Talisman Quest IC (Closed to new players)

[Necrorifter]

OOC Link

@Raku
Samuel is currently sitting on one of the tables in a Legendary Tavern. It is rowdy with a lot of singing and cheering.

He looks at the bag of gold that he have before him, acquired from his job while he was training. Now that his training is over. He is armless and needs to find a weapon. Curiously, when he woke up to a strange power, he instinctively knew it was Trophy. It whispers of the Quest of ultimate power. A mystical object known as the Crown of Command. He heard of that tale during his travels throughout the land of Talisman. Now, it seems to be real and true. He knows that power can spell doom or prosperity for the land... He is determined to find it so he can do great good for everyone before it falls into the wrong hands. He is not too worried about being armless, as he learns that he is much stronger. He could even punch a small crater in a tree without a bloody knuckle!

Still, what will he do next? He knows of a blacksmith in a village not that too far from here that sells weapons and armor. The journey might be lonely... Perhaps he should look for someone to join him? But who?

 

[Necrorifter]

Branotir Ironchin grumbles as he wanders through the woods from his home in Crags. He was just enjoying his day mining a new room in his cave. Until he accidentally shatters a hole in a new room, now it is just uneven, and that pisses him off. It took him a few days to realize that his newfound strength was tied to Trophy and Quest. He knows of the legend of the Crown of Command. He doesn't even care about that as he is a happy man with his mineral collection but now he has to do this blasted Quest in case some upstart bastards get their hands on Crown of Command. He wouldn't put it past himself that those greedy humans would be seeking that.

That is why he is out here in the woods as he hears words in his community about a mage living in the woods who offers powerful spell scrolls for those pure of heart, he decides he may as well try. He was deep in his beard when he bumped into an odd fellow dressed in a bright blue robe.

"Hey, watch where you going." The dwarf grumbled at the fellow which caused him to frown, "I apologize but weren't you one not paying attention?" Branotir gave the bird in response which caused the fellow to frown even more before he snapped his finger and vanished.

It took a moment before he realize that was the mage he was looking for, "Fuck!" He screams and causes a flock of birds to fly out of the woods.

 

[Necrorifter]

Samuel parted the blanket to get a closer look at the girl. She's not looking good. No. Not at all. Her chest wasn't moving, so she isn't alive anymore. The young man thought it was a trick of the mind. Another moment passing told him otherwise.

"I can't…she's gone…." He told her with a heavy heart. His power didn't give him the ability to heal. Nor bring back the dead. Even if he wanted too. The world is a cruel one. Not caring for who is an elder or youth. He wanted to be strong, but can't save an innocent child.

Click to shrink...

She gave out a loud wailing as reality kicked in for her. Her neighbors ran in and gasped at the sight, rushing over to her side, and giving her smoothing words. An older lady placed her hand on his shoulder, giving him a nod of thanks for trying. He left and kept walking for the blacksmith. The sooner he can get his hand on the Crown of Command, the sooner he can change everything and save everyone from this suffering.

It is only when he is well on his way that he notices something grab his hand. He looks down and his heart suddenly freezes. For what holding his hand... Is a floating baby girl. Her body seems broken evident by her multiple arms, likely by the violent death of pestilence. Yet, she smiles and coo while trying to play with his hand. She doesn't seem to realize that she is dead.

 

[Necrorifter]

Samuel left the scene with heavy footsteps. What was the point of his strength if he couldn't save people? The sooner he got his weapons the better. Then he can take his wrath out on the monsters and bandits around. If any were.

"Hm?" He looked to what was holding his hand. The color drained from his face at the sight of the floating child. Pale, broken, and dead. Was it the same baby girl from moments before?

"….Hello." Samuel greeted. She's smiling so innocently. Does she not know the state she's in? "I'm Samuel…" He allowed her to play with his hand and familiarize himself with it.

It seems he has a new goal. Find a way to help the girl, so she may live her life.

"Come on." He gently urged on.

Click to shrink...

The girl clearly is giggling yet he can barely hear anything but a wind from her. Like her body, the sounds don't always come through. One thing he knows for sure, this baby has the same grey eyes and sunken sockets. He is more willing to bet it is the same baby from earlier.

With newfound determination, he kept walking for the village... It took him a while but he finally found the village. This baby... weight heavy on him... The baby refused to leave no matter what he did. It seems his journey will be a lot slower with the baby... But maybe it will be worth it... if only just to see the innocent playfulness of the baby to remind him why he is doing this.

Curiously, none of the villagers even notice the baby on his shoulder playing with her tiny toes. Perhaps his power allows him to see the baby so clearly.

He walks into the blacksmith shop. There is a woman hammering away on her anvil.

She stops in her work and looks up to him, "Yes?"

 

[Necrorifter]

Samuel held his finger out to the baby as she is taken by the heavens. Away from her mother and any potential for life. But into peace and love.

"I see. I just hope my own strength will be enough. I must go. The sooner I get these herbs the better she can help heal the sickness of this village."

Click to shrink...

Mystic nodded his head, "I could offer you some power, but your soul is still acclimating to its new health. Best to not strain it yet. But when you return from your errand. It should recover by then. Come and see me then."

Samuel nodded and left the village. He went into the forest, being cautious as he had heard about the brigade. Thankfully, nothing seemed to happen as he went into a clearing in the middle of the forest. There he spotted the described herbs with its blue core, purple petals, and red stems. He picks it up and puts it in his separate bags.

Just before he left. He spotted something glitter in the corner of his vision. He got up and walked over to the glittering object... What luck. He spotted a sword whose faintly glowing blue symbols on the blade were sticking in the ground. He has heard of those swords. It is not a normal sword but a magical sword.

 

[Necrorifter]

"I wouldn't say I was lost." He said. "I heard a roar and found a crater, so I wanted to see what was happening. Couldn't find what or who made it." Samuel explained.

"I'm going back to the village to deliver herbs to the healer, so maybe a way out would be nice, Ranger."

Click to shrink...

The ranger guides him out of the forest while explaining to him some of the tricks of tracking. Samuel felt a bit wiser as those tricks might help him in the future. Ranger is happy that he has company.

"Ogre was rampaging through the forest. Wouldn't you believe it if I told you that I saw a dwarf single-handedly with his hands slay the ogre and the corpse vanished? I never heard such a thing that I am pretty sure I must be going crazy being all by myself."

 

[Necrorifter]

"Thank you. I'll head to it as soon as I'm done in this village." He gives thanks to the soldier before going to find the mystic.

Click to shrink...

He meets with Mystic, his eyes rest on the blade that Samuel is carrying.

"Ahh, a rune sword. A dwarven weapon from days of old. Epitome of life and death cycle."

"But I am sure you are here for a different reason. How can I help you?"

 

[Necrorifter]

Samuel imagined giving it a blank expression. Was it meant to be scary? To strike fear into his heart and make him regret his decision? How foolish. He ignored its terrible grin as he came back to the waking world.

"I'll keep that in mind." He got up from the ground and collected his things. "Thank you for your help, mystic. Do you need me to grab anything for you when I'm at the ruins?"

Click to shrink...

Mystic waved him away, "Thank you but I am good. I have learned to work in harmony with nature and it has provided me everything I need. Good luck in your journey."

He left the village as it was getting darker and walked across the field. He heard a whisper in the wind and turned to see a lemure floating along the top of crops with the said crops wrinkled and turned into ash.

He has heard of Lemure, it is a new spirit formed in the underworld that escapes into the mortal world. They are one of the weakest spirits cataloged but they cause issues for local farms and villages by ruining the crops and frightening the cattle and workers from the field as well as antagonizing the local creatures into a frenzy.

 

[Necrorifter]

Samuel keeps going to the ruin. He did what he wanted and handled the monster.

Click to shrink...

He went into the forest. However, because it is very dark in the forest. He ended up getting lost in the forest. He has no choice but to set up the camp for the night using local woods. Just a very small fire to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

---

Branotir meanwhile was approaching a great bridge that would take him out of the Middle Region into the Outer Region. He notices a skeleton and a bag of gold next to it. He pocketed the gold and gave a silent thanks to the skeleton before walking across the bridge. When he reaches the end of the bridge. He notices rows of sentinel statues standing at guards at the rail of the bridge. None of them even look at him. He whistling a tune to himself when he felt his Orb warming up again.

"What now?" He peered into Orb and saw a freezing storm rolling across the land. Blizzard? What the hell is going on in this land? He starts gunning for hills to find a cave and hide out the coming winter.

---

The next day, he finally left the forest... Only to notice a sudden chill in the air. He looks beyond the forest and sees heavy snow... Blizzard?

"Umm... Excuse me, sir?" He snapped his attention to the figure that walked around the tree into his view.

"Can... I join your party? It getting dangerous for me alone... You look like an adventurer... I know my way around terrains... I can guide you through places like forests, chasm, or crags. Just think of me like... personal ranger!" He tries to sell himself out, the cost being protection, "But without bow... I am not good at fighting..."

 

[Necrorifter]

"Samuel." He introduced himself before they continued to the ruins.

Click to shrink...

They walk together through the blizzard. It took much longer while but they arrived at the ruins.

To their surprise. There are plenty of people hiding out from the blizzard. Not only that but they are setting up a market right in the ruin... Too fucking bad he doesn't have any money. Meanwhile, Gary is frantically scribbling away in his note of this event.

Samuel just kept roaming deeper and deeper into the ruin. Noticing nothing out of the original. He then rests his back on a wall... Only for the wall to swivel around and he fell into a secret room inside the wall.

There was a bunch of junk in the room but on the table, lay a huge tome. Gary rushes in after you before freezing at the sight of Tome.

"Oh my god... You actually found the fabled Book of Spells! It was said that whoever read it will gain all knowledge of powerful spells ever created..." Gary whispered, almost couldn't believe his eyes. He refused to move from his position. Samuel can feel curiosity about what lay in the book.

 

[Necrorifter]

"Luckily, I am." He revealed casually. "I'm curious about these statues, so let's go to this bridge. If I can't win against them, we can find a ferry man."

Click to shrink...

He just blinked at this as Samuel walked away. He is unsure if he will follow or not. If he speaks the truth, then death is possible for him... On another hand, he will get to record all of this. A story of Quester. Nobody else will get to witness like this for a long time. This is his opportunity to experience this.

"Wait for me!" He ran after Samuel. He explains to him that those statues work by honor. If multiple fighters were to present themselves, multiple statues would fight back. But if one presents and wins, the whole group gets to pass through. Any attempt to cheat this or break the honor will result in all statues forces moving against the dishonorer. They went through the forest which Gary guided him through with no issues at all. Once they came out of the other side and walked through the field.

Samuel felt his feet caught in something. He quickly kicked off his feet, which led to a belt flying through the air. They walk over to the belt and Gary notices the belt before, "Hey, that is a belt of strength. They were told to enhance their wearer."

Samuel looks around and can see that there is a village in the distance. He can visit Mystic again for another attempt at the enhance himself. Especially if he going to test himself against the statues.

 

[Necrorifter]

"I can try. But I'm planning on challenging the statues to cross the bridge. I'm not sure if I'll be able to come back after that."

Click to shrink...

Mystic nodded at this, "Good luck. They are no easy feat but they are the kind that Questers will face in the Inner Region. If you flee from this, then Inner Region might be too much for you." He gave a last piece of advice before Samuel set out.

Samuel and Gary enter the woods on their way to the great bridge, "Perfect, I can show you the way out of this woods. Follow me." Gary says as he walks ahead to show him the way... That was until Samuel felt a presence in his mind. It felt foggy and true to his words, the dense fog rolled over the woods.

"Umm... What? This is not normal." Gary turns around and rubs his head, "Sorry, my expertise doesn't cover this..." Samuel tries to see if he can expel this fog from his mind but with little luck. He knows there is something out there that is doing this.

They have no choice but to keep walking, albeit slower and cautiously for whatever lurks in this woods.

It took a long while but Samuel spotted a shadow moving across the fog. There is no doubt that there is one behind this. What will he do? Gary is behind him, clutching his shirt so he doesn't get lost.

 

[Necrorifter]

Samuel spotted the figure as it moved across the fog. He pulled out his runic sword and slowly moved to take it by surprise. Once he got into range, he'll cut it down.

Click to shrink...

The shadow is unaware of his location as that earlier effort to throw off the mental fog has caused it to become disoriented and come closer in an attempt to find Samuel... Unaware of the danger that Samuel possessed to its undead life.

"HEY!" Gary hollers which causes the spirit to snap in his way, perfectly in the direction of Samuel's strike. It flinches and is cut down by the runic sword whose works its effect to dissipate the spirit and like before, lacking much life force to empower its user truly. Regardless, the particles flow into Samuel. He can feel his power grow but is not quite ready for a breakthrough, one or two more, and it will be prepared.

The fog fades away along with its grip on their minds. Gary can finally lead the two of them out of the woods and toward the great bridge. Which is now in view as they can see...

"Holy divine! I read that they were big but I thought it was like 7 feet in height, the biggest humanoid that is not flat-out monstrous like an ogre... This is colossal!" Gary said in surprise, that his knowledge was inaccurate.

Two of you can see from a distance of the view as the Great Bridge has two lines of giant statues along their length.

Before they can talk about what to do next. Samuel felt darkness grow around him. He looks around to see a shadowy figure with yellow eyes watching him, it raises its skeletal finger and becks him closer.

Gary seemed unaware of this, or more accurately, could not see it although he did shiver, "Is it me or did it get a bit colder?" He mutters mostly to himself.