Expedition Log 1

[Royal Peasant 444]

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Expedition Log 1

Plans had been made since the news of a large expedition force venturing out to seek out new lands, where three other expeditions had already failed, had reached the ears of the guild. Plans to make sure that nature wasn’t being harmed, that the balance wasn't twisted by unknown means, and threats were not in place. That had been our main purpose, but there was also a general interest in exploration and research of the unknown flora and fauna that we didn’t know about resting on our shoulders. 

Gathering up our team, formed from friends of our adventure guild Taelu’Avernan and our members. It was a nice, solid team of nine members. Gathering up on our horses, direwolves, and various mounts we began the journey to the strider that would be acting as our transportation to the destination. It was interesting to see the striders that we saw from the seed of Norvayn outside of the forest, it truly gave an impressive sight and an imposing impression to their towering size.



Climbing the ladder up to reach the top of its carpass had been nerve racking, I ain’t going to lie about that. Nothing like a tree where you have multiple branches to reach out to to begin to scale. Just an endless drop everywhere around with only the wobbly, ricket ladder balanced to the side of its form to scale up with. I would have been more comfortable climbing the creature's legs! But we managed to get up there. And I’m not going to pretend that I was happy when we had gotten inside of the carapace where a little dwelling had been set up for long travel. A travel that took many days longer than I had expected, especially with the sheer scale of the striders movements, night falling over our group and the light of the moon glistening down into the carpass that we had formed our nest in

.

When we eventually made it the destination, eating and growing the melons that were growing on the back of the shell and having some sugar cane water to keep us energised, we descended down the creatures legs to the green fields below us. Checking that we had everything with us and that everyone was ready for what we might encounter before the heavily armoured folks were sent to the front on my order to act as a guard for our more research inclined individuals as we began to step forward. Again it was impressive to see how long we were able to keep the strider in our vision as we grew further and further away.



The crew began to head towards the mountain to get an eagle view of the surroundings, to try and spot anything unusual within these lands. As heavy rain began to descend upon the crew as the sun began to rise up within the heavens and spread over the group. It was a slog pushing through the mud that was starting to gather around their feet through the plains that were open before them as they began to reach the bottom of the mountain and begin to scale. Slowly, but surely, up the mountain surface itself.



It was a difficult climb, with several slipping as we tried to find a right path to get up upon the cliff itself. The original group we had started with slipping away as we aided each other, scaling up the mountain one by one through the thick downpour of rain until we all had safely reached the horizon of the mountain. One by one, each and every one of us arrived and took a moment to take stock, and breathe. Ensuring that everyone had made it safely.

We took shelter, allowing the rain to pass us under the shelter of the trees that made up the mountain top before we continued on. The light of the day having passed as the creep of darkness having once more began to enshroud us as a unearthly cry of pain rippled through us as we found, not a end to the mountain. But a thick foliage that covered the mountain top. And a deer, tall in stature that it towered over us, with a strange green mist that seemed to surround it. Its quick retreat came to a stop as it found us within its path. Focusing upon us. The front line moved to keep a protective stance while the drui reached out towards it, trying to speak…only to be met with an unnerving silence.



The glistening colour of shamrock surrounded it, and we tried to figure out what to do. But they didn’t appear to be hostile, nor did we feel anything unnatural about them which was even more confusing. But before we could make a move of action the beast leaped back into the foliage. And after a moment of discussion we continued on, trying to see if we could find their tracks that would lead them to them. And indeed, we followed their tracks. But ended up following where they had been, not where they were going. As the night began to pass and the thick foliage of the jungle we had stepped into that was on the back of the mountainside itself filled its view before us.



Having lost their tracks, and not wishing to backtrack for anymore hours, we continued on the path we were on. Finding the edge of the mountain and allowing us to peer down to find the source of the screeching wails. We could only see the thick tail of the large croc-like creature as it lashed out within the foliage, appearing to be hiding its form as it screamed. The group had discussed and planned to move on, and let nature take its course on what appeared to be a wounded creature when one of our members broke rank and ran down the mountain. Lighting up their sword in a glowing blaze of light as they called to arms. While ignoring the cries of the rest of the expedition to call the halt.

The vanguard began to move after them and the rest of us began to follow suit once we realised the danger. Reaching the bottom of the mountain we began to see the true state of the creature. Its front legs appeared to be no more, the strange glowing green aura of the deer dancing on the remains of the stumps while their eyes had appeared to be burned. Making the beast blind. There was no saving them at that state even if we wished too.



The charging warrior of our group was knocked to the side and onto their butt by the massive creature, thankfully unharmed, and there we were able to convince them to leave the poor beast before its cries called its brethren and we would be attacked by the protective kin of theirs. The fact that we were not able to speak to the animals here, proved again when tested, and even the paladin arts could not reach out to calm the creatures here left more of a perplexed feeling of the nature of this place as we moved on.

We continued on. And found the jungle suddenly…stopped. As if the land had cut off. Not making any sense as we found a dirt covered wasteland before us and three large, horned slugs turning to face us within the land stretch of land. And a single fallen structure that we moved towards to investigate. Because. Wood.



When nothing was found on the odd structure that was sitting alone in this wasteland, besides what appeared to be the hint of a dirt home that was starting to be built by someone, we moved to investigate the slugs that we would soon name Thill, by the shroom of our groups own lips after a moment of discussion over the name. The dry slugs appeared to be passive in nature, gentle in spirit. With no eyes to see they senses the air through two large noses that they sniffed our researching crew with and inspected them. When offered a potato they sniffed it, and changed to the colour of green. And when sniffing meat they changed to the colour of purple. Sniffing out a black ichor upon the ground around the food that went tested proved to be a powerful acid that melted it. We suspected that was what they did with their food. Their pack members also appeared to be protective of the slug we were checking. A passive, close nit and colourful creature. But with a powerful digestive acid that melted everything it touched by star steel.

Not wishing to bother the creatures too much. We moved to walk over the edge of a crevice that split the land after taking notes and continued on our path. Finding an abandoned camp with a few animals that were around it. Perhaps a remnant of one of the previous expeditions that had been here. But there were no notes or anything to investigate at the camp. So we moved on.



After taking a breath break at the camp. Resting our weary legs and having a breather. Feeding on one of the animals that were dwelling near the camp by our green skinned moss companion we began to trek down the mountain we had found ourselves on once more. And low and behold…we found ourselves spotting what appeared to be a mages tower sitting on the middle of a lake when we were climbing down the hill!



We headed down to take a closer look. And found no entrance into the tower that we could pass safely with a unknown threat within, and the tents that scattered around that showed a hint of a dwelling to this place were left empty. We continued on, making a note of this location to investigate at a closer depth at a later date. Marking down in a sketch the structure and its surroundings so we could find them.



But by this point, our forms were growing weary. Several of our members had already laid their heads down to rest and fell into a slumber and were being carried on our backs. It was time for us to get a proper rest. We found that by the sound of a trickling brook, a water source that flowed with a slow stream through the land. Setting down those already sleeping we set up our tents, and laid ourselves down to rest.

Under the soft warm glow of the sun.



 

Spoiler

Thank you for the wonderful hosts of the hunterworld eventline! And to the amazing group that joined me for this expedition. It was a great bit of fun, a wholesome bit of exploration, discovery and interaction with this unknown land. Discovering wonders and working together in seeing the land and interacting with it in many different scenario's. I look forward to many more ventures into this eventline and I'm curious to see how it will shape out!

Edited August 11, 2022 by Royal Peasant

[Melpomenne 1552]

 

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very cool ^____^ happy to have been able to host you guys this far