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Today is it. The final trial on your path to becoming official members of the Order of Dawn's Light. Over a year you have spent in training. Learning both the History, traditions, and goals of the Order. You have undergone training for both solo and team tactics, general aptitude drills with most weaponry and tutelage for any magical abilities you demonstrated as well as having your physical fitness honed through countless drills and exercises. You have learned of the goodly gods and their teachings, you have been taught basic survival skills... You have watched as nearly a third of those who joined alongside you quit. After you overcome this next test, you will for all purposes be members of the Order.
Today, you, along with the nearly 3 score of others are lead along by Aria Silvia through the Order's Temple HQ, you pass through its grand halls into the lower levels and tunnels branching out from its base as roots from a tree. Even after a year you cannot help but marvel at the beauty, craftsmanship, and opulence of the temple's architecture. Hall of carved stone and silver inlaid with gold trimming depicting a plethora of pictures, tokens, symbols and much more. Grand tapestries unfurl along nearly every wall, telling the tell of great heros, battles, and depicting the Order's valiant history. Golden Braziers with ever-burning oil cast a golden glow across all that enters their vicinity and create a cascade of flickering shadows along the tapestries along the edges of their illumination, causing the images therein to seemingly dance and move. Finally, the grand halls pass from view, and you find yourself in an incredibly large hand-hewn cavern, with fiery sconces lining the rock wall. Looking ahead, you see only the dark shadows of a tunnel leading further, and deeper, into the complex and confounding tunnels.
Here, Aria gives you the command to await orders before walking back the way you came. You are left waiting within an antechamber in the underplex of the Orders Fortress Temple with only those alongside you, the flickering shadows of the burning sconces.
After nearly 10 minutes of waiting, Drillmaster Ivan emerges.
Ivan cuts an imposing figure in his full plate, the thick plates so large one would wonder how the dwarf moves at all. He takes a glance over you all, before sounding out in his usual, extremely loud shouting.
ALRIGHT YE BLIMEY PEACH BEARDED DAFFODILS LISTEN UP!
His voices reverberates off the stone walls, making his voice louder, something many of you likely thought impossible.
YE FIRST TEST, SURVIVAL! THERE BE ONE ENTRANCE, AND ONE EXIT TO THESE CAVERNS, YE OBJECTIVE IS TO FIND THE EXIT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE! BE WARNED, THA CAVERN RUNS A WHOLE DAYS WORTH O' TRAVEL IF YE KNOW THE WAY! LIKELY MUCH LONGER TO THOSE THAT DON'T. EACH O' YE WILL BE GIVEN A MAGIC BELL, IF YE EVER FIND YE'SELF LOST, ALONE, AND WANTIN TO CRY LIKE A WEE UNBEARED BABE YE RING THAT BELL AND HELP WILL COME TO YE! THOSE O' YE THAT MAKE IT OUT WILL BE GRADED ON THE SPEED YE MADE IT OUT AND YE CONDITION. BE WARNED, ALL SORTS O' VARMITS MAKE THERE HOME IN THESE TUNNELS, NUTHIN YE YOUNGIN'S SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TE HANDLE THOUGH!.. OH! ALSO, YE ARE TO BE ALLOWED TO WORK IN GROUPS, OR GO SOLO! IF YE MAKE IT OUT SOLO YE WILL GET A BONUS TO YE FINAL SCORE! YE GOT AN HOUR TO PREPARE AN FORM ANY TEAMS YE BE WISHIN, NO MORE THAN 7 TO A TEAM! FORM YE TEAMS, OR ASSEMBLE YE GEAR AND WHEN THE BELL CHIMES, IT BE TIME TO ENTER THE TUNNELS! IF YE 'AVE ANY QUESTIONS, YE CAN ASK ME.
He moves to stand near the entrance to the tunnels. You quickly hear hushed whispers from the other recruits, some bragging about how they will be completing this challenge solo, others trying to form teams. All have an excited energy to them.
Ivan's shouting never failed to make Ardan jump. His head popped up, his back went straight, and his hooves clopped as the dwarf's voice reverberated.
The Centaur stood, from head to hoof, at six foot eight. Many people had the improper idea that centaurs were towering creatures that were literally half warhorse and half orc berserker. This was decidedly not the case. His torso was that of a man, with the same proportions. He wore the regalia of the Order, tabard and all. With the exception being, of course, that the leather greaves were replaced with leather barding.
And while his bottom half was that of a horse, it was certainly not like the heavy warhorses of a knight or the workhorses of a farm. Rather it was the lighter and slender variety of a wild horse found on the plains. While this meant that he certainly wasn't able to carry the weight of a man on his back, it did mean that he was actually able to do something like go into a cavern. Not that it would be comfortable. The idea of going underground filled him with apprehension.
"Sir Terrel." He said, looking down at his friend. "I think it would be wise to gather a team." He already had some people in mind. Sprig and Warren, of course, was first on the list. When it came to the martial pursuits of a knight, who was better among the assembled squires? Certainly neither were of the regal bloodlines of before the apocalypse, but their skills could not be gainsaid. And then there was Catherine, whose gun might as well have been magic to Ardan, given it's potency and mythical rarity. He glanced over at Vaelstar and Rena. He waived at them, hoping that they would come over. For a test like this, each had divine and arcane skills which would prove invaluable. Such was the group he wanted to form...he hoped that they would all agree. He had confidence that each could do this on their own, but he would rather have the highest chances of succeeding rather than the slimmest of hopes.
Terrel smiles, seeming happy that his friend thought to ask him to work together. The thought of going into the cavern by himself made his skin crawl."Yes, that's probably for the best. Terrel spoke in his characteristic whisper, barely audible over the sound of people bustling around. "The extra points for going solo is almost certainly outweighed by the danger. Then he looked around and spoke even quieter, such that Sir Ardan would have to lean in close to be able to hear,"In addition to the creatures, I do not trust all of our peers to not try and slow us down. The numbers that we have will deter ambush. If we're not going solo, who were you thinking to join us?
”A good question.” He ran down the list of whom he’d want on their team, pointing and making eye contact where possible, to see if they would get the hint and come over.
Warren stood at attention and listened as instructions were given. When Drillmaster Ivan finished he relaxed slightly. He began to look around to see who is looking to form a group. Being a man of the farm, Warren doesn't relish going in alone. He sees Sir Terrel and Sir Ardan seeming to be looking for others. He scans the crowd for Daniel Rose to see what he is doing as he walks toward the centar and his friend. Warren addresses both Sir Terrel and Sir Ardan, "I would be glad to join with you if you would like my sword with you. This cavern must be very uncomfortable for you Terrel. I'm a farm boy and would most definitely prefer a group to journey with." Warren nervously shifts his sword from hand to hand as he speaks and occasionally fingers a chakram or his dagger.
”Never quite understood this human obsession with where you’re from. You’re from a farm. That doesn’t make what you carry any less, or more, weight than if you’re from a line of heroes. No offense intended!” He hurriedly finished, realizing that he might have spoken out of line. ”What I mean to say, is that you’re skills are impressive enough that I’m glad to have you by on side based on that alone.”
Terrel nods emphatically in silent agreement with Sir Ardan, standing slightly behind the centaur, but he smiles at Warren, and holds out a hand to shake.
Warren shakes his head and says to the centaur, "You misunderstand me. I was saying in a round about way that I have as much experience as you do underground and probably dislike it almost as much as you." He then shakes Terrel's offered hand and walks over to Ardan and offers his, "No offense taken and glad to be with you."
Sprig, being only five feet tall, is easy to miss in a crowd. She also has a hard time finding anyone in the crowd as she looks about for Elizabeth. She didn't fancy her chances on her own, and knew that she'd wind up having to use the bell if she went at it solo.
But where is Lizzy? They'd gotten separated when they were lead here, mainly because Sprig had gotten distracted looking at some of the artwork on the way, and now the tiny squire was starting to feel the panic set in. It is hard not to call out, but she refuses to make her self seem like a little kid calling for their big sister. There are far too many who thought she'd lied about her age anyway. She can only imagine the snickers that will follow her everywhere if she does something that.
She never does see Sir Ardan before walking into him and knocking herself to the ground after bouncing off the centaur. She looks up, her cheeks already burning crimson.
"I-I'm so sorry! I was lookin' fo' Lizzy and not where I was goin'," She stammers in apology as gets to her feet.
Vale listened intently while the drillmaster barked his orders. His brother had told him of this part, and what to expect. 'This is the day I have prepared for. This is the moment I have trained my body for. This is the hour I hsve honed my mind for. Now begins the trial that would lead me in the footsteps of my brother and my father before me. True, I enter them as a priest of the Dawnflower rather than a sword and shield, but I will serve the Order all the same.'
Cracking his back, tightening his belt, and adjusting the pack on his shoulders, Vale looks around the crowded space. It is when his eyes find the centaur Ardan, waving his hand at him, that Vale sets off in his direction. Hurrying over, only the observant would notice the subtle hitch in his step. It had been years since it had faded from a limo, but there would always be something just a little off to his gate. Not enough to slow him, of course.
A subtle smile on his face, Vale reaches the others."It is good to see you all, and I am glad we have the chance to work as a team. So many of the trials are faced as individuals, but once out in the world, we will always have each other, the knights of the Order, at our side. So we begin now today. Trust in each other, and we will make it through. With the Dawnflower's blessing, I am happy to light the way."
"This is it Rhiannon" Rena mutters to her familiar, who (predictably) says nothing. Rhiannon hadn't been able to say a word to her since the ritual, but Rene was already thinking ahead, trying to see if she could research a spell that could bypass that inconvenience. At best, they could communicate via feelings, and right now, Rena felt her friends satisfaction as to how far they had come.
Spotting Ardan waving in her general direction, and a group already forming, Rene heads over, trying to sidestep people running this way and that, forming groups or trying to get into the best possible starting position. She shoulders her backpack and nods to everyone as she arrives. "Nice to meet you all once again. I'll be happy to join up with you guys. Rhiannon could make for an excellent scout and some of my magic might prove useful down here" she offers by way of options she brings to the table.
Ardan reached down to help Sprig get back to her feet. ”It seems like we have quite the group forming. I’m certain that together we will overcome whatever challenge is thrown our way.”
Catherine was eager to get through the day of trial.
Having chatted up with her friend Victoria the day before, both of them came in good spirits.
While Catherine would enjoy teaming up, Victoria was already on the other side of the room, teaming up with others.
Catherine shrugged, and looked over to see anyone she knew already.
The others getting together, she headed over towards Sir Ardan and Sprig, catching part of the talking.
"Morning Sprig, Ardan.", she says with a smile.
"Eh Sprig, i think your friend said something about forgetting something she needed to pick up real quick. Probably something she forgot to bring along."
"Hey Spring!" whispered Terrel. He also reached down to offer her a hand, but was a second behind Ardan. "If there's no difference between 2 and 3 to a group, we should see if we can get the full 7. And we seem to have it."
With an obvious effort Terrel raises his voice and addresses the whole group, "It is my honor to work with you all, and I wouldn't have any other group beside me. I hope to be worthy of the trust and spot that I take in our band, and I expect the same from each of you." Then he slumps back down, and sort of deflates, this speech seemingly taking a lot out of him.
"'Ey Rena. 'Ey Catey," Sprigs says to the two newcomers as Ardan and Terrel help her to her feet. "I 'ope Lizzy ain't lookin' fo' me. We got separated on the way 'ere."
She looks around and sighs, even if Elizabeth did show up, there were already six in the group, and if she joined or if Elizabeth joined, the group would be full.
"Sir Terrel," she says as she looks to the man she had followed and watched paint when she could, though she dearly hoped he never knew that, "Sounds like yer includin' me in that seven. I guess it'd be rude o' me to turn ye down after ye helped me to m'feet. I know Rena and Catey and you and Sir Ardan, but I'm not really familiar with yer friends o'er there."
She points to Valestar and Warren and hoped that they didn't recognize her. The truth was, she'd forgotten their names, though she had taken several classes with them.
But again, she prayed that they didn't know that.
Looking back to Sir Terrel, she frowns.
"Are ye feelin' alright," she asks him in a soft whisper that he can barely hear above the rest of the noise in the cavern.
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"Just trying to live up to expectations," he says with a slightly strained smile.
"Yers or someone else's," she asks before shaking her head. "Sorry, I shouldn't be pryin'. It ain't me place."
In response to Sprig's concern,
"Nah, she'd have said so if that were the case, i reckon.
Funniest thing'd be, looking at groups getting formed, is if she'd get into a team with Vicky."
Victoria was as good a friend to Catherine, as Elizabeth was to Sprig.
Is it okay for Catherine to have one crude clockwork puppet in her pack?
It's the size of a coffee mug.
William nods to Sprig, "The names Connery, Warren Connery. We were in the Shaken not Stirred class for potions. I just don't have the head for that stuff. I'll just stick with my sword here."
"That would be somethin'," Sprig chuckles before finally placing Warren's face.
"Ye weren't the one nearly turned the tower into rubble were ye," she asks, remembering the day a little too clearly for her tastes. She'd never had her life flash before her eyes, and she hoped she wouldn't ever repeat the experience.
Warren pauses and blushes, "Guilty as charged. I was excused from that class after that incident. I know how to use a potion, I'll just never be making them. Give me sheep to shear or cows to milk and I'll be fine. I'm just glad I didn't cause any permanent damage to anyone or anything."
"Oh, that's what happened t'ye. I'd heard all sorts o' rumors. Me favorite was the one about the grue," Sprig says as she grins. "Shame ye missed Lizzy an' I turnin' half the class purple an' blue a couple o' weeks after that. I thought we'd be tossed out fo' sure after that."
"That was your doing?", Catherine faintly smiles.
"Good thing grue isn't my kind of drink."
After having time to discuss and prepare. You all hear a distant, yet close, chime of a bell. Seconds later Ivan's voice rings out through the tunnels.
ALRIGHT, TIME TA' START THE TEST! YOU! GET YOUR GROUP AN' 'EAD ON IN! He points to another recruit. The more socially inclined among you may know him as Sebastian Krout. An earnest, if easily flustered lad. He gives a small eep before saluting and making his way toward the tunnel with two others.
ALRIGHT, NEXT GROUP, UP IN TEN MINUTES! YE CAN VOLUNTEER, OR YE CAN BE CALLED! He gives a glance around the room waiting for any volunteers after the initial group.
"That would be us." Ardan said, doing his best to show confidence. It was clear that they were going in whether they volunteered or not, so what was the point of waiting and looking cowardly? Best to just get it over with.
An exotically clothed man in an open chested vest of silken red and black patterns and a large feathered had walks ups. His boots clicking on the hard stone. You all would know him as Dartaniel, or, Dart, as he prefers. He shouts over Sir Ardan, drawing everyone's attention.
Hah, is this all?! He gives a sweeping smile to everyone, enjoying as always being the center of attention. This is too easy! I'll be out of these tunnels within the day. Whats more, I'll do it alone. Don't want rumors going around I had to rely on the headmasters son to make it through after all. He gives a quick sly grin towards Daniel and another figure nearby before continuing. But don't you worry my fellows, and, especially my ladies. I'll be waiting at the end with a smile to brighten your moods after you finally manage to make it through. He turns and gives a scan of the other recruits before his eyes fall on...
Catherine, who he gives a wink to before, at the sound of another bell, he boldly strides into the dark tunnel.
Before your group enters, a man wearing finely polished full plate followed by a pouting female in a leather coat and a scarf approach you. The man takes his helmet off and you realize it is Daniel, son of the headmaster.
He looks to the ground as he speaks.
If you are planning to be the group to go after Dart, please. If you can, please try to keep an eye out for him. The test is not something to be taken lightly, and he always has had a tendency to find trouble where none should be. While deaths are an extremely rare occurrence, they have happened before... Finally he looks up to you all.
I know it seems odd to worry, but, I just don't want anything to happen is all.
The girl behind Daniel, still pouting, mutters.
Hmph, He'll get what he deserves. Besides, he clearly doesn't think he needs anyone helps. She doesn't look at anyone as she talks, merely off to the side.
Her comment draws a look of mild exasperation from Daniel.
Sprig blushes as she learns some of her handiwork has preceded her.
"Yeah, not our finest moment," she says with a nervous giggle.
She keeps quiet as Ivan calls out the first group and Ardan volunteers them to be next. She has a brief moment of panic when Dart looks their way, not really knowing how to handle the flamboyant man. She is of half a mind to do as Amelia suggests and leave him to whatever fate he finds, but she can't ignore Daniel's plea nor his worry. She wonders what she would feel like if it had been her asking for help for Elizabeth and they turned her down.
"We 'ave to try don't we," she asks the others softly. "Ain't that why we're 'ere?"
"Indeed. If Dart does find himself in trouble, and we are able to help, I at least wouldn't be able to call myself a knight of the order." Sir Terrel says this while standing at his full height, instead of slouching, and without his trademark whisper, and without any pause. Then he seems to become more aware of himself again, and says quietly, as he slumps back down, "At least, that's my vote."
Ardan nodded. ”When he is older the memory of his often he embarrassed himself will be a price high enough. It would be churlish of us to wish him physical harm on top of that.”
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The flirting of Dart towards her is ineffective on Catherine, who is offset by the behavior.
If anything, he's skilled at making a fool of himself.
Warren nods to Daniel "We'll keep our eyes open for him. We wouldn't want all the ladies in morning in town."
Vale slowly walks up to Daniel, "All who aspire to join the Order deserve the chance to be seen in their own light, thus is Dart's choice. We will keep an eye out for him, and should he need it, I will offer the Dawnflower's blessing upon him to get him back on his feet."
"I don't think its quite that Amelia" Rena reflects softly, watching Dart strut away. "I think he just wants to impress to look strong, attractive, self sufficient, so he puts on a brave face or show and it comes across as arrogance". The wizard considers things for a moment longer before shrugging "Thats just how I see it anyway. It shouldn't stop us lending him a hand if he falls into trouble anyway - I suspect the final test isn't as simple as it looks."
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Daniel gives a sigh of relief and the girl only gives a quick glance Rena's way before they return to the waiting line.
At the chime of the bell, you progress into the dark tunnel. Those without darkvision will need a light source to see anything at all. As you walk, the hard, stone floor gives way to loose dirt littered with rocks and pebbles.
Eventually, you come to a branch off, one tunnel on either side of the main tunnel you have been following. Which path do you follow?
The centaur’s skills, honed from a life roaming the plains and hunting, came into play. ”Look here. A singular set of tracks leading down the left tunnel, and another three sets leading on down the middle tunnel. There is a small draft of air coming from the right branching tunnel. I would take the right, just to get out of this darkness as soon as possible.”
Warren stands next to Ardan and looks at the ground. He then says "It looks like the way out of here is to the right but I think Dart went left. Do we do what is best for us or follow Dart? Was are promise to look after him or assist him if we came upon him in need?"
Hearing Warren's questions, Catherine ponders it for a few seconds.
"Daniel asked for us to keep an eye out for him.
I think it safe to assume we prevent an unexpected death. Other than that, we were free to venture as preferred, at least that is the impression i got."
"We promised to aid him if he was in need and we came across him. Nothing more, nothing less. He is not a child that we must baby. We should stay focused on what we came here to do." Ardan said. He wasn't keen on the idea of spending more time below ground babysitting a grown man, but he understood the argument to do so.
"Are we really keepin' an eye out fo' 'im if we know 'e went one way an' we choose t'go somewheres else," she asks the others.
Terrel looks back and forth between Sprig and Ardan, trying to make up his mind. "We should make up our minds quickly; if we do decide to go after him, he's getting further from us by the minute. I think following him might be the right thing to do, but I don't know if it's the correct one.
Rena peers into the darkness and tsks slightly. Concentrating, she mutters a word, and four swirling lights appear, lighting up the immediate area. "There, that should help us see much better in the darkness. As for Dart, I'm a big believer in choosing your own fate. If he wants to go off on his own, then he can, and he can learn from that experience. I'm all for helping if he runs into trouble, but he doesn't need someone like me chasing after him like I'm his mother" she sighs slightly, before inspecting the tunnel.
Unable to find anything, she shrugs. "If you think that the right is best, because you can feel cool air behind it, then I'm happy to go for it. Before we do though, just let me try something - this is sort of a race after all."
Twisting slightly, Rena hunts around in her back, methodically searching, before pulling out a piece of chalk, which she uses to scratch a mark on the left hand tunnel.
"There, now hopefully some people will think the mark on the tunnel means a path that someone else took and they might be inclined to follow it...which would put them on the same tunnel as Dart so hopefully someone runs into him if he gets into trouble. If not - at least we marked the tunnel he took so that if someone needs to find him they have a starting point. Now, hold your noses everyone."
At this, Rena casts presdigitation onto several rocks on the right hand tunnel, trying to invoke the stench of decay. "Its not pleasant, but hopefully it puts off people taking this tunnel and instead picking an alternative route." she explains, before nodding at Rhiannon. [b]"Lets go."[/ooc]
Ardan marveled at Rena's intelligence. Her words were remarkably precise and her actions swift. He understood why the Order had taken her, even when he had come in thinking that people like Dart were what they were looking for.
"I have to agree with Rena here, and I think that this should be sufficient." That and these tunnels are so dark and oppressive he thought, somewhat unhappily. It felt unnatural to be underground.
Sprig's nose scrunches up as she catches a whiff of the smell that Rena had conjured. She quickly covers her nose with her cloak as her eyes water.
"Couldn't ye 'ave made it smell like cookies instead," she asks the wizard before looking back at the passageway Dart had taken. She finds it difficult to turn away, but reminding herself that the others were right about him being a grown man and that she has her own job to do finally lets her turn and take the lead, moving ahead several strides to better see what lay ahead and to hopefully see any threats before they notices the others.
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You carefully make your way down the path. Slowly, you begin to feel the path decline further into the earth. You march in eerie silence for over an hour. Finally, every notices the faint breeze every so often.
As you progress further, the air begins to dampen, and you begin to hear the sound of rushing water. A lot, of rushing water.
Those who investigate discover a large cavern, nearly 100ft wide with a ceiling none of you can see. You also see a large waterfall falling from seemingly from darkness, save for a tiny little light far up and away, into a huge underground river, easily 20ft wide, that rushes with white waters. Following it to the end of the cavern it runs into the far wall, rushing deeper into the ground. You see another tunnel entrance on the far side of the river.