[IC] Dungeoncrawl: I Want to be a Wizard!

[Mae]

You prepare yourself for adventure, equipped with all the knowledge of literacy and the wonders of Arcane spellcasting/punching and none of the actual spells.

Bastion Gem in hand, you bathe in the blue light of teleportation, shortly finding yourself staring up into a beautiful morning sky in an open glade. Around you, other graduates you are mildly acquainted with materialise.

Behind you, a mule snorts. At least, you assume it is a mule. It is a stout, broad creature of humorously small stature with a bulbous head atop unnervingly rippling neck muscles. It observes you with uncaring, bulbous eyes. A nauseating brightly coloured headband, embroidered in cheerful script, proclaims it to be Carl. Carl is displeased.

Attached to Carl is a large cart, stocked with several crates. You consider some of these might contain the wands, and others, the supplies you were promised to receive.

A light, cool breeze rustles nearby trees in a lazy sway. The air here is slightly sweet and peaceful. Before you, a babbling stream gurgles and sloshes down as a waterfall, raising gentle mists. A rough stone stairway descends beside it, leading down into a circular chasm. You would need to get closer to see more.

You consider your options and the brief knowledge of the local area you received. Down the steps - the dungeon. To the Northwest, through the forest, lies the outskirts of civilisation. Far to the south lies the haunted Barrowlands, a place of opportunity but teaming with the undead. To the northeast, the forest deepens.

[Dark Cloud]

Admittedly the kobold hadn't experienced having herself transported via teleportation before and the blue light made her squint, blinking several times as she shook her head vigorously. Wik was not too excited with the prospect of being sent out into the big wide dangerous world, or whatever plane their professor's had told them this was but it was an opportunity to improve her talents (as mediocre as they were) with practical experience.

She wasted little time as her fellow graduates materialized, with an excited yip the young kobold practically leapt into the cart to rummage around for the shiniest or reddest wands she could get her tiny little hands on. Then with a wave immediately set off for the dungeon, where she would fit right in (hopefully).

[Mae]

@Dark Cloud You lever off the lid off the first crate. It contains torches, rope, some glinting metal underneath the hay used to pack the items... pah! Useless. The next crate aspires to be a lot more interesting. Row upon row of hewn wooden wands, gnarled and identical. If she wanted one to be red or shiny, perhaps she could find a way to decorate them.

Wik approaches the lip of the chasm. The stairs are dotted with patches of moss, sand and- are those animal droppings? Some tracks trace patterns across the path. You can hear chirruping lilting up from below.

The misty waterfall cascades down the rocks into a tranquil pool. You can see a sandy beach at the bottom of the stairs.

[Dark Cloud]

Wik narrowed her wee little eyes at the sight of droppings, hesitantly halting in her descent at the top of the stone stairway the kobold perked her 'ears' or lack thereof as the trill of something below echoed upwards.

Wik fidgety as ever picked at a hole in her robes considering the dangers of going down alone but simply shrugged "Wik go, do good! No! Wik do great in dungeon! She kobold! What go wrong?" with that solid reasoning that she made the kobold slowly made her descent downwards.

[rocketrobie2]

Marcus shuddered after the teleportation, it was a goofy feeling that he didn't completely loathe but it was weird to say the least. Pocketing his gem once more, Marcus looked at what they had to work with. The boxes had already been torn into by one of his classmate and as such he had a great view of the supplies before him.

Moving around back, Marcus pocketed a couple of wands, grabbed a length of rope and then moved up front to look at Carl. The mule-ish creature seemed to be in a bad mood so Marcus tried to give it a bit of a reassuring pat to hopefully cheer it up a little and maybe find out the cause of it's displeasure.

[Mae]

@rocketrobie2 You take a few wands and pull out a neat bundle of 50 foot rope. Underneath, you can see other items - tinderboxs, bedrolls, various assortments of tools that could be used for cooking, mining or writing.

You pat Carl. A fly buzzes past Carl's twitching ears. He gives you a long, withered look, his gaze encapsulating the death of a hundred burnt out stars. Carl has seen some shit.

His tail swishes once in recognition of your reassurances.

@Dark Cloud You descend the staircase beside the waterfall onto a sandy beach in a natural cavern open to the sky. Nearby, 16" high Redcap monkeys lounge and play. Some dive into the crystal clear pool to the west. Others lounge lazily on the sandy beach. They chirp happily to each other.

To the North-West is a pitch black passageway. Beside you to the east is a tunnel that bends out of sight, lit dimly by a pulsating purple-orange glow.

[Dark Cloud]

@Mae

Bedazzled by such a charming scene, the kobold hunkered down momentarily to gaze on in wonderment at the monkey as they played in the pretty little cave. She was tempted to try to approach them but after a second of thought Wik decided she would leave the cute little chimps to enjoy themselves thusly the intrepid young kobold scampered off towards the tunnel with some lighting, curious as to it's origin she left the beach cove undisturbed and pushed on.

[POOHEAD189]

"Hi Carl," Mal said, letting the mule sniff his hand to its leisure for a few brief moments. The mage considered his options, shoving away thoughts of what led him here. His companions, if you could call them that, had already begun to rummage and extrapolate whatever they wished, be it items or ideas. Briefly, he stroked his chin. He decided to give a small poke around the crates, taking a bit of rope, a tinderbox, a wand, and a cot and rations if he could find them. If not, however, his destination was the same.

"I wish you luck on your adventures gentleman," he told them, and headed southwards towards the Harrowlands for rare opportunities. He was torn for a moment, almost wishing to visit civilization. But he would go there just after discovering a few artifacts or caches of gold, or whatever else lay within the shadowed depths of the accursed land. @Mae

[rocketrobie2]

Marcus gave a half hearted wave to Mal as he took off on their own. Chances are there was strength in numbers but Marcus felt fine just staying on his own. However, Marcus was not fine flying blind with what wand he was using. Making sure to take a good few steps away from Carl, Marcus produced one of the wands he took and attempted to cast it on a nearby bush.

[Duthguy]

@Mae @rocketrobie2

Daniel appeared and spotted Carl but rather than go for the mule immediately he waited until the others were done. Seeing a rough looking wizard with long blond hair approach a bush with a wand in hand he decided the others were probably done and he walked up to the mule(?). Not knowing what equipment he would need and not wanting to carry more than necessary, since he could always teleport back, he at first looked through the bags for any kind of food. Once he was done with that he went for the wands. This time he simply grabbed as many as he could comfortably carry, since they weren't too heavy anyway.

Considering himself fully equipped Daniel wondered where he should go the dungeon was right out, he had no desire to climb those stairs after all. Despite not believing his talents would be useful in the forest he nonetheless eventually went northeast since he had to go somewhere and in the forest he could scavenge for food.

Reminders

Clones: 5
Wands: 0

[Mae]

@Dark Cloud You watch the Monkeys for a little while, swimming and playing. They nibble on the mosses growing by the staircase, swim languidly through the water, and seem able to stay at the bottom of the pool for an unusual amount of time.

You scampered round the corner into a corridor 5 ft wide and 10 ft long, kicking up sand as you do so. The walls and floors here are glowing in vibrant pulsating crystals, sometimes orange, sometimes purple. You can still hear the sounds of monkeys cheerfully splashing around. The dim pulse of the crystals casts some light into the dark chamber ahead, but the gloom of the cave remains obstinate.

@POOHEAD189 Carl ordains to snort in your general direction. Best not to contemplate the beast's ill mood too much.

You collect a variety of supplies and while no cot is forthcoming, you do find a bedroll. With no backpack, you could fashion something makeshift with the rope to carry the bedroll comfortably. For now you opt to tuck it under an arm, rations in the pockets of your robe.

The stream is a welcome companion as you set off on your journey. It is a small piddling thing, but the sound of it's quiet babblings brings a quiet comfort as you head southwards. The forest journey is uneventful, with the quiet chirping of birds a pleasant serenade. With time, this diminishes into an eerie quiet. There is no track but the ground starts to steepen. You find the origin of the stream peaking through the side of a hill, and as you crest the ridge, you find the Barrowlands waiting for you.

The forest encircles it, but you see the land blackening the further south it goes, breaking way to dead forest and eventually boggy swamplands. Before you, the tombs huddle together under the cool light of the morning sun, shunning it's reach. The Barrowmounds sit squat, keeping their dead and their secrets.

The ravages of time have left some tombs to collapse in on themselves. Others bear marks of being raided by adventurers in bygone times. Reclaimed by dying grass as some were, it was hard to be sure how many burial mounds lay below. Two dozen? More?

6 mounds lay in relative ease of reach. Climbing down the hill and into the Barrowlands would give you a better look at their condition.

@rocketrobie2 You watch as three brilliant blue comets arc towards the bush, blasting holes through it's foliage until it is a twig of it's former self.

Nothing particularly noteworthy happens, other then a nearby rabbit taking flight deeper into the forest.

@Duthguy You collect some rations before stuffing every possible pocket with wands upon wands till your robes are fit to burst. You leave the despondent Carl and Marcus' victim behind you and set off into the great green yonder.

The forest is a calming enough place. You mind your step passed rambunctious roots and foray ever deeper into the woods. The canopy rustles quietly as sunshine dots the forest in beams of cool glow. Plants of all kinds reach upwards, ever ambitious.

It's not long before you spot a small pile of round droppings directly in your path. They're fresh. Prints mark the soft earth beside them, trampled leaves mark a recent passage. You could investigate, or head further in.

[Duthguy]

@Mae

So far the forest was a bit harder to traverse then Daniel imagined due to the roots but even for someone as unused to physical activity as him it was doable. There was also the fact that so far the place just looked nice. "Maybe, this won't be so bad after all." He briefly considered trying his wands out while he was still close to the exit but since he didn't know if one them might start a forest fire or something worse he decided to keep them in reserve until he needed them.

Eventually he saw some droppings and other evidence that an animal had passed nearby not too long ago. Since his investigation skills were rusty Daniel saw this a good time for some practice and tried to learn what he could.

Reminders

Clones: 5
Wands: 7
Rations: 3

[Dark Cloud]

@Mae

While she is no major in the field of mineralogy, Wik knew a big sparkly bunch of gems when she saw them and giddiness filled her little stomach with butterflies or was it this mornings breakfast? It didn't matter because she had more important stuff to do at that moment, like all the stuff she could do with the sparklies before her. At first she wondered if they'd be worth a lot or maybe (gasp) magical! Then the intrepid kobold peered about her surroundings, noting the way the gems glowed and how dark the passage ahead was then she had an idea.

"Oh Wik use big shiny to light way, see better!!" the kobold chirped to herself, then scampering up to a small enough gem feeling quite smart Wik gripped the glow-ie-st outcrop of mineral and tried tugging it.

[Mae]

@Duthguy You approach, noting that the floor is mired with many prints. Multiple creatures? They're all the same type of track, two pronged and hooved, with one set of the tracks being larger then the others. Though it's hard to tell, with them crisscrossed over each other. As you're contemplating this, you catch movement ahead.

A doe, followed in a line by five young, zip between the trees some way in front of you. They are moving quickly. What do you do?

@Dark Cloud Wik examines the crystals. They catch the light in such beautiful ways - definitely, someone would pay good money for them. As Wik examines them, time seems to become dreamlike for a minute or two, and slips away. A warm feeling of home washes over her. Wik gains 1 temporary HP (tracked by GM).

After a minute, Wik snaps out of it. She grabs a glowing crystal and tugs, only for it to shatter and dim. It looks like these crystals have to be mined carefully with proper equipment to ensure they keep their properties. There were some items in the cart that suit such a purpose... hold on, what was that chittering sound? It's like it's coming from the wall beside the crystal...

What do you do?

[Dark Cloud]

@Mae

Wik looked a little crestfallen but that was a fraction of a second when something chittered and an alarmed young kobold such as she let out a startled yip. Jumping back and shielding her face "Ah no hurty, Wik not steal gem. It sparkly!" she said her voice quavery with fear. She peered around trying to see what made the sound while also making sure if she was in danger she was ready to run.

[Duthguy]

@Mae
Daniel spent some time studying the prints, before guessing they were probably made by at least one deer or maybe a boar, unless there was some other hoofed creature he didn't know about living in these woods. While he was trying to think what else it could be his assumption was confirmed when he saw a family of deer.

While deer meat was both tasty and healthy he had never killed an animal before and as long as he had the Bastion Gem there was no real reason too. On the other hand the more food he had the longer he could stay out in the forest looking for anything valuable to take back and he had to try out the wands at same point anyway. Having made up his mind, he regretfully pulled out a wand and aimed it at the smallest deer of the group, sending some of his mana through it.

Reminders

Clones: 5
Wands: 7 1 charge used
Rations: 3

[POOHEAD189]

Mal scratches his chin, squinting his eyes at the barrows before him. Calmed by the leisurely walk and the babbling brook, his normally cool reserve was maintained even as he stepped in the dank, foreboding area. Mal had not seen many signs of life, but he wasn't a ranger or huntsman. He knew he was in the right place, but he needed to make certain he was prepared before he tomb delved. He decided to make various moves.

Firstly, he made his way down the hill carefully, making sure no one was watching with his ever moving eyes. He wasn't the most physically adept specimen, but he had a good head on his shoulders and a young body. Once he made it to the bottom, he surveyed the barrows, judging each by how easily it would be to delve into and the iconography to see if any looked to be of particular notice or esteem.

Next, he began to weave a strap for himself with a ten foot section of the rope he had acquired. He needed free range of movement with his limbs in order to be effective. All the while he contemplated on which tomb or barrow he might search within, hoping he could nab something quick and easy before he made his way to civilization where there was wine and woman.

[Mae]

@Dark Cloud Wik jumps back and looks around. There is no one standing in the tight corridor with her, but she can still hear the soft chittering coming from the wall. At her words, the chittering goes momentarily quiet...?

@Duthguy With a cry one of the young deers falls, the others scampering off into the wilderness. They move fast, but if you orient yourself past a few trees you might be able to take another shot at one of the other creatures. The body of the fallen deer lies some way away, still. If you approach, you'll surely miss you're opportunity to fire at the remaining deer.

Nothing unusual appears to happen with the wands quirk...

@POOHEAD189 You see no monsters from your perch as you descend the hill, but that is not to say they do not lurk deeper within these haunted lands, or skulking on the other side of a tomb.

>(Keyed for ease of referencing in case you investigate one/more of these mounds this turn.)
1. Immediately in front of you stands a tomb with large, bronze doors, weathered by verdigris.

2. A little behind that is another tomb, the opening to which has been sealed by a large stone slab.

3. To the South of that tomb is another, but the entrance has been buried over time by dirt and grit. It will require some time to clear the entrance.

4. In front of that tomb is another sealed tomb, but the rock has cracked. You see an engraving of a warrior's face on the door behind the stone.

5. Far to the South a barrow has collapsed in on itself over time. Would there be anything of value in it's Remains, or perhaps a waste of energy?

6. To the South West lies a tomb with two collosal double ornate bronze doors, depicting some sort of scene involving horses. You'd need to get closer to see it clearer, but the doors look difficult to open.

7. A mound straight west of you looks to have been disturbed recently.. the stone slab lies cracked in two before it's open entrance.

8. Another mound directly in your line of sight. This tomb has a large stone door, wrapped in a simple iron chain.

Many more mounds lie beyond in all directions. You can head West to continue into the heart of the Barrowlands, or head north or south to skirt the edges.

It's so quiet here.

[Dark Cloud]

Wik tilted her head 'Could whatever was making the noise understand her?' it seemed to quiet when she spoke so it was possible "W-Wik knows where find food, m-maybe noise-maker want eat with Wik?" it was a long shot but maybe (by some miracle) the noisy thing could befriended.

[Duthguy]

@Mae
Since he had no reason to kill them, except maybe testing more wands, Daniel ignored the running deer and approached the carcass of the one he killed. Realizing that without a knife it was gonna be tough to cut the meat up, he decided to improvise. He climbed on the body to hold it down and began to try and tear one of the legs off. Of course as someone whose usual level of physical activity was walking around campus it wasn't exactly easy.