spiral origin

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

(in response to Kaelara) @JP

The young barkeep blinked at Kaelara, nodding along nervously as he registered her requests. "Y-yes, of course, a room for the night… and a hot meal – r-right away, ma'am! That'll be twenty copper pieces please! A-and the special today is mushroom soup with venison!"

He offered her a cheery smile, and then gestured to an older, gruffer man peeking out from the back rooms, sternly clutching a spatula. The older man peered at Kaelara with weighing eyes, before disappearing to the kitchens.

[Should Kaelara pay the coppers, the barkeep would present her with a key to her room, located upstairs]

Turning back to Kaelara and pondering her inquiry about the missing noble, the barkeep broke into a sheepish smile. "I-I'm afraid I don't know much about that, milady. We told the soldiers everything we know… which isn't a lot. Lady Miralys stayed here for an evening some weeks ago. She kept to herself for the most part, and I never really got to speak with her. She did seem a bit... preoccupied, though. Th-that's about all I can tell you..."

Meanwhile, Kaelara was receiving a mix of glances from the other patrons, from veiled suspicion to yearning intrigue. From the corner of the room emanated the quaint sound of a lute playing a folkish tune. Deft fingers plucking at strings, the bard playing the instrument shot a playful wink at Kaelara from afar.

Soon Kaelara's meal was brought and placed in front of her at the bar. The aroma of mushrooms, wild game, and seasonal herbs mixed into a savory blend that gently steamed from atop the large serving bowl filled with soup.

"H-hope you enjoy!" The barkeep smiled shyly at her, one hand fiddling with the other.

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

(in response to Robert)

Disinterestedly, the Captain nodded at Robert's request with a placating wave.

"Yes, yes, do as you deem necessary. Sir Hollister can fill you in on the details of the supplies." The Captain gestured toward a shrewd-looking man in the corner, with tufts of whitening hair and beard jutting from his face in a way that dared to suggest fashion. Sir Hollister's lips parted with the gleam of a smile that was perhaps one touch too gleeful.

–

(in response to Sonia / Jean)

Captain Greystone was about to address Sonia's latest inquiry, when Jean answered for him, saving him a few precious breaths.

"Indeed, the local tavern would be my recommendation for staying overnight." He commented.

Surveying the room, the Captain did a quick tally of the attendance.

"...I suppose there are also a few vacant spaces here in the village hall, which one could squat in for a night. Just don't expect any comforts here. And don't go snooping around in official areas." He gave the group a severe look.

–

(in response to Kaelara)

At the tavern's bar, Kaelara was greeted by the bartender - a scrawny young man of light complexion and modest height behind the counter. He had wavy brown hair and wide brown eyes that watched Kaelara approach with equal parts caution and curiosity.

"Uh, h-hello!…" He uttered, momentarily forgetting how to give a proper welcome. Most of the usual patrons were locals whom he knew by name, and it had been a long while since a stranger had shown up at the bar.

"Uh, w-welcome to the– the uh, th-the Whistling Reed! H-how may I help you?" He managed a smile, struggling to get a grip on his nervousness.

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

(in response to Kaelara)

A low growl sounded from Captain Greystone's throat. This one seemed like a wildcard… He never did have a taste for working with such unruly individuals. At least her determination gave some promise of discipline. Her evident disregard for the chain of command was another thing though, and he could hardly give his retort before she was out the door, leaving him to stew in indignation.

--

(in response to Sonia)

There was little that vexed the Captain more than receiving unprompted advice, especially from those he perceived to be under his command. A scowl betrayed his face for a moment, and he huffed down his growing unrest with a grunt. Having to work with these adventurers was quickly wearing on him.

--

(in response to Caled)

The Captain took a recuperating breath with the departure of the young cleric, who seemed more accommodating in temperament. The Captain could be thankful that at least not all of them had so much to trouble him with.

--

(in response to Robert)

Logistics concerns were a more tolerable topic of discussion for the Captain, though this woodcutter fellow had quite a lot to say. Greystone idly stroked his chin, taking in the long-winded delivery of questions and concerns.

"Regarding permits – that will not be an issue. The region has been cleared for public traversal by the Duke himself, and the efforts of our expedition shall not be interfered with by the Crown's officials. You have my word on that as the Duke's right hand." The Captain did enjoy mentioning his close accompaniment with the Duke whenever the opportunity arose.

"As for supplies, a small caravan of essentials will be brought along for the journey. This will include water, rations, basic tools and medical supplies. In addition to this sponsorship by the Crown, it is encouraged for each of you to prepare individually, in the case of anything unforeseen."

The next set of questions reawakened the Captain's impatience. It was much easier operating with a direct authority structure, where simple orders and briefings would go unquestioned. It seemed this fellow was particularly meticulous with his questioning, too. Greystone sighed.

"Rest assured, much has been searched. It has been determined that the villagers had little to do with the Lady's disappearance. All signs point toward the ruins, where the most significant clue was discovered – a handkerchief belonging to the Lady, embroidered with the Blackthorn family crest. It is probable that she accidentally dropped the item, or perhaps a struggle took place to cause its discarding."

For a moment Captain Greystone reviewed the circumstances in his head, reassuring himself of his conclusions.

The final set of questions were reasonable, the Captain supposed. These people would be risking their lives, and knowing what they might be in for was fair concern. However, he was also slightly embarrassed to admit that he did not know as much as he would have liked.

"As for the dangerous entities–well–mmm–the matter is–a rather obscure one at the present moment…" Greystone shifted uncomfortably for a moment, hand reflexively coming to rest at his blade pommel.

"...We've sent scouts to survey the area, and two of them have not returned for days now. The one who had retrieved Lady Miralys's personal effect mentioned hearing 'inhuman noises' emanating within the site, and did not opt to venture deeper. As for the fate of the others who did… I cannot say."

The Captain took a quick breath and cleared his throat. "And so, on the morrow we will find out." He lifted his chin, assuming his answers had been satisfactory.

--

(in response to Volkhart)

Greystone scanned the assembly of adventurers, one elderly individual catching his eye. He chewed on his lip for a moment, noting the eyepatch and cane and wondering how capable a man of such matured age could be. Yet he could also sense an aura of competence from the man that he couldn't say he'd ever encountered before. Intriguing, to say the least.

--

(in response to Engie)

Meanwhile, another lingered in the background, but did not escape the Captain's appraisal. The young woman with light grey hair hadn't yet made herself known, but the assortment of gear she had on her was enough to draw his curiosity. What a strange lot.

--

(in response to Jean)

The Captain glanced toward the young man who lastly spoke up, and cleared his throat again.

"The Crown's knowledge of these ruins seems to be very limited. I've not had the chance to consult with experts on the matter, and most of the locals are oblivious to its existence. One particular individual - the local herbalist - did mention that it is a 'cursed' place. Whimsy and superstition, I say…"

There was a slight waver in the Captain's voice, before he resumed. "...We've not had a chance to sweep the place, no. My guess is that outlaws may be using it as a hideout. Perhaps they've captured the Lady and are holding her captive. But whatever the case, we should go fully prepared to deal with whatever threat might loom there."

--

Clearing his throat for a final time, Captain Greystone eyed over the assembly. "I trust I've provided an adequate overview of the situation. Let us meet at dawn, shall we?" He announced, hoping to conclude the briefing.

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

Captain Greystone studied the peculiar adventuress standing before him, her curious heritage giving him a moment's pause.

"For what purpose did Lady Myralys go to those ruins?"

"It's uncertain to me the specific purpose for the Lady's unseemly excursion... Based on what is known of her, one could assume she was on one of her explorative fancies." Greystone uttered the words as if all of this could have been avoided had the Lady simply stayed within the bounds of her station.

"How many aides did she bring with her? Was she alone?"

"We believe it was just her and one other - her bodyguard Cristoff, now also missing."

Based on what the Captain knew about Cristoff, he was a decent fighter, though reckless at times.

"They traveled together frequently, and it's unlikely he had any direct involement in her disappearance, though it can't be ruled out."

"You spoke about Dangerous entities, are these entities already common knowledge prior to Miss Myralys' departure"?

"No, not according to the locals here anyway. But none of them claim to have ever ventured that far off into the wilderness -- and for good reason. But some people, like the Lady Miralys..." Greystone sighed, straining to keep his tone reverential.

"Anyhow, these are the circumstances. Any other questions?" He gave a firm look to his questioner, and the rest of the room.

@Mas Bagus

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

@wierdw @JP @A5G @Mas Bagus @Soldat Elf @Randomness @Einherjar 906

And we're off! This first part will be a bit of a prelude before the real adventure begins. Feel free to get your characters settled in, interact with the Captain / locals / each other, explore the village, and do whatever you like on what's likely to be your characters' last evening in this world. When everyone is ready, we can do a time-skip to the next morning where the expedition will commence.

If you have any OOC questions, let us the GMs know, either here or on Discord!

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

In the remote outskirts of the kingdom, amidst verdant highlands, nestled the village of Windermere. It was a serene little place surrounded by the natural world, hardly ever noticed on a map. That is, until recently, when the daughter of the Duke had gone missing while traveling in the area, and an urgent search was issued for the young noblewoman. Lady Miralys had a known penchant for venturing to curious places, and would vanish for days at a time, but it had now been weeks. The Duke had sent one of his most tenacious men - Captain Elric Greystone - to retrieve his daughter, yet the task proved more complicated still, and the investigation had begun to turn cold. It seemed that only the hushed mists of the valley knew what had really happened…

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The gentle glow of the late afternoon sun shone down onto tiled village rooftops. In the assembly hall, Captain Greystone studied each of the adventurers in attendance, his gaze severe and discerning. The bitter truth was that the Captain had been unable to find and secure the lost Lady Miralys by himself, and had now been forcibly assigned the help of outsiders. Grimly, he swallowed, not letting his scowl show through his uncompromising visage.

"Seekers and adventurers, I welcome you." The words were formal, as forced as the semblance of cordiality on his face.

The Captain was a tall, sturdily built soldier with a mane of dark hair and a darker glint in his gaze. An ornate claymore was sheathed at his belt, its hilt faded from use.

"As you know, you have been summoned here to assist with the search and rescue of the noble Lady Miralys. It should be without question that she is to be retrieved unharmed above all else." Greystone scanned over the adventurers with an edge of distrust. Who was to say they wouldn't be more hindrance than help?...

"...I'm sure each of you is well-experienced and competent in your own right, but mind that during this mission, I will be the one in charge, and you will report to me." There was no hint of concession in his smoky voice.

After a moment, the Captain continued. "So, allow me to brief you all on the situation at hand."

Turning towards an open window, the Captain peered into the distant greenery with absent-minded vexation, his arms sternly fixed behind his back.

"The disappearance of Lady Miralys Blackthorn is unlikely to be connected with the village of Windermere itself." He announced to the group with factual disinterest. The Captain had carried out the necessary measures to confirm that – which the villagers certainly didn't make easy.

"No, I suspect there is a greater mystery at play here…"

Annoyance seethed as Greystone let loose a raspy grunt and turned back to his audience.

"Scouts have discovered a personal item that belonged to the Lady, found near a set of decaying ruins several leagues from here. There have been reports of dangerous entities lurking the area, and a few of my own men have gone missing." The fact that he needed assistance was more than the Captain liked to admit.

"We will leave for the ruins on the morrow. Assemble here, at dawn, if you wish to be part of the expedition."

The announcement was firm and concise. The Captain didn't feel he needed to elaborate, nor did he wish to. He only hoped these so-called heroes wouldn't be more trouble than they were worth.

"...If you have any questions or concerns, express them now. Otherwise, let us reconvene at the ready hour." Captain Greystone concluded with limited patience.

Meanwhile, outside the assembly hall, the locals were starting to get into their evening routines. The scent of ale wafted through the air, and the soft pluck of lute strings emanated from a tavern. The villagers themselves went about their business, shooting the occasional wary look towards the congregation of outsiders. Although the tiny settlement had meager offerings in terms of trade, local establishments were eager for the new influx of potential customers. Among the establishments were a tavern-inn, a general store, a wood mill, an herbalist shop, and a shepherd's market.

As the sun slowly dipped down into the cloudy horizon chiseled by distant mountains, a cool breeze blew through the village square. A pair of children kicked around a ball, their soft laughter coloring the air. A small herd of goats sniffed at the onset of evening, guided by their shepherd, while small lanterns began to light up across the hamlet's cozy residences. The assortment of visitors arriving from across the land made for a livelier atmosphere than was typical for the village, but all in all Windermere remained tranquil and peaceful. For the adventurers forging ahead, it was the stillness before a coming tempest.

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Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

@Einherjar 906 Ooh interesting! Yes I think that will work nicely~ Approved! Welcome ^^

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

@Einherjar 906 Hey there! Yep, we do have a spot! Feel free to submit a character sheet if you'd like ^^

Also we have a Discord server if you'd like to join (optional, though most OOC chatter is currently taking place there): discord.gg/8dGyySVW

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

@Randomness Approved! Welcome :D

Through a Wayward Glimmer -- to a Faraway Place

@Mas Bagus Approved! Feel free to... no, bad spiral, no more!

The discord for the game is still being set up; we're mostly using a temporary one at the moment (which may or may not end up being what we stick with), which you can join here: [OLD SERVER LINK REMOVED xP]