deercountry | [EVENT] Out into the Wilds

Who: People who signed up for the June exploration!
What: Exploration, camping, monster-fighting, and checkpoint-establishing!
When: June 10-13 (ish; time is fluid for the sake of players' plans)
Where: From the Waystation out into the unmarked wilderness!

Content Warnings: Gore, monster fighting, injuries (other cws will be flagged in comment subject lines please!)

It's finally time. Months of research, planning, and training are culminating into the first proper excursion out beyond the borders, out into Trenchwood and beyond. No one will know what to find out there until someone goes to see it, after all. And who knows? There may be people out there - people like them! People isolated by the formidable borders which separate them.

...Or maybe not. Either way, nothing changes if no one moves forward, and with the moon stirring the spirit of adventure in Manabu's blood, it's time to do exactly that.

I. Gather up

Once the final headcount was made, Manabu contacted all the willing volunteers to meet at the Waystation at daybreak - the more daylight, the better, as monsters are more sluggish at that time. Here, everyone can meet up and do a final check of supplies...and pet some of the Dog Keeper's faithful hounds who keep this length of the perimeter safe from the monsters. This is as good a time as any to take stock of who's all going along, who's got your back...and maybe whose backs you have a feeling you'll be watching along the way. The more familiar everyone is with each other's strengths and weaknesses, the better off everyone is at working as a team, right? So get over there and say hello!

II. Traverse

Now that everyone is gathered, the excursion begins. They pierce through the thick, unfriendly trees which are blooming with the unusual fruits of the season, but be careful about what bits of nature's bounty is taken for eating! The berries out here have properties which cause hallucinations, rapid blood corruption, and even beasthood.

Speaking of beasts: There are plenty. Monster ambushes are frequent, so be prepared to team up to fight and defend each other throughout the journey. Just like in Trench, the creatures vary in form and threat level - difference here is just sheer numbers. Lighting incense helps keep something of a safe radius where the creatures hesitate and slow, so hopefully no one's going to get caught too unawares as they rush in.

It makes travel rather staggered, but before nightfall the sight of the windmills is far behind, and ahead? A bog. Noxious smells, biting insects, and dangerous, sticky mud abound; be careful where you step, or you may find yourself sinking and in need of help, and no one wants to be trapped in one place when the beasts catch wind of travelers.

III. Camp

Carrying on to nightfall is risky business, and the decision is ultimately made to stake out a bit of high ground to make camp. Incense is lit up, with the ask that rotations of people keeping watch make sure they keep lit and replenished through the night. This won't keep everyone safe the entire night through, so be prepared for a rude awakening by monsters yet again; maybe you can catch a few winks after enough of a lull? Or at least take a moment to cleanse corruption and beasthood with the supplies people have brought to do so; failure may lead one down the dangerous fast track to corruption themselves.

Couple this with the month's unwelcome gifts of nightmares and the distant rumblings of earthquakes back in Trench, and it's pretty guaranteed no one is getting a good night's rest too easily. Still, it's time to recharge, to talk with others, and maybe work on some mapmaking if you're handy at it!

IV. The ruined church

Two nights and three days of this journey lead the group out of the bog and onto rockier, more open space: Those who can fly can catch glimpses of lush, green mountains forming in the distance before attracting too much attention from beasts along the way. Mountains! A new landmark to chase!

...But maybe not this time. By now, everyone's been through the wringer from the constant harassment of beasts, nightmares, and natural hazards, so when they come across something of a distinct landmark...that's where it's called. In the afternoon of the third day, the expedition finds the ruins of an old church, as well as signs of other structures well and truly decayed over time. No mud, no stink...just the eerie serenity of a vacant place.

Here, it's decided to plant the new lantern - Diluc provides his, and so, at the cobblestone foot of the remaining structure, little lantern buddies spring up out ofthe ground and hold up this new checkpoint's lamppost. People are welcome to investigate the area, but even though they've had a lull in action, it isn't safe to linger long: beasts will catch scent of the explorers soon enough and make their way here, too.

That said, the lantern's here...and it works. People can now safely teleport back to a location in Trench of their choosing! It's not the rousing success Manabu had hoped for, but it's a step forward - pretty darn forward, in fact! This new checkpoint is 30 miles west of Trenchwood - a fascinating new wilderness for explorers to teleport into and continue their journeys to unraveling the mysteries of the world Trench inhabits.

[please feel welcome to drop your own toplevels, tag around, and have fun! any questions can go here! enjoy!!!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ amaterasu dislikes using violence on wild animals, even if they were "monstrous". she doesn't slay beasts, but demons— anything else is a life, and she's a little reluctant to do such irreparable damage to a poor thing in the wilds that has just so happened to stumble upon them. the beasts, too, who are lost human souls— she'd like to try to purify them before looking toward putting their souls to rest swiftly. another creature, this time a giant rat plagued with oozing sores charges for them, maddened with hunger. with nara'a at the front of this battle already having dealt with the panther, amaterasu leaps before the rodent could take another step. her hackles raise to make herself seem twice the size she is, and her stance plants between the man and the beast— she bares her pointed fangs and licks her exposed gums and crinkled nose, and she attacks with the swipe of her divine instrument (of which not many eyes would see: a flaming reflector of so many hues).

the rat backs away, but squeals in resistance— for some reason, the wolf hasn't attacked the way a threatened wolf would. it's not to the death; she counts her strikes, she saves energy. even more, she minds her bloodshed. not only because of her heart in slaying this poor creature, but in polluting trench's ugly, blood-soaked soil. she'd hope for the others to keep it in mind and do the same. ]

[He'd noticed the dog - wolf? - beforehand, but the sight of her fighting is a little strange. He notes that she's avoiding cutting strokes or grabbing it in her jaws and switches to red mage - he can fight without bloodshed that way.]

[He leaps into battle, his rapier and focus coming together for him to bring down some electricity onto the thing when she's not near. Frying it should cause less bleeding, after all. He follows it up with what looks like a large asterisk shape of rock bludgeoning into the creature's head. There's another opening, and he shifts aside so she can get her attacks in while he charges his next spells.]

[There's something about her... but maybe he'll ask later. It's not unheard of for there to be sentience among those not expected to have it!]

[ having the time to circle around the beast and find a working angle as the mage worked his spells, amaterasu leaps with the brunt force of her body when the opening is given, jumping into a frontwards flip that throws the thick reflector of solar flare down upon the rat. she does so once more, before her paws meet the ground, and with a tremendous snarl makes her energy large, her presence larger, and her message clear to the hurting rodent: go away.

it seems to have second thoughts about another tackle, but it hasn't backed down completely. not quite— but it has become still, hasn't moved forward or back yet. perhaps one more smack on the wrist shall do it, and amaterasu barks the implied signal as she flags the rat's attempts to invade. the best path for it was to go home. ]

[Nara'a lets another bolt fly, scorching its flank. It squeaks in protest and starts scuttling backwards, watching the pair before turning and fleeing. He keeps his weapon up for a little bit before lowering it, sheathing the blade and holstering the focus.]

Are you all right? Didn't take any damage, did you?

[He bends down a little so he's closer to her level - though she is large. He smiles at her and nods, glancing towards where the 'rat' had gone before looking back at her.]

You fight very well. I have to say I was a little surprised - but you get that often, I'm guessing.

[ amaterasu's demeanor changes like a switch— from bristling and fierce, she turns to the man with her fur puffed, her tail in a confident flag and allowing her maw to relax in a canine pant. while she cannot speak directly to him— well, her body language can. and she's paying attention to him, listening. if here eyes draw away for a second or two, it's her canine behavior that's getting the best of her. she's still listening as much as answering:

she is well, not a scratch on her! and yes. yes she does. she surprises people in varying degrees! ]

Okay, good. I'm glad to have you on our side, you seem like you'd be scary to fight.

[Is he being dramatic? Maybe a little. But she does seem fierce. He reaches out a hand, and then stops. Permission is important.]

Is it all right if I give you some scritches?

[Despite his catlike nature he has nothing against dogs. He kind of likes them - fuzzier than him and full of general love for all sorts of people. His tail swishes in excitement as he resists the urge to twitch his ears.]

I wouldn't want to presume, after all. Some people don't like being touched.

[And she is clearly a people.]

[ presume— what, exactly? is what amaterasu would say. she's the friendly sort, and loves praise. praise is a hefty source of power, after all. it's care and love and adoration through touch, what is there not to enjoy! oh, look at that— he even has a tail.

amaterasu seems to notice this clearly now, and makes an actual effort to crane her neck to the side. looking just over her own shoulder, she seems to be looking at her own tail, for however brief, before it begins to wag with faster rhythm. having a tail is charming, no?

she could clear things up for him anyway and does so with an instant pawing motion at his hand. come now, do the thing! the scritchies! ]

[Well that's an okay if he ever saw one. He reaches down to pet her - and oh, such fluff! He could fall asleep on this kind of fluff, fluff he hasn't seen in quite a long time. He works his hand down so he can scritch at a deeper level than just petting fluff.]

[At least he knows where good scritching spots are, hand moving from her back to her withers and shoulders, then up to the top of her head and under her chin. He even gets his other hand in on it so he can scritch more at the same time.]

You're an excellent person to have along. I know my senses are good, but yours must be even better. We'll keep this group safe. I can see all right at night, but you're probably a better hunter than me...

[To be fair, the bar's not high.]

What a wonderful creature you are...

[EVENT] Out into the Wilds

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