True Assess of the Soulless - RPLOG
From Rusted Promises
Participants
Date
23/8/475
Log
The group manages to get their dirty hands on a map. While most 'treasure' maps are a bit(very) shady and unreliable, this one seems legit. The seal of the Good King, and the fact that the gentleman that dropped it looked quite official goes a long way. Ah well, the messenger has already run off, and this map won't follow itself...
Looking at the map, her interest piqued, Monique asks, again, "So this is legit, right?" Of course the smith wouldn't be here at all except for those seals. Adjusting the heft of the hammers on her shoulders, she looks around their location.
Ictus hmms? and blinks at the map, he looks after the messenger and sighs as he runs off. He takes the map and looks it over curiously, particularly the seals
Nemoric glances at the map a bit and shrugs, still wearing his heavy plate armor, "As the saying goes, one way to find out? Either its legit or we end up on some wild goose chase no?"
Peril chuckled softly, arms folding loosely across her belly as she waits nearby keeping a close eye on who held the map "You know those things are trouble. No one gives away a fortune. You can bet there is a catch like a dragon or a labyrinth of traps"
Variai has pretty much found her way to the rest of the group, curious to what these folk are gathering for, and her eyes reach the map Monique has been holding. The fennec, seemingly more focused on the scroll then anyone else, walks right up and pretty much stands and stares for a moment, before asking, "What are you looking for?"
Ictus hmms a bit and nods at the map, "Looks geniune to me..." he looks at the others and shrugs, "Might as well find where it leads, eh?"
The map seems to indicate a small cave about one day's journey from the city, west side of the river, along the mountains that are just beyond the forest. Little hint is given as to what is actually there though, hm.
"Ugh, if it wasn't the Good King's seal I would turn this one down, losing a few days of work is too much, but for an official job..." the big thylacine grumbles, "Well, best get some supplies each, looks about a day each way, so get enough food and dink for four, hrmm?" she asks, rhetorically.
Nemoric nods a bit to that, "Would be smart to do. THough looks to be just beyond a forest so could possibly hunt for food there to make rations last longer as well."
Peril pads quietly over to her companion tiger, patting him lightly on the thigh to gain his attention "If we are headding out of the city we'll need someone with a big weapons and thick armor. Know where I could find such a person?"
Variai simply takes a quick glance at Ictus, then back at the map. "This is directions for travelling? What are you looking for?" Her ears perk up when Peril mentions the thought of travel, curiousity peekened for the little fennec. It looks like she's pretty intent on following now.
Ictus nods to Nemoric and chuckles at Peril, he looks to Variai and shrugs, "To whatever this map leads us to." he looks at Monique and chuckles, "Five if you include yourself."
Peril spends 100 Crown for RP reasons.
Ictus spends 100 Crown for RP reasons.
Taking the time to buy good supplies that meet her dietary needs, Monique makes sure she has enough food for up to five days.
Monique spends 80 Crown to: Good rations for the trip
Peril sets about covering most of the expenses for the party, making sure the needs of the cats were met first and giving her tiger the odd bit of encouragement to adopt a few survival crystals if he hasn't already
Ictus gets some supplies for the rest of the group despite the stingy cat
Variai hasn't really picked out any of her equipment or supplies, but she goes ahead and carries whatever anyone asks her to carry around, and anything else that would have been dropped along the way.
Nemoric smirks at Peril, had already though of that ahead of time and switched in the survival crystals he had. Carrying a share of the supplies so not any one person is burdened with it.
With supplies secured, the group sets off, to adventure. It's a brisk hike into the forest, alas off most of the major trails. Soft cries of squirkiks and high roosting birds greet them as they hike.
After having informed by Monique about the trip, Aidan runs to join the group, carrying with him some extra gear for the trip. Ropes, torches and few large nails.
Aidan spends 100 Crown for RP reasons.
Peril gives most of her share of the supplies to Nemoric to carry and progressively through the trip finds excuses to pass on a few more of the heavier bits and pieces she still held to him or anyone else that cares to accept them.
Ictus looks around curiously while still staying alert, he reads the map as he leads the group. He looks at Peril as she tries to pass off her burden and shakes his head sadly
Welcoming her friend along, Monique finds it easy going, "Not been out this way much." she says conversationally to the others, "Any threats?" she asks, keeping an eye out for nasties. When Peril tries to offload some gear to her, she scowls a bit, "You carry what you need, this ain't a picnic, everyone needs to pull their own weight."
Variai seems to be keeping close to the group, glancing about through the forest scenery and keeping her ears perked, simply listening to the songs of the various birds about. She's taking the trip a little more casually then the others may be, moreso comming for the trip then anything.
Nemoric is oddly enough used to it by now. Besides ever try to see a very short person try to carry a pack that normally others would use... its hilarious.
"Not too used to this area neither. I took some extra gear to be safer." Aidan nods at Monique as they walk, nodding in agreement as the thylacine scowls lightly Peril, "And I have a rope, this time.". The armadillo lizard winks at Monique, clearly referring to some recent event.
The forest seems relatively safe, as far as things go. Most wild creatures steer clear of such large groups, at least until a loud wail emerges from the forest, like a pained animal or a young being, hard to tell.
Ears twitching, Monique's head turns at the sound, "Something is out there, something that will need to be dealt with. If not by us then someone else." she concludes, turning and looking for trails that lead in that direction, failing finding one, she will just start working her way through the brush.
Ictus hmms as he looks around and blinks at the wail, he grunts as he looks to the others, "Back me up!" as he stows the map, draws his sword and quickly moves towards the sound
Variai ears suddenly perk up, turning to the direction of the scream. For once, there's a hint of concern in the fennec's expression, and she walks up to Ictus, who she assumes is the leader. But as he runs to persue the source, she really has no choice to follow, to at least figure out the source of the sound.
Nemoric lifts his hand to his sword at the sound, glancing in the direction of the sound. Shruging a bit and heading along as well, could just be someone out hunting as well but you never know. Drawing that large sword off his back so its ready to use if need be.
"Here we go..." Aidan says, taking out his shield and moving with Monique in the direction of the scream. "I just wonder what creature could had screamed like that..." he adds, thoughtful.
Peril stops to glare at Ictus and those following him scowling in frustration as she exclaims �oh sure. Run toward the anguished cries in the woodlands without a plan and expect us to follow!� The little cat grumbled to herself though as Nemoric moved after the others she was left with little choice but to follow as well though dropping in behind the massive armoured bulk of the tiger
The forest is dense here, darker. In a small clearing is a young fox. He wears little but some foraged looking hides, but it's hard to make out the details in the darkness. As the group approaches, the small being spins to face them, face brightening and a hand raising to wave at them excitedly with apparent joy.
Her vision skipping the child, Monqiue's eyes are scanning the forest around them. She has already discarded the fox as someone else's problem and is looking for the real threat, a soft chuckle in the back of her throat.
Aidan places a hand on Monique's shoulder, like to stop her. "Let's check for traps.." he says quietly, giving a look around and checking out for any hole, rope or dart.
Nemoric glances about, glancing over the child a moment, loud wailing then happy to see us. "Either something possibly threatened it or this is a possible trap in and of itself." Tring to keep an eye out for anything besides the rest of us...and the fox.
Ictus blinks at the small fox and peers around suspisiously, "Are you alright?" he asks the young fox as he searches the area
The forest doesn't seem to have snares or holes, except those belonging to small burrowing creatures that call the place home at least. The fox child approaches the group as they investigate the area, watching them quietly. The fox tilts its head at Ictus when addressed, quizzical but not replying.
Variai stops when she spots the fox, eyes fixed in on him. She just stands there, staring silently in a bit of a creepy fashion. She goes on like this for a few minutes, either trying to figure out what he's doing here, or thinkgs something off about his presence.
Peril was more than a little bit out of her element in the thick forest and was in no way set up to deal with it as opposed to the city streets. She was quick to fall behind the others though careful not to let them get too far ahead. This meant she was one of the last to arrive to get a look at the strange fox, showing little interest in his presence and instead looking for the one who held the map.
Turning slowly, Monique moves to put her back to Aidan's. The thylacine doesn't stop the guttural laughter, clearly worried. The child doesn't seem to be harmed, at first glance at least, so what made the scream?
Variai after a minute, she walks up to the fox child, and mimics him, tilting her head to the side as she watches. Finally, she asks, "What are you doing here, all alone? Aren't you too young to be alone?"
Ictus looks to the young fox and tilts his head curiously as he sheathes his blade, "Yeah... What are you doing here?"
Aidan seeing that someone is already taking care of the fox, the large scaled lizard more used to intimidate than.. comfort little foxes. So, he stands back to back with Monique, checking the area for possible trouble as Variai and Ictus talk with the little one.
The fox tilts its head the other way at Variai, looking at them when they approach. The fox suddenly giving a faint squeak, barely a whisper, and pointing at his throat and making a few odd hand gestures.
Nemoric continues to be on the look out, glancing back once in a while to make sure the fox hasn't killed someone. Recalling the goat family from a while back.
Peril looked about the surrounding area a few disaster scenarios going through her head though quickly dismissing the majority of those as the open nature of the forest offering lots of cover and the large party size didn't seem to lend itself to being easily subdued. Strolling over to a nearby tree she sat down upon a raised root with her tail lifted and lashing anxiously as her attention turned to the small fox, watching and listening to the conversation and activities surrounding him.
A sudden snap of a twig, and a sleek form appears from the bushes, leafy tendrils flailing angrily. A tree howler, half wolf, half plant, all hungry. It approaches the ready source of meat without fear, an apex predator of the forest, tendrils practically salivating with sharpness.
Variai mirrors the fox once again, tilting her head to the other side, for who knows what reason. But she does say something to everyone. "I think he has trouble speaking. Something may be wrong with his voice."
Spotting the threat quickly, Monique fights her urge to charge in, turning to face it and tapping Aidan's shoulder, ready to advance with the lizard on the target.
Ictus hmms and growls as he places himself between the child and the beast, drawing his sword as he does
Nemoric doesn't even hesitate, readying an explosive force to wound from a distance. Pointing his free hand at it to focus the blast on just the creature instead of catching others in it by accident.
Peril jumps up from her seat turning back to the tree and without further through pouncing on the trunk and beginning to climb up its length as quickly as she could manage, all her claws extended to bite into the bark as she hauled herself up toward the lower branches
Variai ears flick as she hears the twig snapping, looking around to everyone else in the group, not immediately aware of the threat until she spots the monster. She watches for a moment, and asks, "What is this? It looks... Strange."
Tendrils. This means a major range. Aidan nods at Monique, quickdrawing his blade and rising his shield. Like a wall, he starts to move in front of the creature, covering his allies.. exactly between it and its prey.
The explosion of force has the howler barking its displeasure an hopping away, less eager for the charge now. It leans its head back and howls loudly, shaking the forest with the sound. The small fox rushes forward, taking cover amidst the group.
Ictus unslings his shield as well as he approaches the creature, moving to the side to try and flank it
Nodding to her guard friend, her voice lost to the laughter that always works to consume her during a fight, Monique advances on the beast, letting Aidan's shield cover her as she makes her two big hammers ready to taste the creature's flesh.
Nemoric glances to the fox taking cover, before moving toward the tree, big swords are more useful aginst bigger targets. "Someone keep an eye on the fox it might be in leage with the creature." Survival is the name of the game boys and girls.
Peril was extremely glad that she had lightened her load, stopping at the first opportunity once she felt safely out of reach and beginning to pull at loose bits of bark with one hand, working loose whatever she could to throw at the attacking beast, even resorting to tossing coins from her pockets when she ran out of loose materials in her suroundings
Peril spends 5 Crown for RP reasons.
Aidan slams the blade on the shield, making quite a lot of noise to attract the attention of the big creature. Like a bastion, the armored lizard is ready to be the focus of the opponent, keeping it distracted as the other cut and smash it down. As usual, quite with stoic acceptance.
Variai may be the only one here who isn't carrying any weapons, but she runs around to find an open point and get a better vantage point at the creature. She stands and watching, bearing small claws, though who knows what she's even thinking to do with them.
The howler is not alone, as the howl is returned by two other echoing cries, and the sound of paws hitting dirt is heard as they begin to approach quickly. The howler does not seem impressed with offers of monetary compensation, instead bringing its tendrils down on the noisiest thing that happens to be closest, trying to slice at Aidan with its grasping, razor leafed, tendrils.
Using the distraction of her friend, Monique gives a laughing howl and swings in at the creature's side to try and get a clean hit on it while it is occupied.
Nemoric turns a bit toward one of the howls, ready to make an intervention in the monster's path to slash at it with his sword. Can't have all of them beating on one person at a time. We wouldn't likly last very long in that case.
The fox looks around before darting forward and snatching up one of the coins that fell, ooo, another one. The young one soon has a small handful and holds them close.
Ictus glances at Variai and shakes his head, "Take care of the boy!" before charging at the first howler and taking a swing
Durable, quiet and solid as a stone. His stance is like iron as he moves forward step by step, trying to deflect the tendrils with his shield and blade. Having full trust in the strength of his companions, especially the strong barbarian, he cries out to inspire them. The guard will protect them, so they can fight with less worries.
Variai glances around the place, spotting two more of the wolves approaching the group. "Are they trying to surround us?" She turns to face one of the newer wolves, and holds out a paw, quickly tracing a illusionary circle before her, and calls out, "Arcane force," firing a silver bolt blasting the wolf, before she realizes what Ictus had shouted, and moves in close to the young fox.
Peril continued to throw money at the problem, the major problem being that coins the most aerodynamic form and the little cat wasn't that skilled at aiming while clinging to vertical surface resulting in the vast majority of her shots falling far astray of their target
The wolf catches the hammer expertly, with his face. The howler is sent skidding across the clearing to slap up against the tree. With a pained whine, it scampers away, oozing red and green puss as it goes. Its friends charge in from other angles though, one lashing out at Variai with two quick swipes as another leaps from a bush besides Peril with a frightfully hungry snarl and reaches to snatch them up into a sharp embrace of vines.
Fighting her urges to chase after the injured Howler, Monique turns with a laugh toward the new threats, but looks to Aidan for a plan, her own mind not quite up to planning further than 'charge at the nearest thing and hit it until it stops moving... then hit it a little more.'
Nemoric leaps forward, instead of using a wide arch with the sword he does the next best thing, punching the howler tring to go for peril in the face. What better way to piss something off enough to turn to you instead, giving everyone a moment of respite to heal up....well at least from this one. "Lets play puppy."
Peril didn't even bother to give a downward glance before resuming her vertical dash toward the canopy knowing full well that with more threats approaching from several directions the commotion directly below was something she was better off not getting acquainted with.
Variai wasn't one to actually take on her foes head on, but she manages to avoid the worst of the assualt, evading the first swipe, but the second manages to snag and tear off part of her robe, before the fennec has to stumble backwards, a little off balance from the sudden rush.
Ictus grunts as he swiftly moves to intervene with the howlers attack on Varai, sweeping his sword at the tendrils
Aidan points with the tip of his sword at the next opponent. "Let's smash that together." he hisses at Monique, letting go his hot blooded roar and preparing for a jointed charge on the new howler, preparing to impact on the howler at full strength with his shield, to confuse and attact its attention.
Variai manages to recover her balance after Ictus intervenes against the creature, and takes a quick breath. "That bat was right. Monster are a lot tougher away from town." She raises a paw into the air, producing a spray of small needles at the wolf that was threatening her.
Sword and hammer make effective wolf detterants. Smashed across the snout and with fresh cuts along its sides, it decides the price for this meal has risen too high, and flees back from whence it came. The other doesn't care for the odds, even if it hasn't taken too much damage, and follows the other two in vacating the area, leaving them safe for the time.
Ictus sighs as the wolves retreat and sheathes his sword, though he keeps his shield out just in case and looks to the young fox, "Are you alright?"
Nemoric lets the howlers leave, glancing up in the tree, "You skitter to high and you're going to get stuck up there. I ain't climbing up after you." Turning back towards the rest, there was enough people to occupy each of them so he wasn't to worried.
Peril had made great headway on reaching the heavens being exceptionally skilled at getting away. As the clamour below settled down so did she, stopping her ascent long enough to case her eyes downward, looking over the forest floor and the surroundings area, taking in the lay of the land as far as she could see and taking not of the fleeing howlers.
Crouching down to one knee, panting, Monique fights back the madness, struggling to right her world once more. Taking out a small book, she focuses on it to read a passage, a story of some of the founders, lifting the red haze and putting a more calm smile on her lips.
Aidan slashes his blade to clean it from some of the extra goo, taking out a cloth and starting to clean it more properly. "Don't follow them. And good job, my friend" the lizard remarks at Monique, knowing that her instinct to hunt them is strong, "And everyone is fine?" he adds, looking at the others. "After you have give a look around, you can get down. It's safe now." he says, looking up at the tree's top.
The little fox has avoided getting lashed with tendrils, and seems to be in good shape. The coins are nowhere in sight anywhere. With hands swaying back and forth as he bounces on the balls of his feet. He looks alright.
Variai looks to the fox child, inspecting him and watching for any sign for injuries, before she says, "I think he is alright. He doesn't look hurt." She looks at her robe, looking at the tear the tendrills had torn into it.
Ictus hmms at the young fox and looks around before nodding to the others, "Alright, let's go before they decide to come back..." he looks to the fox and hmms, "You can come with us, can you write?" he doesn't really expect that the child can
Rising back up, cleaning her hammers of any marks to them, Monique turns back, nodding to Ictus, "Good plan." she rumbles and is ready to start back to their trail, still keeping a ready eye on the surrounding forest.
The small fox does follow whenever the group starts to move, but doesn't answer the questions himself. The group emerges from the forest, approaching their target, and the fox stops at the edge of the dense forest, seemingly hesitant to emerge.
Aidan walks with the group, even if for a moment he stops to check on the little fox's neck, recalling how he gestured it earlier.
Peril made her way down the tree with as much skill as she had ascended it, mumbling a soft chant under her breath to keep air magic in mind just in case. It took longer to get back down than it did for her to get up the tree but she was soon reunited with the group and scolding the tiger for being foolish enough to put himself in danger
Variai was watching the child curiously as they made their way out of the forest, and for a few steps later, stopping to return back to the child. "What is the matter? Are you afraid? Are you hurt?" She starts studying the fox again, wondering if he did indeed hurt himself sometime in the forest.
Nemoric follows along but keeps his hand on the hilt of his sword...just in case. Smirking at the scolding and chuckling softly at it. Glancing back at the fox seeming hesitant to leave the woods.
Thankful to be free of the forest, Monique looks back to the child and those with them, "Come on, we need to make up for lost time." she rumbles.
Ictus looks at the fox and tilts his head as a thought comes to him, "You aren't soulless are you?" he studies the little fox carefully
The little fox waves its hands in the air before he looks around a moment, then back at them, and takes a half step back, uncertain a moment. The fox gives a little squeak, then points back into the darkness.
Ictus hmms and tilts his head at the fox, before he peers into the darkness, "What is it?"
Variai looks back into the dark forest, into the direction the fox was pointing in. "Is there something you were looking for? Maybe we should help him find it."
Nemoric shrugs a bit, at this not really caring either way. "How would he tell use what he's looking for if he was? So far it doesn't seem that he can speak."
Peril stuck closely with Nemoric, following almost in his footsteps when she wasn't at his side, frequently moving to brush against him and smile warmly up at the massive feline whenever she was given the opportunity. Her anger at him having faded quickly leaving the little cat far more impressed by his heroics. She paid little head to anyone else other than the small fox whom she often fixed with a suspicious stare and as the party turned their attention back to the odd character she slipped behind the tigers legs before speaking "Maybe he's local. He could know the cave"
Having less and less patience by the minute, Monique growls a little, "Look, pick him up and bring him, this is taking too damn long as it is..." she rumbles.
Variai looks over to Nemoric. "I see. Then we should take him with us? I don't think it's good to leave him alone with monsters like the ones we found." She turns back to the fox, holding out her hand out to the fox child.
The fox looks suddenly alarmed, and takes off in an abrupt bolt, vanishing into the forest with a practiced speed, gone as if he was never there to start.
"I agree. Let's carry him, and when we'll back we'll leave them to the medics to see if he has his throat wounded. More time we lose, more easily we'll be attacked." Aidan says, almost adding something as the fox disappears so quickly, "Alright, this isn't really funny..."
Ictus sighs and nods in agreement with Nemoric, he blinks as the fox vanishes into the forest and shakes his head, "Damnit... I hate to leave him behind..." he sighs more and pulls out the map to see where we are
Nemoric laughs softly as the fox darts off while everyones still debating, "We found him in the woods dressed in leathers, do you really think he didn't live there? If he was wearing normal clothes he might have been a lost child. But just the way he was dressed says he was familar with the forest. If it wasn't for us making so much noise the beasts might have never even seen him."
Thinking back to the fight, Monique raises a question, "Even when those howlers came in, looking for the weakest, they didn't go for the child. They even went for them!" she says, pointing a thumb to Peril.
Variai cocks her head as the fox vanishes into the forest, and stares into the darkness for about a minute. "Why did he run back? Will he be ok alone?" She stands there for another minute, staring into the darkness, listening to what Nemoric had stated, then turns around, turning her attention to the traveling group, and the outlying scenery.
Peril scoffed and rolled her eyes "Clearly the howlers knew who the important targets were"
Ictus hmms at Nemoric and shrugs, "I suppose..." he shakes his head at Monique as he looks back at the map, "I'm sure he's not alone... Maybe he's the child of some Apostates..."
With the little fox situation... handled, for the moment, the group advances on the cave, to find a sign posted in front of it, 'Future location of Good Copper Mines', with the king's seal marked on it. Where's the treasure?
Nemoric looks at the sign and starts laughing softly, "it all makes perfect sence now." Still laughing after seeing the sign poster before the cave.
Ictus blinks at the sign and the cave, he peers inside and shrugs, "Well... I suppose we could take a peek... Though I doubt we'd find anything but copper..."
Monique begins to laugh, thankfully though, not the berserker laughter of a fight, "All this..." she manages between guffaws.
Variai walks up to the cave, and to the sign posted before then, touching the seal with a hand. "Good Copper Mines? Is this the place we are looking for? I wonder why we had come here..." She approaches the opening of the cavern, looking as deep as she can. "It's dark..."
Dark indeed, though faint light can be seen from within, hey, is it coming closer?
Nemoric looks over at Monique while still laughing, "We're extermenators to clear the mine of monsters so they can start mining the copper. I suppose they want just the mine our 'treasure' is what ever horde the monsters may have I would assume."
Aidan shakes slowly his head, even if a bit touched by Monique's and giving a half smile as he takes out a torch and holding it with his shielded arm.
Peril looked over the signpost and the surrounding area, looking absolutely unsurprised at the lack of any obvious indication of 'treasure be here'. Thinking on the scene for a short time the little feline piped up �Maybe it's misdirection. Post it as a copper mine to hide the real function or maybe the map was a lie, or a trap set to test someone�
Variai stares at the light approaching them, completely still in her own way. The fennec doesn't move in the least bit, wondering what the light was. She doesn't seem to suspect danger, looking quite calm.
Ictus glances at Nemoric and shakes his head, "That's a big assumption..." he blinks at the light and backs up a bit to see what will come out
Barely noticing the light at first, Monique sees it getting 'closer' and readies her weapons, not sure whether it is going to mean a fight or not but not wanting to take the chance.
Aidan draws his sword as well, friend or foe is better to be careful.
The light becomes clearer as it gets closer. A scruffy looking goat born in overalls is pushing a cart along the tracks towards the entrance, filled with dirt and debris. A mining pick is slung on his belt. He has a growing clan seal at his shoulder.
Nemoric lowers his hand from his sword seeing a miner, is tring not to just bust out chuckling at this. Maybe they were sent as helpers instead, either way its pretty damn funny.
Ictus hmms? and laughs softly with a shake of his head, "Oh boy... I guess there is no treasure after all..." he smiles at the goat and shakes his head
"Creators greeting!" Monique calls, her hammers lowering, "We heard you could use a little help up here?" she adds, smiling.
Peril scratched at her chin while watching the goat approach curious as to how many more miners there wear about and why no signs of encampment at the mouth of the cave
Variai just looks up at the miner, and loses all interest in him, wandering around the group and glancing around all over the place, wondering what else could be around here.
Aidan lowers his sword and greets the miner, relieved that the mine is populated.
The goat looks up at the crowd, raises brows in mild surprise. In the unflappable nature of his sort, he approaches, "You the assessors?" he asks, "Craziest bunch of assessors I ever saw, I have to admit." The cart rolls lightly on its own, bumping against the end of the track quietly.
