While Wandering the Wilds

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Jun 16, 2024 6:35 pm
Serig basks in silence, digesting the story Dree has told them. Even if he didn't want to, he finds in her a kindred spirit. But another part of him also burns with envy—how desperately he wished for his own problem to be so simple.

Finally he says, "Those men deserved it," and left it at that. It's too dangerous to get attached, and Serig already knows that at least Dree has experienced killing before. He wanted to leave it at that, and wait for Alben to go on his rambles yet again—Serig is getting used to it at this point—but one thing from Dree's story caught his attention.

"Is your father human?" he asked. Most of his knowledge of elves come from his pack's polite, if distant, elven neighbors in the forests he once lived in, and they, to put it lightly, did not get along with humans. The rest of his knowledge are from the few scattering of elven adventurers he had come across over the years of his wandering, and they were, for the most part, friendlier to humans. Since he's better at distinguishing his fellow beastfolk, it never crossed Serig's mind that those elven adventurers could in fact, have the same mixed heritage as Dree.
Jun 16, 2024 8:02 pm
Yes, my father is a human. After a short pause, He’s a very dedicated blacksmith. He didn’t like that I killed those men, he... It wasn't my job. He thinks I should keep my head down. Try and blend in more.
Last edited June 16, 2024 8:58 pm
Jun 17, 2024 4:33 am
You chat back and forth as you move deeper into the city, heading towards the pyramid. You pass several tumbled ruins scattered to the left and right. Then you come to what must have been the city walls. The ring of stone reveals the walls must have stood at least 30 feet wide and twice as tall. The ruble across the traces of the road is lower and you work your way through it with little difficulty. However as you pass the midpoint of the wall you feel an odd sensation, as if dropping several feet when not expecting it. You all pause and look at each other to verify it is not just you. Looking around you see nothing amiss. Sensing no danger you press on.

The stillness of the abandoned city presses in on you as you move deeper. A deep and resounding sense of loss fills your hearts at the wonder of the glory the People possessed not even a century ago. Tumbled down shops and decimated residential areas give way to the larger central structures as you pick you way towards the pyramid. It rises well over 300 feet high with the bottom half covered in vines and small plants that have found purchase in the cracked stone. The lower sections appear completely ruined by by some miracle of divine intervention the typ looks to be intact and you see an ornate opening in this section with stairs leading down with the lower portions cracked and crumbling. Knowing the lower portions were often used for basic administrative and mundane functions you look to the peak and waiting archway to the intact higher temple chambers.

https://i.imgur.com/QRXIFV1l.jpeg
Jun 17, 2024 10:39 am
Serig's gaze flits upward at the temple's intact tip. "Looks like we've got quite the trek before us." While the stillness and weirdness of this ruined city unnerved him, the fervent desire to explore the place crawls like an itch under his skin. His gaze then turns toward his companions. "You guys ready?"

Alben

Psybermagi

Jun 17, 2024 12:01 pm
Alben

alben nods. He has been less talkative since Dree's story.
Jun 17, 2024 2:54 pm
Little shots of adrenalin have begun to pump threw Dree's veins with every heartbeat since they passed through the old wall, bringing her out of her thoughts of the past and into the moment. Turing to Serig she smiles, Lets see what we find! She smiles to Alben too.
Last edited June 17, 2024 2:55 pm
Jun 17, 2024 6:02 pm
Serig cautiously leads the group towards the cracked and crumbling stairs of the temple. "Be careful, this thing looks like it'll instantly collapse the moment you step on it wrong," he says. He then tries to scrutinize the most stable parts of the stairs as he slowly climbs up.
OOC:
Rolling to do some safety inspection, haha. Feel free to ignore if unneeded

Rolls

Serig: Test DC: 4 - Basic - (2d6)

(15) = 6

Jun 17, 2024 6:13 pm
Serig determines that the majority of the edifice is massive some blocks. Though don't is brickwork and masonry your best guess is the majority of it was magically shaped. The stairs are a mix of safe and crumbling stonework but you feel confident you can navigate it without to much trouble.
Jun 17, 2024 6:19 pm
Dree follows Serig, trusting him to lead, she keeps an eye out for anyone or thing that might try to hurt them.
OOC:
Like dirtyglass just rolling in case you need it. I’m doing it with adv because of perceptive trait, let me know if that’s not right.

Rolls

Dree: Test DC: 5 - Adv looking for enemies/ ambushes - (3d6)

(215) = 8

Jun 18, 2024 4:00 am
With Serig scouting the way and Dree searching for any more mobile dangers and Alben in the middle, you make you way up the steep stairs and cracked and broken stonework. At times the brush and vines overgrowing the pyramid help with convenient hand holds while at other times thich growth impedes your way. Seric picks out a path that stays close to the path and skirts a couple of sections that look more like the vegetation is holding it in place than the other way around.

After about 1/2 hour you reach the clear section you all feel flush as the blood pulses through your limbs due to the exertion. From this height you look out over the city and can see that though it has a couple large structures it is not a huge city. Within the walls there are a few other neighborhoods and individual structures that look to be still intact. Dree has not sensed anything stalking them but you have noted that there are some small animals in the area. The small biting flies prove most annoying and seem attracted to the three of you.

You pause for a short break in the last bit of shade to catch your breath before proceeding up the last of the stairs to the large open doorway above. These stairs are all intact and you walk up as Alben huffs and puffs as he mutters about the heat as you climb, totally exposed to the sun and anyone looking around, up to reach the large archway set back a bit into the top of the structure.

https://i.imgur.com/ErPFdL4.jpeg

Beyond the archway you see a massive chamber light by the sun's light, likely form windows higher on the sides of the pyramid. From what you can see there are likely several side chambers but all seems oddly clean for an open structure exposed to wind, rain, and sun.
Jun 18, 2024 9:00 am
The pristineness of their surroundings continue to unnerve Serig. He doesn't remember feeling this way from the similar temples he'd explored before. To distract himself for a bit, he turns towards his two companions. Dree, naturally, has easily kept up. Alben, while not as easily, managed as well, though not without his constant muttering. Still, he doesn't find it as annoying as before.

A fly lands on the side of the young man's head, just above his ear, and before Serig could react, he instinctively but gently swats the bug, smacking Alben in the process. Serig is silent for a moment before he awkwardly coughs and says, "There was a fly buzzing." Acting like the previous moment didn't happen, he continues, "You guys alright? Ready to go in?"
Jun 18, 2024 2:46 pm
Dree, who had been specifically watching for things to ‘hurt’ them had seen the fly and Serig’s automatic swat, clamps her hand over her mouth but can’t stop it. She bursts out laughing. She blushes, embarrassed to break into the serious mood they’ve had on their climb. Sor.. Sorry, she gets out, between bouts of laughter, it’s not that fun.. funny. Just been a bit.. Trying to put her ‘game face’ back on she pulls her axe out, Lead the way, Serig. She bites her lips shut when laughter threatens a second time.
Jun 19, 2024 1:03 am
Serig's ears flatten back in chagrin. He almost wants to growl and bare his fangs at Dree, especially when he can tell she's failing to not burst into laughter a second time, but doing that would even be more humiliating. So he bears with it, inspecting the archway and the chamber just beyond it for anything unusual instead right before walking in.
OOC:
Rolling to see if there's something to be wary about traps or something similar. Serig walks into the chamber regardless if it's dangerous or not though.

Rolls

Serig: Test DC: 4 - Basic - (2d6)

(33) = 6

Jun 19, 2024 4:05 am
Examining the archway you find nothing of noteworthy. Figuring most traps would be on the inner chambers or vaults you move cautiously into the room. The large room has multiple high windows. Some are filled with translucent quartz while others are sloped down so that they allow air in but have not direct passage to the outside, likely to prevent rain and too much wind form entering. The walls are covered with murals carved into their surfaces from about knee height and above while a section about a foot high below these contains text, both in the high script and basic script.

In my setting few can actually read. There is however a "basic script" that uses ideograms and simple symbols that most understand at least a little. Test to read any base script

The room you entered is actually a large gallery, more like an indoor plaza, that goes around the entire perimeter of the pyramid and stretches up to high above you so it feels almost like open air . In the middle of this chamber is another temple. The three story building is another pyramid 60' to a side and 30' tall but lack a tip. It is covered in intricate carving and has large bronze doors on each side. Around the plaza/gallery there are multiple alcoves set into the outside wall that contain small alters, benches, tables, scultures, and other stonework items. The main area of the gallery is empty. Again the cleanliness of the area is brought to mind as the entire area is free of dust or other signs of the passage of time. As you look around you feel a peaceful felling settle over you. It is very gentle and subtle to the point you might have missed it were it not for the oppressive felling you felt in the city outside the temple.

Elprekt

You hear a faint humming echo through the chamber and draw back so you are in the enty passage. Peering into the gallery you try to trace the sound but the echos make this difficult and you almost miss the small figure moving from one alcove to the next in a slow and measured pace. The figure is average height for a human and wears dull tan robes and leather sandals. In their arms they hold a small basket and you see a few handles and cloth covered bundles sticking out of it.
Jun 19, 2024 11:13 am
Serig stares at the murals on the walls and the text right above it, trying to remember the little he know to read what the wall says. But since he rarely needs to read during his travels he gives up after a while and turns to the other two to say. "Can you two read this?"

Leaving Dree and Alben to that task, looks around some more. Serig's ears twitch when he hears the faint humming sound, his vigilance immediately rising. There's someone already here? When he sees the person in robes, he doesn't drop his guard but instead readies into a stance—slightly lowering his body as if bracing himself for a leap and raising both of his fists, not enough to be threatening, but enough to swiftly throw a punch if need be. "Hey! Who are you?" he shouts at the stranger.
Jun 19, 2024 3:39 pm
Dree studies the markings to try and read them but she, like Serig, has never really had need of reading as a hunter or helping her father in the forge.

When the old man shows himself and Serig calls out to him Dree will stand at his shoulder to back him up of the need arises. Though she does give him some space, knowing she made him angry earlier by laughing.
Last edited June 19, 2024 3:40 pm

Rolls

Dree: Test DC: 5 - Basic try to read - (2d6)

(44) = 8

Jun 19, 2024 4:16 pm
OOC:
Hey guys. I am going to be camping from this evening until Sunday afternoon. I will Check-in before we go up this afternoon, sorry to postpone the story a little bit but if there's no battle, Dree will just follow Serig's lead and back him up, and keep an eye on Alben. And if she ends up reading anything on the wall from that test she will tell the other two.
Last edited June 19, 2024 4:17 pm

Elprekt

Psybermagi

Jun 20, 2024 4:09 am
Elprekt

The elderly figure startles as they turn to face you. Upon seeing the trio she glares at Serig. What do you mean by shouting at me the the God's temple. Shame on you! Serig roll a save test. If you fail you feel intense shame at your actions and struck with fear and dread, like a little child being scolded at by their granny for tromping mud into the recently cleaned floor
[ +- ] Save Tests
The old lady squints at you and asks Would you mind stepping out of the shadows and into the light? Though the God blesses me my eyes still fail me after all this time. Come sit and we can talk. My name is Elprekt. Who are you and what brings you to this forgotten place? and she waves you out of the doorway.
Jun 20, 2024 10:01 am
Serig freezes just a little when he hears the old woman shout—it reminded him too much of his murdered grandfather, of the times when he scolded and corrected him for mistakes made during a hunt. If memories of his slaughtered pack coming up unbidden happened when he was younger, he surely would've spiraled into despair by now.

But the years have numbed his heart, and he has learned how to live with the pain. So he just snorts at the old woman's words, although he does relax his stance a little. He turns towards his companions and whispers, "This old woman seems to be pretty harmless, but be alert all the same."

Serig walks towards the old woman, close enough that they could have a conversation, but still keeping quite a bit of distance. He also doesn't take the invitation to sit, preferring to stand. "My name's Serig. The ones behind me are Dree and Alben," he starts, glancing towards his companions. "We've come across this ruined city by coincidence and thought it was worth exploring." Relaxed as he was, he still has his suspicions. "I apologize for shouting before. We just weren't expecting anybody to still be living in such an abandoned place."
OOC:
Rolling with advantage since I have the Resolute trait, will edit this in a bit after I see the roll result.
Last edited June 20, 2024 8:25 pm

Rolls

Serig: Test DC: 5 - Adv - (3d6)

(336) = 12

Elprekt

Psybermagi

Jun 20, 2024 1:00 pm
Elprekt

The old lady heads into one of the side alcoves as you move to join her and lowers herself onto one of the pair of benches that sit facing each other. At you refusal to sit tshe sniffs in obvious disapproval and mutters something about manners these days.
Serig says:
We just weren't expecting anybody to still be living in such an abandoned place."
True enough. Most fled or died during the shattering and the rest left shortly thereafter. Only I stayed and were it not for the God I would surely have died. sigh But why come to the temple? Did you think it full of riches or such nonsense? Or did you come to pray and show your devotion? and she studies you with a piercing gaze.
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