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.]

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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.

"Clever idea," and hopefully the trees wouldn't mind. Never could tell in places like this.

Alice hummed a little, head tilted back as she followed just how high the tree went, only stopping just beside the fox. Awfully tall and- "There looks as if there's a door here- but it doesn't look like it's been opened in ages," there were vines across it- and there were partially buried bones several feet away, aged leather and fabric barely there. This was likely where the satchel had come from at least.

Eustace frowned a bit upon seeing the bones before stepping close, crouching down to one knee.

"Given the debris, this must have been the owner of the bag." He then turned to the covered door. "Which begs the question if he was also the owner of this place, a wayward wanderer—or a victim."

It wouldn't be impossible that the person had been killed by the real resident of the tree, but just as likely they had been lost in the woods and unable to open the door to seek shelter and ended up passing. Or it could be completely irrelevant, there were just too many possibilities.

Standing, he looks at the door a little warily, but also curious.

"Should we try and investigate? It could also be a trap."

This tree was rather large...and he had faced actual monsters in the form of trees before in his own world. It wouldn't be so impossible here.

"One could at least hope it was a somewhat peaceful passing- even if this was all uprooted from elsewhere," meaning more in their sleep than anything. At least there was no sign of some weapon still stuck anywhere within those bones, close as Alice was allowing herself to get to them. There was definitely a place that showed signs of the bag having once been beside it.

Arms folded behind her back, head tilted to all the better look over the door. There were a few flowers blooming on those vines, tree covered in enough of them there was no windows visible. Just the door.

Lips pressed in to something of a line, "Curiousity begs to see if it can be opened, doesn't it." Could be locked, could be a trap- could just as easily swing open after a touch. "Could note it down to investigate further another time as well; have more people accompany us incase it is a trap? Or take that leap ourselves."

Taking one step close towards the door, Eustace studied it a little more. It certainly appeared like something taken straight from some storybook fairy tale, and so far the tree itself had made no movements. He also couldn't sense any ominous auras or anything that would give it away to be a living creature than just a tree.

After several moments more, he stepped back.

"...While we may be capable of dealing whatever is inside, it would be more prudent if we informed others. Should the worst case scenario occurs and we get trapped inside without any ability to contact the others, they will try to search for us."

As curious as he was and likely that it was going to be a simple abode similar to the ones in town, taking the road of caution would be better, especially with them being in a new, strange world like this.

Alice hummed, "Quite true. It would be terrible to simply vanish and others simply assume we've woken up, or some other such thing." No one would know to look for them, or might not eve think. If this world was anything like the Realm of Stories, people could just come and go without warning. Here it was as simple as waking up fully, rather than some piece of them remaining aware.

She moved then, sitting on her feet and giving a mushroom from her bag -one that she had picked hours ago- to the large green fox. It seemed to accept the token happily, standing back up as she dusted off her skirt.

"We shall return to this another day, and sate our curiosities then," better prepared if the worse did happen once that doo was opened.

Eustace continued to study the tree before he pulled out his journal.

"One moment. I'm going to sketch this as well as note the landmarks. It won't be the best, but I can try and draw up a map so we can return here more easily. If you want to go back and start collecting those mushrooms, you can go ahead and I'll meet you there."

She rolled the thought over in her head, the option, even once Eustace did start his sketching. It was a good idea, couldn't rightly count on another fox guide, used to passing through places as Alice could be. Couldn't say too much about her general sense of direction at times, either.

"It might not hurt to sketch as you walk- refresh the most obvious landmarks on the path," draw it backwards in a way, to be as accurate as possible no matter the skill level.

"I plan to...but maybe I should to note other things we've noticed as well, such as particular animals spotted in certain areas. Like the foxes."

The quill quickly scratches over the paper as he glances up at the tree and then turns to look at their surroundings, noting the general size of the area and surrounding forest. He then glances up and takes a rough estimate of their cardinal direction based off the sun's position, reminded of how he should try to find a real compass before setting out again.

In doing so, he pauses when he sees a subtle parting into the forest from another direction. "Looks like there's another trail leading into here as well. Something else we can look into next time."

"I know my father was terribly fond of maps, but I never could tell if it was because of how they looked, or because he wanted examples of the advancements made to have them more accurate." A very educated man, who was more than happy to entertain her love of books and knowledge while she was so very young. At least she could remember her more fond memories of him rather than the guilt that twisted so much. "A good idea."

Alice didn't mind waiting for a moment, as walking back together could likely prevent another detour from occurring with either or both of them in separate ways.

At least the foxes remained, playing in the clearing and the larger ones almost waiting for them all. "A new adventure, and ne better gotten to when there's more daylight to be spent on it," which would be had by knowing where they were going to get back to this spot.

"At the very least the foxes also don't find this place threatening." Eustace made a few more notes before turning back the way they came.

"But I'm finished here for now, I can always add more to it later if necessary. Let's start heading back."

"A good sign, or so one would hope." The foxes were standing and the young ones rolling about, but it seemed their little impromptu troupe was ready to head back as well. Having more daylight on their side would be the better time to further explore the area at least.

"Happily. We can gather mushrooms on the way back together- I might not be able to reach some of them after all."

Some good work done, at the very least.

There was a small sound like a laugh as he tucked the journal under his arm and started following the foxes.

"Fine, I don't mind. Just know we can always come back for more."

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first slash ⚔ expedition log

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