December Adventure: Turn Your Face Towards The Sun

[lifeaftr_mods]

NEW ISLAND: CHOL

Who: Everyone!
What: There's a brave new world to explore
When: December 14th and onward
Where: Chol
Warnings: Mark as needed!

The Overview: Chol
On the dawn of the 14th, characters will awaken from a brief, rather harried dream with the Storyteller who has advised of a new island accessible through the mana pool. Welcome, adventurers, to the island of Chol.

The edges of Chol are unremarkable, craggy bits of cliff and rock, gradually sloping upward into a vaguely mountainous region. While there's not a great deal of natural life growing here, characters may nonetheless notice the odd prey animal scuttering about, only to vanish in the steep cracks running along the cliffsides.

Once the island's hardened exterior is crossed, the rocky canyon gradually gives way to a gently sloping valley that, the further down you go, reveals an atypically verdant center. The contrast is not sharp to the point of unbelievability, but it's clear that the valley is where the most life is sustained in earnest. The rock dips in an almost craterlike fashion to favor the fertile heart of the island, around which the people who live there has established a rudimentary encampment.

Chol Outskirts: Do Not Break
As described above, the island of Chol is composed of mostly rocky ground, with very little fertile soil. Further examination of this land will prove that the composition is hardly a natural one- the dips, valleys, and sharp rocks reminiscent of craters that scar the land. It's not surprising that no one lives here.


There is, however, still things of interest to find here. Scouting Jormun will be happy to stop and direct characters to camp, whilst others yet may have goods to trade. All will point anyone with questions to the center of the island, where their leader resides- but if you're willing to accompany them in their scouting and hunting duties, you may just find this amphibious race warming to you quickly.

Chol, C3: Just Carry On
At the sloping center of Chol, a veritable village of tents can be found, with Jormun hurrying to and throe. In the center of this point, they seem to be busy building walls and spiked partitions- and surveying all of this is their mighty leader, Muninshhashvark. But please, call her Munin, if that's easier for your less wet tongues. Here, trade is at it's peak, with plentiful interesting items on offer- for the right price. Adventurer's can feel free to wander through the encampment, though try not to get in the way of anyone who looks particularly busy.

Munin however, though in the center of everything, is more than happy to be approached-- by anyone willing to look past the fact that she is an eight foot tall snake.

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For OOC information about Chol and the Jormuns, please see our recent OOC information post!

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Feeling a tad adrift? Make sure to check the Locations Page, which has details regarding the starting areas and a handy map for those who feel better with a bird's eye view!

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[prettypurpleparlor]

[She nods politely, settling into a comfortable stance.]

I appreciate that- more knowledge of our situation is always helpful.

From what you say, I assume that neither these people nor their gods are open to any negotiation on the subject? If they were acting to benefit themselves somehow I would wonder if there was a way to resolve things peacefully, but with an enemy whose goal is simply destruction in and of itself that seems implausible at best.

[aftrnpc]

[A solemn nod.]

It is the unfortunate truth- we have been at war with these creatures since before the time of our great cities; there is no negotiating. They are not biased in what they destroy.

[prettypurpleparlor]

Great cities? Now that certainly sounds intriguing.

[Muffet shakes her head slightly, forcing herself back on track. They have more important matters than cultural exchange to focus on, right now.]

What kinds of capabilities do these creatures have, in general? Are there any specific powers or weapons we should be wary of?

[aftrnpc]

Perhaps one day you can visit them, [Munin starts eagerly- though her enthusiasm fades as she acknowledges one, small issue, with no small amount of regret.] though we would need to find a way that you could breathe underwater- and survive the pressure of its weight.

[She's right, however- there are more pressing issues. Leaning down, Munin draws in the dirt with one claw, scratching out simple, shadowy figures of varying sizes and shapes.] You will know them when you see them, mostly. They are often as dark as the darkness they crave, with glowing eyes. Some will simply attack with claws and fangs... others are far more sly. We will do our best to impart some knowledge of the kinds we know, but I doubt I could do so in one sitting.

[prettypurpleparlor]

A difficult task, certainly, but I'm sure it wouldn't be impossible. Perhaps someday...

[Munin's brief moment of excitement is honestly very cute, and the part of Muffet that used to give Captain Undyne 'special Royal Guardswoman discounts' on her bakery purchases sighs wistfully. But (unfortunately for that part) the rest of Muffet is a grown-ass woman with actual priorities, like not dying, and she forces herself to remain on topic.]

Do they have magical capabilities, or any resistance to the same? My own power involves binding enemies with magical threads, is that still likely to be useful?

[aftrnpc]

The darkness is very fluid- attempting to contain it will only work for a short time. [Munin muses, scratching at her chin.] If this is a magic of your world, land-dweller, I have no doubt it would initially take them by surprise.

But once they are aware of it, it will not contain them well. I would suggest reserving it for a time where retreat is the primary objective of its usage.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet nods solemnly, making a mental note to reserve her purple magic for a last resort. Given her ability to ensnare the soul itself in her web, she wonders if being physically fluid would be enough to escape- but then again, she has no idea if these beings would even have souls as she understands them. Better to be cautious and live than overconfident and die.]

I could also use it to bind building materials more tightly together or a door more tightly shut, if you think that might help for shoring up the defenses. Beyond that, I also have some minor healing abilities, as well as the ability to create food that heals when eaten, though these are limited enough that I would need to be sparing about using them.

[aftrnpc]

[Munin looks positively delighted at the suggestions made.]

Our people are skilled in healing- but any help you can provide to heighten the endurance of our barriers is truly welcome.

[prettypurpleparlor]

I'd be happy to help with that. Would you like me to demonstrate my magic, so that you have a more clear example to help you decide where it might be most useful to you?

[If it comes down to it, Muffet is more than capable of making her own choices on how to best deploy her skills, but given that Munin is an authority among her own people and the one who came here prepared for battle, it seems only polite to defer to her decisions on the subject of tactics.]

[aftrnpc]

Please, I would like to see these bindings! [Munin booms. Straightening to her full height, she glides across the ground, leading the way over to one of the spiked pits that have already been set into the ground.]

Would this be enough, or do you need a greater challenge?

[prettypurpleparlor]

Hm... [Muffet gives the pit a thoughtful look.] Workable for an example, I think- would you prefer me to make the pit harder to get out of, or to show how I'd keep someone out of a particular area?

[aftrnpc]

Make it harder to get out of. [Munin answers almost instantly- leaning over the tiny arachnid, she peers at the pit intently, eager curiosity clear to see.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet nods and walks over to the edge of the pit, looking into it. She raises a pair of her hands and motions over the gap, lines of glimmering purple light appearing at her movements. She places them carefully, positioning them just so, making it so that this one attaches to that which attaches to that looser-looking rock up there... She tucks them carefully against the sides, so that they're very hard to see without knowing what you're looking for. Satisfied with her work, she steps back and smiles at Munin.]

If you'd care to drop something in, I should be able to show you some results.

[aftrnpc]

One moment.

[This calls for a living experiment. Slithering off, Munin returns with a live crab swiped from the cooking station- hopefully not cousin enough to cause Muffet any discomfort as the Jormun tosses the crustacean into the pit, watching keenly to see what happens next.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet is, as ever, more concerned about whether she's dealing with an intelligent being than one merely sharing her appearence- the moment the luckless crab hits the bottom of the pit, her hand closes and the strings contract sharply.]

[The result is the larger, looser rocks the strings were connected to being pulled down around the little crustacean, turning the pit trap into a prison of stone- and a short moment later, judging by the sad, just barely audible crunching noise of a shell being crushed, a tomb.]