[Nexus] The Hunting Grounds 2: Murdering is Magic

[Morty]

[Mountain]

"Well, it's up to you. I'm going to rest for a while and think about whether or not I want to wander around some more," Wenomir says as he sits down under the tree.

[Aric Kale]

Mountain

Fair Fortunes on your journeys. Take care.
Aric bows and turns to head back up the mountain. Despite the duel he was just in, he seems to be practically buzzing with energy.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Mountains - Cave System]

After a while, Aric may run into a small crack in the mountain, containing several caves; two on the left, and one on the right, presumably with various things inside them...

[Aric Kale]

Mountains ~ Cave System

Aric takes whichever cave appears to be largest, if there is no obvious difference he will choose the cave on the right.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Caves]

The first cave on the left would be largest.

On entering, he'll find that it seems to be extraordinarily damp, with pockets of stagnant water scattered throughout, though nothing seems to be waiting right at the entrance... Still, faint noises from inside would indicate that something lives here.

[Aric Kale]

Caves

Aric whistles, chuckling to himself at the echoing sound. Why not? Aric heads off into the cave, to the casual observer he looks like he doesn't have a care in the world. Truthfully, he's ready and waiting for his next challenge

[Dark Elf Bard]

((Except when your partner is a faerie succubus. Though she's not actually going to be all evil and life-drainy this time around... ))

"Of course I am. Why would I have suggested it were I not?" , she asks quietly, chuckling a bit."And please, relax... If you get any more flustered, you'll be so tense I could use you as a spare string for my bow!", she teases gently, squeezing Valeria against herself for a few moments, and kissing the drow's cheek.

Perhaps. Not her intent, but still...

Valeria grins giddily a little bit. St-stop, we only just met!

Obviously, from her tone, the drowess is really enoying this activity.

[Lady Serpentine]

Caves

Aric whistles, chuckling to himself at the echoing sound. Why not? Aric heads off into the cave, to the casual observer he looks like he doesn't have a care in the world. Truthfully, he's ready and waiting for his next challenge

After several turns, each darker than the last, he comes out into a large chamber, with a huge pool of stagnant water in the center, and several smaller ones around the edges...

A few moments after he enters, several Maratu, burst from the pools, including one abnormally large one that's around six feet tall, most armed with heavy thrusting spears, though the 'giant' has a trident and a net.

Valeria grins giddily a little bit. St-stop, we only just met!

Obviously, from her tone, the drowess is really enoying this activity.

Spreagadh rests her head on Valeria's shoulder, smiling at her.
"If you insist... Though it's not like we've done anything wrong. We're both adults, after all, and for that matter, a kiss on the cheek and a hug isn't exactly anything that can't be done by friends - there are some cultures that introduce people that way."

[Aric Kale]

Caves

EDIT: Aric nearly jumps out of his skin at the sound of the creatures. So these caves are inhabited, that's good to know. Aric blindly holds his shield out with his spear extended slightly past it, waiting for the beasts to move.

)(My apologies for the mishap)(

[Lady Serpentine]

[Caves]

((I'd actually meant for it to be dark, and was just giving an idea of their capabilities and such, but... I guess we can do some kin of glowing mushrooms or something.))

[Dark Elf Bard]

After several turns, each darker than the last, he comes out into a large chamber, with a huge pool of stagnant water in the center, and several smaller ones around the edges...

A few moments after he enters, several Maratu, burst from the pools, including one abnormally large one that's around six feet tall, most armed with heavy thrusting spears, though the 'giant' has a trident and a net.



Spreagadh rests her head on Valeria's shoulder, smiling at her.
"If you insist... Though it's not like we've done anything wrong. We're both adults, after all, and for that matter, a kiss on the cheek and a hug isn't exactly anything that can't be done by friends - there are some cultures that introduce people that way."

Valeria has to blush more than usual, to make up for her player being bored ib the hospital with no laptop for a day.I guess th-that's right, nothing's wrong with a kiss a form of greeting.

So I guess we're partners!

She smiles gratefully at Spreagadh (how do you remember how to spell that?!?! ) until she realizes how suggestive "partner" sounds.

Er... sorry, friends? A team? Whatever. Never mind.

[Lady Serpentine]

Valeria has to blush more than usual, to make up for her player being bored ib the hospital with no laptop for a day.I guess th-that's right, nothing's wrong with a kiss a form of greeting.

So I guess we're partners!

She smiles gratefully at Spreagadh (how do you remember how to spell that?!?! ) until she realizes how suggestive "partner" sounds.

Er... sorry, friends? A team? Whatever. Never mind.

((That doesn't sound good. Are you okay?

And how I remember to spell it is mostly that I am, apparently, crazy good at that sort of thing, according to everyone I know. The other way, though, is that, when it's been too long, you can go to google translate and translate 'inspiration' to Irish.))

"Friends or partners, I'm happy with either...", Spreagadh replies, shrugging, and smiling back at her. "Anything in particular you were after? I know some things that you could hunt in here, and where to find them, if not. Not really big, but fast, and they've got some nasty powers, so they'd be a nice challenge."

[Dark Elf Bard]

Jungle of Blushing

Valeria smiles shakily at the fae. Partners it is, then!

Anything is good, really, although preferably it should be edible, or have a pelt. Se smiles, and then blushes again. Just 'cause.

[Lady Serpentine]

[+1 to Craft: Blushies]

"How about a pelt that's large enough to make a cloak out of, and will always keep you warm?", Spreagadh asks, grinning impishly at her. "Because I know where to find a few hellhounds..."

[Dark Elf Bard]

Cloak of Blushing +10

Valeria smiles back at her. Keeping warm is always good, let's go!

[Morty]

[Mountains]

After sitting under that tree for a while, Wenomir decides to go wandering some more. Which he promptly does, travelling through the hills and valleys for a while.

[Lady Serpentine]

Cloak of Blushing +10

Valeria smiles back at her. Keeping warm is always good, let's go!

[Plain-ly Blushing]

And, so, off they go, eventually arring on a volcanic plain!

[Dark Elf Bard]

Volcanic Plain

Valeria tries to stay alert, but Spregadh is just so gosh darn distracting!

Have you ever fought hellhounds before?

[Recaiden]

[Mountains]

A shadow flows over the ground, the shape of a hunting bird, colossal in size, coasting along as it looks for prey.

Up above, far away, is the shape casting the shadow. There are feathered wings beating, brown and red. There are grasping talons, lifted to not drag at the air. But it is clearly not actually a bird. Its movements are too precise, and those who look closely can see the gears and flywheels spin and cylinders move, and maybe the shape of the pilot in the flying machine.

As the machine tilts and soars around a peak into another valley, they see a curious thing. A person, walking. Not fighting, not monstrous, just a-wandering through the valley.

The machine angles down and starts to descend, in a lazy, curving way, towards Wenomir. It's not built to withstand actual predatory dives on a regular basis.

[Morty]

[Mountains]

Wenomir stands still and looks up at the descending flying machine. He makes no move to escape or defend himself, seemingly.

[Recaiden]

[Mountain]

The machine, which appear to have been made partially out of a giant bird, circles a time or two, and, extending its wings and landing legs, comes to a stop near Wenomir.

[Morty]

[Mountains]

Wenomir remains still, waiting to see if some sort of pilot comes out of the bird-machine. An interesting contraption, that. He'll have to tell KR about it when he gets back home.

[Recaiden]

[Mountains]

A person emerges, slipping out of the back of the machine. She's wearing big goggles and a flight helmet, a vest-coat that's covered in feathers, and has a pair of swords strapped across her back.

"Hello." The figure waves to Wenomir, and he can see that they have only four fingers(per hand, that is. It's hard to properly wave with only 4 total fingers when they're evenly distributed), and gloves made to fit that.
"I don't suppose you know these mountains well? I'm Seeking a place where the stone crumbles, and a set of caves. Two different places, but they're sure to be up here somewhere."

[Morty]

[Mountains]

Wenomir shakes his head.

"I have only just got here, so I don't know about either of those places. Why are you looking for them?"

[Recaiden]

[Mountains]

Chevin, for that is the person's name whether anyone asks it or not, pauses. No one had ever asked Why before. "I...should. The caves, I suppose, I do not need to, but it best that they be found. It will lengthen the survival of the universe, just a lit bit more. The crumbling stones are different. I need to see that no one else finds them first."

She looks back to Wenomir. "Are you here Hunting?"

[Morty]

[Mountains]

Wenomir raises his eyebrow. How are caves supposed to lengthen the survival of the universe?

"I am, yes. I've come here to find a challenging fight. Care to elaborate how are those caves linked to the survival of the universe?"

Sure, it sounds crazy, but Watchtower wouldn't get a lot done if they dismissed things for this reason.

[Recaiden]

[Mountains]

Chevin nods. People look at her like she's crazy a lot.

"If one goes to look for them, they will find one of the five-hundred and thirty-eight. It is weak now; it will not help me. When I die, it will be stronger. The one who comes after me will be safer. I trust that they will follow in my footsteps. I have not seen otherwise."

Very carefully, she draws the left sword. "Would we fight, then? I could use the practice."

[Morty]

[Mountains]

Wenomir raises his hand.

"Perhaps, but first I need a little more explanation. Do you intend to find one of those caves and die so that something within is made stronger?"

[Recaiden]

[Mountains]

Chevin lowers the blade, shaking her head.
"No. I intend to go in and survive. But when I eventually die, it will be stronger. I seek it because it wants to be found. And it will be. Better that it is by me."

[Morty]

[Mountains]

"I see," Wenomir says. "If that's the case, I can offer my help. You might say that helping the universe stay intact is my job."