Open Log

[papergurrl]

WHO: OPEN
WHEN: 6/7
WHERE: Salduba Ruins, Attleton
WHAT: Dungeon crawl for a miracle cure herb requested by a sickly young girl. Hunt for it and keep it or hunt for it and turn it in for monies! (or anyone who just wants to explore a ruin)

Once the directions to the Salduba Ruins in Attleton were acquired, it took almost half the day to actually reach said ruins. Located well outside of any kind of civilization, the ruins appeared to have been once been an old foreste keep - thick vines and moss cover the high walls, though the ground is uneven, cracked in places- parts of the keep itself collapsed from attacks and one can presume, as series of earthquakes. Though nature is clearly attempting to reclaim the area over what has been built and left in this place, there are two obvious entrances to the Keep - one on the South wall and one on the North; A high arched doorway that leads into what's left of the building proper.

Once inside the keep the air will feel, smell and taste dusty and stale through minimal circulation - there's no lighting to guide your way, and the restless sound of footsteps - man or animal (or perhaps manimal). The hall branches off towards the eastern and western side of the Keep, both paths leading towards the upper and lower floors and the heart of the keep in question. But the Keep though abandoned by its original owners, is not entirely empty - one may encounter bandits, or even hostile creatures; not only that, but the halls and rooms are not the safest any longer. Each room may be booby trapped, either by the new residents or the old, and those traps may trigger at the slightest provocation. However, if you're lucky enough to survive, you might find treasures to reward your curiosity.

[ OOC: Tag into any of the four locations to explore~! Feel free to threadjack or team up with others joining in. But be caaaaaaaaareful~ ]

Comments

[fairytails]

[ Well, in the next room, it's... certainly not a monster or bandit. It's Mavis!

She's examining the floors herself, but glances over when Zeref shows up. A smile much too bright for greeting the world's deadliest wizard appears on her face. ]

Zeref! What a surprise to see you here.

[deathsought]

[ He felt the all-too-familiar presence just seconds before he heard that voice. Actually seeing and hearing Mavis was something he still isn't quite used to, even after the swimming incident. As soon as Zeref saw her, he took a moment to scan her surroundings. No other members of Fairy Tail were nearby? Granted, Mavis didn't exactly need help, but seeing her in a place like this - alone, especially with Fairy Tail's huge emphasis on teamwork and unity - was slightly odd. Still, Zeref returns her smile, in his own way. ]

I didn't expect to see you here either, Mavis. [ He visibly relaxes. He trusts a medicinal herb in Fairy Tail's hands much more than he did in his own, considering it could die - and likely be rendered useless - at a moment's notice. ]

None of the others came with you?

[forever_prince]

[Laharl found himself at the ruins specifically for the reason that was advertised: money. After all, his Netherworld ran on money pretty much, and greed was a very highly prized trait in a demon. He'd been wandering almost aimlessly around the outside of the ruins, trying to see if there were any shortcuts, but when he decided the only obvious entrances were the only ones, he'd followed Zeref inside, arms crossed, keeping his aura to a minimum. Might as well exploit his vassals, eh?]

Eh, who needs the others? You've got me, and that's more than enough for this place.

[fairytails]

[ Hey, who's the short kid? Mavis, you're just as short and look just as young, shut up. ]

And who's this? [ She glances at Zeref. ] Making friends?

But no, none of Fairy Tail's members were in the building when they came by with the notice. [ They ARE a guild, so people tended to come by with fliers for missions. ] I thought I would do a little investigating.

[deathsought]

[ Zeref turns the moment he hears the voice. So, this is the 'Overlord' he's heard so much from over the network. Zeref sighs, and turn back to Mavis. ]

A demon, but not one of mine. He claims to be the Overlord of the Netherworld. [ Something at least two other demons he knew of would take issue with. ] But if we're here... this will make for an odd team. I trust you know enough about my magic to be able to work me into your strategies, Mavis?

[ Something he honestly never thought he'd ask, before. ]

[forever_prince]

[Laharl just scoffs at the introduction.]

My name is Laharl. And I'm also Overlord of this place too. I don't need or want any friends. As for strategy, just let me do all the fighting. That's strategy enough for this place. Nothing has come even close to making me break a sweat yet.

pardon him

[qualitycatnip]

A demon...? My, now that is interesting. Especially when you all mention magic as well.

[magic is a rare talent indeed! there are only a couple people in his world that were ever able to use it.

in any case, that voice just now came from behind them all. he's walking with a thumb through his belt loop and a hand on his hat. his grin isn't wavering one bit, and he does seem to be intrigued by this place. maybe it could satisfy his boredom, for a time....]

whoa where'd all deze people come from

[fairytails]

[ W o w this is a nice-sized group now. ]

I'll be sure to adjust my plans accordingly. [ Was she talking to Laharl or Zeref? Both, maybe.

She turns to the newest one to enter, some guy with green hair and a slasher smile. Hm. ] It might be dangerous for you to be around us, though. [ She glances at Zeref. Did you want to explain the concept of Death Magic? ]

I DON'T KNOW SOBS

[deathsought]

[ It sure is. Zeref was not expecting this many people to be here at once. Mavis he was fine with; she was already dead, and thus, his Death Magic had no effect on her, since she can't die twice. Granted, he didn't know what all Laharl was capable of, and this other guy was someone Zeref knew nothing about, but he didn't do well in crowds. He was suddenly reminded of that party Lucy dragged him to, back in Exsilium. ]

Mavis is right.

[ He's unsure of how to explain this, but... ]

If I'm forced to use my magic... both of you could die. [ Note how he said 'both,' not 'all.' Mavis was safe. ]

>:3

[forever_prince]

Yeah, so stay back and let me work. Wouldn't want him killing you two by accident.

[Totally missing the point, Laharl. As per usual. Still, he'll reach into his shorts pocket and pull a greatsword about as long as he is tall from it and rest it on his shoulder.]

Oh, and I call dibs on the treasure.

[qualitycatnip]

[oh wow. not like hazama has to worry about dying from such things, he's pretty powerful himself. but these guys don't need to know that, nope!]

Well... in that case, I guess I had better follow along at a safe distance! I'm not really a fan of fighting and all, you guys don't mind- right?

I'll admit I was just curious about this kind of expedition.

1/2

[fairytails]

[ Those two didn't really get it, did they? Death Magic was.... well. Death.

Still, she didn't expect there to be too much risk. Monsters? Bandits? Psh. This group is ridiculously overpowered. ]

[fairytails]

It'll be fine, Zeref. I'll work to minimize the risk.

Besides, I don't imagine there's much here that would require any of us to be serious. [ She can sense power better than even Makarov, she's a good judge of that. ]

I'm afraid I'll have to collect the medicinal herb for Fairy Tail. I don't particularly care about the rest of the treasure, though.

[deathsought]

[ So. This is one of those groups... fine, whatever. Zeref isn't even going to try to argue with them, but he'll be sure to send them a Darwin Award in the mail if this goes south. ]

Fine.

[ His idea of 'treasure' isn't gold, anyway. ]

Let's go, then.

[forever_prince]

[Laharl is more than happy to lead the way into the next room, holding up a fist that instantly bursts into flames for some added light.]

Pff... who calls medicine treasure anyway? Can't beat a caterpillar eggs and fairy dust for medicine anyway. Herbs are just all hippie propaganda.

[papergurrl]

[ As the party ventures into the next room, they'll find numerous skeletal bones littering the floor, most by a set of chains dangling from the ceiling. Most of the skeletal remains are definitely not human. Growing in a corner of the room where it's dampest are assorted mushrooms, the cap of each a different color. On the far wall there is a single blue chest ]

[qualitycatnip]

[OH FUN!

but hazama pretends to look a little upset by this, he frowns as they enter the room.]

I've heard of skeletons in the closet but this is a bit much...

[deathsought]

[ A blue chest... skeletons... vines. Four hundred years of being alive breeds genre savviness. And if Laharl was so eager to prove himself, well, here was his chance to prove himself to Zeref.

The Black Wizard turned his head to the small Overlord. ]

Well, you wanted the treasure, didn't you?

[ Have at it! Unless, of course, Mavis had something else in mind. ]

[forever_prince]

[By the time Zeref turns to look at him, Laharl will have already have one of the mushrooms in his mouth, munching away. He'll just shrug though.]

Of course. Stand back.

[And with that, he'll stab at the treasure chest with his sword as if it were a monster.]

[fairytails]

[ Laharl. Laharl are you serious.

For her part, Mavis lets him do as he pleases for now. There shouldn't be anything deadly in here (to them (except maybe that mushroom)) so, if anything, this is a good chance to get a gauge on Laharl to better formulate any plans.

Beyond that, she simply takes in the surroundings for any clues as to what might be in store. Man it's hard playing a strategist with no information. ]

[papergurrl]

[ Yum Yum! Actually no that mushroom tastes like crap and bubblegum. However oh wow, Laharl. OH man, the dreary grey and murky murkiness of the room suddenly shifts, becoming more colorful. Colorful enough to make you go blind, there are colors bleeding together in ways that would make the color spectrum cry. Continue to look around, and the room suddenly feels like it flips over, with Laharl's companions all standing on the ceiling, complete with various party hats and a tea table, having a grand time. On the 'floor' with him, there is a hollow, chocolate rabbit standing next to an anthromorphic one, both flipping an ear back and forth and staring curiously at Laharl. ]

I SAY. [ Says the chocolate bunny with the monocle in an eye. ] Quite an odd turn of events wouldn't you say old bean?

Indubitabiy my good man. [ His anthrmorphic companion agrees. He stoically reached over, breaking off a part of the rabbit's ear, and chomping down on it contentedly. ]

[ Of course, no one else sees this entire exchange but for Laharl, who, as he stabs his sword forward, finds the sword stabbing right into the belly of a ginormous jellybean. Curiously, the sword gets stuck in the bean if he tries pulling it out again. Hazama, Mavis and Zeref on the other hand, get to see the self proclaimed overlord stabbing the chest violently, and instead of the chest breaking open like normal, the sword simply gets stuck - so that now Laharl has a chestsword. YAY. Bludgeoning +3.]

[ The rest of the room looked pretty tame - no traps in sight. Footprints on the floor indicate that someone had passed through not too long ago. Also Some of the stones on the floor are a bit discolored near the doorway. ]

[qualitycatnip]

[...yeah, no, he's not going to eat any of those mushrooms. he doesn't quite realize the state laharl has gotten himself into yet, so he's simply looking around the room. hazama places his hand on the wall, feeling the stone for anything worthwhile.

but he does glance back to look at everyone, then at the chest.]

Soooo I hate to be such a poor sport, but should you really be stabbing at everything? Just saying, don't have to listen to me, but it might help.

[deathsought]

[ This is why Zeref's diet on Tenroujima consisted almost exclusively of monster meat, and whatever wild fruits and berries he managed to scrounge up before his magic turned them into petrified mush. Lesson number one of living in the wild: Never, ever eat mushrooms if you don't know what they are.

While Laharl started living out a bad 1970's music video, Zeref took a closer look at the room. He really didn't trust those chains. ]

This appeared to be a dungeon, or perhaps even a torture or sacrificial chamber.

[ Odd place for a chest, unless it wasn't placed here by its original inhabitants. ]

Laharl made it through, so I doubt this room is trapped. [ Zeref kneels down, examining one of the bones. Too big for a human's. ] These bones are old. Whatever this room was used for, it's not being used anymore.

[forever_prince]

[When things get trippy, Laharl just groans and flings his sword over his shoulder, chest and all. Doesn't seem to be weighing him down any either. He will, also just chuck the rest of the mushroom because the last thing he needed was Mr. Fluffernutters lecturing him on time tables.]

Gee thanks for your concern with the traps. So... I can't really... see much at the moment, so I'm gonna have to rely on sounds for now.

My guess is that this place is a combination of both. A lot of demon summoning rituals involve the sacrifice of a tortured soul, so, why not combine the two rooms into one. More economical.

[He just shrugs, turning and looking about... three inches to Hazama's right.]

How else was I supposed to break it open? Ask it nicely?

[fairytails]

[ So the poison of the mushroom caused blindness, then? Interesting. She'd have to remember that for later.

She shook her head. Sad, but she'd make do. At least he could hear. ]

Whatever this place was used for, somebody else uses it now.

[ To Laharl- ] Since you can't see, there's not much point in you taking... point. [ Mavis you didn't even mean to make that pun. ] I'll lead then, since I'm already dead. [ You know, nothing's going to kill her.

She makes her way to the next door - no objections now - and gives it a quick lookover. Assuming it's not obviously trapped, she'll just... open it. No use beating around the bush. ]