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It's a swamp. A wet, marshy, dank, miserable swamp, wreathed in thick, drifting patches of cold fog. While there is solid ground here and there, a single unlucky step in the wrong direction could see you sinking waist-deep into gross swamp water.
Frogs bellow and insects buzz, and from time to time you might notice something a little … unsettling. Glowing eyes in a patch of shadow; a sinuous ripple of Something beneath the otherwise still water; a long, low gurgle …
On Square 11, just before murky swamplands transitions into a spring forest in full bloom, you find a rope-bridge … on a dauntingly steep but not completely unreasonable incline. Good thing it looks sturdy! If you're lucky enough to stop on this square, you may choose to take this shortcut instead of continuing on.
Frogs bellow and insects buzz, and from time to time you might notice something a little … unsettling. Glowing eyes in a patch of shadow; a sinuous ripple of Something beneath the otherwise still water; a long, low gurgle …
On Square 11, just before murky swamplands transitions into a spring forest in full bloom, you find a rope-bridge … on a dauntingly steep but not completely unreasonable incline. Good thing it looks sturdy! If you're lucky enough to stop on this square, you may choose to take this shortcut instead of continuing on.
The ground rises gently, and as it does, a verdant forest springs up around you. The ground is solid but springy beneath your feet, and a huge variety of colourful flowers bloom all around you. Bright sunlight filters through the canopy. The warm, pleasantly scented air is probably a relief after the swamp.
Square 17 marks the beginning of a steep hill, cresting at Square 20, where you'll find the other end of the rope bridge you saw earlier. By the time you reach Square 21, the trees are starting to thin, going from lush, dense forest to steadily more scraggly woodlands.
Square 17 marks the beginning of a steep hill, cresting at Square 20, where you'll find the other end of the rope bridge you saw earlier. By the time you reach Square 21, the trees are starting to thin, going from lush, dense forest to steadily more scraggly woodlands.
As you emerge from the trees out into the bottom of a magnificent canyon, the air goes from "warm" and "pleasant" to … "wow I sure am in a desert" and "yikes why is the sun so bright". Here and there you may find some cute cacti or patches of hardy desert shrubs, or skeletons of long-dead creatures. There's a few small ridges you'll need to scramble over as you make your way forward, but overall this section is fairly level.
Square 27 is an interesting one, in that it's a huge skeletal spine laying across a ravine with a river rushing down below. It looks like there used to be a bridge, but, uh. Not anymore. Anyone just scampering along the spine will be fine, but those who have to roll here may be in for an Interesting Time.
Square 27 is an interesting one, in that it's a huge skeletal spine laying across a ravine with a river rushing down below. It looks like there used to be a bridge, but, uh. Not anymore. Anyone just scampering along the spine will be fine, but those who have to roll here may be in for an Interesting Time.
The canyon widens out into the foothills of a miniature mountain range. The sun has disappeared behind roiling dark clouds, and the temperature has dropped significantly. It feels like it could snow at any moment.
There's a steep drop to the west of Square 34 — if you look down, you can see the river from the canyon. Square 35 is a steep, icy staircase leading up into the mountain proper. From there, it's a wintery trail along winding paths, peaking at Square 40. The descent on the other side is rapid, except for Square 42, which is a short but very, very, very dark tunnel.
There's a steep drop to the west of Square 34 — if you look down, you can see the river from the canyon. Square 35 is a steep, icy staircase leading up into the mountain proper. From there, it's a wintery trail along winding paths, peaking at Square 40. The descent on the other side is rapid, except for Square 42, which is a short but very, very, very dark tunnel.
You've made it through the mountain range! Heck yes! The weather out here is (mostly) mild but drizzly, and the terrain is pleasantly flat and grassy. All that's left is to follow the cobbled country road to and through the town. By Square 48 you'll have reached the town proper — it's pretty and quaint, and seems almost abandoned except for the occasional cat or dog.
Just … watch out around Square 52. The ancient mine shaft may have been paved over, but the workmanship was a little on the shoddy side …
Just … watch out around Square 52. The ancient mine shaft may have been paved over, but the workmanship was a little on the shoddy side …
...This feels like a wish granted, but only in an ironic twist...
[Shaking their head a little before looking to the others.]
Well? What should we do?
[Shaking their head a little before looking to the others.]
Well? What should we do?
Edited 2021-10-23 19:04 (UTC)
...exploring, huh.
It seems like there's only one way through.
It seems like there's only one way through.
We just need someone to roll a die, right?
I'm a little wary of trying to go anywhere, actually.
[Hahaha what is that in the water???]
Though... we might have to. I just can't decide if it's safer to or not.
[Hahaha what is that in the water???]
Though... we might have to. I just can't decide if it's safer to or not.
Do we have to go anywhere?
...I wouldn't say I think I'm that lucky, though.
...I wouldn't say I think I'm that lucky, though.
In theory we could just stay here the whole time, but I'm assuming that means a guaranteed loss. Unless it turns out there isn't a punishment at the end other than whatever is found on the road...
And chances of that are...? [he is also here.]
It is one of those games, I suppose. It involves exploring and we're probably encouraged to do so. The last time I played a game like this I got eaten by a giant sea monster.
[It was all very disappointing. She had been without the rest of the unit too.]
[It was all very disappointing. She had been without the rest of the unit too.]
I think that's what they usually do to "encourage" people to play, but Ren or Pink would know better than me.
I absolutely do not want to be eaten by a giant sea monster. I'd need a lot of encouragement to risk getting eaten by a giant sea monster.
And let me guess, punishment is more death.
It wasn't fun, I can tell you that much. What if there's a swamp monster out there?
[Sigh.]
I vote we stay put.
[Sigh.]
I vote we stay put.
Or other inconvenient things that aren't easily healed, like turning into glass that's easily shattered by moving.
[Looking around a little in case they can loot things but finding nothing due to getting an 8.]
[Looking around a little in case they can loot things but finding nothing due to getting an 8.]
I guess we can wait and see if anything happens...
[ scrounging around with Adaptability 13 ]
[ scrounging around with Adaptability 13 ]
Seriously? Just got over the dolljoints....
Then again, we still got stuck with that even when we won that game, so I suppose either way we might end up with strange effects like that.
Seriously? Punishments even if people win? What kind of system is that?
[putting on the exposition hat]
There's several ways we can be punished for not engaging with a game. Sometimes it's just that the game itself will have rules that hurt ya if ya try 'n get around it. Sometimes if ya throw a game or flaunt the rules and die doin' it, ya get sent straight ta The Mother of Monsters--a title for a death demon I'm not gonna invoke here. She's the one people get sent to if people die outside a game and we don't get ta them ta revive 'em first. Trauma 'n corruption or possibly risk of eternal servitude ensue.
Not participating in a game isn't always punished though... Sometimes they give ya the option ta abstain, if ya look at the rules. A lotta times if the rules mention ways ya get punished for not engaging, that's technically just layin' out the consequences you can expect if ya make that choice, 'n so on. It can depend on the host.
There's several ways we can be punished for not engaging with a game. Sometimes it's just that the game itself will have rules that hurt ya if ya try 'n get around it. Sometimes if ya throw a game or flaunt the rules and die doin' it, ya get sent straight ta The Mother of Monsters--a title for a death demon I'm not gonna invoke here. She's the one people get sent to if people die outside a game and we don't get ta them ta revive 'em first. Trauma 'n corruption or possibly risk of eternal servitude ensue.
Not participating in a game isn't always punished though... Sometimes they give ya the option ta abstain, if ya look at the rules. A lotta times if the rules mention ways ya get punished for not engaging, that's technically just layin' out the consequences you can expect if ya make that choice, 'n so on. It can depend on the host.
Edited 2021-10-23 19:32 (UTC)
Host, like—that annoying blonde guy?
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