[CLOSED] DOES ANYONE HAVE A MAP?

[crudest]

WHO: Disasters R Us. Team Fuckin Around. aka Baren Kaiyou, Kiyomitsu Kashuu, Yasusada Yamato, Christopher Fawkes, Alessandro Vinsmoke, & Sakichi Nijima
WHERE: Bosuma
WHEN: approx March 23rd for a week!
WHAT: mission improbable
WARNINGS: probably cursing, violence, bullshittery, y'know. the expected.



[ We're all going to die. ]

[ RELEVANT LINKS:

Full Quest Summary | Quest Private Plurk | Downtime/Shenanigans | Forest Exploration | Shrine Exploration | Monster Battle | Clean Up/Wrap Up ]

Comments

FOREST EXPLORATION

[crudest]

Once the group begins their adventure, they will find that it is a very, very long walk through the woods. They will be susceptible to the glowing flowers distributing emotional pollen this month (please reference the event log!), the woodland animals in the forest, some small monsters roaming around such as little moss-friends, bipedal rat creatures and others in this vein. Most of the plants can also be researched and identified as being just pretty plants or possibly having healing properties (namely poison/toxin healing and burn salve.)

[ A top-level for exploring Bosuma! ]

[concasse]

... S'it poison?

[The colorful pollen, he means, as he watches it waft up from the flowers. He's no slouch when it comes to identifying flora (especially if it could be found in France), but that color theory bullshit is lost on him unless they're talking food.

He also doesn't seem too bothered by the pollen despite casually comparing it to deadly toxins. A+ work here. So while he'll do his best to avoid the bigger clouds, he does end up inhaling some of the blue and at some point

just flops dramatically against a broken tree trunk like someone shot him]

[idealest]

...

[ What.

Coming up behind Sanji, Sakichi and his horse pause to watch him collapse against a tree trunk. Sakichi glances around to see if there are any threats nearby, but seeing none, he jogs up to Sanji to check on him. ]

Hey! What's wrong? Are you hurt?

[concasse]

[Just.

This face, Sakichi. Like Sanji is two seconds away from tears. Refusing to get up, he turns his head, chewing forlornly on his lower lip.]

I...

I stubbed my toe.

[sniffle]

What's the fuckin point of it all?

[idealest]

... You...

[ A sudden haze of red fills Sakichi's vision. That's because an extremely localized cloud of red pollen floats into his face BUT he isn't really paying attention to that because he's suddenly overcome with a need to get moving while crushing all deadweight. ]

Get up. Don't you dare cry.

SHRINE EXPLORATION

[crudest]

Eventually after a few days of adventuring they will stumble across a path that winds and guides them straight to the stair pathway of a shrine. Abandoned and worn down, the shrine is hidden in moss and overgrown forestry. Areas of the shrine appear to be corroding and the flowers and trees around the area appear to be an ashen color rather than the bright vibrance of the forest or the black energy Kurama's already experienced once while in this forest.

Exploring the shrine, they will find themselves walking into the building near the top leading them into what looks like a tea house/tea ceremony room. The kettle is cold and upright, but several of the cups are turned over and disoriented, some are broken but others are in great shape. If they have a source of light (or if Sanji lights on fire), they will notice that there are several cups turned upside down in a particular way. If they flip them, they will reveal dried tea leaves that can be read.

The guys can probably google a basic symbols guide and they will find that every single cup has an arrow pointing straight up and to the back. Some of the cups also have swords and foxes. Weird.

In addition, if they light the room more they will find a faded circle drawn in chalk under their feet and a panel that's just slightly ajar from the wall. Faded chalk footsteps also seem to lead to the panel.

The energy picks up from the panel and even without being touched all of the tea cups will shatter. It's pretty clear where their source of problems are.

[ A top-level for finding the shrine, the tea ceremony puzzle, and the freaky horror movie shattering scene. ]

Re: SHRINE EXPLORATION

[okitactless]

[And because spirits and shrines go together like swords and stabbing, here's Yasusada, presuming they all survived the trip here in the first place.

Yasusada's been to Bosuma before, but only briefly; he hasn't been exposed to any of this haunted house scenery or black energy going on around here. But even without the advantage (?) of his spirit senses, it's obvious that things aren't right around here.

He doesn't really want to go inside by himself, so Yasusada takes the time to skirt around the outside of the shrine first, a deep frown on his face.]

What happened?

[sharplydressed]

[He won't have to walk in alone - the dingus squad is here!!

Granted, Kashuu's holding back a little ways away from the shrine itself, too. Like a spooked cat with a puffed tail, he feels on edge standing in a place with stilted spiritual energy like this.]

It's probably our job to figure that part out, don't you think?

[okitactless]

[Oh good, at least now EVERYONE is going to die, not just him!!!

But no, okay, he doesn't actually stray very far--he doesn't even make it all around the shrine before he's skittering back to Kashuu's side, eying the shrine warily.]

Shouldn't we have brought a priest or something, then? Some way to purify it?

[idealest]

[ Sakichi looks at the swordboys questioningly as he moves around them and makes his way up the steps... His horse clops behind him faithfully. ]

Don't be so superstitious. We don't have time to wait for some purification ritual.

[ SPIRITUAL SENSE: NONE ]

MONSTER BATTLE

[crudest]

Heading into the panel, it slides closed behind the group and sends them into pitch darkness. They will have to navigate through the path without the use of a helpful light source. They won't be able to see, hear, smell, taste, or feel their way through. Everything is smooth and empty and it twists and turns underground to the back of the shrine.

The spiritual readings begin going off the chart the closer they get to the exit and soon they find an exit to the tunnel and to another small house holding a large spinning stone cracked right down the center, pulsating red lines everywhere.

If they leave the stone alone, it will continue pulsing angrily and start to eventually drain the group of their energy. However, if they choose to break the stone the stone will release a high-pitched scream as a large winged creature springs forward. Unlike this helpful visual, the demonic creature appears to be glowing in bright neon colors stolen from the forest and decorated with ema plaques written with wishes of past shrine-visitors. The party will need to destroy and banish this demon from the shrine. They can split up and check for purification salt, research other methods and more to banish and free the area.

[ A top-level for the battle nonsense. JUMP ON THE HYDRA'S BACK. ]

CLEAN UP/WRAP UP

[crudest]

From there, they will be tasked with trying to clean up the shrine a little, rehanging the ema and restoring the area. This will encourage the magic to return to the shrine and allow people (and creatures) of the forest to visit.

DOWNTIME & SHENANIGANS

[crudest]

[ What it says on the tin, my guys. Use this top-level for anything your heart desires. ]

INTRODUCTIONS

[crudest]

[Baren was incredibly relaxed when he looked over the text from Zee. He's incredibly relaxed even now as the party arrives in Bosuma and he seems to volunteer to be the one to break the ice in terms of introductions.]

So I know some of you obviously know each other - but if not...

[He goes down the row from Sakichi, Fawkes, Kashuu, Yamato, Sanji:]

Sakicchan, Foxy, Trail Mix, Samurai Jack, and Skank.

[WITH SUCH CONFIDENCE.]

Let's all get along, okay?

[if this trip doesn't end with baren being fed to the wolves what's even the point]

[idealest]

[ How fucking dare you, Baren. You forgot the most important member. Sakichi pats the neck of the white and pink glittersteed beside him. ]

This is Nadeshiko.

[ She has a shiny new saddle on and is burdened with an assortment of gear, but she bears it all strongly. She is a quality horse.

Sakichi nods to Fawkes and Sanji. ] My real name is Sakichi. Pleasure.

[ To Yasusada and Kiyomitsu, he... also nods. ] Good to see you. I feel better knowing you two are coming along.

[okitactless]

[REALLY, BAREN... REALLY...]

Sometimes I wonder if you even bother to remember people's real names...

[Well, whatever. He'll smile at everyone else, at least, and also wave to Fawkes and Sanji.] I'm Yasusada, nice to meet you.

[And Sakichi gets a brighter smile!] It's been a while, Sakichi-kun. How is Chiyo-chan? [Can he say 'chan' now? Sure, why not.] Were you successful with all those Valentine's deliveries?

i assume this entire post will be chaotic threadjacking

[idealest]

She's been better. There was a death in the family.

[ One of Chiyo's other cousins. He was still young and well-loved. A tragedy. ]

The deliveries were a success. I only wish Mr. Carlisle had told me he was planning to allow most of the expeditionary force to visit home one day later.

where do i even stick this we're in a lawless land

[sharplydressed]

I'm not calling people Foxy and Skank this whole trip. [BAREN...] And no one call me Trail Mix, either. It's Kiyomitsu!

[Because clearing that up is clearly of UTMOST IMPORTANCE... That said, turning to Sakichi, who's the only sane person here:]

It's good you're here, too. I might need some help with the usual, y'know?

["The usual" as in "making sure Yasusada doesn't fucking die".]

shrugs aggressively

[idealest]

Of course. You can rely on me.

[ This is an understanding born from hardship... How many tired tomodachis does it take to drag Yasusada away from disaster? The world may never know. ]

I thought things might have gotten easier on that front, but now I see it may only have gotten worse.

[ He eyes Yasusada's sword as he says this... He can't imagine how many monsters Yasusada has thrown himself bodily at. ]

[crudest]

You feel what.

[A LOOK BETWEEN SAKICHI.

HIS SWORDS.

SAKICHI.

HIS SWORDS!!!

BETRAYAL?????]

[concasse]

Yeah so I'll murder everyone in cold blood if they call me "Skank"; go with Sanji.

[Said calmly as you please! AND TO BAREN:]

I don't wanna hear shit from you, you graceless Ho.

[sharplydressed]

[IMMEDIATELY CRACKING UP because his soul loves it every time someone snarks it up with Baren.]

Sanji rolls off the tongue way better, even if I kinda wanna ask what you did to deserve a nickname like that. ...I mean, outside of Baren being Baren and all.

[crudest]

Excuse me? I'm plenty fucking graceful.

[that's what he argues with]

[roseblooms]

When you put it like that, we sound like a godawful boy band, you realize.

[swear to god if we run into those hunting dogs out here again foxy's gonna flip his shit]

All that remains, it seems, is for us to cagematch over which one is the heartthrob, the bad boy, the boy next door, and so on.

[crudest]

I can't possibly be the bad boy.

[he says with a completely straight face]

You strike me as the heartthrob, Foxy. I guess Yamyamtaro can be the boy next door?