Once home to the Crystal Cities of the Hunter clans, Craiss Caverns is now a hollow empty shell of its former glory due to a strange misfortune in the past. Man-made tunnels now lead to this place, but tales tell of some never returning. (+3 Defense, +2 Offense)

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...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Feint » 05/08/2014 2:26 PM

(I'm just gonna post a bunch until someone shows up, I guess)
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Kamon

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Post 1


"Once home to the Crystal Cities of the grand clans of Hunters, Craiss Caverns is nothing but a hollow empty shell of its former glory now due to a strange misfortune in the past. Man-made tunnels now lead to this place for others to venture in, but tales tell of some never returning... Strange runes upon the walls have said to enlighten some with knowledge of things about the self or the past."

Not the best brochure.

Kamon stared down at the paper in his paw with a bit of a frown. He had become quite impulsive now that his son had flown the nest, and this had to have been his worst impulse yet.

"...tales tell of some never returning..."

Yeesh.

"Great idea, Kamon," he grumbled at himself, crumpling the brochure in his fist. "Let's go, alone, to a place where people are known to die." He'd rather not have his last memory be of some abandoned cave as one of many dead morons. Well... tourists.
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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Jaden Wolf » 05/08/2014 3:10 PM

((You seemed cool with someone just showing up, yeah?))



Well, this looked like a fun cave to explore. Nice and dark and cold and intimidating. What was she waiting for? Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Selka grinned. Of course, she wasn't going to charge in headfirst...right away. Walking over to a low rock, she lifted her rather small leather pack and shifted through its contents. Water, check. Snacks, check. Various herbs and stuff for anti-venom and whatnot, double check. Rope...well, kind of worn and frayed but check. She really ought to get some new rope. Oh well, it'll do for now. She chuckled at the thought of it tearing while she were halfway down some sort of cavern. Oh what an adventure that'd be. Finally she pulled the string and grabbed the bag as she made her way to the cave entrance.
Oh hey.
Another traveller.
"Yo! Going on a little adventure too, are we?" she called out with a little laugh.
You can pretend that when you hear my voice, darling, it's your choice not to fall in.

But it's all an act, 'cause I know exactly what you're wanting. You know it's what I'm wanting

Boy I know what you desire, oh, you're such a bad, bad liar

This could be perfection, or venom dripping in your mouth

Singing like a Siren, love me while your wrists are bound


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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Feint » 05/08/2014 6:46 PM

((yup! also, freaky backstory deja vu lolol))
Post 2


Kamon turned, brow raised. His jaw, not that he noticed, hung somewhat, giving him an... unintelligent expression.

He had been struck with a very strong, very surreal sense of deja vu. Behind him stood nothing less than an equally carefree copy of his son's childhood friend, who had also first met him by firing off a comment and giggle from behind.

"...Yo," he said, unable to recall what had just been said to him. It was pleasing to see that he potentially had a travel buddy for safety reasons, and somewhat perplexing that anyone at all would be attempting this suicide trek alone.

Isn't that hypocritical?

He was about to go home! Of course, once faced with the temptation of going... marginally more safely, he changed his mind...
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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Jaden Wolf » 05/08/2014 7:32 PM

((XDD That's hilarious. What a coincidence.))

Selka approached the man casually, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she walked. Then he only answered with a simple 'yo' and stared at her with what she thought was a rather blank expression. As she came up to him, she stopped and leaned on one leg, placing her free hand on her hip and tilting her head curiously.
"Something wrong, sweetie? You look uncertain. Not the best mindset for going on an adventure, you know." She nodded with a grin creeping onto her face. She loved meeting people on her travels, though she felt like most of them were not quite prepared for the adventures they were embarking on. She loved passing on her wisdom to those poor, unfortunate souls.
You can pretend that when you hear my voice, darling, it's your choice not to fall in.

But it's all an act, 'cause I know exactly what you're wanting. You know it's what I'm wanting

Boy I know what you desire, oh, you're such a bad, bad liar

This could be perfection, or venom dripping in your mouth

Singing like a Siren, love me while your wrists are bound


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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Feint » 05/08/2014 10:38 PM

Post 3

Kamon laughed sheepishly, and pawed his mane.

"I, uh... funny you mention that. I wasn't gonna go in," he said. "I was just reading this brochure..." he said as he started to present the crumpled paper, but crumpled it back into his paw when he couldn't figure out the wrinkles, "...and uh, apparently people die here."

You smooth talker you, he said to himself, and cleared his throat to regain composure. "You look better equipped, so I was hoping to freeload, if that's all right," he asked, motioning to his lack of pack. "To be brutally honest, I've never left home - I've been taking care of my son. I don't know the first thing about traveling."

"And these," he said with a grin, un-crumpling the brochure as best as he was able, "are completely useless."
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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Jaden Wolf » 05/09/2014 12:57 AM

Selka nodded understandingly. Though she only barely understood. Why would someone come out here only to not go in? Being a free spirit as she was, she didn't do things half-heartedly. But she'd seen enough hesitant souls to understand that not everyone had the adventuring spirit. As the kuhndra mentioned people dying here, she just shrugged and laughed.
"I thought I heard some stories like that, but it just makes it all the more exciting, doesn't it?"
She listened attentively as he spoke, and nodded as he admitted that he didn't know much about anything like this since he was always taking care of his kid. Now this, she could sort of understand. She knew full well there were those kinds of people out there and was encouraged several times to try to be more like them but she could never pull it off for very long. As he unwrinkled his brochure again, Selka laughed.
"Oh yes, I don't take much stock in brochures and the like. The people who write those things probably never actually experienced any of it themselves. As for travelling, there isn't much to it. All you need is water and food, and occasionally some other thing but really, you just learn it all as you go. But then again, I've been doing this a long time." Pausing to adjust the arm holding her pack, she smiled at the kuhndra.
"Can't say I really understand that you never left home because of your kid, though. Maybe that's just cause I've got people who treat mine like family. Never really had to worry about those little guys," she stated with a shrug, then glanced over at the cave. "Oh, and sure, I don't mind a 'freeloader', as you put it. It's always nice to experience things with other people."
Looking back at the kuhndra, Selka grinned and then blinked as if she just realized something.
"Oh, and my name is Selka by the way. Nice to meet you, sweetie."
You can pretend that when you hear my voice, darling, it's your choice not to fall in.

But it's all an act, 'cause I know exactly what you're wanting. You know it's what I'm wanting

Boy I know what you desire, oh, you're such a bad, bad liar

This could be perfection, or venom dripping in your mouth

Singing like a Siren, love me while your wrists are bound


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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Feint » 05/09/2014 1:19 AM

Post 4

"I... guess," Kamon said uneasily, staring fearfully into the dark cave mouth. He wanted to have the freedom he hadn't for sixteen years, but he didn't care to die for it.

Not just for his own fears and desire to live, but for his son - what a horrible thing it would be, to come home from long years of war and find that your only family had met their end trying to enjoy themselves. What a terrible joke that would be.

Kamon's face fell.

"Really?" he asked, unhappily staring down at the half-crumpled brochure. He had spent many a year in front of the rich people's glass hotel doors while little Hero was still growing, longingly staring at the photographs of places quite distant and free. His days of stressing over his misbehaving little boy and money struggles were permeated only by the dreams of visiting those wonderful places.

They were all fake?

...After a moment of crushed solitude, he supposed it didn't quite matter. He was visiting one now, wasn't he? Wasn't that better than some paper he couldn't even treat nicely and keep flat? He flicked the garbage ball into the only trash can and put on a smile for Selka.

"That might be it," he said with a nod. "I'm Kamon, by the way."

"I don't have any family - well, I do, but I don't mess with him - so I'm all my kid's got. I'm not even his real father," he said, chuckling. "Had to make sure he stayed out of trouble, had a roof over his head, and food to eat, and that took all my time..." here, his heart saddened somewhat, "...until he joined the military. Now I've got all the time in the world."
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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Jaden Wolf » 05/09/2014 2:04 AM

Selka smiled and started making her way into the cave.
"Kamon. Cool name."
As she walked, she glanced back at the kuhndra, listening quietly. She didn't really have any family either, but she never really cared about that. Though it seemed to her that this guy had made himself a lifestyle only to have it suddenly change on him. That she could completely understand. If she suddenly had to stop travelling for some reason, for good, she wouldn't know what to do with herself. Changing the subject a bit, she nudged Kamon playfully.
"Sounds like you really took that parent thing serious, huh? I could never get much into it myself. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but I could never quite get the hang of sticking around and taking care of their every little need, y'know? I've got too much of the wanderlust."
You can pretend that when you hear my voice, darling, it's your choice not to fall in.

But it's all an act, 'cause I know exactly what you're wanting. You know it's what I'm wanting

Boy I know what you desire, oh, you're such a bad, bad liar

This could be perfection, or venom dripping in your mouth

Singing like a Siren, love me while your wrists are bound


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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Feint » 05/09/2014 3:34 PM

Post 5 (+3 Defense, +2 Offense)

"Thanks!" he said, jumping to his feet. Being left behind was the last thing he wanted to experience - and boy, did she walk fast. A testament to their different walks of life, he supposed - a slum-goer took their time, keeping their eyes open for a dropped scrap here, an unattended wallet there... maybe some nice shampoo...

"Yeah... I get that, I had it too," Kamon said. "I just wanted to shelter him, I guess."

"We lived in the Slums. I didn't want him to grow up stealing, but I guess that was sort of a pathetic thing to do given the location. He met one friend and that's all it took," he said, laughing sheepishly once more. "I guess I was the only one who cared about that sort of thing."

"Oh, and... where are we headed? I don't claim to be an expert, but these tunnels are definitely manmade."

The cavernous tunnels were cement at first glance. Upon closer inspection, however, they seemed to be some strange material that looked metal-based, but felt stone-based. Instincts cried that it looked living, as though they had crawled down something's throat.
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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Jaden Wolf » 05/12/2014 6:17 PM

Noticing that Kamon seemed to be having some difficulty keeping up, Selka slowed down a little. She was listening to every word he said, but didn't really know what to say. Which was actually unusual for her. His experiences were something she didn't know much about, and for once, she wasn't all that eager to stick her nose in. Perhaps this was just one of those things people felt was 'best left alone'? Before she could come up with a response, he changed the subject.
Turning to look ahead, Selka stopped briefly, placing her fists on her hips as she scanned the walls with curious eyes. They certainly were strange, but the kuhna woman's instincts did not do much about sensing potential danger. Like the time she ended up in a nest of vipers and thought they were regular vines until they started trying to bite her. Raising her pack-free hand to rub the back of her head, she shrugged.
"Don't know. A mine, maybe?" she guessed, turning to look at Kamon with a grin and a glint in her eye. "The fun's in the mystery, isn't it?"
Turning her attention downward for a moment, she tied her pack to a leather band looped around her hips. Then, she looked back up at the kuhndra and grinned again.
"Why don't we find out?"
You can pretend that when you hear my voice, darling, it's your choice not to fall in.

But it's all an act, 'cause I know exactly what you're wanting. You know it's what I'm wanting

Boy I know what you desire, oh, you're such a bad, bad liar

This could be perfection, or venom dripping in your mouth

Singing like a Siren, love me while your wrists are bound


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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Feint » 05/12/2014 8:58 PM

Post 6


Kamon shrugged. He had already said yes - he was in it 'til the end.

"We got any light?" he asked, "It gets dark dark, yeah?"

Indeed. Already, things had gotten dim - not that he had noticed, his nocturnal eyes were useful that way. That said, they would not be in the comfortable light for long, as their chosen tunnel entrance was decidedly rather winding.

"I kind of want to see the whole thing," he said somewhat shyly, unsure of his new friend's limit. He was craning his neck to see around the first bend, but of course could not. "The runes that brochure talked about are actually down there, right?"
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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Jaden Wolf » 05/13/2014 5:42 PM

When Kamon asked about a light, Selka was feeling the walls of the cave curiously. She paused to think and tugged her pack open carefully so as not to pull it off her waist. Reaching in, she felt around for a bit and with a triumphant exclamation, she pulled out a battered old flashlight. With a grin, she flicked on the power and frowned when a dull glow lit up the cave only to flicker out a second later.
"Oh come on, you. Don't give out on me now," she muttered, smacking the flashlight against her palm until a steady beam lit up her face. With a satisfied grin, she looked back at Kamon. "Been through thick and thin, we have. Me and my trusty old flashlight."
As if to demonstrate their 'bond', she flipped it in the air with a single hand and expertly caught it light side up. As the Kuhndra mentioned the runes, Selka shrugged.
"Guess so. Only one way to find out, yeah?"
You can pretend that when you hear my voice, darling, it's your choice not to fall in.

But it's all an act, 'cause I know exactly what you're wanting. You know it's what I'm wanting

Boy I know what you desire, oh, you're such a bad, bad liar

This could be perfection, or venom dripping in your mouth

Singing like a Siren, love me while your wrists are bound


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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Feint » 05/13/2014 6:39 PM

Post 7


Kamon nearly doubled over with laughter, smacking the ground with a paw. It made an odd echo that reverberated down the length of the tunnel ahead.

"Oh, man," he said, oblivious to the noise he was causing. "I thought you were gonna drop it! That would've been one heck of a demonstration! 'Look, I love my flashlight so much I broke it!'"

He rubbed his chest with a paw as his laughing fit passed into giggles, and raised to see where her light was pointing when he had fully calmed.

It was not aimed at anything particularly exciting, although it did briefly illuminate a large, unidentifiable bug. He pulled a face in disgusted horror. The largest insect he had ever seen was of the common roach variety - as one might know, cave bugs are of a whole new league in both size and shape.

Not wanting to see more of that bug should it reappear, Kamon turned his attention back to the tunnel ahead, hoping to see more of it. He could see a little further down the bend, and his ears and hackles popped up in cheerful anticipation. This was going to be a very long hike - he was glad he wasn't alone.

"Yeah..." he said, taking the lead, "One way to find out."
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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Jaden Wolf » 05/31/2014 7:06 PM

((SORRY. I've been really busy lately, haha :|;; ))

Selka frowned at Kamon playfully, putting her flashlight-free fist on her hip in mock protest. She hadn't meant to make him laugh like that, but now that he was, she did think that what she had done before was quite funny. Then he calmed and his face displayed a look of horror that surprised her. Following his gaze, she caught the end bit of a very large bug. Of course, the kuhna woman had seen her fair share of bugs, all shapes and sizes, and this one didn't faze her one bit. Blinking, she looked back at Kamon as he responded to her earlier comment and took the lead. Deciding to let the kuhndra be adventuresome, she followed behind, pointing the flashlight's beam ahead of her temporary partner.
You can pretend that when you hear my voice, darling, it's your choice not to fall in.

But it's all an act, 'cause I know exactly what you're wanting. You know it's what I'm wanting

Boy I know what you desire, oh, you're such a bad, bad liar

This could be perfection, or venom dripping in your mouth

Singing like a Siren, love me while your wrists are bound


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Re: ...A Completely Normal Hike [Self/Open]

Postby Feint » 06/02/2014 6:13 PM

(((meh. life. xD)))
Post 8


"Thanks," Kamon said, then frowned over his shoulder. "Whoever built this cave... clearly had something specific in mind."

What he was referring to was the horribly awkward layout of their particular tunnel. Once around that first corner, the tunnel immediately began to slope very slightly, and was laden with very sharp turns. One might guess it was built to ease its adventurers almost directly downward with as little worries for slipping as possible, or that they were tunnels belonging to someone very excited about repairs.

All assuming, of course, that the strange, "living" material had been built, as the brochure had claimed.
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