The Enigmatic Swain [ATI Event]

[Cacophony]

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Chapter 1: The Enigmatic Swain

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Just outside the village of Mo, was a very wooded area with a strange alluring quality to it. To most, this feeling would be misconstrued as the warm feeling of a nice day. Yet, to one holding a certain scroll, this allure was magnetic. A strange chakra would almost ooze from the wooded plains with trees and streams scattered, all of which seemed to point to a hidden grotto of thick leaves in canopies, and dark shadows cast beneath. The ground was scarred and charred as if many had fought here, yet the area was small, tight, and too cramped for what seemed to be the force of an army or two blemishing the ground.

In the center of this almost perfect circle of missing grass on the ground, was another note for Abumi printed on the same paper as before. Secured in the ground by a clean, fresh kunai and string, the letter fluttered in the air with any light breeze. When it came to finding this place, that would normally have been considered a feat. Yet, Abumi would soon find out that this was merely the beginning of something huge. The letter was blank for now, but if she would approach it, the link would slowly begin to write out the message for her quickly. Without so much as a breathe the "man" seemingly watched closely, but none would know even if they tried. 

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Rules:

3 Days/ 72 hours IIC. I'm going to be lenient when it comes to IIC, but only if I am warned before hand that you need some time.

This thread can be a training post, a travel thread, or even a crafting thread depending on what happens, but will always only count as an event thread. Techniques learned in this thread CAN be used during the thread...But you can't just train what ever you'd like. Only what's necessary to progress. (This will all make sense soon)

As always if any other staff voids anything then there's nothing more I can do

Special Rules will be added to a post occasionally, these will be mentioned in RP and at the top of the post the apply to.

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[Ancestor Febrie]

The Duchess looked up the place she was supposed to meet with whoever wrote her the letter. Since she was going to swing by this place then go to the skirmish site she has already packed some necessary items always expecting the worst. This time around she wore her traditional darker blue kimono with flower motives in a new light. The Kimono with yellow obi has been recently improved with a few smaller pouches to let her keep a few more kunai at disposal, it allowed her to always keep five special kunai at an easily reached locations for example inside the sleeves. She has gone through the effort of improving all of her wearable such as kimono, tactical vest, footwear and a cloak with fire-proof padding.

Over her kimono she fashioned a tactical vest capable of holding sixteen pouches with one mysteriously enhanced by a ritual to make it much deeper, for some reason it still appeared the same but could hold of course more items. The vest could fit all sixty of her special kunai, a nice pack of cards also specially marked and fifty-seven senbon. The magically enhanced pouch was cramped with a smoke grenade, twenty more senbon, a gas mask, a rebreather, a map and finally a compass to boot. All these pouches made her look slightly bulked up and so she had a cloak to cover her entire outfit plus a hood over her head meant less people would be able to recognize her.

The cloak could also hold five special kunai which were also wrapped with exploding tags. Now that her figure was somehow masked beneath her white stockings she has put a pair of greaves to protect her legs while a pair of armored gauntlet with a left one having been enhanced by shock capable of delivering some lethal lightning after a punch. On her back sat a pretty silver-black war fan with flower motives. After the fan came in a patrol pack storing 10 smoke grenades, 35 exploding tags with force capable splash, bottle of sake, bittermourn and pargen. It also stored a hundred special kunai, those were a bit less accessible than those on her kimono and cloak.

There were also a few gems located on her necklace that had power such as sphere of law, gem of prescience, gem of the wise, sphere of lyzar, skull of strength, all seeing eye and lightning gem. She had planned on more weapons that wasn't possible in this hurry. She was now entering a wooded area outside Mo with the scroll in hand. The Duchess has contemplated whether to open it or not, if she did and something bad happened around Mo, that would be bad. For a few times she would have to skillfully evade the thick trees until she arrived at what she felt was supposed to be the right place.

The ground was charred and scarred from whatever happened here, as if a battle has occurred here. This made her a little uneasy, it could well be a trap but she has felt nothing at the moment. Walking carefully towards the only perfect looking circle as she noticed another letter. The paper seemed to be the same as the earlier version. She looked at the letter again, a kunai weighted it down despite the wind. Hmm..... she looked around her, if anyone was around she might be able to spot them. The Duchess finally evaluated the place and danger then decided to pick up the scroll to read it.

Incidentally it was empty, very empty but soon some words would start filling up the paper. Confused as to what was going on, she waited for the whole sentence to finish writing before reading.

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Movements: 9 + 1(^)
Handseals: 74, 1/2 reduction
Immune up to very rare poison
15 armor point resist vs acid, cold and electricity
10 dmg reduction vs evil

^: from Fast Mover

Shape Transformation Mastery
Soulcaster Mastery
Kaishin Mastery

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Will possibly edit or in a next post put a spoiler for all weapons currently on me but basically already described them with the numbers. On a phone currently.

[Cacophony]

While Abumi looked at the paper, the words magically appeared on the paper as if some unknown force was writing it in front of her. The paper and ink itself were very ordinary, yet gave off a concerning aura while the characters formed on the paper. Minutes passed and finally an entire legible note was there, in her hands. The letter before her read:

I see you listen well. This is very reassuring to me, and I'll have you know that's a good thing... At least for now it is. I can see the scroll is still unopened. Take the time now to open it and study it. It may take some time to decipher, but I know you can do it, or else I wouldn't have left my faith in you. Let no one know about this scroll or meeting. Conceal it in cities and villages. Most will kill to find this scroll still exists and most of which who will kill, can do it quite easily. Until it is deciphered, stay in this area.

As for the mystery of who I am? You may soon find out. Concentrate on the task at hand, don't fail me, and I'm sure we will meet soon.

-Don't look behind you.


After the letter was read by Abumi, the ink would once again drip from the paper and boil on the ground. As the boiling ink reacted to the chakra left in the charred and scarred ground, a ring of bright blue light surrounded the area. It would seem benign to those within the ring, and would cause those outside to not notice a thing. The ring extended from the edge of the charred dirt, to the opposite end and gave off a low end frequency humming. The ring would hum as the scroll flew from Abumi's possession, to the center of the circle, where it would unroll itself. Symbols and letters spun around the scroll in a mystical fashion.

The words on the paper seemed to be alive, and this wasn't even the oddest part of the whole situation. To even the most uneducated people, it was obvious the language it was written in was Latin. From here Abumi would be stuck in the magic circle until the scroll was translated into common tongue. The letters of a dead language began to come alive and swirl around as the scroll revealed it's message.


"Semita quod quaerere praeter arbores, et per hoc in conculcationem. Et haec loqueris, Et cadent in terram."

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 OOC: If you are going to train the "Latin Language Skill", give me a heads up. If not then let's just see what you do.

Also if you need more information about the "Magic circle" feel free to ask in pm

[Ancestor Febrie]

Latin
Rank: "C" (20 TP at all times)
Skill: Skill
Effect: An ancient language found mostly in the Eastern world.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The language of Ancient Country of Fire and of the educated in pre-Ninja world countries such as Sound, Grass, and Waterfall, which achieved its classical form during said era. It is the oldest recorded language of the Country of Fire. Latin literature encompasses a rich tradition of scientific, technical, and philosophical texts. Latin is not widely used except for dedicated scholars. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill.
Limit: ---

0/20

The Duchess read what appeared on the paper carefully. She didn't like the sound of it, someone was playing a prank here or something. That person and scroll were now being very suspicious, should she open and see whats inside the scroll? Her curiosity got the better of her, why would anyone want to kill for this thing? Right after the ink has melted away a blue light closed her in. It's a trap! she thought and looked for a way out. The area was the entire charred space from beginning to end and gave off a light humming sound. Maybe by opening the scroll she will find out more about it.

Unsealing to see what was inside the scroll it suddenly jerked off and she lost the grasps of it. Next thing it was beginning to unroll itself at the center of the blue ring, many letters were flying around some began forming into words. Now this is a language I haven't seen in a while. the last time was at school. She immediately recognized a few words but this actually needed some concentration. The Duchess sat down before the letters, she scanned through the words. There was something about a path, it was becoming more exciting.

Latin was really an old language spoken in the land of fire in ancient times. This could mean that whoever wrote this all must be one of the nobles who learn this or some kind of a scholar. Now a scholar using chakra, that was something. In fact this language is the oldest known to the world, people would record nearly everything important using this language. Of course a normal housewife couldn't write a checklist of what to buy for her husband, mainly theological and philosophical contemplation were put to paper. In the later years when science and techniques bloomed one could also record them into paper.

Her investigation gave her some insight to whoever created this thing was either a scholar or a noble but there was also a totally wild theory that someone could have come from the past. This was very possible, one could extend their life easily just like her almost indefinitely. This begged for another question, why would the scroll be in Latin yet the rest was in modern basic language? Maybe she will find out after translating what this said. The Duchess turned back towards the words. The word "semita" as they say meant path. "quod quaerere" would mean to search.

So far this would mean searching for a path, there was more to come. "praeter" this was a tricky word "arbores" was a tree So it would be in addition to trees?. This did not make any sense to her. To search a path in addition to trees? no this couldn't be it. Let's play a bit with the wording. she contemplated on the words and rearranging it around until to made sense. "Semita quod quaerere praeter arbores" will most likely mean "The way to look beyond the trees". This was a momentary triumph until she looked at more words. Oh no, more of this. she shrugged.

"et per" meant and, she actually said the word and aloud "and .... horse shoe" this was an awful experience for her. It was hard remembering those words and what they meant, luckily her aristocratic blood coupled with a good mind for learning had the capacity to continue learning this dead language at school. She remembered the time they had to write a poem in latin, half of the class already gave up while hearing the assignment and the rest after a few words. All she could write at that time was The sun hid her face in the clouds. it would translate to roughly Abscondisti faciem solis in nubibus in latin.

Now she has sidetracked her translations, the Duchess looked at the next words. "hoc in conculcationem" this was a long one, basically hoc in meant this while conculcationem meant treading. This only meant The way to look beyond the trees and this treading. what was this even? She almost tore off her hair. The Duchess was almost fuming with anger towards this scroll. Whoever did this needs to die. it took her a while to cool off. Ok let's start again with words rearranging. she thought. This could only mean and through this mire so altogether the sentence was "The way to look beyond the trees and through this mire"

She was concentrating on translation so much that it was hard to notice anything around her.

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Able learner

Not going to double post since you might want to do something in-between my training. Will also ask someone to grade this.

[Madame Loki]

+10

[Ancestor Febrie]

Continuing

10/20

Hmm. there was much more to this than thought. The next words were pretty hard to understand at all. She had to look back at the lessons she got from the teachers. In a sense something spelled wrong could mean something else, or even a word put in another place would be the same. She had to really concentrate on the task at hand. "Et haec loqueris, Et cadent in terram." was the next one. The word 'et' meant 'and' it would correlate with the last sentence. "The way to look beyond the trees and through this mire and" and what exactly? The next word haec would be meant as 'this' so altogether it was 'and this' very interesting. Now it was 'The way to look beyond the trees and through this mire and this' she was getting close to it.

She remembered back at learning the alphabet with the teachers. "ā, bē, cē, dē, ē, ef, gē, hā" they were all sounding and pronounced similarly with today's languages unlike avian. Avian was altogether something else and much harder. There were of course many more letters in this alphabet but she just listed a few of them in her head as to repeat and remember what they even were. Children usually learnt this alphabet with a song, one would sing about the alphabet with "Latīna! Nunc litterās Latīnas sciō." at the end which meant "Latin! Now I know the Latin letters." and there was yet another ended "Litterās tibi docēbō!" which meant "I will teach you letters!" which would also mean repetition of the alphabet song.

The latin language was very much shrouded in mystery. In this world they apparently were first recorded by the Etruscans while the Y and Z were taken from the greeks. Today of course we don't even know who etruscans and greeks were to even speculate although they were a mythical countries with places. With how the history of the world went on, she could only think it could have been very possible some crack in time and space opened and let these people from those lands to come in here for a time. They would indeed bring this language to this part of the world. In the end, many languages would develop from theirs, that is why nobody ever pinpointed any etruscian or greek relics, cities and other places described in their mythology.

Of course when learning latin, she would encounter some proverbs. They were usually something said by famous and apparently the wise men. "Ancipiti plus ferit ense gula." which meant "Gluttony slays more than the sword." for example had totally no meaning here. Incidentally she has figured out what this meant exactly and her teachers weren't any wiser. To say, translating proverbs to be perfectly sound was impossible and if this thing she had to translate was like that, then there was no hope at all. She looked at the next words. 'loqueris' this meants to 'speak', really this was mental. Basically so far the sentence meants 'and this speak' literally. She got angry this was so stupid.

The duchess looked at the rest of the text. 'Et cadent in terram.' which literally meant 'They fall to the ground' stupidly the whole thing was 'and this speak, they fall to the ground.' this was most likely another proverb? She will have to dissect the meaning. But in any case this sentence would still not make any sense at all. "The way to look beyond the trees" she paused "and through this mire" she paused again "And thus shalt" she stopped for the last time "They fall to the ground." this was all she could piece together so far. The mire meant some 'stretch of swampy or boggy ground'. The duchess would examine more until reaching to the conclusion of the text.

[Skulking Shinzu]

Rolls

+10, may the Latin be with you.
+7 SP

[Cacophony]

It was very apparent that the "Swain's" knowledge of Latin was very basic, and it was interesting watching Abumi read what she hadn't known. While she read out loud and in her head he was very near by watching her. Sitting down for about an hour or so he was sure she had to be close to an answer. He kept whispering the Latin and English to himself since he knew his magical circle abstracted sounds around it, and obstructed vision outside. Similar to a police interrogation mirrored window. "Is she still deciphering this? I know my Latin is bad but really?" He said to himself as he rubbed his chin inquisitively. The scroll had seemed older than it really was, in actuality, it couldn't have been over 100 years old, but it had appeared to be archaic. 

The scroll had talked literally about trees and mires, but there was only forested areas all around where Abumi could be trapped forever. Within that magical circle could be a nightmare, and the "swain" would personally know that for a fact. This time however, it was essential to his plans that Abumi hurried the hell out and kept on with the journey he had refused to inform her about. Stepping closer to the circle, he noticed something that was his very own mistake, and could be the reason his Latin had confused her. Not a single acorn on the ground within the circle, how could have forgotten the stupid acorn.

The pure force of the mysterious man's power had come from nature itself. Or rather, the nature of power had all come from the earth to begin with, his however, could effect anything that grows or flourishes in natural, non-man-made environments. This is why he had "lured" Abumi outside of Mo Village. Within the walls was humanity, the one thing he had no control over. With humanity comes intelligence and with intelligence came technology. As he walked up to the circle, it could surely pulsate and start to make an odd sound.  "I guess you can have a hint." He said through the enchanted orb restricting Abumi from doing more than read the scroll and guess. As he finished talking he threw an acorn into the circle for her to guess what to do. 

Walking away from the circle and sitting back where he was originally was made him impatient. No one was getting any younger in this situation, and if Abumi hadn't hurried and figured out what was needed of her, she could begin to become like the unknown man very soon.

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OOC: Yeah 7 SP Latin? >.> Lemme speed this up....

[Ancestor Febrie]

This was insane. she thought to the incredibly vague latin. She just couldn't figured out what else to do, trees, mires and such. Most of if not all the ground the barrier she was in was charred. She started to walk the perimeter, what made this different than the other non-effected area? With her skills in observation she stressed all of her senses, the sight, hearing, smell and all that to determine what was happening and what is going to happen. The duchess looked at the charred ground, what could have caused this? Then she remembered it could have been the ink, when the writing disappeared the ink simply scarred the land like a poison. Wait a minute, the person that sent her here was most likely responsible for killing the wildlife in here.

She thought some more about the latin text, she has not noticed the acorn for some time. When she did however, she would carefully approach the thing. It wasn't here earlier was it? she was simply skeptical about this, was she this non-observant? She had a long look at the acorn, trying to discern any oddities it might have, could be another trap. She then looked at the ground around it, nothing was strange to her, then she expended her gaze around the area. Hmmm. Could it be some sign? the duchess knew not how she could respond but thinking an acorn had something to do with this latin text. Trees, then mires. The bell rang in her head, what she should do was maybe plant this acorn. She quickly swiped the acorn as if the speed will let her avoid any traps set up for it.

She then looked for a patch of grass or anything that looked better than the all present charred land and dug a hole with one of her kunai. It was just a small hole but a deep one. She then placed the acorn into it, made sure it was the right way too with the possible root system pointing down. After that, the only other thing to do was put the ground back into the hole. She waited for something to happen, counted to six then began to circle the acorns resting place while reciting the latin text. She would try to do this at least another six times and if nothing happened the lady conjured some water using the skills passed down by her ancestors blood, she water was gathered from the atmosphere.

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125 SP Observation
Water Creation

[Cacophony]

The mysterious man watched in awe as Abumi quickly planted the seed and even watered it. It had never even occurred to him that someone would think to plant an acorn when it just drops into these circumstances. The acorn was intended to make contact with the scroll when he threw it in there, but she PLANTED IT. While he had not expected this to happen, he didn't think she would instantly assume that an acorn combined with a scroll would do much, but now it rests in the earth covered with moist soil. Even "The Swain had no idea at the next set of events that were slowly unfolding. First the earth began to shake causing him to fall over on his rear to watch the inevitable storm finish. While the circle had kept Abumi inside, it had kept the creator out side of it at all times. Similar to how normally the sun rises in the east while the moon sets in the western sky, it would normally force the caster and target to remain separated. This was the whole reason he had to leave the scroll in the room for Abumi, instead of just handing it to her. With all the situations that turned out the wrong way so far he had his doubts about her, but he already invested so much into his current plan that there was no time to try anything else.

While the ground quivered and quaked, the chakra inside the soil fused with the water and acorn. Normally, the acorn of an oak tree would normally take years to grow through time and careful thought. The acorn here had not been anything special, it was a normal acorn, but what made a world's difference was the soil and its unique property in this one tiny spot. Crimson rays of technicolor lights shone from beneath The Duchess' feet while vines quickly secured her position. The dirt slowly dropped from existence into a seemingly endless pit with the acorn gone. Replaced with a massive root of the tree but instead of growing upwards towards the sky, the plant grew downwards to reveal a path along the root. If you follow the root all the way down you will find yourself in an underground cavern too big to measure with numbers. The way it would look on first glimpse would make one believe that they are underneath the entire world. This was a close assumption but with dim to no lighting, and the stench of death and sewage around senses could be overload quickly without taking the proper means to prevent this.

Trying to go up and out now would prove useless as the protective seal around you still remains, only allowing you to venture into the pit. A journey of hours was ahead of you just to reach the bottom of the hole. At the top of the pit, "The Swain" would see this entire event unfold, unable to do anything now but wait out the seal blocking him from entering, and you from exiting. "Shit.... No telling where that will lead. She'll reach the other side of the world if I have to wait too long for this stupid seal to die out on its own." He spoke to himself as if someone were nearby to listen and give input on. Without much options, he pulled out an item from his bag and clutched it for a brief moment.....

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Chapter 2: Terra Forming

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OOC~!

Chapter Two begins with your post Abumi. Unless you have a way to tell true north while underground you may want to think of a way to find your way around this area. Going down is the only option until you are in the vast hollowed out underground area. Feel free to add to this part of the cave in your post if you want, the only rule is right behind the root from where you entered, is a wall you cant pass. The root is about 8 feet wide and able to hold you walking all the way down it. You also seemed to have been separated from the person who set this up.... Good Luck

[Ancestor Febrie]

The duchess took a few steps backwards once the ground began to shake and quake. Something was up, she thought and the acorn was responsible. If the acorn had not appeared there simply, she would have not gotten this to work, thought the Latin still eluded her. Why someone put those words in there about some mires and such, she did not know what to think of the person who gave her the scroll but for now she shall wait. The ground was opening up, the duchess did not dare getting closer until the ground shakes stopped completely but some vines got her. The red light was really uninviting, hostile at best too. The acorn tree she planted has started to grow at a rapid rate but it grew in reverse, normally you'd think a tree would grow upwards.

This tree grew downwards, the ground her opened up and the vines have already secured her position, she could not fall down, at least for now. The duchess would look around the hole and tree with her keen eyes, if there was anything peculiar she would most likely see it. All she could see was the dark and a path made by the vines. "I should probably go in right?" she asked herself and dropped a kunai on the ground before she began to climb down as she had nothing to use to light up the area. What she found out, was the caverns downstairs, exactly what she would expect by going down into the earth. When being down she would look around for any source of light. Then the smell hit her, the sewer smell and maybe even rotten flesh or the sorts.

She opened up her equipment and grabbed a gas mask, then put it on. "Much better." now that was more like it. She can now continue to explore the cavern, from her hearing she guessed the thing was really big, bigger than she first imagines and definitely wasn't as small as a building. There was almost no lighting, she walked around really carefully using the silver fan she carried as a walking stick. The duchess now looked like a blind person, using a fan like a cane to see if any obstacles were before her. Even in this dark, she was not entirely defenseless, the fan in her hand could be used to block an attack or a few most likely and she was prepared for that as well. She then remembered about her compass, a gyroscopic compass to be precise, it could definitely navigate her through this cavern. She even thought about maybe drawing a map of the area she already explored but did not have the tools for it.

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125 SP Observation
Gyroscopic compass should be able to work underground.

[ᖫᖭØMNÏᖫᖭ]

NOTE: This Epic will here by be GM'd by me for the time being. If the previous GM: Pax/Cacophony would like to continue please let me know. If I disappear do not be afraid to get another GM.

[ᖫᖭØMNÏᖫᖭ]

The Swain, examined this new occurrence with a sudden belief that he may have misinterpreted the idea of the acorn. He was skeptical that it mattered too much, but losing sight of this dear woman was not beneficial. Now he simply looked out of place with no motive. Not good. That acorn however was beneficial. In the sense that he could trust she had a way to navigate the cavern it lead to. A surreal encryption would make the process of finding out where they were going much easier, but he would digress. Perhaps kinetic learning is what these Mo types prefer. Not of much difference to him either way. He'd keep track of time. Looking into a pocket watch shortly. They had some breathing room. Which is well acquainted for Abumi to traverse this said cavern, and see what lies in its pitch black chamber.

Up north will be a single lantern. Hanging off a rugged wall with, a bent nail as its support. Around this wall were two ways of entry on either side. This cavern was but yet a path. One that can lead someone in many different angles only to get to the same center point if they choose in correctly. All it takes is a few trails to learn the pattern. But out of fear that this may lead to the cavern becoming crowded with dead husks, the makers left a sign. Although with the smell one can determine besides sewers, what else was down here. No reincarnated undead though; if that was your first idea. 

On the sign was a series of horribly etched words. In common luckily The sign in Latin was thrown out a while ago:

"Follow the lanterns, and meet the way out. Not without prize of course. Or, you may turn back and forget this cavern. If not, take in this heed of advice. When the light shines left. You turn Right. Then do the opposite of what you see from there. Always remember this. And if you see a lantern, and its flame is not lit. Do not run. Do not fear. Take it with you and hold on to it. Leaving it behind may prove harmful. If need be, there are some matches in the bucket below. Do not bother searching. There is only one pack."

And, if Abumi were to look the bucket indeed was there, but if she remembers only the lantern, wall, and sign were there before. Whether that is important is truthfully up to her. For now it is her choice on what she wants to do. Leave and acquire the swain? Or take on this seemingly simple task, and meet curiosity at its doorstep? Both lead to different outcomes that revolve around the same thing. Which one that benefits the most though. Is up to her. If considering the cavern.

The walls were as rough as any other aged craft. And yet. Sort of had a specific making to it. Under the light of the lantern she'd be able to see things in the diameter of what it lit, which was decent enough to catch details. However is one were to look down the two corridors they would notice. No light touches its ways. An incite of the See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil idea. However the five senses are actually all the more important down here. A least to stay out of trouble. Either way. One has to wonder. Who took the time to make this?

[Ancestor Febrie]

The woman looked around in her gas mask, the cave was dark however some light still reached from the top letting her see the compass and that lantern up north when she almost walked right into it. "Blasted!" that gave her a scare, her heart almost felt out of her chest. This cavern was smelly, the place dark and most of all it reeked of something bad, these were her first thoughts. Maybe it would be better if she brought some experts with her to this cavern, maybe a geologist would like to explore with a battalion of Mo guards? The duchess was seriously considering her options there, whoever gave her the instructions to this place did not seem to be here with her either.

If anything that person should be questioned about this cavern first. The cave ahead of the lantern was forking, there were two paths one could follow. "I see, one will probably lead to a different path than the other. Not a good idea to enter these alone, if anything two people should be the minimum for exploration." she considered this the only option now. Turning back and around there was a sign in common, not in latin thank god. She read every word of it, now that was confusing. Why was this sign in common and not latin like the scroll? The conclusion was that someone else must have made this, the person responsible for the scroll earlier was not the creator.

A lantern, a match and instructions to navigate this cavern. She was not sure if the sign should be trusted even, someone could have put this up to mislead the adventurers. Yes it was best to leave this cave this moment and come back later and more prepared. She backtracked her way towards the tree, it kind of reminded her of some fairy tail about a boy climbing up a tree to find giants but instead of a sky this was the underground. Maybe she would find dwarfs or gnomes in here, she joked while making her way up the tree. But before climbing up she dropped one of her special kunai with a certain marking at the cave entry, near the tree.

More light began to shine on her, the smell most likely would subside but taking no chances she still kept her gas mask on. After a while she would finally arrive back at the top. The landscape looked still the same to her, but glad she was up, she took out the gas mask and breathed in the fresh air. "Now this was better." now how to proceed? She could go right back to Mo and pull out a few guards with a geologist to accompany her making this an expedition. The woman would stand around the tree until she has decided what course she would take.

[ᖫᖭØMNÏᖫᖭ]

The cavern as crude, and unpleasant as it was; it wouldn't pull an nasty tricks or anything really. A pebble moved when her foot stepped near it. If that is scary enough. On the serious side of things this was it. She analyzed the area rather well, but there were more secrets that she had missed. Would she find them or would this geologist beat her to the punch? Who knows. All she Should realize that was different is that the Swain was not there. However that would not be the last time she saw him. Not for a long shot.

(OOC: I'm allowing these guards and such to come along with you. No problems. Have fuuuun )

[Ancestor Febrie]

While she was walking inside the cavern, she noticed a pebble moved when she stepped close to it. The duchess didn't think much of it, at that time her mind was rather thinking that was normal or that she accidentally kicked it. Coming out and back to Mo she has ordered a whole platoon of 16 Mo Guards plus 1 geologist to move out with her to this location with supplies and materials. Enough to build a solid perimeter around the entry to the underground. They were building small oval outposts, why was it oval? That was because they were to guard against anything coming near the hole and anything coming from it at the same time. In fact the perimeter was also circular, at a radius of 30m away from the hole. The outposts were mostly sandbags and supported a cammo matching the surrounding environment up top.

The 30m gave them enough range in order to shoot down anything that moved out from the hole. The soldiers began to clear any big rocks or really anything big to make a full cover, then they concentrated on the smaller covers. If it could not be removed to clear the line of sight, then they booby trapped it with mines. Anyone trying to get into cover would be blown up after stepping on one of the mines. Then they began to do the same with the area on the other side, the side that would try to get into the hole. They removed as much as they could and booby-trapped the rest, this side has created another 30m of clear shooting sight. She has left 1 special kunai at each outpost for quick traveling.

These Mo soldiers, were all very proficient with rifle crossbows, the whole platoon was easily able to shoot continuously on either side with their automatic reloading crossbows. There were 5 solid outposts by the end of the day, each having 2 soldiers stationed at. The other 6 were going with the Duchess and the geologist. While the army was building the fortifications, the geologist and the remaining guards entered the cavern to map the entrance. They dared not enter the fork yet. Having the geologist who was very verse in the caverns analyze the place. She had him read the sign, did he know anything about who built this place?

In any case the geologist would survey the rocks, the cave floor and walls thoroughly while the guards were guarding the vicinity and the duchess was always walking with the geologist. "So, what do you think? Should we trust what the sign says and follow its instructions?" she meant doing what it said with the lantern and such. She inclined going in with two guards, geologist and herself into the left fork while three guards were supposed to take the other route. Of course they brought hammer, nail and some rope with some more lanterns to mark their way back while going deeper. One guard would stay back at the entrance to serve as a communicating bridge between both teams and the surface.

"Should we go in then?" she asked when all preparations were finished. In case she forgot to leave 1 kunai behind at the entrance, she would now do so. Also each teams were wearing communications devices like walkies talkie to aid them. Both teams would sync their channels to the same one and tested its functionality before venturing inside the cave. The duchess took the matches from where the sign said it was, and lit the lantern with it. She followed the instructions to the T. But just in case each of her 16 soldiers and the geologist were also given one of her special kunai as a precaution.

OOC: Sorry for the wait, was pretty tired during the weekend.
Also wasn't sure what strength these NPCs can be so didn't spoiler that in but just in case they are master marksmen and demolitions experts. Some do have a few releases and tai styles like buredono.

[ᖫᖭØMNÏᖫᖭ]

All in the cavern would be the same except for that lone pebble. The walkies talkies would have a decent amount of reception down here to be use able. The preparations in general was very smart of them,and the geologist could help if they paid attention enough. In general it was up to them if they wanted to go or not. Nothing would have happened at all as they did their deeds. So in that sense they were free to make a decision. The cavern can only get as mysterious as they allow it to be..

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The NPCs are fine, I am allowing them to have all of that and they are completely under your control. So its all up to you Abumi. Short post as I don't have much else I want to add here. Kind of want to see where you go with this.

[Ancestor Febrie]

"Hmmm, the cave does look identical everywhere." she agreed with the geologists preliminary analysis. It was a good thing they marked their way as they were through the cave. All of this was on the suggestion of her geologist, he was a pretty professional guy as expected of an academic. The group went deeper and deeper into the cave, taking one of the paths, yet everything seemed to be pretty much the same as anywhere they went. There must be something that was different? Still even with knowing this they have not been able to pinpoint what it is and what should be done, it was one mystery.

The guards outside were looking/patrolling where they could, so far they haven't seen anything suspicious but that could change at any moment. It would have been better if they had more men with them who could also scout ahead but alas only this small contingent was sent here, an oversight maybe? One of the guards thought that having some aerial support such as eagle riders could have made it much better, unfortunately those here did not have any means to even fly. Still inside the cave, the duchess and her group have found nothing. The geologist was now beginning to survey the rocks, he had to pick one pebble on the ground to study it. "Hmm, seems like a run of the mill pebble." he nodded. Were there many pebbles around anyway?

OOC: Sorry, didn't know what to post much plus was a little busy.

[ᖫᖭØMNÏᖫᖭ]

(OOC: I apologize for he terrible post before. Anyway, if you get through this cavern challenge you will be lead to the rising action of your Epic. I promise it won't take long. Hopefully you'll have fun? )

So they decided to venture further in? Good. Would have been sad for the person who went through all he trouble to make those directions, and such if they were blatantly ignored. Wouldn't be the first time though oddly enough. Not that the would know that...yet. So for the main part of this the cavern didn't show much specialty. Everything in fact was very normal. Though now that they wen forward this is where the fun began. What kind of fun? Who knows? Certainly not them...[/p]

There in fact were rocks and pebbles, but they would not hold anything useful as for information. Could they be used for something else? That is for them to decide. After taking one of the identical paths what was waiting was a long corridor. Approximately ten meters deep. Enough room for three people to walk side by side each other. On the end was a T turn. One going left, and the other going right. A lantern would be hung up, on the wall straight ahead. However its flame was not lit. 

The walls were all the same, nothing different except nature aging of its material layers. Would they remember the rules that they sign told them? Maybe. With simple observation they would notice both turns hand a lantern that WAS lit on them. The right turn having one on the right wall. And the left turning having a lantern on the left wall. So, they would need to decide, which way to go. If or if not there was a right answer. If they should split up. Etc. All was up to them. If they went left the turn it lead too when right, which meant the opposite on the other side.

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OOC: Observation level for this sector: 25 

Order of events:

T Turn

1 unlit lantern on the wall right in front of them at the end of the 10 meter corridor.

Left turn would eventually lead right, and the right turn eventually leads left.

A lit lantern on both turns.