Adventure On!

[voidtreckermods]

On the morning of Day 6 of the month of Horseshoe (OOC: 11th September) the screens on everyone’s SCA glow with the colours of the void. A holographic screen pops up with the following information:

Destination: World # 5382110341. The kingdom of Irivar. Irivar is a large kingdom, with many different habitats and people. Magic is well-known there, and is a natural part of life. Though monsters do roam the countryside, the towns and villages are usually safe: most adults in the kingdom are fighters and many go on to join the guild of adventurers and travel the land to keep the peace. Currently there is a great war far in the west and many of the adventurers, as well as the kingdom's army, are busy holding back an invading force.

Just over a week ago a great wave of elemental magic swept over the kingdom. Though the cause is unknown, it is thought to be an attack from the invaders aiming to destabilise the land and force the kingdom to withdraw its troops. The wave of magic has caused a range of problems, most seriously a magical blight- a corruption that destabilises the natural elemental energies of land and people, flora and fauna.

The kingdom has called out for any adventurers remaining to tackle some of the more major problems, but there are simply not enough people. This is where the Voidtreckers come in.

Red Team

In the South East there is a range of volcanic mountains. This is the natural home of the fire sprites and is warded by a magical barrier- separating the fiery mountains from the icy tundra it neighbours. The two biomes exist in harmony - usually.

The wave of magic has destabilised the crystals protecting the border of this fiery land. They need to be taken into the heart of the largest volcano to recharge. This process will take a few days. It is believed that the blight has affected those creatures living in this area and it is very likely that the power contained in the crystals will draw creatures that covet that power as their own.

Move the crystals to the heart of the volcano, protect them whilst they regain power and then return them to their rightful place to reset the barrier.

Blue Team

Spanning the south of the kingdom is a vast icy tundra. Snow-covered landmasses and glaciers are connected by ice bridges that lead eventually to a central ice mountain, inside this mountain is Aerlie, also known as the Glacial Sovereign. Aerlie is a large dragon who rules the tundra and protects those who live inside the icy lands.

There are a number of problems in this tundra: corrupted fire sprites have escaped from the neighbouring province, trapping creatures in fiery traps. Among these creatures are the fabled crystal wolves, Aerlie's noble protectors. The blight has also corrupted the ice sprites and a series of large, angry storms roam the land. A storm swirls around the central mountain and no one is sure of the fate of Aerlie.

Rescue as many creatures as you can and help the crystal wolves travel to the central mountain to assist their sovereign dragon.

Orange Team

Whereas in animals the blight causes aggression and a shifting to an almost feral nature, in humans it causes shifts in their natural power. Some people have developed uncontrollable elemental powers, and others who practice magic already have found their control vanishing. The longer they are without a cure the more driven to use these new, unstable powers they are.

However, there is a cure. It requires crystals from the pistil of calla lilies that can be found in the woodlands to the north of the kingdom.

This is further complicated in that this area was hit badly by the magical wave, causing the land to break up and ascend into the clouds. This makes harvesting the crystals difficult. Fortunately, the huma birds who live naturally in the area are willing to help transport the harvested crystals to the places that need them, though some of their own number are also corrupted by the blight.

Purple Team

A small cluster of villages in the kingdom have been hit heavier by the wave of magic than most. These villages utilise rock golems – magical constructs developed for protection against the monsters and wild animals that are common in that part of the kingdom.

The crystals powering the golems were corrupted during the wave of magic, leading them to attack the village and nearby creatures, driving wild animals and monsters towards the villages rather than warding them away.

Help protect the village, try to pacify the animals and keep them away from the villages. Defeat any monsters. Track down the golems, remove the crystals from their cores and purify them in the sacred shrine, shared by the villages.

Additional Notes: You will be dropped in the town of Royal Lake Hill, the meeting place for any who can respond to the call for adventurers. Irivar is filled with a whole host of different people and creatures, they are used to the unusual. However it is not void active nor do they know of the void. Please use the dressing room and be as discreet as possible in your interactions.

It has also been noted that the use of ‘transportation’ magics are limited within blighted areas.

This mission will run from the 11th to the 24th September. The initial arrival post will go up on the 11th September (H6) and will deal with voidtreckers arriving in Royal Lake Hill and being moved to their locations. The ‘onward’ post will go up on the 15th September (H8) which will cover the main quest of each team. A ‘finale’ post will happen on the 21st Septmber (H11) as missions reach their conclusion.

All the information you will need for writing the mission is below. Remember that the only information characters know IC before the mission is that in the blockquoted area above, though they may learn the rest through play.

Dressing Carriage

As promised the dressing carriage has clothes for characters to blend in with the local populace. The dressers and wardrobes are full of many different clothes. They aren’t perfect historical re-enactment clothes, more LARP or cosplay-esque costumes, but it is enough that they will pass as adventurers from this world.

The cloaks are notable in that they look like standard fantasy-ish cloaks but are completely waterproof, much like a modern jacket and they will keep them warm and dry.

There are also a good selection of furs for those travelling into the tundra as well as some leather armour, both for protection against monsters and fire.

Though the clothes do not adhere to voidtrecker colours they do have accents of team colours in muted, more natural hues. Some lacing here, a tassel there. There are an array of sizes and something for everyone!

There are an array of tents- in more neutral colours, a lot simpler than the tents they have used on more futuristic worlds. They will keep them dry and warm though.

People and NPCs

Royal Lake Hill is a small walled town. Voidtreckers will find a variety of things to see here, market places selling predominately food, though simple clothes and trinkets can be found on sale as well. The people are predominately human though they may spot one or two more elfin-looking people. The voidtreckers may get curious looks, but they will be accepted as adventurers from afar unless they do anything too outlandish.

Notably people are older or very young, most of those of fighting age have gone off to help in the war effort. Most people just quietly get on with business, with most children seeming busy with chores or on errands. There are a couple of young pickpockets but they are easily avoidable.

There is a blacksmith and he does sell weapons but they are expensive. He will cite the heavy toll of the war effort and the scarcity of material, but if the price is right he will sell a sword or a dagger, which is all he has in stock.

There are three inns in the city and they are where the recruitment is happening. A coloured dot on their SCA's will show the voidtreckers which one they need to report to. Purple at the Lion's Mane, Orange at Ducks in a Bucket and Red and Blue in The Thrice Struck Tree.

The inns serve food and trade in service (fetching and carrying, washing dishes, killing rats in the cellar)- they are used to almost penniless adventurers!

They will be in the town for almost a whole day- the recruitment happening late afternoon and they can take the time to find their bearings. They can leave the city if they wish and will find rugged countryside around them, woodland, hills filled with sheep, farming fields spread out from the east of the city, filled with a variety of crops.

Purple

The cluster of villages they are helping out have a mix of people. Human and elven for the most part, though there are a couple of families of small winged pixies. Once again they are mostly elderly or very young. There are a sparse number people of fighting age, those that didn't go to war for one reason or another.

The blight hasn't affected everyone, but over half the population is afflicted in some way. For the most part it manifests as uncontrolled bursts of magic: a sneeze turns into a fireball, a moment of anger shakes the earth.

Those affected are being well cared for, though any who wish to help keep an eye on things are welcome.

Orange

The Huma birds cannot speak but are intelligent and will help when they can. Predominantly that help will be transporting the crystals to the towns and villages across the kingdom when they are harvested. They will also help fend off any of the blighted Huma birds and generally try and be helpful to the voidtreckers in the area.

If anyone wants an NPC please fill out the form in the comments below.

Powers

For the most part powers and magic are working fine. The blight was caused by the wave of magic that has now passed. It is not contagious and so voidtreckers will not be in danger of being blighted.

They will initially be magically 'gated' to areas near where they need to be. It is not possible to gate into or around areas that are heavily blighted.

Those are:

~ Purple: The villages themselves where the ground has become rocky. If you wish to teleport or otherwise mystically transport they must move outside of the villages.

~ Orange: Up on the floating islands. They must descend to the ground before they can teleport or mystically transport.

~ Blue: Within the elemental storms. They must move to an area where the storm is not blowing, or wait until it has moved from where they are before they can teleport or mystically transport.

~ Red: They cannot teleport with or near the crystals. They must be a decent distance away from them before magical teleportation can work.

Other 'movement' like flight works fine.

Routes

Red

They will arrive on the border of the fire and ice areas. They will find that with the crystals de-powered the two areas have started to invade each other. Icy tendrils leave frozen lava behind and on the other side, melting ice, swirls of fire in the snow.

There are six crystals and each is about the size of a human head. They are polished gems that seem to dance with fire inside. Or at least they should. Currently they are a dull red colour, cold to the touch.

They will be warned before they are sent that the crystals should not be put in any kind of extra dimensional storage or moved from this plane of existence, and so unfortunately they must carry them. It is just over half a day's march to the heart of the volcano.

The ground is rocky and volcanic, with rivers of lava cutting the land. There are a couple of streams to cross but none are wider than can be jumped by the average person. They will find that, though it is warm, they don't suffer like they maybe would imagine they should being in such an area for a period of time.

Getting to the heart of the volcano will not be too difficult but once they are there and the crystals begin to charge the magic will draw creatures who want it for themselves.

Monsters

Fire Dogs: Almost wolf-like in size, these dogs are large ruddy creatures with sharp teeth and claws. They have no trouble with the heat and can run through lava much like a dog splashes through a river. They traditionally hunt in packs of three.

Corrupted Fire Sprites: These manifest as tendrils of fire, whipping out to attack or to grab at people and pull them towards the lava rivers. They can be cut with weapons or magic; they are especially weak to cold or ice magic.

Lizards: These come up to an average human's knee and are small green reptiles that breathe fire. Most of those that they meet on the route will run rather than fight, but the closer to the volcano they get the more aggressive they will be. Whilst the crystals are being charged fire lizards will be among the creatures that attack.

Blue

They will arrive on the border of the fire and ice areas. They will find that with the crystals depowered the two areas have started to invade each other. Icy tendrils leave frozen lava behind and on the other side, melting ice, swirls of fire in the snow. Much like the red team- though they will be very cold they feel something is stopping them being as badly affected by the environment as they usually would be.

The predominant danger is the Elemental Storm, a moving snow storm filled with corrupted ice elementals. The ice inside the storm shifts into shapes and attacks. They are fightable, it is just difficult to see or know what they are fighting. Fire magic works well, but so does just attacking or avoiding the ice needles the size of swords attacking from the chaos. The ice is brittle enough to shatter if it strikes a hard target. It is most dangerous on the bridges, where a wrong step could send them plummeting to the abyss below.

It blows in quickly and disappears just as fast. The central mountain is enveloped by a large storm, one that does not move but remains around the mountain. That is the voidtreckers' ultimate destination.

But first they must find the trapped creatures. The fire traps are bands of fire woven into a cage (a bit like this.) The fire can be cut away or destroyed by ice, or by cold magic. It fights back when approached, tendrils of fire reaching out to attack the rescuers.

There are all manner of animals trapped: bears, hares, foxes, snow leopards, as well as the crystal wolves. The regular animals will run off into the wild once they are rescued but the crystal wolves will follow the voidtreckers as they make their way towards the mountain. They are completely silent, not even making noise as they cross the land. They will help fight the traps to rescue more creatures but their main aim is to reach the mountain and save their sovereign.

Orange

They will be gated to the ground below the floating chunks of land. Anyone who is hired to go to the forests will be given two Potions of Flight. A potion of flight allows them to fly for ten minutes, which is plenty of time for them to get up to one of the islands. From there it is up to them how to proceed. The islands move and float, sometimes coming up alongside each other and it is possible to jump from one to another. Though teleportation doesn't work up on the chunks, other means of flight and movement will.

The calla lilies are not particularly difficult to find, and harvesting the crystals is not difficult though takes some level of coordination and care if they wish to do so without damaging the flowers. The kingdom requires a lot of crystals, so there is plenty of work.

Monsters

Blighted Birds: The Huma birds are allies but some of their number have been taken with blight. They are easy to spot: they look wilder, air crackles around them as they dive down to attack. The regular Huma birds will help defend the voidtreckers and keep their blighted brethren in line, but they can't be everywhere.

Corrupted Air Spirits: These creatures are invisible. They are more mischievous rather than malicious but their games are less fun when you can not fly. They will cast magic causing voidtreckers to spin or fling them up in the air to dance around the buffeting winds. They might remember to put them down on an island afterwards but they are as likely to forget and send them plummeting. They will pull or push people around, often to the edges of the floating islands.

On the other hand they can be helpful, they will carry voidtreckers from island to island if asked nicely. Trust them lightly though, their memories are very short!

Purple

There are six villages each a decent walk from another. In the centre of the six is a shrine. This is where the crystals are to be purified.

The houses are simple two-roomed cottages for the most part, though there are a few larger ones. Villagers will allow the adventurers to stay with them if they wish, though they may find it easier to camp, and the villages will allow tents to be erected in the commons. The blighted ground is uncomfortable and will make sleep uneasy but will do them no actual harm. They can sleep outside the villages on untainted ground if they wish but they will be more vulnerable to monster attacks.

Each village has a central area, where people gather to share chores and work together as well as a school room for the children. They are currently using the school room in each village as a place for those who are blighted, so they can be watched over.

The surrounding areas are woodland with some cliffs and caves dotted around.

It is by no means an everlasting siege on the villages. Though people will be required to protect them others should go out to find the golems before they create too much chaos. Others can help purify the crystals in a ritual at the shrine. It is a lengthy one but mostly involves reading from a book on incantations and can be done by anyone with the supervision of the village elders.

Monsters

Rock golems: These are magical constructs created to protect the village. They are twice as large as an average person, slow moving, exceptionally strong. They are powered by a crystal in their head, about the size of a human fist.

They are strong but can be smashed up with enough force or magic. They will reform themselves unless the crystal is removed from them. It is also possible to depower them by simply removing the crystal, a process that isn't actually simple but would require a good level of athletics.

Trolls: Large brutish creatures--though smaller than the golems. They are the predominant monster of these parts. They are cunning and will work in groups to distract and attack. They wield clubs and can channel power to make the ground shake when they stamp their feet.

Some of the trolls are blighted. They are enraged and seem stronger, harder to take down. These ones are mindless in their berserk state, and will just attack without cunning or thought.

Woodland creatures: Not necessarily monsters but certainly dangers. Bears, boars and wolves are natural in these parts and the blighted golems have disturbed the dens. Those that find their way to the village will attack. Some are blighted and feral.

Others need protecting. Animal attacks can be prevented if the animal dens are kept safe from the golems; the animals would rather hide than attack. Once the cure starts arriving it can be given to the animals as well as the villagers.

Rewards.

Taking part in a mission in any way will earn you five team points! You claim those by submitting a link during AC!

Also threads of 10 comments or more where mission goals are being worked towards will also earn you 10 team points. To claim those please fill in the form below and reply to the rewards header!

<b>Characters:</b> <b>Mission goal colour:</b> <b>Link:</b>

If you have any questions just ask! Have fun!

Comments

Logistics

[voidtreckermods]

Here is a place to work things out between teams.

Like who is carrying the red crystals.

For blue there are twelve crystal wolves-- feel free to find them in your threads but you can keep a count here/make sure everyone is involved.

Same for crystal purifying in purple. There are roughly sixty golems in the area. Some nearer the villages others further out.

Don't worry too much about logistics- it won't matter if there are 15 threads where crystal wolves are found for example. But here is a place to plan for those who wish to.

Re: Logistics

[extrasaltypotato]

So my extra salty potato has an ability called Spirit Sight. It allows him to sense two particular kinds of magical energy: Aura and Breath/Pneuma.

Sensing Aura allows, with some practice, an educated guess at properties of a person, thing, or place; notably, and importantly for Orange Team, this includes the ability to sense invisible magical creatures by their Aura, it's main use-case in Valor the MMO that Hikaru was isekai'd to. Handy when we're dealing with corrupted air sprites! (From there, he can counterspell/unweave/nullify the invisibility as needed).

Sensing Pneuma - that is, the amount and quality of magical energy a creature, place or thing has - is a more involved process that's mostly useful for dramatically declaring someone's power level to be over 9000, but is also how I fluff his ability to Size Up opponents (and tell which of their Strength, Agility, Spirit, Mind, and Resolve are their strongest and weakest suits). This can probably also be used to pick out the ripest, fattest calla lily crystals at a glance.

[voidtreckermods]

Quick note - the air sprites are naturally invisible as part of their nature; it can't be counterspelled. Something that adds colour or visibility would work, like Glitterdust. Either way he can definitely see them using his aura sense.

[extrasaltypotato]

Ah - he would describe this as another power from Valor AWO, that they have a Discreet Aura. Good to know!

Supplies!!!

[enthunder]

Okay, here's our current Inventory for common-held items and supplies. Is there anything particular teams will want?

For example, we have some potions that provide five-minute immunity to an element. We have some flight potions, and two spare gravity-control devices designed to prevent falling injuries.

All four teams are getting meals and healing supplies, and defensive supplies will be weighted towards Red and Blue given that they have fewer defensive abilities and less chance to teleport around.

Also check in if you're carrying one of the arms bands for your team!

Food & Drink

[blitzcheer]

Also just for anyone who would have contributed food and drink to the food/drink list (esp after Roland's network post), let me know and it can be added!

Re: Food & Drink

[laurefindil]

Lembas and various sweet and savoury pastries, courtesy of Glorfindel! There ARE vegan options.

[blitzcheer]

If you can give me a few examples of the savoury pastries, then I can put them down!

Re: Food & Drink

[extrasaltypotato]

Hikaru would be willing to make coffee, tea, sandwiches and... sigh... grilled Bear Loaf musubi.

[blitzcheer]

I'm assuming this is after the mission once they're back onboard? Because I can note it down! They also only have sport bottles (and glass jars) for drinks, and heat I think doesn't keep in hammerspaces?

...but also i don't drink cold coffee and tea myself and have no idea how those taste cold either.

same mun tagging with a canonmate

[lightnovelexperiences]

If informed of this limitation, he can make decent iced tea and coffee drinks.

After the mission, yes. He brews coffee and tea for himself and worked at an office IRL; making a pot for everyone is ingrained in Hikaru.

Re: Supplies!!!

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel has an Arms Band. He will carry extra tents.

He is also turning over to the Main Supplies, about 150 containers of healing salve. Don't waste potions on small injuries...but no need to just tough it out!

Wei Wuxian doesn't have an AB, but he has a qiankun bag and is willing to help carry supplies. Especially healing materials.

[enthunder]

Cool - that's his personal arms band, not one we need to monitor, right?

KICKS SOME SALVES INTO THE SACK TY 8)

[rieper]

Geez. That's...a lot of supplies.

Ftr, if anyone (Light) wants to ask 47 about his supplies and making more for the teams they/she can. If it's a weapon he can make or maintain it. Currently, he has explosives and poisons on hand.

[enthunder]

just a few!!!

He's going to get pointed at Sonya Blade and Cassie Cage because they're both able to construct guns too and they need to work out a good way of doing that for the least number of points orders. Good luck gun team!!

[rieper]

They could totally do that. 47 is intimate with every kind of gun known to mankind. (At least in his world.) So! He can and will totally help with that. They should do the thing.

Re: Supplies!!!

[extrasaltypotato]

Hikaru would like to request potions that can restore his Pneuma. As this is basically MP, after a little bit of experimentation, they'll find that bog-standard FF Ethers will do the trick!

+1 Hammerspace for Red

[seacub]

It's not an armband, and it coming from the town means it won't come into play until everyone is Off Train, but Emporio will be finding a 'Ghost Bag' while rooting around the place; this effectively gives it the same properties as a standard bag of holding (though he won't be keen on shoving bruisable fruits and such in there), so if anyone wants to shove stuff in there Here He Is.

He's already stuffed a ghost blanket in there because shush.

Red Team Cheat Codes

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Fools! A half a day's march is trivial for a team that has a pickup truck at their disposal! Everyone grab your Orb of Light or whatever and pile in, we'll be there in like half an hour!

[voidtreckermods]

Slightly more than that! The terrain is entirely unsuited for wheeled vehicles, and it's clunky going if they don't want to smash any crystals on the way. But the truck can certainly be used if it's summoned some distance away from the crystals and driven over.

[badassfreakingoverlord]

You wouldn't think underwater was a suitable environment for a vehicle either, but somehow it works in Makai Kingdom! Hyaaaha ha ha ha ha!

Seriously though: still better than walking in Zetta's legless opinion. (Plus it already has significant volcano offroad experience!)

Re: Logistics

[casslang]

Thea can hop between teams if archers are needed!