nodded at her words before finishing his drink.

"Hmm..." Glancing over at the smoldering hole, he capped the bottle and tucked it back at his side before standing. "Yeah, looks like it's pretty much done. If it managed to escape even after all that, then I'd just have to commend it for being a formidable foe."

He then laughed as he looked over at Alice. "Don't suppose you can conjure up a shovel?" He was joking, really, but after everything he had seen her produce so far, he somehow wouldn't be surprised.

first slash ⚔ expedition log

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