Beginners Cave | Page 3

Rook straightened with a bright look burning in their eyes as the spell cleaved cleanly through the things wings. They watched the health bar dip and stepped lightly over it as soon as the thing bled out. Aiden, in the back of Rook's character, had almost forgotten that corpses persisted considering how other games were often set up. There was something unnervingly grisly about the mangled remains being left in the magic-users disinterested wake. It was gone and dead now. Nothing for it but to forget it, even as the stinging scratches along their arms beaded up with only a few drops of blood.

Instead, they entertained themselves with flicking through the deck to single out the two cards they'd used to cast and found where they had magicked themselves into the deck's order. The pads of their fingers grazed lightly over the artwork. Rook smiled kindly down at them and said in a soft whisper, "Many thanks to the biting squall. Rage paid for in mana and in life. Is that enough? A proper tribute?" There was no furious demand or sated feeling. Whatever it had been had gone from them. Rook understood, not in true understanding, but could see why the entities didn't linger. They weren't bound to the thing's domain the way other casters might be. Fair enough. Rook was a finicky thing and those of other planes owed them no more than Rook could claim them.

For now, they would be content to be alone and should violence peel itself from the walls of the place then perhaps another would come to answer the call for magic's works to be wrought. They fixed their gaze forward and carried on with a sure step. The cards were shuffled back into the waiting deck and hid back beneath the thick, cardstock paper like sharks beneath the waves. Potential would sleep for a while longer and fate would stay its hand.

[ OOC: Rook uses a Search Point. ]​

 

The dust kicked up behind Mahlthor as he sprinted in the direction of the dungeon. He knew that physical exercise probably didn't matter too much in this game, but rather than risk it, he decided it was a better get to keep his (digital) body in shape. As such, he kept his pace high, until the game began to coat his form in a small sheen of sweat. The distance to the cave that the old man had told him about was not very far, but it was far enough to get a good workout in if it were in meat space.

As he gets within sight of the cave, he slows down into a light jog, before sliding to a halt at the entrance. The dark gloominess of the inner caverns beckoned the man like a siren's call, and he answered with a grin. "All right, let's see what the big deal is, eh?" he says to no one in particular. From what the old man had said, there was something about this cave that Mahlthor could possibly help with. Something about some thing, he couldn't quite remember. The meta-knowledge of the cave being a beginner-level quest, and the old man being an NPC, cause the player to disregard some of the finer details to the 'quest.'

Mahlthor pushed inward with a headstrong grin, excited for the opportunity to explore. He would wander the antechamber to the caverns until he came to the first fork in the road. As he approached the multi-directional choice, the man could be heard saying a short child's rhyme meant to help one with decision making. "Let's see... eeny, meeny, miny... mo!" he exclaims, pointing to the center-most path before him.

With the choice made, the man ventures forward into the welcoming darkness. "Shit.. should've brought a light of some kind with me. It's awfully dark in here..." Though, despite the darkness, Mahltor would continue on unabated.

@Pandora Spending a search point

 

The dull glow of the beginner level dungeon was kindly despite the location being a cave populated by rather territorial bats. Rook walked slowly to take it in and enjoy the finer details the game developers had woven into it. They reached out to drag the fingers of their unoccupied hand over the stone. It was cold and faintly clammy, a dampness to it that only seemed fittingly natural in a dank tunnel into the earth. The pads of the fingers grew gradually colder as the stone sapped away at their body heat. They drew away to rub them together and work away the faintest chill that was left lingering.

It was quiet, but not in the way that made things eerie or seem like danger was lurking around every corner. The weaving stone pathways were calm and while they'd instill a little nerves into new players, it wasn't a terrifying task. Perfect for a first delve into the dangerous that waited below and in place far from the safety of towns and their populous NPCs.

Rook stepped forward, avoiding a puddle, and startled a sharp metallic sound. Their foot caught a coin that went bouncing forward a bit before it rolled to a stop and flopped back down on its side. They giggled at themselves for jumping so bad and snatched up the single gp. "Does the shadow's work, doesn't it," they asked themselves idly. "Like a snake at their own tail." Rook straightened themselves out and moved on past the momentary distraction, shifting their deck to a ready position once more.

 

Kessler sighed a little, finding a GP made his brow perk, but otherwise wasn't bad. Giving it a bite slipping it into his armor's mouth so his real mouth could reach it, be bit down with a nod recognizing it as a real coin before stashing it away as he should. It was a little surprising, he'd run into a bat almost immediately last time after all, this time though there didn't seem to be anything. Perplexed he could only try to venture deeper wondering if maybe something had gone wrong with the local monsters-- or perhaps even there were too many others like him inside the dungeon making things more complicated.

He sighed heavily, in the end he began trekking to find a new spot to search, deciding he should try his luck at the other end he began barreling down tunnels trying to make his way to the end in a dash with his weighty form. He didn't envy anyone who happened to be in front of him, while he could dodge pretty easily without the armor weight encumbering him, anyone unlucky enough to be distracted would probably not fair well if they jumped in his path. Trying to bulldoze his way to the end, he kept vigilant for any such needs to dodge or evade with hammer in hand.

• Heading towards the exit.

 

Lucky for Mahlthor, the darkness does not remain blanketing for long. Soon, enough light fills the current chamber he is in, allowing the man to see where his feet would fall. Each step that takes him deeper into the cave crunches with the sounds of boots on rock, periodically interspersed with the wet plopping of water droplets dripping down the face of the stalactites above. Further and further in his feet carry him down the long, winding paths of the cave, until his internal bearing are well and truly crossed.

Pausing for a moment to gathered his bearings, he leans up against the face of a rather smooth stone shelf. "Well, shit. Wonder what that old man was so excitable about in this cave. Ain't been too much of interest to see so far." he says aloud, almost half wishing something would over hear him and interrupt his reprieve. Instead, the soft light in the caverns catches a glint on the ground, which in turn draws his eyes to the ground.

Lying there, all alone, is a single gold coin. "Score!" Quickly bending over, as if someone was going to come alone and snatch the coin up for themselves, he grabs and pockets the shiny piece of metal currency. "Maybe that's what the old man was on about. Heh. Wonder how much treasure might be lying about this place?" With that positive thought bouncing around in his head, he picks himself off the stone shelf and presses forward deeper into the caverns, not a single though spent to remembering the directional heading he would thus be taking. Instead, thoughts of shiny, shimmering loots filled his brain.

It's best not to get yourself too excited, he chides himself internally. I mean, it is a beginner level quest. How much loot do you think really is going to be at the end of this road? Despite his internal words, the man keeps his head of a swivel, looking for any more gold coins lying on the ground.

@Pandora spending another search point.

 

The cards were still and silent in their grasp as they wove nimbly through the tunnel they'd set out along. Drops of stagnant water had started up a little ways back and Rook was trying to avoid getting their equipment wet. It seemed it would be unpleasant. Cold and a little grimy, plus the relative chill of the dungeon would only make it worse in time. The caster didn't care for it huffed as one landed on their nose with a soft plip.

A much less soft sound started up behind them and Rook shuffled the cards between nimble fingers, turning swiftly to see what approached and make their decision. It appear to be... a stone golem? Ah, no, through the cracks and faint lighting they could just make out the figure covered in the rubble. An odd method of travel considering the lacking speed and tremulous noise of it. Fitting to barrel through opposing creatures, however.

Rook stepped back out of the way and thus stepped into a puddle they had just avoided. "Queen of Cats have it," they whined and immediately pulled away from the chill sinking into their soft boots. "There's no winter or squall here, this is a skewed fate beset!" Perhaps the odd golem man at fault would stop or perhaps he'd carry on. Either way, Rook huffed and resumed their heading toward the entrance and called out at the figure. "You've set on a Gaian-boned path and yet lead straight into a Leviathan's spat scorn. How impolite!" With that they returned to scouring the path as the end drew closer. Though there was an annoyed set to their expression and posture at the inconvenience. The scratches on their arm didn't bother them, but a soggy foot certainly did.

[ OOC: Rook uses their last Search Point! ]
@Pandora ​

 

Rock... rock... rock... Mahlthor would recount to himself as his eyes swept the cavern floor. Unsurprisingly, so far it had been a lot of rocks, despite his best efforts. Further and further in he went, and still none the richer. Eventually, boredom begins to set in, and just as he is about to make a decision to leave the cave, a wet splorping sound would catch his ear. It was different than the other water sounds. It was much more... thick?

Swinging his eyes upward, a green mass of slime drops down, landing with a sickly sound before the man. It opened it's one eye, and Mahlthor, pausing a second, recoils momentarily. "Eww, what the hell are you?" he asks, though the gamer in him knew very well what this was. This was an enemy. One that would be soon vanquished, and in short order!

Outstretching a fist in the slime's direction, he mentally reaches deep inward, pulling on the reserves of magic he had been training up on his ventures before this. "Tuono, va'at kheldi, memmnon!" he calls silently, recalling the lessons with Master Daisuke. As if answering the call of the esoteric words, electrical arcs manifest themselves, crawling up and down the man's outstretched fist like tiny serpents. They coil and writhe in and through the muscles in his arms, and Mahlthor takes in a deep breath as the power courses through.

Bringing up the palm of his other hand to the charged bicep, he wills the electric arcs to jump the gap, and soon the other arm joins it's mirror in cackling and popping. The sounds of the arcs fill the otherwise silent cavern, and if anyone were to venture upon this scene, surely the hair on their body would stand on end with the static buildup around the man.

Dropping backwards into a defensive stance, Mahlthor locks eyes (eye?) with the slime. "Well then, come at me. Let's see what you've got!" he challenges.

@Pandora OOC: Mahlthor is casting a spell to electrify his weapon, which in this case is his fists. Since that counts as his casting, he cannot strike this turn, correct? Just wanted to verify. If he can, then he'll swing at the slime when it closes in, if not, that'll be next post :)

 

Kessler caught a glimpse of Rook, a little surprised, he skidded to a stop, his weight and momentum causing his feet to slide as if ice skating as it dragged him forward despite stopping his advance. Though the man seemed more interested in proceeding. By the time Kessler managed to stop himself he'd already gone ahead. He didn't put much thought into it, it wasn't as if this was the first time, it was also nice just to not be recognized as a monster at first glance. The armor though-- naturally, wasn't for transportation, instead it was for power and protection, instead he used his normal speed to be able to recklessly barrel ahead with it.

Though when he got close to the end, he decided to poke around once more, tapping and punching at things, walls, stones trying to find something more valuable then average, as if determined to find something useful. This dungeon was a little average, empty, bland even he thought, calling it a beginner's adventure was accurate but he wanted something he could sink his teeth into. For a while he wondered if other adventurers were braving such heroic adventures while he was messing around in these places.

• Last search point

 

No sooner had Mahlthor dropped into stance did the slime attack! This bugger just has no sense of the rules of engagement, now does he? She? It? How do you tell with a slime? Pushing the thoughts, the large man's muscle ripple as he cocks back his fist in preparation for a heavy haymaker. The power of his spells dances and cackles menacingly, aching for release into the slimes delicate eye. Who is Mahlthor to refuse such a request? He is a gentleman after all, isn't he?

Letting loose his strike, he drives his fist with a forceful slam straight into the large eye of the slime. As the strike connects, the man digs deep, reaching into his magical reserves, and releases a heavy bolt of the electricity directly into the soft, squishy, slimy textured ocular orb. Remembering his basic fighting training, and knowing to not stop a strike at the intended target, he drives his fist passed the point of connection, reaching out if he could beyond the slime.

A shudder of gross origins creeps down Mahlthor's back as the slimy bits of... slime... coat his fist and arm. "Eww... how many baths is it going to take to was your remains off?" he wonders aloud, not expecting the slime to respond. It burns his skin, sizzling as the acidic nature of the thing begins to eat away at his flesh. The large man barely winces at it, though an inkling of worry does creep into the back of his mind. Who knew if there would be any lingering effects? Would he need to find a base of some kind, or some sort of neutralizing agent? Does this game even model acids in that way? Or is he just thinking too much about a simple game. Eh, probably the latter.

OOC: Mahlthor punches the slime in the eye, and from his spell last round, adds lightning to the strike.