Lord of the Festering - RPLOG
Participants
Date
9/11/476
Log
Nearing noon in the swamps, the best time for a search to take place when the light is still strong and has the best chance of penetrating the thick foilage of the mangroves. The note called for all interested parties to meet at the foot of the basilisk monolith - the ancient creator artifact towers over the swamp like a silent sentinel, and at its foot waits a single jaguar clothed in long sleeves, a hood and leggings - good for keeping off the ever-present insects, even with the approach of winter.
Sylera steps cautiously through the swamp, attempting to ensure she doesn't trip upon something. Yet even then she can't resist wondering glances at everything around her. Finally though she reaches the designated area, and the figure beneath it, and strides towards them. "Greetings..."
Angus walks brisky through the swamp, heading to the location as quickly as possible. Last time he was here he had encountered something that confused him, something unexplainable. He was here once more to indulge his curiosity, not just to find out what was going on here in the swamps. Walking up the the monolith he tips his hat to the Jaguar. "Hello there....Was kind of expectin a Coral snake, guess he had other pressing matters"
Dio isn't entirely aware of the various mysteries that have /plagued/ this swamp, but now was the time for discovery! More mysteries! After Angus and Sylera arrived rather punctually, Dio strolls up with a few items in each hand. As he gets closer and closer, and certainly when he begins shoving them into his mouth, it's quite obvious the strange coat wearing lion has become quite ravenous due to recovering from recent injuries and other events. Chomping on a piece of bread, Dio says with his mouthful, "'effo lood." Crumbs spray everywhere, and finally he swallows the wheat product within his mouth with a large gulp. "Good to see ya lads," he says, sans the crumbs. "I'm 'ere fer the job."
Alef comes from the direction of the town. like the last time she was here she has turned in the robes for wading overalls, boots, and her padded armor. using her staff as a support to avoid tripping or falling in the muck as she joins the others on the island. glazing up in awe at the monolith towering above them. seeing it in full daylight just as amazing and awe inspiring as seeing it at night under the light of the moon and a unending horde of earth wisps. walking over to the group she nods to Dio and Angus, noticing the Betta girl she gives a friendly smile, and to the Jaguar, Gordon, who she saw breefly last time she was here. "I hope im not late. I got here as fast as I could once Halder pointed me in the right direction." Smiling lightly.
"Hello, all," the jaguar says. "Officially, my title about this parts is the hermit -" he certainly looks a bit too young to be stereotypically so - "but I'm just Gordon. I'm supposed to be here to take stock of the monolith's activity, but Francis and Dolce keep on dragging me into their little schemes...in any case, they're busy trying to track down the source of these disturbances, so I'm more or less here to fill in for them in briefing you."
"He asked me to keep a look out for folks who were with him the last time. In any case, since then there've been a few disturbing things happening deep in the swamp, and not just voices. Folk here and there, the black gops getting more aggressive, and the swamp wisps have thinned out somewhat. I've been living in this cave at the foot of the monolith for five years in service of the Academy, and not quite seen anything like this. Any questions, ask away, and then will rendezvous with Francis and all."
Angus nods, turning to greet everyone. "Dio, Alef." He smiles a little bit before turning back to face Gordon. "Sounds like the swamp is getting a little more intresting, was there anything new found in the location from last time?" He was extremly curious, wanting to know if there was anything more found while he was gone....
Sylera can't help but giggle at Dio's entry, so out of place for where they were. "Hello once more you two." She says softly to Angus and Dio, then gives a polite nod to the one she doesn't know. But then the guide was speaking and the betta turns to listen. "I take it that the swap wisps are... Beneficial to the environment in some way?"
CHOMP! And just like a magician, the bread within his clutches has completely disappeared. However, unlike such a master of tricks, the destination of the summoned loaf was quite apparent. The lion looked at the bag within his other free hand and shrugged, deciding to stuff it into his coat pocket for another time, which could be five minutes from now. "Good to see ya all," he nods, waving to everyone now that the gathering has reached its probable peak. "So, 'ermit Gordon o' the Swamps," he says after listening to his little speech. "I 'aven't 'eard much 'bout these swamps 'side from some rumors 'ere and there. So to sum it up, we got some spooky and violent swamp things gettin' violent?"
Alef smiles gently at Gordon, nodding "Anything relating to that large blob that attacked the Monolith? When last I was here the Monolith made the Wisps as a defense system. maybe the Wisps are thinning out because the Monolith doesnt need them to guard it right now? Or maybe the Gops are attacking them?" her ideas are just that, ideas, fully expecting to be wrong, just nodding "It is good your doing well though." Smiling lightly, taking a moment to relax.
"Not that I know of," Gordon says in reply to Angus' question. "But maybe the rangers have more details on hand about violent and spooky things. And miss, while the wisps aren't eactly beneficial per se, it is an interesting anomaly. They're residual mathemagics which the monolith emits on a regular basis - any changes should probably be taken note of, although I'm not sure why this is happening myself. If there's nothing else, we can be off to the rendezvous point. Keep your eyes peeled." With that, he's headed west and north, off the island and into the muck.
Sylera gazes up at the monolith with new respect at that tidbit of information, seemed every time the betta turned around she was greeted by something interesting. Still that wonderment was tempered by an odd feeling that made the betta pull her fins in closer as she moves to follow Gordon. "So it sounds like there is some history regarding what's happened previously..." Sylera glances at Angus. "Perhaps you could enlighten me?"
Angus frowns, that means it was still a mystery. "...We found a clearing with some tar pits, and some unknown mathemagics. Managed to locate the place....because it was giving me a headache." He knew it sounded silly, but that was the only explanation he had for it as his left hand drifted to the grip of his rapier. A sense of dread started to come over him, the feeling as familiar to him as the cloak upon his shoulders as he looks around. "Lets get moveing."
Now was the time. The time for meat was now, the place was here. It probably wasn't entirely safe to eat within such an environment, but there are few things worse than fighting on an empty stomach, and that would be fighting on an overly full one. Luckily, this lion has plenty of room to spare, so he pulls out his bag of delicious cured meat and rips a piece off with his sharp teeth. "Mystery maths?" He comments, swallowing down the meat as he follows along with the group. "An' what's this monolith everyone's talkin' 'bout? Should we be blowin' it up o' somethin'? O' perhaps ya would rather study it some more."
Alef shakes her head and points up at the giant black smooth stone tower they are heading away from. "You should use your eyes more Dio." Smiling lightly. "its a Creator Artifact that awakens a Dorment Great Bloodline. I dont think we want to blow it up. Even if that were possable." Shaking her head as Dio eats while they walk through the swamp. "When I was here last, a gigantic blob of darkness that is made of Dark Mathemagics in some way was trying to eat the Monolith, which made the Wisps to protect itself. the blob got away afterward." Speeking in a voice twinged in unease, its not hard to tell from the way she mudders mathemagic equations under her breath as they walk shes on edge about something.
Gordon says nothing, but grimaces, appearing to be fighting off the very same sensation that everyone save Dio is feeling. He doesn't say much, instead leading the group past the familiar sight of the shack that's the ranger outpost, then a little further into the muck and roots. The calls of swamp fauna are all about, although nothing really more threatening than a mudscuttler approaches the group so far. It's a while before a single, lone figure in a wide-brimmed hat can be spotted, crouching in a small spot of more solid ground while he waves everyone over.
"Gordon! Finally, you made it, and with backup, too! I've been tracking them all day, thought I was going to lose them more than once or twice, but...it's almost as if...never mind. Ah, it's you," Francis says, noticing Angus. "I asked for those who came the last time to return, but...are you the only one who could make it? I suppose we'll have to take what we can. Prepare yourslef - got any more of those mysterious headaches yet?"
"Hmm... So many things that we don't know yet..." Sylera sighs softly. Still as they travel it takes a bit of concentration for the betta to keep the worst of the musk off her trailing fins, not that there seemed to be much more to look at. As they reach their destination she gives the new figure a nod. "And what is it that you're tracking? The gops?"
Angus stays silent as they travel, keeping out of the worst of the muck as best as we can. "It's perplexing isn't it?" He comments to Sylera before they manage to catch up with Francis. The question just makes him smile. "Not at the moment, but I'll warn you if I start getting any." He answers, tapping his claws on the guard of his rapier as he looks around.
Dio gives one last look to the monolith while Alef speaks, chewing on his trusty jerky all the while. "Creators? These artifacts 're always the strangest things, ain't they? 'ope we don' 'ave to worry too much 'bout 'nother big o' blob attackin' us." Hearing people talk about headaches and what not, the lion looks over everyone and notices that they don't exactly seem like their usual selves. "An' now mystery 'eadches? Yer all feelin' alright, yeah? I'm gettin' more curious by the minute," said the cat.
Alef smiles lightly. "they really are. but seeing them always fills one with awe and amazement." Nodding lightly, greeting Francis as he adresses Angus. "What exactly are you tracking?" Shaking her head "no headache, but I do feel incredably on edge..." Looking around as if expecting something to ambush them.
Francis nods quickly, then points out into the darkness. "Them."
It's not immediately clear who the coral snake is pointing at immediately, but at length one can make out figures picking their way through the thick mangroves, largely clad in light but concealing clothing. "Gordon, thanks for bringing the folk here. This is beyond your scope of things for now - head back to the shack and hole up with Ash and everyone else. I fully intend to come back one way or another. As for the rest of you, keep up with me. I trust you can at least manage not to make that much noise."
Sylera peers at where Francis points barely able to make out that there's something there. As she steps forward however her foot somehow manages to land on a stick with a loud crack, alerting the figures. "...Oops..."
Angus nods his head slowly, taking a step forward before he hears the stick snap. "Damn." He whispers loudly, using mathematics to summon up a wave of wind to try and take the runners off their feet. But there were to many trees in the way, the spell becoming weaker as it continues.
Dio puts away his jerky regretfully and switches out his soul gems for something a bit more subtle in nature to help avoid detection. The lion sneaks his way through the area and lets out a small "Uh oh" after hearing a small snap of a twig or whatever it may be. Seeing the mysterious creatures take off, he chaces after them! Howerver, the environment wouldn't make such a task easy, especially considering the mud and roots attacking at his legs. With a heavy struggle, he manages to keep sight of the creatures, but hasn't gained any ground on them.
Angus curses loudly as his spell fails, taking off after their targets. Unlike Dio his footing was sure, avoiding anything that could of snagged his boot this time as he breaks ahead and draws closer to the beings they were pursuing. He refused to let them escape while questions still remained unanswered, dogging them as they flee.
Alef is completely content to follow Francis's lead in tracking the unknown's, but when the stick snaps, and the targets flee she finishes one of the equations on her tounge and leaps. a thick current of air flowing under her as she manages to get to branch level, moving through the branches and vines on mathemagicly augmented air guiding her way. keeping an eye from above and as quiet as she can.
No time to lose! Experienced as he is, Francis himself doesn't have that much time to so much as shoot accusatory glares before leaping into action, easily gaining ground to keep abreast of Angus in their pursuit. With Angus in the lead, Dio and Alef still in the game, and Sylera trailing behind, everyone tries to keep up as best as they can. Francis and Angus are the first to catch up somewhat, unwilling to lose their quarry amongst the trees, but eventually burst into a small clearing with yet more tar pits about - or at least, it looks like tar.
"These weren't here the last time I was here," Francis mutters, then looks up at the congregation of beings gathered on the small patch of dry land, clustered about the rotting corpse of an alligator, concocting some kind of paint from its putrefying innards and painting their limbs with the disgusting mess. Slowly, he draws a long hunting knife, for all the good it will do. "And neither were you. You don't belong here."
"We belong here more than you do, ranger," one of the cultists replies, a garish, ghoulish sight. "This land was once our master's dominon, and it's only right that it revert to his ownership."
Angus slows as they come up to the clearing, gritting his teeth as the headache comes back in full force! "Great, more of it..." He mutters as his gaze alights on the tar pits, before the cultist speaks and his gaze snaps towards them. Without another word he draws his pistol and fires one of the barrels. The round smashing into the speakers collarbone just two inches away from the left side of his neck. "Not anymore."
Sylera can't help but mutter a curse under her breath as she takes off after the others. Not only did she have a late start but with things pressing as close as they were the betta was having trouble just not shredding her fins on the trees and foliage! Still this makes Sylera flash back to the previous night though at least these people didn't have someone they kidnapped... She hoped. From ahead she hears the gunshot and tries to hurry.
Dio does his best to keep up, sloshing through the mud and tangling roots the best he can. Perhaps it was just his age, or maybe even the injuries? Either way, he quickens his pace even further after hearing the gunshot. The time for combat was nigh! Dio swaps out his soul gems and takes out his sword and buckler, attempting to get ready for the foes before them.
Alef continues to move through the branches and trees, hearing the gunshot she stops short of bursting from the trees, landing on a thick branch of vines, looking at the tar pits and cultists, eyes widening at a amazing feeling of "WRONGNESS" that seems to fill this area. just like back at the Monolith before, and the Soup Kitchen. Eyes widening as she finishes another equation, the wind that carryed her turning into a cutting gale as it flows out of the trees, slicing vines and cutting up dirt as the razor thin air gusts flow into the cultist pack.
The shot lands squarely in the cultist's collarbone, which sends the others to howling and retailiating with dark magics of their own, sending anyone still in the trees diving for cover after Alef releases her gusts. Angus, for some reason, appears to be ignored even as the cultist mutters something with his dying breath.
With a sickening squelch, the contents of the "tar pits" undulate, pulse, and then rapidly flow together into one enormous, amorphous mess, vaguely transparent around the edges. Bits of rotting wood, bones and putrid swamp water seem to make up most of its bulk as it tries to decide on a form, twisting itself into several various interesting shapes before finally deciding against one. An unbelievably noxious stench rises from it - one that the cultists seem impervious to, but everyone else certainly senses.
~You call me for this? They are not even another one's creatures! But my word is my bond, and I already sense taint on one of them. Its mind rots with temptation and fear...so be it.~
~Listen well! I am Akros, Lord of Decay, and this is MY land, from when you were but mere thoughts in your creators' minds! My creatures still inhabit the meager places where even you little creatures dare not to tread! All I am doing is taking back what is rightfully mine, stolen from me...and you are nothing by comparison. Ephermeal, meaningless! And now, meddlers like this one...~ It peers down at Angus, or seems to. ~Ah, if only you were but one of the Life Court's creatures, but tainted as you are, you still belong to no one. Perhaps they will not mind if I bend the rules a little.~
Something... Rank reaches the betta's nose before she even gets to the clearing. All Sylera can make out are figures flinging themselves this way and that and... Something large, probably what's making the smell, rising up... Still she pulls free her dagger in preparation for entering the clearing presuming the others don't retreat.
Angus glowers, holstering his pistol as he alone is unaffected by the dark magics thrown around as his eyes widen in a little in surprise at the creature that draws itself from the tar pits. He stands his ground, the stubborn fox glaring up at the thing that towers over him as he draws his Rapier. "You are correct, I belong to no one." He comments in a hard voice, keeping fear from threading his words as he takes a step back from the Creature, yet he does not flee just yet.
Dio finally makes it through the clearing and is met with an awful smelly smell of awful smelliness that makes him gag and cough. How could anything smell this bad, thought the smelly lion. Gazing up upon the lord of stink, Dio realizies they weren't going to get very far without spiritual assistance. "We're gettin' outta here lad," he says to Angus. "We need to bring the lass o' the lad. Ya know what I'm talkin' 'bout." With his buckler still drawn in front of him, he begins to back up to head into the mush once more.
Alef's eyes widen as the "Tar" begins to move, forming some... THING as she stands up on the branch, watching it with a look of shock on her face, flashing back to one cold winter night in Cliffside. Talking to master Bleu, the old dragon quietly reading before clearing his throat. "Alef, there are things in this vast galaxy older then ourselves, then our creatiors, older then some of the star's themselves. such things are not to be tifled with unless you can bring Point Blank Annilation upon them. in other cases the better part of valor should be excersied." "I understand Master." Returning to the here and now her knees knock and her equations fail her. Yelling from the branch "GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE! NOW!" Running the rotes to create fog, thick clouds of white mist forming from the water around the island, obscuring the Old one and his Cultists. Then Air as Angus and Dio feel air mathemagics pooling around them, ready to aid there retreat, calling over her shoulder "SOSORRYTOINTRUDEWERELEAVINGNOWBYE! RUN!" leaping from branch to branch as she can feel the dull throb of a building headache, and her tounge, lips, and throat drying out rapidly, but she will have time to let magic fatigue and overuse claim her when shes not in danger of being eaten by a swamp god.
~And yet your mind rots from within,~ the Old One calls after Angus as they flee, making no move to pursue the group even as francis finally gets ahold of himself and hurries to push Angus away. ~A canker, a sore, weeping, dripping. Such filth that invades your thoughts, such corruption and temptation that not even Kendrac's power can drive it from you, little creature. How many times have you lied to those near to you? How many times have you been tempted? And this is what is sent against me? Next time, bring me a true challenge worthy of my creatures.~
Sylera stumbles to a halt just before the tree line at Alef's yell. She wavers, but seeing the... Thing in the pits more clearly now and hearing some of those words... She shakes her head and begins to back up as the fog forms. Wonders around every turn yet horrors as well... This land was certainly a different place than her home.
"What an honor it is to hear such words from the Lord of Decay himself! The old one, nah, the God that would attack innocent beings looking for a decent meal! My mind may rot, but even rotten I shall still have enough strength to show that even Gods can bleed!" Angus shouts in Challenge, pushing and fighting against Francis as they flee. "I have face many who believed the same, many who thought that they were Gods until they met the edge of my blade. One more will change nothing!"
"Fox-kit!" Dio yells, deciding against heading back temporarily as he makes his way for Angus. "Sword 'n' bullets ain't gonna do much 'gainst a spirit o' whatever this thing is. We can beat 'em, but not now. We need the lad o' the lass. I know how ya feel, it hurts me too, but we're gonna 'ave to call it fer now 'til we get their help." The lion's large hand grips around one of Angus' arms, pulling him with perhaps excessive force as he retreats through the fog and back to safety.
Alef dances in agitation on a diffrent branch, knowing any time now shes going to push her luck and probobly hurt herself more then just dehydration. repeating "Comoncomoncomoncomon!" under her breath as she waits for the others to clear the clearing, leaping from branch to branch with air support back toward the monolith, and the town beyond. black creeping in the edges of her vision, blood leaking from her cracking lips and tounge, even her gums dryed out as she suddenly wonders where that branch she was going toward is. why the wind just died beneath her... oh. thats why... and then her eyes close, and ahead of the fleeing group the waders and coveralls wearing fox mage falls from the trees, hitting the bog water with a splash. the last concious thought before her brain switches over to subconsious rest mode is "I hope someone gets me out of here". and then shes off to the land of dreams and nightmares...
Thankfully, the cultists don't appear to pursue the group, perhaps at their festering lord's command. Francis, ever the present-minded, grabs Alef and unceremonously slings the fox over his shoulder, panic and exertion causing him to treat her as if she were no more than an empty sack. It's a while before everyone feels they're more or less safe enough to slow down - but it's a long walk back to the ranger shack, let alone Scraggly Root.
