"Who thought this was a good idea?" Rictus stepped back and angrily glared at a tree. Except, this tree was very peculiar: It was upside-down, Its leaves spreading through the soil beneath him and its roots reaching towards the sky as if they belonged there.
"And to think this happened to an entire forest before..."
Entry #47,990: I think I've gotten closer to this Avelyn character. The clues she leave's behind, however, are criminally vague. Gods, even finding this tree was difficult enough. And you'd think it wouldn't be... "The oak that stands on its head." Actually, it's a lot less complicated now that I see what she means.
Rictus ended the scribble-fest in his notebook and continued on a near invisible path engraved in the soil under his feet.
"Whoever you are, Avelyn, this'd better be worth the three weeks i've given it..."
"And to think this happened to an entire forest before..."
Entry #47,990: I think I've gotten closer to this Avelyn character. The clues she leave's behind, however, are criminally vague. Gods, even finding this tree was difficult enough. And you'd think it wouldn't be... "The oak that stands on its head." Actually, it's a lot less complicated now that I see what she means.
Rictus ended the scribble-fest in his notebook and continued on a near invisible path engraved in the soil under his feet.
"Whoever you are, Avelyn, this'd better be worth the three weeks i've given it..."
After following his pseudo-directionless pathway, Rictus finally sits down on a nearby tree stump, pulls a tattered notebook from a worn satchel over his shoulder and begins writing once again.
Entry 47,940-47,990 RECAP: As of late, I have been recieving cryptic notes from an elusive "Avelyn". Her handwriting would lead me to believe that she has an Elven lineage, though her mannerisms depict a much more.. vulgar species.
Being the wonderful person I am, I -- Rictus Caemorin of Glencreek -- decided to follow another adventure and solve these clues. Unfortunately, they have been much more challenging than I anticipated. Fortunately, a challenge is a very appreciated change of pace for me.
However, there is one little caviat: I'm not the only one solving these. It may be paranoia from my newfound onsetting insanity, but I swear I've been being followed by shadows in my peripherals, and I've seen the most suspicious signs as of late. Well, that and Avelyn said to me "You're not the only one solving these."
Regardless, I truly do wish that there's something very, VERY interesting at the end of this goose chase, and perhaps I could run into someone else chasing this same goose. At least we could be fools together.
Rictus, noticing the darkening of the day, hastily returns his notebook to its designation and returns to the twisting path through the forest.
Entry 47,940-47,990 RECAP: As of late, I have been recieving cryptic notes from an elusive "Avelyn". Her handwriting would lead me to believe that she has an Elven lineage, though her mannerisms depict a much more.. vulgar species.
Being the wonderful person I am, I -- Rictus Caemorin of Glencreek -- decided to follow another adventure and solve these clues. Unfortunately, they have been much more challenging than I anticipated. Fortunately, a challenge is a very appreciated change of pace for me.
However, there is one little caviat: I'm not the only one solving these. It may be paranoia from my newfound onsetting insanity, but I swear I've been being followed by shadows in my peripherals, and I've seen the most suspicious signs as of late. Well, that and Avelyn said to me "You're not the only one solving these."
Regardless, I truly do wish that there's something very, VERY interesting at the end of this goose chase, and perhaps I could run into someone else chasing this same goose. At least we could be fools together.
Rictus, noticing the darkening of the day, hastily returns his notebook to its designation and returns to the twisting path through the forest.
(Mind if I join this?)
Not too far from the path, but secluded in overgrowth and close-knit trees lies a hidden burial tomb, long forgotten by the people of the land. With it's path onto the twisting road hidden from view in undergrowth. The structure is a stone building half-buried in the ground, with a large, sealed-off doorway.
Inside the dark tomb are multiple ornate coffins, both standing upright and laying on the floor. As well as a large wolven "gargoyle" surrounded by piles of worn books in the middle of it, that looks as if it was sleeping. But it is no mere gargoyle. Furorem's eyes and heart spark to life once more, after resting from an adventure long ago. Sadly, he wouldn't be able to remember most of the details, but he wakes up nonetheless.
He gets up from off the ground, giving the place a slight rumble as he growls into existence. Seeing the books everywhere tells him he must of woken up to get more stories multiple times during his long nap. Eh, whatever. Doesn't matter now anyways, they're all in poor condition. Too bad he doesn't have a pack or pockets.
He smashes open the doorway, and heads out of the tomb. Slashing his way through undergrowth and trees while doing so, trying to get back to the main road.
Not too far from the path, but secluded in overgrowth and close-knit trees lies a hidden burial tomb, long forgotten by the people of the land. With it's path onto the twisting road hidden from view in undergrowth. The structure is a stone building half-buried in the ground, with a large, sealed-off doorway.
Inside the dark tomb are multiple ornate coffins, both standing upright and laying on the floor. As well as a large wolven "gargoyle" surrounded by piles of worn books in the middle of it, that looks as if it was sleeping. But it is no mere gargoyle. Furorem's eyes and heart spark to life once more, after resting from an adventure long ago. Sadly, he wouldn't be able to remember most of the details, but he wakes up nonetheless.
He gets up from off the ground, giving the place a slight rumble as he growls into existence. Seeing the books everywhere tells him he must of woken up to get more stories multiple times during his long nap. Eh, whatever. Doesn't matter now anyways, they're all in poor condition. Too bad he doesn't have a pack or pockets.
He smashes open the doorway, and heads out of the tomb. Slashing his way through undergrowth and trees while doing so, trying to get back to the main road.
(No problem; everyone's welcome!)
Entry 47,991: The sky has gotten a bit brighter now. Perhaps Lady Luck has been watching over me? It seems near impossible that I found near no trouble in a place like this.
I ate a sandwich with some meat I packed and herbs around here. It was alright. I mean, sure I can't see certain colors anymo
Rictus stopped writing, startled by a faint grinding of stone to his distant right. He felt conflicted for a moment, for he knew that there must be a time limit for this mystery. Either he could turn around, explore the noise, and upset one elf-orc, or continue on the path and have plenty of time to unveil these newfound secrets.
"Well, there's still the chance that she doesn't even exist, and this is all in jest. I suppose a few minutes of exploration here wouldn't mind..."
Rictus returns his notebook to his satchel, turns around, and backtracks through the forest, hoping to find the source of that startling grind.
Entry 47,991: The sky has gotten a bit brighter now. Perhaps Lady Luck has been watching over me? It seems near impossible that I found near no trouble in a place like this.
I ate a sandwich with some meat I packed and herbs around here. It was alright. I mean, sure I can't see certain colors anymo
Rictus stopped writing, startled by a faint grinding of stone to his distant right. He felt conflicted for a moment, for he knew that there must be a time limit for this mystery. Either he could turn around, explore the noise, and upset one elf-orc, or continue on the path and have plenty of time to unveil these newfound secrets.
"Well, there's still the chance that she doesn't even exist, and this is all in jest. I suppose a few minutes of exploration here wouldn't mind..."
Rictus returns his notebook to his satchel, turns around, and backtracks through the forest, hoping to find the source of that startling grind.
The golem continues making it's way through the forest, with the snapping of trees and clearing of overgrowth accompanying him. He was practically making a pathway back to the tomb by himself. After quite a few moments of making a racket, he finally found himself on the road, with slashed trees and cut vines littering the ground behind him.
Too bad he doesn't remember which way town is. He'll just look at the forest trying to determine landmarks while walking down it, until some traveler walks up on him and scurries back to the nearest town so that he can follow them.
Too bad he doesn't remember which way town is. He'll just look at the forest trying to determine landmarks while walking down it, until some traveler walks up on him and scurries back to the nearest town so that he can follow them.
After some time of backtracking, Rictus returns to the warped tree he had discovered earlier, with no sign of whatever had made that noise.
This is insane, he thought. What if I'm simply chasing birds? No, birds couldn't make a sound like that, no matter what size. Well, maybe some sizes could.
Going against his good will, Rictus began down the path he took leading up to the tree, looking both ways for anything peculiar, and stopped.
To his left stood a stone crypt, drizzled in vines and painted with enough moss to make its own organism. Only, its stone cover had been cracked open from the inside.
"Whatever did this must've been in here for a reason. And for some time, too. We must be dealing with an ancient beast of admirable--"
Rictus made an abrupt pause. He just noticed the brown prints at his feet, leading all the way towards the hidden trail he himself had been following.
Do they know? Are they seeking the same woman, or are they simply coincidentally crossing paths? A shrill thought ran across his mind:
What if they heard me?
Rictus reluctantly began following the tracks before him. "If they are seeking this same treasure, then I suppose the risk could very well outweigh the reward."
And so he went forward, making a full circle back to where he began and potentially wasting more time.
This is insane, he thought. What if I'm simply chasing birds? No, birds couldn't make a sound like that, no matter what size. Well, maybe some sizes could.
Going against his good will, Rictus began down the path he took leading up to the tree, looking both ways for anything peculiar, and stopped.
To his left stood a stone crypt, drizzled in vines and painted with enough moss to make its own organism. Only, its stone cover had been cracked open from the inside.
"Whatever did this must've been in here for a reason. And for some time, too. We must be dealing with an ancient beast of admirable--"
Rictus made an abrupt pause. He just noticed the brown prints at his feet, leading all the way towards the hidden trail he himself had been following.
Do they know? Are they seeking the same woman, or are they simply coincidentally crossing paths? A shrill thought ran across his mind:
What if they heard me?
Rictus reluctantly began following the tracks before him. "If they are seeking this same treasure, then I suppose the risk could very well outweigh the reward."
And so he went forward, making a full circle back to where he began and potentially wasting more time.
Furorem had been walking for some time, making faint prints down the road. "...Nothing so far." There had been nearly no landmarks along the road, and the few that were there didn't look like anything he remembered. Had some villagers moved him again while he slept? Surely not, he was in the same tomb as before, it had just been sealed.
Eventually, he found an old-looking shack down the road. It looking like it hasn't been lived in ages, he walked over to it and opened the door, and stuck his head inside. He wasn't THAT big, but he wouldn't be able to fit in there nonetheless. He spotted old worn furniture, a large pot, chairs... and an old bookshelf. A old bookshelf with books in it! Perfect! Surely there must be an atlas or something in there, right? Even if there isn't, he can just wait around and read until a traveler catches eye of him.
He reaches inside and pulls out a pile of dusty books. He plops himself down onto the ground and begins flipping through them.
Eventually, he found an old-looking shack down the road. It looking like it hasn't been lived in ages, he walked over to it and opened the door, and stuck his head inside. He wasn't THAT big, but he wouldn't be able to fit in there nonetheless. He spotted old worn furniture, a large pot, chairs... and an old bookshelf. A old bookshelf with books in it! Perfect! Surely there must be an atlas or something in there, right? Even if there isn't, he can just wait around and read until a traveler catches eye of him.
He reaches inside and pulls out a pile of dusty books. He plops himself down onto the ground and begins flipping through them.
Nearing the end of the trail of massive footprints, Rictus began to grow weary; he hadn't rested since the last tavern he had visited and that had to have been ages ago. With heavy eyes, he began to pass more time by writing into his journal, though the lack of sunlight made things difficult to see.
Entry 47,992: I have been making progress with this mystery. The mystery that I've been solving. For a. Time. Gods, I can't write like this. Wait don't write that. Dammit this is a pen I cant undo it. Wait I can just write over it
Once again, Rictus jolts back awake to an unsettling sound from the anomaly, this time mere yards away from his postion, and mere feet from the end of the path.
Filled with rage from sudden frustration and sleep deprivation, Rictus screams near the top of his lungs: "Whatever you are, can you please stop doing that?!"
Maybe the last thing I should be doing is yelling, thought Rictus. His anger and thoughts quickly subsided when he opened his eyes and caught sight of what was in front of him: A shack.
Granted, it was an age-old, crooked, dilapidated shack that looked as if it were home to some eldritch, world-eating superpower, but it was a shack nonetheless. And shacks like this are well known for storing beds inside.
Oblivious to the blatant warning signs oozing from this house, he slowly trudged towards it, dropping the metaphorical shackles of anxiety as he went.
Entry 47,992: I have been making progress with this mystery. The mystery that I've been solving. For a. Time. Gods, I can't write like this. Wait don't write that. Dammit this is a pen I cant undo it. Wait I can just write over it
Once again, Rictus jolts back awake to an unsettling sound from the anomaly, this time mere yards away from his postion, and mere feet from the end of the path.
Filled with rage from sudden frustration and sleep deprivation, Rictus screams near the top of his lungs: "Whatever you are, can you please stop doing that?!"
Maybe the last thing I should be doing is yelling, thought Rictus. His anger and thoughts quickly subsided when he opened his eyes and caught sight of what was in front of him: A shack.
Granted, it was an age-old, crooked, dilapidated shack that looked as if it were home to some eldritch, world-eating superpower, but it was a shack nonetheless. And shacks like this are well known for storing beds inside.
Oblivious to the blatant warning signs oozing from this house, he slowly trudged towards it, dropping the metaphorical shackles of anxiety as he went.
Furorem was still busy flipping through pages in the books he had found, using a single claw to turn each page. It was then he heard footsteps, and a voice. "What the..." He looked around for a brief moment, seeing no one, but someone slowly coming into view around the shack. Perfect. Now he can follow them back to a town once they get scared away, whoever they were.
Now upon the steps, Rictus gives a great sigh and returns to his worn journal, scratching out all of the tomfoolery that was his last entry.
Entry 47,992.5: I've found a shack. Nothing special, just an old, broken house. My hopes are that there is a bed inside, and if not... I'll have to manage. I've been through worse.
Rictus enters the old shack, recklessly drops his bag, halberd, and bighat all on the ground next to the entrance, and then he froze dead in his tracks.
His mind was rushing with words; curses to himself, pleads to the watching Gods, questions to his eyes, and kudos to the hulking, stoneskinned, breathing gargoyle before him.
Entry 47,992.5: I've found a shack. Nothing special, just an old, broken house. My hopes are that there is a bed inside, and if not... I'll have to manage. I've been through worse.
Rictus enters the old shack, recklessly drops his bag, halberd, and bighat all on the ground next to the entrance, and then he froze dead in his tracks.
His mind was rushing with words; curses to himself, pleads to the watching Gods, questions to his eyes, and kudos to the hulking, stoneskinned, breathing gargoyle before him.
Furorem stared down at the lad before him, while casually flipping through the pages of one o the books on the ground. He gives a fake glare towards the man, but he is chuckling at the sight internally. People always expect large beasts to slay men. This was simply error due to folklore and old stories, since Furorem has never slain anyone without a good reason. He's got to admit though. Seeing people's fear always gives him a good laugh.
Oh well, time to put on a show I suppose. He gets slowly off the ground, giving a low growl. He stretches out his claws, seemingly to try to intimidate the person. And he utters a single word to try to scare him away so that he can follow him. "...Boo."
Oh well, time to put on a show I suppose. He gets slowly off the ground, giving a low growl. He stretches out his claws, seemingly to try to intimidate the person. And he utters a single word to try to scare him away so that he can follow him. "...Boo."
For a second, Rictus doesn't even process the giant's attempt at scaring him. He just stares and blinks. Then, when he does he simply chuckles, smiles at the beast, and sits down right on the floor in relief. "Oh, good; you're sentient. I was worrying if you were another mindless fiend."
As Rictus gets up and turns his back on the golem to search rooms, he continues to speak. "So, I presume you're the thing that left the hole in that old crypt?"
As Rictus gets up and turns his back on the golem to search rooms, he continues to speak. "So, I presume you're the thing that left the hole in that old crypt?"
He quickly stopped the act soon after the men started chuckling. He gave a slight frown of dissapointment and settled back down, returning to flipping through the books. "Yeah, what about it?" He looked over to the man rummaging through the shack.
"Oh, nothing," Replied Rictus. "I was just making connections. You know, 'big thing makes big hole' and all that."
After Rictus finally finds a room with a stable bed, he says "Just what might you be doing over there, pretell?"
After Rictus finally finds a room with a stable bed, he says "Just what might you be doing over there, pretell?"
"Looking through these books trying to see if there's an atlas... What are you doing all the way out here? Traveling or something?" He continues to look through the books, giving a snort after looking through another one.
"I'm just passing by. I... heard about the lone Twisted Tree in this forest... And I just wanted to.. See it." Rictus struggled to get the words out. He wasn't sure why. It was the truth, he did always want to see a twisted tree, but it's not quite the whole truth. The less this... Man? Knew the better.
"And as for the atlas, I happen to have two with me now. I keep books with me for long distance traveling and I must've packed both of the ones I have. I'll give you one, but I need the other, of course."
Rictus quickly stepped over to his backpack, opened it, and revealed a thick book engraved with golden print. "Here you are."
"And as for the atlas, I happen to have two with me now. I keep books with me for long distance traveling and I must've packed both of the ones I have. I'll give you one, but I need the other, of course."
Rictus quickly stepped over to his backpack, opened it, and revealed a thick book engraved with golden print. "Here you are."
"Really? Because from what I heard and saw, it seems you're chasing someone named Avelyn... And some sort of treasure hunt or something?" Using his phantasmal abilities, he would be able to see memories as if they were right in front of him. Helps a lot in situations, as well as getting details about something.
"Ah, so you've heard..." Rictus never really was good at keeping secrets. "Yes, I'm looking for a woman named Avelyn. She's been leaving behind these little slits of paper for me with commendably cryptic notes."
Rictus moves to the room with the bed he'd be sleeping on, lay down, and closed his eyes. "She told me that there are more people than just me solving these. You wouldn't happen to come across anyone else in this forest, would you? Surely I'm not the only one who has made it this far."
Rictus moves to the room with the bed he'd be sleeping on, lay down, and closed his eyes. "She told me that there are more people than just me solving these. You wouldn't happen to come across anyone else in this forest, would you? Surely I'm not the only one who has made it this far."
"No, I haven't seen anyone else out here. At-least not anyone recently. Say, do you know Eve, and Wyrestead? They're old pals of mine I adventured with before I slept in that tomb." He took the Atlas and opened it up, inspecting it's pages.
Rictus shook his head. "No, I don't know anyone by those names. I know of a Wyrestead. Beautiful little town, with a river that runs all around it like a giant moat. Right next to Glencreek."
He yawns for a short time. "Well, if you haven't seen anyone, have you seen anything? Any pieces of paper in places they don't belong? Have you checked for anything under your tongue?"
He yawns for a short time. "Well, if you haven't seen anyone, have you seen anything? Any pieces of paper in places they don't belong? Have you checked for anything under your tongue?"
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