[Player Event] The Awakening Earth

[Hodgehog 85]

 

 

THE AWAKENING EARTH 

 

 

South-East of the White City of Numenost, high upon the rugged slopes of a jungle plateau, a deep tremor echoed and raged. It was as if the earth itself had awoken from slumber. Jagged rock split and tore along ancient fault lines. The once-still mountain air, heavy with the smell of moisture and dew, vibrated with a low, ominous hum. Flocks of birds flew in panic from their rock-tipped perches, disturbed animals hurtled across the rainforest as the rumbling continued. 

In the city itself, tremors rippled across the bustling streets and markets. No home was spared from its wrath. Noblemen and ladies paused, reaching for their fine china - unable to stop the movement beneath their feet. In the palace, delicate chandeliers rocked too and fro, the glass chimes barely heard over the thunderous earth. Above, white spires and stone rooftops groaned, the work of the stonemasons tested as loose rock and ancient dust was sent cascading into the city below. 

Above the epicenter of the earthquake, beyond the white walls of the city, was where the true force of the shuddering earth could be seen. Atop the cliff, great slabs of rock tumbled and crashed into the lake. The trees of the rainforest, there long before Numenost rose around them, bent and twisted, their roots clinging desperately onto the shifting earth. Boughs swayed, thrown too and fro as they wrestled with what moved below. 

And upon those steeped cliffs behind Numenost, something ancient was revealed. From beneath the landslide of mud and rock, a small opening of a cave beckoned. From its dark maw drifted a stagnant, fungal air, thick with the smell of decay. The stench carried with it the faint smell of blood and rot. Inside, an eerie gloamlight pulses. Stone walls marked with a soft, bluish hue emanating from creeping fungi. 

Then, silence. The tremor had unsettled the land, but for a few days the earth lay in an uneasy truce. The jungle returned to a cautious normalcy while the people of Numenost sighed in relief, grateful for the quake’s end. However… This peace was short-lived. On the fourth day, another tremor rumbled across the land, then the same on the fifth - and the sixth! Though less powerful than the first, they were unmistakable in their presence. With each tremor, the cause for investigation grew. What if the shaking spread? What if the quake’s grew stronger!? 

And on that rumbling hillside, the cave beckons.

Spoiler

 

[OOC]

First off, I want to give a big thanks to everyone that gave me mina to finish this build in LC. It was a big one, costing a whopping 1.5k to complete! As this event will have a number of different stages (and builds) you’ll have to bear with me as I slowly construct them in survival. This event site is open to all players and will be reset so everyone can have a chance to enjoy it! As this is a player event, I can’t always promise loot, but I’ll try my best to be accommodating to any player requests. This is an underdark themed event, though we will not be heading there.

 

I hope I’ve given enough clues to the cave's location in the above text. I would recommend a player size of five - but if you would like to head in solo, or come with more or less - that’s A-OK! This is my first time hosting an event, so I have to ask you all for a little patience... But with all that said: Happy Delving!

 

Edited September 19, 2024 by Hodgehog

[jihsoo 746]

A light flickered in the grasp of one Faeleth-Naoise O'Rourke as she traversed the cave with her party down the fungal cave. Lead by one Squire, tasked to adventure to its depths, a glint of frustration was met upon their gaze toward their indescision. A torn piece of her cloth wrapped around her helm as the spores threatened to creep into her airways, choking and tearing at the calamitous stench that stains the cave's walls. 

 

Further, further down they went. . .
 

What exactly was causing these tremors?

 

Spoiler

Guys, give Hodgehog a +1, though I had to leave the event so suddenly, they did an amazing job accommodating to it all and were very quick to adapt with our party's choices. They are awesome! Thank you again for letting us head down there @Hodgehog!

 

[Cass_the_Scribe 40]

A Squire, so eager to prove herself to her peers, delves deep with her group. She is split between the realities of the world and her deeply idealistic world view. Yet even at the grumbling of her party members, Baralin remains firm as she looks back to her dear friends and calls out to them with a raised sword.

"Come brave companions! Shall we complete our quest and bring glory this day!?"

 

And with that...the company delved into the caves.