Fantasy The Guildstone Chronicles (( Questing Thread 2 ))

[Sylph]

The Questing Thread
This is the questing thread! Once your characters have formed a team and departed/teleported out of the guild you will move to this thread. Your first post here should generally be arriving at the destination, or beginning the journey there. Once your quest or story is complete you can teleport back to the main hall to turn in the report.

If you're new and interested in joining the thread, have a look at the info on the interest check thread or send me a DM! We're always accepting.

Starter Items
Every adventurer is given a set of items when they sign up to the guild: a waystone, an enchanted map, and a bag of holding.

• The waystone is used for long distance transport (anywhere more than a day's walk). Visualise the place you want to be and it will take you there. You can only teleport to places listed on the enchanted map. When heading into unexplored territory--or where there is interference of some kind--all waystone functions will cease.
• The bag of holding can store anything small enough to fit through the mouth. To retrieve, think of the item and reach inside.
• The enchanted map will help you keep track of your position, but the waystone will only function in areas where it's been properly mapped out.

Rules

1. RESPECT THE LORE.
   - It isn't required to know everything,
   - But if something seems important it's always best to ask.
2. No modern technology, though magic equivalents may be allowed.
3. Main characters are to be a part of the guild or intending to join.
   - There may be exceptions where approval is given.
   - Cannon fodder enemies / random NPCs are fine.
   - Antagonists are allowed.
4. Race Limitations
   - No fandom characters or historic figures.
   - No gods or beings from religious texts.
   - No extra-terrestrials.
5. At least one paragraph per post.
6. Common RP courtesies and Nation rules apply.

 

[Sylph]

Tyron
Location: Solmar Scoutpost
Mentions: Ivan Dark Muunbane ​

Nearly a month had gone by since the others' had returned to the guild, and Tyron was beginning to feel as as faded and tarrow as many of the other soldiers appeared. There was no sun in the decayed lands. Only a subtle shift in the brackish skies that marked the difference as light faded away. There was precious little warmth to be found, not during day or night, nor in the denizens of the outpost who suffered the ill-fortune.

Tyron wasn't sure why he'd ended up staying in the forsaken lands. His aversion for the guild nowhere near matched the morbid skies he encountered each day, but at least he woke with a purpose in mind. No wasting time on gathering eggs or fighting pigs. The members of the outpost were mostly trained soldiers, not rudimentary chaff like what the guild allowed into its ranks. The run-down, too-loud hall was nothing like the undead plains he'd grown accustomed to--but there were always exceptions. Tyron was hardly the only guild member to take up one of the many requests the guard issued.

At least one other straggler was hanging around that he new of. The whispy, silver haired one who couldn't seem to take a damn thing seriously--Ruma was out and about today as well, chatting amicably with whoever crossed his path. Even he was on standby as the outpost recovered from the latest wave of attacks. There had been favourably few casualties, but the outer defenses needed to be sharpened and the perimeters secure. It only took one of the many maddened creatures that roamed the plains to break through and cause havok from within.

 

[Muunbane]

◉ Ruma Laspeyres

Solmar Outpost | Sylph

A thick, grey smog settled upon a barren, pockmarked earth. Dry shrubs scattered the plain, dusted with the same detritus which pulled all remnants of life into a dull, colourless haze. To say the least, the outside was... Dreary.

It wasn't the first encounter Ruma had had with such a blight- and unfortunately, the knowledge that it was unlikely to be the last, nor the worst, hung heavy in the back of his mind. Despite the safety of the outpost he still routinely gripped the hilt of his sword, comforted by its presence at his side. He walked lightly, fast and quiet down from the lookout and towards the heart of the outpost. Despite one earlier attack it had been a quiet day, thankfully. Little more than the occasional undead shuffling in the distance, even the frenzied animals seemed more absent than usual... Of course, there was the chance that this may be a sign of amassing forces, though he hoped the thought was little more than the fear of an on-edge mind.

A sour face caught his eye, Tyron, one who seemed particularly wary of him- no, perhaps not wary, offput? He wasn't sure. Between his duties Ruma had attempted to keep up morale among the soldiers, his smile rarely fading even in such a desolate atmosphere, though Tyron never seemed particularly fond of this.
"There's no sign of advancement from the south, little more from the west," He reported, "though can't help but feel this lull is strange." a small party had already begun repairs on the damaged walls, fortifications were sorely needed but resources were scarce, less they build with brambles. "There's signs of a ruin nearby, if we're lucky it may have wood that hasn't yet rotted."

The sky was darkening again, however. Another night incoming.

 

[Sylph]

Tyron
Location: Solmar Scoutpost
Interactions: Ruma (#ffddc2) ( Muunbane ), Ivan Dark ​

Another scouting party had returned, not exactly in good spirits—such sentiment was rare on the forward post—but their expressions weren't drawn or harried, or urgent enough to indicate something amiss. It meant they hadn't encountered anything, and while that was never a guarantee, it was assurance enough that the night would be uneventful.

Tyron remained at his post, watching over the barracks for signs of anything amiss. They'd learnt the hard way it wasn't only outer walls that needed to be watched. Tensions were on a tripwire, particularly after several incidents of possessed soldiers making their way inside, and attacks from above weren't uncommon either. Tyron's true concern though, after seeing the extent of the catacombs' reach, was an attack from below.

He was almost done with his shift, stiff and irritable after another day wasted. Everyone had their times scouting the outskirts, keeping lookout for threats, or doing the one million other jobs that never seemed to disappear, and the adventurers were no exception. In some ways their biggest contribution was to relieve the soldiers' burdens, but it didn't make the restless days of nothing any easier to bear. Not for Tyron in particular, who had far better uses of his time.

"There's no sign of advancement from the south-" (#ffddc2) The redhead stirred from his thoughts at a vaguely familiar voice—serious, but not unfriendly—only to decide he'd rather have his shift end with nothing after all. "-little more from the west." Ruma leaned up against the wall nearby, acting as if it were the most normal thing in the world for them to be talking. Tyron's already foul mood darkened, though it hardly made a difference to his usual scowl. Come to gloat over being sent with the scouting party?

"Though can't help but feel this lull is strange." Ruma continued, carrying on the conversation without much difficulty. "There's signs of a ruin nearby, if we're lucky it may have wood that hasn't yet rotted."

Scathing words lingered on Tyron's mind—questions on why the hell they suddenly thought they could act like old acquaintances, or speak in such a casual manner at all—but their final sentence caught up to him in time. A ruin, mayhaps with valuable resources. He hadn't a clue why Ruma brought it to his attention of all people. If anything Tyron would simply go ahead on his own and...

Ah. His eyes narrowed, examining the willowy adventurer. "Is that meant to be an invitation?"

It sounded more like the setup for a trap than anything. Ruma was from an unknown guild, his motivations entirely unclear. Still- walking into trap seemed vastly more engaging than ending the day in the crowded barracks, waiting on yet another night of tasteless rations. "What makes you think it hasn't already been stripped of everything inside?"

 

[Ivan Dark]

Sylph , Muunbane​

Andrius Mistlethaw | GOLD I: Bastion/Sniper | Body/Dark | Stature: 6’ 2” | Age: 29 years

STR​	MAG​	AGI​	DEX​	CON​	FOR​
225​	0​	150​	0​	120​	25​

LOCATION: Solmar > City Perimeter > Defensive Outpost​

~ Log 2848: Dark has approached more quickly than we anticipated. As we arrived in Solmar: The City of Dawn, I could sense an uneasiness in the air. Birds are silent and no life is to be seen. Whatever noise is carried on the wind is either the distant clatter of bones and the plate of fallen men. Brennan has been invaluable in this regard. They are like moths to the flame in his hand. Both a guiding light for us in the patches of fog scattered across the land and a purging pyre for those that have lost their way.
He whispers to the corpses as the curse leaves their bodies, something that resonates perhaps of Sa'heul's faith. With a single touch, he puts these souls to rest, the blue flames flicker at the darkness that binds them. We now approach an abandoned ruin, just as silent as the desolate plain that we have traversed thus far. But Brennan's eyes have not yet relaxed. The breath in his chest lingers and his eyes dart across the horizon. He may not be afraid for his life, but as sure Sa'heul I am.
Please, love. Let your worry pass on to me.

Andrius closes the journal and passes it back to his partner, the subtle wind twisting his cape as the two approached the defiled ruin. He wastes no time in restringing his bow, inspecting its curve for any deformation, a hand always present by the heavy quiver at his side.
He eyes the scoutpost in the distance, only a few hundred meters away. It seems, however, that more fog obscures it. Following Brennan, they should be able to draw in the stragglers on their less than merry way.

"Your call, love," He mutters under his breath, "Tyron may need all the help he can get by nightfall. But I understand where your ears take you. D'you suppose there's more around?"
"Yes. And perhaps it'll be worse come dark."
"Perhaps its best we approach the post now, just so we don't end up skewered by his men in the dark."
The dark thought brought a smirk to Brennan's lips. "Or before his men are lured form their stations. Agreed. But first..."


Brenn’an Hufēng | GOLD I: Spellblade/Trickster | Spirit/Fire | Stature: 5’ 9” | Age: 27 years

STR​	MAG​	AGI​	DEX​	CON​	FOR​
25​	175​	125​	0​	50​	125​

LOCATION: Solmar > City Perimeter > Defensive Outpost

~ The sound of garbled groans and crackling bones echoed through the fog. Andrius's hands darted to his side, an arrow plucked from his quiver to spear the foe in the dark.
It was yet another straggler. A torn hauberk lay dangling from its shoulders, each ring of mail clinking indignantly against the corpse's fragile form. A mangled mace dragged from its grip amongst the dust. It's teeth clashed and its jaw agape, it hobbled with urgency, though it had yet to notice the men.
Brennan signaled for Andrius to stand down and he complied. The two quickly darted behind a pile of mismatched bones among the scattered refuse, listening to the footsteps that approached. They seemed to steer left. Then right. Then left again. Everywhich way, the armored skeleton was seemingly guided by its head, as if to follow an imaginary scent. It was making its way towards the scoutpost.
As the minutes dragged on, the footsteps and clattering began to fade.
"Come." Brennan layed a hand on Andrius's shoulder before stepping quickly out from behind the pile. He treaded lightly, looking back as Andrius did the same, always with their eyes on the mangled form in the fog in front of them and their ears to their sides and back. It would lead them to the outpost, and if there was to be a horde awaiting them, Brennan and Andrius would be there to help Tyron in a pincer attack.
That is, if the horde had not managed to discover the scoutpost.
Their timing could not have been more tentative.

 

[Muunbane]

◉ Ruma Laspeyres

Solmar Outpost| Mentions

"Is that meant to be an invitation?"

Well, he at the very least got a response. Ruma eyed the red-head's expression, his emotions painted plain as day in the scowl. He didn't like the stranger much. A fair judgement to a point, though at this rate it felt more petty than merely cautious.
It was a little bit funny, though. If he were to be setting up to betray the outpost, Tyron was hardly the best target for such a scheme.

"What makes you think it hasn't already been stripped of everything inside?"

Ruma stood straight again, though his arms remained crossed. Again, a fair point, albeit defeatist. "No scout parties have been sent that ways yet, with the morning's horde cut down it's finally safe to venture there. Of course, it may have been pillaged prior to our arrival," he shrugged, "but the worst that could happened should it have been is we come back empty handed, yet with more knowledge on our surroundings. Besides, some slightly fresher air would do us all good."

Besides, he himself was getting rather antsy stuck inside the dreary brick of the outpost, and curiosity was a hell of a motivator in this case. Something about the rubble seemed strange to him, though the shapes were hard to make out in the distance, and harder still with the heavy haze which clung so dense to the ashy field, he swore he could see the adornments one would spy on a temple. Intricate beams, filigree, and the shattered remains of old statues glinting tarnished in the diffuse sun. "I'll be seeing you, then. Though yes, it's meant to be an invitation." He turned swiftly, making his way towards the large, iron-banded doors which hung heavy in the exit of the hall, "The invitation remains open." he called back as he slipped through.

The exterior of the outpost was bathed in sickly dust, most everything was. The outside world a pale, dismal place. Ruma frowned, he'd seen it many times, lich-hunter as he was. The blight of the undead. It was a disease which rotted all it touched, even stone felt ever lifeless in the bleak. His steps made little noise as he left the relative safety of the spiked boundary, sword at the ready as he made for the ruin.

 

[Sylph]

Tyron
Location: Outpost --> Plains
Mentions: Muunbane Ivan Dark ​

Tyron supposed there were some advantages to being classified as an adventurer with the guild, rather than a foot soldier under the army. Despite the heavy rules and regulations, they retained a degree of freedom as third party combatants, and apart from a cursory set of questions at the gates—where were they going? how soon could they be expected back?—none of the guards attempted to stop them. A part of adventuring was taking on the risks ordinary workers couldn't afford, and an outpost under siege was no exception.

"With the morning's horde cut down it's finally safe to venture there." Tyron mulled over the words as he continued from under the outpost gates and stepped onto blackened soil. Beyond the gouged out walls of the fortress the land was filled with pockmarks and craters, overpowered by the scent of ash and rotting vegetation. Incense was a desired commodity within the outpost for a reason, despite fears that the undead could track the smell.

"How far away was this ruin?" Tyron spoke as he fell in step beside Ruma. The lordling's hand never drifted far front the hilt of his blade while they were on the plains, eyes scouring their dreary surrounding and, though it was never quite as obvious, his hearing tuned to the finest of sounds. He could detect the shambling scuff of feet long before his eyes caught up to the threat, though with how flat the plains were it was hardly needed. Both Ruma and Tyron could see the decaying figure that stumbled towards them from a mile off.

The undead was alone, which was concerning, but not unusual. There were plenty of bodies buried outside of graves and cemeteries, and a reanimated corpse could wander for days before encountering a group to join. Or attract a gathering of their own. They were easy to dispatch, but no less important because of it.

In the end, Tyron's concern wasn't with the lone undead. He couldn't hear the tell-tale signs of dragging feet or rattling breaths, but what he did notice was the hushed sounds of voices a while away. Too faint to make much of, but the changing tones suggested a conversation taking place.

"We have company," Tyron said to Ruma, facing the source of the disturbance after they'd finished dispatching the lone enemy. He considered raising his voice to address the unknown individuals, wherever they might be hiding, only to decide against it. There was no telling what other threats lay in wait nearby. Settling his hand on the hilt of his weapon, Tyron decided to wait and see if the newcomers would reveal themselves.

 

[Sylph]

Location: Thimbleweed Village
Mentions: Gaius Danius Griinia Spoiled Bread
The waystone lands the one or two adventurers on the mellow outskirts of a forest, hay-like grass crunching underfoot. A soft wind tousles the treeline and the undergrowth rustles with the occasional movement, but otherwise all is quiet. Peaceful.

There is the shadow of a village visible in the distance. Small houses made from the thatch and wood of the forest. Observing the enchanted map would indicate that they are near a place marked Thimbleweed village, up in the highlands to the south of Lantana.

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

The Wizard
Location: Thimbleweed Village
Mentions: Spoiled Bread Sylph

Arriving at what appeared to be the outskirts of a forest. The Wizard could hear the crunch of grass underneath his boots. A gentle breeze caused his scarf to flutter a little. Taking a cursory glance at his surroundings to check for any kind of danger. He was relieved to find nothing jumping out at him. Noticing a small village in the distance. His next destination was clear. Awaiting his skeletal companions arrival to the warp point. The Wizard leaned against a tree and seemingly enjoyed the breeze. This calm was actually the result of The Wizard going over every spell he might be able to use against King Turkey. The fiendish avian seemed capable of spewing flames. Therefore anything below a fireball may not be enough. Conversely he could set the forest ablaze should he fail to coordinate well with Gion. Alternatively he could freeze King Turkey to keep him from attacking. A trail of ice beneath King Turkeys claws could serve to get him away from the eggs long enough for Gion to collect them. When the skeleton in question appeared before him. The Wizard pointed out the village nearby.

After a short hike to Thimbleweed Village as marked on their guild provided magic map. The Wizard would begin asking around for the location of King Turkey in addition to the client. He did have to chase a few dogs away from trying to snatch the shins from the skeleton accompanying him.

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Gion Stickman
Location: Timbleweed Village

It took the skeleton a few fiddling before he was able to activate his stone. The sudden teleportation left him slightly disoriented as he stumbled on his own leg and fell onto the ground face first.

"I will need to get used to it." He mumbled to himself as he dusted his clothes. The waystone sent them into the countryside it seems. The peaceful atmosphere and the sight of the village on the distance reminded him of the first time he found a human settlement. Oh, the joy he felts at that time was priceless.

Following his partner around the villlage, Gion joined the wizard in asking around about the client of the request. Though he didn't find much success because people keep avoiding him and a bunch of dogs were stalking him. The wizard chased the dogs away but they kept coming back.

"Thank you buddy, but let me handle this." He said to the wizard and pulled out his back of holding. Opening the bag's mouth, Gion flipped the bag upside down and bones started to fell out of the bag. Dozens of them with various sizes. After he received the bag the day before, Gion had gathered some leftover bones from a few slaughterhouses for his magic and he didn't mind sharing some with these dogs, he still had plenty afterall.

"Enjoy the bones!" He waved at the dogs before shifting his attention to his guildmates.

"Anyway, I never actually catch your name right? What should I call you, pal?" He asked the wizard, though he immediately realized that it might be better if he introduced himself first. "My name is Gion, Gion Stickman. Ah, but Stickman is not my family name, I don't have one. It's just a name someone gave to me." The skeleton ended his introduction with his dry yet merry laugh.

Sylph Gaius Danius Griinia

 

[Sylph]

Location: Thimbleweed Village
Mentions: Gaius Danius Griinia Spoiled Bread
The village they walked in to was quaint. Homely and small, with the smell of something sweet baking in the air. Every now and which way there would be a hint of scorchmarks under the leaves. A charcoal stump that had been overgrown by mycelia and shrubbery, or the more obvious score of black in the soil. The dry highlands were a place of bounty, but to the trained eye, brushing away the autumn coat revealed layers of decay telling of the ages.

As Gion and Wizard moved through the small town the residents would glance between them. Those that laid eyes on the Wizard only did so far a moment before dismissing the seemingly diminutive stature, but as they caught sight of Gion beside him their expressions changed to open horror. Approaching any of them would have them ducking their heads in a brief show of deference before hurrying inside. Kids were ushered out of the way and thatch windows were snapped shut. In the length of a bell's toll, the single street of Thimbleweed was cleared of all signs of life.

Almost—all signs of life. It seemed that the couple of dogs Wizard had chased off earlier had escaped to tell their friends, and soon the silence of the empty street was overtaken by rampaging feet and excited howls as the pack returned in greater numbers.

They descended upon the pile of bones Gion emptied without remorse, several of them attempting to wrestle the shin bones off the skeleton for the simple fact that they moved. Not long after an angry shout followed them up the street. The pack scattered with their winnings, as if sensing it would the taken from them if they remained.

The out-of-breath owner soon arrived in front of them, red-faced and wheezing despite the furs of many successful hunts over his shoulders.

"Blasted mutts," the man said, straightening to get a proper look at them. His reaction was much the same as the rest of the village, although muted as he looked between the skeleton and the much smaller sorcerer and visibly reassessed. "Ahem—can I help you, mister...?"

He did not appear to relax upon hearing their name or reason for being in the village, although he appeared to at least recognise what it was they spoke of.

"You're here to help miss Galeed with her cake then..." he didn't appear any less suspicious. "Yes, yes, I did hear something of that. Well, if you're looking for the turkey nests you'll find them dug into holes under the bushes near the river." He looked between them both, seeming eager for them to leave. "My apologies about the hunting dogs. They're not trained to attack humans but this is—ah, I'll pass on that you arrived to miss Galeed—" he said, appearing to change the subject from whatever Gion's condition was. "You can find her bakery just over there."

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

The Wizard
Location: Thimbleweed Village -> Miss Galeeds Bakery
Mentions: Sylph Spoiled Bread

The Wizard was none too pleased at the reception he was getting from the small town. While he could understand their wariness of Gion. A purely human entity like himself was also regarded with the same suspicion as a skeleton. Deciding not to sully the Guilds name with snide remarks towards such narrow minded folk. The Wizard gave his thanks to the dog owner who had given them directions to their client. "The Wizard offers his thanks to you for such... kindness. He and his companion shall remain in the village for not too long" uttered the caster before turning on his heel and wandering off towards the bakery. Gesturing for Gion to follow along. The Wizard ran his finger along the brim of his fantastic hat. Such was the only remaining piece of his original outfit. The rest of which was destroyed in his conflict with sentient plants. Turning to Gion with a frown on his face. He pondered how the skeleton was feeling at such a chilly reception. Certainly undead could cause quite a few issues. Yet Gion himself seemed to be far more approachable than the Wizard.

Opening the door to the little bakery and hearing a little bell ring. The Wizard asked for Miss Galeed to the person at the counter. Showing his guild identification to speed along the process. His eyes were drawn to the baked goods behind the glass. Having not eaten since breakfast. The Wizard decided that he would buy something for Milby and Kathlyn before returning to the guild. When the client eventually came to see them. A gloved hand was held up to signify that she should halt anything resembling apprehension and just tell them about the job. The Wizard had absolutely no time for antics and wanted to locate King Turkey so the tyrannical poultry could surrender its eggs.

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Gion Stickman
Location: Ms Galeed's bakery

"The secretive type, eh? I can roll with that. Don't mind if I simply call you the wizard then, buddy." Gion had a curious tone on his voice and if he was a human he might had raised his eyebrows, though the skeleton didn't push the question and was simply kept walking forward. He didn't even seems to mind some of the more aggresive dogs and let a few of his bones taken. Fortunately, they met a man who managed to order the dogs to leave them and told them a bit more about their quest.

"So the eggs would be for making cake! Wonderful!" The skeleton clapped. "It makes me happy to think our work here would fed someone somewhere a tasty cake!"

Waving goodbye towards the man, Gion followed his guildmates towards the supposed house of Ms Galeeds the baker. Without speaking anything, the wizard efficiently showed his guild ID and raised his hands to stop the woman. Gion let out a small 'ooohh' and took a mental note as he thought that would be a proper way to greet your client. He followed the wizard to the T, also showing his ID while raising his hand to stop Ms Galeeds. Though he didn't follow the silent part at all and started enthusiastly talking to her.

"Good day, ma'am. We're from the guild. Mind telling us more details about what you needs, eh? Maybe how many would you like to have? Some sort of special egg traits to look for? Any tips to help us provide the best service for you?"

Sylph Gaius Danius Griinia

 

[Sylph]

Thimbleweed Village
Mentions: Gaius Danius Griinia Spoiled Bread ​

The smell of fresh bread and other delicacies was all-encompassing as the pair stepped into the well-lit building, though it soon becomes apparent that to call it a bakery was an understatement. The counters filled with biscuits and decorated loaves comprised only a fraction of the actual stock. Behind them rows upon rows of shelves were filled with orders and batches of all kinds. More than enough to feed the town, which the figure shuffling around the back may well do, but many of the bags and crates also appeared to have destinations outside Thimbleweed.

"Jus' hold your horses, Mutt-!" a cranky voice from the back of the store called, though upon emerging into the room and seeing to the two that entered she paused to reassess. The baker appeared stoutly and harsh, with sleeves rolled up and one glassy, white eye staring into nothing. Her other one squinted at the adventurers who had entered, appearing to have some trouble.

"Hm, different fold I see," she said, ambling up to the counter. "I guess that's what got the dogs barking-"

She stared at them both a little bemusedly when they both raised their hands, though upon hearing their reason for visiting she took a moment longer to inspect the papers with her clouded eye. "Yes, yes. You're in the right place," she said, handing them back and addressing Gion with the details.

"So the eggs would be for making cake! Wonderful! It makes me happy to think our work here would fed someone somewhere a tasty cake!"

"Yer sounding more excited for it than the clients," the woman commented, though she didn't seem displeased as she wiped some of the remaining flour off her hands. "Bring me any extra I'll give you something for the road." She appeared to have some trouble making out the details of Gion's gaunt features, or anything under the short brim of Wizard's hat. "You both look like you could stand to eat more anyhow. Hold on a moment, I have some something that might help." She stepped out back, returning momentarily with a couple of cracked and somewhat charred loaves, though inside the hard exterior the bread was light and fluffy. "Might help you distract those horrid things if you give them something to peck at."

Gorgon Valley
Mentions: Tattletale SilverbackActual Eccentric_Undead ​

Inland from the bustling merchant capital of Mercantis, the wagon trails wind their way through the steep lands of Gorgon Valley. A well-travelled individual might know the area for its natural beauty, given the limited use of farming land, but the abundance of animals grazing along the rocky hillsides can make for a spot of trouble for the unwary nomad. Foraging is plentiful in old wood forests of the region, and for their destination the guild map points to a small village just outside the border of one of the towering tree lines.

Upon arrival the waystone deposits the group on a worn trail not far from the village. In the distance thin trails of chimney smoke rise into the sky and the air that greets them is colder and drier than the semi-tropical Lantana, with enough of a bite to promise night would be unpleasant to those unprepared. Insects drone in the flowering bushes and undergrowth around them, but after a while one might note that there is not a single bird to be seen or heard.

Not far from the group a couple of surprised goats pause their chewing, staring slack-jawed at the group who had appeared out of nothing. If one were close enough to inspect they might notice the myriad of small cuts and scratches in the creatures' pelts, looking to have been made by miniature talons. Though the heavy looking horns of these goats suggests that agitating them could end painfully for those involved.

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

The Wizard
Location: Thimbleweed Village -> Forest
Mentions: Sylph Spoiled Bread

Having long since lost his fake beard to his previous jobs. The Wizard could feel a mildly chilly breeze on his face. After leaving the village with Gion to find the location of King Turkey outlined by the owner of the bakery. Quite a few regular turkeys could be found roosting in the trees. Which left the Wizard wondering if maybe King Turkey was preying on his own people. If so, then it was even more reason that his villainy needed to be stopped. Not for the good of the incredibly rude villagers but for the innocent turkey population. Recalling intel provided by Miss Azalea back at the guild. King Turkey could likely be found digging for worms where they were plentiful. With the sun peeking through the trees to light his way. The Wizard began a thorough search for the veritable cornucopia of worms required to feed King Turkey. Catching the waft of freshly upturned dirt. He peeked through a set of bushes to find an enclosure. One that was full of incredibly large and hefty turkeys.

"Gion my good skeleton. The Wizard has most troubling news. It would appear we have stumbled upon an entire flock of King Turkey and his spawn. Not only are these vicious creatures stealing the prey of the local turkey population. It would seem they are also breed quite quickly. Gion if we are to save this forest from these birds. We are going to have to kill ALL of them. No-one is safe from King Turkey and his vile acts. Not only must we slay him. All of his spawn must be destroyed before they spread their numbers across the land" said the resolute caster upon gazing at so many big birds. Taking care of them would not be easy. In fact he knew that it would take everything he had and everything Gion had to bring this threat down.

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Gion Stickman
Location: Thimbleweed Village -> Forest

"Well, I envy people who can eat. Must be fun to be able to taste something good. I can't, which is why I decided to give my best at providing other people those joys! Enjoy them for me!" Gion said enthusiastly when he heard ms. Galeed's comment about his excitement.

Taking the distraction baits, Gion played around a bit by squishing the bread before giving the lady a salute as they headed towards their next destination.

"We will be back soon, ma'am. Rest assured that you would get more than enough eggs to last for weeks!" Giving their client one last wave, the skeleton turned and followed his guildmate into the forest.

In the forest Gion spent some of his time wandering aimlessly as he didn't actually sure as to where to start searching so when he saw the wizard start looking for worms, he followed suit. With the breads and the worms in their possession, it seemed they wouldn't need to worry about baits for quite a while. He then followed the wizard and peeked through the bush.

"Oh no, that sounds really bad!" Gion exclaimed while making a dramatic shocked pose, completely believing all of the wizard's assessment of the situation.

"I just wanted to take the eggs but if we must exterminate them to save the general populations from their savagery then so be it. Wait for a minute, partner. Let me assemble my ultimate weapon!"

Pouring bones out of his bag of holding, Gion started to filter through the mismatched bones for several specific types. After some time passed fiddling with the bones the skeleton finally showed the wizard a malicious looking whip sword thing seemingly made from cow's spines. It was definitely something that was put together with magic as there's no way those bone fragments could stick to each other like that while being able to manouver around as freely as that. Also, it had no handle. Gion swapped his left hand into that thing.

"I'm ready, partner!"

Sylph Gaius Danius Griinia

 

[Eccentric_Undead]

Elias "Enigma" Nyxra
Location: Gorgon Valley
Mentions: Tattletale Sylph SilverbackActual

Spoiler: Pixies

Elias was a little more than apprehensive about this situation. He didn't have much information to go on and this wasn't his normal style of job. Of course, his specific talent in a very specific type of warfare, it was hard to come by jobs that were specifically tailored to his skill set. However, his ability to attack almost omnidirectionally using the Pixies made his life a lot easier. There was a reason he was known as one of the most ruthless members of the guild. He was also rather hesitant about getting into this when he didn't know too much about Seth or Andromeda. They both seem relatively competent for people who had just joined the bill. Not to mention that this type of job was nothing to him. He had far surpassed this level a long time ago. In the end he decided to just ignore his apprehension, in favor of wanting to help the new people get their feet in the water.

Upon arrival, Elias immediately took scan of the area. Having grown up in a forest, he knew exactly what to expect from wilderness. This was not right. Everything seemed okay, but this far away from town, there should be first. Noises and flying, but there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. The goats seemed okay, but he noticed a few marks upon their body. Taking a moment to really look from a distance, he can tell that there were many more marks than he cared to acknowledge. This is strange. Birds generally did their best to avoid anything that wasn't another bird. Why were these birds getting so aggressive?

The Pixies picked up on his shift in mood. They took up defensive flight patterns around him. Hovering in a triangle to cover every single square inch around him. Guaranteeing that he had a shot no matter which way an attacker or attack may come from. For once, the three little creatures seemed extremely serious. Elias gripped firmly onto his staff, but didn't make a move. He was not on this job to finish it. He was merely a supervisory member. So, he turned to the new prospects. What seemed like a simple human and a dragon woman that towered over him. He could tell at a glance that they were both skilled in their own unique ways. Much like himself. However, he was his job to assess them on this mission. His face mostly obscured by hat and clothing, gazed at the two newbies "Tell me what you see and hear. What's your assessment of the situation here?"

 

[Sylph]

Gaius Danius Griinia Spoiled Bread
It was a small cacophony of squabbles and affronted pecks as the congregation of turkeys all fought for the best spots to pilfer. The two adventurers hiding nearby went unnoticed amidst the noise and chaos, but as the skeleton finished switching out his hand and turned to his companion the situation changed.

"I'm ready, partner!"

It only took one or two birds to overhear, their heads shooting up at the sound to stare at the suspicious bushes. The dozen or so other turkeys nearby soon caught on and the sea of beady eyes fixed on the position of the two adventurers.

The turkey that first noticed let out a warbling screech, followed by a stream of fire that swallowed the bushes where Gion and Wizard were preparing.

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

The Wizard
Location: Forest
Mentions: Sylph Spoiled Bread

Any time to formulate a plan was taken away by the actions of fire breathing turkeys. The Wizard was able to narrowly avoid the flames that obliterated the bushes he and Gion were hiding in. Standing up and meeting the gaze of the many King Turkey Offspring. There was a tension in the air as the two were confronted with a horde of birds hell bent on murdering them. Putting his hands into his clothes. The Wizard produced a pair of magic rings. On his left hand was a ring with a symbol of a flame. Holding up the back of his hand and taking a breath. It was time for The Wizard to engage the enemy. "Now... its showtime" said The Wizard while flourishing his arm. Running towards the turkeys with Gion watching his six. His first move was to prevent the group from organizing properly. Kicking the nearest turkey with a flaming kick. The Wizard followed up the kick with a short series of palm strikes to push back another turkey. Dodging another stream of fire. The potions that upped some of his physical attributes were much appreciated in this moment. Reaching into his clothes once more. The Wizard placed another ring on his other hand. This ring had a simple of a snowflake.

"Time for the second act" uttered The Wizard while flourishing with his other arm. Slowly walking towards a group of turkeys. The Wizard went for throat based kicks. He didn't want to damage his magic rings so kicking seemed the way to go. Executing a perfect backflip over the turkey trying to sneak up behind him. His next attack was spinning around before touching the ground to summon a ring of icicles to pierce the birds encircling him. Kicking off of the icicle in front of him to get back in the fray. The Wizard froze the ground around him so he could slide across the ice and knock the turkeys in the air. Rapidly cooling the air before striking it with a superheated kick. The resulting explosion was enough to make the area shake a little. Dusting off his clothes and checking on Gion's own battle. He got the attention of the skeleton with a wave.

"Hey Gion... time for the finale!"

 

[SilverbackActual]

Andromeda de Valinnari

Location: Guild Hall to Gorgon Valley

Mentions: Sylph Eccentric_Undead Tattletale
​

​

"I am fearsome Milby, slayer of overlords! I am in search of mighty foes to vanquish! If you have such a quest I shall gladly join you in arms." The pink-haired female raised her eyebrow, and then nodded. "So come my rodent friend, we always in need a pair of hands"
Andromeda extended her hand to the chinchilla for they to use as a bridge, and then hop into her shoulder.

Andromeda came with a companion, both got translocated quite quickly from the Guild Hall to where Elias was through the waystone. Teleportation can scramble ones inside, especially if they aren't acclimated to that kind of transportation. Andromeda? Well, she wasn't used to it, and when her foot touched the grassy ground of the Gorgon Valley, her center of gravity shifted forward, and she had to pick up speed just to cancel the fall. The draconic female shook her head, to reacclimate to the current environment. "You fine, Milby the Overlord Slayer?" She asked to the mighty rodent.
Andromeda took a while to get used to that feeling, while adapting to that, she tried to assimilate the environment and whatever that were there. She was more adapted to civilized surroundings than wilderness, and it really showed. Her eyes created visual sections as she kept analyzing the ambient and then stopped at the tribe of goats. The absence of bird chirping and tweeting kept the rosy-haired one wary.

"Tell me what you see and hear. What's your assessment of the situation here?" When Enigma asked, Andromeda looked a little lost, but as time passed she was able to digest the question and reply properly
"Well, that is kinda weird isn't?" Lady Valinnari said, approaching the tribe without trying to startle them. And even if they tried to chase her, she would be able to survive a headbutt or two. "The small incisions do not look that were made by blade, so it was probably some animal, small, a flock of them"

 

[Key of Stars]

Kathlyn Silva
Location: Lantana Portside
Mentions: Sylph
​

Kathlyn happily made her way across the busy streets of the portside market. When she first arrived at the guild she had been somewhat hesitant to go into and explore Lantana, the large city was about as different from the quiet and peaceful village she grew up in as possible, always bustling with life and with a million things going on. Since moving here she had really fallen in love with the city, so much so that it had become a dream of hers to one day be able to afford a small house of her own in the more peaceful outskirts of the city. That wasn't to say she didn't occasionally miss the fresh air and beautiful scenery of her old village, and it certainly didn't mean that she'd didn't miss her father but all in all Kathlyn was very happy with her current way of life.

She had decided to get the shopping out of the way first before going for lunch. That way, if she happened to stumble upon something delicious looking at the market she didn't have to worry about already having had her fill. She made her way to the address Azalea had given her smoothly, making full use of her smaller stature to slip through the crowds while happily greeting anyone she locked eyes with on the way. Most greeted her back, though whether that was because of her infectious happiness or simply because they were caught off guard wasn't clear.

She politely greeted the owner of the stall that Azalea had written down on the paper, buying the items Azalea had asked for and diligently recording the price of everything she bought in a small notebook she carried in her bag.

"Right then," She told herself with a little hum. "Time to get lunch." Shopping for potion ingredients could come after.

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Gion Stickman
Location: the forest

"Kyaaaa!!"

The skeleton let out a weird scream as he rolled away from the turkey's sudden attack. He was unharmed but he soon noticed that the guitar on his back was on fire! He scrambled to untie it and rolled it on the grass to extinguish the fire. Unfortunately by the time the fire was removed two of the string had been burned. For a brief moment the red light in the skeleton's eye socket shine brighter as he gently put down his guitar and undressed all of his clothes.

"I don't have enough money to buy another guitar, or even another set of clothes, you know!" Gion shouted angrily as he raised his fist towards the direction of the turkeys. Some of them had gone chasing the wizard but some now had their eyes on the skeleton.

"O-oops. Wait, wait. Don't throw your fire here." Running away from where his guitar and clothes were, the skeleton waved at the turkey and made sure he still got their attention. He was naked now but he still carried the bag of holding in his hand.

"Come here, you all. Don't be a chicken. Ehehehe." Gion giggled at his own taunt as he watched the group of turkeys rushed towards him, one of them opened its mouth and fire could be seen building up inside.

"Bone throw number one!" He yelled as he quickly pulled a cow's rib from his bag and threw it toward the turkey. In an amazing feat of accuracy the bone fittingly entered the turkey's mouth and clogged its throat.

"Bone throw number two!" Gion threw another bone from his bag, this one was a bull hooves which landed perfectly on one of the turkey's head, cracking its skull and sent it stumbling onto the ground. The rest of the turkeys had entered melee range so Gion prepared himself and sidestepped to the left as another stream of fire hit the ground where he was standing a second ago.

"Spine whip. Go!" The sounds of bones rattling against bones could be heard simultaneously as the skeleton jerked his left hand upward, making the bones whip uppercut several turkeys that got too close and knocked them airborne. The sword whip didn't stop there, it immediately slithers around and skewer the unfortunate turkeys midair. He then slammed his whip into the ground to make sure the turkeys were finished.

"Next one," The same brighter red light appeared as he intensely gazed into the remaining turkeys around him and a dark miasma could be seen come out of his body. The turkeys turned tail and flee from him, as if they suddenly understand the concept of fear. Seeing the turkeys scattered, The red eyes and the miasma disappeared.

"Wait, wait. Don't run. I must finish my job. Oh, fine. Bone throw number three!"

"Bone throw number four!"

"Bone throw number five!"

All of the bones he threw unexpectedly hit all the targets on the head. Though trained eyes would be able to tell that Gion's aim were rather clumsy and his amazing 'accuracy' came from the fact that the bones he threw were able to bend its trajectory in the air, allowing it to became homing projectiles. From the distance the skeleton could hear his partner calling for him to start the finale.

"That's right, buddy. Time for the climax!" Without any turkeys on his immediate vicinity, the skeleton decided to drop his bone whip and switch back to his human hand. The bone whip wiggled on the ground like a gecko's tail that had just been detached. Meanwhile Gion picked up his guitar and played a few repeated notes on it. He tried to play something epic but since it only had half of its strings left the sound was rather off.

"The stage is all yours, my friend."

Gaius Danius Griinia Sylph

 

[Sylph]

GORGON VALLEY
Mentions: SilverbackActual Eccentric_Undead ​

"So come my rodent friend, we always in need a pair of hands." Milby didn't need to be told twice as she leaped onto the extended hand, gleefully finding her way to sit on one of Andromeda's horns. The familiar sensation of the waystone followed soon after, as if she were stray tumbleweed in a hurricane for the brief moment before it abated. But Milby was sturdy for her size with impeccable balance from all her years up in the rafters. A little wobble in space-time wasn't enough to knock her over--

But Andromeda shaking her head was another matter.

"You fine, Milby the Overlord Slayer?" the woman said after she had recovered her balance. Milby hung from the edge of her horn, looking quite shaken up.

"I am- okay!" Milby huffed, pulling herself back onto her seat. Looking around, they were in a place with a lot of green, and there was--she gasped. "Pixie fellow!!"

"Tell me what you see and hear. What's your assessment of the situation here?" he was saying.

"Trees!" she declared, raising her hand. There were many of them. And that meant enemies around every corner.

"Well, that is kinda weird isn't?" Milby wobbled as Andromeda started moving, noticing the goats in the nearby field. They seemed more stunned than aggressive, though maybe a little curious upon spotting the horns of the woman who approached them. "The small incisions do not look that were made by blade, so it was probably some animal, small, a flock of them"

"Like pixies..." Milby whispered conspiratorially. One of the goats had come over to start headbutting Andromeda in a playful manner, though it would be a different story should Elias decide to approach. Either way it was making Milby's perch very precarious. Leaping to the nearest post she could find, she followed the fence over to Elias, stopping a wary distance from the pixies. "I am here to aid in your valiant quest!" she declared, somewhat redundantly, looking around at the peaceful green hills and leafy trees. "So what dastardly foe are we fighting today?"

LANTANA DOCKS Key of Stars ​

The paved boulevards of the Lantana port were mills of activity during the day, filled with merchants and customers and seafarers alike. The better half of it was filled with stalls and stone buildings where merchant guilds counted out their profits. Delicacies of all kinds were offered by friendly vendors or there seemed to be seats at a café around every corner. It was a bustling hub of the city, no matter the time of day. Soldiers in polished armour stood alert for thieves.

With such a shining world to explore, it was hardly worth mentioning the latter half of the ports.

The man Kathlyn met was as polite and courteous as all good merchants were, only really lighting up at the sound of coins in a pouch. "Come again any time, young miss," he'd say with a bow, after finishing counting the payment for cookies that were at least a hundred coin each. It was lucky the pixies were small enough that Elias didn't need many of them.

On the streets Kathlyn was a natural attraction. With shining hair and a bright and friendly smile, it was easy to picture her with a basket of flowers in hand to hand out to passerby's. As if she'd lived there her whole life, never knowing a day outside the city. Never stepping foot into the lower half of the ports.

Maybe that was why she was stopped by a tug on her skirt as she passed through one of the less decorated streets. A small child, cheeks scratched and dirtied, stared up at her with pleading eyes. Their patchwork shawl was a stitched-together mess of rags, most likely to hide whatever state their health was in.

"Miss, can you... help me-?" they said, their eyes darting to an adjacent alley. "No, it's my friend. My friend needs help-"

The child would reach for her hand if she agreed. Scrawny, but insistent as they pulled her along behind them, leading away from the beautifully paved streets of the boulevard.

THIMBLEWEED VILLAGE
Mentions: Gaius Danius Griinia Spoiled Bread ​

"The stage is all yours, my friend," Gion said in response to his companion, but plucky tune fell flat on the empty clearing.

It was not the stage of a final encounter that awaited them. The only turkeys that remained after the rest of the flock fled were those half a dozen crippled or unconscious, either choking on rib bones or impaled by ice. The fire hadn't had much effect on the birds, except where patches of feathers had already been ripped out by something with teeth.

As Wizard and Gion readied themselves, a smaller bird--feathers still scrawny and brown with youth--would dash into the clearing to stand in the way of their path. It stood in front the largest turkey. The one that had called the original war cry, now impaled by spears of ice.

The feathers of the young bird trembled as it glared up at the imposing shadow of the wizard.

Why did you do this? Those dark eyes seemed to say. What wrong did we commit to deserve such a fate?

The clearing was quiet compared to before. The turkeys that were still alive lamented the fact, and though embers fell from the burning branches onto the ground, with how scorched the land was already, these smaller fires seemed strangely contained. Large, speckled eggs sat in nests made from charred bushes, some of them only with empty shells, and a chorus of distressed cheeps became more audible beneath the sound of crackling flames.

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

The Wizard
Turkey Clearing -> Thimbleweed Village
Mentions: Sylph Spoiled Bread

Crouching down to the level of the little turkey that had trembled before him. The Wizard took notice of the clearing and tried to see from the perspective of the turkeys. Seeing the pain and devastation wrought by his own hands caused The Wizard to clutch his chest. If he had continued, then he would do unto this turkey as had been done to him. All alone in the world with none to show it warmth. Hearing the distressed cries of newborn turkeys only further showed the Wizard that he had been wrong. King Turkey was not some evil creature waiting to terrorize the locals. He was the future of small birds like the one cowering in front of him. A turkey who had lost its family to the cruelty of one who didn't think before he struck. Using his magic to melt the ice he had used against the turkeys. The Wizard used his own supply of healing potions to seal up all of the turkeys wounds. Luckily done of the turkeys he'd hit were dead yet.

"Gion, this was a mistake. The Wizard did something terrible to these innocent turkeys. The horror that has been inflicted today is of this foolish mages making" said a regretful Wizard before going to put out the fires. Taking a moment to scoop up a few eggs for his magic bag. He returned to the young turkey and bowed his head. "Words cannot express the guilt in this ones heart. Your flock has been wronged by a lapse in judgement and there is no excuse. When you are grown and able to remember this day. The Wizard will understand if you wish to take vengeance... King Turkey" whispered the caster to the shaking bird.

Returning to Thimbleweed Village to deal with the drop off. The Wizard was once again gawked at by the simple village folk. This time he had much less class to show them. Meeting the hunter with his hounds once more. A simple lie was all that was needed to divert him away from King Turkey and his companions. So The Wizard informed him that the turkeys simply ran away once he took a few eggs. When it looked like the hunter didn't believe him in the slightest. The Wizard placed a hand on the mans shoulder and burned through to the skin. "The turkeys are gone and you're going to let everyone know...The Wizard dislikes repeating himself" uttered The Wizard with ice cold clarity that contrasted the heat flowing through his hands.

Opening the door to Galeeds Bakery and entering. He found everything far more disgusting on his second visit. Galeed herself started to look more like a crone than a baker. However she was the client and controlled whether or not he got paid. Presenting the eggs to her. The Wizard regaled her with a false story about the turkeys running away. Then he asked for his and Gions reward now that the issue was solved. Unlike his previous quests where he was treated kindly and acted kindly in turn. The Wizard was considering burning down this bakery for even issuing the quest in the first place. Yet thoughts like that could wait until AFTER he received compensation.

 

[Key of Stars]

Kathlyn Silva
Location: Lantana Docks
Mentions: Sylph
​

"Miss ca-" The child had barely said more than a word before Kathlyn was down on her knees, having set the bag with the results of her earlier shopping aside without so much as a single care or thought on whether it would get stolen by one of the many passerby. "Shhh," She said with a small nod and the warmest smile she could muster. "I'll help your friend but you need help as well." She said, simultaneously reaching out for the child's cheeks with her hands, covered in the gentle green glow of her healing magic.

She remained like that for a moment, letting her magic do its work in silence, before getting up, grabbing her bag and letting the child pull her along through the crowds towards the much darker alley.

As she set foot in the alley she found herself softly humming a bedtime lullaby her father used to sing for her, she would have loved to tell herself it was to calm the nerves of the child that was pulling her along with trembling hands but the further into the alley they went, the harder it was for Kathlyn to keep her own hands steady.

It wasn't that anything was actually happening, rather it was the overall atmosphere of the alley that weighed on her spirits. She found herself reaching for the hilt of the small knife she kept at her belt for cutting herbs instinctively. It wasn't like she could actually do anything with it, sure the knife was sharp enough but Kathlyn herself only had so much strength as she had gained from running around all over the place with her cauldron, which was to say not a lot.

The slightest noise made her tense up, dropping into one of the many fighting stances she had observed during her time at the guild, it wouldn't do her any good but it was all she could think of.